A LIGHT TO SHINE

A Light to Shine

Matthew 5:16 NIV

In the same way, let our light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Despite the presence of evil all around us, evildoers and distractions of evil forces, we are still charged with the responsibility of conducting ourselves as Christians.  Prayer is part of the responsibility.  Continue to pray, join the prayer line and/or set up your prayer closet – your war room (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Don’t let “stuff” and “people” distract you from prayer.  Praying for ourselves and others will enable us to shine our lights for others to see. 

Through our deeds and words, the world should see God in us.  Not that we are perfect, but we are striving to be ambassadors for our Father in heaven.  Our daily walk puts us closer to Him.  We’ll never get rid of critics.  People will criticize, bad-mouth-, or say unkind things about you, but the key is DON’T LET IT BE TRUE.

Continue to stand up, stand out and show the world who you belong to.  We all have a light to shine.  Only we can smother own lights.   Radiate the beauty of Christ and glorify your Father in heaven.

CONFORMING TO PLEASE PEOPLE?

Don't Get Caught Up with Pleasing People...They Won't be Pleased No Matter What!

BLOG BELOW BY:  Kim Gaines

Art by Larry "Poncho" Brown 

Romans 12:2 - New International Version (NIV)

² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 

One of the greatest temptations we face as Christians is the desire to please the world rather than God.  Our goal should be to please God.  But the temptation is always to seek to please men or to avoid their displeasure.  In an effort to be more acceptable to men we often fall into the world’s way of thinking and acting.

Put off any hurt, doubt, fear, rebellion, self-centeredness, lust, bitterness, negative thoughts and corrupt thinking and put on God's thoughts.

If we are not willing to yield, set aside and relinquish our own thoughts, then our thinking process will never be renewed and our lives will never be transformed.  God wants us to have the supernatural ability to discern everything that happens to us from His vantage point and His perspective and not get buried by own negative thoughts an feeling or by what we can “see” going on.  If we can see from his perspective, then we’ll be able to soar above our circumstances, our problems and our trails and not get buried under them. Whatever a man thinketh so is he.  We need the spirit of God to renew our minds and break down our hard hearts that blind and corrupt our minds.

Does the world see a kind person when they see us, or a tough nut to crack?  Do we carry a haughty or self-absorbed expression on our face, or a welcoming smile?  Do they see us groomed in a way that shows respect to others, or in a way that says, “I’m my own individual and I don’t really care if it bothers other people”?  Do they hear humility in our tone of voice, or arrogance?  Do they see someone who wastes his time and money, or do they see someone who is a faithful steward of God’s resources?  Does our attitude give the impression that we are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God?  If we are going to stop conforming to the world’s values, it goes far beyond stopping sinful actions.  It demands kindness, respect, and humility in our attitudes and forms of communication, rather than selfishness and pride.

Blessings, Love and Kindness,

Kim

THE HEART AND SOUL

The Heart AND Soul

By Showanda Richardson, Ph. D.

Psalm 51:10 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

A clean heart implies a careful and habitual (constant) guard against everything which tends to pollute the mind. All vicious (corrupt, wrong, nasty, hateful) company will be avoided as much as can be by those who have a clean heart. Intemperance (corruption, evil) will be carefully avoided by those who have an earnest concern to maintain a pure heart.

The text says, ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God’; and the next part says, ‘Renew a right spirit within me.’ This is what we want every day. If clean to-day, it will be dirty to-morrow. Therefore we must say, ‘Renew a right spirit within me’ over and over again, every day. 

Proverbs 4:23 - New International Version (NIV)

²³ Above all else, guard your heart,    for everything you do flows from it.

The “heart” comprehends not only feeling, but intellect and will. It is the sphere of the emotions, of hatred and of love. It  is the home of thought.

As if a man tending to his garden, he purges it from weeds, if he cuts off the upper part and leaves the roots, they will spring up again: so if we discipline our body and let our heart remain complacent it is nothing. The heart is the fountain, from which springs all evil, the root from which all sin grows. No honest man will lodge in a filthy house, or drink or eat except the vessel is clean; and God cannot abide in a foul, unclean heart.

If you wish to be God’s children indeed, the Holy Spirit must work in your heart.— 

Be Blessed,

Soror Richardson

Reflect, Renew and Recharge!

Psalm 51:10 ESV

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right^[a] spirit within me.

Easter/spring time is a time of new, refresh and recharge.  

Christ set the tone for new when He rose!

We must first acknowledge that we are not perfect or free from blemish. 

That’s why reflection and renewal are important to our spiritual growth and maturity.

Pray and ask God for the capacity/ability to reflect so that you may

be renewed for a new season of work; …for such a time as this.

DEATH COULD NOT HOLD HIM DOWN

He is the Risen King

John 20:1-8   NIV

20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. ² So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”  ³ So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. ⁴ Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.⁵ He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, ⁷ as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. ⁸ Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 

Scriptures for Holy Week:  Philippians 2:5-11;  Isaiah 42:1-4;  Matthew 26:14-15; John 13:12-16; Matthew 20:17-19

Commentary:  Death could not hold him down.  Rejoice in our Savior.   Mary Magdalene (Luke 8:2) is probably not one who society would want to credit with the discovery that Christ had risen.  But look how her life was blessed!  She was the first to discover and share the good news that Christ had risen.  Never disregard anyone.  God is able to bring the least to the greatest; sometime, that’s just how He works. 

Happy Easter!

The Greatest Shepherd

Psalm 23:1; 4 NIV

1The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

4Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

We can trust The Lord in the midst of turmoil, distress, hurt and pain.

The Lord has a way of turning a total disaster into victory for His people.

His hand is mightier than any problem that may consume our very being.

He is a comforter and protector.  The Lord is our strength in the time of storms.

Photo from:  www.rhythmontherock.com

No Fear: Victory

No Fear:  Victory

Isaiah 41:10 AMP

Do not fear (anything), for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God, I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you;

I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand.

What a blessed assurance that God has made promises for us to claim.

It is so easy to let discouragement, disappointments and broken hearts cause fear to settle in our spirits.  Fear of loving again, fear of trusting a friend, fear of being betrayed or isolated can cause permanent damage to us.

It will become so easy to doubt, because of fear.

But God has assured us that He will always be by our side to lift us in victory through every situation.

Nothing is too hard for God.  

We are not equipped to handle the pressures of life and the world on our own.

God wants us to totally depend on Him to guide us and keep us.

Release from fears, lean and depend on Him.

Christ has showed us the way.   

He paved the way and He was victorious.