Endures All Things

Posted on April 25, 2016 by Tracy K

The last few days, I have been talking with my family about this one thing, that we as Christians need to learn how to endure some things.  That means when others come against you, to let things go.  Don’t allow things to boil up inside where you become angry and hate them.  I’ve seen and I can attest to these things, because I know how hard it is for me to let things go that bother me.  Perhaps someone you care about talks ugly to you without a cause.  It is so easy to talk back to them and say things about them, but Jesus doesn’t want us to retaliate, he wants us to show love toward them. You may say, “What!  Your kidding right?”

In the day we live in, so many things come against us.  We might have to endure a few things in this life.  Coworkers may gossip about us: someone might run is off the road: our friends may turn against us: a stranger might steal something from us: our boss might fire us for something we didn’t do.  These are only a few things we might have to endure.  The Lord Jesus told us that we are going to have to bear a few things as Christians.  Jesus wants us to learn how to love others even when they may come against you.  Most people will get angry and retaliate against them, but Jesus wants us to show them love.  1 Corinthians says that a person of love will, bear all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endure all things. 

We are to have brotherly love toward others (Hebrews 13:1).  1 John 4:7,8 tells us, Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.  Matthew 5:46 tells us, For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?  This simply says to love others when they do not love you back.  Love others when they do come against you.  Love others when they curse you, and say all evil about you.  Matthew 5:11 says, Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Luke 14:27 tells us that Jesus said, “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”  This means that if we are going to be followers of Christ, we must bear a few things. We must let things go.  We must not continue to harbor evil feelings toward us.  I know that Satan himself is the person behind all of this.  He would like nothings else than to tear you down and kill your testimony.  Don’t let him.  Learn to forgive and bear your cross daily.  I didn’t say, Bear your cross once, but daily.  Things will come against you continually, but we must love others and learn to overlook their faults.

Our main focus should be loving others the way the Lord loves us.  He gave his life not only for you and me, but for the whole world.  Now is the time to look at the main goal of the ministry of Jesus Christ, which is to love others and tell them about Jesus.

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Making A Stronger Christian

Posted on April 5, 2016 by Tracy K

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When everything comes against you and you can’t see a way out, know that God is your  help; you can depend upon him. Nothing happens in this life that God does not know about. Sometimes God allows things to happen to us or people we love so that we will come to him. God wants to make you a stronger Christian.  He wants you to realize that he is in control.  Sometimes when you go through a terrible sickness, we rely on our doctor.  Let me tell you that Jesus is the great Physician.  He is a healer that can completely heal you if you trust in him.  Jesus can comfort you, relieve your pain and give you that peace you need, if it is your time to pass from this world.  A Christian must learn to trust God no matter the outcome.  Job was a godly man who suffered many things in his life.  Although he lost his possessions, had poor health and his children died, Job said, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:” (Job 13:15). In the end, God restored to Job more than he had in the beginning, because he trusted in him. See Job knew who God was.  Once we realize God is our master and Lord, than we can call upon him to help us in times of trouble.

No matter what trials that you have had to overcome, I can tell you others have overcome more. Sometimes things keep piling up.  First it might be us that is sick.  Then perhaps it is our loved ones that are sick.  Allow God to work in your life and mold you into the person he would have you be. Romans 5:1-5 says, Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us

If you are truly going to trust in God, you must walk by faith. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, For we walk by faith, not by sight: If you only have faith when everything is going right, than where is your faith? God gives us his Holy Spirit to comfort us and help us when we are troubled in this life. John 14:26,27 says, But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Everything that happens to you in your life adds to the person you are. God prepares us to be witnesses to the world by helping us in our times of need. He builds to our faith through helping us overcome trials and tribulations. During that trial, you may feel that there is no hope; that you are all alone.  Trust me, God is with you; he said he would never leave you or forsake you.  Seek him out earnestly in prayer and he will help you overcome that time in your life.  God knows what you need before you pray, but is waiting on you to ask him. The more you pray, the closer you will be to God. I have learned that when something goes wrong, stop and pray. Prayer helps you to defeat anything, including Satan. To trust God, we must have faith. Faith is important for prayers to be answered. Believe that he is able to do all things and that he will help you willingly if only we would ask him to.

Once we hand our cares to Father completely, then he will perform his work —-his miracle. Sometime his will is not our will. Sometimes his will is to take his children home to be with him. We must trust that he cares about us and is able to perform all miracles, and that he has a purpose for what he does. He knows what he is doing.

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Death & Resurrection of a Savior

Posted on March 27, 2016 by Tracy K
tomb

He is not here; He is Risen.

Easter usually marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  Many attend church to praise him during this time.  I believe every day should be a day of praise to our most wonderful Savior.  Jesus had to first die a most miserable death, on the cross at Calvary to be able to be raised from the dead.  Jesus was born to die for our sins. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Jesus lived 33 1/2 years on this earth; preaching the kingdom of God.  He taught people how to love, forgive and show compassion for others.  He taught us what sin was.  He was the son of God. Matthew 9:35 says, “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.” 1 John 5:20 says, “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”

Jesus was crucified on the cross, buried and arose the third day for our sins. He became our sacrifice when he went to the cross, our atonement for our sins.  After three days he arose from the grave, and was seen by over 500 men.  He now sits on the right side of the Father.

The story of Jesus’ death and resurrection:

Luke 23:45-56 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things. And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.  Luke 24:1-7- Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

 

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Life is Like a Vapor

Posted on March 26, 2016 by Tracy K

Image result for car wreck on bridge

This weekend we went out of town to Tennessee to see the Fish Aquarium.  On our way my husband was driving on the Interstate and we went around a curve, on a bridge.  Suddenly without any notice, the lane we were in came to a quick end, and in front of us was a thick concrete divider.  We had a car on our right side that didn’t seem to want to allow us over.  We were going about 60 miles an hour.  My husband tried to slow the vehicle down but the end came to us quickly.  I thought, We are going to die.  See I didn’t have only seconds to think.  I didn’t have time to pray.  My life could have suddenly came to an end without notice.  Without really knowing what happened, my husband veered over to the next lane and we were out of danger.  I don’t know how!  No wreck, just a thought!  How!  The car beside us, somehow, seen we were in trouble and slowed down quickly, to allow us over.

I remember that morning we all got in the car, and we were headed down the road when we said an open prayer.  We asked the Lord to protect us today when we were driving, and let us arrive safely at our destination.  I know that it was the Lord that helped us that day.  I still think about what would have happened if we would have hit that dead end, going 60 miles an hour.  We would have died without being able to say goodbye to our loved ones.  We wouldn’t have been able to ask God for forgiveness.  We wouldn’t have been able to make our final arrangements.

The reason I tell you this is that Life is a vapor.  It comes and it can end quickly, sometimes without notice.  We must rely on Jesus to carry us through this life and protect us from harm.  The only hope we have in this life is Jesus.  He can guide you on the right path, he can protect you from harm, and he can carry you safely home to Heaven.  I urge you to make your arrangements now with God.  Ask your forgiveness now!  Repent and turn from any unrighteousness.  He will forgive you of your sin and cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

James 4:14 says, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”

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Fit for the Masters Use

Posted on March 13, 2016 by Tracy K

pottery

Many times we question why something happens in our lives that bring us to our knees. Perhaps a person will have financial loss or difficulties; perhaps they will lose their job that they love, perhaps they will lose a friend or family member. It is times like these that bring us to our lowest and we are humbled and in despair. We realize how easy it was when we had our job, we didn’t need anything or anyone. We thought life goes on and on and we thought nothing bad will ever happen. We may think we are above needing anyone or anything. We may think everything is perfect and we feel at ease. Why pray? I see how God uses a tragedy or crises to get our attention.

Perhaps we may think we are at the highest we can get, nothing can bring us down. That is the place that I was once. I prayed, went to church, felt closest to God than ever before. Deep down, I didn’t think I could ever get closer to God than at that moment. It was then that my whole world fell apart. I experienced the worst year of my life. My friends started to talk about me, making up lies that weren’t true. Rumors of me doing unimaginable things were spread from ear to ear. People tried to get me fired from my job and rumors surfaced among my colleagues. People that I thought cared about me, were the ones that now acted like they hated me. I felt all alone. I thought God left me, for I couldn’t feel his presence anymore. My peace was gone; I was afraid to go to sleep.

Satan tried to deceive me into thinking God didn’t love me anymore. He come against me as hard as he possibly could. I knew what it felt like to be without God; I know I never want to experience that time again, ever. I prayed for months for answers. Why? Why was this happening to me? What did I do? I just wanted to be close to God, attend church and enjoy being a Christian. Months and months passed by when I finally realized that I was deceived by Satan himself. It wasn’t something I asked for, but it happened.  I thought I was above deception.

After reading scriptures, praying and attending church on a regular basis, God has shown me a few things. We are not perfect. We cannot live a perfect life in this flesh. The Bible says in the flesh, dwelleth no good thing (Romans 7:18). We must allow God to mold us into his image. We must allow him to make us fit for his purpose. He does that through teaching, guiding, directing us in our lives. Part of that comes from trials and tribulations that we must go through and endure in this life. God wants to make you a stronger Christian. He might test or strengthen your faith through different situations.

The advice I give you through what I had to experience in my tribulation is:

  1. Always Trust God
  2. Don’t ever give up
  3. Keeping praying and seeking God
  4. Don’t forsake God no matter what happens to you
  5. Don’t ever think that God doesn’t care about you, because he loves you
  6. If you fall, get back up and repent

Related scriptures: 2 Corinthians 12:10-Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

1 Corinthians 1:27 -But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

2 Timothy 2:21- If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

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Faith Can Move Mountains

Posted on February 27, 2016 by Tracy K

faith

A person of great faith can accomplish much in prayer.  The Bible says a person with the faith of a mustard seed can move mountains (Matthew 17:20). A person of great faith knows that the Lord can heal, forgive, cleanse us from all our sins and iniquities.  Therefore one must put their trust wholly in the Lord to take care of all their needs.  God wants us to have faith in him.  Sometimes God doesn’t answer us when we first call upon him; sometimes he waits to see how much faith we might have by coming to him again.  The Lord loves to hear from us.  He is always with us and he knows your needs, even before you ask him.

Sometimes God allows things to happen in our lives that increase our faith.  If you lived a life without worries or hardships, would you pray?  I think not!  You wouldn’t think you needed the Lord, because your life would be blissful, at least in your eyes. But, what happens when something happens to us that makes us fall to our knees, it is then that we seek the Lord with all our heart. It is then we might pray daily, even hourly until our prayer is answered. 1 Peter 1:7 says, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”

I have spoken of this before, but my dad was in the hospital about to die.  He couldn’t breathe, the doctors give up on him.  They told us to make our arrangements because there was nothing else they could do.  All his organs was shutting down, he couldn’t breathe.  Our family sought the Lord continually.  We asked for prayers from others as well, from family, from other churches.  It was when we knew there was nothing that we could do for him, only God that could heal him, that God showed us that he was in control.  What joy there was when the nurse ran out and said, he is going to be okay. God gave my dad a miraculous healing. I know that my God can heal, see he increased my faith tremendously.

The Bible tells us in Matthew 15:30,31- “And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them: Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.”  See people saw what the Lord could do and they began to glory God.  God wants to increase your faith as well.  Allow him to work in your lives.   Begin by praying for God’s will to be done.

Psalm 31:23-O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.

Psalm 101:6-Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.

1 Peter 1:9- Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:21-Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

  • Miracle- an unusual or wonderful event that is believed to be caused by the power of God.
  • Faith- strong belief or trust in someone or something; belief in the existence of God
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Jesus is Love

Posted on February 14, 2016 by Tracy K

Image result for love is patient

No better example to teach someone about love is by looking at the life of Jesus Christ. Jesus teaches us what love is all about! For he was kind, suffered long, wasn’t prideful, not covetous, wasn’t easily provoked, cared more for others than himself, righteous, spoke things of God, he bore all things, endured many things and his love for mankind never failed. He endured the cross for mankind! John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Look at 1 Corinthians Chapter 13.

  • Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
  • Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
  • Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
  • Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
  • Charity never faileth:
  • but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
  • For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
  • But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
  • When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
  • For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
  • And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three;
  • but the greatest of these is charity.
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Trusting in the Lord

Posted on February 7, 2016 by Tracy K

heart

To fully trust in something or someone you must have complete faith that they or it can guide you safely into the correct or most secure place that you need to go.   As I have gotten a little older and since I have went through some trials in my life, I have learned how to rely on the Lord completely.  Without Jesus as your pilot in life, a person would make a complete mess of their life no matter how hard they try.  See I know how it feels not to have Jesus lead me entirely and it is not a place I ever want to return.  Through the dark times of your life is where you have to learn to trust in something; you have to learn to trust in Jesus completely or lose all hope.

Let me tell you that a person without the Lord Jesus has completely lost their hope.  There is nothing else a person can trust in without knowing Jesus as their Savior.  They may think they have a great life, plenty money or maybe content in the things they do have, but life is only but for a moment.  Life is a vapor that will vanish away one day.  I don’t care if a person is a small boy or old woman, life on this earth will end.  What does that person hope for without the Lord Jesus.  They may try to sound confident and say rest; but they don’t really have hope in eternal life or rest, because they don’t have the one person who can give them that comfort of eternal life of rest.

Listen for this is important!  The only hope a person truly has is Jesus Christ.  He can provide a life of peace and comfort.  He can provide an eternal life of rest in Heaven.   He can provide you with a safe harbor from all your enemies.  He can guide you onto the correct path of eternal life, which is the narrow way.  Matthew 7:14 says, Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.  If you want to find the narrow way which leads to everlasting life, you must hope and trust in Jesus Christ.  See I said hope and trust in Jesus.  One can’t simply hope something will happen but rely on something to happen.  Rely on Jesus by trusting in him today.  Accept him as your Lord and Savior and you will have hope of eternal life.

Proverbs 3:5,6 says, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Related link: https://alwaysenjoygiving.wordpress.com/2016/02/06/trust-in-the-lord/

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Watch What you Say

Posted on January 31, 2016 by Tracy K

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Have you ever said something before that you wish you hadn’t said.  Perhaps you were angry at the time and what you were thinking slipped out your mouth before you realized it.  You wish you could take those words back, because you know how ugly they were, and how much you hurt someone.  Words can hurt! The Bible tells us in Psalm 52:2-The tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.  See it can cut deeper than any knife and tear someone apart.  Psalm 64:3 says the tongue is like a sword.

The tongue can not only hurt someone but spread filth to others.  It can speak deceit and lies.  It can start gossip about someone.  It can hurt marriages and break them apart.  It can get someone in a lot of trouble; causing men to fight or injure someone.  The tongue can cause fear and cause confusion.  The tongue can break apart someone and cause them shame or low self esteem.  The tongue can bring to light the true heart of man.  It is hard for a Christian to utter filthy things from his or her mouth, and then try to pray with that same mouth.

The Bible says that if a man is religious he should learn to bridle his tongue; which means he needs to watch what he says to others. James 1:26 says, “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.”  James 3:8 says, “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”  Paul stated in Philippians 3:20 that our “conversation is in heaven.”  That means that what we say reaches Heaven; or our character should represent Heaven and God.  I urge you to watch what you say, because people tend to remember hateful words longer than you want them remembered.  They may forgive you but it is hard for them to forget what you said. So the best thing to do is to watch what you say before you say it; hold that tongue when you are angry.  If you do say something to hurt someone, ask them to forgive you.

 

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Do Not Render Evil for Evil

Posted on January 23, 2016 by Tracy K

It is human nature for someone to want to strike back at someone when they are offended. I didn’t say it is the right thing to do, but MM900043730usually the  first thing a person wants to do is get even. No one likes to be mocked, ridiculed or hurt by someone else. One thing that a Christian must work on is self control. They should present themselves to others as a Christian and not as someone who is worldly.  Christians should not retaliate against others but have forgiveness. Lets look at examples in the Bible to show us how we should act.

  • Isaiah 53:7 says, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.”
  • 1 Peter 3:9 says, “Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”
  • James 4:11 says, “Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.”
  • James 3:2 says, “2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.”
  • Romans 12:19 says, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

God is just and he is the judge of all men. I did not say we could not be angry for the sake of the gospel, but we should watch our actions.  We are to be angry because of the sins of the world and stand up for what is right, but we are not to retaliate by doing something that is wrong.

If you are a Christian and stand for the name of the Lord, you will have persecution.  Anyone that is righteous will be persecuted, mocked and ridiculed because they are living for Christ.  Satan does not like it when a Christian does things for the name of the Lord.  He will use every means possible to try to discourage you or prevent you from doing God’s will.  He will use family, friends, other believers to discourage you.  He will cause jealousy to rise in others because of your work for the Lord.  Ephesians 6:13-15 says, “ Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

1 Peter 4:14 says, “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.”

Psalm 39:1 says, “I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me.”

Reblogged from 2013.

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