VICTORIOUS

Romans 8:35-37 (GW)  What will separate us from the love Christ has for us? Can trouble, distress, persecution, hunger, nakedness, danger, or violent death separate us from his love?...... The one who loves us gives us an overwhelming victory in all these difficulties.

Do you consider yourself to be a victorious person?

A victorious person is one who overcomes adversity, having a conquering attitude even when failure seems imminent.

Does that definition fit your profile on a regular basis?

I know that during periods of intense hardship, it is easy to become discouraged and if not careful, develop a defeatist mentality.

Actually, Romans 8:35 brings to light some very real issues of hunger, violence, distress and danger that many people contend with daily.  

We see distress in many areas including the home and finances.

Violence has begun to spill over into unexpected places. Who in the US ever expected a simple family outing at the movies to have  tragic results as the one in Colorado a few weeks ago?

Yet we can take courage in spite of problems, difficulties and dangers because nothing we face is greater than the love Christ has toward us. His love sustains us against all odds. In fact, we have tremendous victory in and through Him. 

Believers in Christ are victorious over the world by exercising faith in Him (I John 5:4), despite the negative even frightening things seen and experienced. 

The way to maintain a victorious lifestyle is to connect to God through prayer and His Word daily. Keep your focus on Jesus the Christ in every situation remembering that He always gives you the victory!

Be Refreshed

Celebrate the Mercy of God

1 Peter 1:2-7 GW(God’s Word Translation)

(2) God the Father knew you long ago and chose you to live holy lives with the Spirit's help so that you are obedient to Jesus Christ and are sprinkled with his blood. May good will and peace fill your lives!
(3) Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! God has given us a new birth because of his great mercy. We have been born into a new life that has a confidence which is alive because Jesus Christ has come back to life.
(4) We have been born into a new life which has an inheritance that can't be destroyed or corrupted and can't fade away. That inheritance is kept in heaven for you,
(5) since you are guarded by God's power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed at the end of time.
(6) You are extremely happy about these things, even though you have to suffer different kinds of trouble for a little while now.
(7) The purpose of these troubles is to test your faith as fire tests how genuine gold is. Your faith is more precious than gold, and by passing the test, it gives praise, glory, and honor to God. This will happen when Jesus Christ appears again.

This time for Christians is a special one. Yesterday was Ash Wednesday marking the beginning of Lent,which consists of the 40 days before our Lord Jesus the Christ was crucified. His sacrificial death provided redemption for humanity from the fallen sinful condition that resulted from disobedience to God in the Garden of Eden.

As we take a solemn look at our lives remembering the great price that Jesus paid for us, we can still celebrate the new birth we have because of God’s mercy and love that ever abounds toward us. Continuing in faith, we can have joy as we encounter tests and trials recognizing their purpose and knowing the Holy Spirit will help us through each one.

Be refreshed in His presence today.

Unexpected Answers to Prayer

I like taking early morning walks because they provide a way for me to get needed exercise and alone time with the Lord. There is just something soothing and ejoyable about talking to the Lord as squirrles scamper, birds fly and leaves on magestic trees rustle with the gentle breeze.

Another thing I thoroughly enjoy when taking these walks is finding change. Whether a penny, nickel or other coin,I get a kick out of spotting and picking up coins.

This morning I initially found a rusted penny. As I continued, there was a dime and four more pennies. Of course I was real tickled with my find and thanked the Lord for it. On my way back, I thought it would be nice to find 25cents. Now,I was thinking about a quarter but found more pennies instead. I was still pleasantly surprised and grateful because it had been a long time since I found that much at one time.

While I know that finding change is not a big deal in and of itself, I feel it is a way the Lord let's me know He cares for me and is not only able but, also willing to answer my prayers no matter how simple or complex. However, He is not obligated to answer them the way I think or perhaps want them to be answered.
As God He is not only sovereign,He is good and really does know what is best.

~Live Blessed and Free!~

TRUST

Proverbs 3:5-8 GNB
(5) Trust in the LORD with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know.
(6) Remember the LORD in everything you do, and he will show you the right way.
(7) Never let yourself think that you are wiser than you are; simply obey the LORD and refuse to do wrong.
(8) If you do, it will be like good medicine, healing your wounds and easing your pains.

The word trust is small with large implications.
Some form of it is often in the name of financial institutions, companies, and other businesses. For example, a billboard may read Fidelity Mortgage,or Trust Savings Bank. You may even see a truck with Trust Towing Service written on the sides.
Whatever the service industry,the bottom line is that they want our patronage and hope their name will instill assurance of their ability to supply good service.

Webster’s II New Riverside Dictionary definitions for trust include Firm reliance in the honesty,dependability,strength or character of someone or something; one in which faith or confidence is placed.

I believe as a country we have discovered that the very institutions we placed our trust in,have failed and although well intentioned, sometimes the people we love have and will let us down.
Let’s face it,we too have and most likely will fall short of our own expectations as well as those of others.

Proverbs 3:5&6 encourages us to place our trust in the one person who can never fail. Including the Lord in all areas of our lives allows us access to His clear direction in which we receive next steps for moving forward.

However, it requires us to let our guards down and realize that no matter how much we think we know,we do not know enough nor do we have all the answers.

The simplicity of choosing to live a life of obedience to God provides peace, healing and satisfaction of the soul that money can never buy.

Live Blessed and Free!