by Carol Roberts | Aug 19, 2016 | Salvation
There is comfort in knowing we are secure. When shopping it’s peaceful to know officers are around helping to control theft. As a child we feel safe in our mother’s arms. In our church there is a feeling of safety knowing our pastors speak about the love of Jesus Christ.
There is nothing more secure and safe than the signature of Jesus Christ written on our hearts by His blood.
The security of people come and go in our lives. The promise of Jesus Christ lasts forever.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name.
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me. Your rod and Your staff protect and comfort me.
You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely Your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.
by Carol Roberts | Aug 18, 2016 | Encouragement
A lot of businesses use the term, “Think Outside The Box.” In order to grow a company it is necessary to start looking beyond every day tasks. The same is true with our relationship to Christ.
We are limited with our minds to the solutions that are here on this earth. As God grows us into His likeness we are being trained to not think so much with our minds but instead with our hearts.
When situations in life are like deep waters we search for anything that will keep us afloat. We phone a friend, call organizations or attend a church. As we regularly seek our Bible and God in prayer it becomes the new normal to call upon Him first. We are more able to look beyond what we see and trust the One Who walked on water. There is no ocean too deep when we keep our feet upon the feet of Jesus who stands on the water.
To trust Jesus is to think outside the box. That’s where we will grow and soar to new heights.
Matthew 19:26
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
by Carol Roberts | Aug 17, 2016 | Hope
God delights in hearing and answering our prayers. All His answers are the best fit for each situation. If we honestly seek Him in all things and His words abide in us and we abide in Him we can ask for what we need.
There are times He will reveal to us obstacles to answered prayer rather than send an answer. Some things that hinder His divine answer could be things like selfishness, unconfessed sin, idols, grudges, worry and pride. The list varies from person to person.
God loves us so much that He wants to deal with these obstacles within our own selves to make more room for His love to flow. When God reveals to us our guilt He provides forgiveness when we come to Him. It is at that time He can begin a new work in us, cleaning us up and making us more like Him. As our minds becomes more like Christ’s He can more freely work through us.
When we are guilty of many of the obstacles to answered prayer it can be discouraging. Yet at the the same time it can be a welcomed encouragement that these are the things God will help us overcome. Overcoming these things will draw us closer to Him.
Ephesians 1:7-9
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ
Daniel 9:9
But the Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against Him.
by Carol Roberts | Aug 16, 2016 | Hope
Whether we have trusted God for an answer for days, weeks or years, He will answer. When we fully trust God with our petition it means God takes possession of it. We may not see a growing progress and at times we may even forget that we prayed about a certain thing.
There becomes a day when God’s answer unfolds in a way that is totally unexpected. This is true even when trusting for a restored relationship. Yes, it’s not too hard for God to put two people back together that have been separated fifteen years or longer. God remembers.
Galatians 6:9
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
by Carol Roberts | Aug 15, 2016 | Love
A person does not have to be rich, popular or perfect to seek the will of God. His Word and His love are available to all who will accept it. Anyone who humbly comes to God will see His greatness.
Pride can sometimes seem intimidating and unapproachable. When it comes to pride, that’s all there is. As pride is humbled it is exposed that there is nothing to see. Pride is nothing but a big puff of steam.
When it comes to God there are no limits. God created everything from nothing and His Word is eternal. When a person humbly seeks God through Jesus Christ they will receive answers from the Creator Himself.
The only thing worth boasting about is the love of Jesus Christ Himself. Boasting of anything else is putting energy into something that is temporary.
Luke 18:9-14
Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector
Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’
“But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”