Category Archives: Devotional Reflections

Offering insights, inspiration, and encouragement for Christian living.

Walking in Faith

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Walking_on_Faith_by_Benjamin_McPherson

I had a conversation with an unbeliever a few days ago and he asked me how do I know that God is real? He also continued to say that he needs to see evidence that God exist. I realized that he doesn’t know the love of God. When you experience God’s love and seek His word, you begin to learn of God’s character, His promises over your life and you have a desire to observe and obey his commandments. God speaks in a soft whisper. With so much chaos and noise around us, many of us are unable to hear God’s voice. God speaks to us every day if we take the time to sit still for a moment and listen. Too many people are rushing to go nowhere. .. to a job they hate, to family problems, well you get the idea.

He said in His word, “In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct thy path.” So many people want to be shown a sign.

How can someone acknowledge God when they don’t even believe He exist? You must have faith in Him first. He will not reveal himself to someone who doesn’t even believe that He exist! “Without faith, it is impossible to please Him.”  What is faith? ”Faith is the evidence of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

I question how some people question God, but live with a level of faith every day. Let’s take the air (oxygen) that we breathe every day to live. You cannot see it, yet it exists. Let’s use music as an example, you can’t see it, yet it exists. Let’s look at gravity (not literally, because you can’t see it!), yet it exists.

Most people jump in their car, bus or train and expect to get to their destinations safely. People also get on an elevator and expect it to go up or down without it dropping. You can even sit in a chair and expect it to hold you up when you sit down. Even when you don’t acknowledge God, He is protecting and holding you up in the midst of your circumstances.

Once you get a revelation of who God’s character is, you will start to notice how He works in your life even under the worst conditions and situations in life.

He is waiting for you to make a decision. He gives you free choice in life and does not hold you under compulsion to believe in Him. You are free to choose life or death. Satin only purpose is to kill, steal and destroy by any means possible, but Jesus came to give us life more abundantly. Most people only think of abundance as material things but it’s not only wealth but abundance in health, joy, peace. love and much more.

He even gives us freedom of speech. “The power of life and death is in the tongue.” You can speak positive over your life or you can speak death. I’ve seen an excessive amount of people wearing skull, bones and other symbols that represent death. Unfortunately, the masses are not aware that there acknowledging and expressing the love of death. If you really research, you will find most things related specifically to skulls represents death for example: poison.  The more you focus on the negative the more that it tends to grow.

He is waiting…..time does not.  You are not promised tomorrow.

Once you acknowledge Jesus as your Lord and Savior and that he died for your sins and repent for your sins and open your heart to the Holy Spirit. He will come into your heart and you are saved at the present moment you acknowledge Him as your Lord and Savior.

You are transformed by the renewing of your mind and allowing the Holy Spirit to come into your heart. It is a life-long process and you will not feel any different after you are saved, but the Lord will begin to work in your life differently. Prayer is a must in building a relationship with Him as well as reading the Gospel where you find stories of Jesus’s life, God’s commandments and His promises including the prophetic revelations being witnessed in today’s world. The Bible is the foundation and life’s instruction manual to living on this earth. You will begin to transform as you gain a stronger relationship with Him.

So, you are still not convinced if God is real?

This message was probably not meant for you then. I have to wonder though because if you happened to get to the bottom of this page, the Lord is already drawing you to Him. You have a desire to want to know more about Him and to seek the only love in this world that does not fail.

He is wating for you……

Be Transformed by the Renewing of Your Mind

Posted on by yolandaberry
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As we enter into 2012, we are filled with many dreams, hopes, aspirations, visions, desires and expectations. We make another year of  resolutions. We fill our schedules with new plans and mark the calendar with exciting activities for the upcoming year. By the end of the year, we are feeling depressed and unmotivated because we did not accomplish the goals that we set out to achieve.

The one thing we need to realize that we can expect another year of the same old thing unless we renew our minds. Our mentality has to change. Our attitudes has to change. Our behaviors has to change. Our disposition has to change. Our words and thoughts have to change. Sometime even our location has to change.  We can’t really expect a New Year full of change if we don’t change the internal things that may be blocking us from our goals.

It’s not an easy process. We are constantly transforming by our daily experiences but somehow we can remain stuck in an old mindset or behavior that may be hindering progress.  Let’s look ahead this year with a desire to renew our minds and embrace positive changes in our lives.  So, when we look back on another year we can really have a sense of accomplishment and look ahead with great expectation to a New Year!

Expect Great Things!

Cheers!

Light in the Midst of Darkness

Posted on by yolandaberry
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Last week, I was on my way home and had a negative thought that I’m  not representing the Lord very well because I’ve been in such a very dismal mood.  I was running low on energy and feeling very down.  I took notice of my environment and saw that mostly everyone either looked mad at the world,  extremely serious or just had no expression at all.  I rarely see a smile on anyone’s face in my daily travels and it’s even rare that I see strangers extend a hint of friendliness or politeness to one another.  I started to really examine how society as well as my own community has deteriorated. There is no more respect for others. Values have been washed away and morals have been erased. Our youth are running wild and companies are stealing, lying and cheating with no repercussions or penalties.

As a representative of Christ, our actions should reflect the love of Christ in everything we do and say.  In such a chaotic world, I sometimes feel that my actions will not mean anything in comparison to how much needs to be done in the world that we live in. It has left me feeling powerless and that I cannot possibly shine God’s light in such a dark world.

Strangely, I felt like I was becoming part of the darkness and it scared me. I quickly was reminded how powerful our thoughts are and how we should guard our thoughts and keep it under the obedience of Christ.   I also started to think about how strong God’s power is to illuminate light in the darkness. How quickly I forgot that I can’t do this in my own power! I realized that God has placed me in a specific environment to carry out His purpose. I’m not suppose to grow weary or burn out because of life’s circumstances. Jesus said, ” I am the light of the world.”  John 9:5. “It’s through Him, we move and have our being.” I’m also reminded of the scripture. “It’s not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” said the Lord. We must not grow tired in times of distress or frustration.  When we carry the Holy Spirit within us, we have the ability to change the atmosphere in any environment. We also have the ability to draw strength from the Lord. “The joy of the Lord is our strength.” I realized that somewhere along the line I must have lost that inner joy that came from the Lord.  It’s in the secret place of the most High when I  praise His name that I find strength. This is where I realized that I had lost my focus.  When you put the Lord first, many eternal promises are fulfilled and you lack nothing including joy, strength and His light.

It was very strong for me to post this intimate story because I’ve had about five confirmations this past week in regard to shining God’s light. It’s God’s way of nudging me to write for His purpose. I don’t believe in coincidences and I know there is someone who needs to read this message right now.  So take an introspective look at yourself today and find the light within because  “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a  lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. So let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. “

I Peter 2