New life rocks

Thank God for new life!  Life in Christ rocks!

Because money matters...

I found this in a Bible plan and wanted to repost it for myself and anyone who stumbles here. 

Money matters:
John Wesley said, ‘Earn all you can. Save all you can. Give all you can.’

In the Bible, there is no ban on making money, saving it and enjoying the good things of life. What is warned against is selfish accumulation, an unhealthy obsession with money, or putting our trust in riches. Which leads to perpetual insecurity and takes us away from God.

Money is not a neutral, impersonal medium of exchange. Jesus said you cannot serve both God and mammon. ‘Mammon’ was the god of wealth in Carthage. Money has all the characteristics of a god. It seems to offer security, freedom, power, influence, status and prestige. It is capable of inspiring devotion and single-minded preoccupation. Yet as Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it, ‘Our hearts have room only for one all-embracing devotion, and we can only cleave to one Lord.’  Riches, splendour and luxury are transient.  What really matters is our relationship with God and doing what he has called us to do.

May the Lord, help us to get our attitude to money right. May we be hardworking and  good stewards of what He has entrusted to us. May we always be generous, Lord, may our heart never be drawn to riches, splendour and excessive luxury. Keep our hearts from arrogance and all the other evils that so often can go with the economic prosperity of the Western world today.  In our own personal lives, help us to live a life of integrity, with no preoccupation with personal gain, and with modest lifestyle, hard work and generosity to others.
Thank you that while great empires come and go, the word of the Lord endures forever.

--
Reposted from Nicky and Pippa Gumbel , Bible in One Year 2016 with minor revisions

The path to victory

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/2co.10.5.KJV

It will happen...

"In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation 《1 Peter 5:10》."

Read it again!

After "a little while" means trouble won't last always. This will pass.  It is, as Paul says,  "For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 《2 Corinthians 4:17 NLT》"

But, beyond the fact that troubles won't last, did you catch the promise on the tail end, "He will restore, support, and strengthen you, and He will place you on a firm foundation."

Yes, troubles will come. But, It will happen too!  When you need it - strength!   When you cry for it - help!  When you least expect it - grace!  When you feel alone, beaten down and heavy burdened - It will happen - comfort, strength, and the power of the Holy Spirit placing you on a firm foundation and encouraging you with the glory of Heaven!

Blessings and love to you - Cassius

An encouraging mash up

I read this and wanted to share it with you: 

"Sometimes we are so busy thinking about our trials that we forget that God always gives us something good to enjoy, even in the midst of our difficulties."

I don't know the full magnitude of your trials and I can only imagine the weight of your burdens, but I pray that in the midst of your trials and until your triumph from your burdens, you will "rest in the reality of [His glorious] grace. . . ." and the reassuring promise that "all things work together for those who love God and are called according to his purpose..."   And, yes, all things really does mean all things. "The pain, the suffering, the tears, the depression — it all works together.  There’s grace enough" for it all and "for you." 

I hope grace infuses you and inspires you to have a better and more beautiful day than you imagined possible.  Love you

Quotes from John Piper, Lecrae, Romans 8:28, Upper Room Oct 2017

We are loved - no conditions, no fine print

Romans 5:8-11

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!  For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Good Morning Theophilus

May we listen to the voice of the Lord; accepting His wisdom and correction, trusting in Him, and drawing near to Him, for He is our God.
May the eternal God, the Lord bring us, every morning, His justice, and each evening His never-failing love.
May the Lord our God, who "is in our midst, a mighty One who will save," rejoice over us with gladness; quiet us by his love; and exult over us with loud singing.
May the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, the God of the 1st Adam and the God who is the 2nd Adam, bring fruitfulness, triumph, victory, loudest praise, and jubilant dancing to our day and our week. Have a fun filled and fabulous week! Love you, Cassius

Zephaniah 3:2‭, ‬5‭-‬5‭, ‬17 ESV http://bible.com/59/zep.3.2-17.ESV

Repost: Peace and reconciliation

Peace and reconciliation

‘Peace’ is a word that sums up all the blessings Jesus brings to our lives. Christ came and preached the possibility of ‘peace’ to everyone (v.17). Jesus is seated, after his resurrection, at the right hand of God, as prophesied in the psalm for today (Psalm 110:1). Being seated implies rest and peace. You died with Christ, were buried with him and have been raised with him and are now seated with him in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6). You can enjoy his peace and rest as you go about your daily life.

Paul describes life without Christ in these terms:
• ‘you were dead in your transgressions and sins’ (v.1)
• ‘you followed the ways of the world’ (v.2)
• ‘gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts’ (v.3a)
• ‘objects of wrath’ (v.3b) ‘separate from Christ’ (v.12a)
• 'outsiders to God’s ways’ (v.11, MSG)
• ‘foreigners to the covenants of the promise’ (v.12b)
• ‘without hope’ (v.12c)
• ‘without God in the world’ (v.12c)
• ‘far away’ (v.13)
• separated by the ‘dividing wall of hostility’ (v.14b)
• ‘strangers or outsiders’ (v.19, MSG).

Paul describes the difference that Jesus makes in these contrasting terms:
☆ ‘raised up with Christ’ (v.6)
☆ ‘seated with him in the heavenly realms’ (v.6)
☆ ‘God’s handiwork’ (v.10)
☆ ‘created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do’ (v.10)
☆ ‘brought near through the blood of Christ’ (v.13)
☆ ‘reconciled to God through the cross’ (v.16)
☆ ‘access to the Father by one Spirit’ (v.18)
☆ ‘fellow-citizens with God’s people’ (v.19)
☆ ‘members of God’s household’ (v.19)
☆ 'a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit’ (v.22).

The contrast between the prior alienation – from ourselves and from God – and the peace and reconciliation that Jesus brings, could not be greater.

It is Jesus who makes the difference. We are made alive with Christ (v.5). We are raised up with Christ (v.6). We are saved through faith in Christ (v.8). It is in Christ Jesus that we are brought near (v.13). It is through Jesus that we have access to the Father by one Spirit (v.18). Jesus Christ himself is the chief cornerstone of the new temple, the church.

The only command that Paul gives us in this passage is simply to ‘remember’ this amazing transformation that Jesus brings to our lives (vv.12–13). So often we can forget that being a Christian is all about what Jesus has done for us, and get caught up in what we are doing. This passage helps us to stop, remember, and give thanks to our amazing saviour for all he has done for us.

Lord, thank you for your great love for me. Thank you that you are rich in mercy and have made me alive with Christ. Thank you for the utter transformation you bring to my
life.

This wonderful reminder of peace with God was taken from Nicky and Pippa Gumbel, Bible in One Year 2016; day 266.

When it's out of my control

When it is out of my control I need to remember the following:

"Circumstances beyond my control," are never beyond His.

God will work these things ("pain, distress, bereavement, redundancy, sickness, disappointment," setbacks, betrayal, broken hearts, and whatever "other circumstances that are beyond our control") out for our good and His glory!

In fact He says so in His word:
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 ESV

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."  Revelation 21:4

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.  1 Peter 5:10 ESV

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:6‭-‬7

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12

In whatever season or circumstance, may "God, who comforts and encourages and refreshes and cheers," give us joy and peace today.   Love you

Road side assistance

The road to success isn't always straight, and it is most certainly not flat. There are peaks and valleys, obstacles and rough terrain. There are some long days and lonely nights. There are times when you are nearly burnt out and moments when hope is but a faint flicker.

Yet succes is possible. There is a way to get there! Start by putting your hope in God, placing your trust in Christ, living in His strength, growing in your faith, praying for His favor, and following in the ways of godly wisdom.  Add to this a healthy dose of hard work, perseverance, and encouraging friends.

And remember, when you make it, and you will make it, help the next one in line!

Love ya!

In Him... is all we need

Exhausted? He gives rest. Drained? He renews strength. Burdened? He carries burdens and His yoke is easy. Troubled? He gives peace that passes all understanding. Lost? He gives wisdom and directs paths. Downcast? He gives joy, love and gladness. May Christ, the perfect answer to what we truly need, be our joy, hope, wisdom, peace, gladness, salvation and source of a great day and awesome week. Love you, Cassius

What good is being a child of God?

Problems abound.  Turmoil comes time and time again. Highs are met with stunning lows and bitter betrayals.  And sometimes, if we aren't careful... faithful... woke and prayed up we wonder... so what good is it? 

If I ache now, am broken now, homeless, jobless, divorced, widowed young, childless, betrayed and battered as a child of God, what good is there?  If I pray and fast and yet clouds loom and blessings "seem" to wane, why?  What good is this?

Truthfully speaking, I know your pain.  I know the thoughts and the gut wrenching feeling when trouble knocks at 5:00 a.m., and further disappointment arrives at 5pm.  I know what it is like to wake at midnight to wonder why, and ask if the trials will end.  I know broken.  I know hurt.  I know betrayal. So hear me when I share this encouragement as a fellow traveller.

Being a child of God does not free us from the pain and problems of the world.

I know that probably didn't sound like the encouragement you were looking for, but hold on, let me finish.  Being a child of God does not free us from the pain and problems of the world, but it does prepare us for them, gives us strength to face them, grants us wisdom to navigate them, provides a comforter to abide with us in them, and fills us with the undiminished hope that one day troubles will all be ended. 

Being a child of the King of kings doesn't give us the free pass from pain, but it does give us a nail pierced Savior who understands.  And even more so, it gives us the promise and the promise of our eventual and sure triumph in the resurrection.

So keep getting up.  Keep bothering with it, kneeling for it, asking for it and waiting for it.  Keep holding on to it and fighting for it.  Hang on, hang in and keep the faith in God and the hope in the resurrection...

It's worth it because this earth is not our home and the pain will not, cannot be permanent 《Revelatons 21:4》.  Remember also that, Jesus has said:

"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world 《John 16:33》."

"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.  In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also 《John 14:1‭-‬3 ESV》."

It's worth it because the fight is about more than jobs, homes, marriages, money and temporal things. 

As Eph 6:12 says, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places"

Most of all, hang in and hang on because in the final chapter we crush it!

"And He who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.' Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true《Revelation 21:4‭-‬5 ESV》."

"And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal《Revelation 21:10‭-‬11 ESV》."

Have a great day. Love you, Cassius

Praying... His Name glorified

"Lord, as we look at our city and our nation, we cry out to you for help. May this nation be a place where, once again, your name is honoured. May the churches be filled with people worshipping you. May crime be reduced dramatically and peace prevail. May your kingdom come and your name be glorified."

 --
Quotes taken from Nicky and Pippa Gumbel , Bible in One Year 2016 

Even in the dark...

"Even in the direst of situations, Jesus can bring hope."

He is able to rearrange situations, mend brokenness, and make "all things new". He is supremely able, capable and willing to bring new life, and send upon us a refreshing and renewing joy.

May the extraordinary and supreme goodness of God's love and presence brighten your face, feed your soul and give you peace (lasting, unshakable, and uplifting).

May all of today be blessed and all of your week rich and wonderful.

With love you I ask you to remember that even the darkest of nights will give way to the morning. Even the darkest darkness is no match for the Light.  And even if right now seems dark and grim, I want you to remember that even the most despairing and desperate times are not too big for the resurrected Christ. 

Abide and bloom...

"It is so [critically abd infinitely] important that you seek God’s guidance and help – [for your life] and in your life. With God, you can achieve so much more than you could ever dream of in your own strength."

Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing 《~Jn 15.5》."

 --
Quotes taken from Nicky and Pippa Gumbel , Bible in One Year 2016 

Good Morning Theophilus

Sharing a timely and great prayer from Nicky and Poppa Gumbel:

"Lord, thank you for the spiritual highs, the visions, the experiences of the Holy Spirit and for the times of hearing your voice. Thank you for the times of deep assurance that I am a child of God, an awareness of your love for me and a knowledge of your pleasure.
Thank you also for the times of testing. Thank you that although these seem very painful at the time, I can look back and see how significant they were in preparing me for what lies ahead. Help me to grow in authority in my words and actions. "

The response to an extraordinary love...

"Jesus' extraordinary love for us was demonstrated on the cross, and our appropriate response is to 'Love the Lord' (Psalm 31:23a)."



Quote taken from Nicky and Pippa Gumbel, Bible in One Year 2016,

Good Morning Theophilus 6.19.17

May the Lord who is great, our saving help and our Sovereign God, give us passion, purpose and power. May He make today an excellent and exciting start to a wonderful, beautiful and blessed week. Happy Monday! Love you, Cassius

Stop doubting... only believe!

John 20:24-28

24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

The Scriptures are true.  The Word is alive!  "Jesus really was raised from the dead. The tomb really was empty on Easter morning. Jesus’ followers really did meet him alive again. The resurrection did happen. 

The best historical explanation for the origin of Christianity is that it really is true. 

The wounds of Jesus are there for all time to reveal the humble and forgiving love of Jesus. Jesus accepts Thomas just as he is. He accepts his challenge without complaint or criticism.

Do not feel guilty about having doubts."  

Furthermore, as Nicky Gumbel suggests, like Thomas, we need to "be honest about our doubts and bring them to Jesus."  When we are honest with ourselves, honest with our doubts, and honest with our God, he will answer us, just as He did with Thomas and the other disciples.  

"When Jesus answered his doubts, Thomas’ response was the pinnacle of respect, reverence and awe. He said, ‘My Lord and my God!’ (v.28). From a place of having doubted, Thomas makes perhaps the strongest statement of Jesus’ divinity in all of the Gospels. He is the first person to look at Jesus and call him ‘God’."

Like Thomas, we too need to lo look into the bold and beautiful face of majesty, see His nail pierced hands and move from doubt to honest belief.  The word of the LORD to each of us is this... "Stop doubting and believe!"

 --
Quotes taken from Nicky and Pippa Gumbel , Bible in One Year 2016 

Life was never promised to be easy.

"It is easy to trust God when things are going well."  It is easy to trust God and enjoy prosperity, a good job, health, friends, bounty, favor and trouble free living, isn't it?   When no one calls you a name, no one betrays you, and no enemies seek to devour you, isn't trust easiest?  When grief never knocks and pain is someone else's problem - praise is easier, right?  Surely, it seems easy when all is not rain, but rainbows and sunshine.  We are better at trust when doubt, despair, death, darkness, disappointment, and distress are nowhere to be found.  But, life isn't free from these things. The truth is in the title, "Life was never promised to be easy!"  So, how do we answer the bell and face the challenge "to keep trusting in the midst of challenges?"

As Nicky and Pippa Gumbel share in their devotional, "The Christian life is never without troubles, tears, sadness and disappointments. However, what distinguishes the people of God is their relationship with God."

Sure, life was never promised to be easy.   but God has promised to be with us always, in every event and moment of life.  Even more He has promised us His yoke (to make life easier), to carry our burdens, to give us eternal life and life abundantly, to work all things out for our good, to fulfill His good plans for us, to bring His promises to pass, to give us peace that never passes away, and to come take us to be with Him in His Father's house! 

In times of intense difficulty, despair and pain we are most blessed and fortunate because we can turn to God.  As David reminds us,
"Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you? You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again. You will increase my greatness and comfort me again."
Psalms 71:19‭-‬21 ESV

"LORD, thank you that there is no trouble that this life can bring from which You do not rescue us [now, and] ultimately with eternal life in Your presence. Thank you that, in the middle of our troubles [You are with us and], we can pray to You and be refreshed (Act 3:19)."  May Your presence and Spirit give us strength, courage, renewal and refreshment to continue in the work of faith.

Remember, when we are in Christ, trouble never has the last word!

 --
Quotes taken from Nicky and Pippa Gumbel , Bible in One Year 2016 

More good news...

6.25.17

I just read some more good news... "the righteous will... outlast death and 'flourish’ and be ‘rewarded’ (Prov 14.11–14)." The righteous in Christ live a favored life and "will ultimately be victorious" because of the resurrection.

May the Good News give you strength to continue your prayers, your journey of faith, and your confident hope in Jesus.

~ Love you lots

 --
Quotes taken from Nicky and Pippa Gumbel , Bible in One Year 2016 

Good Morning Theophilus 6.19.17

May the Lord who is great, our saving help and our Sovereign God, give us passion, purpose and power. May He make today an excellent and exciting start to a wonderful, beautiful and blessed week. Happy Monday! Love you, Cassius

Is His grace big enough...

Stop and think about this true statement:

"There is no sin or failing that is too great for God to forgive, and no situation into which God’s grace cannot reach. No matter what you have done!

Need help believing this statement...
See Adam...
See Abraham...
See Moses...
See Samson...
See Saul...
See David...
See the Prodigal Son (and more so comprehend the mercy grace and compassion of the forgiving Father)
Ask Rahab...
Ask Ruth...
Ask Mary Magdeline...
Ask Mary and Martha...
Ask the woman caught in adultery...
See the prostitute with the alabaster jar...
See Peter...
Ask Paul...
Ask the thief in Paradise...
Talk to John Mark...
See Barrabus...

Look in the mirror and remember that the cross was for you too.  One died for all so that all who believe in The One might have eternal life. 

Hear again the words of Christ from the cross...

Luke 23.34 : Jesus said, “Father," forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing...

Luke 23.43 : Jesus answered him (the 2nd thief), “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."

At the cross, forgiveness was purchased and granted to all.  And just so we might know that it is a free and unconditional gift, He lavished the gift on a thief (a rebel) dying on a cross beside Him. 

"We all mess up from time to time. God forgives. He restores. He blesses us again. If you have fallen, admit your sin, confess, repent, grieve if necessary and then get on with your life looking forward to what God has in store for you."

When David sinned greatly (with Basheba and killing Uriah her husband) he repented (see Psalm 51)   When the Lord confronted him through the prophet Nathan, David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord ." And Nathan said to David, "The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.
2 Samuel 12:13 ESV

If God's love and forgiveness are so strong and so freely given, what else should we do except live for Him in His arms of grace?

For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord , from my youth.
Psalms 71:5 ESV

 --
Quotes taken from Nicky and Pippa Gumbel , Bible in One Year 2016 

His energy in us...

"God’s power and energy had raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus was alive again.

The same power and energy that raised Jesus Christ from the dead now lives in you.  So whether we are at our lowest ebb or facing great trials and challenges or just facing the ordinary struggles of life, we can all find strength and energy in the Lord our God."

May God’s power and energy give to you "the same energy, strength and power that He used to raise Jesus from the dead so that you are able to do all that is needed, be all that He intends, and in all things be immensely successful.

Love you — Cassius

 --
Quotes taken from Nicky and Pippa Gumbel , Bible in One Year 2016 

Triumph is still possible

"The supreme example of triumph coming out of apparent catastrophe is the cross. What seemed to the world to be the ultimate defeat was in fact the ultimate triumph."

If God can turn the cross, a symbol of suffering and shame, into the sign of hope and the symbol of the triumph of God, good over evil, light over darkness and right over wrong.  If God can triumph over death, then while you breathe and dare I boldly say even after, then your triumph through Him is still possible.

 --
Quotes taken from Nicky and Pippa Gumbel , Bible in One Year 2016 

Good Morning Theophilus - 6.19.17

Christ occupies the Highest Heavens. His reign is sovereign and above all things. His power is impressive, impeachable, impactful, and immense. "He stopped the waves with a word. He spoke, and a tree withered. He spoke again, and a basket became a banquet." May He speak peace to your storms, cause your troubles, foes, and fears to wither, and make your week a banquet of blessing, unmerited favor, and unconditional love. Have a lovely week! Love you, Cassius

2 Samuel 2:6-10

The Lord makes us alive and raise us up. The Lord sends us true riches and wealth. The Lord exalts us, lifts us from the dust and raises us from the ashes. The One seated in heaven grants us honor and gives us an inheritance of eternity. The Great God guards our feet and makes us His faithful servants. By the strength of The Most High we shall be blessed and we shall prevail.

May today leave you in breathless and speechless awe of His goodness.

Every detail

"The God of the universe and of history is also the God of all the little details in your life. He is not just almighty and powerful, but he is also your Father who is intimately concerned with you. Your life and all the details matter to God. Your life counts."
 --
Quotes taken from Nicky and Pippa Gumbel , Bible in One Year 2016 

JESUS, FOUNDER AND PERFECTER OF OUR FAITH

Hebrews 12:1-2 THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,
Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Trust. Praise. Hope

But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly.
Psalms 52:8‭-‬9 ESV

Trust in God’s unfailing love.  "God’s love will never fail 《~Ps 52.8》."  Praise God for His mighty deeds and wondrous works. Hope in God’s good and Holy Name. "In your name I will hope, for your name is good 《~Ps 52.9》."  May God fulfill all the "dreams and visions that [He has] put into your heart." May His strength, mercy and grace help you "face all the challenges and opposition  ahead" and be victorious.

Thought for today - 5.20.17

We are made in God’s image.  God has built us in a way such that our ultimate happiness and relief can only be found in Him. Our life works best when the mind, body, and spirit are all working within God’s plan and design.

Why were we created

Praising God is one of the main reasons for which you were created. It is like breathing for a Christian: “Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!” (Psalm 147:1) Praise acknowledges our smallness and his bigness; praise gives tribute to the brilliant Designer and Engineer of the universe; praise shows Christ that you appreciate his extremely expensive Calvary gift, all the more precious because it’s free; praise shows the Spirit that though you can’t see him, you know he’s at work in your world.

Worship saves us from being self-centred and makes us God-centred. You were created to live in a relationship with God. That should be your number one priority. If you put God first in your life all kinds of blessings follow

 --
Quotes taken from: Nicky and Pippa Gumbel , Bible in One Year 2016

YouVersion, Church Jargon Bible Plan

Words come up short

A plethora of words cannot describe Him. Dictionaries cannot define Him. He is our indescribable King, our unquenchable love, our infinite grace, our merciful Lord, our Eternal comfort, our unspeakable joy, our unquenchable hope, and the supreme goodness that powers this week! Happy Monday! May the Eternal King make this week unspeakably beautiful, unmatched in splendor, and absolutely wonderful. Love you, Cassius

You are fearfully and wonderfully made

Whatever obstacles you are facing, whatever struggle you have with not fitting in, whether you feel you aren’t pretty enough, strong enough, big enough, fast enough, or smart enough, know that you are not an accident or a mistake. You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

From Tim Tebow's devotional

God to our rescue

"Life is not all plain sailing. You will face many challenges. But, whatever you are facing today, God is able to rescue you."

Great is the Lord , and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.  ~ Psalms 145:3 ESV

May the Lord, great and mighty, be praised for His majesty, might, goodness, compassion, wisdom, grace, unmatched power and mercy.  May His presence and His promises bring comfort and triumph.

--
Quotes taken from Nicky and Pippa Gumbel , Bible in One Year 2016 

Time to live fully alive!

* A repost from Beyond Sunday, an inspirational blog

We should love the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the grave because it shows the power of the Savior. We can know that if He can raise the dead to life, we can trust Him to help us make our house payment, raise our children, rescue a wayward prodigal, mend a marriage, find a job, or whatever struggles our life may hold. We need to remember that today. Since Jesus has power over death, is there anything in your life that He can’t handle?

Jesus came to give us life! Jesus told Lazarus to take off His grave clothes, to quit “living” like he was dead. Shouldn’t we do the same thing?

Have you received Christ as your Savior? Is your name recorded in Heaven as a child of God? Have the angels sung “Glory” over your salvation? Have you personally, without reservation, believed that Jesus died for your sins, and that the only way you will enter Heaven is through the grace of His shed blood on the cross?  YES!  YES!  YES! Well, TAKE OFF YOUR GRAVE CLOTHES! Quit “living” among the dead. Look alive!

Jesus saved you by grace, through faith, not unto death, but unto life! SO LIVE! Don’t let this world steal your joy. Don’t let Satan rob you of your peace. Stop worrying over tomorrow.  Start living! Take off your grave clothes and LIVE!

Adapted and quoted from Beyond Sunday by Ron Edmondson; accessed on 4.17.2017

We work best together

May we be in harmony with one another as we work together to help build the kingdom, spreading the message of salvation and eternal life.

May we reach out to help and be helped by one another. May we gain strength and courage and become all that God intended.

Because He is alive

He is alive and because He is alive... we can live.  He is risen.  Happy Easter!

We Give thanks

"We praise you God for all your goodness to us – for the good news of Jesus, for your forgiveness, for your love for us your children, for the Holy Spirit and the love of God poured into our hearts, for the fact that you delight in us and rescue us."

We praise you God for healing, peace with you, peace in our family and our relationships, for the cross and the resurrection, for our new life in Christ and for every victory over the enemy.  We thank you for every answered prayer and for doing more than we ever asked or imagined.

"Thank you, Lord, for all our blessings, for your provision, freedom, friends, family and every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms."

God is good – all the time.

 --
Quotes taken from Nicky and Pippa Gumbel , Bible in One Year 2016 

Easter

"Easter is about hope. Easter is about peace. Easter is about new life and a second chance... [and third, fourths and fifths]. Easter is about bringing focus and meaning [and hope] to this life and this world." Easter is about seeing the God who "loves you with an intimacy that surpasses all your dreams"... He is risen! Love you and happy Easter — Cassius

 --
Quotes taken from Nicky and Pippa Gumbel , Bible in One Year 2016 and Dr. Glen Mollette, "Easter - We need it bad"

Consider this

"He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed — {Isa 53:5}."

"Consider what it means to you that God's Son suffered and died on the cross and then rose again to make eternal life possible for us."
—Jennifer Benson Schuldt

Another gentle reminder - He is center

"Let me remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I preached to you when we first met. It's the essential message that you have taken to heart, the central story you now base your life on; For I passed down to you the crux of it all which I had also received from others, that the Anointed One, the Liberating King, died for our sins and was buried and raised from the dead on the third day. All this happened to fulfill the Scriptures; it was the perfect climax to God's covenant story {1 Cor 15:1, 3-4}".

May our lives stand firm, fixed and based solely on the truth of the story of our salvation through Christ. May we live each day with God as the center of our story, the power of our lives, and the hope of our eternity.

Love you

He is... yes Jesus is...

Jesus is risen! Our future is so much more beautiful, and so much more certain, because of the resurrection. This broken world is not our home, and even our most splendid and gorgeous day is not even close to what awaits.
Happy Easter!

Love you

Jesus, Help me - I want to see

A longer but good prayer offered by Nicky and Pippa Gumbel:

"Lord, how can I ever thank you enough for your mercy and forgiveness made possible through the death of Jesus for us? Thank you that however much we try to do so, we can never provide our own guilt offering for our sin. Thank you that we can never earn forgiveness but can only receive it as a gift by faith. Help me, like Bartimaeus (Mark 10:47-52), to follow Jesus and to give my life in service to him and others. Amen."

May our lives be full of gratitude for our salvation through Christ; a gift we so desperately needed, but could never afford on our own! Have a sensational Sunday.

Love you — Cassius

Taken from Nicky and Pippa Gumbel , Bible in One Year 2016

Life is meant to be lived in the present and presence of Christ

Life is meant to be lived in the present and presence of Christ, "enjoying the small joys of life, and relying on the power, presence, and goodness of God."

Life is meant to be lived in the present and presence of Christ, relying on His shelter "in the harshness of this life," allowing grace and mercy to give a life of hope.

Life is meant to be lived in the present and presence of Christ, where " God can and does give meaning and purpose to the [difficulties and seamingly random] meaninglessness that surrounds us." 

May we live in His presence so that Christ our steady help, our sure foundation and rock on which we stand can "sustain us in this fallen and broken world."  May Presence bless, favor and prosper us greatly.  

Love you,

~ quotes from Tim Gustafson,  Our Daily Bread, February 2, 2017

Thought for the week

Thought for the week:
The incarnation, the cross, the resurection and the Holy Spirit demonstrate God's radical commitment to loving us and being present with us.

How deep is our commitment to loving Him in return?

Encouragement from a fellow traveler

Because we all need these reminders:

This life can be "extremely painful and difficult. However, in Christ you are promised that ultimately you *will* overcome."

May God bless you always, especially in the hard work of living life as a kingdom heir in a foreign country (for this earth is not our home).

Hebrews 13:14 For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.

Love you,

More on Proverbs 18:21 - speak life

Death and life are in the power of the tongue. — Proverbs 18:21

Kristi Watts says, "Words have the power to create, fuel, ignite, and influence how we see, think, and believe. In fact, our very own words can either fuel [us and] our faith in the Word of God or [deplete us and] dampen our faith when we speak [negatively]. The good of life only comes by speaking the good of God's Word into our lives. The key is recognizing the power of our words. If we can't speak positively about a person or a situation, then maybe we should stop speaking about it — period!"

"Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them {Eph. 4:29}."

My awesome family, lets commit to speaking life! Let's determine to be people of faith who speak life and positivity. Love you

Tired, wounded... defeated?

Tired, wounded, feeling worn out or defeated?  Feeling like the enemy is attacking from all sides and angles and you are being pushed and pushed... almoat to the very breaking point? 

What to do?  Where to go?  How to defend,  to hope, to triumph?

Ann Voskamp reminds us to pick up the one "weapon that [every] weary and worn-out soul can wield to silence the enemy," the weapon of our warfare - the Great Word:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or naked- ness or danger or sword? . . . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us . . . Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
{Romans 8:35, Romans 8:37–39}

Our weapons are not carnal, but mighty - the matchless and mighty Word of Truth, Word of Life - the Word of God.

"Because this is the thing;" His love is what we must hold on to and never doubt.  "The prosecutor of your soul can’t ever nail you. Time can’t wreck your life. You can’t wreck your life. Nothing in all this world can separate you from the love of Christ, and His love is your life. Your life is unwreckable. Because Christ’s love is unstoppable."

Tired, wounded, feeling worn out or defeated?  Feeling like the enemy is attacking from all sides and angles and you are being pushed and pushed... almoat to the very breaking point?  Don't forget to preach the gospel to your own heart,  mind, and soul!

What if...

A question from Ann Voskamp's devotional stuck with me and I wanted to share it. 

What if the deeper you know your own brokenness, the deeper you can experience your own belovedness?

Am I alone in this battle

"It is easy to feel that you have been forgotten by God," particularly at the most difficult and challenging moments: the times when you feel unjustly treated, tired, grief stricken, defeated, forgotten, victimized, unappreciated, weary and alone.

It is in these places and at these times in our lives when we all the more need to remember the truth.  In these life hanging in the balance, wilderness moments we need to recall that "part of God’s character is that He is the God Who Sees," He is the God who is "God with us," and He is the faithful and loving God who "never leaves us or forsakes us".  We need to call up His promises and rehearse His faithfulness, believing and trusting that "God is a God who finds you in the midst of the wilderness," speaks peace to you in the very heart of the storm, and comes tenderly to you when you feel lost and alone. 

He sees you.  He has not forgotten.  He will have mercy and be gracious to you.  You are not alone in this battle; He fights for you and with you.  Be faithful, our salvation is certain and sure.

Love you, Cassius

Quotes by Nicky and Pippa Gumbel; Bible in One Year 2016 Reading plan

Well anchored?

It is late.   Night has come and lingered.  Life feels dark!  The days seem to bring you face to face with doubt, fear and horribly scary possibilities. You feel like you are in the midst of a storm that is taking the very wind and hope out of you.

But, right now, in this very moment where the enemy is threatening to potentially do the most damage, may you, precious child of God, hold strong! God is with you! He is all-powerful and at the ready.

May your anchor continue to hold in Jesus Christ and may you remember that you are held by Christ Jesus! 

Love you, Cassius