RSS

Monthly Archives: October 2008

Becoming the salt of the earth

Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.(NKJ)

 
Often times when I make breakfast, I add a pinch of salt and pepper to the eggs, scramble them then cook.  On occasion I will add ham, other times onions and tomatoes, my husbands favorite.

As I served breakfast the other morning, my husband went for the salt and I told him that I had already added it. This made me think of the verse above.  Sometimes us Christians, full of zeal for the Lord, may add too much salt to a conversation, especially when it comes to those that do not know the Lord.  In our love for the lost, we fail to measure our words and begin pouring out too much salt.  We then loose the flavor of our conversation.  

Have you ever had eggs where too much salt was added? We can´t eat it, and we end up throwing it out.

We need to measure the amount of salt we add.  Our conversations could be counsel, prayer, or an every day topic. I am sure we have at one time had those people overloading us with their  own topic, and we end up leaving not remembering what they spoke about. 

When we speak to others, it should be with faith hope and love, flavored so that they will want more from us.

If we add just the right amount of salt to our conversation, this will leave the person asking for more.

Blessings

 
3 Comments

Posted by on October 29, 2008 in Devotionals

 

Tags: ,

Amazing Blog Awards

Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times

 

I am so blessed to have found wonderful blog friends.  Valerie Lynn from Simply 4 God has awarded me this Butterfly Award,  and I was  surprised and  honored.  Friends are dear to me,  and I have enjoyed meeting wonderful new people through the blogosphere. 

 

Diane from Stepping into the Light  awarded me this friendship award.   I feel so loved getting a double award!

My blogging journey has been filled with blessings.  I enjoy meeting other believers, the comments received, and especially reading uplifting and encouraging post from around the globe.  I continue to meet new people through the blog network.

What I am especially grateful for is that we we have one thing in common:  Edifying the name of Jesus through our writing.

I would like to pass on these awards to all my blog friends and to let them know that I appreciate their time and dedication it takes to maintain a blog.   I enjoy reading your post and with each post I learn and grow. 

May the Lord continue to give us revelation as we write for Him.

 Blessings

 
2 Comments

Posted by on October 28, 2008 in Devotionals

 

Tags:

Supernatural Prison Break

Acts 16:22-24 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.(NKJ)

In the above passage, Paul and Silas just cast a demon out of girl. When the girls master saw that the demon had been cast out, they also saw that their profits were gone as well. The girls master then brought Paul and Silas into the market place, claimed that they were troubling the city and were teaching customs that were not lawful for them.

Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into the inner prison with a guard posted outside the door.

These two men of God had just done an awesome deed, and they received punishment for it. I don´t think much has changed today. Many times we try to do good, and our words and actions can be taken out of context and we are judged incorrectly by others.

One thing is clear though. The attitude Paul and Silas had made the difference. These men may have been in prison, but in their mind and spirits they were not in prison. They began to pray and praise the Lord and the next thing they knew, the prison doors were opened.

Some of us may be in a prison. Our prison could be rejection, fear, feeling unworthy, low self esteem and many other things. Consider Paul and Slilas; beaten, feet in shackles, most likely bleeding, did not accept defeat.

We can draw from their example and not accept defeat in our lives and circumstances. We can make freedom our reality. With Jesus in our lives, we do not have to live in a prison. We do not have to accept living in fear or helplesness. Jesus has set the captives free.

Receive that freedom in Him today, and begin living your life outside the prison walls.

Stumble it!

 
5 Comments

Posted by on October 22, 2008 in Devotionals

 

Making disciples by writing

Matthew 28:19 -20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (NKJ)

Coming across this verse recently impacted me in a different way.   I got this feeling that through this blog I am indeed doing my part in spreading the good news of Jesus Christ.      I am sure many of you feel the same.

While we may not draw the crowds that Jesus, Peter and Paul did, we do have an opportunity to share what the Lord shows us through His  word and through  revelation.

The Lord has told me several times and through others that we  don´t realize the people we impact through this ministry.   We don´t realize how  a devotional or an  aritlce  can minister or touch a persons heart, but it does.

I have come across blog post that have ministered to me just when I need it the most. I believe that us bloggers out there  are all part of His plan to spread the word of Jesus, even if we don´t always preach from the podioum.

Blessings in Him.

 
3 Comments

Posted by on October 18, 2008 in Devotionals

 

Carnival of Inspiration and Devotions

Welcome to another edition of Carnival of Inspiration and Devotion.    The following are great submissions received for this edition. 

Enjoy your read!

Minister Mamie L. Pack presents Called to pray posted at The Life I Now Live.

ChristianPF presents Are you a good steward? posted at Christian Financial Help.

Minister Mamie L. Pack presents Working in Wisdom posted at The Life I Now Live.

ITAKEOFFTHEMASK presents I Dream of a Better World posted at Poems, Quotes, Essays, Prayers, Affirmations.

A Sower presents Pure Joy posted at A Sower’s Heart.

Angela Williams Duea presents Shopgirl gets over herself posted at angelawd.

ChristianPF presents Tithing in the new testament posted at Christian Personal Finance Blog.

Charlene Smith presents What are Your Peace Stealers? posted at Personal Growth for Women: Charlene-Smith.com.

ITAKEOFFTHEMASK presents I Will Smile Again! (poem) posted at Best Inspirations.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of Devotionals and Inspiration using our carnival submission form.

 
3 Comments

Posted by on October 15, 2008 in Christianity, Devotionals

 

Tags:

How to go to heaven

According to the Word of God
It is very simple to be saved and takes only a minute to explain. Please let me show you how to go to Heaven from the Bible, God’s Word…

Man is a sinner.

Isaiah 53:6, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
John 3:3, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Romans 3:10, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.”
Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

There is a price on our sin―eternal death in Hell.


Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Romans 5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”
2nd Thessalonians 1:8, “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Revelation 20:15, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Revelation 21:8, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Jesus paid that price by dying on the cross and shedding His blood.

Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
1st Timothy 1:15, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”
1st Peter 1:18-19, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ…”

 
By faith in Jesus Christ ALONE we can be saved.
Salvation is NOT found in a religion or good works, but in a person… The LORD JESUS CHRIST!

John 11:25, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”
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.”
John 6:40, “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Mark 1:15, “And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
Acts 26:18, “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”
Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
1st Corinthians 3:11, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
Galatians 3:26, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”

HERE IS HOW YOU CALL UPON THE LORD

Do you admit that you are a GUILTY sinner under the condemnation of God’s LAW, deserving of Hellfire?

Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God (God in the flesh) who died upon the cross, sacrificing His precious blood to pay for your sins?

All you need to do to be saved is to BELIEVE upon the Lord Jesus Christ.

Perhaps you’d feel comfortable praying a sinner’s prayer as did the publican in Luke 18:13… “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”

Dear Jesus,
I admit that I am a sinner, deserving of Hell. Please forgive me of my sins and take me to Heaven when I die. I now believe upon You alone, apart from all works and religion, as my personal Savior. Thank you. Amen.

Just as you were born physically to your parents, you were born spiritually into the Family of God when you believed on Jesus! (John 3:3). Please understand that we are not saved because we pray a prayer; but because we believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ. It is certainly appropriate to ask the Lord in prayer to forgive and save us; but it is our faith which prompted us to pray the prayer. You could just as easily believe in your heart upon the Lord to be saved, and not pray at all. Salvation is of the heart, as we read in Romans 10:10, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness…”

You do NOT have to be baptized or doing anything to go to Heaven other than trust upon the Lord as your Savior. Romans 4:5 proclaims… “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” The only sin which can prevent a person from being saved is UNBELIEF. Thus, unbelief is the only sin which a person needs to repent of to be saved. What a wonderful Savior!

Please send us an e-mail and let us know if you have just received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior! We would like to rejoice with you.

Kindest regards,

David J. Stewart

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on October 14, 2008 in Articles, Christianity, inspiration

 

Tags: , ,

Not our Power

We have a major responsibility when we accept Jesus and become willing to follow His paths.  He promises to provide us with the power to walk those paths. However, He reminds us that it is not OUR power. Zechariah 4:6, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”  As believers, we represent Christ and are given the power to become His children but it is not OUR power.  We are not out on our own.

We are the instrument of His power when we accomplish something good.  Sometimes, though, as soon as we are acknowledged for a good work, a wrong spirit tempts us to “take the credit” for ourselves.

Jesus warned us in Luke,
“Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”  Luke 10:20.  

Imagine that we would deserve the credit for anything!  All the praise and glory goes to an Almighty God that has redeemed us and given us the honor and power and privilege to serve Him. We are nothing more than bearers of the Good News.  He has told us to Rejoice! We rejoice, not because of anything good we have done, but because, if we accept Him, our destiny is heaven.

I pray for God to open my eyes to recognize that the power is always His and Not Mine! Mine is the privilege to serve, for His glory!

 

By Pat Murray
www.harvestladiesministry.com
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com

 
4 Comments

Posted by on October 12, 2008 in Devotionals

 

Tags:

God will enlighten your darkness

Psalm 18:28 My God will enlighten my darkness

The Lord has been gently nudging me that there will be some changes coming soon.  As I have been meditating on these things,  I was not sure how these changes were going to be implemented, or if it was for one area  of my life  or many areas. I know the Lord has something new and different, and I want to know it now and how! 

I ran across this verse which is displayed on my office calendar. God will enlighten my darkness. That is how I felt, I was in the dark on what these changes would entail, but God will show me the way and the how, especially if He is the one leading.

I confess, I have been guilty at times on the ¨how¨aspect of things, wanting to know every detail.  In the end, God is in control and I just yield it all to him.

Are you in the dark about a  certain area in your life?  Rejoice, because He will enlighten your darkness.

 
3 Comments

Posted by on October 10, 2008 in Christianity, Devotionals, inspiration

 

Tags: ,

 
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 40 other followers