The LORD Always Keeps His Promises

Child of God. If you are going into the New Year with any concerns about your ability to thrive and prosper, or fear of deficiency in any area of your life, put these away and take comfort in Psalm 145 (NLT):

The LORD always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does.

The LORD helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads.

The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it.

When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.

The LORD is righteous in everything he does; He is filled with kindness.

The LORD is close to all who call on Him, yes, to all who call on Him in truth.

He grants the desires of those who fear him; He hears their cries for help and rescues them.

The LORD protects all those who love Him…

Each promise and declaration of this Psalm is proof of the faithfulness and loving kindness of our Father. We can own them and take comfort and reassurance from each.

Because God takes such good care of us we should praise Him always, like the Psalmist does:

“I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever. I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever. Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure His greatness.” Psalm 145:1-3

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy Father, we do exalt you as our God and King, and praise Your Name forever! Your are a Father who is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love, and we have all been on the receiving end of your grace at some time in our lives. We thank you that you never change, you are the same God today and will be forever; in this we have great peace and hope for our future. All dominion and power belong to you for ever and ever. We pray and ask all things in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

Don’t Be Afraid, Just Believe

In Mark 5 we read about Jesus healing several people and bringing a dead child back to life.

Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” So Jesus went with him. Mark 5:22-24

Along the way to Jairus’ house Jesus was delayed by a woman who had a chronic illness for 12 years. She was desperate to be healed. When she heard that Jesus was in her neighborhood, she felt strongly that if she could secretly touch Him she would be healed. She did just that and immediately she was healed. Jesus knew what happened and stopped, When the woman came forward and confessed, Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you.” Mark 5:34.

Just then, Jairus’ servants came and told their master that they didn’t need Jesus anymore, his child was dead. Jesus knew the grief that came over Jairus when he heard this and consoled him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”Mark 5:36; He then continued to Jairus’ house and brought the child back to life.

These two stories teach us three important truths about the LORD Jesus: 

1. He is never too busy for us – we can reach out to Jesus at any time, tell Him where we hurt and He will respond with compassion. 
2. Our circumstances may appear totally hopeless but Jesus can fix them; nothing is beyond His ability.  
3. He keeps His promises.

Child of God, as we go into a New Year, let us personalize these lessons and resolve to have steadfast faith in Jesus’ ability to manage our lives.

We may be fearful about the future or paralyzed by the past but, instead, let us believe God for peace about the future and healing from the past.

We shall believe the one who: says it’s OK to cast our burdens upon Him, because He cares; who is always moved by compassion to act on our behalf; is our High Priest who understands our weaknesses – physical, mental, or spiritual; is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8), and by whose name the Father will grant us His mercy and grace to help us when we need it most. (Hebrews 4:16).

We shall believe the one who said: “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me.” John 12:44

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy Father, all glory and honor to you! We thank you for goodness and mercy that follow us all the days of our lives. We thank you that we can commit all our past griefs and sorrows into your hands; we ask you to direct our future and prepare a way of safety for us, keep us under the shadow of your wing, and give us courage to trust your Mighty Hand and your Sovereignty. Help us to remember that we are your children and that your plans for those who love you are good and not for evil. Teach us not to be wise in our own eyes, but to remember that we have a Father whose thoughts are higher than ours, and who is always for us and never against us. Father, all dominion and power belong to you for ever and ever. We pray and ask all things in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

God Never Abandons His Own - Encourage One Another with these Words – Pt. 2

Despite the many letdowns, betrayals, fears, disappointments, hurts, pains, and losses we experienced in 2016, we are not alone nor are we forgotten. Our hope is in the LORD.

The Word of God says that in our suffering the power of God is with us because Jesus Christ is in us – “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.  We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4: 8-9

Our Farther knows what we are going through and that we need hope and encouragement. He provides both to us directly as well as through each other. We are told to encourage each other and build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11); and for those of us who are stronger (we) must show extra consideration for our weaker brother and sister in Christ (Romans 15:1).

A child of God should never be ashamed to accept comfort nor to ask for it. God’s children are to “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2

In 2 Corinthians 1: 3 -4 we read, “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”

A few encouraging words spoken at the right time can improve the attitude of someone who is down, or influence someone to do better or try harder, or not give up on something that is difficult for them. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging… Romans 12:8. Call, send a text, or e-mail, or a note.

Or we can and should pray – for ourselves, for those we know personally, for problems that affect the world and our Nation. We don’t have to know every detail, God knows all; He asks only that we care about the plight of others as we do our own.

We pray in Jesus Name; we pray with sincerity and faith; we ask the Holy Spirit of all truth to guide our minds and thoughts as we pray.

We “Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.” Psalm 146:3-4

We trust only in God. We listen to His voice and do His will because “The voice of the LORD is powerful...” Psalm 29:4

Then with boldness – “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7), we march into 2017 believing in all our Father’s promises and keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Hebrews 12:2

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy Father, all honor, glory and power belong to you! You are a good, good Father, a God of compassion and grace. You invite us to cast all of our burdens and cares on you because you care for us and can deliver us. You hear our every groan and you answer and send us comfort and encouragement. You strengthen weak knees and lift up arms that hang down in despair. You remind us to have no fear because you are our God, Mighty and Sovereign, and we are your children and the sheep in your pasture. Teach us to know your voice so we will not stray far from you. You are our shield in battle and our light in darkness. Thank you for your WORD that nourishes our soul and the promises in them that never fail. All dominion and power belong to you for ever and ever; we pray and ask all things in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

God Never Abandons His Own - Encourage One Another with these Words – Pt. 1

The hustle and bustle of Christmas is over. We’ve attended office and neighborhood parties, bought and distributed presents, made the obligatory visits to friends and relatives, cooked and served food, stored the left-overs, and disposed of the trash. If we are traditional, we will keep the tree and lights up until 12th night on January 5th, but in most of our minds we are finished with Christmas and ready to shift our focus to the year ahead.

However, others are taking some painful and depressing memories into the New Year and are not quite ready or able to make that shift. 

Some of us started the year full of hope. We had plans and dreams but got blindsided along the way by betrayal, disillusionment and hurts. Others brought our hardships into 2016 thinking that all would be resolved by now but that hasn't happened.

Among my own circle of friends and relatives there have been job lay-offs, cancer diagnoses, and spousal abandonment, serious legal trouble involving a child, sudden deaths, and a 10 year old boy living out the last days of a terminal illness.

As a Nation, the US experienced the most acrimonious Presidential election campaign in recent history which left winners and losers alike emotionally and psychologically bloodied, battered, and scared. We came face to face with the very worst of ourselves – we behaved badly, said things we didn’t know we were capable of and thought worse. 

In other parts of the world we watched helplessly the disastrous impact of mass migration on hundreds of innocent men, women, and children displaced by warfare, and unspeakable acts of violence and terrorism.

Add to this a number of natural disasters and yes, we can say that for masses of people, 2016 was not a very good year....BUT we children of God must not lose hope today, or for the future.

Let us not forget Jesus, the Christ Child, the real reason we celebrated yesterday; gave gifts, feasted, and sacrificed to perform acts of kindness for others in the midst of our own pain and suffering.

Let us not forget that that same Christ Child became King of kings and LORD of lords; that we call Him *Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace; that the Father has given Him all power to govern in the earth with peace and righteousness.*

Let us not forget that the Father Himself sent the Son to us to *bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, to release prisoners from darkness, and to comfort all who mourn.*

        

Let us not forget that although we *have strayed like sheep and turned away from God to our own way,* Jesus Christ offered Himself to us as the Good Shepherd and gave His life to save us. (John 10:11.)

**Isaiah 9, 53, 61

Continued...

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy Father, we worship and adore you the Good Shepherd and Faithful Friend. Abba, some of us have suffered much and long but help us to have no doubts that you are with us and for us. You are our comfort, the Rock on which we stand. Thank you for being our Prince of Peace and our joy and our anchor in the midst of the storms of life. Strengthen us to endure and to run the race you have set before us to the end. We love you Lord. All dominion and power belong to you for ever and ever; we pray and ask all things in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

Merry Christmas to All!

"JOY to the world! The LORD is come…"

"He rules the world with truth and grace,

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness,

And wonders of His love!”

We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy Father, we worship and adore you. As we celebrate this Christmas, we honor the Word who became flesh to live among us, the only Son of the Father who came to save us from our sinfulness. Thank you for His glory manifested in and through our lives each and every day. Help us to give to this weary and hurting world as Christ Jesus gives to us, peace, love, grace, and truth. We are grateful for His righteousness and for His Holy Spirit that causes us to have joy when the going is hard. Because we have the Son and your love we can bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things. Father, we give you the highest praise, HALLELUJAH!!!! HALLELUJAH!!!! Dominion and power belong to you for ever and ever; we pray and ask all things in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

The Son of God’s Love Will Save Us

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17 (NLT)

...this is good news for all people!

Come let us adore Him, Christ the LORD!!

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy Father, we worship and honor you as the one true living and Eternal Father. Thank you for the gift we celebrate at Christmas, Christ Jesus. Thank you that while we were still sinners you gave us your only Son. Thank you that in Him we have peace, in Him we have life and hope unto salvation. Help us to accept your gift that is too wonderful for words and allow it to transform us so we could love you with all our hearts and love each other. Thank you for giving freely and completely and without reproach. We thank you for coming to save us! To you, Father, be dominion and power for ever and ever. All things we pray and ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

How Majestic Is Your Name, O LORD!

When I read Psalm 8, I imagine David, the shepherd boy, alone in a meadow late at night. He sits upright under a tree wrapped in a rough woolen blanket to stay warm as he watches for wild beasts that come out at night to prey on sleeping sheep. His eyes are just getting a little heavy with sleep when a bright light sweeps across his lids. He looks up just as a shooting star reaches the end of its flight across the sky and releases a dazzling shower of tiny colorful stars into the atmosphere. And he’s suddenly aware of the grandeur of the expanse above him – the moon enormous and pulsing with a soft radiance is set high in the sky surrounded by countless stars spread out as far as the eye could see, each star seeming to compete with the other for brilliance. The night is alive and vibrant! David draws in a sharp breath at the pure beauty of it all and senses deeply the presence of God. An animal cry in the distance brings him back to earth. He breathes in deeply, slowly lets his breath out, reaches for his sack, takes out some parchment and begins to write. His fingers move quickly as words of adoration and praise and wonder flow like torrents from the deepest part of his soul, his eyes never quite leave the beautiful night sky that seem to echo his thoughts back to him –

   

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!...When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

David is in awe at the magnificence of God's creation but he is also astonished and somewhat perplexed that the same Creator, the Holy and Righteous God, the Omnipotent and Omniscient, the Sovereign and Almighty King could condescend to notice man, a fallen being He created with a lower status than the angels.

As God’s watchmen over humans, angels know humans intimately, that they are weak, stiff-necked and rebellious, and are faithless ingrates. These beings also know that God is Holy and must wonder why He loves man so much that He chooses to live among us, delight in us with gladness, calm our fears with His love, and rejoice over us with joyful songs. (Zephaniah 3:17).

David says it and the angels also know that God gave man dominion over the works of (His) hand, the beasts of the fields, the birds in the air and all creatures under the sea (Psalm 8:6 -8).

More amazing and mysterious still is the sacrifice that God made to save man from total damnation, asking nothing from man in return.

Children of God, as we go through the Christmas season, could we:

• Adjust our priorities and put the Sovereign God of the Universe back where He belongs, in the center of His own Holiday?
• Remember that God took on our human form to become a humble servant so we may no longer be defeated by sin and death? And could we tell it to someone who doesn’t know it?
• Also tell someone that the Christ Child, the Baby Jesus grew up and at age 33 was crucified on a cross, but was resurrected after three days and is alive today as King of Kings and Lord of Lords whose Kingdom has no end, and He can change a life for all eternity?
• Humbly remember that we are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked and have nothing of our own by which to repay Christ for His love and self-sacrifice?

Could we remember to shout often with joy and gratitude, O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!?

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy and Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Mighty God, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, how majestic is your name in all the earth! We praise and honor your name this season and especially thank you for love that is better than life because without it life will not be worth living. Forgive us Father when we become prideful and think we are more than we are, for forgetting that without the righteousness of Christ we will remain forever wretched and blind. Thank you that you are still rejoicing over us with singing even with our many flaws. Help us to remember that your grace saves us, your mercy is new for us every day and your faithfulness never ends for those who are yours. Every moment of every day for all eternity You are LORD. To you, Father, be dominion and power for ever and ever. All things we pray and ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

I Have All that I Need – Pt. 3

Principles one and two of The Westminster Catechism say that man’s purpose in life is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever; and the Bible, Old and New Testament, is the Word of God that instructs us on how to carry out our designated purpose.

   

Some commands tell us that we should:

• Love God and others more than we love ourselves (Matthew 22: 36-40) 
• Be willing to forgo selfish ambition for the sake of others (Philippians 2:3); even those who have wronged us, and we must do it without complaint. (1 Thessalonians 5:15-17)
• Focus our energies on taking the good news of God’s Kingdom to a dying world instead of worrying about our daily needs; that our Father knows our needs and will provide them without an appeal from us.  (Matthew 6: 25-34)
• Accept that though we love God we will experience adversities, and believe that in the end these are for our benefit and God’s glory; that God’s Name and our welfare are God’s priority; that He loves each of us uniquely and completely and will never abandon us. (Romans 8:28-39)
• Choose always to follow God’s directions since His wisdom far outweighs ours (Isaiah 55:9) and we could trust Him to lead us to great success (Proverbs 3: 5-7) because His plans for us are not for evil, but to give as a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11)

These all ask us to comply and cooperate with God’s will instead of asserting our own – to put God first and to follow Christ Jesus who loved us enough to die for us. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23-24. This is not impossible for a child of God, as the Father Himself will “…equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ.” Hebrews 13:21.

With God’s help and the Holy Spirit, we can give up striving after possessions that do not satisfy but bring so much physical, mental and spiritual chaos into our lives. Our reward then will be freedom to rediscover our true purpose in life, to love God and to serve Him and with joy.

Christian author Joshua Becker wrote an article recently for Christianity Today Magazine titled 

5 Surprising Spiritual Benefits of Owning Less Stuff - Minimalism was meant to help our finances. Here’s how it helped our faith. Written from personal experience, Mr. Becker’s shows us that we can have a fuller life with fewer possessions and that contentment is essential for true happiness.

Clutter is not our Calling; the abundant life in Christ is, and that is all we need!

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy and Everlasting Father, we praise you our Jehovah-Jireh and Faithful Provider, GOD who is always with us. You are the Good Shepherd who gave His life for His sheep and you are our Abba Father. We thank you that in you and because of you, we lack nothing; thank you for Jesus Christ, the good and perfect gift you prepared for us before the beginning of time; we thank you that you alone can satisfy, you are living water that restore our souls. We thank you for the Holy Spirit that sanctifies us and teaches us to abide in our Savior so we can bear much fruit for your honor and your glory. Teach us to always make you our greatest delight, to seek your face and your righteousness, to be anxious for nothing and to trust you who always provide above and beyond what we could ever imagine. Teach us that the good life is not about what we own but about who we are, children of God who obey your Word and do your will. You are truly a good, good Father, and we love you. To you, Father, be dominion and power for ever and ever. We pray and ask all things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

I Have All that I Need – Pt. 2

Children of God are also suffocating under the weight of too much. Our intentions initially are good – to provide the best we could for our families like good Christians should. But we too fall into the guilt-trap of clever marketing tactics that cause us to feel “less than” if we don‘t keep up with the “Christian Jones’” in the next pew, and soon our buying/hoarding addictions are out-of-control and we can’t seem to quit.

Our homes are crammed to the rafters with items our families do not need or use; cars live on the street or in driveways year-round to leave garages free for our “extras”; and we pay for additional space in private storage units. Still, from now through the end of the year, we will be among the masses at shopping malls or online adding even more stuff to our already crammed spaces. On and on we go refusing to admit that physically, mentally, and spiritually we are exhausted and barely hanging on financially.

In Luke 12 Jesus tells the parable of a farmer who keeps tearing down and extending the size of his barns to hold more and more so that one day he could “Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”  In the story God Himself calls him a rich fool who would die in the night with no warning and leave everything behind for someone he doesn’t even know. Jesus tells us that the lesson we are to learn here is, “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”  

To have an abundance of worldly possessions but little peace and joy is totally opposite from how a child of God should live. It displeases God when wealth has greater significance in the life of a child of God than God Himself – to worship the created more than the Creator is idolatry. “I am the Lord your God”… “You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20: 2-4

Isaiah 54 and 55 tells of Israel making idols of gold, silver and wood to worship instead of their Creator. God warned them that their behavior was depraved disobedience and the consequences would be harsh. But because God is forgiving and gracious to His chosen people He told Israel exactly what to do restore the relationship with Him and enjoy His favor again. “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!...Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live.” Isaiah 55: 1-3

If God’s children are as consumed by our possessions and our pursuit of them as the rest of the world, how can we fulfill our purpose as God’s light in a world of darkness? How can we be effective in helping the broken-hearted to heal and the hopeless to know the joy of the LORD?

We must learn “the secret of being content in any and every situation.” Philippians 4:12 - a lifestyle of self-denial that makes us look odd to the world, as we ought to be; light and darkness have nothing in common. “Come out from (among) them and be separate” 2 Corinthians 6:17.

To be continued…

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy Father, Jehovah-Jireh, the LORD who will provide, the LORD who is the same yesterday, today and forever. Thank you grace and mercy and not giving us what we deserve when we put idols before you. Teach us not to lust and covet after what does not remain; help us to remember that wealth and possessions are not the cure for our brokenness and wounded spirits, that only the Good Shepherd, the Prince of Peace can fix our lives and make us whole. Thank you for your Word that is alive and gives life and hope. To you, Father, be dominion and power for ever and ever. We pray and ask all in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

God Chose You!

The children of God are specially chosen - God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. Ephesians 1:5 (NLT).  

This is grace, pure and simple! We neither deserve nor can we ever merit such an inexpressible gift.

Christmas and Easter Holidays are unique to the Christian faith. Without Christ’s birth, death and resurrection God’s chosen people wouldn’t be chosen.

When the Father adopted us He also gifted us with His Spirit and its fruit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, so we could be like Him to the world.

Let is use our “fruit” at every opportunity this season to make the Father and Son known to others; and do so generously and with abandon! For freely we have received and freely we should give!

Besides, God loves a cheerful giver; and this is the season of good cheer!!

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy God, Mighty and Everlasting King. Because you adopted us into your family we can call you Abba Father - our Daddy. Thank you for a new life in you and hope for all eternity. Thank you that we now have enough to give because we have Christ and the Holy Spirit. Without you we are nothing. Every good and perfect gift is from you, our Father in Heaven. Thank you for your goodness, love, peace, joy, and faithfulness. Thank you for showing us how to be long-suffering and kind, patient and restrained in trying circumstances. To you, Father, be dominion and power for ever and ever. We pray all in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

I Have All that I Need - Pt.1

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the Good Shepherd. John 10:10-11

We live in a world where excess is a way of life. Huffington Post blog article The Crisis of American Consumerism, (Amitai Etzioni, Nov. 2012) states that all classes of society are afflicted by consumerism and even people who say they are just making ends meet “spend good parts of their income on status goods such as brand-name clothing, the “right” kind of car, and other assorted items that they don’t really need.” 

It is so easy to be lured into buying goods and services we don’t really need. Skillful product marketing and the influence of peers influence us to buy, buy, and buy without restraint.

My own overindulgence became painfully evident recently as I was downsizing my living space. The accumulation over the years was overwhelming and depressing; I had too much of everything that got too little use and then set aside and ignored. For some time, I had cut down on impulse buying but enough evidence of waste remained to convict me and I had to repent to God for my poor stewardship of resources He allowed me to have.

Too many Christians use our abundance of material goods to measure the blessings of God on our lives and use Scripture, taken totally out of context, to support this fallacy. A few favorites are:

• Philippians 4:19. “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” In the proper context, the Church at Philippi gave sacrificially of their meager resources to help OTHERS and the Apostle Paul is commending them and assuring them that God will not let them suffer for temporal needs and their future with Christ in eternity is certain. This blessing was prompted by selfless giving and NOT selfishness.

• We say that since our Father owns (everything), the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10), we should get everything we want as children of God. It is true that God created everything in Heaven and on earth for the enjoyment of His children but it is not true that everything we choose to avail ourselves of comes from God. James 4:3 tells us that we get nothing from God when “we ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” God is not moved by our covetousness and selfishness.

• I have also heard 1 Corinthians 2:9 quoted to support the misconception that a child of God is entitled to every material whim and fancy as he/she would choose. This scripture is about nothing so mundane and carnal but refers to the secret and hidden things which in His wisdom God planned around Christ’s crucifixion and man’s redemption. From Matthew Henry’s Commentary on 1 Cor. 2:9 – “We must take them as they stand in the Scriptures, as God hath been pleased to reveal them to us.”

Did God promise to provide for us? Yes. He tells us so repeatedly in His Word – Psalm 23; Psalm 103:2-5; Matthew 7:10-11; Matthew 6:24-34. But God is not a Santa Claus who shows up at out behest with prettily wrapped packages of the newest-style gym shoes, Ferragamo whatever, or latest model tech gadgets and luxury cars. God supplying our needs is not the same as we using our resources in unwise and extravagant ways; to think so is to cheapen the unfathomable love of God, the One who chose to sacrifice His Son to protect us from the sinful mediocrity of the world unto the abundant life that Jesus promises His own in John 10:10.

Why then do we so often choose the burden of carnality over the peace and joy of the abundant life in Christ?

To be continued….

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy Father, you are Jehovah-Jireh, the LORD who will provide – the same Lord yesterday, today and forever. The LORD who keeps us in perfect peace so we do not worry about what we should eat, or where we should live, or what we should wear; the LORD who knows what we need before we ask.  You are the Good Shepherd who cares for our souls. Teach us to trust you to guide us by your Holy Spirit to make our requests with thanksgiving and not with covetousness and selfish ambition. Teach us to ask on behalf of others who have greater needs than our own and do not know how to ask for themselves, and teach us to be generous with what you give us. Forgive us for being self-absorbed and greedy and profaning your Word and Your Name for our benefit. Thank you for being the God who does not judge us as we deserve but is faithful and abounding in mercy. Teach us to love you and honor you. To you, Father, be dominion and power for ever and ever. We pray and ask all in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile                                

Sharing the Good News

As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Romans 10:15

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Luke 2:10

My Pastor once used this illustration during a sermon on discipleship: He was at a mall with his wife when she spotted a sale item at such a reduced price that she got out her mobile immediately and messaged all her girlfriends about it. Exactly as I would have done!

We all love to share good news and a child of God is privy to the best news in the entire universe! But how enthusiastically and frequently are we sharing what we know with others, and why not?

Why is it so easy to tell our friends and family about our job promotions, our marriage proposals, or our child’s first place prize in the State’s math & science competition but so difficult to tell the ones who need to hear it that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners just like them? (1 Timothy 1:15.)  We struggle just as much sharing the gospel with people we know well as we do strangers. 

Why? Fear! We fear rejection, being made fun of, or failing to get what we consider a favorable response – most people are not falling at our feet with eagerness to hear more. So we become discouraged.

We forget that Jesus Himself was despised and rejected (Isaiah 53). More than that, He was mocked and mistreated in the cruelest way and ultimately crucified by the same people He came to preach the gospel to and save.

We forget that the Father so loved us that “He did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:16- 17.  Not through us – all He asks is that we tell what He has done.

We forget about the promise – that “the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel – which means, God with us.” Matthew 1:23. That God Himself came to serve and to save and is still with us is the Good News that He wants us, His children to share.

As get together with others this Christmas we can share the full story surrounding the birth of the Christ Child – that God Himself took on human flesh to live among the least and died on a cross for our sins, taking our place before the wrath of God so we can live freely and forgiven; that He is resurrected and alive, living in us and through us.

Like the Apostle Paul we can tell it simply and to the point, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. (1 Corinthians 1:17-18)

Emmanuel, God is with us. That is the good news, the gospel which is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…” Romans 1:16 ESV.

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy and Everlasting Father, Mighty God, Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace. Thank you for laying aside your sovereignty and taking on the form of a servant so that we who walk in darkness can see the light; we who are weary and heavy laden can have rest, and we who are imprisoned by fear and shame can have peace and joy. Thank you for sending your Son and your Holy Spirit to live in us and through us and we giving us your righteousness. Thank you for loving us to the very end. To you, Father, be dominion and power for ever and ever. We pray in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Lord. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile   

Gift of Giving

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me….”  Matthew 25:34-46

On December 25th Christians will celebrate Christmas, the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Gift-giving is a major part of this holiday which is often referred to as “the season of giving.”  We save, budget for, and sometimes over-spend on gift purchases for loved ones; make wish lists of what we expect to receive; and give generously to charities and the needy. Christmas has become more about gift giving and receiving than celebrating THE GIFT – Jesus Christ, God’s Son.

For children of God, however, the act of giving is not seasonal but a lifestyle as modeled for us by the Son of God when he came down to earth and God’s Word spells out for us how and to whom we should give:

•  To anyone who asks, “...and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” (Matthew 5:42.). We do not reserve our giving just for people we know and like, or question a person’s need. We provide, pray and leave them in God’s hands.
• Freely, because we have received freely. For “What do you have that you did not receive? (1 Corinthians 4:7). All that we have come from God who gives to us generously. Most of us have more than we deserve or actually need.
• Sacrificially, even when we think we can’t make a difference. In Mark 12:41-44 Jesus compares the offering of the rich to that of a poor widow’s few pennies, saying that she gave more than all the others together. God has promised to provide for us; trust Him with what is His.
•  Humbly, and not out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility (because we) count others more significant than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3). Give and expect nothing in return.
•  Secretly – Jesus warns that our giving should not be publicized for human praise but done so quietly that not “your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” Then our “Father, who sees what is done in secret…,” will reward us. (Matthew 6:2-4).
• Everything – 1 Peter 4:10 says “use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. Our talents and gifts are ours by God’s grace and are given to us for serving His people.  

We are to give more than our money – we must give ourselves, our talent and our time.

We should visit the sick and comfort the bereaved and the downcast. give time to prayer for the suffering, provide relief to the poor and offer hope to the oppressed, no matter who they may be.

We are our Father’s hands and feet to the world and because we care about what our Father cares about we do all things with patience, kindness and love. 

‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:45

We please the Father when we bless others!

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy Father, the Almighty God, who is LOVE, and all that is good and perfect and pure. We thank you for your gifts of grace, mercy and kindness that keep us and enable us to give to others as you give to us. Thank you for your gift of hands that do good work, feet that carry good news, and tongues that can speak comfort and hope. Thank you for the gift of your Son, your WORD that became flesh to dwell among us and show us how to live for you as He lives in and for us. Your WORD saved us and sanctified us to love you as you first loved us and to love others. We are grateful that you chose us for salvation as we could do nothing to please you without that gift. To you, Father, be dominion and power for ever and ever. We pray all in Jesus’ name. Amen!