Random but Encouraging Thoughts From God’s Word

Today is my day to blog others gem posts, worth taking to heart.

David Ettinger's avatarEttingerWriting.com

By David Ettinger

Facebook is a good place to post quick, God-honoring posts which I hope will help encourage believers. I was recently reviewing some of my Facebook posts from a few years back, and realized they were worth sharing with my blogging family. So, in no particular order, here are just a few of them.

Thought No. 1
In a world of turmoil and chaos, here is a precious promise of peace for God’s people:

“Then justice will dwell in the wilderness and righteousness will abide in the fertile field. And the work of righteousness will be peace, and the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever. Then my people will live in a peaceful habitation, and in secure dwellings and in undisturbed resting places” (Isaiah 32:16-18).

Oh for that day!

Thought No. 2
If the inner longing of the Christian were given speech, this is what it would…

View original post 458 more words

Guest Post – When God Answers the Unanswerable Prayer

I am reblogging this post, I am not the author.
Today’s key verse reminds us how God is a God of miracles who delights in answering the prayers of His people as He sees fit and in His timing: “You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples” (Psalm 77:14). – Tracie Mills

Guest Author's avatarYAHWEH-NISSI

by Tracie Mills

You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.” Psalm 77:14 (NIV)

When a marriage fails and a divorce occurs, problems erupt from every angle. Hearts are broken. Emotions are all over the map. Self-worth and confidence plummet. Fears take root about what the future will look like, how the children will cope, being alone, etc.

But one of the most common problems women struggle with when facing separation and divorce is the fear of financial instability. Constant, daily worrying about how they will survive all alone as an independent single woman — and possibly as a single mom as well.

When my husband left over four years ago, despite all the ways my heart was breaking, one of the biggest obstacles to my faith and my happiness was worrying about money.

Finances were a struggle.

Day after day, month…

View original post 559 more words

LIFE WITH CHRIST—A MODEL OF LOVE

Quote

God’s love is unconditional, He pours in so we can pour out.

~ Lisa Blair

We are to love one another unconditionally, as our Father loves us in our sinful state, without conditions, caveats, or exclusion. We are to have Jesus’s mindset.

Love breaks down walls and gives the giver peace despite the circumstances. We don’t have to like everyone or keep them in our circle if toxic in anyway, but as a child of God we are required to love them as He loves us.

God pours His love into us so we can pour it out into a dark world, casting light and changing the atmosphere. When we reflect chaos and hate, we are contributing to the darkness. When we, like Paul, love everyone as God loves us, our love attracts others who are seeking God and want a relationship with Him. We are the model of Christ. Are we modeling Him or living in the natural world modeling the evil one? Do we love unconditionally, are we kind, do we sacrifice for the good of others, are we patient, trustworthy, faithful, gentle and maintain self-control?

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:13-14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Do we love our neighbors, those around us wherever we go? Are we the model God sets before man? The world sees Him through our actions. Are we modeling unconditional love through our actions or reinforcing worldly values and sel-righteousness? Paul wrote a letter to the Philippians stressing that we are to emulate Christ in all we do.

Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example in selfless humility],”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:5‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Daily reminder, recite each morning   Today I go forth (intentionally) modeling Christ.

Images and Scriptures—YouVersion.Bible.com

Resource— Nelson’s Quick Reference. Warren Wiersbe

Need vs Want

Quote

Desire and want may not lead to spiritual growth, what we need will lead to spiritual growth.

~ Lisa Blair

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭9:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Most people misconstrue this scripture to mean, ’all that we want and desire’. God knows what we want and knows what we desire. He also knows what we need to advance our walk and maturity as a Christian. Want/desire, and need are very different.

Praying for desire or want should include, ’ your will be done’, or ’if it is in your will, or some compilation of the phrases. Only God knows our spiritual road map.

Image – YouVersion

Our Testimonials Are God’s Testimonials

Quote

We all have testimonials but do we share them in the context of Christian living, and giving all praise to the Lord? 

~ Lisa Blair

What is a testimonial? A Christian testimonial is a statement testifying to God’s character, to His truth. We all have testimonials but do we share them in the context of Christian living, and giving all praise to the Lord?  We should. However, like most, earlier in my Christian walk I shared things that happened in my life with friends that were unexpected or greater than expected, but I never attributed them to the Lord. Yes, I knew it was Him, but never said it out loud. The truth is, if you are a Christian, this phrase rings true, If not God, then who? There is no one superior to God. God is the Almighty, yet I never really pondered the magnitude of how He is so intimately involved in our lives. I never really considered what the following scriptures meant to me in my everyday life.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. – Isaiah 41: 10 ESV

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. – Psalm 23:4 ESV

Do you know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?  1 Corinthians 3:16 ESV

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever; even the Spirit of truth, whoo the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him no knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. – John 14:16-17 ESV

God cares about us, all of us. He surprises us daily with little gifts and big miracles. We are His children and He cares for our wellbeing. He does not forsake us. He will never leave us and we, individually, are important to Him. Whatever transpires in our lives is reflected in the result, whether through gifting or chastisement. Everything in our life is a testimonial that should be attributed to God and shared with the world.

After all, the Lord said,

For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future…I will bring you back from captivity. – Jeremiah 29:11, 14 NIV

If our Lord has plans for us, it means He is in touch with us. If he will bring us back from captivity, it means He has given us testimonials to share about His love for us.

Let today be the day that we step out of our politically-correct comfort zone and tell the world about the wonderful things He has done for us.

162022AE-EC8B-4497-8134-C40CA5A3EA5E

Our God is an awesome God.

Remember the song we sang in Sunday School and Bible School Camp, it rings true today,

‘HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS, HE’S GOT YOU AND ME BROTHER IN HIS HANDS, HE’S GOT YOU AND ME SISTER IN HIS HANDS, HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD IN HIS HANDS.’

Images – LAB Photos; Google Images

Scriptures – Openbible.info; Bible.com