Advent Day 5, We Have it All in Jesus

December 5, 2024 nofearlindaLeave a comment

As we ponder Christ in the past, present and future, we can be mightily encouraged by today’s scripture from 1 Corinthians 1:3-9. I have read it in various translations and like the Message as it is the clearest to me. The Apostle Paul was writing to the Corinthian Christians to encourage them in their walk with Christ so that they could endure the trials of their faith in their present culture. Corinth was a very large pagan city with many temples and shrines to various pagan gods. Their faith in Christ was definitely counter-culture and there would have been many temptations to return to their pagan ways.

³May all the gifts and benefits that come from God our Father, and the Master, Jesus Christ, be yours. Paul begins by letting them know that all they have in faith comes from Jesus. The same is true for us today as without Jesus we would have nothing. I am so thankful Jesus came to set me free from the burden of sin so I can live in Him.

^4-6Every time I think of you—and I think of you often!—I thank God for your lives of free and open access to God, given by Jesus. There’s no end to what has happened in you—it’s beyond speech, beyond knowledge. The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives. We are so rich in Christ. We have access to the Father, the indwelling Holy Spirit and God’s Word to guide and direct our lives. Whom do you pray for in the faith? Do you remember your Christian friends, like Paul is doing? Yes, we pray for our unsaved friends to come to know Jesus and be freed from sin’s power in their lives, but what about those who know Jesus? Praying for the strengthening of the faith of our fellow believers is part of our job as fellow Christians. Whom will you pray for this season?

^7-9Just think—you don’t need a thing, you’ve got it all! All God’s gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.

These are such encouraging words from Paul. He reminded them, and us too, that we are gifted by God in so many ways. We have salvation in Christ, the fruits of the Holy Spirit that will be evident in our lives as we mature in Christ and the Word of God to guide us. Romans 1:16-17 speaks of salvation, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. ¹⁷For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” Galatians 5:22-23 explains the fruits of the Holy Spirit that can be manifested in our lives as we mature in our faith “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Jesus also sent the Holy Spirit to guide us in His ways. John 16:13 “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. “ God’s Word provides guidance as we seek to walk with Jesus each day, Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

We do indeed have it all in Jesus! Because He came to die on the cross for my sins and be resurrected to life, I can know Him and be used by Him to reach others. I am so thankful that Jesus came to redeem me and a future with Him gives me hope as I live in today’s world.

May your hope abound as you consider what you have today in Jesus!

Linda

God’s Word Protects

April 3, 2023April 3, 2023 nofearlindaLeave a comment

The majority of our time this week will be spent in Isaiah 53, or the 4th Song within Isaiah. However, before we get to Isaiah 53 we encounter some incredibly rich and beautiful passages in Isaiah 51-52. Isaiah 51:7-8 is where Isaiah encourages the Israelites to have a NO Fear attitude towards the adversities that surround them now and those they will face in the future.

“Hear me, you who know what is right,
    you people who have taken my instruction to heart:
Do not fear the reproach of mere mortals
    or be terrified by their insults.
⁸For the moth will eat them up like a garment;
    the worm will devour them like wool.
But my righteousness will last forever,
    my salvation through all generations.”

I love the fact that God’s Words that He has given us to live by in the Bible are our protection against those who would seek to intimidate or ridicule us. God says they will be devoured and His righteousness will endure forever. Take lessons to heart from this passage and be encouraged.

Knowing God and having His words in my heart protects me!
Others seek to put me down, scorn, terrorize and hurt me, but God promises to deal with them, devouring them.
God promises to put holes in them, either literally or figuratively, so that the will be destroyed.
God promises His righteousness and salvation are eternal.

What do you know about God’s Word? Here are a few verses to show you that the Word of God has power. *Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” God’s Word gives guidance and direction.

Psalm 119:120 “My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws.” God’s Word is worthy of our awe.

Psalm 18:30 “As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.” God’s Word is our flawless shield provided by God.

Ephesians 6:17-18 “In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” God’s Word is included in the armor given to all believers and it is one of our offensive weapons to strike at the heart of unbelief.

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” God’s Word is alive, penetrating and helps us discern truth.

1 Peter 1:23 “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” God’s Word is eternal; it will never be out of date in any circumstance.

God and His Word will last forever and He will be victorious over any and all circumstances we may encounter in life. Fear does not come from God. He wants us to stand for Him with NO FEAR in our hearts and minds.

Linda

Where are you placing your future? Is it done with Hope and Assurance?

January 10, 2020 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Do you have verses that are yours? One of my life verses is Jeremiah 29:11. I first connected with this verse when I was asked to choose a verse for my grandson at his baby dedication. God led me to Jeremiah 29:11 and I began to cling to the promises it holds. The connection for today and every day is the hope contained with God’s Words. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” This verse tells me God knows me and my future and He has good planned for me. Those things He has planned are designed to give me hope and a positive future. I am convinced that God loves me and wants the very best for me. I am convinced that God is good, desiring the best for me- for my good and His glory. How can I not have hope?

Does this mean that everything will always be good, happy and fulfilling? No. It means that whatever happens in my life, God can use it for my good. Romans 8:28 confirms this, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Since I know and love Jesus, I am assured that He can and does use all things in my life for good. In the hard times, it is difficult to be assured of this, but looking back or looking at others suffering we can often get a glimpse of this truth. This calls for our faith and trust in Him.

I cling to the truths of Jeremiah 29:11 when hard times come, when I see amazing things happen, when I look and plan for the future and seek to know what He would have me do. I ask for His help and guidance as His will is perfect His direction is true. Let Psalm 25:4-5 be your prayer as it is mine. “Show me your ways, Lord,
    teach me your paths.
⁵Guide me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are God my Savior,
    and my hope is in you all day long.

Linda

Never doubting their guiding God, Jesus and family return

December 23, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Herod the Great died in about 4 B.C. so an angel appeared to Joseph again and gave them the directions they were waiting in Egypt to hear.

Matthew 2:19-23: But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, ²⁰saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” ²¹And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. ²²But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. ²³And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.”

History proved Joseph’s fears to be real and God’s direction faithful as Herod Archelaus was an incredibly cruel and tyrannical. He was deposed after 10 years and the Roman’s took over with governors appointed by the emperor.

Joseph followed God’s direction and settled in Galilee in the town of Nazareth. God was an amazing Guide throughout Joseph’s journey’s. From leaving Nazareth to travel to Bethlehem with pregnant Mary for the census to Egypt and back to Nazareth, God led the way. God was their guide. God leads us in the way we should go. His Word teaches us how we are to live and think. Because God gives His children the Holy spirit, they recognize His voice and follow Him. We can trust God to lead us in the right way. Without God’s guidance, we would stumble and fall like people in darkness. Jesus is our guiding light so we can walk with God where He leads us with confidence and assurance.

Just as God was their Guide, He can be our guide in life too. We just need to listen for His voice, John 10:3, “The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” We can be confident that God will guide and lead us. Here are a few verses to reassure you can trust Him as your guide:

Psalm 23:2-3 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. ³He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Psalm 31:3 “For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me;”

Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”

Psalm 48:14 “that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever”

May you follow His leading each day, knowing that God is faithful and trustworthy. He will guide you, just as He did Joseph and Mary.

Linda

I AM… the light of the world

September 6, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Jesus made this claim and it is recorded twice in John. Once when challenged by the Pharisees in John 8:12 and again in John 9:5 when questioned about the sin of man that was born blind.

In John 8:12-15 the Pharisees were seeking to discredit Jesus’ claims saying He could not be His own witness to who He really was. Jesus’ answers are straight forward and He turns the statements back to them so that they will examine themselves. ¹²Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” ¹³So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” ¹⁴Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. ¹⁵You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.” Jesus’ statement is bold and shows purpose and direction. He knew where He was going, what He was doing and why. He assures us that if we follow His light, His truth, and His ways we will not walk in the darkness of sin but have a life filled with His light and truth! What a wonderful assurance.

In John 9 Jesus encountered a man born blind and His disciples asked, who sinned and made this man blind- his parents or him? “³Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. ⁴We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. ⁵As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Jesus assured them that the blindness did not come from sin but was to be an opportunity to show the works and power of God. Jesus performed many miracles of this kind during His ministry. Giving sight was a living example of what Jesus can do for us as He can give us sight. His light brings salvation, hope, understanding of God’s Word, a pathway to stronger character based on Him, guidance and direction. He shows us the way to God. John calls Jesus the Word in John 1:1-4 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was in the beginning with God. ³All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴In him was life, and the life was the light of men.” Jesus is the fulfillment of Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Jesus is God’s Word brought into our lives to bring us to Him and to be the light by which we can come to God. Praise God for His mercy and grace towards us by sending Jesus to be our light in this dark world.

Ask yourself, Am I walking fully in God’s light, letting Him guide and direct my way? Or am I walking part in light and part in darkness trying to live in the world, keeping worldly thoughts and actions a part of my life? How can I walk more in God’s light and less in the shadow of the world’s darkness each day? David gave us a glimpse of an answer in Psalm 119:9-11:   ⁹How can a young man keep his way pure?
    By guarding it according to your word. Stay in the Word (Jesus)
¹⁰With my whole heart I seek you;
    let me not wander from your commandments! Follow the Word (Jesus)
¹¹I have stored up your word in my heart,
    that I might not sin against you. Keep the Word in your heart. (Jesus)

Does this describe how your heart looks?

Have a blessed day walking in the LIGHT of Jesus.

Linda

Seeking Heart relief from God

July 13, 2018 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Two heart verses spoke to me this morning. Knowing our hearts are deceitful and driven by original sin, God promises to do a work in our hearts that is amazing. Proverbs 3:5-6 is a well quoted verse that speaks of God’s power to lead and guide if we will trust and acknowledge Him in our lives. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.  ⁶Seek his will in all you do,  and he will show you which path to take.” God is the one with the transforming power in our lives if we will seek to know and trust Him. My second verse is found in   psalm 34 18 Psalm 34:18 “The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.
    He rescues them from all their troubles.
¹⁸The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
    he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” David wrote these words during a very difficult time in his life. He knew God. He knew He would hear his cries for help. He knew God would and could rescue him. He knew from experience that God was near to him when his heart was broken and his spirit crushed. David knew God and had experienced His love and care during times of great need.

God knows our hearts and sees what we need even before we ask for help. God knows our desire for guidance and He alone has the power to mend our broken hearts and crushed spirit. Seek Him like David did and lay your sorrows, hurts and needs before Him. He promises that those who seek Him will find Him. Moses told the children of Israel just before they entered the Promised Land, “But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Deuteronomy 4:29 God promises to be found if we seek with and open heart. Seek Him today and tell Him about your broken heart, your crushed spirit or your desire to be guided by Him. God can and will answer your prayers, just as He promised.

Seeking His comfort and jclinging to His promise as I walk with Him daily,

Linda

Need a guide? Look to God’s Word.

May 29, 2018 nofearlindaLeave a comment

In Psalm 119:105-112 the Psalmist speaks of the guiding power of God’s Word and it’s ability to instill a sense of well being, care and staying power when times are difficult. I want to focus on verse 105 as I have included this verse in my book Promises for Dynamic Living. It is a promise that we can claim each and every day and use it to bring praise to God for all eternity. Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” This verse is a promise to each of us that the Bible, God’s Word, will give us direction and light for living. We can trust that God’s Word will guide, give us truth when we are so often surrounded by falsehoods, point us to the true light, Jesus, and reveals to us that God cares about the way we live and the choices we make each day.
This truth about God’s Word and it’s ability to guide us is found throughout the Bible. Proverbs 30:5 says, “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” His Word holds absolute truths that we can cling to and take refuge in. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” His Word is alive and has power to help us to see right from wrong and be able to tell truth from lies. John referred to Jesus as the Word of God. John 1:1 “ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” and John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Jesus was God’s fullest expression of His Word among us. God’s Word has power today to transform and guide us just as when He created the universe by His Word. He spoke the world into existence, Genesis 1:3 “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.” His Word has power. Rely upon it’s truths to guide and direct you, learn about God in it’s pages and allow His Holy Spirit to transform you as you step out in faith believing in His Word, Jesus.