🏳️‍🌈✝️ STRIVING. INSTEAD OF RUSHING TO PURSUE A GOAL, take time to talk with Me about it.

Rainbow Pastor David

03/10/2018

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STRIVING.  INSTEAD OF RUSHING TO PURSUE A GOAL, take time to talk with Me about it.  I realize that striving to achieve comes almost as naturally to you as breathing.  When a goal grabs your attention, your instinct is to "go for it" without really thinking it through.  You may invest a lot of time and energy in the endeavor - only later realizing that it was the wrong pursuit.  But when you take time to first discuss matters with Me, you experience much more satisfaction. 
  There are many benefits to talking with Me - before, during, and after your quest.  The Light of My Presence illuminates the pursuit so you can see it from My perspective.  As your perspective lines up more with Mine, you gain a growing desire to please Me.  This desire produces benefits far beyond the task at hand:  It deepens your relationship with Me. 
  If you discern that your pursuit accords with My will, then you can go forward confidently.  As you work collaboratively with Me, continue to communicate about what you are doing.  When your goal has been achieved, thank Me for My help and guidance.  Rejoice in what we have accomplished together!   
 

"Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim You, who walk in the Light of Your Presence, O LORD.  They rejoice in Your Name all day long; they exult in Your righteousness."  Psalm 89:15-16

 

🏳️‍🌈✝️ Forgive - Can We Afford Not To?

Written by Martha Noebel

03/09/2018

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"Forgive them? I can't. "

"They make me so mad."

"You just don't know what they did to me."

Have you ever heard those words before? Forgiveness is hard to do, but with God's help, we can forgive. The definition of forgive is to pardon or excuse. It means that we no longer blame others or are angry at those who did us wrong.

"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." (Matthew 6:14, Matthew 6:15, NIV)

God tells us that forgiveness is not an option if we want God to forgive us. We are not perfect; we all make mistakes. We will not all agree on everything all the time. We must understand that and learn to forgive those who intentionally or unintentionally hurt us. Yes, we may have a moment of anger, but we must not become slaves to anger. We need to repent for harboring bad feelings against others so that we can be set free.

The Bible tells us in 1 Samuel 16:7 that the Lord looks at the heart. What does He see when He looks at our hearts? We want to have clean hearts and hands when we stand before God. Look at what the psalmist David said:

"Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10)

"Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure…" (Psalm 24: 3, 4a, The Book)

We want to stand before God and know that He is pleased with us. We don't want to carry the sin of unforgiveness in our hearts. When we pray, we want to know that God will answer our prayers. We certainly don't want this willful act to hinder our prayers.

"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." (Mark 11:25)

If we continue to have bitterness in our hearts and lives, we do not show the love of God. The Word of God tells us that we cannot even say we love God if we have hate toward someone else. (1 John 4:20) 

So what must we do? Colossians 3:12 tells us to "clothe yourselves with compassion." Philippians 2:4 says to "look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." Galatians 6:2 instructs us to "carry each other's burdens." Ephesians 4:32 declares, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you."

The lines are drawn. The Word is clear. We must forgive! No matter the offense, no matter how much pain we feel, we must forgive. We can't take revenge or even gloat when our enemy falls (Romans 12:19-21; Proverbs 24:17)

Let's ask God to fill us with His love for those who have offended us. Let’s learn to walk in love and peace. We will be glad we did.

More for CBN, here

 

🏳️‍🌈✝️ HIS SUFFICIENCY! I OFFER YOU GODLY CONTENTMENT: A STATE of serenity that flows out of trusting in My great sufficiency.

Rainbow Pastor David

03/09/2018

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HIS SUFFICIENCY!  I OFFER YOU GODLY CONTENTMENT:  A STATE of serenity that flows out of trusting in My great sufficiency.  I am teaching you to depend on Me alone - content with whatever I provide.  Relying solely on Me is a way of rich blessing, even though it may lead you along paths you would not have chosen.  If you are truly content to live with My provisions for you - now and in the future - you will not be plagued by anxiety.  Instead of worrying about "what ifs" your heart will be firmly fixed - confident in Me. 
 
I realize this world is full of fear-inducing messages.  Daily news reports can fill your mind with fearful thoughts.  Advertisers intentionally stimulate anxiety and insecurity, so they can demonstrate how their products will help you - making you happy and secure.  To counteract these harmful messages, it's essential for you to exert some control over your thinking.  Ask the Holy Spirit to help you think My thoughts.  The more He controls your mind, the more you will experience Life and Peace. 
 
Remember that you brought nothing into the world:  Everything you have is a gift from Me, including each breath you breath.  Though you can carry nothing out of this world, the spiritual transformation I am working in you is eternal.  Collaborate with Me as I transform you into My likeness, preparing for the ultimate in blissful contentment - heaven! 

"The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace."  Romans 8:6 

"He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firmly fixed, trusting (leaning on and being confident) in the Lord."  Psalm 112:7 AMP

 

🏳️‍🌈✝️ SORROW. TRUST IN ME AT ALL TIMES

Rainbow Pastor David

03/07/2018

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SORROW.  TRUST IN ME AT ALL TIMES.  I know the pain and sorrow you are feeling, and I want you to pour out your heart in My Presence.  You need to release all those emotions in a safe place.  Demonstrate your trust in Me by opening your heart to Me; as you do so, I promise to keep you safe. 
  Remember that I am a Man of sorrows, fully acquainted with grief.  Because of all I suffered, I can empathize with you and share your pain.  As you pour out your emotions in My Presence, your heavy burden grows lighter.  You no longer carry your sorrows alone.  You release them to Me, and I then relieve and refresh your soul.  Moreover, as your heavy heart grows lighter, you are freed to learn more of Me:  who I really am. 
  Come to Me and get to know Me in ever-increasing depth and breadth.  You will find that I am indeed a Refuge - a safe place flooded with eternal Love.  Linger a while in My Presence, letting My Love soak into your soul. 
 

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest.  I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.”  Matthew 11:28 AMP

 

🏳️‍🌈✝️ ABIDING IN HIM. INVITE ME INTO YOUR THOUGHTS BY whispering My Name

Rainbow Pastor David

03/07/2018

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ABIDING IN HIM.  INVITE ME INTO YOUR THOUGHTS BY whispering My Name; suddenly your day brightens and feels more user-friendly.  When you speak My Name in loving trust, you sense My Presence and you feel yourself drawing closer to Me. 
  There is great Power in My Name:  Simply whispering "Jesus" can turn a hard day into a good one.  By calling on My Name frequently, you acknowledge your continual need of Me.  And when you pray My Name, you are actually calling upon MY very Being. I joyfully respond to your invitation by coming nearer to you.   
  I am pleased by your desire to rely on Me in ordinary moments as well as in the big events of your life.  When you whisper My Name, I respond not only to your neediness but also to your love.  As you look to Me, My Face shines upon you in radiant approval - brightening your day and helping you feel secure. 
 

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."  Acts 4:12

"The Lord made His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you.  The Lord lift up His (approving) countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually)."  Numbers 6:25-26 AMP

🏳️‍🌈✝️ GRACE! MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU

Rainbow Pastor David

03/05/2018

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GRACE!  MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU, but its sufficiency is for one day at a time.  That's why it is essential for you to learn how to live in the present.  Your mind so easily slips into the future, where worries abound.  You also spend way too much time analyzing the past.  

Meanwhile, splendors of the present moment parade before you, and you don't even notice.  Part of the problem is your tendency to strive for self-sufficiency.  I will help you learn to rest in My sufficiency, depending on Me more and more. 

You need My grace in order to live in the present.  Grace is all about My provision for you, but accepting that goes against the grain of your natural tendencies.  Do you really believe in My sufficiency for every situation you ever encounter?  If so, then it makes sense to stop your anxious striving and learn to receive My provisions by looking to Me continually.

Each day you face a number of situations requiring My help.  Moment by moment I proffer to you the needed assistance.  Your part is to recognize your neediness and receive what I offer. 

My Presence is with you always, providing everything you need.  So don't worry about tomorrow's needs.  My sufficiency is for a day at a time - today! 

But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  2 Corinthians 12:9

 

🏳️‍🌈✝️ Praise God for HIS GRACE and MERCY to ALL

Written By Doris Beck

03/04/2018

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The Rainbow’s Promise

“I will set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth.” Genesis 9:13

Have you ever caught yourself reading the Bible just so you can check it off your To-Do list? I have to admit it sometimes happens to me. This year I am asking the Lord to stop me as I read so He can speak to me.

And He is doing just that. For example, in Genesis as I read the story of Noah building the ark, His message came clearly. There it was in Genesis 6:8: "...and Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord." Even though God saw that the wickedness of man was great (verse 5), God showed His grace to Noah. In fact, there it was written in the margin, the word ‘grace.’

But God didn’t stop there.

I continued to read about the flood, thinking what it must have been like to know that you would be the only people alive on the earth, when He brought another thought to me.

Genesis 8:21-22 states, ”I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil... and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.” God had shown His grace to Noah and his family, and now He was showing His mercy to all of mankind. An eternal promise sealed with a rainbow for all to see.

Now when I look at rainbows, I am not just reminded of God’s promise to Noah, I am reminded of God’s grace and mercy that He showed back then, and still shows to us today.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the reminder that not only is the rainbow a sign of your promise and covenant with Noah, but it is also a wonderful reminder to us of your mercy and grace. Thank you for your provision for us, that we might have relationship with you in spite of our sinful nature. Amen.

Go Deeper — Have you been reading your Bible just so you can check off that you have read it? This week, slow down and listen. Ask God to stop you as you read and speak to your heart, revealing more about Himself to you.

More from The Life, here