Good Morning! - Nothing to Compare

Good Morning! ~ Faith Prompts God

WORD THOUGHTS: CREDIT RATING

Guest Writer: Grace Potts

And he (Abram) believed God, and He credited it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15: 6

How much credit do we get?

Abram was a giant of faith, prominent in the honor roll of Hebrews 11. God commended him for his belief; he honored God with his trust.

And how much credit do we get? The big one, for sure, if we believe that God Himself died in our place so we could be forgiven. Eternal life has already begun for us, if we accept His sacrifice.

But we still have to get through this joyful, broken, impossible life.

Do we believe the promises He gives for the journey? When we feel alone, do we trust our feelings, or do we believe, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” When our heavy loads threaten to overwhelm us, do we believe, “My yoke is easy, and My burden light.”? When we stumble over temptations, do we believe, “But the LORD is faithful, and will make a way of escape.”?

Wandering in the wilderness

When we wander in the wilderness of what-if’s and how-can-I’s, do we believe He will always make a way where there seems to be no way? When the journey seems too long and we lose sight of our destination, do we believe, “I am preparing a place for you, and I’m coming soon to take you home.”?

Day to day practical faith is hard to maintain. Even Abram, champion of faith, faltered and trusted instead in his own strength and wisdom. But our God is a God of forgiveness. Like Abram, we must turn again to our Shepherd. We must let Him lift us up and set us back on our feet to follow Him.

Cast your cares on Him, the One who has never broken a promise.

PRAYER: 

Father, I believe; please help my unbelief. In the name of Jesus, Amen.



About the author:

A country girl who could never feel at home without elbow room, fresh air, trees and animals, good neighbors and family nearby, stories to tell, books to read, and lots of solitude. (And no, they don’t all fit together.) My ancestors hailed from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. I’m a Southerner born and bred, and adopted by the King of Parables—so it’s no surprise that I’ve told myself stories as long as I can remember. I live on a real piece of land with ten chickens, two dogs and a dat, (A dat is a dog that acts like a cat) and an amazing husband my Heavenly Father chose for me.

God’s Report Card: Are you failing?

During our school days we were graded on our ability to retain learned lessons of academia. We trekked through the hallow halls of higher learning striving for the highest mark, and then matriculating into the workforce as adults where we are now graded on execution. For both school and work a matrix was given; school issued a syllabus while work is based on job responsibility and execution of a task. Equally, they make available some form of evaluation on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis. By not meeting the minimum requirements the end result could be failure or job termination.


Some of us are the best at what we do, experts in our perspective occupations, and well knowledge in our profession: teachers, preachers, top executives, CEOs of successful companies, artist of every medium, or coaches. The question is who is learning from our knowledge? What are we doing to mentor and uplift others in our profession? Are we selfishly hording these traits for our own gratification or reaching back to share these skill sets with others? Stop and think for a moment, what if God had a report card or performance plan that He provided to us monthly quarterly or annually and we actually had an opportunity to review our appraisal. This assessment would be a pass or fail grade. It may be a surprise to many, there is a performance plan that God has provided for us yet we so often choose not to follow. God’s plan is for his children to utilize the skill sets, talents, and creativity that he so graciously gave us all to share with others.

Jesus’ parable of the talents Matt. 25: 14-30 states, “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, which called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. To one he gave five talents, another two, and another one, each according to his own ability.” In this story, talents represented money as well as attributes. The servant who was given one talent chose to do nothing with his gift since he did not receive as many as the other servants. Are you guilty of hording your talents or believe you have nothing to contribute to others? On the contrary, we all possess a skill set, trait, or personality that can be used to uplift our fellow man. Though it may appear that you have no talents, or traits of any kind, you do have the capability to be of assistance to others. By giving back to our fellow man, this becomes a way of glorifying and edifying God. Jesus told his disciples in Matt. 25: 31-45 “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters, you did for me.’

I challenge us all, as talented as we are in our professions take time to edify God as well as educate others. So when the time comes for God to bestow us with our final grade of performance here on earth we don’t want to hear we failed but the sweet words from our Father in Heaven: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!


Tigner

For more posts check http://thesoulsremedy.blogspot.com/



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Commitment is Power: what are you committed to?

What are you committed to? What changes are you making in your life? Dropping bad habits, or positive thinking?


God’s word states: commit your way unto the Lord trust also in him and he shall bring it to pass (Psalms 37:5). After commitment, one must also be willing to cast their burdens on the Lord so he can sustain you. By implementing these simple principles God shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

There are many distractions we all face daily that can cause a person not to commit to anything. Unlike Jesus, at the age of twelve, who was committed to doing his Father’s business by teaching the gospel. History has also shown us people who were committed to various goals: Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X as well as Jesus the Christ. These soldiers where willing to sacrifice their lives for a higher calling. They had fire & desire in their hearts, bottom line commitment.

Should we all carry large torches as these warriors? Maybe not but what ever your dedication is: commitment to being a better parent, spouse, obligation to your job, or focusing on your creative spirit that is buried inside. Find an underlying principle to commit yourself, stay focus, meditate, and seek God’s knowledge to uncover your direction. Remember, commitment is power.

Tigner

For more posts check http://thesoulsremedy.blogspot.com



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Concealed Faith

Image by: Tigner J.

Survey an impaired person as they walk busy streets, calculating how and when to cross, listening out for danger all while managing to overcome many obstacles. It is in my option to believe that a sightless person has to have some form of faith! Miscalculate the number of steps one could fall, drop soap in the shower it may take a minute to locate it. Sure there are friends and Good Samaritans who may come to their aid but what happens on all the other dark and lonely days? I recall as a child a friend whose grandmother was deaf, blind, and could not talk. It was so amazing watching her move about without fear and communicate through sign language among her family.

I cannot imagine being blind living in a world of total darkness. Having to use my hands to feel through life and relying upon other senses to survive. Now, visualize yourself blind living in a world of total darkness, being taught to adjust in a new world of using your senses to maneuver through life? A countless number take for granted the ability to see, hear, taste, touch, walk and talk; it is not a guarantee to always have any of these aptitudes.

Applying this with a spiritual walk, scores of people rely on their own understanding and not trusting in the Lord with all their heart Proverbs 5. I’ve found myself experiencing situations from time to time, when I omitted God from my decision making and life became weary. The moment I choose to stand and wait on the Lord my verdict faired much better for me. Realize that our carnal mind cannot vision the out come so we need to learn on faith. Let us gain knowledge from people who are visually impaired. Discover the simple principle Christ attempted to teach his followers as well as all believers to walk by faith, not by sight 2 Corinthians 5:7.



Tigner J.



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The Presence of the Lord

On occasion believers and all the time non-believers question if God is ever present. Do people see the Spirit of the Lord or a liken image of Him? Just as Jesus visited the men on the road to Emmaus, (Luke 24:13-35) I boldly say yes He still makes Himself visible at the right time and place.

Several years a go my mother suffered a stroke. During her hospitalization she encountered a living hell that no one would want to endure. There was one occasion doctors had to rush her into emergency surgery do to internal bleeding where she had lost four pints of blood. In the course of recovery I was granted visitation in ICU. Nurses stated she is in a great deal of pain and will not response. What begin as moans and groans soon became coherent words. Though she never called my name we talked all while telling me she was in pain. Out of know where she blurted out “I’m not ready to go”. Of course I told her she could not. Her response brought a chill over me that I now know and acknowledge as the Holy Spirit being present. “Tell that man at the door I’m not ready to go!” There was no one in the room although my mother insisted there is a man in a white robe and she, at this moment did not want to go with him.

The presence of the Lord was there He could be felt in the atmosphere. Though I didn’t see him in the physical form with out a doubt He was there in the spirit. There are those who would argue that I was imagining or it was my mother’s drugs which had her hallucinating. As stated my mother had lost blood, during the surgery she encountered another mild stroke and because of that doctors choose not to give any pain or hypertension medication. She was enduring unimaginable pain all while the Holy Spirit was nearby.

After that celestial visit it took years for me to fully understand that God is always present and all along it has been me locking Him out although I was asking Him to come in. Time and again we doubt that God hear our cries, know our pain or is not present when he is most needed. Is it easy to ask God into your life? Yes but the Trinity will not and cannot come in UNLESS we unlock our hearts, change our mindset, increase our faith and invite God into our live. Remember it’s a continuous effort – a work in progress; pray without ceasing, praising His name during the trials and never giving up. Satan is a liar and the truth is not in him for causing confusion in our minds.

David said in Psalm 139: 7 Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from Your presence? Blessed assurance, God is always present he will never leave us or forsake us.

Tigner J.
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God got it under control

When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider:
God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future. Ecclesiastes 7:14

Photo: Tigner J.

“Where did all the blue skies go? Oil wasted on the ocean fish full of mercury, Ah things ain’t what they use to be. Over and over you can be sure there will be sorrow but you will endure. Where there's a flower there's the sun and the rain Oh and its wonderful there both one in the same.“


Throughout our existence we are confronted with good and bad situations. Marvin Gaye and Frankie Beverly both duly noted life’s balance through song which enlighten us; people can’t have good without bad or joy without pain. Marvin’s cry for Mercy along with Frankie’s acceptance of Joy & Pain they are both one in the same. God also made it clear through Solomon in this scripture no matter what come to pass in living be happy during the good as well as the bad. How we choose to deal with them is entirely up to us.


Consider Job, who God stated “No one in the world is like him! He is a man of integrity: He is decent, he fears God, and he stays away from evil. And he still holds on to his principles.” Job 2:3 Job was a wealthy man, in all aspects was very proud and happy man who in a blink of an eye lost everything; family, including seven sons and three daughters, money, livestock. Job was bankrupt in today’s equation of worth. Despite the fact he faced misfortune in such great magnitude Job did not sin or blame God for doing anything wrong, he tried to find the balance between good and bad but most importantly he could not determine his future. With an attempt to put this in prospective in our lives I don’t think the average man could have withstood any lost of this enormity and find himself standing, not complaining, questioning God, and most definitely not be happy.


Misfortune should teach us to consider the fact as we are paid a visit of various stages of “good and evil” events we need to be reminded that no matter what tomorrow my bring God got it under control. The pain and weeping may endure for night or season but joy will come in the morning.


Be encouraged don’t give up the good fight and remember to pray as well as pray for others.


Tigner J.