4GIVEN

In Hebrews 11:1 we learn that faith is the substance of things ‘hoped’ for and the evidence of things yet seen. Therefore, it is imperative that we live in constant ‘hope’ of generous amounts of restoration, healing, and favor in this age as well as the age to come (Mark 10:29-30). Our ‘hope’ confirms that we will see God’s goodness “in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13). Our life is not simply a matter of waiting for heaven; it’s bringing heaven to earth—in our own life and the lives of others, by prayer, faith, words, and actions. Hope is not nearly as distant as it seems. God is in the business of repairing what’s broken, providing what was lost, and restoring newness to life. Chuck Swindoll wrote, “We can endure life’s storms, tragedies, disappointments, and failures, as long as we maintain our ‘hope’. But in order for our hope to be effective and based on truth, it must be placed in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Scripture refers to our hope in Christ as the “anchor of the soul”; it offers us stability during life’s most violent storms.”
#HOPEISTHEANCHOROFTHESOUL

What is grace? What does the word grace mean or what does it represent? Check out this cool acronym:
G.od’s 

R.iches

A.t

C.hrist’s

E.xpense
God dispenses His Grace because of Christ and because we are in Christ we too can be grace dispensers. As Christians, we should seek to show grace in the most unexpected places and in situations where it doesn’t benefit us because that is the essence of grace. Paul wrote in Romans 12:10, “Honor one another above yourselves.” “Live in harmony with one another” (verse 16). “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2). If we are to be like Jesus, our relationships may have to change a lot. It won’t be easy, and it won’t happen overnight. It takes time, so we need patience with the process, both in ourselves and in others. We need faith that God will finish the work he has started in us. Rick Warren said, “What gives me the most hope every day is God’s grace; knowing that his grace is going to give me the strength for whatever I face, knowing that nothing is a surprise to God.”

Sometimes we believe we are waiting on God to speak when in reality he has already spoken. You see, God gave us a book telling us what he wants us to do. The real question is, “Are we listening?” Hebrews 1:1-2 says, “God, spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe.” In Ephesians 3:3-5 Paul tells us that Jesus speaks to us through Jesus’ apostles. Simple put, if you want to know God’s mind on a matter; it’s already been written in His word. 
Pray with me:
Father, we thank You for the word, the revelation. Oh how exciting it is to hold in our hands the treasure of divine knowledge. What as blessed thing it is. Thank You Father for giving it to us. For having place in our hands the truth that we might know thee, that we might know ourselves and that we know… that we might know how to serve You. Thank You Father for Your spoken word. Thank You Father for the truth revealed to us through Your precious Son; our Savior and it’s only His name that we pray, amen!

Good morning Lord God! Lord, I have a worship in my spirit this morning….\O/ !!!!!!!! Lord, You are CEO, CFO, COO, HEAD OF STATE, COMMANDER AND CHIEF over ALL the UNIVERSES; known and unknown. Lord, You are high and lifted it up. You are Magnificent, You are Glorious, Wonderful, all Powerful, and forever Righteous. Today, Lord we worship You for who You are!! We stand before Your Holy Throne room of Grace with thanksgiving in our hearts. Today, we lay every need, request and petition aside to focus on You and Your GREATNESS!!! There is none like You and there will never be anyone or anything before You nor after You. You are El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty) El Elyon (The Most High God) Adonai (Lord, Master) Yahweh (Lord, Jehovah) Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My Banner)Jehovah-Raah (The Lord My Shepherd)Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals) Jehovah Shammah (The Lord Is There) Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness) Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord Who Sanctifies You)El Olam (The Everlasting God) Elohim (God) Qanna (Jealous) Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide) Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace) and Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts). Lord, we praise and worship You today in Jesus’ name, Glory-Hallelujah and Amen and Amen!!

Conflict may be inevitable, but you and I can choose how to respond to it. If you are unable to come to an agreement with another person, don’t feel like a spiritual failure. No one can force another person to reconcile, but you can choose to walk in forgiveness anyway. Ask God for wisdom, and He will be faithful to guide your steps. The Father desires that our response to conflict be a powerful clear demonstration of His power and grace to a hurting world.
Lord, teach us to love despite the conflicts we encounter from day to day. Teach us O’ God that love can not exists without humility. Give us strength and courage to move past pain, disappointments, and hurts. Lord, we know that beyond our problems are Your provision, providence, and promise. THANK YOU LORD GOD for helping us to become better people in Christ Jesus and helping us overcome conflicts in our lives. In Jesus’ name amen and amen!

In 2 Timothy 1:13 Paul said, “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” In illustration of this passage of text, I showed my children this morning what I believed Paul was referring to when he said, “Hold fast…” I picked up my cell phone and placed it in the palm of my hand; this was an example of holding an object. I asked them, “Now what if someone brushed against me?” The phone would obviously drop and your cyber world would come to an end. In the second illustration I not only held it, I gripped it tightly. The tighter the grip the least likely it would fall to the ground and break. Paul is saying that as believers we need to grip tightly the word of Truth. The tighter the grip, the least likely the lies from Satan and this world will cause us to stumble, fall, and break. John Calvin wrote, “Paul knew how ready men are to depart or fall off from pure doctrine. For this reason he earnestly cautions Timothy not to turn aside from that form of teaching which he had received, and to regulate his manner of teaching by the rule which had been laid down; not that we ought to be very scrupulous about words, but because to misrepresent doctrine, even in the smallest degree, is exceedingly injurious.”

The Son of man came

to seek and to save the lost. (Luke 19:10) Joseph Parnell said, “There is no other news like this. Every other religion says it backwards. Every other religion tells us to seek.” Well in Psalms 14:2-3 David said, “No one seeks God.” Mainly because our best efforts fall far short of the righteousness required by God (Romans 3:23). So what do we seek? Wet typically seek fulfillment. We seek pleasure. We seek escape from pain. But the pure motivation of seeking after God for Himself is a gift from God. Scripture does say to seek Him with all our whole heart. However, we must understand that He has taken the first step toward us. So our seeking is merely a response to God’s calling.
Pray with me:
Jesus, you are the one who saves, not us. Thank you for rest, for hushing the furious winds of our faithless works. Thank you for stopping the strivings of our souls. Overcome us more and more with the glory of your grace, and make our posture toward others echo this summary of your gospel: “the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

The same God who is powerful enough to save you from your sins is the same God that can help you through every struggle we endure throughout life. Pastor Chip Ingram said in his blog titled ‘How to Unleash God’s Power of Breakthrough in Your Life’ , “God does the breakthrough, but He’s waiting for us to take that first step of faith. We have to believe in God’s goodness, that God has already willed the breakthrough for our life. Then we actually become “agents of breakthrough,” unleashing God’s supernatural power to change our impossible situations in our homes, workplaces and relationships.

Speaking about his mother, Billy Graham said, “Of all the people I have ever known, she had the greatest influence on me.” Pastor Graham hit the nail on the head! As Christians, it is our non-laborious duty to honor and treasure the influence our mothers have had in shaping our lives as believers. As it stands we would would not be, were it not for our mother’s wound. David said in Psalm 139:13, “You created every part of me; you put me together in my mother’s womb.” 
To those whose mother’s bodies are resting but whose spirits are reigning with God know that every, “I miss you” and “I love you” can be heard and although they may not respond audibly they can most certainly respond to you spiritually. The only thing that can fill the void in your heart on days like these is having the confidence in knowing that you will see her again! (1 Thess 4:16-18)

M is for the million things she gave you. 

O is for the door that is always open when all other doors are closed.

T is for the tears of joy shed when she delivered you.

H is for her heart of purest gold.

E is for her eyes, with love-light burning. 

R is right—and right she’ll always be. (Who dares to say differently?)

You could be ranked #1 in the Forbes billionaires list for being the richest person on the planet and not have peace. Inarguably, peace the world offers doesn’t compare to the peace that’s found only in Christ. Walter A. Elwell wrote, “The biblical concept of peace is larger than that and rests heavily on the Hebrew root slm, which means “to be complete” or “to be sound.” The verb conveys both a dynamic and a static meaning”to be complete or whole” or “to live well.” Contrary to Puff Daddy’s 1997 hit single; ‘It’s NOT all about the Benjamin’s…. baby.’ In John 14:27 Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives….” You can’t buy peace and the only way to acquire it, is to believe in the One that died so that we could possess it during our temporary stay on this planet.