by Carol Roberts | Jan 21, 2019 | Hope
We know we have done things the way God has instructed yet the things around us are falling apart. Much time has been spent in prayer for certain people, situations and things yet the opposite happens. In our minds if only a certain person can be our new boss or we could be the one who gets the job things would work smoothly for us. Instead the new boss is a tyrant and we are picked over for the job we wanted.
The Bible speaks often telling us not to fear. God has everything in control. When we consider the finest flour, sweetest fragrance or prime olive oil all three have to be crushed, ground, pressed or shaken in order to show the best. Sometimes God has to shake everything to the light that lies hidden so that all people can see the things God needs to correct. It’s possible that He is shaking the things around us so that only His light will be left shining for all to see.
As we continue obeying what God tells us, we can be sure that He will take all brokenness to build His sweetest fragrances. Our obedience is never wasted. In fact, seeing the disappointment and brokenness around us is a sure sign God is at work. If God is working those things out it is for certain He will protect us along the way. God’s light will always shine and when our trust is in Him we can never go wrong.
1 Corinthians 15:58 New American Standard Bible
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
by Carol Roberts | Jan 18, 2019 | Salvation
This world is not what it was fifty years ago or even ten years ago. Morals have decayed. People dart to and from places too busy to take note of things around them. Technology is so advanced that older people and family members no longer get personal visits to include a hug. Church pews sit empty even though the gospel is being preached because people are absorbed in the creation and not the Creator. Even in churches many families no longer sit together as the younger generation goes to a different venue for church.
These symptoms of today’s times are no surprise to God. In fact God warned us in the books of Romans, Revelations and even Daniel that these times were coming. These times are here now. People flock to places that give messages that make them feel good about themselves and even to places that make wrong seem ok while the truth is avoided.
We live in a time where people do not want to change for the better but instead change rules to make it ok to harm others and even themselves.
The Bible also speaks of a time when these habits will be punished and evidence is quickly pointing to the fact time is near. TV Evangelists, family, friends, Bible based churches and even the world as a whole questions how much longer can this go on. Various countries around the globe have a few people to rise up in power. The plunder of the poor people sit in their storehouses as they become richer and the people become poorer. Many who are going through these horrible hardships wonder where is God. Why hasn’t God delivered and/or punished?
God promises to take care of all who continue to follow Him in all situations. His punishment of this nonsense is right around the corner but it’s important that we remain true to Him. It’s important to take care of His business and His people so He will surely take care of ours. God has sent us family and friends to care for. He will never approve of the busyness of the world to take over our responsibility to love one another.
The devil is famous for enticing us with things that keep us busy and unfortunately church is the first thing that is trimmed from these schedules. Usually the next trim is elderly family members. Visits are substituted with these grand pads or a more elite nursing facility. Being too busy slowly takes “love” out of the picture.
While there is still time it should be a priority to show compassion to one another. Lend a listening ear or make that phone call or go visit someone. These are the type things that please God. Nobody should be too busy to do the right thing. Draw close to God and He will draw close to us. Even in His divine punishment of the nonsense going on today He will shine His light on us. God loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us that we can have everlasting life. It’s time to place focus back on God so He will place His focus back on us.
John 8:12 New American Standard Version
Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
by Carol Roberts | Jan 16, 2019 | Love
When we hear the word, love, many things come to mind. Romance, good friends, family and neighbors are some of the things we think of when it comes to love but what about strangers. How do we love people who treat us wrong or do not share our same values. How do we love people who plot our demise behind our backs or boldly oppose our view points?
Some feel that love means having to make friends with even our worst enemies but the Bible never instructs us to do that. It’s possible to love our enemies even though our feelings for them are resentment and anger and that is through prayer. Through prayer God will visit these people and situations to soften hearts. There are times He will change our hearts toward them. God is always fair and just in His answers to prayer.
There are times God will involve us to lovingly point out to someone a behavior that could lead to their destruction. Other times He will use us to point out positive things about others so He can open their hearts. The key is to obey God whether He involves us or He asks us to pray.
If we truly love God will obey Him. He will never require more of us than what He equips us to do. God will always equip us to love and He will see to it we fully understand His instructions. Keep a careful watch and and open heart in order to hear and understand what He is saying. If we listen, God will surely speak.
1 Peter 4:8-9 New American Standard Version
Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint.
by Carol Roberts | Jan 14, 2019 | Hope
Imagine taking a rose, daisy or any other beautiful flower and looking at the petals from the under side. What a big difference it would make. Suddenly we see numerous flaws, dirt, faded stems, dried out bud openings and wilted areas. This under side is our life now.
We see numerous obstacles in life. The times things should have worked out a certain way disappointed us when it worked out totally opposite the way we expected. The unexpected attitudes around us is like having dirt thrown in our face. When our health lets us down it’s like the dried out bud supports that should have held us up but broke beneath us.
While we see a faded view of the person God created us to be, He sees us in our wholeness because He sees our heart. The things that go on around us only strengthen us to uphold the beauty God tailor made us to be.
The obstacles, disappointments and unpleasant surprises will never interfere with God’s love toward us. As we press on toward the attitude of love, faith and hope during all things God will uphold us with His righteous right hand. There will be a day when He will allow us to see His side of the flower. That will be a glorious experience we can look forward to.
1 Corinthians 13:12 New American Standard Bible
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.
by Carol Roberts | Jan 9, 2019 | Hope
Occasionally we have prayers that seem to bounce off the ceiling back into our faces. It’s as though we haven’t prayed at all, or so it seems. The times we need God the most are times we feel ignored. Does God even care when we are left to squirm in a situation that really gets us down?
There are occasions we will receive the exact opposite of the things hoped. We have visions of how things should work out but God’s plans are entirely different. Other times we get the things we want but quickly everything turns sour and our dreams become absorbed in another turmoil.
We desperately flip through the Bible or phone older and wiser people wanting answers but the results are always the same. It’s like an eternal waiting game while our situations continue to spiral out of control. All we want is to feel some assurance that God notices us.
The good news is we do not have to be a rich person or famous person for God to see us. We do not have to be powerful or have influence over people. God created us in precise detail even in the womb and He has a special purpose for us. He never leaves us nor forsakes us. His presence is eternal and He is omnipresent meaning His attention to us is as though we are the only person on earth.
Why do we feel forgotten sometimes in desperate situations? Several human reasons come to mind. He is growing us to fit an answer greater than our hopes. He is having to change the hearts of others. He is waiting on His perfect timing for all people, places and things to fall into place. He is waiting on us to totally place everything into His hands and trust. There are numerous reasons that people can give us but the ultimate answer is that God cares enough about us to give only the best. If He answers too soon, things will be incomplete.
When we place God in control of all things He will control every aspect of His divine answer to us. He knows things we do not and He discloses to us only what we need to know. It is for this reason we can trust God in all things. He has everything in His hands and He will grant us perfect peace during the long waits. He loves us and He understands all things.
Isaiah 41:10 New American Standard Bible
Do not fear for I am with you. Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.