For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12
This is war! We face a daily battle and it is not just with sin and temptation. We have a real foe whose desire for us is our destruction. But, our foe has already been defeated and his angels stand rebuked. Let's keep our spiritual vigor knowing we're not playing church but fighting for the Kingdom of God! In His Love, Do All You Can, While You Can, As Long As You Can, To All You Can….Have a Beautifully Blessed Day! “The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need.” Psalm 23:1
Think about the shepherd, how He provides for His sheep. How He finds them water without parasites to quench their thirst. How He’ll walk miles to lead them to grass that will nourish them and give them strength. The gentle shepherd knows when His sheep need rest, and He watches over them while they sleep. With Him, they don’t fear predators, because He’s a strong skilled protector. Neither do they despair when the terrain is too difficult, because they know the shepherd won’t fail them. Today your Good Shepherd is with you, so don’t be afraid. Trust His perfect leadership and unfailing love to keep you, and follow Him confidently every day of your life! Amen! “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24
Today regardless of how bad things may appear, God is greater than any situation! Every day is a unique gift to us from God. What we make of it is our responsibility. The way in which we welcome each new day will depend on our frame of mind and attitude towards life. Fortunately for us, our frame of mind isn’t something we have to leave in the hands of fate or coincidence. God has given us the ability to choose our frame of mind. Meet every day with joy and expectation and then we can live a hope-filled, prayerful, victorious life in the name of Jesus Christ! In His Love, Do All You Can, While You Can, As Long As You Can, To All You Can….Have a Beautifully Blessed Day! “The firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, ‘The Lord knows those who are His.’” 2 Timothy 2:19
As never before, we realize that we are dependent upon God for protection and strength. Though the mountains quake, though bridges fall, though tunnels are destroyed, though ships sink, though lives will be lost, though war threatens to invade, though there may even be terrorists and enemies in our midst, we will not fear. Our resolve is firm because our refuge is based on the eternal foundation of the living God. “He brought me out to a wide-open place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.” Psalm 18:19
Some days you’ll wonder how you got to where you are, completely entangled in the strong cords of duty and difficulty. You’ve been following God, and you can’t understand why He’d allow the weight of your burdens to crush you in such a way. You feel that if another problem comes to you that you’ll break. Don’t despair! God hemmed you in for a reason. He’s bringing you into a place of freedom, but first He must teach you to trust Him for Today! Stop worrying about the future and focus on honoring God with the task that’s in front of you. He loves you and will set you free; only trust Him. “See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.” Revelation 3:8
Does constant grumbling and drudgery makes life seem meaningless? It doesn’t take someone this long in this life to develop a negative, cynical attitude towards life. Christ wants so much more for us. Scripture and history offer ample testimony to the fact an ordinary, seemingly meaningless life can be transformed through the power of the living Christ and through His Holy Spirit. This new life of abundance Christ offers us is ours for the taking. Turn to Christ and He will open the door to a new, meaningful life for each of us! Lets walk through the open door only God can shut! In His Love, Do All You Can, While You Can, As Long As You Can, To All You Can….Have a Beautifully Blessed Day! The self-sufficient does not pray, the self satisfied will not pray, the self-righteous cannot pray. No man is greater than his prayer life.
“The Lord will hear when I call to Him.” Psalm 4:3
In the silence of the night when your household lies quietly resting, sometimes difficult thoughts will prevail in your mind. Perhaps you’ve been careful not to voice your concerns with others because you didn’t want to worry them. But in that desolate moment you are alone with your struggles, and you hope someone could share them with you and comfort you; God hears you. He is with you, with His ear always bent toward you, waiting for you to invite Him into your situation. You don’t have to go on feeling alone. Call out to God and tell Him your concerns. Let God comfort you; He’s always ready to listen. Thank you Father God for your Omnipresence! “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3
Eternal life begins, now! That is one of Jesus' messages in the Gospel of John. For sure, we don't get to enjoy all of the blessings which await us when we go home to the Father. But, Jesus wants us to know and to experience His love and the Father's presence in our lives, now! He even prayed it for us! So let's seek the Father — not to just know about Him, but to know Him! God the Father longs to draw near to us and will do so as we draw near to Him! He is at work in us, so the real issue isn't His nearness, but our awareness of His presence and work. Let's open our eyes and our hearts to our Father, and ask Him to reveal His presence to us! It’s not about US, It’s ALL about GOD!! On today, help someone along the way!! |
Pastor Derrick RichardsonPastor of Community Abundant Life Church Archives
July 2024
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