Our Economy

We are living in an uncertain time.  People don’t know what to do.  This doesn’t just have to do with the stock market, but about homes, jobs….it’s affecting everyone.  In this time, God through David is calling us. 

Psalm 23:1 Jesus is the Good Shepard, we have a refuge.  Satan may offer much to us, but he can’t offer freedom.  We can’t forget that we are free from the power of sin.  Jesus came that we may have joy.  In the end, the economy is staying behind.

Psalm 23:2 When was the last time you stopped to rest?  To think about how it’s going?  What is this life in view of eternity?  We need to take inventory and ask ourselves what this life means.  The Lord wants to bring us to peace.  No one can take it.  Are we waiting to get sick, to have time to pray and read the Bible?  We can be so busy spiritually, that we don’t have time to be quiet with God.  When was the last time you’ve had quiet time to fill up spiritually?

Psalm 23:3  When He leads, we are safe.  Our Sheperd goes on before us.  He has been reliable.  He care for us, He is faithful.  He promised to be with us until the world end.

Psalm 23:5 He is worrying for us.  We have a stronghold in the LORD.  We don’ need to doubt Him.  He is always enough.  The Father in Heaven cares for the sparrows, how much will He provide for us?  We need to learn to trust.  We need to turn our eyes upon Him.

Do we really know the Shepard?  Do we know Him personally?

Do you know the Psalm or the Shepard?

We have a leader who promised to be with us until we die.  We can put our trust in Him.

In the valley on my knees?

Would it matter to you whether you were on the mountain top, or in the valley on your knees?  I wonder sometimes whether God would rather be praised when things are good or if things are bad.  I think maybe when God has us in a valley, He shows us that we need to praise Him above everything.  I forget that sometimes when i’m on the mountain close to Him.  I encourage you today that you would praise God wherever you are.  If you’re in the valley on your knees, you can only grow closer to God.

A Happy Funeral

Today was the day we gathered to honor a woman who was a huge blessing while on earth.  A woman who deserved to see her Maker.  A woman who knew she was Heaven-bound by the grace of God.  A hundred years on earth is many years.  She waited soo long to see Jesus and now she is at His side.  Singing praise songs with the angels and children of God.  In Paradise where she belongs.

I pray dear God, that i can make it too.  I have faith you died for me.  That you forgave me and i can live a victorious life.  I have joy in you.  Joy that will never fade.  Joy that grows with each new day with You.

Rooted in Christ

In youth the other night we had the topic “Rooted in Christ”.

By identifying winds of our christian walk, we could find ways to deal with them.  Winds such as worldly influences, doubts, temptations, peer pressure, seeing others blown over and not getting up, media, consumerism and other discouragements.

These winds can destroy our roots in Christ, namely our faith.  We need to be mindful of our doctrine. (“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.”-Ephesians 4:14)  We are constantly bombarded with information, theories and ideas.  We need to sift through what is true.  (“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.” – Colossians 2:6-8 )

What can i do to become more rooted and established in the faith??  I can excersize applying what i believe.  I can know my Bible, grow in knowledge of God’s word.  I can spend time with other christians.  I can be watchful, be careful who teaches me, what i read, and go back to the standard of God’s word.  I can learn from mistakes.  I can read and pray.

But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. -James 1:6

i heard this song…

es kann nicht immer nur die Sonne scheinen,

es muss auch ab und zu der Himmel weinen…

It was a german song by a german folk singer Heintje.  It was all about how we can’t enjoy the sunshine if we never experience rain.  This gave me some answers to why i often wonder why i don’t ‘feel’ saved, and why sometimes i feel as though i could burst with love for my Saviour.

I came to the conclusion that the reason i have mountain top experiences is because i spend time in the valleys.  If i never had hard times, then i couldn’t truly feel so complete at other times.  I used to wonder why, but now i know.  Praise God!

I will not waste time on anything that i can’t change anyway.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Worrying about things that i can’t change anyway, is one thing i need to change.  There always will be things i can’t change.  There always will be people i can’t change.  Not that they can’t change, but that they don’t want to.  Can i let them steal my inner peace?

Only God can change things.  And God can also help me to accept things that won’t be changed.  This seems like a hard task.  I need to pray for grace to understand.  I need to remember that i can always find something good about everyone.

More times than not, I am the one who needs to change.  It may be how i look at the situation or the situation is there to change me.  I need to accept what the Lord wants me too.  If i give everything to the Lord, i can watch as He takes care of everything.

Complaining while serving God?

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does. – Ephesians 6:7-8

This something that i need to be reminded of daily.  Whether it is cleaning up the dishes, or doing school work, it is so easy to complain.  But why complain, when what i do is all for God?  How can i complain to the God who sent his only Son to die so that i could live eternally with Him?

If we realized that absolutely everything we do is for the Lord, would we do it differently?  Would our attitude change?  Even while singing congregational hymns and when working with people we don’t like?

God will reward us.  God can’t reward us for more than we do.  Not only can we do good, but we can do it with all of our hearts only for God.

Thanks for the food.

Whenever i eat something that tastes good, i wonder why i was not only blessed with food, but with food that tastes good.  There are so many people who starve, while i get a different variety of food every day.

I want to thank you God that i have it soo good.  I don’t understand why you would give me the good tasting food.  I want to let you know that i appreciate it.  With each bite, i look to you in thanksgiving.  Lord, you are soo good to me.

Redeem the time

When life gets busy it is easy to waste time on things that don’t really matter.  Wasting time is when nothing beneficial comes from the time spent, and in our christian walk, anything that doesn’t get us in the direction of our Goal.

Among many time wasters, the worst would be surfing the Internet without purpose (facebook…), electronics (TV, Movies, & Video games), media  (texting…), pointless conversations, lounging and daydreaming/worrying.  Some of these past times don’t interest me, some do.  By identifying what tempts me most, i can have the power the fight the temptation of wasting time when i could be focusing on growing closer to God.

I can’t expect to use my time wisely if i don’t prioritize.  If i make myself a schedule, i can make conscience decisions on how to spend my time.  I also need to practise self-control, so that i can limit my time.  By concentrating on what i do and multi-tasking at the same time, i will have more time for God.  When i have time to wait, I have time to pray.

I can redeem the time of my youth years by doing as much as possible for the ministry.  That is something that i will never forget.  I can also make wise decisions for the future such as health, education, career,  and who i am friends with.

Therefore He says:  “ Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. –Ephesians 5: 14-17

Jesus never changes

Sometimes when i look at those who have fallen, and aren’t serving the Lord anymore, i wonder if that ever could happen to me.  Sometimes when i look at others who won the race of life, i wonder if i am going to make it.  Sometimes i doubt.

I was reminded yesterday, that Jesus never changes.  Jesus was there for my forefathers who made it.  And because Jesus never changes, i too can make it.  I can win the race.  It may not be easy, but with His help, i will be able to stand strong no matter what may come.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. –Hebrews 13:8