VALUABLE

There are seasons in life when the unpleasant stuff of life seems to happen with alarming frequency.

Continual bombardment of pressure and pain can erode a person’s confidence.
I know what that feels like.
With the many hardships I encountered, depression settled in causing me to doubt my ability to accomplish tasks I had done well for years.

As the Lord encouraged me, I now encourage you. Remember that your problems do not define you.
Negative experiences in life--- whether abused, rejected or financially bankrupt, do not determine your worth and value.

Know that you are valuable because God loves you and has spoken well of you.
His view of you is absolutely astounding... so get to know Him through His Word.

The more you know Him, the better you come to know and appreciate yourself.

Be Refreshed!

Coming soon….

 

 

 

 

 

Accepted

Acts 10:34-35 GNB 

Peter began to speak: "I now realize that it is true that God treats everyone on the same basis.

Those who fear him and do what is right are acceptable to him, no matter what race they belong to.

No one wants to feel left out, rejected, or abandoned.

Every person born in this world desires a sense of belonging. Whether by peers, people we admire or organizations deemed important, most of us want to belong to something greater than ourselves.

However, if left unmet in positive ways, the desire to be accepted can become unhealthy leading to unwise decisions and associations.

I am so glad that God is not concerned about our sex race hair texture socio economic status, or denomination. He is an equal opportunity Saviour. All are welcome!

God accepts all who have a heart for Him and commit to do what is right, according to His Word.  

So don’t feel that you need to be a part of any clique to be acceptable. Know that God, Creator of the universe, calls you His very own.

Be Refreshed!

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.