A Support System

May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other--each with the attitude of Christ Jesus toward the other. - Romans 15:5

As we strive to live our life for God, we will need a strong support system. This world tries hard to stray us from our godly path. Hence, we must cultivate relationships with others who understand our godly vision. The only way to do this is to share our visions and godly interests with others. Let them know that we want to live a devoted life. This will help weed out those who would hinder us while at the same time drawing those with a similar vision closer to us. In this way, we develop godly partnerships that will last a lifetime and encourage us as we continue our godly path.

April 25, 2006: First Things First

Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding....Then you
will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain
knowledge of God. - Proverbs 2:2,5

When I got up this morning I realized that I had a long list of things
to get done today. Is that what you faced this morning? Sometimes the
list is so long that spending time with God seems like just one more
thing to add to an already long list. Don't feel bad if that is how you
feel some days. We all have them. It is so very easy to lose sight of
the reasons why we want to spend time each day with our Father. How
much time have we spent trying to do things our way? If you are like
me, I have wasted too much time on my own already. If there is one
thing the hard knocks of life have taught me it is that I cannot go
through life on my own. I need Him each and every day. His wisdom has
given me confidence knowing that my decisions are the right ones,
simply because I lean on him to help me make them.

No matter how busy our day is, it will go much smoother once we have
taken the time to inplant God's thoughts in our mind and heart.

April 24, 2006: Why We Must Forgive

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the catives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound. - Isaish 61:1

I believe that most people have been hurt in some form during their lives. It may have come in the form of physical, sexual, emotional, or verbal abuse. Often times, hurt leads to feelings of rejection. Wounded emotions can become a prison that locks us into our pain and keeps out those who can assist us. Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door to this prison. Are you dwelling in such a prison? How long have you been there? Do you want to be freed?

Remember, Jesus came to open prison doors and to set the captives free. He wants to heal you. Jesus is willing: are you?

An Unshakeable Companion

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. - Proverbs 17:17

It is easy to be a friend when everything is good and things are going well. Sometimes it is easy to be a friend because we are benefiting from the relationship. But what happens when things take a turn? What happens when we are not the one benefiting from the relationship, but instead the one who needs to provide the benefit? A true friend sticks by your side even when things get tough. This is the kind of friend we all desire. But to have such friends, we must be such a friend ourselves.

The only way to have a friend is to be one. - Ralph Waldo Emerson