The Hand of Christ Extended...

This is such a great reminder from Kim!

At the present time your PLENTY will SUPPLY what they NEED, so that IN TURN their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be EQUALITY!!!!!!!!." 2 Corinthians 8: 14

Have you experienced this in your life? Where at times, you are the one who is able to give and/or help someone financially, Spiritually, emotionally, or physically, ..... but then, it is you who needs that help? God tells us in the above verse that sometimes our plenty will supply your needs and at another time, your plenty will supply our needs! In that way, there will be equality!!!!

There is a time for everything! A time to give and a time to receive!!! God has encouraged us to help each other in their time of need so that we can all be EQUAL!! He is SO WISE!!!!

Our Heavenly Teacher repeatedly asks us to be vessels for Him to help His Children!!! Are we willing to give Him our time so He can help and encourage those in need?
Do we see the neglected?
Do we hear the bells from the Salvation Army?
Do we notice the tears of a stranger or loved one?
Do we look for ways to display His Love?

Abba Father, we THANK YOU for Your Wise Words concerning giving and receiving! We go through many different chapters in our life, sometimes we are in the position to give more (of our time, talents, and monies) than at other times.
When we have more than we need, please keep our eyes and hearts open to where we can help!
When we have less, please help us to be an encouragement in other ways and to gratefully receive the help offered to us!

Personally Father, I see You in the precious faces that have faithfully been helping me during my time of need! These vessels of Yours are giving of their valuable time to help one of Your own! They represent You so well Father! They are cheerful, always willing to be of service, never complaining, very loving, and making their help to me look effortless!!! I can only say Father that I SEE YOU, because ONLY YOU could be so loving and giving over and over and over again!!! Thank You for Your encouragement to do the right thing through these extra special vessels of Yours!!! I only pray Father, as Your Word tells us today, "then there will be equality" that I will be in the position to show them the same unconditional love they are showing me!!!!!

Be careful!

So important. Beware of people that leave fractured relationships in their wake! Divisions, strife... beware of people that do not seek peace and ensue it. A great reminder from Kim.

"I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people." Romans 16:17-18

Whoa, these are serious warnings! Another reason for us to be in the Word each day- we need to know what it teaches us so we are aware when someone is leading us in the wrong direction! There are some very crafty, misleading people out there!! Psychics, fortune tellers, people who gossip, others who preach against God and His Truth, ... they cause division amongst us and confusion in what we believe!!

God warns us to be careful of their "smooth talk and flattery" because we can be easily swayed from the Truth and our Salvation!!! These people are not serving our Lord and we need to be watchful and guarded not to become entrapped by their ways!

Father God, we are so naive at times and we need Your Wisdom to tell the difference between those who seek You and those who seek to serve themselves! Help us to be aware of the evil one and those he is influencing!

Godly Sorrow

Thanks to Kim for this study...

"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death." 2 Corinthians 7: 10

Godly Sorrow versus Worldly Sorrow!

Godly sorrow is being TRULY SORRY for what we have done or said,
...and if given the opportunity to do it all over again, we would NOT repeat it,
...it is choosing to change our ways even when no one is looking!!

As the Study Bible notes say, "Worldly sorrow is self-centered sorrow over the painful consequences of sin!"
... Worldly sorrow means we are only sorry that we were caught doing something,
... it is for others to see we are sorry,
... worldly sorrow brings death!

Are we repentant? Changing the way we live? Or are we upset that we got caught? God knows our heart and forgives us when we have Godly Sorrow! What a RELIEF!!!! What FREEDOM!!! As the verse says, NO REGRETS! PLUS, with this forgiveness we are able to have Eternal Life!!!

Abba Father, Your forgiveness gives us an INNER PEACE that this world CANNOT PROVIDE!! We are SO THANKFUL!! Please REVEAL to us Father areas in our life that need to be changed. Please give us the strength and desire to change these areas we may not be ready to give up!

We never want to do something that is against Your Word Father, just to please ourselves! Please grant us a new heart willing and desiring Your good and perfect will!!

Giving til it feels GOOD!

One of my favorite verses expounded by Kim...  Thanks Kim for the SUPER reminder!

"Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing Joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints." 2 Corinthians 8: 2-4

Don't you find that to be true? Those who have less tend to be more giving?

And, this verse isn't just talking about having a little less than others, but "their EXTREME poverty welled up in rich generosity." Out of their extreme poverty they gave richly, from the heart!! They gave of themselves!!!! Wow, what a lesson we can learn, what an eye opener!! We hold on so tightly to what we have we can hardly pry our fingers loose!
How sad! How very sad that we don't want to take away from ourselves!!
The more we have, the more we want! The more we have, the more attached we become to our stuff!

These verses also aren't just talking about those in extreme poverty either, but those going through hard times and severe trials.
These suppressed people were giving out of their
OVERFLOWING JOY for the Lord!!!!!

Another reminder for us today, suffering brings JOY!!! When we are at our lowest...
... we can turn to the One who gives us Hope when things look hopeless,
... the One who gives us Peace during turmoil,
... the One who gives us Comfort during devastating times,
... the One who continually lavishes us with His Unconditional Love, when we feel
all alone!!!!!

We are able to be JOYFUL and GENEROUS whatever we are going through!!!
All Praise, Honor and Glory are His, for ALL He has done for us and for ALL that He is!

Father God, You have shared with us once again what is truly most valuable in our lives- Your Deep, Unconditional, and Passionate Love for us!!! Help us not get entrapped by stuff Father but by Your Children and their needs! Help us to share Your Breathtaking Love with them!

Even during the financial crisis going on, we may not have as much monetarily as we did last year but we still have much more than the majority of the people in the world! Help us to remember Father,... "Freely you have received, Freely Give!!!" (Matthew 10: 8b) As today's verses say, they richly gave from their extreme poverty and out of their severe trials! Help us to do the same!!!!

Father, please continue to be with and supply extra comfort to those experiencing painful memories during this beautiful, but emotional, time of the year! May they find their JOY and Peace in You!!!

Turn it around!

Great reminder from Kim!

"He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need."
Ephesians 4: 28

It is good for us to work! To do something useful with our hands! We were created in God's image and He worked (created) for 6 days and then rested. Let us use Him as our example, create and rest!!

We were not cursed to work (after the fall in the garden), the ground was cursed! Our work just takes a little more effort! We get to work, we get to create, we get to use our imagination, we get to serve others, we get to play,...... then it is time to rest!!!

The Study Bible interprets this verse, "It is not enough to cease from sin (this verse refers to stealing, but we are all sinning in way or another); one must do good. The former thief (sinner) must now help those in need."

God not only asks us to STOP doing what is wrong, but to go a step further, start doing something constructive and helping those less fortunate.

Our Heavenly King, we may never have thought we would say this, but, we Thank You for work! Work is good for us! Work is a privilege!
You are so wise Father,
You know that WORK and GIVING to others gives us a sense of purpose!
It is also a huge help and support to those in need!
It helps us to be constructive and creative with our hands and minds!

Thank You for Your insight Lord! Help us to be thankful for this privilege and Joyfully head out to work today and everyday!

Please Forgive us Father for our sins, the things that go against Your Truths! May we turn to You for the only strength that will help us to do what is right and beautiful!!