“We are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:5
Under heaven’s lock and key we are protected by the most efficient security system available, the power of God. There is no way we will be lost in the process of suffering, no disorder, no disease, not even death itself can weaken God’s ultimate protection over our lives. No matter what the calamity, no matter what the disappointment or depth of pain, no matter what kind of destruction occurs in our bodies at the time of death, our souls are divinely protected. “We must pay more careful attention therefore to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” Hebrews 2:1
It seems we are constantly being bombarded with information. The internet, the media, our job and people around us are continually dumping information on us. This makes it difficult to stay focused on what is truly important, the Word of God the Father. The preaching and teaching of God’s Word should be of primary importance to us. We may say that it is, but with all the information blitzing our mind, the truths of God’s Word can sometimes get pushed aside. Be careful not to let that happen. By keeping the teachings of His Word in the center of our mind, this will keep us from drifting away from Him. In His Love, Do All You Can, While You Can, As Long As You Can, To All You Can….Have a Beautifully Blessed Day! Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.’ James 1:12
This beatitude comes from Jesus' brother. He had experienced it and taught it! James knew it was worth "hanging in" and "hanging on" when his faith was under attack. He affirmed God loves us and He has made incredible promises about what lies ahead for us. He knew that eventually our period of testing would be transformed into a time of great blessing. James wants us to know God longs to bless us with life! After all, that's why He sent Jesus. (John 10:10) In His Love, Do All You Can, While You Can, As Long As You Can, To All You Can….Have a Beautifully Blessed Day! He who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, …this one will be blessed in what he does. James 1: 23
How many times have you heard someone say, “Don’t ask my opinion unless you want to hear it”? Good friends or family members will not try to figure out what you want to hear, they will tell you what they really think. As the proverb says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend” (Prov. 27:6). This is one of the reasons Jesus is the greatest of friends. When He encountered the woman at the well, He refused to be pulled into a tug of war over secondary issues but instead drove to the deepest issues and needs of her heart. As we walk with our Lord, may we allow Him to speak candidly to the true condition of our hearts through the Scriptures, that we might turn to Him and find His grace to help us in our times of need. “You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head.” Psalm 3:3
King David always had plenty of enemies. However, this time his adversary represented the greatest betrayal, knew David’s most profound weaknesses, and pierced the deepest part of his heart. This time, the enemy was David’s own son Absalom. Sometimes we face a problem which is a lose-lose situation no matter how we look at it. We aren’t sure whom to trust, and are heartbroken about the way we’ve been betrayed. It’s difficult to know what to do. We can always do as David did, count on God as our impenetrable defense, who not only protects our body but guards our heart. Trust God to shield us in our situations! In His Love, Do All You Can, While You Can, As Long As You Can, To All You Can….Have a Beautifully Blessed Day! “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
There is a plan for our life, even if we don’t know what it is at the moment. God’s plan may not be the same as our plan, but as we assess various situations and set priorities as to how we spend our time, energy and money, we definitely want to get in touch with what God wants for us. It’s comforting to know that He is involved in our life and cares about what we do and how we spend our time. The Lord isn’t trying to hide His plan from us, but we will need to exert some effort to discover it. Spend some time with God asking for His direction and guidance! He will direct our paths and show us the way! In His Love, Do All You Can, While You Can, As Long As You Can, To All You Can….Have a Beautifully Blessed Day! “My soul waits for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning.” Psalm 130:6
We are only finite human beings. We can only see the present and the past. The future is a hope for us. We need to hold on to God’s hand and trust Him to be our guide. When we have those times when we’re stubborn and resisting and He shakes us by the shoulders to get our attention, we’re reminded we don’t call the shots. The Lord God has a plan for us, mysterious though it may seem. The center of the Lord’s will is still the safest place on earth to be! In His Love, Do All You Can, While You Can, As Long As You Can, To All You Can….Have a Beautifully Blessed Day! For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
While Jesus is God's Son and Mary's son, according to Isaiah's prophecy, He is also shared with us. Jesus is the child given to the world so you and I can become God's child. What greater gift can we have than Jesus, and through Jesus, God as our Father. In His Love, Do All You Can, While You Can, As Long As You Can, To All You Can….Have a Beautifully Blessed Day! “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your loving kindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night.” Psalm 92:1-2
Each day has 1,440 minutes—hopefully you value your relationship with God enough to spend a few of those minutes with Him. He deserves that much of your time and more. But if you find that you’re simply “too busy” for a daily chat with your Father in heaven, it’s time to take a long, hard look at your priorities and your values. As you consider your plans for the day and year ahead, here’s a suggestion: organize your life around this simple principle of “God first.” When you place Him where He belongs, at the very center of your day and your life, the rest of your priorities will fall into place. |
Pastor Derrick RichardsonPastor of Community Abundant Life Church Archives
January 2025
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