Reflections: On GOD’s Immutability and You

The Westminster Shorter Catechism says, "God is a spirit, whose being, wisdom power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth are infinite, eternal, and unchangeable" and several Scriptures confirm this.  

I am the Lord, and I do not change… Malachi 3:6

If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny who He is. 2 Timothy 2:13

Likewise, all that GOD declares concerning His chosen people remain fixed.

 

This means that God will always:

Be with you

• “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6
• Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. Isaiah 41:10a

Love you

• For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
• For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him. Psalm 103:11 

Forgive your sins

• If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
• As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12

Listen to you

• For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers. 1 Peter 3:12
• I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears. Psalm 18:6
• Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. Jeremiah 29:12

Answer your prayers

• For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. Luke 11:10
• I love the Lord because He has heard My voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live. Psalm 116:1-2

Comfort you

• Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation. 2 Corinthians 1:3
• Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

Provide for you

• If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! Matthew 7:11
• For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11
• "I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:26

Remember you

• The LORD loves justice, and he won't ever desert his faithful people. He always protects them. Psalm 37:28
• I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. Psalm 37:25

Work on your behalf

• When I cry out to You, then my enemies will turn back; This I know, because God is for me. Psalm 56:9
• We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him. Romans 8:28a

Come through for you

• Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Isaiah 41:10
• And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter: 5:10

Lead you with love, power, and wisdom

• I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble. Proverbs 4:11-12
• It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer,
• And sets me on my high places. Psalm 18:32-33

 

Reward your obedience to Him

• The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.” Psalm 91:14-16
• Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

In all this and so much more, you may rest easy. When you wait on the Lord, you can be certain that the outcome will be perfect, as is His will for you.

Always!

 

But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

 

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, Immutable and Sovereign One, You are always faithful to Your promises as You cannot deny Yourself. You choose us, thank You. And now Your ears are always open to listen to us and Your eyes forever upon us to protect and defend us, Your children who worship You and do Your will. May Your Name forever be praised, In JESUS mighty Name. Amen!

Happy Thanksgiving 2020, America!

If you are reading this post, you're alive and well. 

That's reason enough to give thanks and praise to GOD the Father and the LORD JESUS CHRIST whose goodness and mercy have kept you, whose grace abounds, and whose love is everlasting to all who are His children, according to His Sovereign will and purpose!

We have all that we need and more than we deserve.

A Happy And Safe Thanksgiving!!!

PRAYER: O LORD of grace and mercy, our world is a scary place and we are weak and fearful. But we look to You with thanksgiving and praise for strength to stand and for light to see beyond what we do. Thank You for being the shield that protects and the sword that fights for us. By the blood of the One who paid our debts of transgressions, JESUS CHRIST our LORD, we have all that we need. Thank you! Amen!

Reflections: On Our (GOD’s) Money

The world’s richest man back in the 1900s and the first-ever American billionaire was John D. Rockefeller. Yet, his response to a reporter’s question, “How much money is enough?” was, “Just a little bit more.” 

The “just a little bit more” lifestyle philosophy is very much ingrained into society at large today. Whether they have a lot or just enough to get by, everyone wants more money, just to have more.

The Christian attitude towards money must be different; grounded in the Word of God and not the world’s norms.

Money on its own is necessary for our daily needs and the Bible agrees. What the Scriptures do say is that the LOVE of money is evil (1 Timothy 6: 10.)

Everything you are and own is a gift from GOD – including your money (…remember that the LORD your God gives you the strength to make a living. Deuteronomy 8:18 CEV.) But GOD means for you to use it for your joy and that of others, and not have it use you and control your life. When money becomes your god, it can wreak havoc in your life.

Even in challenging economic times, GOD’s will for you and your money remains fixed – He does not change one iota to accommodate your particular situation.

 

Reflect on these five points concerning your money:

Hoarding is unacceptable when you can help others in need. GOD wants you to share your resources, even sacrificially. Generosity pleases Him and He honors it.

• And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:16;
• Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done. Proverbs 19:17
• He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself or who gives to the rich will only come to poverty. Proverbs 22:16
• One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly but comes to poverty.
• A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:24-25
• Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:13

Fear of not having enough should not stop you from supporting your local church with at least a tithe. Trust God to do amazing things with the 90%.

• The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23
• Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops Proverbs 3:9
• I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! Luke 12:22-24
• He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32

Becoming a slave to debt is being led by your own desire and will and not the Lord’s. Have a plan to save to pay for your needs in full, and ask God to help you to perfect it according to His will, and to stick with it.

• Do not be among those who give pledges, Among those who become guarantors for debts. If you have nothing with which to pay. Proverbs 22:26-27
• Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8
• The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. Proverbs 22:7
• Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

Living just for today, spending all you get as you get it is unbiblical. GOD approves of you putting something aside for the future – this is not the same as hoarding but being wise and a good steward.

• A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children. Proverbs 13:22
• Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow. Proverbs 13:11
• Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. Proverbs 6:6-8
• The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. Proverbs 21:5

Solomon was the wisest man that ever lived. GOD said so. He had much to share in the Book of Proverbs as well as Ecclesiastes about wise and righteous living, including the use of money.

We listen to and obey his words of wisdom because we trust in the GOD who imparted such wisdom unto him. For our good and GOD’s glory!

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. Ecclesiastes 12:13

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Our GOD and Father, forgive us for our lack of faith, remind us not to lean on our own understanding but to trust Your Sovereignty and divine plan for our lives, and Your faithfulness to perfect that plan. Our eyes are on You to WHOM all glory, dominion, and power belong forever and ever. In JESUS Name we pray. Amen.

Always by GOD’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

Reflections: On GOD’s Mercy (Lamentations. 3:22)

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed. Lamentations 3:22

The assurance of eternal life with the Father in heaven belongs to every true believer in Jesus Christ. Yours only because of the abundant mercy by which GOD sacrificed His Son for you. (1 Peter 1:3.) None of us have to look too far back to be reminded that we could have been lost forever but for God’s mercy.

Yet over time, we can allow this divine characteristic of the Father to be overlooked amidst our daily doings and routines. We think little about the mercy that wakes us up every morning and gets us through each day; even less so when all is well in our world.

Do you know first of all that the thing we take so much for granted GOD does to us with great delight? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy. Micah 7:8

Does it not give you great peace to know that His mercy is never in short supply and the source will never run dry?

For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.; the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting… Psalm 86:5; Psalm 103:17

And how does it make you feel to know that when you are most deserving of His wrath His mercy is of the gentlest and at its very finest?

Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us… To guide our feet into the way of peace.; God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions… Luke 1:78-79; Ephesians 2:4-5

What friend or family member, how every much loved can be your constant, faithful companion 24 x 7, expecting nothing in return? God’s mercy is.

Mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; Psalm 23:6

And most of all do you understand that GOD’s mercy is selective – that by His Sovereignty alone He chooses who gets it? 

Think about it!!

“I will…be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.” Exodus 33:19.

Aren’t these characteristics of GOD’s mercy worth daily contemplation so we can say along with the Psalmist, “I will sing aloud of Thy mercy” (59:16), and do just that?

Let us not forget, however, that GOD doesn’t need our approval of His actions, He isn’t any less GOD if we do or we don’t. GOD is complete in Himself; He needs nothing outside Himself. The joy He derives from His actions towards us are for His pleasure and glory alone.  

We, on the other hand, should be honored that we get to share in it.

After all, what is the chief end of man?

To glorify GOD, and to enjoy Him forever!

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, forgive us for our arrogance in taking any aspect of Your divinity for granted. “Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD and thou art exalted as head above all! May Your Name forever be praised, In Jesus Name.

Reflections: On Triumph Over Trouble (JAMES 1:2-8)

In his letter to believers of the New Testament early church James tells them to “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters whenever you face trials of many kinds.”

True confession – have you ever had days when hearing these words could tempt you to roll your eyes? I have! The very last thing you may consider doing in an agonizing situation is to be joyful! But, fellow believers, when you settle down within yourself, quiet your rebellious spirit and move on to the following verses you are reminded that it is for your own good that you regard hardship as righteous joy and not evil.

Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:3-4) If after this you are still having trouble moving to a place of pure joy, verses 5-6 is there to help with that.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Go to the throne of grace. Tell your Abba Father all that’s in your heart and ask Him to help you find your way from confusion, possibly rebellion, and panic to that place of pure joy. Ask earnestly and honestly, with tears running down your face, if it comes to that, but ask with confidence and a trusting, yielded heart.

Have the same mind as that of the three Hebrew boys in Daniel 3.  These young men faced being incinerated in a fiery furnace with perfect faith and confidence in the ability of their GOD to save them.  But they maintained also that if GOD chose not to save them, they would accept His plan for their lives, glorifying Him with their last smoke-filled breath, and do so with JOY.

Why? Because they believed in the wisdom and faithfulness of GOD to work even that horrific situation for their good (Romans 8:28) and He did so miraculously. They were thrown into the fiery furnace, but the Son of GOD got into the fire with them to protect them. They came out of it unharmed with not even the smell of some on their clothing. Not only were they triumphant in their testing before GOD but the entire Babylonian nation now knew that the GOD these young men served is real and He is Almighty.

No matter the turmoil that’s raging about you, your GOD and Father is the same reigning LORD and King today as He was during the life-time of the Hebrew boys. He’s with you too wherever you are in these raging and roiling currents called life.

If believers ever needed this reminder, it's NOW! 

 

Prayer: Mighty GOD and Father, these are scary times. But You are Omnipotent and nothing surprises You. Our trials, sorrows, and sickness are known to You and You hear the deep cries of our hearts, individually and as Nations. Please give us wisdom, strength, and courage to trust You and obey Your Word and Your will for our lives with pure joy. Your eyes are always on us. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on you to WHOM all glory, dominion, and power belong forever and ever. In JESUS Name we pray. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

 

Cecile

Reflections: On Kindness

Kindness is fast becoming extinct within cultures. The anonymity of social media has made it easy for individuals to insult and slander others that they don’t even know viciously and with impunity. All under the guise of “free speech.”

But this is not the believer’s world, right? Unfortunately, not so. Believers are responding much too often with unkind words and towards other believers. Again, using the anonymity of social media. This should never be.

Kindness, or lovingkindness, is one of GOD’s attributes. True believers – you who have salvation in Christ – are to grow and keep growing into the image of Christ and, like Him, reflect the Father’s nature. Be kind, even to those you disagree with or who regard you as the enemy. (Matthew 5:44).

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:9

Remember that you too were once undeserving of the Father’s lovingkindness. His choosing alone, not anything you did, has enabled you to share in His glory for all eternity.

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. Ephesians 1:5,7

GOD shows kindness to those who love Him as well as to those who are ungrateful and wicked. (Luke 6:35.)

Since you are His, you have His Sprit living in you and the  Spirit’s fruit working through you including kindness.

The foundation of all the Spiritual virtues are love.  Loving GOD first and then your neighbor as yourself. (Mark 12:30-31)

Believers are kind because they love GOD and His Son and aim to please Them and not themselves.

Love is kind. 1 Corinthians 13:4

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Our GOD and Father, Essence of lovingkindness, do not deal with us as we deserve but forgive us for our unkind behavior and help us to always bear with one another in love. Our eyes are on you to WHOM all glory, dominion, and power belong forever and ever. In JESUS Name we pray. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

Reflections: You Are Your Thoughts (Prov 23:7)

A godly and productive lifestyle is the fruit of a healthy thought-life. Our thoughts drive our actions so it is vital that we pay very close attention to what we think about.

Scripture tells us that unhealthy thoughts are the product of an unhealthy heart – these two are inseparable – For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7 NKJV; Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life. (Proverbs 4: 23 NCV.)

The obvious remedy for a godly lifestyle would be – clean up your heart to change your thinking.

The WORD of GOD will guide you

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:1-2 NIV

Old habits are hard to break and change would need conscious, concentrated effort. Here are three activities that will make a difference:

• Be willing to admit that your negative thinking is harming you mentally, spiritually, and most likely physically.
• Focus daily on and practice re-training your heart and your brain to accept positive thoughts over negative;
• Pray to GOD for wisdom and guidance to help you to have a mind that pleases Him!

What pleases GOD

That you obey His WORD as commanded in Philippians 4:8 – think about, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—anything (that) is excellent or praiseworthy.

By choosing to think like this you’re choosing faith in GOD over negativity and fear. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.  

Give GOD total control of your heart and mind and you’re going to love the person you become.

Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes observe my ways. Proverbs 23:26 (NET Bible)