2017 may have been disappointing, challenging and difficult for many people. Whatever the situation or circumstance we faced our lives, God may have allowed things to happen for a purpose. We may not always understand why, but God will never give us more than what we can handle. We need to go forward with our lives. Let us devote ourselves to prayer, look for open doors, new possibilities and hopes in 2018. Great is our God who is able to do marvelous things in our lives.
Colossians 4:2-4 2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.
0 Comments
Being a Christian can take lots of courage. Christians face many challenges living in this world. Those who lived before us had to face their own challenges. Lot was tormented living in Sodom in the midst of ungodly actions and lifestyles.The moral issues confronting us today call for courage and standing firm for what is right. Some are tempted to give in, compromise, go along with the majority or cannot be bothered to take a stand for righteousness. God is counting on us to stand for what is right and reject what is wrong.
1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith, be men of courage; be strong When I need direction, I must trust that the Lord will take my faith, limited as it is, and make something of lasting value out of it. He care about my dilemmas, pain, disappointments, broken heart, hears my heartfelt cries, and will answer me in ways that will be astonishing, and fill my life with songs of joy.
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Life doesn't always look ideal to us. When finances are tight, family problems are serious, health issues are affecting our lives, Satan is waging spiritual battles against us, or things just don't seem to go our way, we may doubt that God is working in our lives. That is the time we need to remind ourselves our God has a plan and purpose why things happen in our lives. Even when things seem unbearable and strange, God is working in our best interest. We need to have patience and faith, allow him to do his work.to accomplish his purpose.
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose. God, the creator of the universe, there is no other God like him. There are many lords and gods, but to us, there is only one true God. He gave his only son as a sacrifice for our sins. The greatest gift the world has seen. He expressed His love in a sacrificial manner, the highest form of love, agape. He has done for us what we did not deserve. Therefore, we say, thank you God, your grace is amazing!
Romans 5:8 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Song-Amazing Grace https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OX8uxgF7Ow True friends will stand with and by you in good and difficult days. True friends will do you no harm and will seek your best interest. True friends will correct you when you are wrong, comfort you when you are down, and give you hope when life seems hopeless. The test of friendship doesn't come when you're together. It comes when you part ways and you realize that despite the distance, the friendship is still there. True friendship is essential to happiness in life. Although the nature of friendship cannot be fully described, finding a true friend is a priceless gift that can be cherished at all phases of life.
Job 2:11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him. We have to face challenges in life. Some of them may come in the form of water and fire. When we step out on unknown paths, it helps us to recall that we may slip, but God holds on. He will not let us fall.
Isaiah 41:10 I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Things will come in our lives to test our faith and loyalty to God. Some people will give in and give up to the pressures of life, other will stand and persevere through their struggles. They will sing with joy and give praise to God. Let us be like David, who, through his successes and defeats, his triumphs and failures, among the monuments and amid the ruins of his life, loved God with all his heart
Psalm 108:1 My heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul As we realize all Jesus has sacrificed for us and appreciate our inability to live the christian life on our own, we remember to praise the Savior for his grace. Today we can be rooted in Jesus, strong in our faith, and thankful to the one who has given us these blessings. Let us overflow with appreciate! Let us share this overflow with others!
Colossians 2:6-7 Continue to live for Jesus, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Take an appreciation tour of your life, what are you thankful for? Make a list focusing on what you have instead of what is missing. Celebrate the little things. When you think you have little, there are people who have nothing.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. |
AuthorRoy Graneau is the full-time preacher for the South Edmonton Church of Christ. Archives
October 2018
Categories
All
|