Apr

30

Turn Evil to Live and Live to Love

By Julie B Cosgrove | Comments Off


“I want them to turn from their evil ways and live…: Ez 18:23

The English language can be amazing. Take for example the words  EVIL and LIVE and VILE. They all have the same letters, yet such different  meanings. What if each letter stood for another word, is there a message in that?

E – everyone
V- vessel
I- instinct
L- living

Evil is selfish, it turns inward and only thinks of, well the self. It has no regard for others. Everyone becomes a vessel to be used, instinctively so you can live. This breeds greed, envy, jealousy, lust, anger and pride.

Being vile is to be a vessel to instinctively live in spite of everyone else. Vile is corruption of the vessel. It corrupts our lives. The vessel becomes a holder for evil, it is tainted and distorted.

Live puts life over instinct so you become a vessel for everyone. You put others  wellbeing first over your own needs. Mothers bring life to their children from their own bodies. They have given a part of themselves biologically and will emotionally as long as that child lives. Mothers almost instinctually put their children’s needs over their own. You see that in nature all the time. You can take it further and say mothers become a VEIL- they cover their kids in protection by being a vessel for each so they can instinctively live.

Now replace the Instinct with Offering and you have LOVE.   As humans it is instinctual that we  do what we can to survive. Christ, instead became an Offering and gave his life for us.  He asks us to do the same.. Living as an Offering Vessel for Everyone is the command for every follower of Christ.  The irony? In doing so, we get life back- eternal life where evil and vile things have no place.

“Greater love has no one  than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 

Lord, Renew in me daily the desire to be an offering to You so I can be used to help others. Fill me with your eternal love so I can fight off my human nature, my instincts to be selfish, angry, envious, or prideful. Let me be Your Vessel – fill me with love for everyone you put in my path. I pray this through Your Son who is my example, my Saviour and my life.  Amen.

Apr

30

Are You a Visual Creature?

By Jan Ross | Comments Off


“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

We are visual creatures!  Once we see something, it’s easier to believe it.  But that’s not faith!  The essence of faith believes something is real without having seen it – seeing it with the eyes of faith rather than natural eyes!

This short verse gives us a lot to think about!  Paul wrote these words knowing that we all have a tendency to walk by sight rather than by faith!  Although his letter was directed to the Corinthians, these eight short words still reverberate throughout the centuries . . . faith is seeing that which cannot be seen with our natural eyes and believing that it is!

Our eyes tell us that our circumstance is too difficult and we’re defeated!  Faith tells us that there is nothing too difficult for our God and He has already won for us the victory!  Our eyes tell us that the doctor’s report gives us little hope.  Faith says “I will believe the report of the Lord”!  Our eyes tell us that our children are lost.  Faith tells us that God’s promises are true and “when they are old they will not depart” from the Lord.

Keep in mind that God leads us into and through times where our faith is tested and tried.  We need to walk through this in order for the Lord to show us His mighty arm in the midst of our circumstances, revealing to us His ability to perform His Word and proving His integrity.  It’s a necessary part of the process of growing in our knowledge of Him – growing in a relationship that gives us the strength to endure knowing that we are never alone or forsaken!

If you think about it, fixing our gaze on the Author and Finisher of our faith will certainly cause awareness of our life’s circumstances to fade.  Faith will spring forth and doubt will flee.  Standing on the promises of God, clinging to Him through faith, and pursuing relationship with Him will lead us to victory over fear and doubt!  Those things which are seen by sight will give way to that which is seen by faith!

We have a commission to walk by faith knowing that our Heavenly Father is very able to keep us even in the midst of our darkest hour.  Don’t let your eyes deceive you but cling to His promises . . . “walk by faith, not by sight!” Turn your eyes upon Jesus . . . and the things of earth will grow strangely dim . . . ”

Heavenly Father, my flesh grows weak and my faith fades so easily. Lord, help me to keep my gaze fixed on You and Your promises so my circumstances won’t overwhelm me. My heart’s sole desire is to serve You, to love You, to worship You, not only in deed, but through steadfast faith in Your ability to keep me through it all. I love you, Lord! Amen!

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

Apr

29

The Burden

By Julie B Cosgrove | Comments Off


“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”   Matthew 11:28

When the sun set on the Sabbath a law abiding Hebrew was not allowed to carry a burden or walk more than about 2/3 of a mile.  Yet the Messiah carried a heavy burden- his own cross on the way to his death.  And once there on the cross, He carried the heaviest burden of all, the sins of the whole world. He carried my sins and yours. The ones we have been forgiven for, the ones we need to confess, the ones we have yet to commit.  

It is only when I conffess and take the burden of my sins off my shoulders that I can find rest. Then I can hear His word clearly and feel His Spirit within me.  Like a balloon, the weight is gone and I can be free to soar, to float high and light above the cares of this world. I gain a new perspective because my sin is no longer on His shoulders, I am – ridng like a child who is free and protected in love.

Dear Lord, forgive me for trying to carry the world on my own shoulders and not giving my burdens to you. They have wearied me and I need rest. Help me release them so I can be free – free of sin, free of worry and free to do Your will. Let me soar above the everyday trials and responsibilities I will face today and see them from a new perspective- up high on your shoulders, free and loved.  Amen.

Apr

29

Make Up Your Mind

By Jan Ross | 2 Comments


“…How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him…” (1 Kings 18:21)

Whoever said there are no absolutes was sorely mistaken.  Black or white! Right or wrong!  Hot or cold!  God or Baal!

How many times have you wanted to shake someone and tell them they have to make up their minds—either serve God wholeheartedly or don’t bother trying.

God is merciful, God is love, God is full of compassion and grace.  BUT, God is holy; He is a jealous God.  He will not tolerate gray.  He will not tolerate mediocrity.  He will not tolerate lukewarmness.  He will not tolerate half-heartedness in a relationship with Him.

God is drawing us to a level of relationship with Him like never before. It is one of singlemindedness . . . sold out, submitted and consecrated to Him.  He is preparing His Bride for His soon appearing by strengthening the relationship . . . causing the yearning for Him to increase day by day as we anticipate His coming!

Before you shake someone else for being double-minded, check your own heart.  Are you single-minded toward God or are you walking in the lukewarm, middle-of-the road state that breaks the heart of God?  We all need to examine our hearts in response to the drawing of His Spirit.

Father, forgive me, Lord, for not always being single-minded toward You. Forgive me, Father, for trying to live as the world while I try to live a Christian life.  I realize, Father, that I cannot continue to live like this . . . help me to make a choice to serve You with ALL my heart, mind, soul and strength regardless of the cost to me personally.  Father, as I anxiously look for the day when You tell Your Son to come get His Bride, cleanse me and make me ready to be presented to Him as pure and spotless. Lord, may my consecrated and set-apart life be a praise to You bringing You glory. Amen!

“Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.” (1 Corinthians 10:21)

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

Apr

28

Emanuel-God With Us

By Julie B Cosgrove | Comments Off


“No one has ever seen God ;but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”  1 John 4:12

 

 

That is a pretty daunting statement if you think about it. It means that some  people’s only chance to see the God’s love exists will be through me, the one wearing the little gold cross around my neck and the fish decal on my car. But even if I didn’t have those signs to mark me as Christ’s own, I have the Holy Spirit in me as a beacon. People would still know. But will they know I am “Christian by my love”? (As the old song says).

 

We just had some missionaries from Japan stay with us and they said one of the main stumbling blocks for the Japanese is that they consider the USA as a Christian nation, yet they also see we are arrogant and selfish in nature, we have horrible crime and corruption in our country and we do not honor our elderly.  They see the hypocrisy. President Obama recently questioned if we are a Christian nation. We are only when those of us who proclaim Christ act and pray and love like He taught us. As Joyce Meyer says so often, “sitting in Church does not make me a Christian anymore than sitting in my garage would make me a car”.  Amen, Joyce. Being an American does not make me a Christian, either. Only accepting Christ as my Lord and Savior does. The best way to show I am a Christian is by my love -  to not concentrate on others and not on myself, so His Spirit  that I have accepted in my heart can shine through.

 

Heavenly Father, may this cross I wear be a reminder to me that I am your ambassador in this foreign land called earth. In all I say and think and do today, let me glorify you and not myself. Let Your Holy Spirit be my guide so Your love may shine forth and draw others in to You through me. This is my humble prayer that I offer through your Son who lives and reigns with You and in me. Amen.

 

“For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, he cannot love God whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.”

 1 John 4: 20-21

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