Thought For The Day

Looking for Jesus in everything we do. His loving hand is always with us. He is our righteousness, if you have believed in Him and that He is your Savior and Lord you are covered with His righteousness. Beloved, we are washed clean by the blood of Jesus. John 1:7 But IF we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from ALL sin. We are His beloved, and we are joint heirs with Him. Read John 17:3, Read all of that prayer that Jesus prayed to His Father. What is eternal life? Jesus explains it. John 17:3-5 "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. " I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now O Father, glorify me together with Yourself, with glory, which I had with You before the world was. Jesus always pointed to the Father. When we pray, we pray to the Father in Jesus name....

  Pride comes after a great blessing. It is when we over-estimate self and under-estimate others. We don't realize that it came knocking on our door. Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom. 1 Peter 5:5 Likewise you younger people submit yourselves to your elders. Yes all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for GOD RESIST THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.  The warning sign, is when you want to be in control, instead of the Holy Spirit. Most believers who have allowed pride to take root, don't realize it. Pride is sneaky. It comes subtly.  People hear it and see it in us, but they refuse to address it. If we don't take notice that it landed at our door, God will humble us. Pride is Satan's nature. Better to repent when you sense its presence, or you will go through a trial that will humble you. Pay attention to your thought life.  Every believer will be tempted with pride some time or anoth...

When you set your heart to ask God for something, do you really believe that you will have the answer? Matthew 21-22 "And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing , you will receive." I always pray before I leave the house, that God will direct me to the one I am to share His love with today. God always has someone. When we pray, we should expect an answer.  Luke 11:9 "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Our answer comes in a day or years, but it does come. God never fails to answer.  John 14:14 "If you ask anything in My name I will do it. Jesus has souls that He wants to reach and bless. I was getting in line at the store, but the manager of the store moved me to another isle.  I knew that would be a divine appointment, and it was. God had hand picked the person that I was to bless and share Jesus with. He was the one who helped me to my car, a true believer. We had great fellowship....

Anytime you share Jesus and the gospel, that is a ministry.  The Holy Spirit works on us first, so that we will have a desire to share God's love. That preparation time   seems like an attack from the enemy, but it is God working on us and in us transforming us to be like Jesus. When the Lord begins to remove things and people from our life, we don't understand what's happening. Some went to heaven and others went their way. People that we thought would always be there, were removed.  We don't understand at first, but then God's word makes it clear, when we look at the lives of those God transformed and used. We are no different then they were. Moses, Joseph, Jacob, David, Job, Paul and many others. They were being prepped to have new and different lives.    Romans12:1-2 I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed ...

  These are things we need to ask ourselves. If you are an active participant in God's kingdom, then you will bear fruit. If you are a passive observer, you will not have fruit. We are known by our fruit. Our lives in Jesus. Passive observers are not disciples of Jesus, because they just observe what others are doing. John 15:8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit: so you will be My disciples. The passive observer only watch what others are doing, they only do what they believe is expected of them.  They do show up at church, but, they don't want to get involved. They just watch from a distant. Their heart is not connected to all that Jesus has taught, and all He is doing in the world.  They may have a ministry, but it is to glorify themselves not our Lord Jesus. We all have seen this through the years. So sad they miss the wonderful fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Beloved, it is a wonderful thing, when a passive observer comes to follow Jesus. Not just...

  You will need to live with an uncontaminated pure heart. In the beatitudes in verse eight, the Lord made it plain to us.   Matthew 5 :3-8, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART, FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD. Beloved, the Lord made it plain for us to see that a pure heart opens our way to see God. It is a daily task to guard our heart from becoming contaminated with all the worlds junk. Proverbs 22:11 He who loves purity of heart And has grace on his lips, the king will be his friend. It's up to us to spend more time in God's word, than to watch TV, or other media that take the time that belongs to Jesus. Jesus first! Let the Holy Spirit lead you, then all the other thing...

We may think traffic made us late, or a phone call, but not so.  Beloved, God orchestrates everything in our life.  All our days are planned, that is if we belong to Jesus. So enjoy the detours and delays. Don't get anxious. That will allow fear an entrance. Psalm 139:16-17 Your eyes saw my substance being yet unformed. And in your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.  How precious also are Your thoughts to me, Oh God! How great is the sum of them. I was shopping later than normal, so I thought. There was a man in the produce department wearing a large cross. Like I always do, I asked him what does that cross mean to you.  I told him that this is your chance to share his faith in Jesus.  He said he is saved, but does not know how to do that yet.  I knew that he was a new believer, so I shared some things with him.   Divine appointment. I gave him one of my mirrors that has the gospel written ...

Allow the Holy Spirit to draw you to the word, and teach you to love it. It's Jesus, He is the word. Jesus is the Word! John   1:1-4, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. Beloved, Jesus is the Word, so as you read His Word you are fellowshipping with Jesus, and His word is reading you. Every Word in our bible is God breathed. Matthew 4:4 (Jesus in the wilderness being tempted) "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God! Psalm 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might no sin against You; Beloved, there is a difference in loving something or feeling obligated.  When you feel obligated you feel it is your duty to do something.  Not something you are anxious to do. (Holy Spirit gently leads, b...

We don't get our knowledge from the world, we    get it from our Heavenly Father's words, that the Holy Spirit says He hears and delivers to us. Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of KNOWLEDGE, because you have rejected knowledge, I will reject you from being priest for Me, Spiritual knowledge is so important to the believer. They must know God's word. Proverbs 2:10 When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul. There are three Greeks words for knowledge. Different understanding. 1. Gnosis:  Spiritual knowledge gained through personal experience and awareness rather than logical deduction. 2. Episteme:  Knowledge of deep understanding of concepts, theories and disciplines through reasoning. 3. Sophia:  Wisdom, the highest level of understanding, which involves good judgment and gives us the ability to apply knowledge that we have learned. Hebrew word for knowledge is to know. Knowledge that is found in God's word is applicable ...

Silent and listen have the same letters. Isn't that interesting?  We are to keep silent when others are talking. We should be listening to their every word. Not thinking about what we want to say, but waiting for the Holy Spirit to direct us.  After praying with someone, our words should carry life, revealing the love of Jesus this is so important. Ecclesiastes 3:7 A time to tear, and a time to sew, a time to keep silent, and a time to speak. A wise believer will know when to listen and when to speak. Beloved, silence becomes an active display of our spiritual depth and insight. When we are worshipping Jesus, take a time to be silent before Him so you can hear Him speaking to your heart. The Greek Philosopher Pythagoras said" Our words will reveal our character.  Just what God's word says. Proverbs 17:28 Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive. Ecclesiastes 5:3 For a dream comes through much activity, And a ...

  It takes faith to trust Jesus for salvation. What is the difference between faith and trust? Faith is the confident belief in God's character and His promises.  Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Faith is believing who God says He is. Trust is a deliberate choice to rely on God's character, especially when we are going through trials and tests. HE IS FAITHFUL. Faith is stepping out into what you don't know will be there. A preacher once took a chair and said, faith in the design that it will support you, trust is when you believe that you can sit in that chair and it will hold you. Faith is stepping out when you don't know   what will be there. Trust is when you do know God's word and trust His promises and life will be there. It takes trust to live in the salvation provided for us by Jesus, faith to walk one step at a tim...

In the old testament   you can see an angry God. All about Mount Sinai, the mountain of God. If the Idol worshippers touch the mountain, they were to be killed by the Levites. 3000 were. Exodus 32:28 So the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses, and about three thousand men of the people fell that day. That's the old covenant. In the New Covenant 3000 people were saved. Acts 2:38-41 Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  "For the promise is to you and your children, and to all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call." And with many words he testified and exhorted them, saying, " Be saved from this perverse generation." Then those who gladly received his word were baptized and that day about three thousand were added to them. God's mercy and grace and forgiveness is found in the New Covenant.  It...

  We all are impatient to see the Lords return.  James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of you faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and lacking nothing. When we see wars and rumors of wars, and we think this is it, Jesus is coming soon.  Beloved, Jesus is here already, in you and me. We see Him working in these revivals, all over the world. (revival means to make alive) Don't forget Jesus said, He will return in an hour you think not. (Matthew 24:42-44) We have always seen wars and heard rumors of wars through out the ages.  Only because of the news media, do we realize what is happening all over the world. God is saving souls my the millions at this time. 2Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Bel...

  You can not perfect yourself, that is the work of the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 4:9-12 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. Let us therefore be diligent to enter the rest , lest anyone fall according to the same example. 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 of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. The word of God reads us while we read it. It will show you hidden intents in your heart. It will speak to you about your thought life. So cast all your cares unto the Lord, and He will carry them. Let go, and Let God!! Rest in Jesus while the Holy Spirit does the work in you. We are being sanctified daily, changed from glory to glory. When we try to be a good Christian, we are moving in our flesh, trying to do the Holy Spirits job. Just be you in Jesus, that is enough. Stop trying, and learn to rest in the arms of Jesus. We can try ...

How many times have we bought something that we really didn't need? Our desire was directing us. That old flesh decides we want it. Been there done that. Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say to you not to worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; nor put on. Is not life more than clothing? We must discipline ourselves to be content. Yes, we see something we want, and our desire kicks in. But discipline says NO! I knew a lady years ago that still had price tags on her clothes. Things she had never put on to wear. That's an example of lack of discipline and wrong desire. 1Timothy 6:6-8 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing with these we shall be content.  We can never be satisfied with clothes or things. Our satisfaction should be in the Lord.  He satisfies our every longing. Psalm 107:8-9  Oh that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness ...

When Jesus returned to His disciples, first thing He did was feed them and bless their livelihood.  He took care of the natural first. Just as He does with us. He cares about every detail of our life. After the miracle of the 153 fish, and the net was not broken. John 21:12-17 Jesus said to them, "Come and eat breakfast. " Yet none of them dared ask Him "who are you?"  Knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus came and took and bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead. So when they had eaten breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him "Yes Lord; You know that I love you." He said to him, "feed My lambs. ( young believers) He said to Him again a second time, "Simon son of Jonah, do you love Me" He said to him "Yes Lord; He said "Tend My sheep. (be a shepherd)the...

When Jesus returned from seeing His Father, He went to see His disciples. He made Himself known to them in His resurrected body. John 20:1,  Now on the first day of the week  Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early while it was still dark, and saw that the stone has been taken away from the tomb. She ran to Peter and the other disciples to inform them of what she had seen. They ran to the tomb,  the disciple that Jesus loved got there first. Verse 5-6 Then he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths laying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths lying there, but folded together in a place by itself. (so much for the shroud) if the face cloth was separate, then the shroud couldn't be real. Just my observation. Jesus was on this earth forty days from the resurrection.  He had unfinished ...

  When we look back where we thought we were trusting the Lord, we can see where we got impatient and tried to handle things ourselves, only to end up doing and saying the wrong things, outside of God's timing. We all need to learn just what it means to surrender and trust the Lord. Proverbs 3:5-8 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones. Psalm 37:3-6 Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and f eed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. We need to put our life on the line. Peter had to trust Jesus to walk on the water, but, as soon as he ...

Our cold winter is over, things that we did to stay warm, are changed to now stay cool. Thank God for a new spring time. Thank Him for all the new life springing up. Thank Him for the beautiful colors that He gave us to enjoy. Once what looked dead now has resurrected life. As we think about our Lord Jesus and His crucifixion. We think about His body being placed in a borrowed tomb. meaning it will returned to the owner. Remember Jesus's words. "In 3 days I will raise this temple. John 10:17-18. "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I might take it again. John 2:18 So the Jews answered and said to Him, "What sign do you show us, since you do these things" Jesus answered and said to them "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up" Some of the disciples remembered His words, when others didn't until He was raised from the dead. So who raised Jesus from the dead? Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle (not from man, b...