It Is Wo We Are

It changes everything when you understand who you truthfully are. Not who the world says you are, but rather who God says you are: thoughtfully and carefully crafted, valued and loved, intended for eternal life in the image of your Maker.

Moses writes, “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27)

Lest we should miss the point, the word “created” is repeated three times in reference to the man and woman. God wants us to understand He created us; we were not the result of random chance. (James Trent)

Matthew 19:4
"Jesus answered, 'Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female.'"

Ephesians 4:24
"and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

Colossians 3:10
"and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its creator."

Genesis 5:1
"This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day when God created man, He made him in the likeness of God."

Deuteronomy 4:32
"Indeed, ask now concerning the former days which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and inquire from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything been done like this great thing, or has anything been heard like it?

Burn Bright

Your lighted lamp is not to be smothered;

God fuels your flame for the world to see.

So burn ever brightly before all men;

And glorified in Heaven your Father will be.

Proverbs 4:18
"But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day."

John 12:36
"While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light." After Jesus had spoken these things, He went away and hid Himself from them."

Philippians 2:15
..."so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world"...

Psalm 97:11
Light is sown like seed for the righteous And gladness for the upright in heart.

Malachi 4:2
"But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings..."

Luke 11:33
"No one lights a lamp and puts it in a cellar or under a basket. Instead, he sets it on a lampstand, so those who enter can see the light."

Luke 11:36
"So if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it in darkness, you will be radiant, as though a lamp were shining on you."

Matthew 5:16
"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

Wise In Christ

Godly wisdom is not the same as worldly wisdom.

It is achieved through the power of our Almighty God...in whom we have placed our faith, trust and hope.

It is a blessings from our Maker...a fruit of The Spirit...freely given by our Heavenly Father, according to His will and all for His glory.

Blessed are those who have humility and surrender their weaknesses to Him...

Blessed are the wise in Christ, that they may reflect the glory of God!

1 Corinthians 1:21
"For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe."

1 Corinthians 2:12
"What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us."

James 2:5
"Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?"

Matthew 5:3
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Ephesians 2:9
"not by works, so that no one can boast."

Matthew 25:34
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.'"

Explosive Power

The Holy Spirit gave the Apostles the boldness, fearlessness, faith,  and endurance to live the Christian life and win souls for Jesus Christ.

That dynamite power is the same today as it was yesterday. The power of the Holy Spirit still sets captives free. It still brings hope to a hopeless and dying world. We are the witnesses Jesus sent out.

The world is still hopeless, and still hostile. But through us, the love of the Holy Spirit can defeat hatred, conflict, strife, unforgiveness and bitterness. Through us, the power of the Holy Spirit can make us shine in the darkness.  May our life be a witness for Jesus.

Father, God,

I  pray that others will see Christ shining in me and that they are drawn to my testimony of a changed heart and a changed life. May they experience the love of Jesus through my words and actions, as I walk in the explosive power of the Holy Spirit. Help me to receive a fresh outpouring of Your Spirit daily so I am empowered to fulfill the great commission and draw the lost, hurting, and dying to Your Son.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

Fisher of Men

Praise God for His precious, perfect plan to send His Son to dwell among us..to shed His blood as an atoning sacrifice for our sins...to be raised on the third day, that we might be also risen with Him and saved from eternal death.

Thank you, Jesus, that You are a Fisher of men...that You came that the lost may be found; the hurting may be healed; that sinners may be saved.

Thank You, Jesus, that we ALL may call upon You...and in Your Name, be redeemed, restored and reconciled...and dwell in The House of The Lord forever.

John 3:17
"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him."

Matthew 18:11
"For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost."

Mark 2:17
"On hearing this, Jesus told them, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'"

Matthew 4:19
"'Come, follow Me,' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men.'"

1 Timothy 1:15
"This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst."

Romans 3:23
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"...

Acts 2:21
"And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Romans 10:9
"that if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

Romans 10:10
"For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved."

John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Jesus Christ Is Our Cornestone

He is our firm and faithful foundation...a costly cornerstone...

May we be as wise master builders, careful in our construction...withstanding all elements not born of The Holy Spirit...our house never shaken or disturbed...because we are founded on the tested stone of Jesus.

Psalm 118:22
"The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone."

Corinthians 3:9
"For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building."

1 Corinthians 3:10
"By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise master builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds."

1 Corinthians 3:11
"For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ."

Isaiah 28:16
"Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed."

Ephesians 2:20
"built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone."

1 Peter 2:4
"As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men, but chosen and precious in God's sight."

Philippians 3:20
"But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,"

He Never Leaves Things Undone

Father God,

We praise You for anointing us with Your Holy Spirit...for blessing us with sanctification and ongoing transformation in Your image.

We praise You for Your promise to complete Your work in us...we pray for discernment of Your will for us in Jesus Christ...and for strength of endurance in our race to see You face to face.

We praise You that You fill in the gap where we fall short with Your never-ending, marvelous, miraculous mercy and glorious grace...

Abba, we pray with faith, trust and confidence because of Who You Are...perfect, omniscient and Holiest of holies...more than we are able to fully comprehend in our humanity.

We pray that You will fill our cups to overflow with Your Love...and show us how to love others in this same way...remembering that we all fall short of Your Glory and are a work in progress...that You and only You complete us..and we praise You that You are faithful to do so.

We pray today and everyday for Your Kingdom...

In The Holy and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ,

Amen.

Psalm 138:8
"The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your hands."

1 Corinthians 1:8
"He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Philippians 1:10
"so that you can discern what is best, that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,"

Philippians 2:16
"as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain."

2 Corinthians 1:21
"Now it is God who establishes both us and you in Christ. He anointed us,"

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

Partakers of The Divine Nature

Let us be increased in our faith and trust in our Creator and Savior...our hearts purified and sanctified in His image...

Let us be strengthened, transparent and intimate in our relationship with Jesus...increased in our understanding of His excellence and essence...

May we pray and partner with Him for increased knowledge and understanding of Who He Is...praising Him for His Holiness and for His Holy Spirit transformation in us...

And as partakers in the Divine Nature of Jesus Christ, may our Heavenly Father work in us and through us, according to His Will for us...all for His Glory and Kingdom!

John 17:3
"Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent."

Philippians 3:8
"More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ."

1 Thessalonians 2:12
"We encouraged you and comforted you as we urged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His kingdom and glory."

2 Thessalonians 2:14
"To this He called you through our gospel, so that you may share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."

1 Peter 5:10
"And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you."

2 Peter 1:2
"Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord."

2 Peter 1:5
"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;"

2 Peter 1:6
"and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;"

Matthew 6:20
"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."

2 Peter 1:8
"For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

The Just Shall Live By Faith

Let us be grounded and grow in our faith...grateful for our unending salvation, made possible through the love and righteousness of our Lord and Savior.

Let us be be anointed and appointed to speak boldly of our faith and spread The Good News of The Mystery and Gospel of Jesus Christ...available to all by the omniscient power of our Heavenly Father.

May we be brought from faith to faith...right with our souls...as we are restored, renewed and transformed into our ordained image; reconciled with our Living God...

As the just shall live by faith.

Habakkuk 2:4
"Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith."

Romans 3:22
"And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction,"

2 Corinthians 3:9
"For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness!"

2 Corinthians 5:21
"God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."

Galatians 3:11
"And it is clear that no one is justified before God by the Law, because, 'The righteous will live by faith.'"

Philippians 3:9
"and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith."

Ephesians 4:24
"and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

Colossians 3:10
"and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its creator."

Romans 1:16
"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes..."

Trust In The Lord

When life happens and trials come your way, where do you turn to for help? Do you turn to your own strength for help? Do you look to others? Or do you cling to some humanistic positive thinking saying or motto; “When life gives you lemons make lemonade,” or  “That which doesn’t kill me only makes me stronger.”

None of these things will help you. Everyone faces trials how we overcome them depends on who you turn to for help and refuge.

Don’t turn to others. Don’t turn to yourself. Don’t think some positive thinking saying will get you through dark times.  Instead, put your trust in the Lord. He will walk through the hard times with you, and when you come out on the other side, you will see that He has a plan for you that is good through it all.

Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded you? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be you dismayed: for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

2 Samuel 7:28 And now, O Lord GOD, you are that God, and your words be true, and you have promised this goodness to your servant: 

Psalms 9:10 And they that know your name will put their trust in you: for you, LORD, have not forsaken them that seek you.
  
Psalms 13:5 But I have trusted in your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. 

Psalms 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

Psalms 31:14 But I trusted in you, O LORD: I said, You are my God.

Psalms 56:3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in you.

 

Lead Me To The Rock

The Psalms are the prayers of King David during the most overwhelming times of His life. His trials and problems always brought Him to his knees.

He knew when He was overwhelmed and had reached the limit of what he could endure, to cry out to the One, who can bear all things and give us rest.  

We too can cry out to that same Rock – to Jesus Christ, our rock of deliverance, our rock of defense, our rock of salvation, our rock of our strength.

David cries out “Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.” Notice our job is to cry out to God in our distress and the job of the Holy Spirit is to lead us to Jesus.

if you are overwhelmed today, if your circumstances are more than you can bear, cry out to Jesus – to the Rock that is his higher than you and higher than your circumstances, higher than all your problems . 

He will deliver you. He will bring you to a place of rest, strength and victory. 

Psalm 18:46 The LORD lives; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.

Psalm 27:5 For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.

Psalm 40:2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and put my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.

Psalm 62:2,6 He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defense; I shall not be moved.

Our Strong Tower

God’s children have a strong tower -  A place of refuge and safety where we can run to in times of trouble and trials.                                                                                                                    

When we need Him the most, we can run to the name of Jesus and be safe. In times of distress, fear, uncertainty, hopelessness, helplessness and weakness we have a place we can run to for comfort and protection.  Jesus is our strong tower.

He is Jehovah-Jireh. He has provided for our need of salvation. He is Jehovah-Nissi, our banner. His banner over us is love. He is Jehovah-Shalom, our peace. He is Jehovah-Tsidkenu, our righteousness. He is Jehovah-Shammah – wherever we are, He is there.

Jesus is our Savior, our Rock, our Refuge, our Strength. He is our mighty strong tower. Are you overwhelmed today? Feeling afraid, insecurity or uncertain? Run to Jesus. 

Psalm 59:9: Because of his strength I will watch for You, For God is my stronghold.

Psalm 62:7: On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.

Psalm 71:7: I have become a marvel to many, For You are my strong refuge.

Romans 10:13: For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

True Repentance

We know that repentance means a turn of direction. But we have to turn to something. Gods’ word tells us “For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10. 

True Godly sorrow causes us to run into the arms of Jesus - the arms of grace leading to life in Him. There will be a true change.

Worldly sorrow lives in the moment, we may feel bad what we have done but it’s about us. Perhaps you got caught in sin and feel bad about being exposed. There is no power in merely feeling about what you’ve done. This causes us to turn from God and continue living in sin because it’s not produced by the Holy Spirit through conviction. It leads to death.

True repentance brings about sorrow for the way we have we have grieved God and others. It moves the heart of God with compassion and brings about a heart change in us. Psalm 103:13-14 says “Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.”

When we are in a sweet place of brokenness, the heart of God is moved and fills us with His grace.

Never Rejected, Never Unloved, Never Alone

Have you ever felt rejected, abandoned and unloved? Jesus will never leave you. 

He is incapable of suddenly deciding that He doesn't want you. Nothing you can do will cause Him to reject you. Believe what God's Word says about Him and about you.

You are defined by the love and acceptance of the One, who formed your inward parts - the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. He thinks you are worth loving, cherishing and keeping.

Find your identity in Him. Apply His love to your wounded heart and let His word renew your mind and penetrate deep in your heart. 

Deuteronomy 31:6, Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; "He will never leave you nor forsake you."

Joshua 1:5, No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Psalms 94:14 "For the LORD will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance."

Isaiah 42:16  "I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them."

Ephesians 3:17-19 “ That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,  may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Don't Worry

When we focus on a problem, it grows, multiplies, overwhelms and robs us of joy and peace. But when we focus on the Lord - on His word, love, grace, power, glory, and might - our problems become so small we can hardly see them.

Whatever has happened this week that has caused your focus to shift. It's time to refocus our attention to the only One who can calm the storms of our lives.

Lord, teach us to bring all things to You. When worry threatens to overwhelm, help us to commit our problems into Your hands and rest in the knowledge that You are sovereign and mighty. May the focus of our hearts and our lives upon You this day. In Jesus name, Amen!

"Do not fret.....Psalm 37:1

"So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:6

“ Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. “ 1 Peter 5:7

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” Proverbs 3:5-6

“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” Proverbs 12:25
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31