4GIVEN

To all my grudge holders out there make note; before you hold a grudge against someone try holding a conversation-m……you might find out that it was a mere misunderstanding. Did you know that God has such a strong concern about grudges? In Leviticus 19:18 God specifically commanded , “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.” It’s human nature to hold an offense against those who have wronged us but if God who is totally righteous can forgive us, why do we find it difficult to forgive others? Fact is, “The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:20). We do God no favors by trying to “help” Him right a bad situation through our vengeance. He does not need our anger. He needs our cooperation as we submit to doing things His way (Proverbs 3:5–6). And God’s way is always to forgive as He has forgiven us (Matthew 18:35; Ephesians 4:32). Forgiveness brings healing to our souls and allows God to build His strength and character into our lives as we allow Him to reign as our only God (Romans 8:29).

In the battle of my will; I willingly and fully surrender FATHER GOD and say as my SAVIOR said in the Garden, “Not my will but YOUR WILL be done!”

#HisWill >#MyWill

Why me, why me, why me?? Sounds familiar? Of course it does! Paul addressed this question in 2 Tim 3:12. He said, “…all who desire to live godly in Christ will be persecuted.” That’s right, you don’t have to look for trouble….trouble looketh for you. But, that’s ok! The alluring light of Christ will always shine bright in a dark world. Paul did not stop there; he encouraged us in Romans 5:3 to, “Rejoice in our suffering because suffering produces perseverance, perseverance-character, and character-hope! So remember, “If we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure with Him, we will also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He will also deny us and if we are faithless, He remains faithful because He can’t deny Himself (2 Tim 2:11-13).”

God in His love always wills what is best for us. In His wisdom He always knows what is best, and in His sovereignty/providence He has the power to bring it about. My word of encouragement today is to remind you that GOD IS IN CONTROL and HE NEVER ENDS POORLY! Anything under God’s control is never out of control. Therefore, whatever God brings or allows into our lives will always be for the edification of His glory and for the benefit of our good.

The possible causes of anxiety, worry, and fear are many: conflict, health problems, dangerous situations, death, unmet needs, spiritual problems, false beliefs, etc. However, the apostle Paul found his strength in God despite his weakness and challenges! He said in 2 Corinthians 11:23-12:10, “I have been in prison frequently, been flogged severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. …Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. …I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. …[God] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Christian Counselor Dr. Gary R. Collins said, “According to the Bible, there is nothing wrong with realistically acknowledging and trying to deal with the identifiable problems of life. To ignore danger is fooling and wrong. But it is also wrong, as well as unhealthy, to be immobilized by excessive worry. Such worry must be committed to prayer to God, who can release us from paralyzing fear, [worry], or anxiety, and free us to deal realistically with the needs and welfare both of others and of ourselves.”

Lord God, please help me today. Give me strength when I am weak, lend me your ear and shoulder when I need to cry behind the veil, and help me up when I fall or fail. Father, I know your test are meant to build me up and not to destroy me and for that I thank you equally for my blessings and for your testing. I am learning that patience is not based on my ability to wait but, how I act while I wait. Thank You Lord and I know all things work together for those who love you and are called according to your purpose. In Jesus’ name, amen and amen!

God chooses simple people to do incredible things. Therefore, we should never look at a person base on what ‘we see’—his/her background, education, culture, job or status in the community as a factor for election. Jesus called ordinary people to follow Him. He didn’t choose religious leaders—He chose fishermen (Matt 4:18-22). He didn’t choose rich or widely successful people—He chose a tax collector. He didn’t choose people from the upper classes rather, He chose a Zealot and an embezzler. He does NOT choose people we would expect to change the world—He chooses people like you and me. This is who Jesus chooses when He goes looking for disciples to follow Him. We need to make sure not to miss these people when we go looking. God sees them as special and peculiar (Deut 14:2) and He is willing to use them to change our world and to build His kingdom!

#ChosenByGod

In 2 Timothy 2 Paul encouraged young Timothy to be strong in grace and to endure hardships like a faithful soldier of Christ. Furthermore, in V 11, he explained that we endure worldly hardship for the sake of the elect and he recited a ‘faithful saying’ we should all commit to memory; “If we die with Him, we shall also live with Him! If we endure with Him, we shall also reign with Him! If we deny Him, He also will deny us! And here’s the kicker; if we are faithless, He remains faithful as He can not deny Himself!” Endure in the Greek is made up of two words hupo and menó ( hoop-om-en’-o). Translating it from right to left it means to remain under authority. Wow, that tells me every hardship we endure is subordinate to God’s authority. Therefore, we shouldn’t run from hardships rather, we should bravely and calmly persevere through misfortunes and trials because of we endure to the end, we will be delivered (Matt 10:12,Mark 13:13). THANK YOU JESUS!!!

In order to walk in the spirit of love you must also walk in the spirit of humility. You can’t do one effectively without the other. So choose to walk in both and watch the world around change for the better! Ephesians 5:2 says, “Walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” Love and humility will always look for ways to serve others, no matter the cost.