Do you Hear the Knocking Anymore

October 20, 2014 by 4 Comments

Behold I Stand at the Door and Knock

stand at the door and knock

 

When we think of this verse, we tend to think of someone that is being convicted of their need of salvation.  As Christians, we use this to tell others that Jesus loves them and wants to be with them.

While this is true, it is also true that as a Christian, God is standing at the door and knocking for our attention…..still.

He knocks because:

  • He simply wants to be near us
  • He wants us to trust Him
  • He wants to hear our JOYful noise of praise
  • He wants to hear our fears so that He can comfort us
  • He wants us to choose to see His wisdom daily
  • He wants us to KNOW that even though we feel unloved, He loves us more than we can imagine
  • He wants us to rest in Him
  • He wants us to confidently give Him our everything, know that on our own we will fail miserably but with Him – ALL things are possible
  • He gave us everything He had…yet, “requires” nothing but faith in Him
  • He misses us when we walk away from Him

 

so He knocks…reminding us that we are important to Him

Jesus died for you

Jesus loves you

Jesus waits for you…knocking

Christian, Jesus stands at the door…waiting on YOU

Will you make Him wait or do you walk daily with Him?

What makes your heart smile about the thought of Jesus knocking at our hearts door?

For me, it’s the fact that even though we are like a single solitary grain of sand – each one, each single grain is precious to Him.

You are Precious in His Sight!

 

 

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Jesus Calling 10th Anniversary

October 7, 2014 by 5 Comments

I’m honored to be able to partner with Thomas Nelson Publishing and offer you 3 copies of Jesus Calling 10th Anniversary Edition. 

JC10_transparentBkgrdSmall

 

Experience peace in the presence of the Savior.

A rich relationship with Jesus is so much more than presenting Him with a list of requests. It includes listening—through reading the Bible and receiving His love for you. The #1 bestselling 365-day devotional Jesus Calling® is written as if Jesus Himself is speaking directly to you—words of encouragement, comfort, and reassurance of His unending love.

In this special 10th-anniversary edition, Sarah Young shares her own prayer journal with you—including over 100 additional scriptures personally selected by the author. This beautiful keepsake edition, celebrating 10 years of Jesus Calling touching lives all over the world, also includes a beautiful redesign of high-quality bonded leather cover that allows for personalization. Sarah’s writings are personal reflections based on Jesus’ own words of hope, guidance, and peace within Scripture. As you experience the devotions and the fresh look at Scripture, you will look forward to your time with Him. Experience a deeper relationship with the Lord as you savor the presence of the One who will never leave you.

 

About the author: 

Sarah Young is quietly leading millions on a journey of intimacy with Christ. She has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Christianity Today and has sold over 12 million books worldwide. Jesus Today received the 2013 ECPA Christian Book of the Year award. Sarah and her husband lived overseas for decades, counseling and planting churches in Japan and Australia. They currently live in the US.

 

You can purchase the book from Thomas Nelson here: http://bit.ly/Jesus_Calling10th

 

Here is an excerpt from this week:

October 8

I LOV E YOU WITH an everlasting Love. The human mind cannot comprehend My constancy. Your emotions flicker and falter in the face of varying circumstances, and you tend to project your fickle feelings onto Me. Thus, you do not benefit fully from My unfailing Love.

You need to look beyond the flux of circumstances and discover Me gazing lovingly back at you. This awareness of My Presence strengthens you, as you receive and respond to My Love. I am the same yesterday, today, and forever! Let My Love flow into you continually. Your need for Me is as constant as the outflow of My Love to you.

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. -Jeremiah 31:3

In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. -Exodus 15:13

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. -Hebrews 13:8

 

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Still HE Speaks

September 29, 2014 by 6 Comments

ps 46 be still

 

Ps 46:10 BE STILL…and know that I AM God

 

Sometimes when everything is going great – we forget to listen to the Lord – Still HE speaks

Sometimes the tears flow daily – we forget to listen to the Lord – Still He Speaks

Sometimes the laughter fills our hearts – we forget to listen to the Lord – Still He speaks

Sometimes discouragement steals our joy – we forget to listen to the Lord – Still He speaks

Sometimes anger robs us of our compassion – we forget to listen to the Lord – Still HE speaks

Sometimes hatred blinds our way – we forget to listen to the Lord – Still HE speaks

Sometimes daily activities keeps us to busy and we forget to listen to the Lord – Still HE speaks

Sometimes weariness causes us pull away and we forget to listen to the Lord – Still He speaks

Sometimes…..we forget to listen to the Lord – STILL HE Speaks

Will you hear?

Will you trust?

Will you listen?

Still… He speaks

 

still he speaks

 

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God Will NOT Fail

September 22, 2014 by 4 Comments

In case you have forgotten because circumstances have left you numb, let me remind you – God will NOT FAIL

We all will face moments in our life that we need to be reminded.

 God will not fail

Sometimes circumstances cloud our reality and we forget that God is in control and HE cannot fail.

Sometimes the tears are falling so heavily that we can’t seem to see the right verses to comfort our hearts.

Print these verses out and post them around your home.

Pin them to your Faith board.

Memorize them and hide them in your heart.

God Will NOT Fail. 

  • Deuteronomy 7:9
  • Deuteronomy 31:6
  • Deuteronomy 31:8
  • Joshua 1:5
  • I Chronicles 28:20
  • Psalm 36:5
  • Psalm 119:90
  • Isaiah 49:7
  • Lamentations 3:22-23
  • 1 Corinthians 1:9
  • 1 Corinthians 10:13

 

When you can’t see how it will work out or your heart cries out in anguish because you don’t understand, remember, you can ALWAYS trust God and His wisdom.

Leave a verse of encouragement below.  Do you have an article that relates to this? Please leave the link in the comment section below.  Thank you for adding to this conversation.

 

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When Trouble Finds Me

September 18, 2014 by 10 Comments

Sometimes you may feel like David, crying out in the wilderness. 

Issue after issue, time after time and regardless what the day brings or how hard you try, sometimes there is just no stopping the tears.

 

prayer of thanks for strength

 

Disappointment, discouragement and frustrations seem to pile up and heap up like a giant mountain.

Just as David did in the Psalms, you cry out “WHEN Lord?? When?”

Wave after wave of hurt comes through and you wonder how you’ll make it.  You wonder if the next blow will be the one to knock you out or not.  You continue to search through the Psalms wondering….When Lord…when.

WHEN?

May I remind you (and myself) that we will make it through “this” – whatever this is right now?

Repeat after me:

GOD is all powerful, all knowing and loves me more than life itself

God shows us miracle after miracle in the Bible…so I have to remember that HE is the same today, yesterday and forever! 

When Trouble finds me – I will remember….

  • The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all. Psalm 34:17-19
  • Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Deuteronomy 31:6
  • As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than you ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9
  • My soul is weary with sorrow, strengthen me according to your word.  Psalm 119:28
  • Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him – James 1:2-5

 

 

When trouble finds you, where do you turn?

A prayer for you –

Lord, thank you that when we are where we don’t want to be, experiencing what wouldn’t choose to experience and dealing with things that we would never consider dealing with that you are our stronghold, our refuge and strength through everything!  We trust you Lord, we Love you Lord. In Jesus Name Amen

 

What do you do? What verses do you hide closest to your heart or do you search the scriptures filling your heart with verse after verse of God’s promises?

JOYn the conversation by leaving your thoughts below.

Make a difference and encourage others by sharing on your favorite social networking site.

If you have a link to an article that relates to this one, I invite you to leave it below so that it can easily encourage others.

Have fun spreading joy!

You Matter!

 

 

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The Jesus Code by O.S. Hawkins

September 9, 2014 by Leave a Comment

JC-3dphoto

 

Here is the summary of The Jesus Code:

Jesus was always asking questions. Whether with a small group or large crowd, Jesus opened hearts and minds by asking questions that grasped attention and made one think. In The Jesus Code, author O. S. Hawkins poses fifty-two thought-provoking questions found throughout the Bible that believers should be able to answer as they grow in their faith and share their faith with others. Each question features a devotional thought to help readers find answers and promote further reflection.

Sample questions include:

  • What does the Lord require of you?
  • Where can I go from Your Spirit?
  • Who is my neighbor?
  • What is your life? A vapor that appears and vanishes away?
  • Why do you seek the living among the dead?
  • Will a man rob God?

As with The Joshua Code, all royalties will go to Mission:Dignity, whose mission supports retired pastors and their wives (or widows) living near poverty level. <-thank you for your giving heart and for Spreading JOY.

 

You can go ahead and purchase the book here or enter to win one of 3 copies below.

 

Also – please visit https://apps.agorapulse.com/go/36467/34084and take a fun (and free) quiz to test their knowledge of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ!

 

About the author: 

For more than 20 years, O. S. Hawkins served pastorates at the First Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and in Dallas, Texas. He is president of GuideStone Financial Resources, which serves 200,000 pastors, church staff, missionaries, doctors, and other workers of various Christian organizations with their retirement needs. He is the author of more than 25 books and preaches regularly at Bible conferences, evangelism conferences, and churches across the nation.  Follow on twitter @OSHawkins 

 

Thank you Thomas Nelson for sponsoring this giveaway. 

 

 

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Honestly Speaking

September 8, 2014 by 5 Comments

 

God is my strength and power

 

 

Honesty

A recent conversation with my daughter went something like this:

“Seriously Mom, thank you for not thinking awful things of me when I express how I’m really feeling and it’s not good.”

She also thanked me for allowing her just to “vent” about everything and the emotions she was going through, especially since some pain in her heart was front and center – rearing it’s ugly head and taking over much of the day.

I assured her that no matter what she ever said or even did that I would always love her.

I then took the time to remind her that isn’t it wonderful that we can come to God and pour out the hurts that are killing us, pour out the anger that is eating at us and pour out the many other emotions that can seem to be so overwhelming that we can’t think, see or even feel anything but what is running through our heart at that very moment.

Often when we pray we “clean up” our prayers and “nicely” come to God asking for help through our situations.  May I remind you that God knows what you are screaming in your heart?

God KNOWS and even better than that – HE CARES and loves us anyway!

Be real with the Lord.

July and August 2013 were the beginning of some awful months in my world.  After a wonderful event – an answer to a lifelong prayer, several horrid & unexpected events took place.  The tears were streaming daily, deep awful sobs of pain escaped from my heart daily and then, in a weekend of a moment of peace, I called a friend (friend of over 25 years) after seeing her on Facebook.  We chatted, caught up and had a great time laughing. I needed that more than she knew.  Did we discuss my problems? No.  We laughed.  We discussed what she was doing and how our kids were and how crazy it was that we were parents of adults.  We made plans for dinner for the following week and hung up.

My heart was refreshed during a difficult time of pain.

Then it happened.  A few days later, I get the message that my friend had just had a massive stroke and died.  Did I hear that right? That was it.  Even though I never mask my feelings with God and we have some “very frank” conversations I was in shock kept thinking/praying “Seriously Lord???” This on top of everything else?  I was devastated even further.  The only thing I could keep praying is:

God, I don’t understand – but I trust you

Over and over I prayed.  and then I reached out.  Nothing specific, just reached out and was comforted by the prayers that I knew was being poured out on my behalf.

 

life hurts right now

 

We don’t always understand and that is ok.

We don’t always come to God with poetic prayers and that is ok.

Sometimes we come to God with “Where are YOU?? I NEED YOU” and that is ok.

Satan would have us fear that God gets angry with this kind of prayer but He doesn’t.  David, in the Psalms, over and over cried out “How LONG Lord?”

It’s ok to come to God and just pour out all of your hurts that have you broken at your very core.  He knows and He cares.

It’s ok to be completely honest with God.  He knows in your heart you are screaming and the pain is killing you physically and emotionally.

It’s ok to do nothing and say nothing more than “God I need you” and then rest in Him.  Let him refresh you just like Elijah had to do.

Don’t let guilt move you from the Lords presence. 

Be honest with the Lord and watch how he refreshes you. Your trials and situation may not change in an instant, but God’s grace will be sufficient and carry you through.

Things WILL get better.  Seasons DO Change.  The tears will slow down and stop. God IS Faithful!

 

Your turn.  Who or what has God used to refresh you during a difficult time in your life?

What verses do you turn to for comfort?

 

Thank you for leaving your comments below! Thank you for encouraging others in their walk of faith! 

 

 

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Clearly See

September 1, 2014 by Leave a Comment

When you love someone, you love to spend time with them.  You love learning everything about them and you love being close to them.

When you spend time with the Lord, you’ll start to clearly see Him in ways that you hadn’t seen Him before.  Your love will become deeper as you spend time adoring your heavenly Father.

 

Something else will happen too……  Others will clearly see Him in you!

clearly see Him

 

When you love to spend time with the Lord Jesus: 

  • HIS light will shine like a beacon in your life (Matt 5:16)
  • HIS joy will flood your heart (Ps 32:11)
  • HIS promises will give you great courage (2 Peter 1:4)
  • HIS strength will carry you (Ps 3:3)
  • HIS love will touch others through you (Hebrews 10:24)
  • HIS heart will be seen in you (1 Thes 5:16-18)
  • HIS power will be real to you (Jeremiah 17:7)
  • HIS will and way will guide you (Eph 3:20)
  • HIS forgiveness will free you to forgive others
  • HIS faithfulness will never end (Romans 8:39)
  • HIS goodness is daily (Jeremiah 33:3)
  • HIS mercies are never trampled on (Ps 13:5)
  • HIS grace is treasured as a precious gift (Gen 6:8)
Choose to spend some time with HIM today so that others can clearly see HIM in you
List some things that you hope others see of Christ in you.
Be His Light
Be His Love
BE a positive force for the Lord

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Turning to God

August 18, 2014 by 2 Comments

we turn to you Lord

 

Lord,

We turn to you Lord for the hope of tomorrow when today seems to drown us in despair.

We turn to you Lord when yesterday is gripping our hearts, hindering us from seeing your hand today.

We turn to you Lord when everything is going wrong and nothing will dry the tears.

We turn to you Lord we’ve prayed a million prayers for our child to draw near.

We turn to you Lord when we can’t even lift our head or utter a word.

We turn to you Lord to make us aware of the daily blessings you surround us with.

We turn to you Lord to thank you for the strength you give us daily

We turn to you Lord to praise you for the glorious gift of the Cross

We turn to you Lord to sing praises when the darkness ends

We turn to you Lord to thank you for the protection that just sheltered us from harm

We turn to you Lord to give thanks for the loved one that has returned to you

We turn to you Lord to show our heart of gratitude for the good that keeps us renewed, for the bad that strengthens our faith and the millions of things in between that remind us to keep praising and adoring you.

 

Father, may we stay so close to your side that all we have to do is turn to you and whisper a faint cry for help or whisper praises through the tears of joy you bring.  May our hearts never get so wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of life that we go a single day unaware of the gifts that you’ve poured out on us. May we praise you daily and spend time in the Word while loving and adoring you. May we always be aware of you, by our side, in Jesus precious name Amen.

 

 

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Be A Chain of Support

August 11, 2014 by 4 Comments

We as Christians are brothers and sisters in Christ. 

We are the body! 

As long as we are here on this earth, we will all have different opinions, feel, think, see, do and believe differently.  The trouble is, how do we handle those differences?  Do we lash out in anger or hatred “all in the name of the Lord?” or do we speak with compassion?

We can express our different opinions with love without being condemning, hateful and downright ugly but we simply choose not to, plain and simple.

Do we have His eyes and heart to see the world with compassion?  Do we love like He loves?  Do we care for the weak and weary like Jesus does?  Do we have the passion to be the one person that will spark another to do right for the Lord?

All it takes is one spark!  Often we are the only picture of Christ that some people will ever see.

So, my heart wonders what picture of Christ we are showing to people every day.

Do they see us reaching out and helping or do they see us shaking our heads saying “you made your bed now stay there?”

Do they see us reaching down to help someone up or us kicking those that are already down?

Do they see us doing our part to spread the word about the eternal Love of Christ or are we keeping all of heaven’s treasures for ourselves?

Do they see us handling ourselves as Jesus would or do they see us being anything but Christ like?

 

How can we be the strong chain of strength that helps support each other, instead of the weakest link in the body?

  • Support your Pastor and let him know just how valuable his leadership is.  There is no reason why you shouldn’t let him know this monthly. Cards, gift cards etc.
  • Use encouraging words and verses freely.  Twitter, Facebook and other social media avenues are amazing to reach large groups of people at once.
  • Give your time, talents and treasures to your local church. Don’t be stingy with any part of these
  • Encourage your Small Group Leader or Sunday School teacher. They need to know that their efforts touch hearts too.
  • Pay close attention to the elderly and children around you.  Don’t just forget about them. Shower them with love and attention.
  • Give cards of encouragement freely and often!  Encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ.
  • Welcome everyone into your congregation. EVERYONE! A warm smile, gentle hug or handshake will do wonders to make people feel welcome.
  • When you greet people in your congregation, greet them by name as it will help new people to remember names easier.
  • Sing out.  Sing.  When your heart is troubled, sing praises to Him.
  • Before the Sunday Service (or any service), pray and ask God to bless your heart from HIS word and then expect to receive a blessing.
  • Encourage your children to learn Bible Verses.  Learn verses with them. You never know when this will strengthen someone else.

 

Remember, WE are the body! Keep reaching, keep telling others about HIS amazing grace & sacrifice, try, daily to reach someone for the Lord and keep being the best picture of Jesus ever!

Your voice in daily life and here on the web is another chance to touch ONE MORE SOUL! Use it! Use your resources!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic.  How are you showing other believers the true love of Christ? What about Non-Believers?

Are you teaching your children to live and love like Christ? Or do they immediately point out the negative things they see?

 

 

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