by Carol Roberts | Jul 31, 2015 | Love
There is great power behind a river dam. When used properly it creates electricity that benefits everyone. It prevents too much water from flooding land where people live. It provides necessary water at the proper time for crops to grow.
Occasionally when water needs to be released sirens blow to alert everyone to get out of the way. Many warnings go out to give people time to step away. There is much strength in these dams yet as powerful as they are, compared to God’s awesome power it doesn’t even tip the scales. Even with His power and might, our Lord loves us so much He died for us. He hears and answers prayers.
Imagine what happens when we call on God to help us and He releases His mighty power onto the object of our prayers. The burdens have to flee or be trampled by God. When we don’t see results right away it means power travels further before reaching us. As it travels it gathers even more strength. God knows exactly what He’s doing and He makes no mistakes. His love is all powerful and all gentle.
1 Peter 5:6-7
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time He will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.
by Carol Roberts | Jul 30, 2015 | Encouragement
It is always an exciting testimony when a person bound up in habits does a complete turnaround. It is even more exciting when that same person encourages others to do better. He uses his own examples to show it can be done.
The encouragement goes both ways. While the changed heart is encouraging others to become more like Christ, he receives encouragement watching others improve. The encouragement goes round and round with Christ at the center.
Most people will not have such a dramatic experience but the grace of God is the same. Friends sit with friends one on one and encourage each other through hardships. Things unfold as a result of even one person trusting. There are people who pray and many times no one ever knows. There is a closeness being created between God and that praying person that is beautiful beyond words.
With God, if it is one person secretly praying for another or a minister with a gift of reaching multitudes of people He is equally pleased.
There are situations where prayers are said for years for a person to have a change of heart. It’s sometimes difficult to remain optimistic but God knows how to encourage along the way. The simple example of a beautiful rose on the top of a stem of thorns shows that God comes through. It takes many thorns going up the stem of a rose before the bud appears. We never know when we are crossing that last thorn and will see the change of a situation.
What God did through the Apostle Paul is proof that God can change any heart. God’s grace is available to all people just for trusting.
1 Corinthians 15:9-10
For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church. But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by His grace.
by Carol Roberts | Jul 28, 2015 | Love
Nothing can destroy genuine love. Through thick and thin true love between two people, family or close friends cannot be quenched. If human love has this much power then God’s love is limitless. Love conquers all.
Jesus saves. Spread the word.
Song Of Solomon 8:7
Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it.
If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned.
by Carol Roberts | Jul 28, 2015 | Hope
One minute or several years, God has no clock on His wall. Things are sunny and warm or rainy and cold in our lives, Jesus is always Lord. Prayers are answered and people rejoice while others are still waiting to hear from God. It doesn’t matter what things appear to be. If we are still waiting to see God’s hand in a situation there is no reason to lose hope, God hasn’t had the final word yet. Every day is reason to praise God for what is and for what is to come. Jesus is Lord every day.
Lamentations 3:23-25
Great is his faithfulness;
His mercies begin afresh each morning.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;
therefore, I will hope in Him!”
The Lord is good to those who depend on Him,
to those who search for Him.
by Carol Roberts | Jul 27, 2015 | Love
There is much turmoil in trying to be something we are not. To climb a corporate ladder when our talents are skilled craftsmanship leads to disappointment. To wear designer clothes to compete with the popular crowd when our body shape doesn’t fit that design leads to heart ache. To give expensive gifts when money can be spent for a better purpose only to get noticed for the moment buys nothing at all.
There is great healing in recognizing the complexity of who God made us to be. God created us in His image with much detail and love. The acceptance of an entire world doesn’t even measure to the love God has for us. Peace and calmness come from accepting who we are and what we are designed be.
Psalm 139:13-18
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in Your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
How precious are Your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!