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