Happy New Year 2020!

“For I am about to do something new.”  Isaiah 43:19

In Isaiah 43:1-17 GOD is reminding Israel of the many wonderful and miraculous acts He’s done and describes some others He will do: He chose them over richer and more powerful Nations; He rescued them from exile and slavery in Egypt; He’s fought battles for them and will deliver them from every adversity; He’s going to return the diaspora to the promised land...and more.

But then GOD says something that should give you and me pause: “But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new…” Isaiah 43:18-19

The old is gone...embrace the new

Matthew Henry’s Commentary tells us that Isaiah 43 is looking far beyond GOD’s miraculous acts on Israel’s behalf then to “the great work of man’s redemption by Jesus Christ, and the grace of the gospel, which through Him believers partake of.”

Isaiah 43:25 supports this, “I (GOD)—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.”

The blotting out of sin, total forgiveness, came to us through CHRIST’s atonement – His death on the cross and resurrection; the greatest of all miracles, no comparison. And GOD did it for the same reason He kept rescuing Israel. Love!

"Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you." Isaiah 43:4

"But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." Romans 5:8

As you enter this new year, fret not about things past. Despite yesterday’s failures, GOD’s plan for you is relevant today and everyday of your life. If you belong to GOD, He authored that plan and He is able to finish that which He started. 

"So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where GOD is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever." 

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 The Message (MSG)

Stay in the game…GOD gives grace for each new day!

Prayer and Thanksgiving: All glory and honor to the KING of kings and LORD of lords. For He has done great things for us and we are glad! Father, we thank you for the miraculous exchange which provided us with a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for despair. Thank YOU for YOUR great grace that forgave our failures in 2019 and we look forward with great excitement and anticipation to each new day of year 2020. In the name of JESUS CHRIST, our LORD. Amen

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

WISHING YOU AND YOURS A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS!

“…She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

On December 25, Christians everywhere will gather with family and friends to celebrate the birth of CHRIST, our LORD and Savior. Often, there’ll be someone among us for whom CHRIST is totally absent from CHRISTmas. Someone who's there just to enjoy some good food, the excitement of the gift exchange and the general camaraderie. 

How about taking this opportunity to make this Christmas a truly life-altering experience for that someone? Find a quiet moment and place to tell them about the real reason for the celebration – JESUS, GOD’s indescribable Gift to the world (Ephesians 2:4-5). Talk honestly about your own personal experience and how vastly different your life would be but for GOD and His SON. 

Lead them gently down the “Roman road:”

Tell them that–

• We are all sinful, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23
• Our sin condemns us to an eternity without GOD’s love but GOD would rather we have that love and did something about it on our behalf. “…the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of GOD is eternal life in CHRIST JESUS our LORD”. Romans 6:23
• No one has to clean up first to be accepted into GOD’s Family – we never could. A loving GOD and Father decided to save us by sending His sinless SON to die for all sin. “But GOD demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, CHRIST died for us. Romans 5:8
• All the Father asks is that we believe the Scriptures, confess that we’ve sinned and receive His free grace. “if you confess with your mouth JESUS as LORD, and believe in your heart that GOD raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:9-10

Unwrap for someone the most priceless Christmas gift of all - CHRIST JESUS and His righteousness unto eternal life.

Do this in the spirit of the season – do this with love!

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy Father, thank you for sending the CHRIST Child to give us new birth and new life with YOU. With gratitude we rejoice and add our praise with the heavenly hosts, “Glory to GOD in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom GOD is pleased.”  In JESUS’ NAME. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

Give Thanks All Year

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. (Psalm 107:1); Always use the name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST to thank GOD the Father for everything. (Ephesians 5:20)

An estimated 55 million people in the U.S. will take to the air and roads this week to be with family on Thanksgiving Day .

Thanksgiving is the one American Holiday when people will fly or drive across the country to reunite with close relations and rekindle familial bonds. Throw in the traditional turkey dinner with all the usual trimmings and a football game on TV and you have a traditional American Thanksgiving. For parents and grandparents, especially, to have the entire family under the same roof all at once, (for some in the same city or state) is more than enough to be thankful for.

Thanksgiving ought to be much more for the children of GOD. This season should remind us of all the many miraculous ways that GOD has worked, and continues to work, in our lives. We must make thanksgiving a year-round lifestyle.

But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation…. Psalm 79:13.

No matter the season, our thanksgiving is offered to our GOD and Father – our sacrificial worship for all eternity.

Too often in our prayer we thank GOD for our creature comforts only – food, clothing, shelter, our new car, children’s health and academic progress, careers, etc. Without question, GOD is our Good Shepherd who provides these things for us and our loved ones. But there’s much more.

GOD gave us many Bible verses to inspire us to more thoughtful and meaningful ways to thank Him throughout the year. Here are a few.

Thank GOD because:

• He’s CREATOR of everything and it’s all good. (Genesis 1) “Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks. For we know it is made acceptable by the word of GOD and prayer.” 1 Timothy 4:4-5
• His LOVE is perfect and enduring. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” 1 Chronicles 16:34
• He gives GRACE for life and godly living. “I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in CHRIST JESUS. For in Him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge.” 1 Corinthians 1:4
• He SATISFIES our every need. “Let them give thanks to the LORD for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” Psalm 107:8-9

Thank GOD anytime and in all circumstances.

• In our private or corporate prayer and worship settings. – “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. Psalm 100:4
• As we engage in our daily tasks and leisure activities, and raise families. – “And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the LORD JESUS, giving thanks to GOD the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:17
• In good times and bad. – “Give thanks in everything, for this is GOD’s will for you in CHRIST JESUS.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18;
• As overwhelmed and troubled. – “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to GOD. And the peace of GOD, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in CHRIST JESUS.” Philippians 4:6-7
• Feeling inadequate and unable to cope. – “But thanks be to GOD! He gives us the victory through our LORD JESUS CHRIST.” 1 Corinthians 15:57

From Genesis to Revelation we have learnt that GOD works all things together for the joy and deliverance of His people but ultimately for His glory and His Name. So even when life is hardest for us, we continue to give thanks to GOD. “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me.” Psalm 50:23.

We obey His commands for thanksgiving, not just for our good, but for His Glory!

It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your Name, O Most High. Psalm 92:1.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy Father, we acknowledge you as GOD Most High, Creator of Heaven and earth and everything on it. You are perfect and you do all things well; we thank you that every good and perfect gift come from you. We thank You because You are holy, all wise and all good; we thank You for Your perfect plan ordained before the beginning of time and the indescribable gift of JESUS CHRIST our SAVIOR and LORD that gives us victory over sin and eternal life with You. Teach us to love You only and obey Your word. To you, Father, be dominion and power for ever and ever. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

Some Things are Inevitable

I was walking through my neighborhood this morning and was just past this tree when something made me stop and take a step back.

As you can see from the picture this tree has already lost more than half of its leaves. But it seemed to me that this poor tree was fighting with everything to hold on to what was left, trying to prevent the inevitable even as one leaf after another broke away and fell to the ground as I watched.

And a thought came to mind, this is how we must look in GOD’s eyes in our foolish and prideful struggles to hold on to things that are useless and dead rather than yield to His will and plan to give us the Kingdom.  

Thank GOD, our Father knows who belong to Him and Whose will prevails in the end. So, He waits patiently, knowing that it’s only a matter of time before we wear ourselves out, come to our senses like the prodigals we are, let go of the rot and accept our divine fate.

Then, GOD will be right there waiting to take us into His season of rest, restoration and renewal – just as will happen with this tree.

The Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you… Isaiah 30:18

Don’t forget to turn your clocks back this Sunday!

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Heavenly Father, YOU wait to give us the Kingdom because it pleases YOU to do so, for YOUR Name and YOUR glory. We give thanks to YOU who have all dominion and power for ever and ever. In JESUS Name. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

GOD’s People Are Kind

“One of the most difficult things to give away is kindness, it usually comes back to you.” Anonymous

The Bible from Genesis through Revelation reveal all aspects of the divine character of GOD.  We learn that GOD is awe-inspiring in His sovereignty and majesty (1 Chronicles 29:11) but we learn also that GOD is tender and generous in His kindness (Isaiah 63:7.)

GOD is kind not just to those who love Him but to the ungrateful and evil (Luke 6:35. All whom He created benefits from GOD’s kindness, (For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5:45;) but GOD is especially kind to those who have relationship and kinship with Him through His SON.

He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. Ephesians 1:7-8

“…you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48

We are only children of GOD who are born of GOD. As we exhibit the character traits of our birth parents, we who are His children must also reflect the character of our heavenly Father. GOD is kind so we must practice kindness also, especially to others in His family (Galatians 6:10.) 

Our kindness to each other pleases GOD. But here’s the hard part, GOD wants us to be kind to our enemies as well (Luke 6:27-28.) This can be a difficult pill for us to swallow but those who belong to GOD must obey GOD and not act on our feelings. We must please the Spirit who lives in us and not our flesh. For those who are led by the Spirit of GOD are the children of GOD (Romans 8: 14.)

And kindness is a fruit of the Spirit with no restrictions.

Be kind even if you think it’s undeserved.  

God our Savior showed us how good and kind he is. He saved us because of his mercy, and not because of any good things that we have done. Titus 3:4-5

We received kindness from GOD that we didn’t deserve.

GOD sent His One and Only SON to the cross for undeserving, unrepentant sinners like you and me. (While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8) We don’t get to decide who’s deserving and who’s not. GOD alone is judge. We get to exercise the privilege of obeying GOD’s law which says be kind to others – without limits, or fanfare, or expectation of return, and to whomever needs it; and do it out of love. (Ephesians 4:32; 1 Corinthians 13:4)

Kindness is a virtue every child of GOD must desire to live by:

• We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. 2 Corinthians 6:6
• The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness… Galatians 5:22
• Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  Colossians 3:12
• A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, …and be patient with difficult people. 2 Timothy 2:24
• Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 
• Kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people. Philemon 1:7

Christian author and Pastor J. R. Miller (1840 – 1912) wrote in his essay, The Splendor of Kindness:

Kindness has been called the small coin of love. The word is generally used to designate the little deeds of thoughtfulness and gentleness which make no noise in the world — rather than the large heroic acts which all men note and applaud. One may live many years and never have the opportunity of doing any great thing — but one may always be kind, filling all one’s day with gentle attentions, helpful ministries, little services of interest and sympathy, and small courtesies….Kindness as a rule, is done unconsciously without preparation, without thought. This enhances its beauty. There is no self-seeking in it, no thought of reward of any kind. It is done in simplicity, prompted by love, and is most pleasing to CHRIST.

How precious is Your lovingkindness, O GOD! Psalm 36:7

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Loving Father, YOU are the essence and source of kindness. Forgive us when we fall short of living out the virtue of kindness and help us to reflect more of YOUR character in our daily lives and less of selfishness and pride. Thank YOU for giving to us undeserved kindness that leads us to repentance and new life in CHRIST. To YOU belong all dominion and power for ever and ever. We pray and ask all things in the Name of our Savior and LORD, CHRIST JESUS. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

Trust GOD, Your Place of Safety

Trust GOD, my friends, and always tell Him each one of your concerns. GOD is our place of safety. PSALM 62:8 (CEV)

The children of GOD do not get a free pass for a life with no letdowns, betrayals, fears, disappointments, hurts, pains, and losses. 

However, being a child of GOD does give us an unmatched advantage over the rest of the world – a promise from the Creator of the Universe that we will never go through a dark valley without Him walking alongside us.

When suffering is more than we think we can bear, we wonder if GOD no longer cares for us and has abandoned us. Never! GOD, the Omniscient One, knows exactly where we are at all times and how we are suffering and is right there in our vale of tears.

A child of GOD is never forgotten or abandoned. GOD’s WORD assures us of that:

• The Lord’s people may suffer a lot, but he will always bring them safely through. Psalm 34:19
• We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don’t know what to do, we never give up. In times of trouble, GOD is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again. 2 Corinthians 4: 8-9
• Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble, suffering, and hard times, or hunger and nakedness, or danger and death? Romans 8:35

No matter how dark the circumstances GOD is still the good Father and a safe place for those who are His family in CHRIST.

Even so, we may well wonder and cry, why me?  If GOD loved me that much as to send His One Son to die for me, and if as promised my life is now hidden in CHRIST, why aren’t I exempt from suffering? 

Why do GOD’s children suffer?

While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I (JESUS) have defeated the world. John 16:33

There is no easy or pat answer as to why believers suffer, or why some suffer more than others, or why some never seem to suffer at all.

The life of a CHRIST follower is one of trust and faith in the GOD who created us and orchestrated our salvation. We trust in His total sovereignty and believe and have faith in His WORD and its promises.

GOD never promised that His children would miss the storms of life. Just the opposite (JOHN 16:33); the Scripture tells us that we will suffer the same storms of life that the rest of the world suffers but, unlike the rest of the world, our suffering has divine purpose.

And we know that GOD causes all things to work together for good to those who love GOD, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. Romans 8:28-30

GOD’s desire is that all His children become like CHRIST and GOD will Himself ride out the storms with us to the very end to ensure that we get to where He wants us.

We can struggle to hold on to these truths when days are dark. That's when we need encouragement and help to restore our hope and faith, and GOD helps us through these times. He becomes our Strength, and our Tower of safety where we can rest (Proverbs 18:10). He transports His strength to us through His WORD, as well as through Spirit-filled saints in the Body of Christ.

GOD comes alongside us and carries us until we can regain our footing and are strong enough again in our faith walk.

Faith and hope can only be restored through GOD’s divine design.

The Father is a merciful God, who always gives us comfort. He comforts us when we are in trouble, so that we can share that same comfort with others in trouble. We share in the terrible sufferings of Christ, but also in the wonderful comfort he gives. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

We must never feel ashamed to seek and accept comfort and help from others in the family of GOD when we become weak in our faith because of a dire trial. 

GOD wants us to lean into the Family of GOD; He designed His family to meet each other’s spiritual needs. Godly friends and mentors are there to offer comfort and intercession for us when we are too spiritually fragile to help ourselves. At some point in our lives we will get an opportunity to return the favor.

We must seek out those who are strong in faith as we are weak, and have suffered as we are suffering. If our faith is strong, we should be patient with the Lord’s followers whose faith is weak. Romans 15:1.  Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of CHRIST. Galatians 6:2

Prayer and reassurances of GOD’s truth spoken through the Holy Spirit can lift our spirits, shine light in our darkness, change our focus, remind us that GOD’s love still surrounds us and inspire us to keep moving towards GOD. When we are strong enough again, we go to the Father on our own behalf. 

We ask the Holy Spirit of truth to guide our minds and thoughts as we pray so we do not entertain any false truths about our suffering. We rebuke fear and boldly take hold of GOD’s promised power and love; we thank our Heavenly Father for being with us in the trial and for His strength to lean on as we walk through it; and we pray all in the Name of JESUS CHRIST, the One who initiates and perfects our faith.  

Until our present troubles are over, and for all time, we put all our trust in GOD, because He alone is our safe place.

God alone is the mighty rock that keeps me safe, and he is the fortress where I feel secure. Psalm 62:6

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy Father, we give all honor, glory and power to You our GOD, full of grace and compassion. You invite us to bring all of our troubles to you. You hear our every groan and You bring us comfort and hope. You give us strength when we are unable to carry on, You remind us not to fear when we are despairing of our circumstances because You are working all things out for our eternal good and Your glory. Mighty Shepherd, we are the sheep of your pasture, teach us to know your voice and believe your WORD and its promises which nourishes our soul and never fail. All dominion and power belong to You for ever and ever. We pray and ask all things in the Name of JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

Good Works GOD's Way

You have been saved by grace through believing. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from GOD.  It was not the result of your own efforts, so you cannot brag about it. GOD has made us what we are. In CHRIST JESUS, GOD made us to do good works, which GOD planned in advance for us to live our lives doing. Ephesians 2:8-10

If you recognize yourself in this Bible verse, a person saved by grace through faith and a new creation in CHRIST JESUS, then you’re already aware that GOD has prepared “good works” for you to do here on earth.

GOD gives each of us specific skills for the work He has planned for each of us to do (1 Corinthians 12:4-11,28.) This means that my good works are very likely going to be different from yours. However, GOD designed all of our good works to work together for one purpose – to satisfy His divine plan. We don’t know how many millenniums more this may take to accomplish, but we do know that we are workers together with God (2 Corinthians 6:1) in making it happen.

As co-laborers with GOD, we must aim for excellence. GOD does all things well and He wants His team of workers to give their best as well.

How do I know if my good works are meeting GOD’s standards?

New believers, and some seasoned, often have doubts and questions about where they fit into GOD’s divine plan. “What does GOD want from me?”  “Where can I serve GOD best?” “What exactly are good works?” The answers come through earnest prayer, fellowship with mature believers, and peer discussion. Our own intuition and a genuine willingness to be totally submitted to GOD’s will are also key to revealing our purpose.

But there’s little point in knowing GOD’s specific plan for our lives if we’re not going to do the best job we can. 

Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the LORD and not for men. Colossians 3:23

GOD’s Word gives us everything we need for serving Him with excellence:

• The reason for excellence. God has chosen you and made you his holy people. He loves you. Colossians 3:12a. With His gift of salvation to us who believe we became GOD’s beloved children as well as His “holy people,” those who've been set apart from a dark world to bring glory to the Heavenly Father. (1 Peter 2:9,12.)

• Tools that produce excellence. So, you should always clothe yourselves with mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Colossians 3:12b. A true believer has the Holy Spirit living within who produces in us the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Galatians 5:22-23.

We apply this reasoning and these tools to everything we do daily, and we can rest assured that our good works are meeting GOD’s standards. 

We show we are servants of GOD by our pure lives, our understanding, patience, and kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by true love, by speaking the truth, and by GOD’s power. We use our right living to defend ourselves against everything. 2 Corinthians 6:6-7 (NCV)

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Heavenly Father, all praise and glory be unto YOU! Thank you for choosing us to be co-laborers in YOUR divine plan to restore order to YOUR Creation, and for the Holy Spirit who gives us skills and the tools for excellence in all that we do for YOUR good pleasure and YOUR glory. To you belong all dominion and power for ever and ever. We pray all things in the Name that is above all other names, our LORD and Savior JESUS CHRIST. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

Imitate JESUS - Resist Temptation

We live with temptation every day and how we respond to it will impact the course of our lives, for good or evil. While giving in is solely our choice, the consequences can have far reaching effects for others.

A perfect example of temptation to sin’s far-reaching consequences.

When our first father Adam gave in to Eve’s influence and Satan’s lies in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3) all succeeding generations “fell” prey to the same sin default line and all suffered the same devastating consequences. The world as a whole lost intimate relationship with the Heavenly Father.

By His grace, GOD chose to repair the breach between Himself and humanity later in history. He sent us a second Adam, Christ JESUS, to atone for the sin of the world and reopen the Way back to the Father.

Humanity is destined to a life of continuing sin and ultimately, separation from GOD, unless we accept the Father’s gift of grace and become His new creations in CHRIST.

We are tempted by our own desires that drag us off and trap us. Our desires make us sin, and when sin is finished with us, it leaves us dead. James 1:14-15

Scripture tells us temptation is a product of – the desire of the eye (greedy craving for what others have that we think we deserve); the pride of life (the desire to look good in the eyes of others, achieve status, to impress); and the lust (or desire) of the flesh. (1 John 2:15-16.)

These are the three lures that Satan used to entice Eve in the Garden of Eden and with JESUS in the desert (or wilderness.) Only each had totally opposite responses and consequences.

The temptation in Eden

“God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it (the forbidden fruit), and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” Genesis 3:5

Satan very successfully planted doubt in Eve’s mind by suggesting that GOD had hidden motives for telling her not to eat of the one tree in the middle of the Garden (“It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat.”). He convinces Eve that GOD was the deceiver when He said “you will die” if she ate the fruit. Satan declares “You won’t die!”

Satan was the real deceiver; he caused Eve to accept a false truth. That GOD was withholding from her what she deserved – good tasting food, beauty, and equality with GOD, wisdom to know good and evil.

All Eve had to do was recklessly disobey GOD, which she did with disastrous consequences for all of us.

The woman stared at the fruit. It looked beautiful and tasty. She wanted the wisdom that it would give her, and she ate some of the fruit. Genesis 3:6

Satan’s web of lies worked with Eve to awake her carnal desires:

1. Desire of the eyes – the tree was beautiful.
2. Desire of the flesh – the fruit was tasty. Satisfying our carnal appetites
3. Pride of life – wisdom that will make her equal to GOD. Gaining status and power

…and the Fall of all mankind was the outcome.

The temptation in the desert

Then the devil came to him and said, “If you are God’s Son, tell these stones to turn into bread.” Jesus answered, “The Scriptures say…: Matthew 4: 3-4

The Holy Spirit led JESUS into the desert so that Satan, the devil, could test Him. This took place over a period of forty days. During that time JESUS was fasting (Matthew 4:1-11.)

1. First the devil uses JESUS’ extreme hunger to appeal to the desire of the flesh. He tells JESUS to turn the stones into bread and eat, if He is the SON of GOD. JESUS’ response? ““The Scriptures say: ‘No one can live only on food. People need every word that GOD has spoken.’” (Matthew 4:4)
2. Next the devil urges JESUS to jump off the highest point of the Jerusalem temple so observers below could witness the angels swoop down to catch Him and bear Him gently to the ground. Imagine how such an event would make JESUS the center of everyone’s attention and get everyone to acknowledge Him as the Messiah. A form of desire of the eyes – doing anything to be exalted in the eyes of people, seeking the approval of others. JESUS’ response? “The Scriptures also say, ‘Don’t try to test the Lord your God!’” (Matthew 4:7)
3. Finally, the devil tempts JESUS to worship him in exchange for political power and status – the pride of life. The devil promises to make JESUS ruler of all the kingdoms on earth if He will bow to him. JESUS again responds with the Scriptures – the Word of GOD and He dismisses Satan: “Go away Satan! The Scriptures say: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” (Matthew 4:10)

Satan’s deception failed with JESUS. Why? JESUS had faith in the power and truth of GOD’s Word. 

The outcome from faith and belief was a successful ministry for JESUS and, ultimately, the salvation of the world. By His resistance to Satan’s evil designs, JESUS fulfilled His ministry and mended what Adam and Eve broke.

Anyone wanting a relationship with the Father, it is theirs for the taking.

GOD has given us everything we need to experience intimacy with Him.

While Satan can entice a child of GOD with his lies, He cannot outwit us and make us do anything we don’t want to do. JESUS proved that. 

As new creations in CHRIST our first and foremost desire should be to follow His lead, to become more like Him. 

"Every Christian is to become a little Christ. The whole purpose of becoming a Christian is simply nothing else”. ~ C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity~

Scripture tells us to “Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11-14. GOD’s armor includes the sword of the Holy Spirit which destroys the devil’s lies – this is the Word of GOD.

The Word worked for JESUS in the desert and it will work for us today; but only if we know it as well as JESUS did.

Studying the Word will make us mature Christians with Christ-like desires that generate Christ-like decisions.

JESUS CHRIST was tempted in every way that we are. But He did not sin! (Hebrews 4:15.) We don’t have to sin either! Not if we follow CHRIST’s lead and fully surrender to His and the Father’s life principles.

If we do, the devil will leave us alone. (James 4:7)

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy and Righteous Father, thank You for JESUS our Teacher, Savior and LORD, who was tempted in every way that we are today, but never sinned against You! Thank You that He now lives to show us the way by Your Word and His Spirit and to intercede for us when we fail. To you belong all dominion and power for ever and ever. We pray and ask all things in the Name of JESUS. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

You Have it All – You Have A Rich GOD!

I’ve been reading “Saving Grace: Daily Devotions from Jack Miller" by C. John Miller and wanted to share this quote with you!

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8

Do you know that you have it all! You have a rich God. You have the grace and love of God in Christ Jesus, the Spirit of God, the power of God, and the presence of God. You’re a new creature! You’ve been brought out of death and made alive.

Even though you know all this, do you still think of yourself as poverty-stricken? Are you tempted to believe that if you could have just a little bit of something else, you would be safe and secure and happy? Are you ruled by anxiety? Do you think about yourself and your problems a great deal?

God calls us to set that aside, to live by faith, and to know that we are rich in him.  In Christ, you lack nothing. You need nothing but him.”

This is one of these devotional gems that bring an explosive “Hallelujah!” praise to the lips and give the feet wings for the day ahead. Such encouragement for the believer!

Prayer and Thanksgiving (Mine): Giving thanks and praise to Our Holy and Righteous Father for our LORD and Savior, JESUS CHRIST, in whom we lack nothing! Thank YOU, Good Shepherd. Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

Imitate JESUS – Obey the Father

In the best case scenario, children obey their parents, even when they’d rather have their own way. We obey out of respect for parental authority but, ultimately, we obey out of love. 

Obedience secures our children's safety and well-being and makes for harmony in the home. On the other hand, chronic disobedience by even one child in the home impacts the entire family negatively. 

Disobedience breeds chaos.

As with our natural families, the children of GOD obey our Heavenly Father out of respect for His Sovereign authority (His omnipotence) and love. In addition, GOD the Father is omniscient and His knowledge is superior to all human understanding. 

To disobey GOD is sin, plain and simple. The Bible equates disobedience to “rebellion” and the sin of idol worship.” (1 Samuel 15:23)

JESUS knew the Father better that anyone and the gravity of disobedience in GOD’s sight so His entire life principle was about obedience to His Father; and by this GOD was glorified in Him.

I came down from heaven to do what GOD wants Me to do, not what I want to do. John 6:38 (New Century Version)

 “Obedience with Him (JESUS) did not mean a single act of obedience now and then, nor even a series of acts, but the spirit of His whole life. …The one supreme, all-controlling power of His life was obedience.” Christian Author and Pastor Andrew Murray (1828 - 1917)

Like JESUS, GOD’s children must obey the Father. Why? Because we are one family.

As new creations in CHRIST, we take on His likeness. Together we are the family of GOD and together we do the will of GOD. We are sharing a life in common with JESUS. Our obedience is confirmation of our divine familial bond with the Father and the SON:

“For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven, that person is My brother and sister and mother.”  Matthew 12:50. If you love me, you will do what I have said, and my Father will love you. I will also love you and show you what I am like. John 14:21

JESUS is the first-born of our Heavenly family; He leads and we follow. He doesn’t just tell us what to do, He actually shows us how to be just like him. (Romans 8:29)

JESUS did not fall down to earth one day and accomplish His assignment the next day. He lived a life that was a progression of growth through obedience – And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with GOD and man. Luke 2:52.  By the time He was ready to begin His journey to the cross the Father was able to say of Him, “This is my own dear Son, and I am pleased with him.” Matthew 3:17

Each act of obedience to the Father’s will took JESUS to new places of discovery and greater acts. He went from turning water into wine, to feeding thousands with food enough for just one person, to raising the dead – and ultimately His own resurrection. And every act JESUS performed, every word He spoke, put the Father on display before the world. (The Father who lives in me does these things. John 14:10)

At each juncture of His journey on earth up to the cross, the Father was glorified, because JESUS was unrelenting in His obedience to GOD’s will. “I have brought glory to you here on earth by doing everything you gave me to do.” John 17:4

We could never go wrong by following JESUS’ example and doing everything the Father tells us. We would only be doing what we agreed to by faith when we accepted JESUS as Savior and LORD. 

We’re doing the good work that GOD ordained for us before the beginning of time to bring glory to His Name.

For this we are promised that:

• Just as the Father acknowledged His “dear SON” He will acknowledge us with His love and His constant presence in our lives. John 14:23
• We will never struggle on our own – the Holy Spirit will help us and remind us when we are in doubt or falter. John 14:26
• We will never have cause to fear or worry and always have peace. John 14:27

Conclusion

A child of GOD will know only restlessness and discontent when outside the will of GOD.

With total obedience we gain spiritual wisdom, have great success with contentment, and enjoy the continuing love, presence and recognition of our Father.

Ultimately, we fulfill our life purpose just as CHRIST JESUS, the family First-Born, did His – 

We glorify our Father in Heaven so our joy in Him will be complete.

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy and Righteous Father, thank You for JESUS our Savior and LORD and Teacher. He Who has shown us what full obedience is up to death on a cross. Help us, Father, to give ourselves completely to Your divine power at work in us through the Holy Spirit who daily guides us to the Truth and to doing Your will for Your Name and Your glory. To you belong all dominion and power for ever and ever. We pray and ask all things in the Name of JESUS. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

Imitate JESUS – Put Others First

You know about the kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was rich, yet for your sake he became poor in order to make you rich through his poverty. 2 Corinthians 8:9

CHRIST JESUS gave up His divinity and His place in heaven with the Father and came to earth as a man. He did it with full knowledge and awareness that His time here would end with His death on a cross. Philippians 2:6-8

JESUS was fully man with human desires and emotions which the New Testament Scriptures confirm. We read that JESUS got tired. He was thirsty and hungry, and He became upset at injustices; showed great fear and sorrow as His time of His passion; and JESUS cried when His friend Lazarus died.

For His entire ministry on earth JESUS also suffered harsh and unfair treatment from many, including His own family. But He remained selfless towards others who needed what He had to give, and without favoritism.

We who are the children of GOD should also do the same. In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5

CHRIST is our perfect example for selflessness.

One of JESUS’ best known miracles is the multiplication of the loaves and fish (Matthew 14.)

We can agree that someone who feeds 5,000 plus people with a meager five loaves and three small fish is no ordinary human being. This miracle proved that JESUS had divine powers. But just hours prior to this an event took place in JESUS’ life that proved He was also as human as the next person.    

John the Baptist, JESUS’ beloved cousin, had been executed by the reigning King, Herod Antipas. An act of revenge provoked by Herod’s current wife, Herodias, who hated John because he publicly chastised the couple for their adultery. Matthew 14: 3-11.

When Jesus heard what had happened to John, he left in a boat and went to a lonely place by himself. Matthew 14: 12-13a

Like any of us would be, JESUS was devastated by the news of John’s execution and His immediate and human reaction was to withdraw from others and grieve the death of John in private. Except, He never got the chance. At least not then. Instead, JESUS chose to do for others.

The crowds heard about it and followed him on foot from the towns. When he arrived, he saw a great crowd waiting. Matthew 14:13b-14

A crowd was waiting for JESUS when the boat docked. Sick and troubled people, desperate for healing, for a word, a touch, for comfort. And JESUS responds, not with irritation, or dismay, or frustration but with compassion (Matthew 14:14.)  Despite His own personal distress and suffering, JESUS immediately sets aside His own sorrow, His need for comfort, and He comforts others.

For hours JESUS gave relief instead of seeking His own. He healed the sick and broken-hearted, comforted and counseled and prayed. JESUS had what these people needed and He held nothings back. And when the disciples would have sent the crowd away hungry JESUS refused to allow it. 

“They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.” Matthew 14:16

So, He fed them.

These miracles took place through divine power but it was human empathy and compassion for the suffering of others that made it happen.

Believers must imitate CHRIST in how we respond to others in need.

Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. Philippians 2:4

JESUS always did what pleased His Father. “The One who sent me is with me. I always do what is pleasing to him, so he has not left me alone.” John 8:29

If we claim GOD to be our Father, then we too must have the same attitude as JESUS and do everything to please our Father. (Ephesians 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:9).

Twice in the New Testament GOD speaks from heaven and declares to those present and the world at large that JESUS is His beloved SON, He’s pleased with JESUS, and we should pay attention to Him.  Matthew 3:17; 17:5 

We can hardly go wrong if we believe what GOD declares about His SON and when following JESUS means pleasing the Father.

Because GOD is always very specific about His will, He gives plenty of direct commands for what He wants:

• Do not forget to do good to others, and share with them, because such sacrifices please God. Hebrews 13:16
• Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. Ephesians 2:4
• Suppose someone has enough to live and sees a brother or sister in need, but does not help. Then God’s love is not living in that person. 1 John 3:17
• Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
• When we have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it. Galatians 6:10
• Being kind to the poor is like lending to the Lord; He will reward you for what you have done. Proverbs 19:17
•  I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’ Deuteronomy 15:11
• Do to others what you would want them to do to you. Luke t6:31
• Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 1 Corinthians 10:24
• Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Proverbs 3:27

Selflessness puts GOD first in our lives and this pleases Him.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

GOD doesn’t ask from us miracles of multiplication and healing. He asks only that we obey His will. Because He wants us to succeed and accomplish what He has planned for our individual life purpose, GOD gave each of us unique talents and resources.

I like what Christian author Dallas Willard (1935-2013) says about GOD’s designed plan for us: "God created us very like himself (in his image), but every one of us is unique. An original, not a copy. We each are made to assume the role of a particular child of God, and our uniqueness ties in with our unique purpose. God has ensured us a special place and purpose, giving us tasks that he specifically wants us to accomplish in our time and in our place.”

Our cup continually overflows with divine blessing and never runs dry. All that we are and have come from GOD, is perfect and adequate for our needs with enough to share.

We lose nothing when we put the needs of others first, we gain everything. We gain our Father’s pleasure, His enduring love and His constant presence in our lives. So, we are able to boast like JESUS that 

“…(the Father) has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases Him.” John 8:29

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy and Righteous Father, to Your name be glory and honor for ever. Thank You for JESUS our Teacher, Savior and LORD. Increase our passion to do YOUR will, to learn servant-hood from the Master Servant so we can please YOU by giving back that which YOU have given to us for YOUR purpose. To you belong all dominion and power for ever and ever. We pray and ask all things in the Name of JESUS. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile