Love, What Does It Really Look Like?

With February just a few days away, I wanted to share my thoughts on "love" and what it really looks like.

Love is more than saying I love you with the love of the Lord. Nice words, but what do they really mean?

Love is visible when someone is there for me, when I need them. It’s being treated right when I make a mistake or need mercy or understanding.

Love is something that can be seen. It is seen in the fruit of the Spirit working in our lives, in our behavior and how we treat people. It sparkles in different ways depending upon how we look at it.

One common work for love in the Greek language was, eros, which suggested physical sexual desire and not much else. Another word, philos, suggested the esteem and affection found in a casual friendship. Then the Greek word, agape, describes a love that is based on the deliberate choice of the one who loves rather than the worthiness of the one who is loved. This kind of love goes against natural human inclination. It is a giving, selfless, expect nothing in return kind of love.

First Corinthians 13:4-8 tells us examples of what love looks like.

“Love suffers long and is kind, love does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil, rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth, love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”

Think about this verse and what it says about love compared to your thoughts about love.

I will expound a little on what I believe love is in the next blog coming Feburary first.

May you be surrounded in our Heavenly Father’s love.

Dreams...Where Does One Begin?

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

We are all one...There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for we are all one in Christ. (Gal. 3:28)

Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ. (Phil. 3:13-14)

Now for my dreams...To think of other as more important than myself, that I can show the world the love of God by being the example of Jesus' love. Without a doubt, His theme was love. To love the Lord my God with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my mind. AND, love my neighbor as myself. (Deut. 6:5, Romans 13:8-10)

To daily "Seek Him and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto me."

Imagine what would happen if all the world became genuine lovers of neighbors??

We have been influenced by the culture far more than we have influenced culture. We have fought fire with fire, hatred with hatred. We have sometimes exalted ourselves and put others down~often in the name of defending the Truth. We have treated others with disrespect in an effort to convince them that they are wrong and we are right.As citizens, we should be involved on every level and in every corner of society, but our attitude is to be LOVE.

We are to seek the good of others, treating all individuals with dignity and respect, even when we disagree intellectually or politically with their position.

The basic challenge to us today is to be people of love on a daily basis, whether or not a social crisis exists.

We know that in ALL THINGS God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son. He wants to make us Christ-like in attitude and lifestyle. He uses every harsh experiences for that purpose.

It's His love that I seek to share, it's His Spirit that enables me to communicate it to others. I open my heart daily to receive His love and look for opportunities to share the treasures with others.

LOVE is the most powerful weapon in the world for good.

Let me start my work in faith, continue in obedience and finish with love.

February~The Month For Love

Love one another as I have loved you. (John 15:12)



February is the shortest month on the calendar, but one of the longest in terms of importance. Winter's cold weather can't put out fires of love and affection that warm our hearts. On these cold clean nights we can look overhead and see the stars sparkling above like beacons of faith. The star Venus appears in the eastern sky early in the morning during this month, and shines so brightly that it seems very close to us. Mornings are still dark, but we gain another thirty five minutes of daylight. At the end of this short month, the sun stays out evenings until after 5:30.

What a wonderful month to think often and joyfully of the love with which God has blessed the world. Knowing He truly loves each one of us makes life richer for everyone. In your prayers this month, remember to thatnk the Lord for this dear blessing. For without His examle we would never know the gladness of committing ourselves to dear ones so fully ~ and receiving so much happiness in return.

This is a time to recall each of God's blessings, and think of some of the special things that have brightened your life. Can you list a few? If we all kept a "Happy List" tacked up where we could see it every day, we might count our blessings instead of our troubles. Yes, it is true that when you think of pleasant things, time seems to fly by, but when your mnd is full of doom and gloom, hours drag on forever!

Why don't you decide right now the month of February will be a great month for you. Make it a time to be thankful for your loved ones and friends. Be a February person, a loving person. The more you give love away, the greater it grows.

Special Events In Feburary
* February 12~Birthday of Abraham Lincoln, our 16th President, who freed the slaves and helped all mankind.
* February 14~Valentine's Day, a day to appreciate our dear ones and tell them how much we love them.
* February 15~Birthday of George Washington, our beloved 1st President, and father of our great country.

Share God's love with others, and you'll get a marvelous return on your investment!

Concerning Faith

"But without faith it is impossible to please God, for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6


The subject of faith is very generally misunderstood; for, in reality, faith is the simplest and plainest thing in the world, and the most easy of exercise.


Your idea of faith, I suppose, has been something like this. You have looked upon it as in some way a sort of thing~either a religious exercise of soul, or an inward, gracious disposition of heart; "something tangible," in fact, which, when you have secured it, you can look at and rejoice over, and use as a passport to God's favor, or a coin with which to purchase His gifts. Now, faith, in fact, is not in the least like this. It is nothing at all tangible. It is simply believing God; and, like sight, it is nothing apart from it's object. You might as well shut your eyes and look inside, and see whether you have faith. For as sight is only seeing, so faith is only believing. And as the only necessary thing about sight is that you see the thing as it is, so the only necessary thing about belief is that you believe the thing as it is. The virtue does not lie in your believing, but in the thing you believe. Your salvation comes, not because your faith saves you, but because it links you to the Saviour who saves; and your believing is really nothing but the link.

The headlines offer little encouragement these days. Our troubled times are nothing new. God knows and understands EVERYTHING and people have continued to achieve great things despite the ups and downs.

The Lord understands exactly what we are facing and He understands the pressure of our situations. We are NEVER alone, our Father is committed to us. His personal knowledge of our lives goes far beyond the difficulty of the moment. He knows our frustrations and plans to use each one to strengthen and prepare us for His future blessings. Be encouraged! Have faith!

Paul endured many challenges by keeping his heart set on Jesus. When adversity came, he turned to God for wisdom and strength and refused to let doubt, fear or disappointment distract him. In his darkest hour, his faith was stretched beyond what many of us could bear. Despite continuous setbacks, Paul was convinced that God would see him through the turmoil to a greater end.

"Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:12).

Let go of fears and doubts. Have a faith~filled Janurary ~ Believe it and Receive it.

Every moment, Every situation, Every issue, and Every concern has a positive side. Find it and bring it to life.

Show Your Faith With Generosity

“A generous man will prosper, he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” (Proverbs 11:25)

True faith is demonstrated when we look for ways to be kind and generous to those in need.

What’s the use of saying you have faith if you don’t prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can’t save anyone. Suppose you see a brother or sister in need of food or clothing, and you say, “Well good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well” ~ but you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?

You see, it isn’t enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn’t show itself by good deeds is no faith at all ~ it is dead and useless. (James 2:15-17)

We all have numerous resources from which to share. Having a “generous spirit” does not mean simply giving money. Time is another precious commodity, and generous volunteers enable many organizations to function well: hospitals, schools, missions, animal shelters, nursing homes, community centers, child care centers, churches ~ and the list goes on and on.

A “spirit of generosity” means open-handedly giving time, energy, and creativity, as well as monetary resources. Great is the reward of the person who generously gives whatever he or she has to help others.

Look around. What do you have to share?

Every moment, Every situation, Every issue, and Every concern has a positive side. Find it and bring it to life.

DIRECTIONS TO OUR FATHER'S HOUSE

I really like this. Someone spent a lot of time on it.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15).

DIRECTIONS TO OUR FATHER'S HOUSE
Make a Right onto Believeth Blvd. Keep straight and go through the Green Light, which is Jesus Christ. There, you must turn onto the Bridge of Faith , which is over troubled water.


When you get off the bridge, make a Right turn and Keep Straight. You are on the King's Highway - Heaven-bound.

Keep going for three miles: One for the Father, One for the Son, and One for the Holy Ghost.

Then exit off onto Grace Blvd.

From there, make a Right turn on Gospel Lane. Keep Straight and then make another Right on Prayer Road As you go on your way, Yield Not to the traffic on Temptation Ave. Also, avoid SIN STREET because it is a DEAD END.

Pass up Envy Drive and Hate Avenue. Also, pass Hypocrisy Street, Gossiping Lane , and Backbiting Blvd. However, you have to go down Long-suffering Lane , Persecution Blvd. and Trials and Tribulations Ave.

But that's all right, because VICTORY Street is straight ahead! AMEN!!

Life is God's gift to you. The way you live it............is your gift to God

Life’s A Journey Travel Well!!

Living Sacrifice ~ Dying To Self

Living Sacrifice As Christians, we're called to give ourselves to God as a "living sacrifice." The Apostle Paul helps us understand this truth in his letter to the believers in Rome:


I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)

Living Sacrifice - Dying to SelfSo, how do we truly present ourselves to God as a living sacrifice? In a nutshell, we must die to our prior selves. This concept is wonderfully presented in this anonymous poem…

When you are forgotten, neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you don't sting or hurt with the oversight, but your heart is happy being counted worthy to suffer for Christ;
That is dying to self.

When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinion ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart or even defend yourself, but take it all in patient, loving silence;
That is dying to self.

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any annoyance; when you can stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility, and endure it as Jesus did;
That is dying to self.

When you are content with any food, and offering, any raiment, any climate, any society, any solitude, any interruption by the will of God;
That is dying to self.

When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation or record your own good works or itch after commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown;
That is dying to self.

When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met, and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy, nor question God, while your own needs are far greater and you are in desperate circumstances;
That is dying to self.

When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself and can humbly submit, inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart;
That is dying to self.

The Abiding Presence

"No good thing will He withhold from them who walk uprightly." (Psalm 84:11)

My presence within you is your richest treasure. It is one that moth and rust cannot destroy, nor thieves break in and steal. It will become dearer to you as you relinquish outer joys. Your inner joy is as a plant that unnurtured fades. Your inner joy is nurtured by your awareness of and gratitude for My abiding presence. Be not allured by the fascinations of the world. They are but to perish. They are transitory. Even those which are not evil are still of no bebefit to your spirit.

It is the Word of God and the Spirit of God that feed the soul of a man. It is his inner worship and outer witness that strengthens him in faith. To fail to worship is to become a perpetual disappointment to the heart of Christ. It is to ignore the sacrifice of Calvary. It is to live and die ungrateful for His mercy and love. Worship is the only appropriate gift sinful man can give to a Holy God. It is the only fitting expression of the ransomed soul. Nothing can bring greater satisfaction to the heart of God except to teach another soul to do likewise.

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has imagined the things that I have prepared for those who love Me.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

In This Day

In this day that we are living, it's important that we believe in ourselves as God believes in us and strive forth reaching for the dreams and goals that we have in our hearts. We should never postpone for tomorrow what could be done today and it is for this reason that we are to revive our inner self and go forward with a renewed energy and accomplish all that is in our hearts.

The Bible declares in Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. The Lord is good, and His wish for us is to prosper and be in health, even as our soul prospers. Be encouraged to be the warrior that God has created you to be and strive to reach every goal that is within you, because with God by your side, nothing shall be impossible to you. (Romans 12:1-5) (3 John 2) (Luke 1:37)

Use this day to be a blessing to yourself and to those lucky enough to be around you.

* In this day I choose living not just for the sake of passing time. I choose to take advantage of the milliseconds between my breath and my sigh.
* In this day I will grasp hold of the moments I lost so many times before as words rolled off my tongue penetrating the ears and hearts of those whom I wanted to hurt and did.
* In this day I will make up for time lost by living between my thoughts and my action. I will live up to my potential, which through God's Grace is unlimited.
* In this day I will help someone else find the greatest secret of all. While we spend our lives in pursuit of success and happiness, we have all that we will ever need from the moment of conception until our last breath.
* In this day I will acknowledge that I am a magnificent creation capable of the greatest accomplishments. I am one of a kind. Never before in the history of human existence and never again will there be another me. I have a purpose, a mission and with that a responsibility to fulfill those goals. The key to success is in knowing and believing that I can, then purposefully taking action. The knowing is the small voice you hear deep within that gives direction. It sparks the dreams and softens the indignant blows that life throws at us. It is the spirit of our being connected to the Great Power. It never goes away although many spend a lifetime trying to block it out.

Believing comes once we have accepted that self esteem is not an ego trip but a verification that you are a living miracle created by God. Although we are all capable of grand accomplishments that can change the world, we all succeed at various levels none less important than the next. Some listen more intently to the voice and act upon those beliefs. Others cautiously follow taking life step by step. Even those who do not heed the call serve a purpose. They often serve as the best friend, the parent, the neighbor who ignites the spark in others bound for greater goals.
* In this day I will celebrate as if it was my birthday and 24 hours was my gift. I will treasure the sunrise and save the light in my hand for darkened days. I will fill my lungs to capacity with the sweet smell of life and consume the colors that surround me like a meal fit for a king. I will taste the reds and yellows of the flowers and bathe in the blues and greens of the sky and grass. At the end of the day in the darkest hours my soul will light the way to rest in the satisfaction of knowing I did not waste a morsel. Then in my last day on this earth I will leave filled with joy to a better place knowing that I have served my purpose and completed my mission. I will leave behind my energy that will disperse into every rock and tree and molecule. I will become a part of the color, the light, the breath of life for others to consume. I will not wither to the ground as failure and serve as a pathway. I will rise with the sun to bring joy forever to those who will dream after me. I am important. I am successful. I am God's creation! I am alive!

James 4:13-15 Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.

Psalm 103:2-5 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all thine iniquities; who heals all thy diseases; Who redeems thy life from destruction; who crowns thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfies thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Every moment, Every situation, Every issue, and Every concern has a positive side. Find it and bring it to life.

How To Enjoy Everyday Life

How To Enjoy Everyday Life
by Joyce Meyer

Do you dread the laundry, dishes, school meetings, your job...or even church functions...because they take you away from spending time with God? In this age of over commitment, you're not alone.

All of us have a large amount of time that we need to devote to “common life” or everyday business. You know what I mean—laundry, grocery store trips, doctor visits, washing the dishes, going to work, etc. We tend to see these chores as being quite different from and even far below our "spiritual life" or the things we do that we consider to be holy. Most of us who really love and are devoted to God prefer the holy times to the common. Holy times include praying, spiritual reading and meditation, sharing conversation about the Lord with friends, going to church or other spiritual meetings, etc. Seeing these two sides of our life as two entirely different categories usually causes quite a problem within the believer.

Often we feel divided within ourselves, struggling to get finished with common life and everyday business so we can return to holy things because we feel that we are holier, or more right with God, when we are doing what we believe to be holy things. I believe this is one of the greatest deceptions of Satan. It keeps most people in a state of turmoil, dreading, and even despising, the tasks of common life and everyday business. All of us must do them; it’s part of life. They can’t be avoided. So we must have understanding about how, in reality, there’s no difference between common and holy, except in our minds. If we’ll read the Bible properly and not be so religious in our thinking, we’ll move into an area of freedom that will shake the gates of hell. Satan does not want you to enjoy your life. Naturally, if he can keep you thinking that God is only pleased with you when you’re engaged in some sort of so-called "spiritual activity," he can keep you unhappy a large part of the time. This misconception is one of his greatest tools to keep people from enjoying life. Often this comes as a vague feeling that makes believers miserable, and we don't even understand what’s wrong. All we know is that something is amiss.

Everything we do is to be offered to the Lord; and if done so with a pure heart of love, it becomes holy. You can do common tasks, like go to the grocery store, and it’ll be just as holy as prayer, as long as you do it all to the glory and honor of God. In the realm of importance, prayer is certainly more important than a trip to the grocery store but not any holier. What I mean by prayer being more important is that it has eternal value, whereas a trip to the store or mopping the floor doesn't.

Romans 14 is an excellent chapter in the Bible to bring liberty in this area. Verses 5 and 6 say: One man esteems one day as better than another [holier], while another man esteems all days alike [holy]. Let everyone be fully convinced (satisfied) in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. He also who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; while he who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.

My personal translation of Romans 14:5,6 is that one man sees prayer and Bible study as better (holier) than ordinary tasks, while a person who’s really free in the Lord sees them all alike (all holy), because whatever he does, he does in honor of the Lord.

This is true liberty—to be able to live an undivided life where we categorize some things as common and some as holy. As a result, we never enjoy the common things because we’re desperately trying to either avoid them completely or at least rush through them so we can get to those things that are holy.

I just learned this lesson while traveling on an airplane to a speaking engagement. I was pondering the thought of how glad I would be when I got to my destination so I could pray and study. I was feeling very restless. The Lord began to minister to me that I needed to thoroughly enjoy the airplane ride, and it would be just as holy to Him if I would offer it to Him. He is holy, and He lives in you so that makes you holy. Therefore, wherever you go and whatever you do becomes holy. Now, I realize we’re growing in manifesting holiness, but I'm sharing that it’s His presence that makes things holy.

Another thing that had quite an effect on me in this area was a plaque I saw in a pastor's office. It said, "My work is worship." As long as I remember that, I find myself enjoying everything in common life and everyday business, as well as prayer, Bible study and other things we define as spiritual. Join me in this liberated lifestyle and begin to enjoy everyday life.

Every moment, Every situation, Every issue, and Every concern has a positive side. Find it and bring it to life.

Here's to Your Health!

The topic of fasting has been coming up quite often in my spirit and devotionals since this past Sunday. I believe fasting is a very important role in our physical and spiritual health.

I will be starting a 21 day fast this Wednesday ~ fasting from whatever the Lord leads me to fast from. It may be fasting from coffee, cigarettes, food, shopping, gossip, selfishiness...

Most of us fight an ongoing battle in our minds about our body image. We wish our bodies would look a certain way; we’d like to maintain a certain weight, and none of us like ourselves when we are controlled by our cravings. In order to win this war with our weight, we need to set our minds on our royal call, not our cravings. Our diets need to be about our desire to honor our King, not about denying ourselves certain foods.
Queen Esther is an excellent example for us to follow. Her God-ordained position as queen was not to glorify herself. She did not even have a desire to be queen, but instead her desire was to honor her God and He raised her up to save her people. She didn’t need to be the prettiest in the land to win the heart of a King or to save a nation, she just surrendered all of herself to her King ~ heart, mind, soul and body. Imagine if we, God’s children, realized that everything we put into our bodies either builds up or tears down the temple of the living God. How differently would we choose what we let in?

Below are the best diet secrets ever because they are given to us by our Father in heaven according to His word:

To Honor God
“Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.” (1 CORINTHIANS 3:16-17)

Most of us are likely to miss out on the power of the biblical word picture found in the above verse. Today, temples are often viewed as merely tourist attractions or a majestic something of the past; but to God's chosen people, the temple was the lifeblood of the civilization, the house of the Lord. It held the source of power, direction, and protection. It was the most beautifully designed, painstakingly immaculate, awe-inspiring fixture in the entire culture. It was functional, holy, and artistic all in one. Why would God use this spectacular man-made creation as a symbol for our earthly body? Because both are His chosen place of dwelling and both were designed by the Lord, Himself. Let us do this to honor the One who gave His very life for us. Let’s spend the next thirty days treasuring His Temple…Our bodies!

To Experience Good Health
“Beloved, I wish above all things that your soul would Prosper and that you would experience good health.” (3 John 2)

Our God, Our Daddy, in Heaven tells us in His word that above all things He wants our soul to prosper and for “His Children” to experience good health. He loves us so much that He addresses us as beloved.
Dream with me for a moment: What if all Christians took care of our bodies for the right reasons, the right way—through proper nutrition, exercise, and rest—the results would be amazing:

* Imagine our Pastors, Evangelists, and Missionaries having the health and energy to finish their ministries strong. Studies show that only one out of ten pastors will still be in the ministry by the time they reach sixty years of age—physical and emotional burn-out being the major cause.

* Think about how much money would be saved on medical bills and health insurance and how much we would enjoy our Golden years in life if we invest in our health now.

* Can you envision what God’s people could accomplish here on earth if the body of Christ had more energy and clearer minds? We would have more involvement in all church ministries and our outreach programs and Prayer teams. Even more, we could remember the sermons each Sunday if we started our morning with a nutritious meal and a good rest the night before!

When you think about it, Christians should be the healthiest, happiest people on earth! After all, we know where we're going, we have life's instruction manual (the Bible), and we serve a God who has shown us, through His Word, how to take care of His temple—our bodies. But only if we take the necessary steps to be healthy will we be able to enjoy the abundance God promises.

Our bodies are the physical vessel that God uses while we're here on earth; we need to take care of it in honor of Him. Jesus Himself borrowed an earthly body while He was here on earth, and He wants to use you to accomplish even greater things!

Lord,

I am ready to receive from you the gift of good health. I want my soul to prosper and I want to walk in victory over sickness and exhaustion. I commit the next 30 days to rebuilding my body for your glory, not mine.

In Jesus Name I pray, Amen

Every moment, Every situation, Every issue, and Every concern has a positive side. Find it and bring it to life.

Keeping God's Attention

"I will lift up my eyes unto the hills, from where comes my help. My help comes from the Lord, which made heaven and earth" (Psalm 121:1-20).

There is nothing more frustrating than trying to keep someone's attention. I went through that as an immature teenager, desperatedly seeking to impress other people.

I recall those ridiculous things I went through...trying to dress right and in style...having my hair just right...working so hard to impress. I felt their fondness for me waxed and waned according to how cool my overtures were.

What a disaster that was! Through it all, I learned something that has stayed with me through the years.

I am reminded of those days every time I catch myself trying to keep God's attention.

Please don't make the mistake of supposing God's interest in you waxes and wanes in response to your spiritual tempature. God's love doesn't waver according to how many victories you may have over sin or how many times you use His name in your prayers. His love for you goes deeper than mere affection or surface infatuation.

Let the matchless love of God sweep away your doubt and fears. You already have His attention and you will never lose it.

Every moment, Every situation, Every issue, and Every concern has a positive side. Find it and bring it to life.

God Promises His Presence

Our Savior Is With Us Even During The Coldest Winters

The closing of another year reminds us how much life has changed, and family gatherings underscore our loneliness. Loss of a job or even a loved one or even a dream leaves a deep ache within our hearts, and we don’t know how we will recover. While this should be a joyful time of year, for many, it is not.

If you are struggling with feelings of disappointment, I want to remind you that Jesus came into a world of great conflict. It was not only a world of political unrest but also one of emotional instability and frustration.

Like today, many placed their hope in promises made by men and governments. Regardless of how detailed and researched a list of goals and plans may appear, if they are not based on the truth of God, they crumble under pressure.

The Roman government did not seem interested in an accurate understanding of God. They looked for God’s deliverance in terms of political freedom. The Father sent Jesus to free them from the bondage of their own sin. The Savior was born not in a palace but a stable. He did not lead a rebellion. He lead the only way to eternal peace, hope and security.

He is with us. Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which means, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23)

The truth: God is with you. This fact can and will stave off feelings of hopelessness and anxiety. Jesus’ presence is something we can experience today ~ it is life changing.

The disciples called Him “the Christ,” indicating that they recognize Him as the fulfillment of God’s promise to mankind (Matthew 16:16). They believed the promise of salvation was living and walking with them each day.

Though their knowledge was limited, they understood that when they were in Christ’s presence, everything changed. difficulties were insurmountable,. Problems were solved, often in miraculous ways. They saw Him feeding 5,000 and witnessed Him walk on water. He was with them, but He also was with those who were hurting, lonely, and longing for healing.

When it seems there is no relief in sight, the one thing that changes this line of thinking is the reality that God is with us. We are not alone. He loves us and cares what happens to us, even when we don’t believe in ourselves. He sent Jesus to save us ~ but He also sent His Son to be with us.

God is with us and He wants to make His presence known to us.

He strengthened Joshua in the midst of battle with these words: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not stumble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
This is the key to our success, as it was for Joshua, Adam and Eve, Abraham, Noah or Moses.

Thought many seek to change or dismiss God’s truth, it cannot be altered. What He has promised, He will do! Through the coming of His Son, He is saying that He is with us, He is not distant, too busy, or engrossed in other challenges. He sees the difficulties facing us and understands the heartache we are feeling. If we will trust Him, He will give us the guidance and support we need to make it through our times of need.

A most wonderful aspect of God is the way He loves us. He listens to the cries of our hearts ~ the ones we don’t even know how to express ~ and hears them perfectly. When we are hurting, we need to know someone cares, and that Someone is Jesus.

When you face intense fear or sorrow, there is only one thing you need to know, that is: GOD IS WITH YOU. This truth turns fear into bravery. When you are worn out, weak, and battling with doubt, the fact that God is walking with you erases exhaustion and transforms it into unshakable strength.

When your faith is tempted, tried or tested, the encouragement of a friend may lift your spirits, but the only thing that will hold your heart steady in the middle of a great storm is that God is watching over you. He knows your needs and He promises never to leave you.

Lord, we need Your wisdom, guidance and encouragement, but most of all, we need to know that You are near. Nothing cheers a discouraged heart like the awareness of Your presence.

The awareness of His presence is all the comfort we need to face every problem with hope and unwavering certainty. Because He is with us!

2009 Extreme Makeover

This new year gives each of us a chance to redefine our priorities.

As many of the manifestations of success are changing, let's make this year a year of

TRUE GREATNESS

* Success is about my agenda; true greatness is about God's.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord" (Isaiah 55:8).

* Success looks inward; true greatness looks upwards then outwards.

"Look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption draws nigh" (Luke 21:28)

* Success accommodates selfishness; true greatness celebrates unselfish concern for the welfare of others, selflessness.

(Matthew 25:35-40).

* Success is about receiving; true greatness is about giving.

"It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35)

* Success worships what it sees in a mirror: true greatness grieves for what it sees through it's windows.

"For now we see through a glass (mirror) darkly, but then face to face, now I know in part, but then shall I know even as also I am known" (1 Corinthians 13:12)

* Success pays off for now; true greatness pays off forever.

"...Whoever wants to be great, must be a servant of all" (Matthew 20:27)

It is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him. (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Wealth is not just what you have, but what you are.