Thought For The Day

WE WONDER WHY WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH OUR    TRAILS WHEN WE HAVE JESUS, AND HE ALREADY SEES US COMPLETE. COLOSSIANS 2:9 FOR IN HIM DWELLS ALL THE FULLNESS OF THE GODHEAD BODILY; AND YOU ARE COMPLETE IN HIM , WHO IS THE HEAD OF ALL PRINCIPALITY AND POWER. 1 PETER 1:6 IN THIS YOU GREATLY REJOICE, THOUGH NOW FOR A LITTLE WHILE, IF NEED BE, YOU HAVE BEEN GRIEVED BY VARIOUS TRAILS, THAT THE GENUINENESS OF YOUR FAITH BEING MUCH MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD THAT PERISHES, THOUGH IT IS TESTED BY FIRE, MAY BE FOUND TO PRAISE AND HONOR, AND GLORY AT THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST. OUR FAITH IS DEVELOPED WHEN WE GO THROUGH THINGS THAT WAR AGAINST OUR FLESH. WE GO INTO THE THE CALDRON OF GOD, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL LITE THE FIRE, IT WILL BOIL UP ALL THE IMPURITIES, THEY WILL COME TO THE  SURFACE, AND THE LORD WILL SKIM THEM OFF. 2 CORINTHIANS 13: 9 FOR WE ARE GLAD WHEN WE ARE WEAK AND YOU ARE STRONG.  AND THIS ALSO WE PRAY, THAT YOU MAY  BE MADE COMPLETE. WE CRY OUT TO THE LORD, "LORD THERE WILL

  THERE WILL BE NOTHING NEW REVEALED TO US WHEN WE ARE FRUSTRATED AND UNEASY. WHEN OUR MIND IS RACING A MILE A MINUTE WITH ALL WE HAVE TO DO, A LIST OF PRIORITIES FOR THE DAY. FIRST PRIORITY IS SPENDING TIME WITH JESUS. WE NEED TO STOP AND REST AND FALL INTO THE ARMS OF JESUS, LET HIM CALM OUR SPIRIT, SO THAT WE WILL RECEIVE FROM HIM. THIS IS THE PART OF THE 23 PSALM THAT  CAUSES US TO REFLECT. PSALM 23: 2-3 "HE MAKES ME LAY TO DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES,  HE  LEADS ME BESIDE THE STILL WATERS.   ( OUR REFLECTION IN THE WATER, WHERE WE CAN SEE JESUS IS THERE WITH US) HE RESTORES MY SOUL; HE LEADS ME IN PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR HIS NAMES SAKE. BELOVED, WHEN OUR MIND IS AT PEACE, THAT IS WHEN WE CAN RECEIVE NEW REVELATION FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT ABOUT JESUS AND GOD'S KINGDOM. IF YOU KEEP TOO BUSY, YOU WILL NOT HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD.  ALL THE BUSYNESS WILL MUTE OUT HIS VOICE.  YOU MUST GET QUIET AND LISTEN CAREFULLY. PSALM 46:10 BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD;  I WILL BE EXALTED AMONG

  SOME PEOPLE MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF LITTLE THINGS THAT OCCUR IN THEIR LIFE.  BY DOING SO, THAT WILL DETERMINE HOW THEY WILL HANDLE THE BIGGER THINGS WHEN THEY COME. WE ARE TESTED IN SMALL DEGREES, SO AS TO TEMPER US TO OTHER THINGS COMING. IT IS TIME FOR SOME OF US TO GROW -UP! WITH GOD'S HELP, START TO HANDLE THE LITTLE THINGS IN YOUR LIFE.  PASS YOUR TESTS. THEN WHEN THE BIGGER THINGS COME, YOU WILL BE READY TO HANDLE THEM WITH THE LORD'S HELP. BUT, YOU MUST ASK FOR HIS HELP. WE NEED TO PUT THINGS IN THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVE, SEEING THINGS WITH GOD'S EYES. IF WE HAVE PREPARED OUR HEART AHEAD OF TIME, WE WILL ENDURE WHATEVER COMES OUR WAY. WE PREPARE BY FEEDING AND STUDYING GOD'S WORD. ALLOWING THE TRANSFORMATION TO TAKE PLACE. THE RENEWING OF OUR MIND. PROVERBS 20:5 COUNSEL IN THE HEART OF MAN IS LIKE DEEP WATER, BUT A MAN OF UNDERSTANDING WILL DRAW IT OUT. PROVERBS 18:4 THE WORDS OF A MANS MOUTH ARE DEEP WATERS; THE WELLSPRING OF WISDOM IS A FLOWING BROOK. BELOVED, HAN

  MAKE THE WAY FOR HEALING AND TRUTH TO OCCUPY THAT SPACE, SO YOU CAN BLOSSOM AGAIN. FIRST YOU MUST SEARCH FOR THE WEEDS THAT ARE CHOKING OUT THE BEAUTY OF YOUR GARDEN. ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO REVEAL WHERE THOSE WEEDS ARE,  IN ORDER TO GET TO THE ROOT CAUSE. WEEDS OF UNBELIEF, SELF-CONDEMNING, UNFORGIVENESS, FEAR, DOUBT, SHAME AND GUILT.  PRIDE, AND SELF-EXALTING, PREJUDICE, AND LACK OF OBEDIENCE, BAD TEMPER. ALL THESE JESUS HAS PAID FOR AT THE CROSS. WE ARE NOT TO CARRY ANYTHING THAT DEFILES. WHEN THEY ARE REVEALED, DIG DOWN DEEP AND GET TO THE ROOT, NOT DISTURBING THE GOOD PLANTS, OF LOVE AND JOY AND FAITH AND TRUST. JEREMIAH 4:3-4 FOR THUS SAYS THE LORD TO THE MEN OF JUDAH AND JERUSALEM: ( JUDAH MEANS PRAISE AND JERUSALEM IS PEACE) "BREAK UP YOUR FALLOW GROUND, AND DO NOT SOW AMONG THE THORNS. CIRCUMCISE YOURSELVES TO THE LORD, TAKE AWAY THE FORESKINS OF YOUR HEART.   YOU MEN OF JUDAH AND INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM, LEST MY FURY COME FORTH LIKE FIRE, AND BURN SO THAT NO ONE CAN QU

  AS THE HOLY SPIRIT MOVES ON GOD'S WORD,  HE DOES A TRANSFORMING WORK IN US. ISAIAH 40:8 THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FADES.  BUT THE WORD OF THE GOD STANDS FOREVER. PROVERBS 4:11-13 I HAVE TAUGHT YOU IN THE WAY OF WISDOM; I HAVE LED YOU IN RIGHT PATHS. WHEN YOU WALK YOUR STEPS WILL NOT BE HINDERED.  WHEN YOU RUN YOU WILL NOT STUMBLE. TAKE FIRM HOLD OF INSTRUCTION, DO NOT LET HER GO; KEEP HER, FOR SHE IS YOUR LIFE. BELOVED, AS YOU FEED YOUR MIND IN THE WORD OF GOD, YOU WILL FIND YOU CAN CONTROL YOUR THOUGHTS, PLACE THEM IN THE HOLY SPIRITS HANDS, HE WILL HELP YOU TO HAVE SELF-CONTROL. WE WILL LOOK AND SOUND MORE AND MORE LIKE JESUS. TRUE WISDOM ONLY COMES FROM GOD.  THE WISDOM OF THIS WORLD WILL COME TO NOTHING. 1 CORINTHIANS 3:19 FOR THE WISDOM OF THIS WORLD IS FOOLISHNESS WITH GOD.  FOR IT IS WRITTEN, HE CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR OWN CRAFTINESS. COLOSSIANS 2:2-3 THAT THEIR HEARTS MAY BE ENCOURAGED, BEING KNIT TOGETHER IN LOVE, AND ATTAINING TO THE RICHES OF FULL ASSURANCE O

THE DARKER IT GETS, THE BRIGHTER THE LIGHT.   GOD SAID WE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.  WE ARE SALT, WHICH IS A PRESERVATIVE AND ADDS FLAVOR TO EVERYTHING. WE SEE THE WORLD TURNING MORE AND MORE TO REFLECT THE GOD OF BAAL.  MORE PERVERSIONS, MORE GREED, MORE BLATANT SIN.  THERE SEEMS TO BE NO RESTRAINTS. SOUNDS MUCH LIKE SODOM AND GOMORRAH DOESN'T IT. IT IS TIME FOR THE CHURCH, THOSE THAT CALL THEMSELVES BELIEVERS AND DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST TO STAND UP BOLD AND PROCLAIM ALL OF THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD. LUKE 14:22-24 ( LUKE 14: 15-24 PARABLE OF THE GREAT SUPPER) "THEN THE MASTER SAID TO HIS SERVANT, "GO INTO THE HIGHWAYS AND HEDGES, AND COMPEL THEM TO COME IN, THAT MY HOUSE MAY BE FILLED." "FOR I SAY TO YOU THAT NONE OF THOSE MEN WHO WERE INVITED SHALL TASTE MY SUPPER. IF YOU READ ALL OF THE MESSAGE, YOU WILL SEE THAT THE OTHERS ALL MADE EXCUSES WHY THEY COULD NOT COME TO THE SUPPER. AN EXCUSE IS NOTHING MORE THAN DRESSED UP LIE. BELOVED, WE NEED TO BE ABOUT

WE MUST HAVE A THANKFUL HEART TO ENTER THE LORDS GATES. BEING THANKFUL GETS YOU INTO THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD. DON'T BE QUICK TO GIVE YOUR TO DO LIST.  SPEND QUALITY TIME BEING THANKFUL FOR THE BLOOD OF JESUS, AND HIS SACRIFICE HE PAID FOR YOU. THANK GOD FOR SENDING THE PRECIOUS HOLY SPIRIT. OUR TEACHER, COMFORTER, AND BEST FRIEND. WE ENTER HIS GATES, HEADING TO HIS COURTS, BUT WE MUST HAVE A THANKFUL HEART AS WE ENTER WHERE HIS PRESENCE IS. PSALM 100:4 ENTER HIS GATES WITH THANKSGIVING, AND HIS COURTS WITH PRAISE, BE THANKFUL TO HIM, AND BLESS HIS NAME. BELOVED, WHEN WE HAVE A THANKFUL HEART, WE HAVE SHAKEN OFF ALL PROBLEMS AND UNREST. BEING THANKFUL IS SO PEACEFUL, BECAUSE WE ARE LEAVING EVERYTHING IN THE LORD'S HANDS. PAUL WAS VERY THANKFUL, WHEN HE SPOKE OF HOW GOD HAS MOVED IN HIS MINISTRY. ROMANS 1:8 FIRST, I THANK MY GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST FOR YOU ALL, THAT YOUR FAITH IS SPOKEN OF THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WORLD. BEING THANKFUL TO GOD, MEANS YOU REALIZE HE IS IN CONTROL AN

WE ALL TEND    TO GO TO OUR FAVORITE SCRIPTURES.  WE AVOID THOSE THAT MAKE US UNCOMFORTABLE. WE NEED THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD IN ORDER TO REMAIN A BALANCED IN OUR UNDERSTANDING. MATTHEW 5;44 BUT I SAY TO YOU, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES , BLESS THOSE THAT CURSE YOU, DO GOOD TO THOSE WHO HATE YOU, AND PRAY FOR THOSE WHO SPITEFULLY USE YOU AND PERSECUTE YOU. BELOVED,  SOME OF US ARE ALLOWING THE WORLDS JUNK INTO OUR MINDS , WHEN WE SHOULD BE FEEDING ON GOD'S WORD. YES, WE NEED TO KNOW WHATS GOING ON, BUT NOT TO DWELL ON ALL THAT IS HAPPENING.  IT WILL EFFECT YOUR EMOTIONS, AND THEN YOUR HEALTH. INSTEAD PRAY ABOUT THEM. PHILIPPIANS 4:8 FINALLY BRETHREN, WHATEVER THINGS ARE TRUE, WHATEVER THINGS ARE NOBLE, WHATEVER THINGS ARE JUST, WHATEVER THINGS ARE PURE, WHATEVER THINGS ARE LOVELY, WHATEVER THINGS ARE OF A GOOD REPORT, IF THERE IS ANY VIRTUE AND IF THERE IS ANYTHING PRAISE -WORTHY, MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS. BELOVED, WE ARE NOT FIGHTING AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, THINGS THAT ARE IN THE NATURAL,

GOD HAS GIVEN US ALL THE HELP WE NEED IN THIS LIFE, IT IS IN HIS WORD. IF WE USE THE BIBLE AS OUR GUIDE WE WILL NEVER LOSE OUR SENSE OF DIRECTION. ISAIAH 30:21 YOUR EARS SHALL HEAR A WORD BEHIND YOU, SAYING, THIS IS THE WAY, WALK IN IT." WHEREVER YOU TURN TO THE RIGHT HAND OR WHEREVER YOU TURN TO THE LEFT. OUR DIRECTION IS IMPORTANT TO THE LORD, AS HE HAS A PLAN AND WE ARE TO GO THE DIRECTION HE TELLS US. LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, HE WILL LEAD YOU IN  THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AND BE THERE WITH YOU TO ENCOURAGE YOU. JOHN 16:13-14 "HOWEVER, WHEN HE, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, HAS COME, HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH; FOR HE WILL NOT SPEAK ON HIS OWN AUTHORITY, BUT WHATEVER HE HEARS HE WILL SPEAK ; HE WILL TELL YOU OF THINGS TO COME. HE WILL GLORIFY ME, FOR HE WILL TAKE WHAT IS MINE AND DECLARE IT TO YOU. SOMETIMES WE CHOSE TO TAKE OUR OWN PATH AND THE LORD HAS TO PLACE PEOPLE ALONG OUR PATH TO REDIRECT US TO THE WORD OF GOD, AND GODS PLAN FOR US, THAT'S WHERE OUR MAP

  WE WORSHIP GOD MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.   WITH OUR MOUTH IN PRAISE AND HONOR AND SONG FROM OUR HEART. WITH OUR HANDS LIFTED UP LIKE A CHILD SAYING DADDY (ABBA) PICK ME UP. BUT MOST OF ALL WE WORSHIP GOD BY LIVING IN HIS PRESENCE.  KNEELING BEFORE HIM IN LOVE AND HAVING NO CONDEMNATION. KNOWING THAT HE MAKES ALL THINGS NEW. ROMANS 8:1 THERE IS THEREFORE NO CONDEMNATION TO THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS, WHO DO NOT WALK ACCORDING TO THE FLESH , BUT ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT. SOME OF US ARE STILL CONDEMNING OURSELVES FOR THINGS THAT JESUS HAS ALREADY WASHED AWAY BY HIS BLOOD. IN THE OLD COVENANT SINS WERE ONLY COVERED, IN THE NEW COVENANT IN THE BLOOD OF JESUS, ALL SINS ARE WASHED AWAY. OUR LIFE STYLE SHOULD REVEAL THAT WE LOVE GOD, AND BELIEVE HIS WORD, AND WORSHIP HIM FOR HIS SACRIFICE FOR US. ( JOHN 3:16) PSALM 95:6 OH COME, LET US WORSHIP AND BOW DOWN;  LET US KNEEL BEFORE THE LORD OUR MAKER, FOR HE IS OUR GOD, AND WE ARE THE PEOPLE OF HIS PASTURE, AND THE SHEEP OF HIS HAND. BELOVED, GOD&#

YOU DON'T THINK YOURSELF INTO A NEW WAY OF LIVING. (SELF-EFFORT) HOWEVER YOU DO  LIVE YOURSELF INTO A NEW WAY OF THINKING. IT   'S A DAILY WALK. WE WHO ARE BORN AGAIN OF GOD'S SPIRIT, NO LONGER THINK LIKE THE WORLD. WE HAVE A NEW WAY OF THINKING.  FOR US, DOWN IS UP (HUMBLE YOURSELF) HUMBLE YOURSELF AND GOD WILL LIFT YOU UP. TO DIE TO YOURSELF IS TO LIVE FOR CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD. DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST GIVES US LIFE. IN LETTING GO, WE RECEIVE THE BEST GOD HAS FOR US. THE WORLD SAYS HATE YOUR ENEMIES, GOD'S WORD SAYS TO PRAY FOR THEM AND LOVE THEM. MATTHEW 5:43-45 "YOU HAVE HEARD THAT IT WAS SAID, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AND HATE YOUR ENEMY." BUT I SAY TO YOU, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, AND BLESS THOSE WHO CURSE YOU, DO GOOD TO THOSE WHO HATE YOU, AND PRAY FOR THOSE  WHO SPITEFULLY USE YOU AND PERSECUTE YOU. THAT YOU MAY BE SONS OF YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN, HE MAKES HIS SUN RISE ON THE EVIL AND ON THE GOOD, AND SENDS RAIN ON THE JUST AND ON THE UNJUST. OH SO D

  WE ALL HAVE OUR ROUTINES, CERTAIN PLACES THAT WE FREQUENT.  OUR FAVORITE STORE. BUT ARE WE WILLING TO FORGO OUR REGULAR DESTINATION, AND TAKE A DETOUR? JESUS DID JUST THAT, WHEN HE WENT INTO SAMARIA. TO REACH SOMEONE LOOKING FOR LOVE IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES. JOHN 4: 6-10 (READ ALL JOHN 4:1-24) NOW JACOB'S WELL WAS THERE, JESUS THEREFORE BEING WEARIED FROM HIS JOURNEY, SAT THUS BY THE WELL.  IT WAS ABOUT THE SIXTH HOUR. A WOMAN OF SAMARIA CAME TO DRAW WATER. JESUS SAID TO HER, "GIVE ME A DRINK." FOR HIS DISCIPLES HAD GONE AWAY TO THE CITY TO BUY FOOD. THEN THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA SAID TO HIM. HOW IS IT YOU BEING A JEW, ASK A DRINK FROM ME A SAMARITAN WOMAN?  FOR JEWS HAVE NO DEALINGS WITH SAMARITANS. JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID TO HER, "IF YOU KNEW THE GIFT OF GOD, AND WHO IT IS WHO SAYS TO YOU "GIVE ME A DRINK, YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED HIM, AND HE WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU LIVING WATER." THIS WOMAN WAS SO SURPRISED THAT JEWS WOULD BOTHER WITH HER.   BUT JESUS ALWAYS WENT

  HAVE  YOU EVER NOTICED, THAT WHEN YOU FEEL DISCOURAGED, YOUR NEEDS A FRESH COOL DRINK OF THE LIVING WATER, GOD'S WORD. JUST BY PICKING UP GOD'S WORD AND READING IT, YOU WILL FEEL REFRESHED. IT IS POWERFUL  AND ALIVE. HEBREWS 4:12 FOR THE WORD OF GOD IS LIVING AND POWERFUL, AND SHARPER THAN ANY TWO EDGED SWORD, PIERCING EVEN TO THE DIVISION OF SOUL AND SPIRIT, AND THE JOINTS AND MARROW, AND IS A DISCERNER OF THE THOUGHTS AND INTENTS OF THE HEART. BELOVED, THAT WORD GOES ALL THE WAY TO OUR BONES. IT IS LIFE TO ALL OUR FLESH. PROVERBS 4:20-23 MY SON, GIVE ATTENTION TO MY WORDS; INCLINE YOUR EAR TO MY SAYINGS.  DO NOT LET THEM DEPART FROM YOUR EYES;  KEEP THEM IN THE MIDST OF YOUR HEART; FOR THEY ARE LIFE TO THOSE WHO FIND THEM, AND HEALTH TO ALL THEIR FLESH. THE WORD REVEALS OUR INNER THOUGHTS AND THE INTENTS OF OUR HEART.  IT IS THE HEAVENLY FLASH LIGHT. PSALM 119:28 MY SOUL MELTS FROM HEAVINESS; STRENGTHEN ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD. NO MATTER WHETHER WE ARE  EXPERIENCING , P

WE CAN LOOK GOOD AND SOUND GOOD, BUT THE WAY WE LIVE IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT, NOT SO MUCH THE WORDS WE SPEAK. LIKE THE OLD SAYING "ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. " PEOPLE CAN SAY SOMETHING TO YOU AND FORGET WHAT THEY SAID, THEY DIDN'T FOLLOW THROUGH WITH WHAT THEY SAID.  GOD IS NOT LIKE THAT. GOD ALWAYS FOLLOWS THROUGH WITH HIS WORD. ISAIAH 55:11 SO SHALL MY WORD BE THAT GOES FORTH FROM MY MOUTH;  IT SHALL NOT RETURN TO ME VOID, BUT IT SHALL ACCOMPLISH WHAT I PLEASE, AND IT SHALL PROSPER IN THE THING FOR WHICH I SENT IT. PSALM 118:8 IT IS BETTER TO TRUST IN THE LORD THAN TO PUT CONFIDENCE IN MAN. IT IS BETTER TO PUT YOUR TRUST IN THE LORD, THAN PUT YOUR CONFIDENCE IN PRINCES. PSALM 146:3 DO NOT PUT YOUR TRUST IN PRINCES, NOR IN A SON OF MAN, IN WHOM THERE IS NO HELP. GOD WARNS US OF THE SAME THING IN HIS WORD OVER AND OVER.  1 CORINTHIANS 11:1 IMITATE ME, JUST AS I ALSO IMITATE CHRIST. THAT'S THE KEY TO THE BEST SERMON LIVED OUT, IS TO IMITATE JESUS CHRIST.

  WE LEARN SO MUCH AND DON'T APPLY IT TO OUR HEART.  WE KEEP IT IN OUR HEAD.  KNOWLEDGE IS GOOD WHEN IT APPLIES TO GOD'S WORD. ECCLESIASTES 12:11 THE WORDS OF THE WISE ARE LIKE GOADS, AND THE WORDS OF THE SCHOLARS ARE LIKE WELL DRIVEN NAILS, GIVEN BY ONE SHEPHERD. JESUS' KNOWLEDGE GREATLY INCREASED AS HE GREW.  OUR KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND HIS GOODNESS, LOVE AND MERCY, SHOULD INCREASE ALSO. THIS IS THE STORY WHEN JESUS WAS MISSING THREE DAYS FROM THE  FAMILY AFTER THEY HAD BEEN IN JERUSALEM FOR THE FEAST OF PASSOVER. (LUKE 2:39-52) LUKE 2: 40 AND THE CHILD GREW AND BECAME STRONG IN SPIRIT, FILLED WITH WISDOM, AND THE GRACE OF GOD WAS UPON HIM. LUKE 2:46-47 NOW SO IT WAS THAT AFTER THREE DAYS THEY FOUND HIM IN THE TEMPLE, SITTING IN THE MIDST OF THE TEACHERS, BOTH LISTENING TO THEM AND ASKING THEM QUESTIONS. AND ALL WHO HEARD HIM WERE ASTONISHED AT HIS UNDERSTANDING AND ANSWERS. LUKE 2:52 AND JESUS INCREASED IN WISDOM AND STATURE, AND IN FAVOR WITH GOD AND MAN. YOU MUST LEARN TO

WE SET OUR HEART ON THE WORD OF GOD ABOUT FAITH.   SO WHAT IS FAITH? HEBREWS 11  : 1 NOW FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR, THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN. WE HEAR PEOPLE SAY I HAVE FAITH FOR THIS OR THAT. SO WHAT IS FAITH? THE SIMPLE ANSWER IS, FAITH IS SIMPLY TRUSTING GOD.  NO MATTER WHAT WE HAVE FAITH FOR, IT IS TRUSTING GOD TO FULFILL HIS WORD, YET IT WILL BE IN HIS TIMING AS HE BRINGS BETTER THINGS INTO YOUR LIFE. BELOVED, IT IS NOT OUR FAITH, IT IS THE FAITH OF GOD THAT HE PLACED IN US. PROVERBS 3:5-6 TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND LEAN NOT UNTO YOUR UNDERSTANDING; IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE SHALL DIRECT YOUR PATHS. ROMANS 12:3 FOR I SAY, THROUGH THE GRACE GIVEN TO ME, TO EVERYONE WHO IS AMONG YOU, NOT TO THINK OF HIMSELF MORE HIGHLY THAN HE OUGHT TO THINK, BUT TO THINK SOBERLY, AS GOD HAS DEALT TO EACH ONE A MEASURE OF FAITH. IT DOESN'T SAY, HOW BIG THAT MEASURE IS, BUT WE KNOW THAT MEASURE CAN AND DOES GROW, AS WE GROW IN THE LORD. PEO

IN OUR TIME IN THIS SEASON OF LIFE, WE KNOW HOW TO PROTECT OURSELVES FROM THINGS THAT ARE A DISCOMFORT AND UNPLEASANT TO US. PHILIPPIANS 1:12 BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW, BRETHREN, THAT THE THINGS WHICH HAPPENED TO ME HAVE ACTUALLY TURNED OUT FOR THE FURTHERANCE OF THE GOSPEL. WE MUST LEARN TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE, THAT WAY, WE WILL DEPEND ON THE LORD MORE AND MORE AND WE WILL BEAR FRUIT. WE ARE TO LOOK AFTER EACH OTHER, BUT NEVER TO SMOOTH OUT THEIR WAY OR OURS FOR THAT MATTER.   THAT IS THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. WE MUST LEARN TO DEPEND WHOLLY ON THE LORD JESUS. WHEN WE JUMP IN TOO SOON AND THROW PILLOWS UNDER THOSE WHO WE WANT TO HELP, WE CAN THWART THE WAY GOD HAS FOR THEM. YOU MUST PRAY AND ASK THE LORD IF YOU SHOULD HELP.   SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO HIT ROCK BOTTOM BEFORE THEY WILL LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. JOB HAD FEAR AND PRIDE THAT NEEDED TO BE DEALT WITH. JOB 3:25 FOR THE THING I GREATLY FEARED HAS COME UPON ME, AND WHAT I DREADED HAS HAPPENED TO ME. JOB MADE OFFERINGS FOR

WHEN   WE COME THROUGH CERTAIN THINGS, WE WILL FIND THAT OUR FAITH HAS GROWN THAT WE ARE STRONGER FOR THE EXPERIENCE. WHEN WE LEARN TO ENDURE CERTAIN THINGS WE WILL BECOME STRONGER, NOT ONLY IN OUR FAITH BUT IN OUR CHARACTER AS WELL.   WE ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE LIKE JESUS. HAVE YOU EVER PRAYED AND PRAYED ABOUT A CERTAIN THING, AND HAVE YOU HEARD THE LORD SAY TO YOUR SPIRIT, "I HEARD YOU THE FIRST TIME, NOW REST IN MY FAITHFULNESS AND TIMING. 2 CORINTHIANS 12: 9 AND HE SAID TO ME, "MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU, FOR MY STRENGTH IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS. THEREFORE MOST GLADLY I WILL RATHER BOAST IN MY INFIRMITIES, THAT THE POWER OF CHRIST MAY REST UPON ME. BELOVED, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE WOULD NEVER LEARN IF WE HAD NOT GONE THROUGH SOME HARD TIMES IN OUR LIFE. WE LEARN TO TRUST GOD, AS THERE IS NOTHING ELSE WE CAN DO IN THE NATURAL. AS WE LEARN TO RELAX AND TRUST GOD, AND LEAVE IT ALL TO HIM.  THANK HIM FOR THE ANSWER, AND PRAISE AND WORSHIP JESUS AS WE WAIT.

  I READ A BOOK WRITTEN IN THE 1950'S BY A. W. TOZER.  HE WAS CONCERNED BACK THEN ABOUT WHAT WE SEE TODAY. SUCH A MIXTURE. THE CHURCH USING ALL THE METHODS OF THE WORLD TO GAIN NUMBERS.  LITTLE BY LITTLE WE SEE GREAT CHANGES THAT TOOK PLACE.  MORE PROGRAMS LESS JESUS. SO GOD USES COVID-19, TO WAKE THE CHURCH UP, AND GET IT BACK TO THE SIMPLICITY THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS. LET'S GET BACK TO THE BIBLE ,AS THAT IS WHERE THE POWER IS.  IT'S NOT IN RELIGI,OUS PRACTICES, IT IS IN JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. READ ALL THE RED LETTERS IN YOUR BIBLE AND YOU WILL PLAINLY SEE WHAT GOD EXPECTS FROM US. COLOSSIANS 2:8 BEWARE LEST ANYONE CHEAT YOU THROUGH PHILOSOPHY AND EMPTY DECEIT, ACCORDING TO THE TRADITION OF MEN, ACCORDING TO THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THE WORLD, AND NOT ACCORDING TO CHRIST. WE SEE SO MUCH TODAY THAT ARE THE WORLDS METHODS IN SOME OF THE CHURCHES. ITS TIME TO RETURN TO THE BASIC OF GOD'S WORD AND APPLY IT TO OUR LIVES. JOHN 15:19 "IF YOU WERE OF THE WORLD, THE WORLD W

  WHO WOULD HAVE EVER BELIEVED THAT A VIRGIN WOULD CONCEIVE A SON. MARY DID, AND THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON CAME FORTH? ISAIAH 7:14 THEREFORE THE LORD HIMSELF WILL GIVE YOU A SIGN; BEHOLD THE VIRGIN SHALL CONCEIVE AND BEAR A SON, AND SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL. (MEANS GOD WITH US) WHO WOULD HAVE EVER BELIEVED THAT THE DRY DESERT IN ISRAEL WOULD BLOSSOM AND BECOME FRUITFUL.? SO FRUITFUL, THAT IT NOW EXPORTS VEGETABLES AND FRUITS AROUND THE WORLD. ISAIAH 35:1-2 THE WILDERNESS SHALL BE GLAD FOR THEM, AND THE DESERT SHALL REJOICE AND BLOSSOM AS A ROSE. IT SHALL BLOSSOM ABUNDANTLY AND REJOICE,  EVEN WITH JOY AND SINGING.   THE GLORY OF LEBANON SHALL BE GIVEN TO IT. THE EXCELLENCE OF CARMEL AND SHARON, THEY SHALL SEE THE GLORY OF THE LORD, THE EXCELLENCY OF OUR GOD. WHO WOULD EVER BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST WOULD LIVE IN OUR HEART, AND CHANGE US FROM THE INSIDE OUT. HE DOES, AND IS WORKING THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT IN US DAILY. PHILIPPIANS 1:6 BEING CONFIDENT OF THIS VERY THING, THAT HE WHO HAS BE

  GOD HAS MADE PROVISION FOR ALL PEOPLE EVERYWHERE.   THEY NEED TO COME TO JESUS AND ASK FOR WHATEVER THEY NEED. LET THE WORD OF GOD SPEAK TO YOU AND  GUIDE YOU. PSALM 119: 57-59 YOU ARE MY PORTION, O LORD;  I HAVE SAID THAT I WILL KEEP YOUR WORDS.   I ENTREATED YOUR FAVOR WITH MY WHOLE HEART;  BE MERCIFUL TO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD. I THOUGHT ABOUT MY WAYS, AND TURNED MY FEET TO YOUR TESTIMONIES. PSALM 119:104 THROUGH YOUR PRECEPTS I GET UNDERSTANDING; THEREFORE I HATE EVERY FALSE WAY. BELOVED, GOD'S WORD IS A TREASURE TO THOSE OF US WHO BELIEVE EVERY WORD THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS WRITTEN. GOD'S WORD IS SETTLED IN HEAVEN, THAT SHOULD CAUSE YOUR HEART TO JUMP FOR JOY. PSALM 119:89 FOREVER, O LORD, YOUR WORD IS SETTLED IN HEAVEN.   YOUR FAITHFULNESS ENDURES TO ALL GENERATIONS. WHEN GOD'S WORDS ENTER INTO OUR MIND, IT WILL TRANSFORM OUR REASONING.  WE WILL SLOWLY BUT SURELY BEGAN TO THINK AS GOD INTENDED US TO THINK, SPIRITUALLY, NOT JUST IN THE NATURAL. TAKE YOUR MIND OFF OF SE