The old and the new

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.

I will apologize ahead of time if I ramble.

What is a resolution? Fixedness of mind, determination that one makes

Most of the time resolutions that we make are just words. Our actions don't line up or else they don't line up for long.

Do you make resolutions or commitments?

Be careful making either cause it could be considered a vow by the Lord. And He takes vows very seriously.

Here are some vows the Lord made to us:

Jer 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know Me, from the least unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Ps 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.

Mic 7:19 He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us: He will subdue our iniquites; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

Is 38:17 Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back.

Our repented for sins are washed away, never to return. So next time the devil brings back something you have repented of, tell him to get lost. The devil doesn't know the future, so he attacks us with the past. But the verses above tell me that God has wiped them out if I have truly repented of them. So no one including the devil should be allowed by me to use them against me.

So let's start the new year off right. Let's agree to fight back when the devil tries to use our past against us. Let's agree to hold each other in prayer as we do.

The word tells us in a few places that we will be attacked, we will have trials and tribulations and persecutions, but out of all of them it tells us the Lord has delivered us.

Here are a few of those for you:

2 Tim 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2 Tim 3:11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them ALL the Lord delivered me.
Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.
:6 So that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Can you say ....

it is well with my soul? Listen to this video. It has amazing words. Remember no matter what you are going through right now, this very moment in time, God is aware, He is right beside you. He promised to never leave or forsake you. So no matter what things look like from the outside, on the inside things can be well with your soul. Just reach out to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So many people struggle with depression this time of year. If you are one of them, know that I am praying for you and that you too can say It is well with your soul.

Tis the season

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

As you read the above think about where your heart truly is right now. Are you caught up in the holiday? Are you rushing here and there for the perfect gift? If so I pray that you take time to remember that the only PERFECT gift was Jesus Christ. It is HIS birth we are celebrating, not the jolly red suited guy. We must put the focus where it belongs and make sure that our children and grandchildren don't get so caught up in the process of getting gifts that they don't realize just how incredible the gift of Jesus Christ was to all of us.

Take it to the Lord in prayer

Have problems today? Have temptations today? Have any kind of need today?

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

But the hard part is making sure after that you leave it with the Lord. How many times after praying and giving our situation to the Lord, do we pick it back up when we are done? Or is it just me?

Today I am laying all of my situations in His hands and walking away free with only His yoke and His burden.

MT 11:30
For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light

May we all remember this today.

First Love

Rev 2:4
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Remember when you were first saved? That on-fire, totally consuming, single focus of your attention? Then over time, that changed. You were not as excited about what Christ did for you. I am not saying you still don't appreciate it. I am saying that you don't feel the on fire, consuming need to share that information with everyone you meet.

Christ wants us to return to that on-fire, all consuming, single focus. Does that mean you can neglect everyone or everything else in your life? Not at all. But as we mature in life and in our salvation we should learn to do both. Do you talk to someone about Christ every day? At least for a few minutes? Do you read His word every day? At least for a few minutes? Do you try to learn something new about Christ every day? Or do you think you know it all? I know I don't know all there is to know about Christ, and that it will take me the rest of my life to learn of Him and I still won't know all there is to know. Think back to when you were newly saved. You read the bible every chance you got to learn more of Him. You told everyone you met about the wonderful Savior you had found. That is the first love Christ is calling us back to.

Can you be still?

PS 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.


On the surface this looks like such an easy thing to do doesn't it? But have you ever really tried to be still? On purpose? Have you ever watched a small child who has been told to be still try really hard? Ever been told when about to have blood drawn or given a shot to be very still? Even for a moment?

I believe God knew when He told us here to be still just how hard that is for us. And I think He knew that if we do the second part, know that He is God at the same time that it would be easier. Doesn't the thought of God and Who He is bring a peace and quietness, almost a stillness to you?

He is an incredible God. His mercies are new every morning! Halleja !! Praise His wonderful Name! I don't know about you but I need new mercy daily. I need so much daily from Him. He is my everything. I can do nothing without Him.

Do you have a beam in your eye?

Mt 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. 6




We can be so quick to notice someone else's sin or fault can't we? Especially when it is not something we personally struggle with. We can make excuses for our faults/sins. You know "well my walk is really difficult", others don't struggle with this so they don't realize what I go through", walk a mile in my shoes and you will understand" (wait didn't Christ say if they ask you to go one go two?)

First of all sin is sin. God doesn't see it as some big or some small. It is all ugly to Him. And it should be to us also. Let's remember the above verse that says we will be judged in the same way that we judge others.
Prayerfully that will make us less quickly judge others.

Lord show us all the beam in our own eye.

This is long but will have you laughing at the beginning and crying at the end

Do you have an ear?

Rev 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Jn 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Notice in the verse in revelation, if we overcome not only will we be eating of the tree of life, but look where it is!! It is in the midst of the paradise of God!!

Now the second verse I posted is both encouraging and discouraging. It talks about peace and tribulation.

I know a lot of us are dealing with depression right now. But rejoice sisters in Christ, He tells us He has overcome it and in HIM we will have peace. So for myself and the rest of you, when the old devil comes with his bag of tricks and tries to cause us depression, let's run into His arms. They are wide open and ready to wrap around us. And let us run to each other and encourage each other that we love each other and are willing to help anyway we can, but most importantly we will pray with each other and point each other to the Lord of peace.

Remember the song,

What a Friend We Have In Jesus

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.

Idle Words

Mt 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

:36 But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Ever speak idle words? I know I have. Did you ever stop to realize how important even the idle words out of your mouth are to God? And to you? These few small verses show just how important they are to both God and us. We will be justified or condemned by our every word.

I know that makes me want to be more careful about even the idle words I say. What about you?

Lord, help me to speak only things that bring glory to You. Help me to guard my tongue Lord. It is difficult sometimes to do. But with Your help I know I can.

In Jesus Name,

Words

1 Cor 1:4-5 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

:5 that in every thing ye are enriched by Him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

These verses are my prayer for all of us today. Oh, that we would only speak words that were enriched by Him!

Have you ever known either right before or during an utterance that those words were not enriched by God? And you knew even before you said them, how much they were going to hurt the person you said them to? But, here is a question for you, especially if like me you had to say yes to that question. Did you consider, your words hurt the other person, how much more they hurt God?

Have you ever tried to justify hurtful words to someone either you don't know, or that you do know and they don't know Christ as their Savior? Remember Christ died for them also if they will just receive Him as their Savior. He knows them and it must still hurt Him when we are purposefully hurtful to someone. If for no other reason then because we are His child and supposed to be showing Him to the world. Yes sometimes we must say difficult things to each other, but we must be careful that He would approve our choice of words. Do we go before Him first and "audition" what we will say? Or do we just blurt out what is in our heart without considering the effect? If we first (even if it is done quickly in prayer) seek the Lord about our words, we will be less likely to hurt our Lord Jesus Christ by what we say.

Pr 8:8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.

Ps 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

Gifts

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Ever look for the perfect gift to give someone? Have a hard time finding it? I have. Yet we have the best gift in the world to give them. Especially if they are not saved. We have the knowledge of Who Christ is and what He wants to do for us and them.

This time of year people are usually more open to hear about Christ. Am I willing to tell them? Are you?

Have you noticed that everyone is saying Happy Holidays to you instead of Merry Christmas? I for one refuse to say Happy Holidays. I will be saying Merry Christmas to everyone. They are not going to get me to take Christ out of the glorious celebration of His birth.

We started a few years ago to reduce the amount of money we spend on gifts. And to put the focus back where it belongs on Christ and the incredible gift of salvation that He came to give us.

Will you join me in keeping Christ is the holidays by saying Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays?

Love in Christ,

Kim