How Difficult Is It For You?

"And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And He called unto Him His disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living."

~Mark 12:41-44, KJV

It's when we are in the financial struggles that we least want to tithe and give money to the Lord. When we are living high on the hog it's not difficult to throw a little bit His way. Once again you can see that the Lord cares about the meaning and what's in your heart more than the amount of something. You can do a good act in life but why you are doing it is important and how much it takes for you to perform that act is what's important to the Lord. When it's harder to give that's when the Lord wants you to give most then He can bestow even greater blessings upon you.

Wisdom and Understanding

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding."

~Proverbs 9:10, KJV

Who doesn't want to be wise and have understanding? I certainly do. It's interesting to note that the Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the BEGINNING of wisdom - we can't have true wisdom without first having the fear of the Lord. Having knowledge of the holy is having understanding, being able to understand and comprehend things. So how many of those out in the world do we listen to and seek guidance from that don't have wisdom or understand because they have no knowledge of the holy or fear of the Lord? Be careful who you seek assistance from on how to live your life. Make sure they have the basics down first.

He Will Do What He Has Promised

"God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?"

~Numbers 23:19

 I feel that so often we hold God up to standards conceived by us as men. Standards that we perceive to be good based on what we know has humans. As if we forget that God is not a human. As if we forget that His standards and abilities are measured by a different quotient as He is not a man. He created us, why would we think He is bound by our rules? It's hard for our minds to comprehend something that is all powerful but that's what He is. 

If He promises us something we can have faith that He will bring it to pass because He is all powerful. He doesn't lie and if He said He will do something for you that means He will do it. He will never accidentally fail to provide what He said He will provide. He is able to do all things and He has and will continue to fulfill all His promises.

Suffer For Doing Well

"For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously. Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."

~1 Peter 2:20-24, KJV

If you suffer patiently for something that you didn't do worthily than it contains no glory. However, when you do well and suffer patiently for that then there is glory in it with the Father. So when we are in those moments where we are being persecuted and we say, "But I didn't do anything wrong," then we are supposed to be patient. Suffer those trials patiently. When you do something good and it makes someone else feel guilty that they didn't and they turn on you for it, be patient with them.

Easier said than done but we are all works in progress. Christ died on the cross for our sins when He did nothing wrong. Do we expect not to suffer as Christians when we are trying to be Christ-like?

Works and Righteousness

"Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,"

~Romans 4:4-6, KJV

It's amazing how many varying forms of "Christianity" depend on their good works to save them when the Bible clearly states good works is a reward of debt. God is a God of love and grace. You can't work your way into heaven and you can never be "good enough" to undue your wrongs. If you add anything unto salvation other than the cross you are taking away from the work of Christ.

I believe His work on calvary the ONLY thing I need for my salvation. Do I try to do good deeds? Yes, I love the Lord and believe that the rules he sets up are for us to have a better life. I try to be good and righteous and to not sin, but those good deeds won't get me into heaven. His blood is the only thing that can justify me and allow me to walk through the pearly gates.

Do Good To Them That Hate You

"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He taketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."

~Matthew 5:44-45, KJV

This is an extremely difficult verse to follow. Bless those that curse you? But it lets God take vengeance on them and you can step out of the way. Do good to them that hate you? That's quite difficult but then you are blameless. Pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute? You never know what the power of prayer can do!

Sometimes doing what the Bible said can be difficult but it's always worth it because what matters is what comes after this life.

Power, Love, and a Sound Mind

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

~2 Timothy 1:7, KJV

Don't be afraid. We have power and love through Christ. Even when the world is in turmoil or things seem bad do not be afraid. The spirit of fear for your circumstances is from the devil, not the Lord. The Lord will not forsake you and He has you in his hand. Be of a sound mind and know that you have the power of the Lord on your side!

Fornication

"Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, the ye should abstain from fornication. That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:"

~Thessalonians 4:1-5, KJV

This is for anyone that wonders if the Bible actually does talk about fornication or sex outside of marriage. It clearly does talk about it and it states that ye should abstain, or that you should not do it. It's not a cultural thing either as some people say that it is, it is a commandment given by the Lord in the new testament. It's not outdated and it's not a suggestion.

The Lord does not want you to have sex outside of marriage - why? Because it's healthier for you emotionally (and physically). Sex doesn't make love as the world suggests today, love makes sex. Going from person to person falling in love and having sex is just going to tear you up and leave a part of you with each individual until there is nothing less. You can't go around giving up pieces of your soul and expect not to be affected.

Tribulation

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
~John 16:33, KJV

This verse is really encouraging during times of struggle when everything seems to be going wrong. This hits home for me because a few months ago my husband and I lost our jobs and I have this verse on a plaque in my house. It was a good reminder that we didn't need to fear the world because God would take us where He wanted us and the world couldn't stop it.

We were never promised that in life we wouldn't have trouble, this verse is actually saying the opposite, it is saying that we will have tribulation. Yet we shouldn't walk around in fear or depression but we should be of good cheer because we are in God's hands and God has overcome the world. Since we lost our jobs God has moved us to where He wants us to be and our lives are so much better. We are so happy and are where we want to be. We had okay lives before by now every day feels like an adventure and a blessing.

God is awesome!

He Hears You

"And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask an thing according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him."

~1 John 5:14-15, KJV

How wonderful it is for us that we can know that He hears us. You are never alone.

That's the sort of confidence that gives me comfort, to know that the God of the universe hears my prayers. That He hears what I ask of Him. That if what I'm asking is within His will I know that I have that which I asked for. What a wonderful comfort. 

Just Ask

"Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that sketch receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom is his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"

~Matthew 7:7-11, KJV

I wonder how much we don't have as Christian at times just because we don't ask the Lord. I can't begin to remember all the times that I struggled with something day by day to find a simple prayer could make each day so much easier and the burden lighter. 

It's not always easy to remember but it's so easy to ask the Father. Sometimes I need a gentle reminder from my husband that I should just pray about it and when I do it is better. Yeah, life can still be difficult but prayer helps put it in perspective and sometimes the Father just says, "Yes" and who can beat that? Sometimes it's a different answer then you are expecting or wanting but it's always better when God is in your life and the situation and you invite Him there. 

Do you really want or need something? Are you struggling to obtain something? Ask the Lord. 

Faith Standing in the Power of God

"And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."

-1 Corinthians 2:4-5, KJV

So many people, not just today but for ages, try to entice people into believing their religion. They try to act as if they have more knowledge and special revalations in their denominations than in others. And people are tricked into believing in the religions without even realizing that they are believing in the men and what they say and not in God. They also end up believing in the men's wisdom and their own wisdom instead of God and what He can do.   

How to Live

"The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility.
He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him."
(Proverbs 18:11-13, KJV)

A strong city and high wall is a rich man's wealth and conceit. How easy it can be for a rich man to become conceited and caught up in his money and it blocks him from others, or from the truth and/or from heaven. I would rather my strong tower by the name of the Lord where I can run and be safe!

When you become haughty is before destruction. You can't have true honor without having humility. If you have a solution before you hear the problem, or if you make up your mind before you hear the end, it is a folly and a shame to you. 

Do not be puffed up with pride. Don't build upon your wealth or intelligence. Be humble and build upon the Lord, realize that you are nothing without Him. Do not claim to know it all or have all the answers or know what someone did or didn't do. Hear both sides of a story, hear the whole story, and learn before making up your mind. You are not better than other people and if you act superior you are heading down the path to your destruction. Now that you are only where you are because of the Lord or you will never have true honor. Be humble and realize that you are a sinner too and can't make it on your own. Do not look down upon others and lift up your brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Strong Tower

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe."

(Proverbs 18:10, KJV)

What a comforting verse. The name of the Lord is a strong tower! Oh, how mighty is He!

The righteous can run to the name of the Lord and be safe. We are so blessed as Christians as we have a great and powerful Lord who has a name that is a strong tower that we can run to for refuge!

Just Don't Say It!

"A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. 

A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly."

(Proverbs 18:6-8, KJV)

Fools often walk about as if they know what they are saying or talking about. Many words does not a wise man make. Just because someone can talk a lot does not mean he/she has a clue what he/she is talking about. The mouth can often tell you things people don't want you to know. How many times do people say exactly what they mean when they try not to?

"I don't mean to sound rude..." then they go about being rude.
"I don't mean to be mean..." then they are mean.
"I don't mean to get involved..." then they get involved.
"I don't mean to stick my nose into this..." then they stick their nose into it.
"I don't mean to influence your decision..." then they tell you something to influence your decision.

If you don't mean to get involved or influence the decision, don't. Be quiet. If you feel the need to throw an "I don't mean" in there you probably know you shouldn't say what you are about to say, so don't. It is often a lot more difficult to be quiet than to say many words.

I actually had to look up what a talebearer is, it is a person that gossips. Their words are as wounds! Words are weapons! Remember that!

If you have to say things such as, "Don't tell anyone but...," "You didn't hear this from me," or "Keep this a secret," then you probably shouldn't be saying it at all. Our conscience often rears up in an attempt to correct us and the words slip out because we know we aren't suppose to be doing something. Sometimes we say "I don't mean" or "You didn't hear this from me," as an attempt to curb the feelings of guilt. Just don't say it. I am guilty of it myself. You can be hurting more people than you realize in worse than you know in more ways than you know. It's a trap. Don't get ensnared but maybe instead next time, just don't say anything at all.

You don't always have to offer your opinion.

Heartily

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ."

(Colossians 3:23-24, KJV)

Do whatever you do heartily, don't grumble and complain or do it for show but go forward with sincerity and do it with all your might!

Do it unto the Lord who knows your heart. Don't do it to look good or for others but do it with honesty and out of love for Christ. If you are doing it for the right reasons then you will receive the reward of inheritance for ye serve Christ and not men or men's approval. If you do it for praise, you are not doing it for God. If you do it to seem righteous, you are not doing it for God. If you do it to make your family happy, you are not doing it for God. 

Do it for the Lord!

Sweet-Smelling Savor

"Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor."

(Ephesians 5:1-2, KJV)

Follow God as dear children. You are the Lord's child if you are saved through Christ and He is your father. A dear child that trusts his/her father will follow them in blind faith and trust, oh if we could learn to follow the Lord with that same faith and trust! With the kind of faith and trust that makes you think there is no way anything bad could happen to you if you follow your parent because they care for you and love you so much.

Also walk in love as Christ loved you though you can't do anything to deserve it. He offered Himself as a sacrifice when we were sinners and made himself as a sweet-smelling savor to the Lord. Walk in love for others as even though they might not deserve love, neither did you.

According to the Will of God

"Likewise the Spirit also heals our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 

And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose."

(Romans 8:26-28, KJV)

The Holy Spirit heals our infirmities. He prays for us as we should be prayed for, not necessarily how we think we need prayed for. We don't even know what we need but the Spirit does and he prays for those needs we actually have!

And Christ searches our hearts and know the mind of the Spirit as they are three in one and he makes intercession for us! Christ makes intercession for the saved!

All things will work together for good if you are saved and love the Lord! Can we give a Yes and Amen?!

The Peace of God

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."

(Philippians 4:7-9, KJV)

Think on the things that are honest, pure, lovely, good report! Do the things that you have heard of the Gospel! And the peace of God will be with you. Keep your mind focused on the Lord our God. Have His peace that passeth all understanding and your minds and hearts will be kept through Christ!

Perfect Peace and Everlasting Strength

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusted in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:"

(Isaiah 26:3-4, KJV)

When do you have peace around a person? When you trust in that person completely. When I am running to and fro it helps to get my mind back on God and realize He has control of the situation. Not only do you have to put your mind on God though, but you also need to trust in Him, that's what truly gives you peace. When I think about how God has control, I still need to trust Him that He will do what's best for me even if I don't see it at the time.

He has always pulled through for me and watched out for me and given me things I didn't even ask for before I knew I needed them. Not only is this great and wonderful but these verses go further to give you comfort with the knowledge that in our God, Jehovah, is everlasting strength. He never fails, He never falters.

It's the same as when I was a child and scared of the future and I ran to my parents and they held me and comforted me and I had peace because I trusted them. It's like that but the peace is so much greater and lasting because my parents, like every human, are fallible and have limited power, but the Lord isn't. He is perfect, omnipotent, and has everlasting strength.

Hallelujah! What a great God we serve!