by Carol Roberts | Jan 19, 2016 | Hope
It takes months and even years to develop a personality. It is reasonable to assume it takes just as long to undo particular habits that have been a part of a person for years. To demand a change never works. To become angry and be at odds with that person only heats things up. No matter how much a person is on a destructive path it will be only when the person is ready that steps will be taken to improve.
People do not go astray overnight. It takes one small temptation after another before they take their first destructive step. One step at a time, one kind word at a time, one smile at a time is implanting love in the heart of the one needing to come to Jesus. There will be a day when persistent kindness will impact his/her heart. As we are being taught endurance through a person needing to change we can know that faith and persistence will be noticed by that person. As we continue to pray for that person we can be thankful for the small steps of faith instead of being discouraged that a full change is yet to happen.
Romans 15:5-6
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
by Carol Roberts | Jan 17, 2016 | Hope
Obedience to God and the leading of His Spirit will bring about good results. In 2 Kings chapters 3 and 4 alone there were many times God used Elisha to do the will of God. Through his obedience and the obedience of others miracles happened. A dry valley was filled with pools of water even without rain or wind. There was victory over the army of Moab. With just one flask of olive oil a poor lady was able to fill numerous jars with olive oil from her flask. This created an income for her preventing the government from taking her sons. An elderly couple was granted a baby boy. Later when their boy died he was raised from the dead. Poisonous stew was made edible by tossing flour into the stew. With one sack of grain and twenty loaves of barley bread hundreds of people were fed with scraps left over. That’s a lot of miracles packed into those two chapters.
Does God still grant these miracles today? Absolutely. The key is to obey what He is prompting us in our hearts, ask no questions and get busy with His instructions. Why ruin everything by asking how or why? Obey God and let Him figure out how to get things done.
John 14:12 New Living Translation
I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in Me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.
by Carol Roberts | Jan 16, 2016 | Hope
Have you ever gotten a beautiful compliment from someone and it made your day? Then later you overhear that same person tell another that you have to have compliments in order to make you feel you measure up as a person. There is nothing more emotionally damaging than for someone to tell you a lot of nice things they don’t mean and you find out the truth later. How do you trust someone like that? You don’t. Those people damaged their own ability to be trusted. Trust is something that is earned and once it’s broken it’s next to impossible to get it back fully.
Has anyone offended you by saying all the right things the wrong way. You later find out the person was very sincere but doesn’t have what it takes to say things affectively. Your opinion of that person changes from anger to appreciative but it’s too late. You have already lashed out at that person.
Honesty and truth, even though it may not be what we want to hear, is always best. It prevents hardships, misunderstandings and lost friendships. Accepting what others say in good faith that they mean well will also prevent trouble.
God knows every heart and every motive. God knows when a person is genuine and when they are not. Returning kindness, no matter what is delivered to us in words, is a way of trusting God in all things. God will reveal a wrong motive and punish in His timing and His way. He will also reveal a pure motive and reward in His timing and His way. God never judges us on impure motives toward us from others. Our kindness in all things is what pleases God.
1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.
by Carol Roberts | Jan 15, 2016 | Encouragement
There are times in life when circumstances are above and beyond anything we can reach. Situations are so high above our heads there is no way to even climb up to them, much less fix them.
There are disappointments in life where hope lies ahead. When we get to what we think is a solution it’s all full of holes and other impossibilities.
There are answers across a lake too deep to cross and we wonder if there will ever be a way to cross over to the beauty on the other side.
When we step back to look at the situation further down the road it usually means we are standing still to get a clearer look. To stand still means no progress is made. Jesus tells us to walk in faith. Walk means move. What He did not tell us is to give up on Him and stop moving. Jesus directs our path one step at a time, one day at a time. He tells us in Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
God has made things easier for us during these times of uncertainties. We are responsible for focusing on only the next step. He will make it clear the steps to take and when to take them. All other focus is His business and He will work things out.
Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
by Carol Roberts | Jan 13, 2016 | Encouragement
There is a type of happiness that is for a time. A bottle of bubbles brings laughter and happiness to a young child. There are bubbles all around and excitement when a bubble is touched. Once it’s touched it’s gone. There are many things in life that define happiness but once the situation is over the happiness starts to go away.
Joy comes from our Lord and it is planted in the heart. It never goes away because the love of Jesus is eternal. Because this joy is placed in our hearts it does not go away when the situation is over. Jesus always works from the inside out. Many times we don’t see His hand at work for that reason. However once we see His work it lasts forever because he placed it in our hearts and not the situations.
Romans 15:12
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.