Can You Past The Test?

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” James 1:2-3 (NIV)

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When I was trying to earn my Medical Assistant License , sometimes I would have Phil ask me practice test questions.

He proceeded to ask me questions. One question after another was met with my slow thoughtful answer, most of them wrong. With my inadequate preparation revealed, I had to retreat back to study with my notes in my hand. After much more studying and answering, I did manage to graduate and pass the Certified Medical Assistant License test.of study, he did indeed sail through the questions.

The study questions he gave me made me uncomfortable. When Phil was asking me study questions, our intent was to reveal the weak areas I needed to so I would be ready for the real test! 

Just as I tested my husband, God tests me. He often puts me in uncomfortable positions to uncover weak areas. God doesn’t point out my weakness to take advantage of me. Instead, His testing is to reveal areas that need work, so I will be strong enough to persevere and eventually succeed in what He’s called me to do.

God uses all kinds of life situations to test us. Testing can take the form of difficult people in our lives, times of waiting, or a challenge to step outside our comfort zone to be obedient. Will we avoid the situation? Will we suffer through it and quit because it’s too hard? Or will we persevere and overcome?

We might think God gets frustrated with us when we “fail” a test. I sometimes wonder if God wants to give up on me when I repeat the same mistakes. But just because  I didn’t know the answers on our mini-quiz didn’t mean My husband would give up on me. Just the opposite! He wanted me to succeed and was willing to give me question after question to make sure I was ready.

God’s testing us can be to prepare us for something important,. He wants to see if we can sustain the pressure in preparation for something big. So, the next time your Heavenly Father gives you a test, consider His desire to see you succeed. If a weakness is revealed, thank Him for helping you move to the next level by strengthening you.

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)

Don’t Be Defeated

Just like the picture says, Don’t be defeated! Remember! You are a Child of the King! When I fell inadequate, unloved, unworthy or defeated, remember whose daughter your are and straighten your crown!

Deuteronomy 2:7 “For the Lord Thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: He knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the Lord thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.”

Proverbs 12:25 “An anxious heart, weighs us down.”

Deuteronomy tells us of God encouraging Moses as he guides the Israelites through the wilderness.

Today, I want to be encourage you, just as God encouraged Moses in the wanderings of His children moving from Egypt to Canaan. Don’t be defeated! God takes care of our every need.

I encourage your to Read Deuteronomy Chapters 1 and 2.

We have things that discourage us and make us worry. Sick family members, bills to pay even watching the news. These scriptures from Deuteronomy Chapters 1 and 2 feed us with encouragement like the Manna that God fed the Israelites with in the Wilderness.

Moses and the Israelites seem to keep repeating their mistakes over and over, of not trusting God to get them to the Promise Land. God brought them through 40 years in the wilderness. He supplied all of their needs. Just like he supplies all of our needs. He is the same God that clothes the lilies of the field and feeds the singing sparrow!

Don’t be defeated! You have a Heavenly Father! He yearns for us to talk to him in prayer.

I Peter 5:7 “Cast all your cares upon the Lord because he cares for you”

Pilot said, “What Shall I Do With Jesus? You are being asked the same question.

The Crucifixion of Jesus was part of God’s plan from the very beginning of the birth of Jesus. The sin of mankind would require a sacrifice. The sinless life of Jesus was lived and given so mankind could receive salvation and eternal life in Heaven. The Resurrection of Christ is the foundation of our Christian faith. Without the resurrection, the belief in God’s saving Grace through Jesus is destroyed.

When Jesus rose from the dead, he confirmed His identity as the Son of God and His work of atonement, redemption, reconciliation, and salvation were proven. The resurrection was a real, physical raising of Jesus’ body from the dead

Matthew 28:1-10

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. 
Mat 28:2  And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 
Mat 28:3  His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 
Mat 28:4  And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 
Mat 28:5  And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 
Mat 28:6  He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 
Mat 28:7  And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. 
Mat 28:8  And they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. 
Mat 28:9  And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. 
Mat 28:10  Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. 

Triumphal Entry Women’s Devotional

Coming up this Sunday is Palm Sunday. The Triumphal Entry was described by the prophet Zechariah, in Zec 9:9. When Christ would appear in his glory. His appearance is in his meekness, not in his majesty, by his mercy to work out our salvation. His meekness and outward poverty were fully seen in his triumphal entrance to Jerusalem They brought the donkey, but Jesus did not use it without the owner’s permission. The chief priests and the elders joined in with the multitude that abused him and put him upon the cross! But of how little value is the applause of people! The changing people, like today, follow the multitude. They join the cry of the day, whether it is  Hosanna, or Crucify him. Multitudes often seem to approve the gospel, but believe and obey it. When Jesus came into Jerusalem all the city was moved; some were moved with joy, were moved with envy and jealousy.

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Matthew 21: 1-21As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”[a]6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna[to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[c]

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Yes,During Jesus’ triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem he enters in peace despite the fact that He knows how the week ahead will end.

Yes, Jesus rode in to Jerusalem on the back of a borrowed donkey on that Sunday. In the next week, Jesus would defy all political expectations. The Jews had been looking for a coming Messiah that would come to free them from their tyranny of Roman oppression but Jesus would free them from things even more powerful; sin, death and hell itself. Jesus came not as a victorious conqueror but as the humble lamb of God, who had come to lay down his life for and me.

Blessings and Joy in Springtime!

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It’s spring! Don’t you love it! God has given use new life! We should be joyful! We have been on the look out for Daffodils! That is the first sign of Spring for me! It is so awesome to find joy in the blessings that God gives us each day! Find joy in the little things and do something that makes your heart bloom! Go out side and pick some fresh daffodils for you table! Read a book, meditate on God, take a walk, or just sit and drink coffee. Do something that makes your heart happy. It should make you happy just to know it is Spring. What will you do today that makes your heart bloom? What ever it is, Thank God for it!

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.