by Carol Roberts | May 31, 2017 | Encouragement
Any musician can tell us that most instrumentalists want what is referred to as first chair. Many times a player who is out of tune will not even recognize how they play because the competition is more important to them than making a joyful noise.
It’s the same way with some vocal soloists. They can stand in front of a large audience with a solo microphone and present their music with a prideful display yet the tone presented is very unpleasant.
There are many other musicians who spend numerous hours practicing and have a glorious tone but get overlooked every time by ones pushing themselves to the solo spots.
While large audiences of people listen and applaud these concerts God is paying close attention to the ones who dedicate their music to Him. It doesn’t matter which seat or it doesn’t matter if these players ever get a solo or first chair. God shows His favor to the ones who take the time to notice Him.
God’s favor is multiplied millions of times greater than even the largest of audiences. God’s favor is forever. Concerts and audiences come and go and the memory quickly fades. Prideful musicians are continually looking for new gigs, concerts and audiences while the humble players are fulfilled daily.
Matthew 20:16 New Living Translation
“So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”
by Carol Roberts | May 28, 2017 | Love
There are multitudes of graves of soldiers who either died in battle or passed away later in life after serving in the military. Each man or woman buried beneath these markers represent a person who cared. Their service was given with us in mind. Their own lives were put aside so they could follow commands of their officers.
They sacrificed time, effort and their own desires to make things better for the people who live today.
Those still and silent markers are a gentle reminder that these soldiers love us. There is one more grave but it’s empty. Jesus loves us with a cross.
If there are moments when feelings of loneliness or depression try to take over it’s time to take a quick glance around. A lot of love was demonstrated to us before we were even born.
John 15:13 New Living Translation
There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
by Carol Roberts | May 26, 2017 | Friendship
Have you ever had a heavy heart and just wanted someone to listen to you? Your heart is about ready to explode from the need to be heard. You don’t necessarily want advice, you just want someone to stop and understand what you are going through.
To make matters worse friends will come along who mean well but instead of listening they take the conversation away from you. They do all the talking letting you know all about when they went through what you are going through. There are others who will quickly say they are glad to see you then proceed to talk. Some of these friends do not stop talking long enough to take a breath. You find yourself trying to tactfully end the conversation just to get some peace and quiet.
All you really want is the peace that can only happen when someone takes the time to make eye contact and say nothing except maybe a yes I understand from time to time. You want that person to hear you through with gentle nods along the way letting you know they understand. There are people who still care enough about others to lend a listening ear with no criticism and no judgement. They will offer to pray and you know they will because you feel the presence of God when someone cares enough to pray.
The ones who listen are the ones who become wiser. Wisdom comes from listening. Listening brings about compassion and understanding. Compassion and understanding is one of the greatest ways to witness for Christ. Time from one with a listening ear is a beautiful ministry. Sincere and honest listening creates a spiritual bond that cannot be obtained from run on talkers.
What these compulsive and pathological talkers don’t realize is they are missing an opportunity to listen and learn something new. If they chatter nonstop with friends, how do they treat God? Some of these chatter boxes can be all smiles and friendly and nice but nothing is gained from a conversation like that. There is no love or feeling of compassion in these encounters. These people need your prayers for an open heart toward God and others where they are willing to listen. These people have an emptiness and void inside of them far greater than your need to speak for a while.
If you find yourself in a situation where you need to be heard desperately and there is nobody available to minister with a listening ear, try speaking to God alone. It’s ok to speak out loud, God will never condemn you. Sometimes He will allow the sound of your own voice to show you what to do. God will see to it His choice of a listening ear becomes available at the prefect time.
Proverbs 2:1-3 New Living Translation
My child, listen to what I say, and treasure My commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding.
by Carol Roberts | May 25, 2017 | Hope
Tithing is not a popular sermon or subject to discuss because it refers to the pocket book. However God promises that tithing will bring blessings in abundance.
The subtraction of dollars from our income is something we see whereas the unseen blessings create uncertainty for many people. Ninety percent of income is ours to do with what we wish and only ten percent belongs to the storehouse.
In many countries a paycheck is already deducted before it is handed to us. We see the total amount deposited to our account but on the opposite side is a statement telling the things removed from our pay before it even reached us. There are various taxes and benefits plus other percentages that we may have chosen to invest. However there is nothing removed for our Lord’s storehouse. God is trusting us to remove this on our own.
Can God trust us? If so, He will trust us to handle the blessings He sends. Some blessings may be spiritual that we do not see. These are the type blessings where we are granted favor when hard times come or we have the right friends at the right time to help out. Other blessings are more obvious where something goes on sale that we otherwise can not afford. The various types of blessings are unending and the blessings themselves are hand picked by God.
Malachi 3:10-11 New Living Translation
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
by Carol Roberts | May 24, 2017 | Encouragement
It’s a fact. People will wrong other people. Many of us will pick up the phone to find a sympathy partner or an ally. While there is some comfort getting with others to plea our case, the important thing to remember is Christ is the Victor.
When our thoughts and prayers are turned toward God and away from the hurts it puts the responsibility on the Victor. Jesus is Victor in all things, even the biggest most complex things of them all.
Many times months and years of thoughts are placed on how people get by with the hardships they cause others. We wonder how many more people they are going to hurt while they get promoted. We spend many hours trying to figure it all out when enemies prosper. People will talk favorably about our enemies while we still hurt and we grasp for ways to deal with the discomfort. We continue to be baffled at why we work very hard yet the boss promotes everyone but us. We even overhear the boss telling others they dislike us and we will never get a promotion there. Hours upon hours are spend trying to find ways to impress, retaliate or gossip in order to find some relief and no peace comes.
In the mean time there is God. The numerous hours spent wondering how to manipulate around our hurts could easily be placed on God. God can do all things and nothing is too hard for Him. It’s just as easy to pray asking God to show us favor in these type situations as it is to wonder about the comeuppance of our enemies.
If our enemy gets the comeuppance we think is deserved the only benefit is a few moments of gratification. However if we pray for God’s favor toward us out benefit will be a lifetime of peace and things will start to work out. Whether a comeuppance for our enemy happens or not, God can still open doors that are closed. He can make a path where there is no path. He can grant peace and comfort in the midst of even the greatest of storms.
Psalm 20:5 New Living Translation
May we shout for joy when we hear of Your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God. May the Lord answer all your prayers.