by Carol Roberts | Nov 30, 2017 | Salvation
When we look around us and see God’s mighty works displayed in a simple way we can’t help but to look to God. It is most comforting to know that God is on high with Christ at His right hand. Even in heaven we look up to God.
As we spend quiet times with God and look around us at the things He made we can sense His still voice. These still quiet times are important because it’s where we get our strength to carry on. Jesus, Himself, while in human form depended on prayer times alone with God.
It’s good to pause and take note of the beautiful streams, deserts, oceans, trees and rock formations. These simple displays of His greatness gives us something we can identify with while we focus on our God Who made all things.
Psalm 113:5-6 New Living Translation
Who can be compared with the Lord our God, Who is enthroned on high? He stoops to look down on heaven and on earth.
by Carol Roberts | Nov 28, 2017 | Love
One of the greatest examples of faith is a happy child. There are no worries where the next meal comes from or what to wear. Everything is supplied by loving parents. A child is protected from harm and occasionally a quick “no” is necessary to train a child to use good judgement next time. There is a lot of comfort and trust placed in loving parents.
When we place our faith in God we are to consider the examples of a happy child. God supplies everything we need and circumstances should never cause a wrinkled brow or the wringing of hands. It’s not about getting upset and worried when things do not go right but it’s how we do not worry when the focus is on God. God is true to His word at all times and He honors faith. He supplies all our needs even in the midst of the greatest of circumstances.
Matthew 18:1-4 New Living Translation
About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Jesus called a little child to Him and put the child among them. Then He said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
by Carol Roberts | Nov 26, 2017 | Encouragement
Forgiveness toward one another is a requirement of God. We are to forgive a person as many times as is required in order to keep our peace with God. However it is not required that we continue to try to make friends with certain people or continue to try to please them only to get disappointed each time.
There are numerous situations where we actually prevent another person from moving ahead in life if we continue to act like their behavior is ok when it is not.
We plan a a big dinner long in advance and people are invited. People are excited about the gathering and tell us they will be there. We look forward to seeing everyone but unpleasant surprises await. After an hour and a half one of the invited guests arrives with their spouse and grown children. Most of the guests there have finished their meals because it became unacceptable to keep hungry people waiting. A decision had to be made to either keep everyone waiting or move ahead with the event. This particular late arrival lives the closest to the event, in the same town while others traveled. Since this has been a habit for years with this particular guest it’s best to leave her with her meal and move on to the next event. To continue to make an exception where all people are inconvenienced each time is like saying it’s ok to keep habits that hurt other people. This event pearl is best used for invitations to ones who are better stewards of our efforts.
There are ones we try to counsel who have personal problems, substance abuse habits or school work only to be unappreciated. These people make no effort on their own to move forward. In fact they learn to enjoy the attention we give them even to make jokes while taking up our time. When they give thanks to people in their lives our name never comes up. We are taken for granted plus we see no improvement in their behavior. It is at that point it’s best to hold that pearl to cast to another where our efforts are more appreciated.
There becomes a time in many situations where it’s best to keep our pearls. There are many other places to cast a pearl where it serves God more.
Giving to the needy who cannot return the favor is most pleasing to God. A visit to a lonely person is a precious gift to not only give but to receive as we communicate in love. A pleasant attitude toward all people is very much needed in today’s mixed up world. Pearls that are casted in these ways will remain polished and shine forever in God’s presence.
Removing pearls from those who take things for granted could possibly teach them gratitude later. Tough love can sometimes be the greatest pearl in disguise.
Matthew 7:6 New Living Translation
Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.
by Carol Roberts | Nov 24, 2017 | Hope
From the land we see clouds. Some are puffy and peaceful while others are gray and bring storms. Above the clouds is the beautiful sunshine that is always bright and beautiful.
While on earth, Jesus performed many miracles while enduring lots of hardships and trials. He got lots of praise and followings from those who believed in Him while others wanted to kill Him because He was a threat to their control.
Jesus also overcame death yet after rising from the dead He sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven. While earth is full of hardships heaven has only peace.
We experience our own hardships. Many times our neighbors have a good job while we are not considered for any job at all. Things come our way that are very painful while our friends do not understand because they have never experienced the same.
Jesus made a very important statement while He was here and it still applies today. He goes to prepare a place for us. He endured a lot of things before He left.
In Genesis, Joseph endured jealousy from his brothers yet he was assured by God he had an important mission ahead. All Joseph’s hardships were to enable him to go ahead to prepare the way for his family later.
There are always two ways to look at things in life. There is our viewpoint of the situations at hand and there is God’s heavenly viewpoint that has not manifested itself yet.
We can trust God that He has an important mission for us. As we walk through these hardships and trials it’s possible God is sending us ahead in our own lives to prepare a specific way for others later.
Psalm 105:17 New Living Translation
Then He sent someone to Egypt ahead of them—Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
by Carol Roberts | Nov 22, 2017 | Love
The greater our focus is on God the greater the worship. Obedience to what we know He is telling us to do is superior to any sacrifice.
People can go through rituals every day and their focus can be on the ritual itself. It’s the same with music styles. People can be moved by the music itself and walk away feeling good but what matters is the focus remaining on God during the music.
It’s pleasing to God to remain focused on Him because this is how we hear His voice through the tugging in our hearts. He has sent dreams to people and He has gotten our attention suddenly by things coming to our mind we never thought.
Any time our focus is fully on God, it is worship. We do not have to be in a specific place to worship because God is present everywhere. We do not have to be in need of an answer to prayer to call on His name. We do not have to be perfect to acknowledge Christ as Savior.
He loves us just the way we are and He loves to hear from us.
1 Samuel 15:22 New Living Translation
But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to His voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.