by Carol Roberts | Dec 30, 2015 | Salvation
People invest for entire lifetimes in banks, stocks, bonds and land hoping for a large return. With the interest paid on the right type investments a person can live comfortably for a lifetime. Many times there will be enough to pass along to children for them to enjoy.
What about investments that started out good then folded? People lose even the amount of money they originally invested. They are left with nothing.
There are spiritual investments. When we love God and put Him first in our lives the choicest possession is wisdom. God values wisdom as greater than gold. God asked Solomon what he would like from Him. Solomon asked for wisdom and God gave him both wisdom and material things. There is no greater love than Jesus Christ and no greater possession than wisdom. To seek God first is to love and to obey God is wise.
Proverbs 3:13-14
Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding,
for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
by Carol Roberts | Dec 29, 2015 | Love
Most people think of dates when it comes to being stood up. We prepare to meet someone special in order to spend time but the person never shows up. When we try to contact them to make sure things are ok there is no answer. What a horrible rejection and it will always be remembered.
Being stood up could mean a lot of things besides just dating situations. We are always there for a friend to support them in prayer and encouragement. Then a day comes when we are in dire need of just a kind voice to say they will pray. We can’t reach the person but we know messages are heard that we are trying to get in touch. All we want is just a few seconds to ask for an understanding prayer. The person finally responds with a retort telling us to get our own Bible and do our own praying. What a horrible void it is to be turned away like that.
We like someone and want to see them succeed and they are the best friend we could ever have. They get our vote and win the pageant then they no longer speak to us. What a horrible disappointment it is to watch such a beautiful friendship go down the tubes.
The worst thing is when we realize we have forgotten someone who truly remembers us and know how deeply they hurt that we have done the same to them. If we truly care for someone, we care when we realize our loved one is forgotten by us.
Genuine love never purposely stands up anyone and will care enough to make things right. Otherwise, the love was never there. What a horrible reality it is to learn someone’s words were only that, words. Empty words hurt people. Love does not do that. Jesus, is always the same.
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong! Be courageous! Do not be afraid of them! For the Lord your God will be with you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you.”
by Carol Roberts | Dec 28, 2015 | Hope
Many times all focus is on the circumstance at hand. We try to figure out how it’s possible to see even the smallest sun ray of hope or imagine a solution to such a complex situation. Many hours are spent pondering the “what ifs” concerning the things we see. What if I do this in order to bring a result? What if I had of done something different: would I be in this mess today?
Once efforts are spent and numerous thoughts wasted on trying to figure things out, God still waits. Finally comes that special moment when God hears the words He has longed to hear from the start. I can’t.
With just a small amount of faith God can open floodgates of blessings from heaven. Imagine what life would be like if we call on God first then wait while He works all things out. Jesus is worthy of praise in all He is about to bring and all the things He has already brought.
Matthew 17:20 New Living Translation
“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”
by Carol Roberts | Dec 26, 2015 | Love
God’s biggest blessings reach high into the heavens, too marvelous for words. When we ask for His help He sends greater that our biggest imagination.
When we present problems that are over our head we can know that all problems are under His feet. Nothing is too big for Him to overcome and nothing is too small for Him to notice. There is nothing on this earth that is large enough to contain His greatness and His love for us.
Isaiah 66:1
Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool: What Temple can you build for me as good as that?
by Carol Roberts | Dec 24, 2015 | Hope
When time seems to stand still and we can’t see any progress in the things where we have sought answers, wait. When God does His mightiest work all of heaven stands in awe, silent and motionless. The Bible tells us in Revelation 8:1, When the Lamb had broken the seventh seal, there was silence throughout all heaven for what seemed like half an hour.
A still silence happens when something too marvelous for words is about to happen. As we walk through times when things are quiet we can know God is up to something good.
Psalm 107:28-30
Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble, and He saves them. He calms the storm and stills the waves. What a blessing is that stillness as He brings them safely into harbor!