Turn From Darkness to Light

Acts 26:16-18 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles--to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'Acts 26:23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles." Jesus is light:Ps. 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? John 3:19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. John 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." 1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.The sinner walks in darkness. He has no hope! He is lost in sin and despair! He is under bondage to Satan. Satan holds you captive with all sorts of sin, he knows your weakness and will not stop tempting you till he causes you to yield. The only way to win is to run to Your Savior, flee as fast as you can, call on God's power through prayer and His Word. Satan is defeated and Christ is King and Lord!! If you do fall, repent, be humble before Him and ask Your Savior to forgive you.Luke 18:13 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'Lord, I am persuaded by Your creation which I see with my own eyes, that Your Word is true! You are light and in You there is no darkness. Help me to teach Your power, hope and truth to a lost and dying generation. Amen

We Are Weak But He Is Strong

2 Cor.13:4 For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.
Accept it, WE ARE WEAK! Our power comes from the most high God. It is through Him that we accomplish all things. We are here by His command and for His glory and purpose.
2 Cor.13:9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for.
Creator:
Romans 9:20 But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?'"
Created:
1 Peter 2:8 and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the message--which is also what they were destined for.
Listen to God's Word:
Jude 1:4 For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
His steadfast love:
Ps.36:10-11 Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart! Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
Hope in God:
Ps.42:11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
Hope in Jesus:
Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Eternal Word:
1 Peter 1:25 but the word of the Lord remains forever."And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
Heb.4:12-13 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
I can not stress enough how fleeting life is! We are not promised a tomorrow, in fact you die in the exhale of a breath or in the skipped beat of a heart! Think of life as, the minute you are born, you begin to die!
Precious God, we rest in Your hands at all times, in life and in death. Arouse in people the need for a Savior so that they will respond to Your Word in repentance. Thank You for the blessings of this life only You can give. May Your name be glorified in the whole world, Amen.

Rejoice in the Lord Always

Phil.4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
God is good, merciful and slow to anger, that knowledge should be our reason for rejoicing. For in His goodness, He has saved us through grace and faith in His Son's atonement for our sin. We can not atone for anything for we are ever sinful while here on earth. In the most trying times, we have God and He will be there!!
If your name is written in heaven, then you are a citizen of heaven. Wow, what a reason to rejoice!!
Luke 10:20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven".
Rejoice because He provides strength for all of life's trials:
Phil.4:11-13 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Heaven rejoices:
Luke 15:7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Luke 15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
Lord, I think we often forget to rejoice in You! I think of the twenty third Psalm and the precious words we know so well. Amen
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

The Distress of My Soul

Ps.31:7 7 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul
I praise You God for You are in control of my heart. Keep me in Your will and help me show Your love to all. I will not fear for You are my rock.
Ps.31:14 But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God."
Look to my heart, see if I am humble before You.
Ps.33:13-15 The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.
We have no hope but You. You give us all we need.
Ps.33:18-22 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
Lord, You are our hope. We bow to Your majesty, we trust in You and we thank you for Your precious grace. Amen

For My Sin Is Great!!!

Ps.25:11 For your name's sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great.
Do you ever ponder on your guilt? Do you even really know the depth of your sin? The little things we do that seem insignificant as sin but are truly sinful. The way we stray from the truth a little, we don't call it a lie but it is! To show the glory of God and His great mercy, He gave His Son as our atonement!
Lord, I am convicted by this verse. I need forgiveness for all the seemingly little things that my human mind tells me are not really sin but they are in Your eyes. Show us mercy and forgiveness but teach us Your Word. Amen
Acknowledge your sin:
1 John 1:8-10 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
The world is not our friend! It is full of evil desires that take our mind off God and God's reason for giving us life!
1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Lord, it is by Your power that we were created! It is by Your will we exist! It is by Your grace that we have been saved from hell! But it is by our obedience to Your Word that we show our faith and love! Forgive us our sin by Your grace. Amen

Who Do You Worship?

Ps.22:27-28 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.
We are the church, not the building where we worship! We worship the risen King, Jesus Christ in our mind, soul and actions!
Is your soul thirsty? Do you long for something that is real and that can comfort a weary soul? There is a living water that comes from the Creator through His Son and this precious water is offered to all who will but call on Jesus as Savior, repent and worship Him. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary; "No past sins can bar our acceptance with him, if we humble ourselves before him, believing in him as the Christ, the Saviour of the world".
John 4:20-24 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship." Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." My Redeemer Lives!! Only He can save us from God's wrath!Hebrews 9:24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.Hebrews 7:25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.Only He is worthy!!Rev.4:9-11 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."

The Fool says in his heart, "There is no God"

Ps.14:1-2 The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.
Are you among those who say there is no God? Or do you just not think about this lie at all? You do not take a stand one way or another, just stay neutral! Man is so evil and full of himself that he has no time to seek His Creator.
Romans 3:10 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one
Psalm 10:4 In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
We are not forced to believe in God, we have proof through His Word. We have proof in the very air we breathe! We have proof in the heavens, the earth and even in our own bodies which are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Romans 1:18-32 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
Lord, we have only the next breath You give us. Help us to use it for Your glory. Help me to teach the power of Your Word so that others will find hope in You. Amen