Goodbye 2017 and Hello 2018

"Heads up! The days are coming when I'll set up a new plan... I'll throw out the old plan..."

-Hebrews 8:6-13 MSG

Out with the OLD and in with the NEW!

Thank you Jesus - Thank you God.

Happy New Year everyone!

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Dear World

Dear World,

It matters very little to me what you think of me, even less where I rank in popular opinion.  Nope, it doesn’t mean much; God is the only one that I live to please.

Therefore, with peace and love, I say this 

to you: Please mind your own business

and stop focusing on mine.

Love,

God’s precious child

Adapted from 1 Corinthians 4:1-4 MSG

We have all the access we need in Christ

"... we have access to everything God's Spirit is doing... Christ knows, and we have Christ's Spirit."  

1 Corinthians 2:14-16 MSG

So, since we have Christ's Spirit, we know everything and anything we need to know, no matter what the subject, decision, choice, thought, reason, etc., is.  Now, you may wonder there is no way that we know.  Well, I beg to differ and today's verse proves my point: Since we have access to everything God's Spirit does, then any and all answers are found within. However, most of us need to dig deep enough, past our own darkened flesh, to find the answer - to seek the Light, but honestly, most of us aren't patient enough or want to work that hard to honestly know what the real answers are.  

Friends, for an amazing life, we really need to dig past our own flesh, dig past the world's ways, and dig into the Spirit; there we will find the real answers, real directions, and real thoughts needed to make our lives the miracles that Jesus died for us to live.

He will never give up on you... EVER!

"Just think - you don't need a thing, you've got it all!  All God's gifts are right in front of you... And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until all things are wrapped up by Jesus.  God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus.  He will never give up on you.  Never forget that." 

- 1 Cor. 1:7-9 MSG

He will never give up on you. Never forget that!

Right in front of you, alongside you, is Christ himself; He is walking with you, talking to you, loving you, carrying you, forgiving you, and directing you.  He is with you, right now; you are never, ever, alone - EVER!

So as down as it may seem for you, as low as you may feel in life, remember:  God is with you; he won't leave you, he won't give up on you, and he won't turn his back on you. Please, allow him to forgive you - your past, present, and future sins.  Open your hear to him so he can love you into wholeness and lead you to salvation.  

Every good thing

“…I want you also to be smart, making sure every “good” thing is the real thing. Don’t be gullible in regard to smooth-talking evil. Stay alert like this, and before you know it the God of peace will come down on Satan with both feet, stomping him into the dirt…” Romans 16:190-20 MSG

If you want to know what to believe, what decisions to make, and choices to take, then dig into The Word.  In there you will find all guidelines and answers you need to move forward as well as what you should believe when it comes to worldly talk and ways.  Yes, in His Word you can test every worldly-stamped, so-called, good-thing and see if it aligns with God's words; if what the world says doesn't line up, turn and run from it – fast! And don't look back, it isn't worth your time or salvation.

May God bless you mightily

This verse really touched my heart today.  So, in Jesus name, I would like to pray these words over you and to you:

“Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!”

(Romans 15:13 MSG)

God bless you mightily, in Jesus name – 
Amen and Amen

The real story

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Tending to our own lives

It’s God we are answerable to – all the way from life to death and everything in between – not each other.  That’s why Jesus lived and died and then lived again:  so that he could be our Master across the entire range of life and death, and free us from the petty tyrannies of each other. 

Adapted from Romans 14:6-9

Hence: Tend to your life, not everyone else’s.

As well, build relationships by embracing each one in all of its uniqueness and differences, without judgment.  For it is not up to us to judge – God will take care of all that on his own time and in his own way.

Salvation is available to us all

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Responsibility for the sake of Jesus

A few small reminders from the Word of God on how to live responsibly for the sake of Jesus. Good reminders for those of us that find ourselves getting too caught up in the world:

“ So live responsibly as a citizen, not just to avoid punishment, but also because it is the right way to live.  As well, pay your taxes, pay your bills, respect your leaders; don’t run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other.  Finally, be up and awake to what God is doing – get yourself out of bed, clothe yourself with his armor, and refuse to let Satan take control of your life.”

Adapted from Romans 13

How to become a better you

“… Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering…

… go ahead and be what you were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing yourself with each other, or trying to be something you aren’t.

…. Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it…

… Don’t burn out; keep yourself fueled and aflame. … pray all the harder…

… Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down… 

Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody…

…discover beauty in everyone…

…. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.”

Adapted from Romans 12

If you have time, take some time to read the whole chapter – it can be life-changing and eye-opening to those of us that have forgotten our reasons for being and loving. 

Not only that, it will help you become an even better you:  God’s amazing child – God’s amazing steward

Everything! Absolutely everything!

Everything comes from God;

Everything happens through God;

Everything ends up in God;

Always, glory! Always praise!

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Amen!!

-Adapted from Romans 11:33-36 MSG

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Wondering where God is?

...How could they miss it?  Because instead of trusting God, they took over.  They were so absorbed in what they themselves were doing. They were so absorbed in their "God projects" that they didn't notice God right in front of them..." Romans 9:20-33 MSG

Wondering where God is right now?  He is right in front of you - all you have to do is get out of self long enough to notice.

Jesus carries us through

“Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s spirit is right alongside us helping us along, motivating us to move forward. He knows us far better than we know ourselves and that’s why we can be assured that every detail of our lives of love for God is worked out into something amazing.” Adapted from Romans 8:26-28 MSG

When we get tired, Jesus picks us up and carries us forward.  And when we have the strength to walk on our own, He walks right alongside us every step of the way.

Obsession in oneself

“… Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn’t pleased at being ignored... With his Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ’s!”Romans 8:5-8, 9-11 MSG

Absorbed and obsessed with oneself is like being absorbed and obsessed with a brownie; self quickly gobbles it up, and digestion begins, which ends, as we know, into a certain darkness,  (pardon the visual - 💩💩💩 - LOL).

However, being absorbed and obsessed with Jesus is like being a newborn baby; self takes a deep breath of new life and begins to experience a fresh new energy of really wanting to live – and wanting to live to the fullest.

Jesus always has your back!!

“For I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help… I’ve tried everything and nothing helps… Is there no one that can do anything for me?... The answer, thank God, is that Jesus can and does.” 
Romans 7:17-20, 24, 25 MSG

When you sin – run to Jesus!

When you doubt – run to Jesus!

When you are confused – run to Jesus!

WHEN YOU TRULY WANT TO LIVE – YES! RUN TO JESUS

Grace wins hands down

“All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn’t, and doesn’t, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it’s sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that’s the end of it. Grace, because God is putting everything together again through the Messiah, invites us into life—a life that goes on and on and on, world without end.” Romans 5:20-21 MSG

Satan leads us to death; the end - death. 

Jesus leads us to live; the beginning – life, which is Heaven here on earth and ending in Heaven above with Him in which there is no end.

Truly living in the Light - living for Christ Jesus

"... Our involvement with God's revelation doesn't put us right with God.  What it does is force us to face our complicity in everyone else's sin."  Romans 3:9-20 MSG

When we begin noticing that we are backing away from the world because of the darkness in which it brings, is when we begin noticing that we are truly, and purely, children of the most high God, finally making a decision to truly live in Him and for Him.  

Furthermore, once we begin to notice, our lives take a glorious turn for the better because we are finally stepping out of the darkness into the Light: Freedom, glory, blessing, promise, hope, joy, wisdom, faith, love, peace... all which equals Jesus Christ, our precious Lord and Savior, here to save us and exalt us.

Glory be to Jesus in the utmost!!!

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God keeps his word, the world does not

"... Depend on it:  God keeps his word even when the whole world is lying through its teeth." Romans 3:2-6 MSG

Hold fast to God, not the world in which your flesh dwells, as the world in which your flesh dwells will only kill and destroy.  Whereas the God in which your heart should hold fast to and depend on will give you life in abundance until it overflows (John 10:10) -  this you can depend on!

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Criticizing another condemns the criticizer

"... Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself.  It takes one to know one..."  Romans 2:1-2

In other words, criticizing another only condemns the criticizer.  👀

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Rise up!

“I’m sending you off to open the eyes of the outsiders so they can see the difference between dark and light, and choose light, see the difference between Satan and God, and choose God…” Acts 26:17-18 MSG

If you are reading this, there is a reason:  You are called, by God, to be a difference maker; to help him shed light in the darkness – a dark world, a dark soul; to help him repair the hearts of the broken hearted; to help bring the lost to him.  Yes, you ARE called!!

Therefore, rise up and decide to help - today and forevermore!  You are his child, you are gifted, you are anointed, you shine with his glory, and you have been given the favor; you are God’s hands and feet! Now go out and be amazing for others!

Help God help the world!!

Fighting against man or God.

"... What if it turns out we're fighting against God?" 

~Acts 23:7-9 MSG

Hmmm... great question to ask ourselves - yes!  Accordingly, in the heat of a battle with another, maybe we should step back for a moment and align their words and actions with God's words and actions, as well as, align our words and actions with God's words and actions.  I truly believe that if we do, half the battles we engage in would be shut down immediately.  

So, let's take a breath before we engage in any sort of argument, accusation, judgment, and the like.  Life is too short and our lives are way too important in Christ to mess with those kinds of dark, worldly, things anyhow.

Get lost!!

Get lost in the presence of God - when you do, you will find your life more clearly than ever before.

Get lost in God

Live to give!

Give constant encouragement, lifting spirits and charging others with fresh hope, saying: "No more crying, there is life in you yet.  Accordingly, finish what God started in you, always be on your toes, staying awake to the temptations of darkness (Satan).  Yes,  stay awake and keep up your guard, for as you know, Satan roams around like a lion seeking anyone he can slaughter, (the vulnerable, the tired, the sleeping, and the glutton).  So, listen to the voice of God and keep His Words in your heart so that he can make you into what he wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need. And, finally, always remember this: You're will be far happier giving than getting."  

~ Adapted from Acts 20

LIVE SO THAT GOD CAN SHINE TO THOSE LIVING IN DARKNESS!  

LIVE TO SHARE LIFE, LOVE, AND JOY.  

LIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOD'S WORD.  

LIVE TO HEAL AND BE HEALED.  

LIVE TO GIVE!

LIVE SO THAT YOU CAN TRULY LIVE!

You can conquer all your fears!

"Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?  Did you take God into your mind only, or did you also embrace him with your heart?  Did he get inside you?" - Acts 19:1-2 MSG

How deeply rooted is the Spirit within you?  This is a great question to think about and answer honestly. If God isn't deep-centered in your heart, then healing and wholeness are going to be a constant battle, a constant uphill struggle.  Yes, you might believe with your mind, but until you open your heart to let him in, nothing that you are holding on to right now that has to do with your unhealthy habits, hurts, and hang ups will ever be set truly free from within you.  So really dig down within yourself and see what is at the root of your core:  Is it God, or is it you; your flesh, the world in which you live and try to please, your fears, your upsets, your worry...?  Whatever it, or who, it may be, if it isn't God then it is time to focus on Him with more determination and hope than you ever have before.  Soon, your world will lighten, your lungs will fill with a fresh new air of life, and the road to recovery will be set, ever-so-clear, before you!  

You are God's child! And with him you can face and conquer all of your fears, hurts, habits, darkness's, and upsets!

When God speaks - LISTEN!

"...One night the Master spoke to (insert your name here): "Keep it up and don't let anyone intimidate or silence you.  No matter what happens, I'm with you and no one is going to be able to hurt you..." 

~ Adapted from Acts 18:8-11 MSG

Don't give up and don't give in to your fears, hang ups, addictions, or unhealthy actions - don't do it - not when you know that God is on your side.  Instead, fight against it (them) with the forces of God and his Word.  He is with you!  He won't let you be defeated!  He won't betray or reject you!  He holds you in the palm of his hand!  He absolutely loves you, my friend.

Therefore, fight and keep fighting by standing firm in faith, strong in prayer, and dedicated solely to God.  You will be triumphant, you will shine - your victory is at hand.

TRUST AND KEEP TRUSTING GOD

“The person in right standing before God by trusting him really lives. “  Romans 1:16-17 MSG

TRUST AND KEEP TRUSTING GOD

My friend, God’s Word never, ever, fails!! Trust in God and truly, truly, truly, live!! Trust in God and be fearless, full of love, full of joy, full of peace – hence, full of Jesus Christ himself.

Yes, trust in, and keep trusting in God and God alone; become enslaved by God and be freed from Satan: darkness, death, fear, burden, destruction, and death. 

OH, PRAISE GOD.  HE IS SO GOOD

Earthquakes in our lives

“… Then, without warning, a huge earthquake!  The jailhouse tottered, every door flew open, all the prisoners were loose.”  Acts 16:25-26 MSG

This verse really jumped out today.  It made me realize that my personal, so-called, earthquakes, (hard times and challenges, hurts, hang-ups, addictions, fears, deaths and darkness’s, etc.),  are all blessed signs from God that a new-found freedom is on its way and chains are being broken in my midst.

What about you?  Are you or your life, or both, crumbling down around you?  If so, take heart and find it within you to rejoice:  The forces of darkness are being broken by God and blessings, freedom, and victories are straight ahead; the death of darkness is breaking away and the light of Jesus is beginning to shine right through.

Praise God - All glory be to Jesus.

Choose to focus on God

“Be careful to not get involved in activities connected with idols…” 

Acts 15:19-21 & 15:28-29 MSG

CHOOSE TO FOCUS ON GOD:  

Whatever gives life, helps your life, isn’t fruitless in your life, and is healing to your life.

CHOOSE to rid  Satan:

Whatever is fruitless in your life, brings darkness to your life, causes you ill health, or causes anger and hurt in your heart.

Yes, CHOOSE LIFE!!

You are so beautiful

“Abandon these silly god-superstitions and embrace God himself.  We don’t make God; he makes us, and all of this – sky, earth, sea, and everything in them.”  

Acts 14:14-15 MSG

Abandon these silly world-given thoughts and ideas of what perfection is; abandon your-own-self ideas of what perfection is; instead, embrace God and all that he is.  We didn’t make ourselves nor did the world make us, God made us!  We are his perfection and we ought to embrace every part of it.

Remember, God loves us unconditionally, so we should love ourselves in the same way: unconditionally, compassionately, and with reverence and awe of the amazing person we are becoming. Yes, we are God’s beauty.  We are his glory.  We are made in his image.  We are made to be victorious.  And, most of all, we are made to live life!!!

You are good, right, and whole when you are a believer in Jesus

"...But everyone who believes in this raised-up Jesus is declared good and right and whole before God." 

~ Acts 13:36-39 MSG

What the world says about you, what you think about yourself, what the, so-called- professionals have labeled you as, what you have done in the past, and what you will do in the future, etc., are all things that come from the outside.  Those words mean nothing - they are merely descriptions of what is happening, has happened, or may happen, in your life.  You are Christ's sweet child dealing with life struggles, tribulations, hang-ups, and heartaches - you are not broken!  Just the opposite!  As a believer you are exactly what the Word says.

You are GOOD, RIGHT, AND WHOLE.
 
Therefore, embrace what the world claims to be your flaws, for in God's eyes they are perfect; he knows you are human, and he's just walking you through life, allowing you to fall and allowing you to grow.  And, when all is said and done, your life will be a shining example and legacy to the world in which you lived.