Please read ...Faith and Intervention :)

"In three missionary journeys, covering a large portion of the Roman Empire, God only intervened in this way on two significant occasions.

On one occasion Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia pleading with him to come preach to them, and on another occasion Paul was heading to Asia when the "spirit of Christ"kept him from going (Acts 6).

In either case, there was no ambiguity as to whether God was speaking to him.

There was no second-guessing—it was crystal clear—and I think the same thing will be true of us in the rare circumstance when God shows up in order to stop us.

It will be so clear that we won't dare question whether or not it was him.

Just as he did with Paul, God intervenes when necessary in our lives in order to ensure that his will is accomplished.

This means that we don't have to be terrified about the consequences of our choices; God is never surprised by our choices, never horrified, even when we think we've ruined our lives with a bad decision.

He takes this into account as he organizes the world and writes our own stories.

You can rest assured that our benevolent God will intervene if we get off course.

Sometimes we'll find him quietly, invisibly moving the world on our behalf, and occasionally we might find a door slammed in our faces to keep us from going the wrong way.

Regardless, it's his job to keep us on track, and our job to just do our best.

He knows us, and is comfortable with our imperfections.

He knew what he was getting himself into when he brought us into his family.

This ought to be a source of constant comfort for us when we are fighting to decide how we want to move forward in our lives, and when we bite our lips and take the next logical step.

Actually, it takes more faith to do this than it does to follow a pillar of fire in the right direction.

Faith is only necessary when we don't know exactly where we're going, and we have to hold on to belief that God is walking by our side.

In other words, it's our job to keep our car on the road.

He'll take care of the guardrails, and he's got quite the track record.

No one has ever driven off his road."

- "What am I supposed to do with my life?"  By Johnnie Moore

Stay Strong! !

Two for Thursday - Overflowing with Thankfulness

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."
(Colossians 2:6–7, NIV)

Have you ever thought about what it means to be overflowing with thankfulness?

Don't just think your thanks, show it!

In other words, you shouldn't let the kindness of others go unnoticed.

Sometimes it's easy to take the people closest to us for granted. But your family, your friends, the ones who love and support you are the ones who should feel your gratitude the most.

Notice this verse also says to live in Christ and be built up in Him.

When you keep yourself built up spiritually by studying the Word and praying in the Spirit, then the second part of the verse will just come naturally — you will be strengthened in your faith, and your heart will be filled with thankfulness!

Today, look for new ways to show your thankfulness to those around you.

Let it overflow.

Sow seeds of gratitude and blessing.

Keep yourself built up in faith and reap the abundant harvest God has for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, thank You for strengthening me with Your love today. Help me to be a blessing to those around me and show me creative ways to let my life overflow with thankfulness in Jesus' name.
Amen

- Joel Osteen

Stay Strong! !

Perfected in Weakness

WHEN SOME BASIC NEED IS LACKING—time, energy, money—consider yourself blessed.

Your very lack is an opportunity to latch onto Me in unashamed dependence.

When you begin a day with inadequate resources, you must concentrate your efforts on the present moment.

This is where you are meant to live—in the present; it is the place where I always await you.

Awareness of your inadequacy is a rich blessing, training you to rely wholeheartedly on Me.

The truth is that self-sufficiency is a myth perpetuated by pride and temporary success.

Health and wealth can disappear instantly, as can life itself.

Rejoice in your insufficiency, knowing that My Power is made perfect in weakness.

"Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds."
—JAMES 1: 2

"And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness."Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me."
—2 CORINTHIANS 12: 9 NASB

A Gift not to be taken for granted

LET ME TEACH YOU THANKFULNESS.

Begin by acknowledging that everything—all your possessions and all that you are—belongs to Me.

The dawning of each new day is a gift from Me, not to be taken for granted.

The earth is vibrantly alive with My blessings, giving vivid testimony to My Presence.

If you slow down your pace of life, you can find Me anywhere.

Some of My most precious children have been laid aside in sickbeds or shut away in prisons.

Others have voluntarily learned the discipline of spending time alone with Me.

The secret of being thankful is learning to see everything from My perspective.

My world is your classroom.

My Word is a lamp to your feet and a light for your path.

-"Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong! 

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire."
—HEBREWS 12: 28–29

'Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."
—PSALM 119: 105

What you Need, When you Need it

AS YOU LOOK into the day that stretches out before you, you see many choice-points along the way.

The myriad possibilities these choices present can confuse you.

Draw your mind back to the threshold of this day, where I stand beside you, lovingly preparing you for what is ahead.

You must make your choices one at a time, since each is contingent upon the decision that precedes it.

Instead of trying to create a mental map of your path through this day, focus on My loving Presence with you.

I will equip you as you go, so that you can handle whatever comes your way.

Trust Me to supply what you need when you need it.

-"Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!

"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD."
—LAMENTATIONS 3: 22–26

"Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!"
—PSALM 34: 8 NKJ

Strength to the Weary

COME TO ME with empty hands and an open heart, ready to receive abundant blessings.

I know the depth and breadth of your neediness.

Your life-path has been difficult, draining you of strength.

Come to Me for nurture.

Let Me fill you up with My Presence: I in you, and you in Me.

My Power flows most freely into weak ones aware of their need for Me.

Faltering steps of dependence are not lack of faith; they are links to My Presence.

- "Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."
—JOHN 17: 20–23

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
—ISAIAH 40: 29–31

Fullness of Joy

KEEP YOUR EYES ON ME, not only for direction but also for empowerment.

I never lead you to do something without equipping you for the task.

That is why it's so important to seek My will in everything you do.

There are many burned-out Christians who think more is always better, who deem it unspiritual to say no.

In order to know My will, you must spend time with Me—enjoying My Presence.

This is not an onerous task but a delightful privilege.

I will show you the path of Life; in My Presence is fullness of Joy; at My right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

"Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!

But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign LORD; in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death.
—PSALM 141: 8

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. —PSALM 16: 11 NKJV