by Carol Roberts | Nov 10, 2016 | Encouragement
Our mission here on earth is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our purpose is to please God in all situations. As time draws to a close with things developing into trials all over the world we must ask ourselves, do we believe in God and do we trust God.
The devil will throw anything possible into our paths to lure our attention away from Christ into full concentration onto the situation at hand.
How many times have we been blindsided by bad news? Our employer is downsizing the company and laying off people. We do not get the badly needed raise promised. Paychecks do not cover the necessities of life. Promotions are for a certain clique.
What about rejections from people? Has it ever been someone we love suddenly quits speaking leaving us to wonder what’s wrong with us. We do everything possible to say all the right things and still get snubbed. To ask them what we have done wrong is a lost cause because they aren’t speaking to tell us. To make matters worse, they hug and speak all around us and totally skip us.
There are churches that are becoming more about membership numbers and large donations and have no regard for the needs of their flocks. We show up with the right attitude wanting to serve only to be told our services are not needed. They have paid people who do everything. This leaves local communities with no sense of belonging to God’s work here on earth.
What do we do when the world is full of disasters and bad news? How do we handle cruel and painful rejections of those we love or told we have no place in the local church?
One thing to remember is that the devil comes to steal, kill and destroy. As his days become shorter he will do anything possible to throw us under the bus so to speak.
Another thing God points out to us is that our battle is spiritual. It’s God v/s the devil and the victory has already been won. Our biggest defense is the time spent in prayer acknowledging Christ as the victor and thanking Him that the battle was won 2000 years ago. He knew before the beginning of time this day would come where our loved one quits speaking or that the job no longer serves the purpose.
While the devil is notorious for turning person against person or creating situations that totally crush us emotionally, Jesus is alive. It’s a time to gauge how well we embrace the word of God over the disappointments and hurts of others. It’s a time to prayerfully seek God’s direction and see if He is creating a new path.
There are numerous people who are hungry to hear the gospel and it’s pleasing to God when we carry the news.
As for these loved ones who quit speaking then suddenly speak again making us to be rejected one day and elated the next, it’s time to consider if that loved one was ever sincere. This is especially true if the communication is on and off over and over. There are more productive things to place our thoughts and prayers.
As for these companies who look after their clique and we don’t have even a chance of a raise or promotion, it could be God is moving us into the ministry. Earthly jobs are just that, earthly jobs. They fulfill a purpose only here. It’s time to seek God’s face for a vocation.
As for these gimmick type churches where the only outreach is to bring in numbers, it’s time to seek a place of worship where the flock is fulfilled. Only a fulfilled person has plenty to reach out to another person.
Time is too short to get side tracked with people, places and things that create such emotional baggages that we cannot serve. It’s time to throw off all that slows us down so we can continue to run the race where the trophy is to hear those much sought after words of God: Well done My faithful servant.
2 Timothy 4:5 Living Bible
Stand steady, and don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Bring others to Christ. Leave nothing undone that you ought to do.
by Carol Roberts | Nov 9, 2016 | Hope
We have all seen it. A person who trusts God and lives right will be run over by the ones who do evil. Some evil people go to church and act holy yet secretly treat a Christian very unfairly. One of the hardest things to endure is the compliments people make to us about the one who has hurt us the most. What are we supposed to do? Do we smile and agree or do we tear that enemy down? Do we sit silently or do we expose that person while we have a listening ear? It’s at those times we depend on God to speak through us or grant us peace while we say nothing at all.
We watch while people are promoted and take credit knowing we did all the hard work. Others will present a totally different image of themselves while certain people are watching than they do behind their backs. In the mean time, Christians still strive to be Christlike in the worst of times.
At the end of life, sometimes we wonder what we have to show for all our hard work and endurance. Most of the rewards were given to evil doers while we got overlooked.
There is good news. Life has two chapters. Chapter one, which we experience now, has all the earthly rewards that cannot be taken to heaven. Chapter two, which we step into at the end of earthly life, has all the rewards that last forever. All the rewards for promotions we did not get and all the recognition for serving others are there. We enjoy them for an eternity. The greatest reward of all is when God tells us, “well done, My faithful servant.”
As for the evil doers, there will be no cheating, backstabbing, stealing and injustices done in eternity. Many will not even be there.
Ecclesiastes 8:11-13 New Living Translation
When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong. But even though a person sins a hundred times and still lives a long time, I know that those who fear God will be better off. The wicked will not prosper, for they do not fear God. Their days will never grow long like the evening shadows.
by Carol Roberts | Nov 8, 2016 | Love
YES LORD
What a joy it is when we get a word from God. It may be in a dream, thought, through another person or during our Bible reading. There are times when God’s specific instructions grab our heart in a way that cannot be described.
It’s exciting to follow the direct commands from God when we are being lead to do something that comes naturally to us. A good singer is prompted to join the church choir so his schedule is eagerly cleared to obey. A fine carpenter is urged in his heart to help an elderly couple build a wheel chair ramp for their house and he promptly obeys.
Oops, here comes a definite urging of the heart to walk up to an enemy and offer a sincere compliment, handshake and even a hug. That enemy has made us suffer many consequences as a result of his actions toward us. At the same time the tugging in our heart is so strong we choke on the words God has put in our hearts as we utter them in obedience.
Many missionaries follow the direction of the Holy Spirit to serve in areas far from home. Soldiers go through extensive training and risk their lives for others in obedience to God.
We may not see the results or the results of our obedience seem to be unfavorable but God knew the outcome before we were given the instruction.
The Apostle Paul said, “yes, Lord,” and a large portion of the New Testament is because of him. Abraham said “yes, Lord,” and his descendants are too many to count. These are two examples of ordinary people following specific instructions from God that has resulted in numerous people getting saved.
Do we read our Bibles often enough to be able to recognize God’s voice when He calls?
John 21:15-17 New Living Translation
After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love You.”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love Me?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love You.”
“Then take care of My sheep,” Jesus said.
A third time He asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?”
Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, You know everything. You know that I love You.”
Jesus said, “Then feed My sheep.
by Carol Roberts | Nov 7, 2016 | Hope
Even in the most difficult circumstances there are choices. Choices can be broken down into two categories which are heavenly or earthly.
Earthly choices include contacting people to either complain or set up a solution. Heavenly solutions include prayer to either discuss the situation with God or to ask for evidence of the victory.
While on earth, Jesus was very specific when He gave an order to prayer. The first step of prayer is to acknowledge God Who is everything and notice His holiness. The next step is to take notice that His kingdom will come and His will will be implemented here on earth. Only after that does He mention us and the things to ask for. Even if the prayer never gets to the steps that include us, God is God. He knows all hearts, both ours and the enemy’s hearts. He knows all things before we even ask.
Now we have the big choice. Do we focus on the circumstances and the complexity of them or do we concentrate on the Victor and watch how He unfolds all things into a blessing? Despair or excitement in any situation is always a choice that is ours to make.
Matthew 6:9-15 New Living Translation
Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may Your name be kept holy.
May Your Kingdom come soon. May Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
by Carol Roberts | Nov 5, 2016 | Salvation
An athlete runs the race and wins. He places the trophy on the shelf and then celebrates. Once the celebration is over and the newness of the trophy wears off, what next? A student studies hard and makes good grades. She even goes on to graduate with honors. There are parties and recognition but that quickly fades away. What next?
In life there are numerous goals to be accomplished. Enough should never be enough. Once a goal is accomplished it’s on to the next greatest thing.
It’s the same spiritually. Studying the Bible and fellowshipping with others in order to learn more about Jesus should be like kindling a fire in our hearts. It’s exciting when Jesus reveals to us something we do not yet know. We enjoy that excitement but it leaves us wanting to learn something else. When Jesus reveals Himself to us it creates an even stronger bond. Enough is never enough until we reach our final reward. Jesus created it all. Jesus is all. Jesus is enough.
1 Corinthians 8:6 The Living Bible
But we know that there is only one God, the Father, Who created all things and made us to be His own; and one Lord Jesus Christ, Who made everything and gives us life.