Giving Our Best

 

Genesis 4: 1-8  King James Version (KJV) And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.² And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.³ And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.⁴ And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:⁵ But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. ⁶ And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?⁷ If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. ⁸ And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

In the text we see that Cain and Abel were bringing their offering to God.  Abel brought the 1st of his flocks and Cain brought of the fruit of the ground.  Both brought their offerings to God and only one was accepted. Abel gave his best to God and Cain did not.  Now, God said to Cain “if thou doest well, shall thy not be accepted“?  This was a do over opportunity.  Even though Cain did not get it right the 1st time, he was given another chance. Cain became angry at Abel, because God did not accept his offering.  Cain did not see the opportunity to present God with another offering. All he saw was rejection and he saw that Abel was accepted. Cain was jealous. The jealously of Cain was so bad, that he killed his own brother. Wow!

The opportunity was there for Cain to redo his offering and have the offering accepted by God. It would have been better if Cain would have given his best in the beginning and maybe Abel would not have been killed.  Not sure how that would have changed Bible history.

As Christians, we need to give our best in our tithes and offerings to God.  Let us not look at what someone else gives. Let us look at ourselves and our relationship with God. If our tithes and offering moves us, surely it will move God.

Be Blessed!

Picture credits to Church Giving Clipart – Clipart Kid

Re-post – Originally posted in October of 2012. Some edits have been made.

 

Time To Reconcile

Time is precious. As soon as one is born, the time slated on earth is starting to tick away. What are you doing with your time? Are you striving to do things that are right? Are you helping someone? Are striving to see who you can make mad or fall? Are you taking the time out to celebrate someone other than yourself? 

The Lord Jesus Christ took time and came on this earth for you and I. He was the utilmate scarfice and now we do not need to go to Priest to pray for us for our prayers to reach God. We do not need to bring a lamb for atonment. Instead we pray in the name of Jesus. Christ Jesus is our advocate with the Father. Christ reconciled us back to the Father.

I John 2:1 King James Version; My little children, these things write I unto you, that  ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 

It is time to reconcile and forgive. Let go of the past and move forward. 

Blessings!

 

Training

 

Every one goes through training. Each individual starts training as a baby through adulthood.  Training can be in sports, robots building  or for specific job. The purpose of training is to gain skills, knowledge and experience in a particular area.

Training is generally time-consuming and sometimes it may be painful, for the trainer and the trainee. The trainee must have a willing heart and be willing to follow instructions. The trainer leads and the trainee follows. In the end, the trainee will be able to stand. They now have a foundation.

The Bible tells of story in the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 6:45-49 verses, about a man. Let’s read.

⁴⁵ A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. ⁴⁶ And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? ⁴⁷ Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: ⁴⁸ He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. ⁴⁹ But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

The story is telling us that a good heart brings good and an evil heart, evil. Also if one follows the way of the Lord, they will be like a house build on rock, which is a sure foundation. The following of the Lord is training. The training is in reading the Word of God (the Bible), praying, attending Bible Study and following the Pastor. You are being prepared for the job that the Lord has called you to do. One can not go out and teach on Spanish, if they do not know how to teach and they do not now the Spanish language. The trainee must be willing to follow and follow instructions. In the end,the foundation is sure.

Blessings!

Picture credits to http://www.pei.com/services/training.

 

The Tongue

 

James 3: 1-6 (KJV) My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. ² For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. ³ Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. ⁴ Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. ⁵ Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

Have you ever sat down to watch TV and everyone in your house started talking.  So you turned up the TV and you still could not hear. So, you shout and say ” I can not hear the TV”. Or you are talking to a family member who is in the dinning room and you are in the kitchen and the words you are hearing sounds muffled.  So you state,  ” I can not hear what you are saying”.   Then you get upset because you can not hear.  This scenario is happening often.

Well, I have been going through this scenario and kept saying “I can not hear what you are saying”.   While watching Kenneth Copeland speaking on the tongue, the words that we speak, the Lord spoke to me and said the words you are speaking are causing you to have problems with your hearing.  You see you have what you say!  Without realizing it, I was speaking negatively to my body.

With our tongue we speak life and death!  I choose to speak life. I will speak “I walk in divine healing and divine health.  According to Isaiah 53:5 and 1st Peter 24, I am healed!

Check the words that you are speaking.  I know, I am going to do a better job and watch the words that I am saying. Are you unknowingly speaking negatively to yourself?

Be Blessed!

Re-post – Originally posted in September of 2012.

Picture credits to http://clipart-library.com/picture-of-smiley-face-sticking-out-tongue.html.

 

Faith That Moves God

Luke 18:35-42 King James Version

³⁵ And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: ³⁶ And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. ³⁷ And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. ³⁸ And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.³⁹ And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. ⁴⁰ And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, ⁴¹ Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. ⁴² And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

The Faith of the blind man moved Jesus in such a way, that Jesus stopped an asked “What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?  It did not matter that the man was in the crowd and people told him to be quiet.  No!  He yelled louder, Son of David, have mercy on me!!   His Faith, stopped Christ Jesus!  His Faith moved Heaven!  He received his sight!

Does your Faith move God?

Be Blessed!

Re-post – Originally posted in October of 2012

Picture credits to http://northendchurch.org.nz/faith-move-mountains.

 

Violence Is Not The Answer

 

In the “Essential Writings  and Speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr”  the speech titled ” The Power of  Nonviolence” written many years ago still applies today.  This is what I want to point in the writing:

“The end of violence or the aftermath of violence is bitterness. The aftermath of nonviolence is reconciliation and the creation of a beloved community. A boycott is never an end within itself. It is merely a means to awaken a serve of shame within the oppressor, but the end is reconciliation, the end is redemption.”

Violence is not going to give peace, but bitterness. The anger within is still there. The anger within is from being oppressed and not heard.  The anger within is also due to someone thinking that they are better than the other.  This includes people in authority of every aspect, who abuse their authority. People, no one is better than the other, as each one on this earth has purpose and value. From the individual who sweeps the floor, answers the phones, assigns work and completes the work, each person is of value. Violence is not going to help this world be better.  Love will make this place better. The love that is given and shown will change this world. Not only does love change, but prayers to our Lord will affect this world.

Begin to pray for your family,friends, leaders, the people within your circle for change and for them to feel the love of God. Now, you show love, as Jesus Christ said  “and this is how men will know that your are His discipline, the love that you have for one another.” 

Blessings!

 

Picture credits to http://www.voicesofyouth.org/en/posts/no-more-violence–please.

 

Be a Giver

 

Proverbs 28:22 ( ESV), A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him.

When the Lord Jesus walked the earth He stated that it is better to give than to receive. When you freely give, you are storing up treasures in heaven.  When ever you lend to the poor/less fortunate, God said He will repay you.

As the scripture states, a stingy man does not know that poverty will come upon him, one can be blessed in one area and lacking in another. So if you are blessed with money, but you are lacking in love, what is it worth? You are being stingy with your love. The result of this stinginess is poverty in the area of love. The Lord Jesus wants us to blessed in every area of our life.  3 John 2 (ESV), Beloved I pray that all may be well with you and that you may be in good heath, as it goes well with your soul.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Teach us not be like the individual in the scripture. Teach us how to be givers. Givers of our time, money and love.

In Jesus Name.

Amen.

Be Blessed!

Report of blog titled Treasures, posted in August of 2012.

Picture credits to https://www.pinterest.com/mehermount/the-joy-of-giving.

 

Difficulty and Hope

 

Difficult times will touch everyone’s life at sometime or another. It may be a financial, family, or physical. It may be foreseen or not. Regardless, one must decide how they will respond. It really is important on how we respond on the onset of difficult times. Will we be hopeful or will be depressed and sadden?  I encourage you to be hopeful and believe that the best is yet to come. In other words have faith.  Faith is believing in something that you cannot see. Faith is the substance of things hoped for in the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1). Father Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him as righteousness.

Hebrews 6:12-15 New Life Version – ¹² Do not be lazy. Be like those who have faith and have not given up. They will receive what God has promised them.

God’s Promise

¹³ When God made a promise to Abraham, He made that promise in His own name because no one was greater. ¹⁴ He said, “I will make you happy in so many ways. For sure, I will give you many children.” ¹⁵ Abraham was willing to wait and God gave to him what He had promised.

Hope is defined as to cherish a desire with anticipation; to want something to happen or be true;trust; to desire with exception of obtainment or fulfillment; to expect with confidence.

You will find if you search on “how hope can help you”, written articles regarding hope and how it works. Below are three.

How Hope Can Heal You

Does Hope Really Make a Difference? Scientific Findings

Towards a Psychology of Hope

 

Having hope and believing, will help us all through difficult times in life.

Blessings!

Picture credits to http://www.dailygood.org/story/798/towards-a-psychology-of-hope-louise-danielle-palmer/

 

Differences

 

We are all different. We all have a different thumbprint.We all think differently and handle issues differently. That is what makes us unique. No one can be me, not even my children. They may have my ways and some of my thought processes, but they can not be me. No one can be you.

I Peter 2:9 King Jame Version But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light

Celebrate your uniqueness today. Celebrate the Christ in you, the hope of glory. As you go through out the day and someone seems strange to you, remember they may be thinking the same thing about you. Extend your hand, give a smile, show some love.

John 13:35 KJV By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Be Blessed!

 

Picture credits to PJ Library – Teaching Children to Respect Differences PJ Library.

 

Our Clothing

 

 

Our clothes require cleaning either by our self or someone does the laundry for us. We want our clothes to be clean when we go out or are just sitting around our home. Image going to the store wearing clothes worn 3 days ago from the gym. Oh my! Even if one has showered, the smell from the clothes will have people covering their noses or talking with wide eyes because they are trying to keep a straight face.Some may just come right out and say ” you stink”.  No one likes to be told they stink.

Image trying to go before the Lord as in the days of old, without the Priest, sacrifice, burnt incense and the smoke. We would not be alive.  Thank God that our Lord Jesus Christ was the final atonement for the sins of man. When Christ died on the cross, the veil was split. We no longer need to go the Priest to speak to God directly. We now go to God in the name of Jesus.  Even if we come to God stinky in the name of Jesus, God see’s Christ. Christ is making the petitions on our behalf.

Romans 5:11 King James Version (KV) And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. 

Hebrews 10:10 KJV ¹⁰ By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Christ does not look at the clothes we wear or how we smell, He looks at the heart. Is that not good news?

 

Blessings

Picture credits to http://www.diarymama.com/tips-bau-badan-yang-menyenangkan-sepanjang-hari.