by Carol Roberts | Nov 22, 2016 | Encouragement
Wait? What, again? But things seem so ready. The situation is right, the people who are instrumental in making things happen are all in the proper place and confidence is at its greatest.
Why wait? The answer is simple. The mind is ready but the spirit still needs to be brought under submission. The results of moving ahead anyway could very well bring about the desired results but will it bring about divine results that glorify God and bring eternal rewards?
There are times when things seem so unready and God says, “GO.” It’s the humility and trusting God in all things that brings about heavenly results that last a lifetime here too.
To humbly trust God or to confidently push ahead is a choice that continually challenges each believer. Prayerfully listen and the right time will become obvious for any human action.
1 Peter 5:6-7 New Living Translation
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 | Nov 21, 2016 | Salvation
All scripture is inspired by God and all scripture serves a divine purpose. Studying the Bible sheds deeper meanings than just the words themselves because God Himself inspired them.
Jesus Christ is the true vine and the source of all knowledge, wisdom and strength for all branches. Beautiful trees will occasionally have a branch that withers and dies and produces nothing. Until that particular branch is removed the remainder of the tree is handicapped in beauty and strength. Unproductive branches take energy from the vine, therefore minimizing the strength that is sent to the productive branches.
In life, if it isn’t working out it’s time to cut it off.
This is especially true of relationships whether it be friends or business partners. Much time is devoted toward that person or group and it’s one rejection after another. While it’s the right thing to do in order to make things work for all people involved there becomes a time when life is more productive letting particular relationships go. The energy devoted toward people who have no desire to grow into the likeness of Christ can be devoted to ones following the will of God for His divine purpose.
The things removed from life that hold people back from growing in grace will be replaced by things much more productive. The rewards are much greater.
John 15:5-7 Living Bible
“Yes, I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him shall produce a large crop of fruit. For apart from me you can’t do a thing. If anyone separates from Me, he is thrown away like a useless branch, withers, and is gathered into a pile with all the others and burned. But if you stay in Me and obey My commands, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted!
by Carol Roberts | Nov 19, 2016 | Hope
There are times in each of our lives when we have our hearts set on a particular dream only to watch it fizzle out. The feeling we have of hopelessness can be compared to that of falling into a well.
We are looking up to see the light but the more we try to push ourselves up the more dirt falls in around us. Our friends pray for us giving hope they can help us out in some way. People come around and dig a second shaft hoping to tunnel across to reach us and pull us up that way. Just about the time we feel they can reach us and prayers are answered both the rescue shaft and the well cave in leaving us buried.
What a horrible feeling it is when there is nothing else we can do but lay our dream aside. Suddenly a person remembers a mining cave close by the well. Just one tug on our foot and we are pulled into the cave where we can walk out easily to the light. No digging required. The door is open for us to easily walk out.
When all efforts fail then God intervenes in an unexpected way. Many times God does not require efforts but only to trust. He will come through in ways we do not expect. He will send answers where we are not looking. Hope is never lost when we place our trust in God.
Romans 15:13 New International Version
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.
by Carol Roberts | Nov 18, 2016 | Hope
Imagine this: You are invited to stand beside Christ in heaven for only a moment. He allows you to see things how He sees them. There you stand beside the radiance and brilliance of Christ Himself Who is surrounded by light so glorious you cannot even look His way.
He points to earth which is the size of even the smallest grain of sand you have ever known. Then He makes reference to you and your size which cannot be seen with the naked human eye. The prayer request you have been making for days, weeks, months or even years that seem bigger than the world do not match a puff of smoke when compared to heaven.
Then God allows you to return back to the earth surrounded by that situation that is so huge you don’t know how it will ever end. Now God allows you to understand that the greatness you experienced in your visit to heaven can now engulf your prayer request. All of heaven opens up and focuses onto the object of your prayer request.
For God, nothing is too hard. Now it’s up to you to remove all human barriers that keep our thoughts focused on the situation or human reasons why things are impossible. For each barrier removed is one more open door to the faith that pleases God.
Resist the thoughts of the devil and they will flee. Jesus said many times while He was on earth faith has healed. To get that faith is to think outside the box of barriers because through Christ there are no barriers.
Ephesians 3:20-21 New International Version
Now to Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
by Carol Roberts | Nov 17, 2016 | Salvation
There is a book called 90 Minutes In Heaven. When the author was interviewed he made a statement that heaven is more real than earth. He mentioned colors and aromas that have never been experienced here on earth. The music is beyond any harmony or voice ever heard here. The glory of God is a light so bright it can not be looked at.
The Apostle Paul, whether in a vision or an actual visit to heaven mentioned that he did not have words to explain. He said even if he wanted or tried to explain he could not.
While life on earth offers only a limited view of the realities to come there are glorious wonders within reach. Look around and wonder how a world suspended in space allows feet to be planted firmly on the ground. How do the oceans in all their greatness come only so far onto the land and no further?
In the night sky are too many stars to count. The darker the night the more stars are seen. The sunlight is too bright to be seen for any length of time. All these are earthly proofs of all that is mentioned in the Bible.
It is reasonable that God will reveal only what earthly minds can comprehend. The more time spent studying the Bible the more God reveals Who He Is. When answers are needed for difficult circumstances God will reveal more about Who He Is. To know Him is to automatically know His answers.
Jesus is worthy of praise. He makes heaven and eternal life possible for all who trust and accept Him as Savior. He holds in His hands all of heaven and earth. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob today because they are still very much alive. What a glorious day that will be when all have arrived.
Psalm 19:1-4 Living Bible
The heavens are telling the glory of God; they are a marvelous display of His craftsmanship. Day and night they keep on telling about God. Without a sound or word, silent in the skies, their message reaches out to all the world. The sun lives in the heavens where God placed it.
