Grace for your spirit April 30, 2015

Grace for your spirit

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;  And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.  When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.  Isaiah 43:2

Who could have known they really would have to cross rivers up ahead?  God did.  Who could have known they would face fiery furnaces for their faith? God did. Although He didn't fix the rivers and the fire, He fixed the responses and victories.  We don't know the rivers and fire we must face, but God does.  The rivers and fires will still be there, but so will God to bring us through them with victory.  Look for Him.  He is looking for us.

Grace for your spirit April 29, 2015

Grace for your spirit

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  Psalm 91:1

Shelter, shadow, and shade are all related. If we choose to stay out in the sun, we sacrifice the protection and relief of shade.  While we are suffering in the burning sun, God has left directions to find relief in His shadow.  If we don't follow the signs, we will perish in the desert of sorrow and sin.  If we don't want to find His shade, we are either not desperate enough, or we are too far gone. Let's look up and see His oasis just ahead.  It's not a mirage, it's real.

Grace for your spirit April 28, 2015

Grace for your spirit

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.  Galatians 6:9

Some say, "No good deed goes unpunished."  It seems there is a organization somewhere to discourage people from having a nice day.  

When Jesus has filled our heart, we don't just say, "have a nice day", but we go about doing good to help people have a nice day.  We will reap the blessings of God, if we don't get discouraged and quit.  Let's keep listening to the Lord, and turn a deaf ear to the people out to discourage us.

Grace for your spirit April 27, 2015

Grace for your spirit

So the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads.  They shall obtain joy and gladness; Sorrow and sighing shall flee away.  Isaiah 51:11

God has a way of giving us great hope even before we know we need it. Bad times and bondage were coming for Israel but they didn't see it. God didn't just warn them, he gave them a glimpse of the victory beyond it.  If we can learn to look beyond our sorrow and sighing, and see the joy set before us, we can endure anything with joy.  Look yonder at the coming joy.

Grace for your spirit April 24, 2015

Grace for your spirit

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in according to their own desires.  II Tim 4:3-4

I once knew an old preacher who served a church that punctuated his sermons with constant "Amen's". Their "amen corner" was the size of a choir, and twice as loud.  They liked and agreed with everything he said. He told me that the real learning began when the "amen's" stopped, and the "Oh boy's" began.  How about us?  Will we endure teaching that makes us say, "Oh Boy, that hurt a little."  Ear tickling is fun, but seldom productive to learning.

Grace for your spirit April 23, 2015

Grace for your spirit

No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.  II Corinthians 11:14-15

Not everyone who has a hammer can build something.  Not everyone with a knife can do surgery.  Likewise, not everyone with a "Jesus T-shirt" on, is a servant of righteousness.  Servants of the devil can most certainly lead us away, disguising themselves as those who have the Light.  Let's learn to examine everything carefully, and be well acquainted with our lie detector; The Bible.

Grace for your spirit April 22, 2015

Grace for your spirit

Then He said to HIs disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.  Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest ot send out workers into His harvest.  Matthew 9:37-38

Some things never change.  There is still plenty of work to be done, and very few willing to do it.  Years ago there a beatnik character on TV named Maynard G. Crebbs. Whenever he heard the word "work", he screeched the word loudly with a high pitch.  It scared him just to hear the word.  It certainly takes work to bring the harvest for the Lord.  God certainly hasn't given any of us a spirit of fear, or the gift of  laziness, so let's step up and be laborers for the Lord.  How to churches grow?  WORK !