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As believers in Jesus Christ, we stand before the Father having been made right by our faith in His Son.
“I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.” Philippians 3:9 NLT In taking on the righteousness of Christ, we not only are made right with God, we are also equipped to face life without fear while holding to a confident trust of God's care for us. “Those who are righteous will be long remembered. They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.” Psalms 112:6-8 NLT By trusting in the Lord we can walk confidently and fearlessly, and as a result, we will experience His joy and peace. “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NLT Bro. Joe
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“If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom...But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.” James 3:13, 17 NLT
Is Godly wisdom reflected in your life? Godly wisdom is evidenced by living honorably and by humbly doing good works. It is also evidenced through other qualities reflected in life: It is... ...pure ...peace loving ...gentle ...willing to yield to others ...full of mercy ...going to produce good deeds ...going to show no favoritism ...always sincere “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” James 1:5 NLT Need Wisdom? Just ask. Bro. Joe “Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.” Mark 4:39 NKJV
Are you experiencing a storm in your life? Maybe in your relationships...your job...your home...your inner self. “Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, so that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven.” Psalms 107:28-30 NKJV There is one who can help. Would you cry out to the Lord? He can... ...bring you out of your distress ...calm the storm ...still the waves ...quiet the soul ...guide you to a safe haven Listen as Jesus speaks these words in your life..."Peace, be still!" Now, experience the great calmness He brings. Bro. Joe “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” Hebrews 4:16 NLT
It has often been said that grace is getting something you don't deserve, and mercy is not getting what you do deserve. I don't know about you, but I am so grateful for both. The grace of God is embodied in His kindness and love for you and me, while we experience His mercy as He withholds the judgement that should be ours. All of this is made possible because of what Jesus has done for us. “But— When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.” Titus 3:4-5 NLT “He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.” Ephesians 1:7 NLT Live today in the certainty of God's mercies. “The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT Walk today in the light of His glory and grace. "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace." (Helen H. Lemmel, 1922) Bro. Joe “One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him.” Matthew 4:18-20 NLT
What would you do if in the midst of your work today you encountered Jesus, and He said "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!"? Would you drop everything and go with Him? Remember, Simon and Andrew really didn't know Him, but perhaps you do. The truth is if you know Him, He asks you everyday to follow Him...to live as He lived...to love as He loved...to let Him show you a whole world of how to's. What will you do today? Will you go about your business as usual, or will you follow Him? Bro. Joe “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
The Bible... ...is inspired by God ...teaches us what is true ...makes us realize what is wrong in our lives ...corrects us ...teaches us to do right ...prepares us as His people ...equips us to do every good work While the Bible is definitely a book of instruction, guidance and correction, it is so much more. It is truth...it is alive...it is powerful. “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” Hebrews 4:12 NLT It really is so much more than a book; it's God's primary form of communicating with you. It's a love story from God to you. Take time today to hear what God is saying to you through His word. Bro. Joe How well do you handle change in your life?
Many of us don't like it when change disrupts our lives. We are creatures of habit. We like our routines. It can be small things that interfere with our day to day existence, or it can be life altering news we receive that will forever change how we live our lives. Is there anything we can do to prepare ourselves for the unexpected changes that may come our way? Try holding onto a couple of thoughts: As a believer in Jesus Christ, He still remains the one constant in your life that will never change. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 NLT Also, hold onto the fact that the Lord is with you in the midst of what's changing. “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8 NLT Knowing the Lord is walking with you and that He will never change will bring hope to any change you may encounter. Bro. Joe Have you ever faced difficulties or pain when you had no idea how you would get to the other side, crying out to the Lord to take away the pain?
You're not alone. “Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 NLT God told Paul that His grace was all that he needed, that His power works best in our weaknesses. There is power in the grace of God. Power... ...to see you through whatever you are facing ...to lift you above your circumstances ...to endure ...to overcome ...to get to the other side When you are at your weakest, the power of Christ working through you provides the strength you need. Grace really is all you need. Bro. Joe “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” Ephesians 3:20 NLT
What can God accomplish through you? The only limitation to what God can accomplish through you is determined by what you are willing to allow God to accomplish in you. What is it that God wants to accomplish in you? Allow me to suggest a few things based on Paul's prayer for the Ephesians. “I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” Ephesians 3:16-19 NLT First, that "he will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit." This is accomplished when Christ makes His home in your heart and your roots grow down into God's love. Second, that you may "have the power to understand" just how much God loves you as you experience His love. Third, God wants you to "be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." Experiencing the things that God wants to accomplish through you begins by allowing God to accomplish in you what He desires. Bro. Joe “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.” Matthew 13:44 NLT
Have you discovered the treasure? Do you see its value far surpasses anything else you possess? “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too.” Romans 14:17-18 NLT The Kingdom of Heaven = The Kingdom of God. The treasure is not found in the physical...not in what we possess, but in who possesses us. The treasure is reflected by the reign of God in our lives, resulting in living a life of goodness, peace and joy empowered by the Holy Spirit. “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” Matthew 5:3 NLT There is no greater treasure. Bro. Joe |
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December 2018
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