Are You Guilty?

Not to long ago I heard one of those little one liners that I really liked and it stuck with me, it also got me to thinking about my personal walk with Jesus and my relationship with Him.  It read:  If they arrested you for being a follower of Jesus, would there be enough evidence to convict you?  Wow, that's cutting to the heart of the matter isn't it.
So I started thinking, does my fruit show evidence that I am a faithful follower of Christ?  When others are asked about me, what would they say?  People know how much I love my kids and grandkids, but do they truly know how much I love the Lord?  Is my walk consistent with my talk?  Of course I would like to think so but the proof is in my works.  What am I doing for the Kingdom of God?  Everything I have read lately, all the preaching I've heard, the one consistent theme has been, "it's all about God", it's His will not mine.
He created us for a purpose, are we fulfilling that purpose?
Do I/we truly have faith in all things concerning Jesus?
James 2: 17-26  17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.  18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
The Bible says:  John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Phil. 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
So many promises in the Bible and yet, what do we do for Him?  He has not required us to be imprisoned, beheaded, beaten.... yet we grumble at what He has asked us to do which is spread the gospel, love our neighbor as ourselves.  Honor Him.  
A dear friend has  a blog that explains it so much better than I can.  If you pop over and read it, I'm sure he would be happy and you won't be sorry.  Here's his link:  http://serious-things.com/evidence-of-our-wellspring/
I will leave you with this one question:  "If you were arrested for being a follower of Jesus, WOULD there be enough evidence to convict you?"
God bless
tawanab

He Truly Knows

I love the Lord God with all my heart. He is so faithful, the One true God, merciful, loving, just and faithful. No matter what I've done in my life, no matter where I've been. He has been there for me, even when I didn't serve Him. That is faithful. That is our God, He cannot lie, He says in His word He will never leave us or forsake us.
My heart was heavy this morning, my faith is strong but like a baby I was crying out to God to help me get my mind out of my situation and leave it with Him as it's supposed to be, to give me strength to overcome and remove my trials from my heart and mind, what I'm facing right now is not even one of the hardest things I have ever faced but it's consuming me and when I think I'm making progress satan is there to throw it right back in my face. I rebuked him in the name of Jesus to start with, then I asked God to give me a word for strength to meditate on today.
Being the mighty God He is and "knowing what I have need of even before I ask", this is the word God gave me today. Not what you might think or at least not what I thought it would be lol. I was sure He would lead me to one of His assurances, Lo, I am with you always, cast your cares on me, etc etc. Well, let me tell you, that isn't how God works. He does indeed know what we have need of before we ask!!!
This was my message (thump): Acts 6:4, But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of His word.!!! Double thump!
What an awesome God! In that one sentence this is what He told me:
My beloved child I AM answering your prayers as we speak, not just one but all. I AM Your Father who loves you more than I love the sparrows which are also my creation. I AM preparing a place for you. I AM making all things work for good because you serve Me. I AM supplying your every need according to My riches in glory. I AM.
All I ask you to do is this one thing, be faithful to Me continually in your prayers and spread My word. Leave the rest up to Me.
How can you not love a God like that, He is the great I AM, our provider, our comforter, our leader, our guide. He is worthy to be praised.
I share this with you today because He isn't only speaking to me, His word, His truths are meant to be shared...(the ministry of His word).
Beloved, God is not respecter of persons, what He does for one, He will do for all. (Acts 10:34, Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
That is what He wants us to know today. He is the great I AM. At this very moment, if we just hang onto our faith in Him, no matter our circumstances or what the devil is trying to throw at us, He is working ALL things out for our good. He keeps all His promises. He is not a God of chance but of second chances. God cannot lie, every promise He has given us He must keep. If you don't know Him, I challenge you today to pick up His word, meet Him in prayer and get to know Him. He is there waiting for you, He has all the answers to your prayers just waiting for you to ask. He is our Father who loves us more than the birds in the air and the beasts of the field which He also created. He doesn't want to see us struggling today, as He says in His word, "28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light". Matthew 11:28-30"
He is the conqueror, the great I AM.
Father, God I praise You and I adore You. I thank You for Your word, for Your mercy and grace and for loving me even when I am unlovable. You are ALL things to me. I love you Lord. Forgive me today for the sins I have committed both known and unknown. Help me to forgive others so I might walk in Your full blessings. Today Father for those who are struggling with mountains, I ask You in the name of Jesus to move those mountains for them, so they can focus on You and not their problems. I ask You to heal their bodies, deliver them from those addictions, heal their minds and their spirits, lift those financial burdens, those marital struggles, whatever their mountain is God. Heal their broken hearts and broken spirits, take away their doubts and help them to have a more meaningful relationship with You Father. Show them today that You are working in their lives just the same as You are working in mine. And if there is someone right now reading this that doesn't know You, Father God, draw them to You, speak to them right now Lord, in the name of Jesus that they might come to You, ask forgiveness and accept Jesus Christ as Your Son and Lord and Master. Bring them into Your fold, make them a part of Your inheritance. Help all who read this today to turn their mountains, their cares over to You and show them in a mighty way that You are God. They no longer have to fight their battles alone for Your word says clearly "the battle is Yours". Your mercy and grace are free to all who ask. I ask for them and for myself, Father, in Jesus mighty and powerful name, giving You all praise, honor and glory. Amen

May God richly bless you all,
His servant - tawana b
Pray for peace in Jerusalem
"I am wonderfully made, beautifully designed, magnificently engineered, created by God, strong and powerful! I am built Lord tough!"

Get a Grip!

That was my lesson from God this morning. As I told my daughter, every blog I write is a lesson God has given me that day. It's personal for me but I enjoy sharing it.

This is what He told me this morning:

You can't hold on to God with one hand and the world with the other - you will lose your grip on one of them! Matthew 6:24No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

God intends for us to live this life, that is why He gave it to us, however, nothing in it should be more important to us than the One who gave us life. He wants more than anything to give us everything we desire, but our desires should match His. He wants the very best for us, we should want the very best for ourselves. That doesn't mean new cars, new homes, fancy clothes or jewelry, although He can and does give us those things.

I often compare God and myself to me and my own children and grandchildren. I want to see them happy and give them everything they desire to make them happy but as a parent I know that not everything they desire is what's best for them and I know what they need. They need love, nurturing, food for their tummies, warmth, education, etc. I know "things" make them happy and want to give them everything. However, I also know "things" only give them momentary satisfaction, then generally they want newer, shinier (more expensive) things. Momentary satisfaction doesn't last while meeting their deepest needs does.

That is what God does for us, He provides our every need for growth and will give us those little "things" we want along the way. He loves us so much more even than we love our own children. In His wisdom, He knows the things that will truly make a lasting impression on us. He knows what is best for us.

Just like our own children, we may forget that new "toy" in a month or so but we will never forget how God provided for us in our time of need.

At the moment, we truly want that new car, new house, new shoes etc., but a few months down the road it's not good enough and we want something else to play with-something newer, shinier, (more expensive). You get my drift, right? Just like our own children! Now think about it --(here comes a God thump), where do they learn it??? Ouch.. pointing fingers back at self, :(

God wants the very thing from us that we want from our own children, love, respect and to see us happy and healthy.

He wants us to turn to Him for our every care because He truly cares for us.

Matthew 6:25-34 25Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

He wants to see us happy. He loves to see our smiles and our joy even more than we enjoy seeing the faces of our own children. Just like our own children, their new toys take time away from us unless we teach them to put them in the proper perspective. Our new toys can take our time away from our precious Heavenly Father if we don't put our priorities in perspective.

Enjoy this life God has given you, enjoy the toys He gives you but remember those aren't what's important in life, it's the One who gave you life, the One who sustains it that is most important. Be in this world, not of this world: 1 John 2:15, 15Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Don't try to hold on to God with one hand and the world with the other, GET A GRIP on God with both hands. Let go of the things of this world, whether it be possessions, music, people, addictions or just day to day busyness, let it go. God will provide the needs and the desires of your heart if you seek each day to be in the center of His will. 1 John 5:14, And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

What a promise! Just let go and let God. Are you having problems today? (who isn't). It might be in a relationship, at work, with your finances, whatever it is, those are wordly things, God wants you to turn lose with that hand and get a grip on Him with both hands. He will take care of you, He will take care of any situation. He can do so much more than we ever can. Don't let your worries cause you to lose your grip on God, allow God to loosen your grip on your worries (this world). Give God your other hand.

God bless