Don't Despair Give It To God

There have been many times in my life when I have felt like throwing in the towel and walking away from everyone and everything.  I think we have all had this feeling of despair, not knowing where to turn or what to do.  It is so easy to give up, it takes no work, you  can pretend none of it is real and go on ignoring it or you can trust God to bring you through whatever is weighing you down,  

I went through most of my life running from God and I was miserable, I knew right from wrong, I was raised in the church but I threw all my knowledge of what I learned away and lived in sin, allowing Satan to keep me bound to him with the desires of the world because he would wrap up in pretty packages those things I thought I wanted.

  Let me just say right here that Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy.  If we are Christians and we stay in the Word of God we learn to resist the devil when he comes to steal what Jesus gave us when He died on the cross for us.  Such as healing, it says in 1 Peter 2:24 Who, his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we being dead to sins, should live into righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.  It does not say you will be healed it says you were healed.  We receive that by faith just as we received salvation.  Satan comes to steal that through deception just as he deceived Eve in the garden.  He makes you believe that it has not yet been done and if we do not have the knowledge of the Word then we become easy prey.  He will destroy your faith if you allow him to.  But we have a defense against this in the Word of God.  Attending Church, Bible studies, Sunday School and fellowship with other Christians.  We are to be in the world but not of the world.  

  Joshua 1:9  Have not I commanded thee?  Be strong and of a good courage, be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.

Isaiah 41:10-13 
¹⁰ Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
¹¹ Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.
¹² Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.
¹³ For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

How wonderful is it that we have a God that loves us so much that He not only gave His only Son to die on the cross and take on the sin of all mankind but that He provides us shelter from the storms of life. We just need to believe and to seek Him constantly for strength in peace, faith and love.  The devil can't take anything from you unless you let him, call on God, He will deliver you.  

I remember the night I couldn't do it on my own anymore, right here in this house in my living room all alone listening to Pastor Greg Laurie I repented of my sins and accepted Jesus as my savior.  It has made a huge difference in my life, it has been a process of finding a church home where I feel that I am getting what I need and that I can be of help to others, where my pastor speaks the Word of God and not what people want to hear, I have great friends that I know when I ask them to pray, they will and a great mentor, friend and teacher in Bible study. I have watched God work in my life, answering prayers, speaking to me and I have witnessed a few miracles along the way.  I am a young Christian and I know the importance of staying in the Word of God.  Don't be discouraged, think of this verse when you are fighting a battle against the devil.  And remember if the devil is attacking you it is because you are doing something right and he doesn't like that.  He doesn't bother those that follow him, he has no need to, he has them bound in sin.  

John 16:33
³³ These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

I know at times it can be hard, I have to seek encouragement from strong Christian leaders to keep my faith and know that God has this.  I am going through something in my life right now where I too need to remember what I have written.  It is what led me to share this.  

Cheryl C  McNeil

Where Are You Storing Your Treasures

Matthew 6:19-21  Lay up not for yourselves treasures upon earth , where moth and rust doth corrupt up for, and where thieves break through and steal, " But lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.  

Jesus linked this to to our hearts desires right there in verse 21.  How do we treasure the Lord above all?  By giving our time, our talents and our money to His works, not this worlds.  Paul tells us in  Colossians 3:23-24 there are eternal rewards for those that serve Christ.  He says, And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.  He goes on in Colossians 3:25 to say: But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.  The Bible, which is the inerrant word of God is telling us to serve Jesus, not man.  That does not mean we are to have nothing on this earth but that we are to use what God gives us to help others with a joyful heart and not because we are expecting anything from it but the joy of giving and helping.  Yes God commands it of us but if we do it with the wrong heart it is if we are not doing it at all.  We should want to do it to help others and to glorify God.  If we have faith and do as God expects He will provide our needs.  We should use our gifts He has given us for His service.  If we have a talent in singing we should sing for the Lord, not for our own glory but for God's, He gave us the talents and we should use them to glorify Him.  If you teach, sing, play music or have a servants heart do it for God's glory and not your own.

Judas, one of the disciples of Christ who walked with Christ and was taught at His feet didn't comprehend what Jesus taught him.  He sold Jesus out for the price of 30 pieces of silver.  He valued money more than his friend and His life.  Now we know this had to happen in order for Jesus to die for our sins and it was a very important part that Judas played in history but it still shows that when we store our treasures on earth we lose the kingdom. 

Be assured that no act of kindness will go unnoticed by God.  Feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, giving warmth to the cold and helping where ever needed in your church and your community are things we should do for God.  Do this because they need help and not for your Glory, do not be self serving.  Those that seek their own glory shall have their rewards here and now, they covet mens praises and they will not be storing up rewards in Heaven.  Their treasure is clearly instant gratification and they do not care to wait upon the Lord.  How much better will the gratification of being with Christ in the Kingdom of God be than the praises of men?  It takes work and at times we will be persecuted for loving the Lord but do it with all of your heart for God not for human masters. 

The rich young man is a perfect example of storing your treasures on earth.  Matthew 19:16-30  And behold one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal  life?   And he said unto him, why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.  He saith unto him, which?  Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honor thy father and thy mother and Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  The young man saith unto Him, all these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?  Jesus said unto him, if thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven and come and follow me.  But when the young man heard that saying he went away, sorrowful for he had great possessions.  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of Heaven.  And again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.  When His disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, who then can be saved?  But Jesus beheld them and said unto them, with men this in impossible but with God all things are possible.  Then answered Peter and said unto Him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee, what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, verily I say into you that ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife or children, or lands, for my names sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.  But many that are first shall be last and the last shall be first.

This young man had obeyed the commandments but would not give up his riches and follow Jesus.  He did not wish to help the poor but to keep it all to himself, therefore he lost the Kingdom which he asked how to gain.  He chose to store his treasures on earth.  Don't worry about what you will eat , drink, where you will live if you are serving Christ by helping others God will provide your needs.  Jesus says in  Matthew 6:26  Behold 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?  

He tells you He will provide your needs, you must have faith,  believe His words, do as He says and you will gain the rewards in Heaven where your treasures are stored. 

Cheryl C McNeil

                                                    Having a Servants Heart

Galatians 5:13  For you were called to freedom brothers, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through our love, serve one another.

One morning as I woke I was anxious to work on my budget, spend some time in God's word and have my prayer time.  However there were, as I saw them, obstacles in my way.

As I dealt with the things that needed my attention I heard that small still voice, you know, God.  He was telling me that He put those things there and I should always happily and without question do His will.  I went about my morning and when I finished I went to the Lord in prayer and prayed for my servants heart.

You may ask, what is a servants heart? God has called is to be servants, to carry out His will.  The master has the vision that we should be ready and available to carry out His vision and see it through.

We must learn to listen and know His will.  We must always know if it is His from Him or the enemy, remember if it doesn't line up with the Word of God it is not of Him.  He will never ask us to do anything that is not of Him.  We need to touch lives in a way that make a difference, reaching out and responding even when someone can't reach out to us and ask for help.  We should always act in a way pleasing to God.  There are plenty of places to help, there is always something going on in the world where people need help, we may not be able to pull up our roots and go but we can donate, money, food, clothes etc...  We need to be less about ourselves and more about God.  I've questioned this many times as I know others have, I don't have the money to do this for others, believe me if we bless others God will bless us.  This was a hard lesson learned for me but so grateful that I learned it.

Having a servants heart is about our relationship with God and we should never look for favor or rewards for doing what He asks of us, we can't get to Heaven on good works, there is only one way there and that is through Jesus Christ.  We should always act in a way that is pleasing to God in all we do.  He is our provider and He will provide a way for you to do His will.  We must humble ourselves before the Lord and let his will take precedence over our circumstances, emotions, finances and emotions and actions.  I understand that we may not always have the money to help others but we always have the time to donate our labor, food from our pantry or just time to listen and always time to pray.

We will find fulfillment in serving the Lord.

Matthew 24:26  Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find him so doing.

1 Corinthians 13:13  And now abideth faith, hope and charity, these three, but the greatest of these is charity.