by Carol Roberts | Apr 30, 2017 | Salvation
There are no rituals, deeds, works or acts of cleanliness that can get a person to heaven. Salvation is a free gift that cannot be bought. It’s just a matter of acknowledging and accepting Christ’s love toward us. Any deed or act of worship after that fact is done out of love and appreciation of what Christ has already done.
There are no gifts that can be given here on earth as a present that has any lasting value. Only God can give this great of love.
Matthew 10:32-33 New Living Translation
“Everyone who acknowledges Me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before My Father in heaven. But everyone who denies Me here on earth, I will also deny before My Father in heaven.
by Carol Roberts | Apr 28, 2017 | Love
There are dark caves and without a lantern there is no way of knowing what is ahead. People can try to make their way through without any light but all they know is the immediate surroundings. They can only feel which causes them to miss any beauty or danger that is hidden.
It is the same with spiritual living. Without the love of Jesus Christ people move ahead in life enjoying the things are immediate. Some may save up for a nice house or work their way up the corporate ladder which serves a purpose only on earth.
As people grow to understand the love of Jesus Christ and His eternal future it starts to make more sense the little things done in love accumulate heavenly blessings. This is the type of light that brightens the future and many can see this light in the lives of those who genuinely love others.
Matthew 6:22-23 New Living Translation
“Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
by Carol Roberts | Apr 26, 2017 | Hope
My my, what a selfish question but don’t we all wonder sometimes if there is ever a reward for our efforts? Many of us have thankless jobs that pay very little while others seem to get all the rewards. Others of us speak out in defense when something is obviously not right only to be the one criticized and punished.
Sometimes many years pass by or even lifetimes with no vindication while evil seems to prosper in our faces. It’s as though we are doing without while others are getting all the rewards. There becomes a time when we must realize that our reward comes from the heavenly realm.
While there are rewards here on earth we have all of eternity to look forward to. The rewards that should have been a given while we are here are being stored in heaven where there are no flaws. Nobody can take them away from us and the new never wears off.
God has not forgotten and His rewards are perfect and far greater than anything we can imagine here.
Luke 18:29-30 New Living Translation (NLT)
“Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come.”
by Carol Roberts | Apr 25, 2017 | Encouragement
The closer we become to God the more some people alienate themselves from us. We get along fine with them. In fact we have had some of these people in our homes. We have laughed and cried together. We have gone out on weekends to enjoy a program or a vacation. We have talked on the phone for hours yet somehow we aren’t as close as we used to be.
Nothing has happened between us. No harsh words have been exchanged but slowly they aren’t as available as before.
The fact is they are growing more uncomfortable little at a time. Something in their spirit is restless and they don’t know why. As we take the time to ponder our friendships we realize they have no interest in God or the Bible. They are starting to see themselves as God sees them and the most common thing for ones like that to do is to find friendships with others like them. They do not want to be exposed for the things they do in secret so they find new things to do away from anyone who walks in the light.
It’s not us they are avoiding. They are avoiding themselves. Some of the things in their hearts that need a change, they are not willing alter. We have not lost a friendship in these people. We have been protected by God. He will send new friends that lift us up.
John 3:19-20 New Living Translation
And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.
by Carol Roberts | Apr 24, 2017 | Salvation
A COLORFUL COAT OF HONOR
When we say yes to God He declares us His own. We have His favor even through hardships. Just like Joseph endured one obstacle after another back in the book of Genesis God promoted him each time.
He was sold into slavery, his brothers disliked him, untruths were told about him, he was forgotten yet at the right time he was promoted to second next to Pharaoh. He had God’s favor.
God will do the same for us as we put Him first in our lives. He gives us a colorful coat of honor that declares we are His.
As we wear the gold for purity and the red for forgiveness by the blood of Christ others will notice. Others will want to know more about Him or they will dislike us out of jealousy and cause problems. The green represents new growth and maturity and the blue represents calmness and stillness. We wear these colors in our attitudes and our smiles. As the sun sets on various seasons in our live we wear beautiful pink and orange reflecting the presence of God even during a sunset. We can rest in the assurance that each obstacle is a forerunner to a promotion in life. Each obstacle is a reminder we are still growing in grace and God is with us each step of the way. Each hardship that is overcome is a brand new testimony that is helpful to others.
As we wear these colors in our hearts that God gave us we can be certain that we have God’s favor in all things.
Galatians 3:27 New Living Translation
And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.