by Carol Roberts | Jan 13, 2016 | Love
A good salesman can sell almost anything with a bunch of impressive words and a smooth tone. It does not matter the condition of the item he is selling or if it is even in working condition. He knows how to sell with big words. A person can look at the item and tell it’s a lemon but some people will buy it anyway because they find the salesman’s words irresistible.
Some relationships work like that. A person doesn’t show love but knows how to say all the right things at the right time to hook a person on a bunch of empty feelings. The trap of being in love with empty feelings is a horrible emotion to try to overcome. There is a charisma that draws people for the purpose of feeding an oversized ego. This type relationship damages both people.
The devil is famous for appearing as an angel of light. The devil deceives with polished emptiness that lures even the strongest Christians. We should be on guard at all times by remaining in the Word of God. God will grant us the grace we need to escape these traps before they sink their teeth into us. We will know a genuine heart by the love they demonstrate. The love of Jesus is real. His love is peaceful and comforting with security in His arms. Jesus never offers an emotional trap that would cause anyone to go against their hearts. He will lead us to genuine friendships, situations, relationships and businesses when we seek His face. People who love Jesus will demonstrate His love in their actions.
1 John 3:18-19
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence.
by Carol Roberts | Jan 12, 2016 | Encouragement
There are governments who are now saying certain hardships, illnesses or quality of life are unproductive in society. Jesus died for all people and there are no such people that are unproductive in His eyes.
Some of the greatest lessons in trust come from young children. Some of the greatest demonstrations of faith come from people with challenges. Some of the greatest advice comes from elderly people. All people are precious in His sight and all people have a divine purpose in God’s plan.
Proverbs 20:29
The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old.
by Carol Roberts | Jan 11, 2016 | Salvation
There are songs that melt the heart. A young soloist sings a love song and young people rush to the stage hoping for a glance. That’s a feeling of emotion. There is nothing to base a romance or marriage over yet it crosses the minds of many young people.
If a human presentation and voice can do all that, imagine what God can do. God has already proposed marriage through Jesus Christ. It is His desire for all to accept His love and spend eternity with Him. God’s love is real and it offers everything to base an eternity over. All God does is genuine and worthy of trust. He heals, comforts, straightens paths, mends relationships and even sings. Yes, God sings to us. We may not recognize His voice because it is too majestic to comprehend with the human mind.
Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior Who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.
by Carol Roberts | Jan 9, 2016 | Salvation
Some of the best books have a gaudy cover. The cover is unappealing to look at yet the title is inviting. Many will pass over such a book and they will learn later it was one of the best books ever written.
This concept works with people. A kind widow who has a reputation of being one of the nicest people around is overlooked because she is poor. She wants to make a donation to the building project for an orphanage that would help numerous children. The people in charge of the project refer her to places where she can mail a donation thinking she has only pennies to give. They are totally unaware of the fact she came into a large inheritance that would finish the project.
A car dealership has a man to walk up wearing jeans and a sweat shirt wanting to look at cars. No salesman approached him. Another potential customer walked up in Sunday attire and salesmen were fighting over him. That man was just getting ideas with no intention of buying anything. The man wearing the jeans and sweat shirt walked away and went to a sister dealership. He had money in the bank and was ready to buy a car and pay for it in full.
The greatest gift that can ever be offered is the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. He was a carpenter.
How many times have the greatest blessings in life been thrown away because the blessing was not wrapped in fancy paper.
Mark 12:10-11
Haven’t you read this passage of Scripture:
The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes?
by Carol Roberts | Jan 8, 2016 | Encouragement
Sometimes the biggest shocks in life are ones that come from friends. We think we have a friend who sticks closer than a brother yet behind our backs is a different story. With a sincere heart we donate to help one in need. We try to raise money through charities and donations then learn our donations were used for drugs. The need was exaggerated in order to gather funds to support a habit.
In another situation we are lead to believe fund raisers are going to help families in need for Christmas presents for children. Later it is learned that all donations were used to create a consignment store and no family got help.
One more deception is when we are lead to believe there is a genuine need for emotional support, counsel and prayers. While we pray and get others to join and believe for a miracle, our friend is giving no thought to our efforts while delving into things of the devil.
These examples are actual things that have happened to some of us in different ways at different times. There are numerous deceptions where we are made to think we are doing a good deed when there is no need at all. That is the worst kind of deception friends can do to a friend.
When the truth hits it can hurt really badly. We feel our efforts were in vain after so much time and effort was spent trying to help. Numerous emotions come to our minds such as anger, grief, shock, distrust and never wanting to help anyone ever again. What do we do with these emotions?
First of all, God is not the author of lies or deceptions. The devil comes to kill, steal and destroy and one of his biggest tricks is to come as a wolf in sheep’s clothing. What we meant for good even though trampled God can turn it back to good to us. We acted in good faith and obedience to the word of God and those are the actions we are responsible for. The actions of the deceiver are between them and God. It’s time to put a smile back on our faces and give thanks to God because He never changes. He is holding our hand and smiling on us. He has plans for the ones who hurt and deceived us but those plans are not for us to know. The important thing is that we have another opportunity to forgive and there is one more treasure placed in heaven just for us.
Psalm 55:21-22 New Living Translation
His words are as smooth as butter, but in his heart is war. His words are as soothing as lotion, but underneath are daggers! Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.