Simple Devotions

Tag: bible

  • wedding invite

    How do you stay resilient in hard times?

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    I’m only able to stay positive and keep going in hard times because of my hope in the resurrection of Christ Jesus.

    He alone imparts the hope that is even now leading me to share the truth of His Word with you the reader. 

    Many do not understand the incredible gift we have been given in that we can have an intimate relationship just by searching the Word of God. It was written and preserved since ancient times to reveal clearly His love towards all humanity.

    Even so God has shared the fullness of His love by not forsaking us but giving us His only begotten son. He makes an invitation to come to His table and receive the bread of life.

    One day soon it will be a banquet table liken to that of a wedding feast for all eternity. 

    Imagine a wedding invitation to the union of Christ and His true church.  

    If your not aware of the coming ceremony you can get an idea in a parable story Jesus tells in Matthew 22

    Friends there is a wedding invite and I hope that you will accept it wholeheartedly because I know Jesus would like to see you there. 

    HE is the only hope anyone can trust in. 

    In Christ love, amen 

  • a year ago today..

    Covered

    Are you the kind of person who needs proof of God’s mercy?

    If you are you aren’t alone.

    All of us fall short of the glory God deserves, and because His tender mercies are made new every morning we can know He understands us best.

    Today I want to share a short bible study I wrote a year ago.

    I know that if you take the time to look at it you will be blessed.

    Under His wings we can safely abide, He will direct and lead and make us whole.

    I hope you have the day you deserve and according to the Lord a merciful one!

    In Christ love, amen

  • the last one

    Daily writing prompt
    If you could relive one year of your life, which one would it be?
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    I’ve heard it many times, what someone wouldn’t give to have one more day .. or just a little more time.

    Maybe I have felt this way about a time in parenting where I wasn’t as patient, it would be nice to have the knowledge I have today as an empty nester now.

    This prompt brings me to a powerful point, we don’t know how much time we have left and there are no do -overs.

    But here’s what I do know.

    God knows all.

    I’ve been reading daily about the faithfulness of God todays was in I Thess 5:24

    So because I believe that He is the one who called me to salvation then I have to trust He will help me to live for Him in body, mind and spirit.

    He will keep me blameless because of His ultimate sacrifice until the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ because He is the One who called me.

    And here’s what I must remember about Him.

    He is faithful to the end and will do what He said He would.

    So looking back and wanting do over’s in this life is not something I have a need for any longer.

    That’s why I decided to share today that the only way to live with no regrets is to live surrendered to the will of the Lord.

    He knows every temptation you deal with and none are new and He still loves you.

    But don’t confuse this with living in sin and doing what you want, no His love is for you is to not live there any longer.

    He wants to save you from it.

    In fact the Old Testament examples and warnings are written for our benefit that we will not repeat the same things they did back then.

    As well as pointing forward to how Jesus was the way, looking back to learn means we have more light to walk in.

    The darkness of this world would keep us stumbling and is why we need His light.

    His word says He will not let you be tempted beyond your strength but will provide a way of escape. 1 Corth 10:13

    However having an attitude of confidence in ourselves thinking we are standing firm and that we can do anything we want and it won’t affect our salvation..this is foolishness.

    The Lord is the only reason we have salvation.

    It’s His to give therefore we need to remain humble looking constantly to Him for it.

    The confidence we need in this life is believing that He will complete the work He began in us. Phil 1:6

    And this friends is how I try to live, I don’t look back and wish to re-live a year in my life because I am pressing forward to the prize ahead.

    Are you looking forward to Heaven?

    You should , He really wants you there too.

    Say this prayer with me :

    Lord Jesus I know that I am not worthy of the goodness You are willing to give me, I need forgiveness of all I have done wrong in my life.

    Please cover me with the sacrifice of your love and create within me a heart that seeks you all the days I have left here on earth, prepare me for Your Heavenly Kingdom. Help me trust that one day You will wipe every tear and heal every hurt explaining to me the truth about all I have lived through, I open my heart to you only Lord God please come in and make me Yours. In Jesus Your sons Holy name I ask all this -Amen

    In Christ love, amen

  • a “how to” book

    Daily writing prompt
    What’s a book you never finished but still think about?
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    It’s the only book I’ll never finish because it’s inexhaustable.

    It’s a book about the ” a race of faith” this Author is not like any other He is also the faith giver.

    The only way to learn about it is to read it and often.

    It’s guaranteed to help you to learn how to be a good steward in life, which essentially guarantees you a kingdom as an inheritance.

    The Author encourages you to look away from all else and fix your eyes on Jesus our leader, the One on whom our faith depends from start to finish. By faith He looked past the cross to the coming joy of salvation of those who love Him. That’s why He endured the cross, scorned it’s shame and disgrace, and ascended to Heaven to sit at the right hand of God.

    In there you will find hope for the future, strength to endure hardships in this world and faith to understand the unseen things.

    It’s is in this book which teaches the way, the truth and the light.

    It draws us into a closer walk with the One who wrote it before the foundations of the world.

    A truth seeker doesn’t waste time reading philosophers opinions, they want all the facts to get results not confusion.

    So this is why I keep reaching for this book and I keep praying to learn everyday how to live called, chosen and set apart from this world, this is the invitation He makes to all who are seeking truth.

    The Creator God of the Universe who gives each heart a beat, He is the Author of this book. He used men over the course of 2000 years to write it by divine inspiration.

    The whole Word is His.

    Which is readily available to all the World but some refuse to believe its truth.

    It’s man choice to read it and accept it, just the same as it is a choice to accept the invitation to Salvation through the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

    This book has stood the test of times and will continue to be infallible for all eternity.

    So why is it one we don’t pick up first, is there another book like this that gives life meaning and more abundantly so ?

    It is a book that changes lives and sets captives to the dark world free.

    I invite you to learn from it, all you need to do is open it and ask the Lord to teach you the truth with the discernment of His Holy Spirit.

    Friends I am hopeful this encourages you to explore the chapters of running the race towards eternal life.

    In Christ love, Amen

  • worry’bout yerself

    If you have spent anytime scrolling memes or videos online there’s this one that shows a 3 year old toddler trying to buckle herself in her car seat and the parent is trying to help her.

    She is bent on doing the task herself and tells the adult to “worry ’bout yerself..” the parent says ” let me help you..” she then repeats the words ..”no..you worry ’bout yerself” in her little lisped voice.

    This is a great depiction of how human kind struggles with allowing the Creator to help them, but that’s not the point I want to share today. I was thinking about how 2 Peter 3:18 applies to this scenario.

    There are those with good intentions who try to “help” others on their walk with the Lord and it comes across as coercion, meaning pushy. The word expresses that we need to be on our guard against becoming independent from God, but instead staying grounded and purposed in learning from Him.

    God’s love is not forced. We are not the Holy Spirit, we should never try to take the place of Him either.

    Because God’s salvation in Christ is a free gift to us, we also should share it in the same way.

    Jesus the son of God was taught by the Father to love and give compassion toward all humanity freely.

    He was set apart to do the will of God in perfect harmony with all of God’s love as the leading force. {Read that again.}

    It was His love through Jesus that drove Jesus to labor in all righteousness. Jesus never told someone they needed healing or they needed forgiveness. He offered it freely.

    God’s love should compel us in the same way.

    He felt the burden of leading souls in love.

    To share God – means to be helpful not pushy. To be a conduit for service to others but only so they will see love in action.

    God never gives up on us therefore we should never give up on human kind.

    Being thoughtful and loving in ways that are helpful.

    Forced ideas of bible truth on someone goes against Gods character. God didn’t force Adam and Eve to stay away from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. He also didn’t force people into the ark to be saved fro the flood in Genius.

    We need to remember our approach should meet His.

    It’s more important that we “worry’ bout ” growing in knowledge of His Word, which will teach us how to speak love in the truth of the Gospel. Remember you have your own eye to be concerned with. Luke 6:42

    Our mission should be to stay in the Word of God so that He will lead us in all knowledge to help others graciously. Eph 4:15

    In Christ love, amen

  • kind words

    Sweet kind words are like rain to dry ground, refreshing and nourishing the heart and mind.

    The Word of God teaches us how to be refreshing and nourishing to others in a surrendered spirit.

    I just read a story about a Pastor who was in a hurry to teach a class at his church but was running late and as he was driving another car cut him off and his response towards the driver was not kind. What we can call a very mild case of road rage.

    He finally gets to class and begins teaching -as he scans the faces his eyes land on the driver whom he was angry with.

    The point is this, both were headed the same direction.

    Friends we are all traveling towards an eternal kingdom of Christ Jesus, if “love of self” gets in the way it will bring unrest.

    Unrest serves no purpose and will not be allowed there.

    Jesus himself never rose to applause or became dejected by critics and disappointment in others. But many who profess to be His followers have anxious troubled hearts as they have not made a complete surrender to His will because it means not having it their way.

    If we are to gain victory over sin in this life we must be of the same mind of Christ.

    This means we need to not allow our selfish nature to rule us, but instead fill our lives with Gods love and follow Jesus ways.

    Matthew 11: 25-30

    Jesus will give us rest and in turn we will be filled with thoughts of kindness. Let us surrender our ways for His today and always.

    In Christ love, Amen

    .

  • mars is not in the script..

    Daily writing prompt
    Do you think humans will ever colonize Mars? What would life there actually look like?
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    Hello readers,

    I’m happy to inform everyone according to the Word of God, we will not be leaving this planet until the Son of God comes for those who chose to surrender their lives to His calling.

    How do I know? Prophecy declared and written in the infallible Word of God.

    Only through accepting the Gospel of Christ is how one will leave this place called earth.

    The best way to prepare for take off is to read the accounts of the great controversy from cover to cover. The Holy Word-Jesus Bible.

    The Word of God is purposed for all to see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ. Eph 3:8-21

    To the intent that the manifold of the wisdom of God might be made known by the church {His followers/believers/disciples} and to those principalities and powers in the heavenly places.

    According to the eternal purpose which God the Father accomplished in Christ Jesus the Lord.

    Those who are insistent that Mars is a possible escape route from this deteriorating sin filled world are misinformed and deceived by the enemy of God – the liar aka Satan.

    God invites all to investigate the truth of His Word boldly with confidence and I hope that whoever reads these words will seek the truth in the Word of God.

    You should pray and ask the Lord for the light to see the truth in this dark world and this will only happen if you have faith in Him.

    The Lord invites every person to accept His invitation to eternal life and even life today more abundantly, by allowing His Holy Spirit into your heart you will experience the healing power of Christ forgiveness.

    All are sinners born into this sin filled world having a very selfish nature which is why we need a new heart and mind in Christ.

    He invites you to come as you are, He will heal, clean and prepare you for life with Him. To be able to even begin to comprehend what is the width and length and depth and height of the love of Christ which passes knowledge.

    Let Him dwell in your hearts, so that you will know the love of God and begin to be rooted in His truths.

    That you may be filled with the fullness of God.

    Because He who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to His power that works in us.

    And it will be to the glory of Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever who leave this planet with Him.

    Friends accept the invitation open the stony heart of yours and let His light come in,

    In Christ love – amen

  • nothing between

    I was raised to understand the God of the Universe who created all things and then made man in His image is also The One who wants nothing between Himself and His children.

    I know this is true because I have experienced a continued favor in my life. Because of this I raised my three children to know He loves them just the same, and at the young ages when we would load up to go anywhere in the car – I would ask them ” do you have your seatbelts on?” They would say ” yes ” and then I would tell them “ok now lets put on our spiritual seatbelts ” and we would stop and pray.

    I believe that in this life we are subject to all kinds of possible accidents and it’s those accidents that would discourages us from believing that God cares, I’ve heard it said often “if God is love…”

    What we fail to understand is there is this great conflict of { Good verses Evil} this is very much the reason for all the tribulations; trials and heartache.

    This is not because God doesn’t care or love – just like driving safely doesn’t keep you from all the possibilities of an accident. We are subjected to other drivers, their distractions; their lifestyle choices.

    There is a great need for you to trust and obey the Word of God. In order to survive the daily assault’s by the evil one. If you believe in God and His Son Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior then you have become an enemy to the liar and deceiver. You are at war daily to stay closer to the path of righteousness.

    But you need not fear, only respect and trust that whatever is born of God {confessed sinners made new } overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. ( 1 John 5:4)

    We also need to realize Jesus ~ who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father. ( Galatians 1:4)

    He who came and died for you will hear the desire of the humble; He will prepare your heart; He will hear.

    Friends, don’t stop praying let nothing come between you and the Savior – the reward is great.

    In Christ love, amen

  • Perseverance

    Daily writing prompt
    What’s the most profound piece of advice you’ve been given? Did you take it?
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    What does perseverance look like to you?

    Maybe it’s a race your trying to run or working on a project till its done successfully.

    Both require endurance and self discipline to go through something that temps us to quit, to stop and say “I can’t or I’m tired and don’t want to.”

    However – we know if we don’t complete the task – we wouldn’t see the finished product, enjoying the end results.

    Like these examples this is how it can feel when you follow the Word of God.

    Even with good intentions I have fallen short where life gets complicated and I get stubborn. Had I stayed in a surrendered attitude just around the corner was a beautiful reward.

    Surrendering to Gods Will means we give Him our desired outcome, its when we don’t trust Him with it that life becomes hard again.

    In this life we will have all sorts of trials and troubles, but the only way to preserve is to do it with Him, which leads to eternal rewards.

    We must learn that it is better to live His way then trying to do it our way, and it only means saying

    “Lord lead me..help me to finish this race and may all that I do glorify you.”

    The Lord is good and He will help you.

    Lamentations 3:25

    In Christ love, amen.

  • battlefield for the mind

    John 16:33 Jesus is speaking about the times of tribulation and how the way is already prepared, how it plays out both good and the bad.

    It’s not something we get to change, it was done on the cross.

    However this is the hope of salvation and because we live in a sin filled world it will be hard, however the Lord prepared the way for us to overcome it.

    It is His will that we know He has defeated the evil one and has overcome the great conflict, therefore He does not want us to be intimidated and discouraged by the assaults of the serpent.

    He being Christ Jesus has won.

    We must learn this truth to accept the peace He supplies – He who made us all equal, He wants to bring together in one body – the body of believers of God’s son Jesus Christ the Lord.

    Putting away hostility toward each other at the cross.

    It is in Christ we have access to God the Father – through the Holy Spirit, this means we are no-longer stranger or foreigners living outside the will of God and with out hope.

    Because of Jesus we can be in one accord.

    We don’t need to look any farther then Jesus the son of God for peace of mind – there is no other who has laid down His life in love who gives forgiveness not earned.

    There is no other who has the Creator God divine authority to be our Lord and Savior. No other who will rescue us from this place.

    The battle today is over your belief system – your mind.

    So what do you believe is true, is it from traditions or is it reasoning of what you have seen or heard?

    The truth is Jesus will explain Himself in the Word (His Bible), He will reason with you – the real battle is will you believe Him or will you listen to the spirit of the enemy?

    What you believe and whom you believe will decide your own fate.

    Abiding in the Spirit of truth is peace and safety.

    Friends – Yes ! God loves His children and wants to save all, there is only one way – through Christ Jesus.