Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
The peace that God offers is a peace unlike anything that this world knows. It is a peace that manifests itself in times of trial and trouble. It is a peace that defies explanation apart from the supernatural power of God. To know the peace of God, we must first have peace with God. We live in the midst of a world that is desperately seeking peace, but it is elusive to them because they don't have peace with God. It is always in that order in the Scriptures. A person has to trust Christ as Savior to have peace with God. After salvation we can know the wonderful experience of having a peace that passeth all understanding. How is your peace today? Do you have an abiding trust in Him? A confidence that God is able to work in any situation in your life.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Monday, August 26, 2013
Child-Like Faith
Matthew 18:3 "And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."
In Matthew 18 Jesus calls a young child to Himself and then He uses the child to demonstrate the child-like faith that is required for a person to get to Heaven. Jesus explained to His disciples that they needed to humble themselves as little children. I'm thankful that Jesus Christ made salvation so simple that even a small child can understand the requirements of salvation. Have you ever noticed how trusting and innocent children are. Adults sometimes complicate the plan of salvation so much that they can't recognize it themselves. They begin to over think the process and start adding to or subtracting from the steps of salvation. They start to think that salvation really can't be this simple and they start changing it in their own thought process. The danger of this is that they so distort the requirements of salvation so much that they miss the mark.
What did God explain in his Word that the steps of salvation are?
1) Recognize that we are a sinner.
2) Repent of our sin.
3) Believe that Jesus died on the cross and paid the wages for our sin.
4) Believe that Jesus arose from the grave on the third day.
5) Call upon Jesus Christ and ask Him to save you.
God made the plan incredibly simple. Have you trusted Christ as your Savior? If you would like more information click on the link on the main page of this blog. "Salvation Plain and Simple"
If I can answer any questions free to email me at drcmh@yahoo.com
In Matthew 18 Jesus calls a young child to Himself and then He uses the child to demonstrate the child-like faith that is required for a person to get to Heaven. Jesus explained to His disciples that they needed to humble themselves as little children. I'm thankful that Jesus Christ made salvation so simple that even a small child can understand the requirements of salvation. Have you ever noticed how trusting and innocent children are. Adults sometimes complicate the plan of salvation so much that they can't recognize it themselves. They begin to over think the process and start adding to or subtracting from the steps of salvation. They start to think that salvation really can't be this simple and they start changing it in their own thought process. The danger of this is that they so distort the requirements of salvation so much that they miss the mark.
What did God explain in his Word that the steps of salvation are?
1) Recognize that we are a sinner.
2) Repent of our sin.
3) Believe that Jesus died on the cross and paid the wages for our sin.
4) Believe that Jesus arose from the grave on the third day.
5) Call upon Jesus Christ and ask Him to save you.
God made the plan incredibly simple. Have you trusted Christ as your Savior? If you would like more information click on the link on the main page of this blog. "Salvation Plain and Simple"
If I can answer any questions free to email me at drcmh@yahoo.com
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Importance of Charity
1Corinthians 13:13 "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." The bible places tremendous emphasis on charity. It is by the charity of God the Father that Jesus Christ was given and offered up for the sins of all mankind. God demonstrated His great love for us by giving His own Son to die on the cross for us. When we consider the great love that Jesus Christ demonstrated to us by willingly allowing Himself to be crucified to pay the wages of our sins the very least we can do is demonstrate charity toward others. It is through this demonstration of love toward others that people's hearts are opened to the Gospel message. If people know that we care, that we love them, then their hearts become receptive to the message of the Gospel. If people know that we are sincerely concerned it gives our witness tremendous credibility. People will listen and trust our message about the saving power of Christ.
How is your charity today? Are you demonstrating the love of God as you reach out to those that are hurting around you? If you don't have the proper level of charity confess it to God and ask Him to help in this area in your life. God stands willing to give us the proper heart attitude if we will simply ask!
How is your charity today? Are you demonstrating the love of God as you reach out to those that are hurting around you? If you don't have the proper level of charity confess it to God and ask Him to help in this area in your life. God stands willing to give us the proper heart attitude if we will simply ask!
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Stages of Life
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;” Ecclesiastes 3:1
Our lives are broken into stages. As children we live under the care and protection of our families. It is a time of learning and safety as we watch, learn and listen. It is the time that we head off to the schoolhouse to receive an education. A time to learn those things that will lead us to being productive citizens, workers and community members. Those school days are a stage in our life. The day that we graduate high school begins another stage in our lives. Some choose college, others choose a job and some choose to begin careers in the military. If we're sensitive to the leadership of God in our lives we find ourselves meeting the spouse that God has for us. We get married and yet another stage with all of it blessings begins. The next step or stage in our lives is to raise the children that God blesses us with. Then the day comes when we have to stand at the schoolhouse door and bid our children goodbye as they enter their first day of school. The day eventually comes when we stand at our door and bid our child goodbye as they head off into the world to make it on our own. Then the empty nest stage begins.
Our lives consist of one stage after another. We move inexorably from one season to another. We can't look down through the halls of our future and see everything that is in store for us just over the next horizon. It's probably for the best that we can't. The future would probably scare us to death if we saw what we will have to face. As Christians we have the awareness that we don't have to face the stages of life alone. Our God goes with us day by day and year by year throughout every moment of all of the stages. We often find ourselves perplexed and puzzled at different stages, but we serve a God that is never confused or befuddled. He sees the path ahead perfectly clear and He knows the plan that He has for us every stage of our life. We need to simply trust that He knows best and He wants what is best for us. What stage are you going through in your life? Is it a time of mountain top experience or are you trudging through the valley. Trust God to see you through!
Our lives are broken into stages. As children we live under the care and protection of our families. It is a time of learning and safety as we watch, learn and listen. It is the time that we head off to the schoolhouse to receive an education. A time to learn those things that will lead us to being productive citizens, workers and community members. Those school days are a stage in our life. The day that we graduate high school begins another stage in our lives. Some choose college, others choose a job and some choose to begin careers in the military. If we're sensitive to the leadership of God in our lives we find ourselves meeting the spouse that God has for us. We get married and yet another stage with all of it blessings begins. The next step or stage in our lives is to raise the children that God blesses us with. Then the day comes when we have to stand at the schoolhouse door and bid our children goodbye as they enter their first day of school. The day eventually comes when we stand at our door and bid our child goodbye as they head off into the world to make it on our own. Then the empty nest stage begins.
Our lives consist of one stage after another. We move inexorably from one season to another. We can't look down through the halls of our future and see everything that is in store for us just over the next horizon. It's probably for the best that we can't. The future would probably scare us to death if we saw what we will have to face. As Christians we have the awareness that we don't have to face the stages of life alone. Our God goes with us day by day and year by year throughout every moment of all of the stages. We often find ourselves perplexed and puzzled at different stages, but we serve a God that is never confused or befuddled. He sees the path ahead perfectly clear and He knows the plan that He has for us every stage of our life. We need to simply trust that He knows best and He wants what is best for us. What stage are you going through in your life? Is it a time of mountain top experience or are you trudging through the valley. Trust God to see you through!
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Handling Trials
James 1:2
"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations." This verse on the surface appears to be a paradox. How can we be joyful when we fall into various trials? The idea of being joyful in a trial seems ludicrous on the surface. How can we be happy in the midst of misery? We need to consider the source of our joy. As Christians the source of our joy is our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. He has unlimited power to help in times of trouble. He is a very present help in time of trouble. He cares about what is going on in our lives. His presence encourages and strengthens us as we spend time in His presence through prayer and bible study. The idea of being joyful in trials seems strange until we realize that our joy is not dependent on our circumstances, but our joy is dependent upon a right relationship with Christ. How is your joy today? Are you relying upon circumstances for joy or the real source of joy?
"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations." This verse on the surface appears to be a paradox. How can we be joyful when we fall into various trials? The idea of being joyful in a trial seems ludicrous on the surface. How can we be happy in the midst of misery? We need to consider the source of our joy. As Christians the source of our joy is our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. He has unlimited power to help in times of trouble. He is a very present help in time of trouble. He cares about what is going on in our lives. His presence encourages and strengthens us as we spend time in His presence through prayer and bible study. The idea of being joyful in trials seems strange until we realize that our joy is not dependent on our circumstances, but our joy is dependent upon a right relationship with Christ. How is your joy today? Are you relying upon circumstances for joy or the real source of joy?
Monday, August 12, 2013
Spiritual Renewal
A time of refreshment is important in every Christian Life. During the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ there were times when Christ had to separate Himself from the throngs of people that were crowding in on him and begging Him for assistance. He would separate from the hustle and bustle of the daily ministering to the needs of the masses and would retire to a desert place to spend time alone in prayer. Jesus was modeling a wonderful example for us as believers. He was demonstrating the need for a time of spiritual renewal and refreshment. Jesus knew full well that the power of the Holy Spirit of God was available through prayer. As believers we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. A famous preacher once stated that it's not how much of the Holy Spirit we have, but how much of us does the Holy Spirit have. Time in prayer alone with God strengthens our walk with God and enables us to carry out the ministry that God has assigned us as His ambassador. How is your walk with God today? Are you walking through dry, barren places? God wants to refresh and renew your spirit today. He wants to be a spring of living water rising up within you to refresh you for the journey ahead. Take time to spend time with God today and go forward in the strength of His Spirit!
What's Next? Discerning God's Direction
There are times in life when we don't feel a clear direction from God, but we have a very important decision that must be made. What do we do during those times. We pray, but it seems that our ceiling is made of lead and our prayers are falling back down to us without leaving the confines of our room. As Christians we know that God doesn't operate on our timetable. There are times when we expect an immediate answer, but that immediate answer doesn't come. These are times that we have to wait patiently, by faith simply trusting that our Lord's timing is always perfect. He has promised that all things work together for good to them that love Him. We have to trust God as sovereign to always do those things that are in our best interest. He will always do what is best for us. We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus. What practical steps do we take when we simply don't know what to do? We need to wait on the Lord, don't get hasty and rush ahead in our own wisdom. We need to keep doing those things that are in accordance with the Word of God. The things that we know are right and in God's will. Finally we have to maintain an abiding trust in God. He will answer, He will move at exactly the moment that is best in our life. We serve an awesome God. He has unlimited power and ability to help in every circumstance in our life. Trust Him!
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