Author: kezha1

A Christian mother, grandmother, and retired nurse living in Illinois. Called into a ministry of encouraging others to find their ultimate plan and purpose in life through Christ.

Acts 11:26 ” The Disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.”

For the early Church, the label “Christian” was anything but a compliment.  It was actually a derogatory name given to mock and ridicule Believers by others.  Thus the Disciples and other Followers of the Way did not use this term to identify themselves.

Nahum 1:3 ” The Lord is slow to anger and great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.”

Our Lord is long-suffering, wishing none to perish.  And if we but turn to Him, the Lord is willing to forgive all wickedness, rebellion, and sin.  Yet the Lord will never  exonerate the corrupt or allow them to go free.

Isaiah 7:9 ” If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.”

Many have a cause they stand for…endangered animals, human rights abuse, the list is endless.   You will  hear emotional pleas full of compassion and conviction from motivated people willing to take a stand.  So do we as Believers exhibit the same passions and principles when speaking of our faith and trust in Jesus?  Are we willing to bear witness to His work in our life and share our testimony with others?  If we won’t stand up for Jesus…what will we then depend on?

Psalm 5: 11 ” But let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You. “

Many friends are either headed to the Mission Field, or already  serving around the world.  My prayer,  is that God would shield them from harm…covering them all  around, with a hedge of protection.  May their confidence and trust ever be in You, Lord, as they go forth spreading the Good News of the Gospel.

Romans 11:33 ” Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! “

We can’t begin to know the abundant treasures available to us from the Lord.  With Divine counsel and guidance from the Holy Spirit, we can move forward fearlessly…having God-given insight and intimate fellowship from above.

Psalm 37: 23-24 ” If the Lord delights in a man’s way, He makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand.”

We all falter in our walk with the Lord…we all make mistakes and mess up from time to time, but it’s what we do when we’re down that makes all the difference to God.  Do we stay there, wallowing in self-pity and depression?  Are we brought down by the enemy, never to rise again?  Or do we take ahold of that steadfast trusting hand of the Lord and allow ourselves to be pulled out of the muck and the mire?

II Chronicles 20:20 ” Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, ‘ Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in His prophets and you will be successful.’ “

Faith in a brand new Christian starts out small.  It grows with every trust building experience…just like that Lincoln Log set you had as a kid.  Faith is built one log or block at a time.  And for those times  when your faith is not strong…look to Godly people who can come along side and shore up  your wavering faith.

John 1:5 ” The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.”

If you get up very early as I do every morning, you can watch with your own eyes the wondrous phenomenon called sunrise.  The pitch black of night is overcome and dispelled by the light of dawn as the sun slowly rises above the horizon.  Jesus came to turn our darkness into light…His truth shining forth – once and for all  overwhelming and scattering sin and death.

Acts 10:15 ” Do not call anything impure God has made clean.”

The Lord showed the Apostle Paul that all men – whether Jew or Gentile – were made in His image.  This powerful encounter with God so impacted him, that later in Romans 10:12, Paul declares, “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all…”

Haggai 1:5 ” Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘ Give careful thought to your ways.’ “

Today is the day the Lord would like you to assess your walk with Him.  Are you doing everything He desires…or has life gotten in the way?   Has your path veered  off course from the perfect plan He set out for you?  Prudently, mindfully, evaluate your ways…and the Lord will faithful to reveal any changes that need to be done.