Whether light or dark, your heart shines through

“Your eye is the lamp of your body.  When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light.  But when they are bad, your body also is fuel of darkness…”

Luke 11:34-36

Your eyes are the gateway to your heart… whether light or dark, your heart shines through as such.  Therefore, be one that shines from within ever-so-brightly for all this dark world to see.

Ask, Receive - Seek, Find - Knock, Open

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Luke 11:9-10

Don’t back out of your goals and dreams because of fear! Heck NO!  Instead, look fear straight on and tell it to get behind you and eat your dust.

Friends, God’s Word says to ask, seek, and knock, so do it in order to obtain your prayers, goals, dreams, and desires!  His Word states that when you do, you will receive, you will find and doors will be opened for you.  Thus, go for it!  Go BIG – Go ALL-OUT – Stand STRONG, remembering to never look back!!

Let it shine my friend

https://images.knowing-jesus.com/i/matthew-5-14-let-your-light-shine-before-men-black

Those that work for it

"...The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few..."

-Luke 10:2

In essence, and in my own opinion, this verse suggests this:

Those of us that are willing to work for greatness, great things, using God as our Leader, will most definitely find it.  However, those that want greatness, great things, through deception, lies, or shortcuts, may find it for a moment but soon it will watch be taken right out of their hands.

Hence, work hard for the goals and dreams God has placed in you because the victories will be well worth it.

Going somewhere?

"Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

-Luke 9:62 NIV

Looking back will get you nowhere.  Focusing ahead and looking to Jesus will get you everywhere you want to go.

Don't look back, it is only a waste of your precious time and energy.

Faith that can move mountains

“Then he said to her, ‘Daughter your faith has healed you.  Go in peace.’ “

Luke 8:48

If God has placed a picture in your heart of what you can do and where you can go and who you can be then the only thing that could ever keep you from getting it is a lack of faith.  

My friend, God won’t place a picture in your heart if it’s not something for you, so dig deep, grab hold, and go for it keeping that picture tightly protected in your heart.

Every tear will be wiped away

If you aren’t sure exactly what happens when you surrender your worldly-life to Christ, well here is a glimpse for you:

Now that you have an idea, why don’t you go ahead and jump in with both feet?  Guaranteed, your life will never be the same.

Image copied griaciously copied from http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjk1dbY5_3WAhVr5oMKHfa7AsIQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fslideplayer.es%2Fslide%2F5388820%2F&psig=AOvVaw3TnsovcBvGvhTRJMMtaATl&ust=1508541027655882

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjk1dbY5_3WAhVr5oMKHfa7AsIQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fslideplayer.es%2Fslide%2F5388820%2F&psig=AOvVaw3TnsovcBvGvhTRJMMtaATl&ust=1508541027655882

Discipline and determination

“… Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize?  Run in such a way that you may win, run with determination and discipline…”

Adapted from 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Discipline and determination  to win in life aren’t to be waited for, they are something to grab hold in order to win the race in which you were called.  Without them, you’ll never get pass the starting line.

Not a fair trade, but...

“Cast all your anxieties on him because he cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:7

Give God all of your anxieties, worries, cares, fears, heartaches, and heartaches; in return, he will give you peace, joy, victory, love, grace… He’ll give you himself.

No, not much of a fair trade, but then that’s how much God absolutely loves and adores you my friend.

Self-controlled and alert

“Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith…And the God of all grace… will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

-1 Peter 5:8-11

Be sensitive and open to the promptings of your heart, as those are the promptings of The Spirit guarding you and keeping you out of trouble.

Our Solid Foundation

Luke 6:46-49 New International Version (NIV)

The Wise and Foolish Builders

46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

If your life isn't built on the foundation of God, His Spirit and His Word, then your life has absolutely no foundation... 
kinda scary if you think about it?!

Nothing to fear

"...Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch... 

Don't be afraid..."

Luke 5:4, 10 NIV

When you are following Jesus and taking steps to follow the promptings he places on your heart, then no matter how big the storm, you can stay in peace knowing that there is nothing to fear, he has your back and he will not fail you - not now, not ever!!

Quiet time

“At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place...”

-Luke 4:42 NIV

If Jesus disciplined himself for daily quiet time to pray and reflect, shouldn’t you?

Prepare the way

“…Prepare a way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.  Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low.  The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth…”

-Luke 3:4-6

Get rid of the unnecessary clutter so God can work his salvation in you.  How?  Start by asking God what clutter in your life needs to be thrown out, mentally and physically, and then follow through by actually listening to him and doing what he tells you to do.

Blessed and more blessed

“Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.”

-Luke 1:45 NIV

Believe God’s Word and blessed you shall be!!  
What you believe and whom you choose to believe is exactly what you will receive.

Impossible? NO – NEVER!

“for nothing is impossible with God.”

-Luke 1:37 NIV

Impossible?  NO – NEVER!

God-possible?  YES – ALWAYS!

Freedom and light: LIFE

“… He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.”

-Titus 2:14

Freedom and light – LIFE – comes when you accept Jesus and all of his glory.  
However, on the flip side, deceit, darkness - DEATH – comes when you accept the world and all its hideousness.

The gracious hand of God upon you.

"... The gracious hand of God is on everyone who looks to him..."

-Ezra 8:22

Thank you, +Joel Osteen, for this video:

The Gracious Hand of God

https://i2.wp.com/jarrodcooper.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/hola-beach-club.png?ssl=1

WITHOUT FEAR

“… because the hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage.”

-Ezra 7:28

Courage isn’t yours to want – courage is yours to take.  Grab hold of it and don’t let go.

---

“Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous?  Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

-Joshua 1:9

Courage:

Fearlessness, bravery, boldness, audacity, grit, valor, without fear.

Diligence

“And their associates carried it out with diligence…”

Ezra 6:13

Diligence: Hard work; concentration; effort; care; rigor; thoroughness; dedication; tenacity; commitment.

Let’s get some!

Cheer

“Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens.  This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 MSG

Jesus lived this way for us through the wickedest and most foul circumstances so there is no reason we cannot do the same for him.  Therefore, take heed to this verse today and know that if you do, you will come to know the way of true living – true freedom– true life; yes, this is the way to the one and only,

True Jesus.

Focus

“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Matthew 6:33 NIV

If you have hopes, dreams, and desires, yet not seeking God to find them, then that is all they will ever be: hopes, dreams, and desires – period.  However, if you have hopes, dreams, and desires, and are seeking God, then not only will they be hopes, dreams, and desires, they will be yours for the taking: blessed, beautiful, with your name written all over them.

Don't let fear of the world stop you!

"Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation..."

Ezra 3:3

Thoughts and fears constantly surround us, however, let them not be the deciding factor in our goals and dreams.  Friends, if we feel the nudge from God, then we must go for it without looking back and knowing that we know this: God is clearing the path for us, making a way for our dreams and goals to come true!! 

Praise be to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Obey the lord and increase (multiply) greatly

• Deuteronomy 6:3 (NIV)

  Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.

Praying and staying in holy faith

“But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.  Keep yourself in God’s love…”

Jude 1:20-21

Praying and staying in holy faith keeps you in Holy Grace.

Victory after victory after victory

“Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God…”

2 John 9

SO, STAY THE COURSE - THE SLOWER THE BETTER.  NO NEED TO RUSH.

If what you are listening to and/or whom you are learning from isn’t in line with God’s word, then it could be that you've run ahead of God and lost focus.  Therefore, stop, turn, refocus, an get back in the groove of God so that the path you are on leads you to victory after victory after victory.

Life ~ Death

LIFE

“He who has the Son has life…”

DEATH

“… he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

(1 John 5:12)

To LIVE is to believe in Christ.

To DIE is to believe in anything or anyone but Christ.

PERIOD!!!

Are you living?

“… Anyone who does not love, remains in death.”

1 John 3:14

If you aren’t loving, then you aren’t living.

We've been set free... free indeed!

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

-1 Peter 2:24

Jesus bore our hurts, habits, and hang-ups, so that we may be healed ~ Jesus bore our sins and transgressions so that we could be set free. 

WE ARE free!!  Free indeed!!

Thank you Jesus!