by Carol Roberts | Sep 29, 2017 | Love
When we come across a large snake on a path we run to a safe place far away from that snake. When we encounter friends who fail us we seek to find friendships in others more deserving of our time.
When we disobey God and consequences start to materialize at the worst possible time, there is no place to go for safety. It’s hard not to be embarrassed and many times we seek to find a place away from God but it’s not possible. The convictions only get worse.
It’s during these times that we need to run from our pride and into the arms of our loving God. He has already forgiven us and he loves us just the same. There is something about a heart to heart prayer with God about our disobedience that promotes and instant healing and peace that passes all understanding.
It may not get rid of the consequence but the peace of God from that point forward adds strength. We can hold our head high because everything was made brand new.
Proverbs 18:10 New Living Translation
The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to Him and are safe.
by Carol Roberts | Sep 27, 2017 | Encouragement
There are times we can sit and speak to God through prayer for a long time. We are either excited or distressed over something so we continue to express our feelings to God. Other times we are too shocked over a circumstance that all we can do is just sit. Words do not come.
We try to express ourselves to God and we want to explain so He will understand but we sit in a state of shock. How can God understand what we are experiencing when we can’t even explain it to Him?
God assures us in the Bible that He knows all things and He clearly states that He will answer even before we call on Him. It’s assuring to know that when He lives in our hearts He feels and experiences all things that we do. He knows our efforts to speak to Him even when we cannot effectively say what we need to.
Isaiah 65:24 New Living Translation
I will answer them before they even call to Me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!
by Carol Roberts | Sep 25, 2017 | Hope
We have hopes and dreams of the outcome of our efforts and suddenly it’s gone. A good student learns at the last minute he will not graduate with his class and there is no time to make up lessons. A musician has a choice solo in a major concert only to be replaced just before the concert with a guest. An athlete has a chance of scoring the final points for a championship game and fractures his knee.
Everything we hope for has come to a dead standstill. We see everything as lost just like pruning a bush down to just a few lifeless twigs. All life is gone.
As we move through life over the next few weeks and months we find that the hurt slowly goes away. The disappointment is still there but the devastation is tolerable. It isn’t long after that we will see brand new hopes. These are the kind of hopes that never occurred to us.
Just like we can look at that pruned bush with no life at all, we start to see new growth. The new growth is free of all the overgrowth and debris. It’s all brand new and it’s beautiful.
Psalm 43:5 New Living Translation
Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again—my Savior and my God!
by Carol Roberts | Sep 23, 2017 | Hope
Together we walk with Christ, hand in hand. We are on this earth for a short time in order to serve God’s purpose.
As we come across one of life’s many obstacles Christ is with us seeing everything from a heavenly perspective. As we focus more on Christ and His ways of growing past these obstacles we too, can see things more like He sees them.
There will be a day when He will make this world brand new and the heavens too. The day will come when we will have an eternity the way God intends for it to be. Everything will be in order and there is a place for glorious service for each of us.
These are the things to focus on while we are here. Christ is with us every step of the way and no tear falls without His knowledge and understanding. It is not until we look up that we can look down on our situations and see things from God’s perspective. He will see us through all things.
Colossians 3:1-3 New Living Translation
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.
by Carol Roberts | Sep 21, 2017 | Encouragement
God has created us in His image with each of us being one of His Own unique masterpieces. We occasionally hear people speaking about a certain person and how he/she is gifted by God with a special talent. Sometimes it leaves us wondering what is so unique about us.
As we try to mimic others and the talents they offer we forget that nobody is mimicking us. Without our contributions in life there would be a void in God’s big picture for His divine purpose. Whether we know our specific gift from God or if we never know, the key is to do what comes naturally to us. God gave us specific desires for a reason.
If a person is in need and it’s our natural response to offer a room or food then we are to offer it with God in mind. If our first and natural response is to pray then offer prayers to God on their behalf. The main thing to keep in mind about spiritual gifts is they are not intended to be used as a popularity contest that others notice. Spiritual gifts are given by God and are intended to be used to give back to God.
1 Peter 4:10-11 New Living Translation
God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God Himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to Him forever and ever! Amen.