Category Archives: Christianity

You Have A Gift

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How are you using your gift?

Each of us was given a gift. Just as God chose us for a specific purpose and He gave us what we need to accomplish that purpose. (Jeremiah 29:11)

There’s more to it though. We are to use that gift to encourage others in their daily walk. The gift we’re given is specific to God’s Plan for His church. Once again, let me remind you, the gifts and talents are not for our benefit but to help others become what God has purposed for them.

Are you using your gift? Do you know what it is? (If you don’t you can find out here – Spiritual Gifts Survey) I highly encourage you to take the time to find out, then share it with your local church leaders so it can be used.

Abba, Father, open our hearts and minds to Your plan for our lives. Help us all know and use the gift You have given us for the benefit of Your Kingdom.

Breath of God

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I AM who I AM Y H W H

When Moses asked God at the burning bush (Exodus 3:13-15) what His name was this is how God responded – Y H W H

As Christians, we have replaced the blank letters with vowels making it YaHWeH. That’s OK if we have to have a word but what if it isn’t meant to be a word at all?

Jewish Rabbis believe these letters to be like the sounds of breathing. Could it be that from these sounds God wants us to understand His constant presence?

From the time an infant inhales that first breath until their final breath… Y H W H

When God spoke the world into order, could the sound have been simply His breath… Y H W H

When God breathed life into Adam… Y H W H

God breathed His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17)… Y H W H

God’s presence is made known in every person every moment of every day by simply breathing. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a Believer, an atheist, a child… It doesn’t matter what color your skin is, what language you speak, what your job is… You are a living, breathing child of God.

Breathe on me breath of God, fill me with life anew, that I may love as Thou dost love, and do what Thou wouldst do.

Calming A Churning Mind

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Thy Word…

What do you do when you find your mind is roiling, churning, restless… When stress and circumstances are overwhelming? I have several Bible verses that I ‘go to’ and think about to calm those thoughts that just will not stop.

Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God! I have this on a plaque in my office. It reminds me to sit back, relax, and simply know His presence.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your works acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. I memorized this in college, at a time when I was making career and life choices. It has served me well in the many years since. Trusting Him has always paid off!

Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots and some trust in horses, but we trust in the Name of the Lord our God. Years ago, Ray and I were at a dinner theater in the Great Smokey Mountains. This verse was carved into the mantle of the gigantic fireplace of the building. It reminds me that no matter what I have or even, what I want, He is the most important.

Esther 4:4 …who knows that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this. When I am questioning the plan, whining with a case of the why me’s, I sit back and reflect on this verse and Queen Esther’s story. It reminds me that we do what we have to do because it is the right thing to do.

John 3:17 For God sent not His Son to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. This verse follows the most memorized verse in the Bible… God so loved the world… It’s a reminder that we are so loved that He does not want to condemn us! From the beginning, He has wanted us with Him!

I challenge you to commit at least 10 Scriptures to memory. To those of you who have already done that, do more. The calming effect this will have on your mind, soul, and spirit is almost like being cradled in His arms.

Abba, Father, open our hearts, minds, and souls to Your Word. Place in each of us a great desire to know more and more of You each day.

Making Sense

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God has a plan!

I’m sure that most of you are thinking along the lines of ‘this doesn’t make sense’ and ‘what is going on’. We might ask God why are You letting this happen? Sometimes the answer isn’t for us to know. Perhaps we’re not ready for it yet.

God is fully aware and in complete control. (Psalm 46:5-7)

He is as much with us as He was with Daniel in the lion’s den. (Daniel 6)

He is as much with us as He was with Jesus in the garden. (Luke 22:39-44)

He cares! Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7

Abba, Father, we’re giving our thoughts, confusion, worries, and cares to You. You have given us everything we need to fight that which is taking our peace. We believe You are in complete control. Help us trust and rest in You!

Do-overs

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God, in His great mercy, gives us a second chance, a third chance, a fourth chance, and more…

God is always willing to let us try again. God not only forgives He gives the opportunity to try again.

David and Paul and Moses were murderers…

Noah and Lot were drunks…

Rahab and Tamar were prostitutes…

Jonah was disobedient, hesitant, reluctant, and fearful…

Naomi and Martha were whiners…

All of them were forgiven, given mercy. They were allowed to try again.

David asked for forgiveness (Psalm 51) and our merciful God said, I can still use you!

Rahab did what she promised and God not only saved her and her family, at the fall of Jericho, but gave her a place in the lineage of Christ. (Joshua 2 and 6)

Jonah was so afraid to do what God had told him to do that he went the opposite direction and was swallowed by a whale. He single-handedly saved the people of an entire city! (Jonah)

Jesus told Martha to quit whining and follow the example of her sister Mary. (Luke 10:38-42)

And that’s just a few of the do-overs in God’s word. He still gives His forgiveness, mercy, and grace. He knows we’re not perfect. We often miss the mark. But He forgives and forgives and lets us start over and over and over…

What a Mighty God we serve!