Apr

30

Who DO You Trust?

By Julie B Cosgrove | 2 Comments


Blessed is the man who makes
the Lord his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after a lie!    Psalm 40:4

Who do you trust?  If you were  blessed enough to be raised in a loving, honest family, probably your siblings and your parents. If you two have taken your vows seriously, hopefully your spouse. We’d like to be able to trust our kids and their friends, and the parents of those friends. Used to be there was a common moral and ethical standard that everyone followed.   But today, there are so many standards that you just do not know who believes in what, or if they believe in anything except themselves.  Employees are afraid to trust their bosses, and bosses are on the look out for employees stealing time and resources. They have seen too many play on the computer instead of getting their work done. I remember reading a study that claimed the average worker in an 8 hour day only really works 5-5 1/2 hours.   At airports, security cannot trust anyone. Everyone must be treated as a possible threat. Each is screened, x-rayed, sometimes frisked.  Your word is no longer your bond.  We find it harder and harder to trust our elected officials.  Trust seems to be an American dinosaur – extinct.

We even hear people say, “I just can’t trust myself ” when it comes to shopping, or eating sweets, or whatever.  When you do not have trust, the strength of the bond is weakened. The glue that binds you to a truth loses it’s grip.  It becomes weak. People who have just come out of a hurtful relationship often find it hard to trust again. They fear being hurt once more.  so, who DO you trust nowadays?

There is one trust we can trust in – the love of God.  Our country’s motto states that, doesn’t it? Read it on any coin.  Our founding fathers knew that, and lived it.  Perhaps because we are all human, with pride and hurts and flaws, it is difficult to trust and not be disappointed.  But, there is a firm and sure foundation to trusting in God. Trust Him to know what is best and to lead you to the best choices. Trust Him with every aspect of your life – the gigantic “I can’t overcome it without Your help”  things as well as the “ should I even trouble you with this?” stuff.  It will bring you more peace and less strife, heartaches, ulcers and chronic pains.  Easier said than done, but well worth the effort.

Apr

30

Abounding Grace

By Jan Ross | 1 Comment


God’s grace.  What a gift!

In these last days we’re seeing sin abound.  Some even say that the state of this world would make Sodom & Gomorra blush. Whether or not that’s the case, it still remains that this generation has surpassed previous ones in its ability to perpetrate evil in unthinkable ways without conscience!

The good news is, however, that as sin increases, so does the Grace of God!

“Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20).

Greater measures of God’s grace can be found in:

Grace to Endure.  When the sinfulness of those around us seems to have increased, we can praise God that His grace has also increased our ability to endure persecution.

Grace to Shine.  When it seems like there’s nothing to be happy about, God’s grace gives us the ability to keep smiling, to keep praise on our lips and a song in our heart . . . not because of the condition of this world, but because of Who He is!

Grace to Evangelize.  An increased measure to share the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is being found in the hearts of believers today. It seems the more we see God’s goodness and grace in our lives, the more we want all those around to share in His amazing love!

Grace to Go Through What’s Happening In the World Today. Persecution, trials, tribulations. An extra measure of God’s grace enables us to face whatever comes our way!

Grace Inwardly and Outwardly.  God gives us a supernatural ability to resist sin and temptation by His Grace.

When you feel evil all around you, when you feel the weight of oppression bearing down on your life, look up.  God’s Grace has made a way for you to endure whatever you’re facing. His Grace is absolutely and unquestionably sufficient!

Father, thank you for your Grace. When I’m in need, when things around me seem to be falling apart, when I’m weighed down with oppression, when I feel that I can’t go on any longer, your Grace becomes my way through. What a wonderful expression of Your love toward us–toward me! Your Grace is so completely sufficient! Amen!

“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” (James 4:6-8)

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

Apr

29

A Ban on Mediocrity

By Jan Ross | 1 Comment


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

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

God is merciful. God is love. God is full of compassion and grace.  BUT, God is holy. And, He is a jealous God.  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 become too concerned that someone else may appear to be 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.

Put a ban on mediocrity in your life and serve God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.  The price may be steep, but you will reap the most glorious benefits imaginable!

Father, help me to make a choices throughout each and every day 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

Stinking Thinking

By Jan Ross | Comments Off


Paul, in his letter to the Church at Philippi, clearly defined a Godly thought life. The mind is the arena in which the enemy’s attacks are most vicious. He plants seeds in our thoughts, and then it is up to us what we’re going to do with them.

Will we allow the enemy’s seeds of “stinking thinking” to take root and grow, or will we cast out those seeds before they can ever take root?

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.“  (Philippians 4:8)

Our flesh wants to entertain gossip, slander, lies, etc., but we have authority through the shed blood of Jesus Christ our Lord and Master to cast down those thoughts which are not pleasing to God and the standard of His Word.  It is our duty to train ourselves to quickly recognize thoughts that are contrary to the mind of Christ and deal with them immediately, not giving them any opportunity to take root and grow.

It is has been said that the human mind has about three to five seconds after a thought enters the mind when a decision must be made. If the thought isn’t dealt with in that time, it’s likely to cause or affect the individual’s behavior.  That doesn’t give much time for decision-making.  We must quickly recognize “stinking thinking” and change our thought pattern!

Take note today of what thoughts you allow yourself to dwell on and use the authority vested in you by Jesus Christ to “Cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5)

Dear Lord, my thoughts are not always your thoughts or even pleasing to You. Help me exercise the authority You gave me over my thought life and help me think only on those things which are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report, full of virtue and full of praise. May my life including my thoughts bring glory to You in every way every day!

“… for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts…” (1 Chronicles 28:9)

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

Apr

26

Do I Say It?

By Julie B Cosgrove | 1 Comment


Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.  Colossians 4:5

Have you ever bopped yourself mentally after you walked away from a conversation. It suddenly hits you what you should have said, five minutes too late. Hindsight is twenty-twenty, isn’t it?  All at once your head fills with elegant prose you could have used instead of your stammered, short answers.

Or maybe, there were things you wanted to say, but you just didn’t have the gumption to spit them out. You were not bold enough.

Could it be you feared the consequences if you spoke your mind?The other person may have thought less of you, or gotten angry.  So once again you bit your tongue, the way you have so often it is numb to it now.

Perhaps you did blurt it out, and now regret the words that spewed like a sword, piercing another’s heart. If only you had held your tongue! If only you could take back what you said, wipe away the hurt.

I think each of these scenarios is being addressed by Paul in his advice to the Colossians. In essence, he is asking them to have grace in their speaking, i.e., to have Christ act through them.  The Truth is like salt. Salt as a flavor enhancer can make the listener want more. It can make them thirsty for the Living Waters that will cleanse their souls. Salt as a preservative can keep the words in their head, maturing to full potential in influencing them to follow the Way and the Light to salvation.

What will I be lead to say today, or what will I blurt out without thinking? Will I have the gumption to speak Truth and leave the consequences to the One who has put it in my mind to speak it?  Will I walk away confident that what needed to be said actually was?  Will I have exhibited graciousness? If I have let Christ guide the conversation, have truly listened before repsonding instead of thinking what I should say in reply before they are finished talking, then yes. Perhaps there is something to that old adage, think before you speak.

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