For just as the [human] body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works [of obedience] is also dead. James 2:26 The Holy Bible Amplified Version
If you have faith in Christ prove it.
When we accept His gracious offer to be members of His family that does not mean we are to sit on our hands and await His return. We are free will servants.
As such, He has specific chores for us to do. Many times they do not make sense at the time. That is where having faith (which means trust) in our King must take place. He begins with little steps and gradually urges us on to bigger and bigger ones. This is not a one off event but rather a daily one. Have faith in Christ and be a part of an amazing journey like you could never conceive.
“True faith produces a life full of actions, not a head full of facts.” Author Unknown
Prayer: Thank you Jehovah Jireh ( God provides ) for providing me with ample opportunities to exhibit my faith in You through the actions You guide me to take. I exalt You in the name of He who trusted You all the way to the cross, Your most beloved Son Jesus Christ. Amen
May the light of Christs love shine brightly in your heart
Do not cast me off nor send me away in the time of old age;do not abandon me when my strength fails and I am weak. Psalm 71:9 The Holy Bible Amplified Version
Have you ever heard the old saying: “Old age has crept up on me.”
It has not crept up on me. It has come with numerous calling cards. I was reflecting upon this recently. I still go for long walks but now find there is a need for frequent stops for rest. Working in the garden all day doing heavy manual chores is a thing of the past. Even volunteering has taught me old age has not come a knocking but is already in my house ( my body). I used to be able to walk all day in the seniors home going from living area to living area. Now my knees will not take it. Working for Habitat for Humanity is challenging. I used to work very vigorously for ten hours straight in very difficult circumstances being a tree planter with no breaks but now there is a need frequent rests while doing things that were a breeze just a few short years ago.
“I thought growing older would take longer.” Unknown
The upside of it of course is the deeper wisdom Jehovah has blessed me with all these years. I love sharing it with the younger ones ( that are willing to listen).
Now there is less confidence in my abilities and complete confidence in Jehovahs unending abilities to take care of me.
There is so much less stress now. Now I can say with complete confidence that I know Jehovah will never desert me nor leave me.
We spend more time walking together and talking together ( no that is no senility it is a very real presence and conversation) which is deeply cherished.
So for all of you old fogies that despair of getting old I say I revel it my aging because it is so sweet, indeed, even Divine.
And, the most cherished of all, is having faith that there really is a heavenly home waiting for me where there is no such thing as an old dilapidated body but an awesome one which will be regenerated by my loving Heavenly Father.
Prayer: Thank you Jehovah Emunah (God is faithful) that You are faithful unto Your Divine vows to care for me in my old age. I exalt You in the name of my Faithful King whom shall greet me to the Heavenly Home He has faithfully promised awaits me upon my departure from this world Jesus Christ. Amen.
May the gentle assurance of Jesus’ sweet love encompass you today and every day.
‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you [and even show you] great and mighty things, [things which have been confined and hidden], which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish. Jeremiah 33:3 The Holy Bible Amplified Version
When we ask of Jehovah to open our eyes to revelations and His awesome magnificence of boy does He deliver.
He has pulled back the curtain to reveal amazing things in His creation which reveal His awesome beauty and attributes. The world does not see these things because they are in the material world. It constantly amazes me both what He shows me and that those around me do not see them.
The Lord blesses me with insight to the events that are unraveling around us and their significance. When I try to explain it to those walking in the world they believe me to be absurd. It astounds me that they cannot see what is so obvious. Many times it is if they are in a different dimension that me.
It is so wonderful to meet one who walks with Christ and that we see these same things. It is some of the greatest conversations I have ever enjoyed. It is as if we cannot stop talking about them and sharing them with each other.
Do not be shocked when you try to speak of Jehovahs incredible revelations He has blessed you with and those around you cannot see them nor understand them.
A great way to illustrate this is when I came home from serving the Lord in Asia and tried to explain what it was like living in a different culture that thinks differently than us. At first they all laughed at me and said that was nonsense. Then a few months later it became headline news ( of course one of the things I am referring to is the ghost cities that dotted the land around where I lived).
So too it is with those who are not of Christs. It is foolishness to them and absurd.
Those of us that are Christ centered in our thinking have revelations that are absurd to the world Joseph son of Jehovah
Prayer: Thank you Jehovah Kabodhi ( The Lord my Glory) for revealing Your magnificent glory to me and for communicating Your awesome wisdom to me. I extol Thee in the name of my glorious King Christ Jesus. Amen
May the gentle assurance of Jesus’ sweet love encompass you today and every day.
For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again Proverbs 24:16 Holy Bible Amplified Version
I do not care how long you have been a member of the Family of Jehovah, I do not care how strong your trust in Jehovah is we all fall down.
That is when the wicked one will come and mock you and tell you Jehovah is angry with you and you are not fit to be a member of His divine family. Do not believe him.
When we sincerely repent ( which means we admit what we did, admit it was wrong, apologize for it and stop doing it ) then we are forgiven.
I think an important note about repentance is for parents to set the example and repent to their young children ( and old ones of course) when we mess up. It teaches them integrity which will carry them through life and they will respect you for it.
This process is carried through out our life here on this planet until Jehovah takes us to our Heavenly home.
We will stumble and crawl our way to Heaven, not strut Joseph son of Jehovah
Do not be arrogant and foolishly believe yourself above this because that is when you are easy prey for satan.
Therefore let the one who thinks he stands firm [immune to temptation, being overconfident and self-righteous], take care that he does not fall [into sin and condemnation]. 1 Corinthians 10:12 Holy Bible Amplified Version
I know in my early walk with Christ there were times when I was absurd and believed I was strong and oh how hard was the fall and how deep them shame. Thankfully there was repentance on my behalf.
Prayer: Thank you Jehovah Hoshe’ah – ( The Lord Saves ) for graciously saving me and lifting me out of the dung pit we all fall into on occasion in our walk to our Heavenly home. I praise You in the name of He who lifted Peter out of the waves that were enveloping Him Jesus Christ. Amen
May the gentle assurance of Jesus’ sweet love encompass you today and every day.
“Blessed [joyful, nourished by God’s goodness] are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [those who actively seek right standing with God], for they will be [completely] satisfied. Matthew 5:6 Holy Bible Amplified Version
How nourished are you?
Just as we require daily physical food to maintain our physical health so too do we need daily spiritual food to nourish our spiritual health.
We will never be completely filled with righteousness. Joseph son of Jehovah
We need, every day, to ask Jehovah to fill us with wisdom on the proper manner in which to walk in righteousness. He will abundantly supply us. Then we need to be obedient and obey His instructions. The fruit of this is being blessed with Heavenly joy. As well it prevents us from deviating from our walk with Christ. This leads to nothing but trouble.
When we walk away from Christ, we walk towards satan. Joseph son of Jehovah
Prayer: Thank you Jehovah Jireh (God is our Provider) for always abundantly providing living fruit to nourish and strengthen me with every day. It is the most desired of all of my daily needs and sustenance. I exalt You in the name of He who is the bread of life and He through whom flows the never ending waters of life Jesus Christ. Amen.
May the gentle assurance of Jesus’ sweet love encompass you today and every day.
Your way [of escape for Your people] was through the sea, And Your paths through the great waters, And Your footprints were not traceable. Psalm 77:19 Holy Bible Amplified Version
There have been many times during my trials and tribulation, sorrows and snares in life that I cried out unto Jehovah to come and rescue me but believed He had deserted me. In reflection it was revealed that He is always there.
Do you think it is just a coincidence that that man or woman came into your life at just the right moment when you needed help but there was none forth coming?
When it seems as of you are walking through the desert with no job prospect do you think it is coincidence that that employment offer came along?
For me many times it was tiny ads in the newspaper that jumped out at me and would not let go until I took action on them. It always resulted in amazing accomplishments in my life. It helped me find employment, it helped me find good Christian councilors, it guided me to schools that Jehovah wanted me to attend to learn a skill that would be used in service unto Him later on. This is just but one example of Him being there without me even knowing it at the time.
There is no such thing as coincidence in the Christian walk. Joseph son of Jehovah
So, no matter what ordeal you are experiencing now and it seems as if Jehovah has deserted you take comfort child of Jehovah He is always there.
Prayer: Thank you Jehovah Immanuel (God is with us) for the blessing of always being with me through the numerous trials and tribulations, sorrows and snare, victories and love You graciously bless me with each and every day. I thank you in the name of He who walked amongst us Jesus Christ. Amen.
May the gentle assurance of Jesus’ sweet love encompass you today and every day.
The whole congregation of the Israelites [grew discontented and] murmured and rebelled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness,and the Israelites said to them, Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and ate bread until we were full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this entire assembly with hunger.” (To understand Israel’s rebellious behavior, it is important to grasp the contrast between life in Egypt and nomadic life in the wilderness. Despite the hardships of slavery survival was not an issue in Egypt, where they were guaranteed food and other necessities. But the desert wilderness was hostile and unforgiving, and survival was an art. Desert nomads needed to understand the wilderness in order to stay alive; they had to learn, among other things, how to protect themselves from the weather, where to find water and pasture, and how to find and prepare scarce food, or live primarily from what their livestock could provide them. So the Israelites viewed every new problem they faced as life-threatening. Instead of looking back and taking comfort from God’s earlier miracles, they doubted God’s ability and willingness to help them. Their fears and doubts subsequently came to be expressed as irrational anger toward Moses. ) Exodus 16:2-3 Holy Bible Amplified Version
How many of us ask Jehovah for something but are never satisfied?
We ask for a job but when we get one we do not like the work because it is too hard or it is too boring.
We ask for a place to live but it is too far from the bus stop or grocery store or park.
We ask for direction in life but it is not where we want to go.
We desire good Christian friends but can always find fault with them.
I think the real reason we are discontented is because of greed. We want the best and nothing less is good enough for us.
Jehovah blesses with what we need not always with what we want. Joseph son of Jehovah
That is the ultimate insult of ungratefulness and a huge slap in the face to our loving generous Father in Heaven. More so for those of us that have walked with Christ for any length of time and so can reflect back at His previous provisions for us. Peevish discontented minds will find fault with that which has no fault in it but that it is too good for them.
Those that might be very happy often make themselves very miserable by their discontents. Matthew Henry
Prayer: Please Jehovah Heseh (God is love) bless me to always have a grateful heart towards you and those around me for all the wonderful blessings You and those around me share with me every day. I ask this in the name of the greatest blessing of which I am eternally grateful for Jesus Christ. Amen.
May the gentle assurance of Jesus’ sweet love encompass you today and every day.
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