4GIVEN

There are many times in our lives when God calls us to go somewhere or do something. He wants us to step out in faith/ obedience in a situation that seems extremely ridiculous so He can amaze us with what He does. Unfortunately, most of the time we miss out on these exciting opportunities because we fail to move–or let Him move through us. When He asks us to move, He never asks us to go alone. He asks us to move because He wants to go somewhere and He wants us to move with Him! In Joshua 1:2 He tells Joshua: “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.” He also reminded him that He would be with him and for him to be strong and of good courage. For Esther, God’s command to go meant risking her life and going before the king so that her people might be saved from death. Her walk of faith/obedience was a short one–down the palace hallways–but it could have been quite costly to her and her people if she chose to stay put! I don’t know what God is calling you to do–but you do! You have have been vacillating long enough so it’s time to get moving. Servanthood is all about faith and odebience. And if you fail to serve/obey God on the way to where He has called you to go, you will never be able to serve Him when you get there.

It doesn’t matter if you’re 1 inch from the cross or 1000 yards from the cross, God still wants you!! 2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” God has told the sinful world, in no uncertain terms, to repent (Mark 6:12; Luke 24:47; Acts 3:19; 17:30). To repent means to change your mind from the embrace of sin and rejection of Christ to rejection of sin and embrace of Christ. Those who refuse to repent and turn to Christ in faith will suffer eternal consequences. This is why Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 6:2, “…now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation!” So, if you’ve been straddling the fence stop resisting the voice and pull of the Holy Spirit. Think about it, there was a time when the Lord shut the door of the ark, and the flood swept everyone outside the ark away (Genesis 7:16) and there came another time when the wedding party began, and those who were not ready for the coming of the bridegroom were locked out (Matthew 25:1–13). Beloved of a God, it’s up to you to accept or reject. Don’t shoot the messenger rather, open your heart to the Message of grace, peace, mercy, forgiveness, and love!

Today, is the day for your salvation!

Your greatest enemy is your own anger and rage. Our life is fleeting; much like a vapor. James 4:14 says, “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog–it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.” Harboring resentment, bitterness, ill-will, and anger only sucks the life out of you and the real question is do you really want to spend the brevity of your fleeting life holding on to an offense(s) that can easily be forgiven? Why would you drink poison and hopes the ‘other’ person (offender) will die? King David had the opportunity to kill Shimei in 2 Samuel 16:5-8 as it was the King’s right to do so but he chose the path of humility instead of ending his vitality. In verse 10 we find that David avoided feelings of anger, bitterness, and resentment by viewing the situation from the Lord’s perspective. I’ve heard it said, “Holding on to anger, bitterness, and resentment is like holding on to an anchor and jumping in the sea! If you don’t let it go, you will eventually drown.”

“Now unto Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever” (Eph 3:20–21.) We must approach God from the perspective that it’s already done. Hebrews 11:6 says, “He who comes to God MUST come believing that He is a reward of those who diligently seek Him.” When you bind faith and hope together with love the impossible becomes possible! Ex nihilo means “out of nothing” and that’s exactly where the dawn of creation commenced!! Sometimes, God will allow you to be stripped down to nothing so that He can make something good out of you or the situation that you are going through! This is why Paul said, “Now unto HIM who is ABLE………!”

On Valentines Day, we show our love;
We express our deep affections.
Those who are important to us
Get cards and sweet confections.

But Christian love is not just for
The ones we hold most dear;
Jesus said “love everyone;”
He made that very clear.

For Christians, it is every day
We should care and love and serve
Everyone we meet in life,
Whether they do or don’t deserve.

Let’s follow Jesus’ good command
To love everyone we meet.
Valentine’s Day every day
Will make life twice as sweet.

By Joanna Fuchs

Sometimes your heart can become so desperate that it’s difficult to hear God’s voice. You yearn for _________(FITB), but the lies and fear circling in your head and heart are so loud, it’s difficult to distinguish the voice of God from the enemy. Together (lies & fear) they try to convince you that you will never be enough and that God can never use you. Well, I am a living witness that God is greater than your worried hearts and knows more about you than you do yourselves (I John 3:18-20)! I know that life can be difficult however; it’s incumbent on us to remember that our trials are temporal and God’s love for us is eternal. Yes and glory to God because we are chosen, righteous, holy, marvelous, and deeply and immensely loved with mercies that are brand new everyday! So, today if your heart condemns you and fear is overwhelming you remember God IS greater than your heart and the light of His love drives out all fear. He does this, even though He knows everything you’ve done, all you’ve ever thought, and all you ever will do in the future.

You are a masterpiece carved by the Master’s hand to live out His master plan that was scribed before the beginning of time!

“Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.” Ephesians 3:20

#EstBeforeTheStartofTime

“Hurry with your answer, GOD! I’m nearly at the end of my rope. Don’t turn away; don’t ignore me! That would be certain death. If you wake me each morning with the sound of your loving voice, I’ll go to sleep each night trusting in you. Point out the road I must travel; I’m all ears, all eyes before you. Save me from my enemies, GOD — you’re my only hope! Teach me how to live to please you, because you’re my God. Lead me by your blessed Spirit into cleared and level pastureland.” (Psalm 143:10 MSG)

In Matthew 19:23-24 we once again find the disciples astounded and somewhat perplex regarding Jesus’ metaphorical illustration about the comparison of rich man, a camel, a needle, and the Kingdom of Heaven. Then in v26 the Bible says Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” Experience teaches us that the unexplainable things in life presents opportunities for us to to trust God more with our lives. If salvation which was gifted to us was made possible through the bloody rugged cross what makes us think the God of the impossible won’t show up in our pain, disappointment, frustration, troubles, and problems? Let me be clear, in context all things are made possible means “only God can save sinners and give them eternal life.” No human being can hijack this power, in salvation or in any other matter. Therefore, our response should always be that of humility, submission, and trust!

I read this today; “Ships don’t sink because of the water around them. Ship sink because water gets inside of them. Moral of the story, don’t let what’s happening around you get inside of you and weigh you down.” Adding to this Proverbs 12:25 reminds us that, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” 1 Peter 5:7 also taps us on our shoulders and says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” And lastly Paul texted us in Philippians 4:6-7 and said, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God and the peace that surpasses all understanding [will cause your ship to float] and also will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.”