Who Doesn’t Love A Treat?

Ecclesiastes 2:25-26, “For without him, who can eat of find enjoyment? To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” (NIV)

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Who doesn’t love a good treat! I love a cup of coffee every after noon about 2:00! When your kids get home from school, don’t they always need a treat? When your grand kids visit, don’t they always ask for a treat?

Treats do not have to be food. Treats are things that cause you to have little moments of joy. Things like walking with your umbrella in the spring rain, or seeing your grandchild for the first time, or taking the top of your car and feeling the warm sunshine on your face.

All of there treats are gifts from God! He gives them to us to create moments of joy in the midst of our busy schedules, projects t, activities to attend, and chores to be done! Thank you, God, for simple treats that make us happy!

Let God refresh you with his Spirit. His word tells us in;

John: 4: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.kjv

Drink the Living Water and you’ll never thirst again. If you are really feeling weary, treat yourself to some music, sing a a hymn or two but most importantly, do something for someone else!

Choose to Be A Positive Influence

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You, my friend, have the power to influence others in a positive manner. You have a minute by minute choice to be a positive or negative influence on the people around you.

You don’t have to be famous, rich or successful. You don’t need an impressive degree or lots of followers on social media. You do not have to be a specific age, nationality or personality is not a requirement, and you’re not limited by your job, location or marital status or political views. 

Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (NIV)

I believe within every woman’s heart is the desire to be successful, positive and encouraging. Whether we are buried under loads of laundry or piles of dish, climbing the corporate ladder in our business suits, or serving the least of these, you can be a positive influence on others. You may be here or in the mission field. Who and wherever you are, God gives you opportunities  to do good and encourage others.  Each one of us has lots and lots of opportunities to influence our kids and grand kids, our fiends and coworkers and maybe even our friends on social media. 

God uses ordinary people like you and me to do extraordinary things! Although we are not perfect and because of God’s grace and power in and through us, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. As Jesus said: ““I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 (NIV)

Spring Women’s Challenge 2021 “Telling Your Story” Pray Like Hannah

Day 10

Today is day 10 of our Spring Women’s Challenge 2021.”Telling your Story” Today our devotion is about praying like Hannah.

Our verse is I Samuel 2:1And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. 

I Samuel 2:1-10 Hannah’s heart rejoiced in prayer and,  not in Samuel, but in the Lord. She looks beyond the gift, and praises to the one who gives our blessings. Hannah rejoiced in the salvation of the Lord, and in the expectation of His coming. This is the purpose whole salvation of his people. The strong are soon weakened, and the weak are soon strengthened, when God pleases. Are we poor? God made us poor, which is a good reason why we should be content, and make up our minds to our condition. Are we rich? God made us rich, which is a good reason why we should be thankful, and serve him cheerfully, and do good with the abundance he gives us. He respects not man’s wisdom or fancied excellence, but chooses those whom the world accounts foolish,but God is  teaching us that we are his children and to value his free and precious salvation. This prophecy of Hannah looks to the kingdom of Christ, that kingdom of grace, of which Hannah speaks. The subjects of Christ’s kingdom will be safe, and the enemies of it will be ruined; for the Anointed, the Lord Christ, is able to save, and to destroy. God hears our prayers and He is taking care of us until He returns and takes us home with him.

I love this quote from Ed Bauseman. I read it on the faithfulpreaching.com website. Be praying because the buzzards are flying! “The lesson of Jesus on the buzzards flying is clear. Whenever this world becomes as morally rotten, putrefied, and stinking, as it was in the days of Noah, Lot, and Lot’s wife, that condition will draw the Judgment of God.

At such a time as this just look up, and by the eye of faith you can see the buzzards making lazy circles in the sky over the rotting carcass of humanity. How long can God endure the stench, the foul odor of a drug-infested, sports-crazed, sexually-perverted, and violent, pleasure-mad world? It is in days like these that Jesus referred when He said, ‘When the Son of Man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?’ “

Are you praying and ever faithful? Do you have the faith to pray like Hannah? God stills answers the prayers of his people. Pray with thanksgiving and praise.

Spring Women’s Challenge 2021 “Telling Your Story” Faith Like Abraham

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Today is our Spring women’s Challenge of “Telling Your Story” by Stepping out with Faith like Abraham! Today our scripture verse is Galatians 3:7 “Know  ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. ”

Our lesson today is the Faith of Abraham to step out and speak of the things God wanted him to say. Faith motivated Abraham to obey God’s call and leave the familiar to discover the territory he was destined to inherit from God. So he left with only a promise and without even knowing ahead of time where he was going, Abraham stepped out in  faith. Abraham is known as the father of our faith.

Abraham remained faithful when he was asked to sacrifice his son, Issac. God was asking him to prove himself faithful and he did so. In Genesis 22:1-10

Gen 22:1  And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. 

Gen 22:2  And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. 

Gen 22:3  And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. 

Gen 22:4  Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. 

Gen 22:5  And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. 

Gen 22:6  And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. 

Gen 22:7  And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? 

Gen 22:8  And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. 

Gen 22:9  And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. 

Gen 22:10  And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 

Faith without works is dead. Abraham believed that God would raise his child from the day. That was not the showing of faith. Abraham’s faith was when he actually drew the knife. He knew if God brought life from death then, he can bring the child back to life that was the promise of generations to come.  

What faith! Abraham’s faith is faith that calls us to put on the altar something that we cannot afford to lose and having the faith if we do lose it, God is still in control.

Is your faith a model of Abraham’s faith? Do you believe God can bring life from death then show you believe. James 2:26 “Faith without works is dead.”

Spring Women’s Challenge 2021 “Telling Your Story” Faith of Noah

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Today is our Spring Women’s Challenge 2021 “Telling Your Story. Today we are talking about the faith of Noah. Our scripture for today is Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. 

Our lesson for today is the Faith of Noah.

Noah lived in a day in which man was described as “wicked” and when “every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” Genesis 6:5. A day when the earth was corrupt and filled with violence Genesis 6:11–12 It was ultimately a day when God finally said enough is enough and promised to destroy mankind with the earth Genesis 6:13This sounds a lot like today!

The scriptures say that Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord Genesis 6:8. In such a mean and perverse world, Noah was characterized as a righteous man, blameless in his generation, someone who walked with God, just as Enoch did . In a day of unrestrained evil, Noah, who had a right relationship with God, stands out Genesis 7:1

Hebrews 11 tells us “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. ”

Are you seeking him. Do you have enough faith to Tell your story to someone about how good good has been to you?

Spring Women’s Challenge 2021 Telling Your Story of being “Blessed”

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Today is  Women’s Spring Bible Challenge 2021 Telling Your Story of being Blessed, because you are following the Beatitudes. Our verse for today Matthew 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 

In our lesson today are the The beatitudes which come from the opening verses of the famous Sermon on the Mount.

The Bible says we have peace with God through Jesus Christ.The Preacher of the Sermon on the Mount was of course our Jesus, the Prince of preachers, the great Prophet of his church, who came into the world, to be the Light of he world. Our lesson for today is Jesus sharing telling his story of the “Beatitudes.” Matthew 5: 1-12 :

Matt 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 

Mat 5:2  And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 

Mat 5:3  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Mat 5:4  Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 

Mat 5:5  Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 

Mat 5:6  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 

Mat 5:7  Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 

Mat 5:8  Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 

Mat 5:9  Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 

Mat 5:10  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Mat 5:11  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 

Mat 5:12  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 

Christ teaches that the greatest joy and happiness is not in the conveniences and pleasures of this life, but is laid up in heaven for those who willingly rest in the good will and pleasures of God, even in a pandemic.

Spring Women’s Challenge 2021 to ” Tell Your Story” of Compassion

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Today our Spring Women’s Challenge to Tell your Story. Today we want you to tell your story of Compassion. Our Scripture today is Luke 10:33 ”But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him.”

Our lesson today is about the Compassion of the Good Samaritan .God wants us to love others (especially when they are different). That’s the point of the parable of the Good Samaritan.  It is found in Luke 10:33-37 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,  Luke 10:34  And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. Luke 10:35  And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.  Luke 10:36  Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?  Luke 10:37  And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. 

The Samaritan is the unlikely hero in the story, and it would have sounded particularly shocking since Samaritans and Jews despised each other. Jesus described one’s neighbor as reaching beyond ethnic and community lines.

God wants His followers to love others, have compassion, just as He does. We are to respond to others as God would respond to them, just as the Samaritan responded to the half-dead man on the side of the road, that is the way God responds to us when we are dead in our sins and in need of radical grace that can only come from Jesus.

Are you showing Compassion ? Have you been show compassion or do you need radial grace.

The best part of this story is that the man lying in the road didn’t have to earn anything to be given grace by the Samaritan. At the center of our faith is a man who died on a cross for the people who abused and hated Him; He rose again so that He could extend grace to those same people. Now we are lying on the road dead in our sins, and He extends His hand with free, radical grace—something that we could never earn or repay.

Will we go and love others, showing compassion likewise; will we help others without expectations of repayment or deserving character?Will you tell your story of Compassion that has been given to you or that you have given?

Spring Women’s Challenge 2021 to “Tell Your Story of “The Wonders of God”

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Today is our Women’s Spring Challenge 2021 . ” The Wonders of God.” Our Scripture test today is Psalms 96:3. “Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. ”

His wonders are among all people. His “marvelous works;”are the things that should suited to cause us to be astonished because of the great things that God has done! Things  which lie  far beyond the power of any other created being, and which is far beyond their vastness, their wisdom, and their benevolence. These wonders should make a deep impression on us.

When Christ finished his work on earth, and was received into his glory in heaven, the church began to sing a new song unto him, and to bless his name. His apostles and evangelists showed forth his salvation among the heathen, his wonders among all people. All the earth is here summoned to worship the Lord. We must worship him in the beauty of holiness, as God in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself. Glorious things are said of him, both as motives to praise and matter of praise.

Are you telling your story of how wonderful God has been to you?

Telling Your Story Spring Challenge 2021 Being Reluctant to Tell Your Story

Day 4

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Today our Women’s Spring Challenge 20201 “Telling Your Story” Today’s lesson is about being reluctant to tell your story. Maybe your are like Jonah, being Reluctant to listen to God or reluctant to tell your story because you are reluctant to live in the light. Phil and are the type of people who loves a lot of light.  The first thing we do each day is open all of the curtains in our house. Letting the light shine in so we can enjoy all the Blessings of the day.

Our Scripture for today is Luke 11:33 “33 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.”

Sometimes we might not want to follow directions because we don’t understand why we must do something. We also might disagree about it, or we might even be afraid. That makes us reluctant to tell our stories and to hide our light in a secret place, so it is not seen.

The story of Jonah is an example of a reluctance. Jonah Chapter 1.

In the book of Jonah, we learn about a man named Jonah who didn’t want to do what God wanted him to do. He chose to disobey God, and he had consequences.

God wanted Jonah to go to a place called Nineveh, but Jonah didn’t want to go!

Well, God had an even bigger way to get Jonah’s attention! When Jonah refused to follow God’s directions, God used a giant whale to get his attention!

When Jonah was trying to run away from God, God used a whale to swallow Jonah! He stayed in the whale for 3 days and 3 nights. During that lonely time, Jonah did a lot of praying. He told God that he was ready to listen and that he would go to the city of Nineveh and let the people know that they needed to change their ways and follow God.

And do you know what? The people in the city listened to Jonah, and they asked God for forgiveness. They changed their ways and promised to live better lives and make better choices. God used Jonah to help save the lives of many people in the city of Nineveh. 

God really needed Jonah’s help because He wanted to help the people of Nineveh. They were making bad choices and God wanted Jonah to go warn them and help them turn their lives around and worship God. Jonah didn’t want to go because he didn’t want to help the people that lived in Nineveh. He didn’t want to love them.

God helped Jonah learn a very important lesson about listening to and following God’s plans.

If we you are reflecting Christ in our hearts, then we are pursing holy, pure and just things. Our lives are a living example.  Our hearts are either experience light or darkness, good or evil.  Like Jonah, are you reluctant to tell your story because your are ashamed to admit to God that your light is hidden in a secret place. God already knows and like Jonah, He loves you and wants your light to shine so you are not reluctant to tell your story boldly!

Telling Our Story Spring Challenge

Prepared To Tell Our Stories

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It’s DAY#3 of Our Spring Women’s Challenge for 2021. Our topic is “Telling Our Story” Today’s topic is “Prepared to Tell our Story”

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” 1 Peter 3:15.

As Christians, each and every one of us has a testimony—a story of the way that Christ has worked in our lives. Regardless of your background or past, God wants to use the stories of both the hardships and the victories in our lives to transform the lives of those around us. It is truly a beautiful thing how He can redeem even the most difficult parts of our lives and use them to impact others for the Kingdom. By telling your story, you truly are telling God’s story!

Here are some ways you can be prepared to share your story.

• Study God’s word and know the answers to the questions.
• Live your life because people are always watching.
• Go out of your way to show dignity to others.
• Be alert for opportunities to go deeper with them.
• Listen well.
• Share your story, but leave room for conversation.

When we share our stories of Christ and when we share why we believe in God, we are to do it lovingly. It’s not a time to get defensive, be driven to anger, or for it to become a debate. We have to watch out for that. We have to be our best selves when sharing our stories. Know what the bible says and be able to show it to anyone at any time. Let them read it for themselves.

Be ready to give an account of what you believe and why you have the beautiful hope we have . Our hope is because of Christ.

By Being Prepared to Tell your Story to others!

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” 1 Peter 3:15.