Morning Word

WE ARE

There are times when we all get a little down on ourselves. It may be due to our current situation or things of the past. No matter the reason we have to remind ourselves that WE are great beings. WE were created for a purpose. WE are destined for great things. Our Heavenly father does not make mistakes. WE make poor choices and WE have forgiveness.

Psalms 37:8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

Proverbs 16:32 - [He that is] slow to anger [is] better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Ephesians 4:31 - Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

Proverbs 15:1 - A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

Matthew 18:15 - Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

Mark 11:25 - And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

"For a smart man, you sure are dumb"

I heard this phrase said before between a parent and their child. The child was being scolded for doing something they had been told many times prior about. The parents loved their child and were frustrated with their child's inability to listen to what was being told . Hearing that phrase made me think about how Jesus must have been frustrated in these these scriptures:

Matthew 16:2-4 He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ 3 and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.[a] 4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.

This was referring to the Pharisees and Sadducees. When they kept asking for Jesus to demonstrate to prove that he was the Messiah. The same can be true of our generation. We were already given the tool we needed to fight off the devil. The answers to many of life's questions. All in one Book.

LIGHT

I don't know about you, but we have been getting quite a bit of rain here lately. So much so that we have had a few bad storms and one power outage. Luckily, when the power went out we had flashlights. Once we found them we were comforted knowing that we would be able to see.

There are times in life when we come across some pretty dark days. Many times we feel as if things are never going to turn around. At that very moment one thing seems to fall apart after another. We wish we could see some light at the end of the tunnel.

The truth is that regardless if we had found a flashlight or not we would have found our way. Maybe, not right at that moment but eventually. The same can be said of life. In life if we are able to put our faith wholeheartedly in the Lord we will always have a light to guide us.

Matthew 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Matthew 5:16 - Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

John 8:12 - Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

NOTHING TO HIDE

A child said to me once "You know, some cities look pretty in the night time, but not so much in the daytime". We went on to discuss all the cities he had been to. We discussed what he felt was so great about them and the things that were not so great. I thought I would press him a little more and ask him if he could think of anything great about an "ugly" city. After giving it some thought he remembered a park he had played in while visiting an aunt, all the wonderful books he found in a library where his grandmother lived, and a dinosaur museum his parents had taken him to in another. I went on to explain that even with all the "ugliness" the cities had there was still some beauty within if he looked for it. The same is true when we think we are concealing things from others. Everything looks and is great until someone sheds light on the subject. Even with the light revealing the ugly truth beauty can come from the ability to make things right. God has no secrets. He sent his son to shed light into our lives. So, that we may shine in his glory. We have the ability to make a difference. To be that light.

Matthew 15:18 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

1 Corinthians 4:5 - Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

How many times have you heard the phrase "It pays to listen"?

I mentioned this to a young person once and they replied "How do you hear God?" I went on to explain that hearing God isn't necessarily about hearing an audible voice. It's more about recognizing promptings, peace, or wisdom in your heart. Sometimes, we become too busy or distracted with life to hear anything other than what we are focused on. To hear a "still, small voice," you need to remove all that noise. Reading the Bible is the primary way God communicates his character and desires. The more we read scripture, the easier it is to recognize the nature of God's voice. When we read scriptures for daily guidance we become more knowledgeable. Prayer is another form of conversation. Bring your questions, burdens, and needs to God. If what you feel aligns with God's character (promotes love, peace, grace, and truth) and matches what is written in the Bible, it is likely God's voice.

For if we listen and take heed to our Heavenly Father's words we will have riches in Heaven:

1 Timothy 6:17-19 - Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

Luke 12:15 - And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

1 Timothy 6:10 - For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Philippians 4:19 - But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

1 John 3:17 - But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

Matthew 6:24 - No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Luke 16:13 - No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Mark 4:19 - And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Luke 18:22-26 - Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow m
John 14:6

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

John 16:33 - 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.

Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

A very wise man once said:

"I have learned that it´s only through strife that you truly discover who you are. And it´s only in those moments that you discover who you can be. The person that you want to be does exist, somewhere on the other side of hard work and faith. We must belive that beyond the HEARTACHE and fear of what life has in store for us is still a promise. God has a promise inside of each of us but if we become complacent in our faith life will beat it out of us. Life has a funny way of beating the dream right out of you. Each new day is an opportunity to move closer to being what you want to be and not what the world has labeled your situation."

His words have pulled me through on more than one occasion.

Matthew 7:7
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

GUARDED

The Devil is the master of deception. He can and has manipulated, twisted, deceived and enticed many a Christian. Oftentimes, as Christians we feel that we can be strong enough to withstand temptation and most can't. They may go a long time down the straight and narrow, but let us not forget that we are human and fall short of the glory of God from time to time. The Devil knows your weaknesses and uses them to his advantage. He does so not only in times of need, but in profitable times as well. That is why it is extremely important to remain guarded by our own actions and thoughts. Even through sin, we have a lifeline through faith.

Romans 3

1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?

2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

5 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)

6 God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?

7 For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?

8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:

16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:

17 And the way of peace have they not known:

18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

SILENCE

There are times when I have felt distracted, distanced from the Lord. Have you ever felt that way? Perhaps, your time is consumed with responsibility, maybe you have had burdens or heavy decisions to make and worry consumed your thoughts. It's hard to think about much else when our thoughts are focused on the negative. Our Heavenly Father doesn't want you to be burdened by such things. Human error teaches us to focus on only that in which we can see, but what we don't see can hold more value. A child whose life has discipline and work can see it as hatred or punishment. When they are, in fact, being taught principles that will sustain them in life. The same can be for us in hard times.

2 Corinthians:4

Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH

Oftentimes, I am to proud to ask for help and life humbles me. I am reminded that no matter how big my problems are our God is a mighty God. That he is always with me through triumph and despair.

"Lord, I ask for your strength in this moment. Help me to face this challenge with courage and grace."

PSALMS 28

1 Unto thee will I cry, O Lord my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.

2 Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.

3 Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.

4 Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.

5 Because they regard not the works of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.

6 Blessed be the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.

7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

8 The Lord is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.

9 Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.

NO FEAR

Down on your luck? Lift your head up and smile - God's got this!

Matthew 14: 14-21

14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.
16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.
17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
18 He said, Bring them hither to me.
19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.