My blog site

1 THESSALONIANS 5:18 NLT 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. When you don’t know what to say or do – say “Thank You!” Sometimes we feel like we don’t know what to do. We wonder what God’s perfect will is. Certainly the will of God is not for us to start worrying and being fearful about missing His will. Instead we should stay in faith, knowing that God is working and guiding us even when we are not aware of it. God is not responsible for the bad things that come our way in life – the devil and people are to blame. But when we start complaining and criticizing, we step out of faith, joy, and peace. These spiritual forces (the “fruit” of the spirit) are for our protection. So we can, and should, always thank God at all times. We should develop the habit of having an attitude of gratitude. Our God is amazing! He can turn bad things around and take the sting out of them. When we stay in faith, always being thankful, the st...

1 THESSALONIANS 5:18 NLT 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. When you don’t know what to say or do – say “Thank You!” Sometimes we feel like we don’t know what to do. We wonder what God’s perfect will is. Certainly the will of God is not for us to start worrying and being fearful about missing His will. Instead we should stay in faith, knowing that God is working and guiding us even when we are not aware of it. God is not responsible for the bad things that come our way in life – the devil and people are to blame. But when we start complaining and criticizing, we step out of faith, joy, and peace. These spiritual forces (the “fruit” of the spirit) are for our protection. So we can, and should, always thank God at all times. We should develop the habit of having an attitude of gratitude. Our God is amazing! He can turn bad things around and take the sting out of them. When we stay in faith, always being thankful, the st...

1 THESSALONIANS 5:18 NLT 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. When you don’t know what to say or do – say “Thank You!” Sometimes we feel like we don’t know what to do. We wonder what God’s perfect will is. Certainly the will of God is not for us to start worrying and being fearful about missing His will. Instead we should stay in faith, knowing that God is working and guiding us even when we are not aware of it. God is not responsible for the bad things that come our way in life – the devil and people are to blame. But when we start complaining and criticizing, we step out of faith, joy, and peace. These spiritual forces (the “fruit” of the spirit) are for our protection. So we can, and should, always thank God at all times. We should develop the habit of having an attitude of gratitude. Our God is amazing! He can turn bad things around and take the sting out of them. When we stay in faith, always being thankful, the st...

1 THESSALONIANS 5:18 NLT 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. When you don’t know what to say or do – say “Thank You!” Sometimes we feel like we don’t know what to do. We wonder what God’s perfect will is. Certainly the will of God is not for us to start worrying and being fearful about missing His will. Instead we should stay in faith, knowing that God is working and guiding us even when we are not aware of it. God is not responsible for the bad things that come our way in life – the devil and people are to blame. But when we start complaining and criticizing, we step out of faith, joy, and peace. These spiritual forces (the “fruit” of the spirit) are for our protection. So we can, and should, always thank God at all times. We should develop the habit of having an attitude of gratitude. Our God is amazing! He can turn bad things around and take the sting out of them. When we stay in faith, always being thankful, the st...

1 THESSALONIANS 5:18 NLT 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. When you don’t know what to say or do – say “Thank You!” Sometimes we feel like we don’t know what to do. We wonder what God’s perfect will is. Certainly the will of God is not for us to start worrying and being fearful about missing His will. Instead we should stay in faith, knowing that God is working and guiding us even when we are not aware of it. God is not responsible for the bad things that come our way in life – the devil and people are to blame. But when we start complaining and criticizing, we step out of faith, joy, and peace. These spiritual forces (the “fruit” of the spirit) are for our protection. So we can, and should, always thank God at all times. We should develop the habit of having an attitude of gratitude. Our God is amazing! He can turn bad things around and take the sting out of them. When we stay in faith, always being thankful, the st...

1 THESSALONIANS 5:18 NLT 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. When you don’t know what to say or do – say “Thank You!” Sometimes we feel like we don’t know what to do. We wonder what God’s perfect will is. Certainly the will of God is not for us to start worrying and being fearful about missing His will. Instead we should stay in faith, knowing that God is working and guiding us even when we are not aware of it. God is not responsible for the bad things that come our way in life – the devil and people are to blame. But when we start complaining and criticizing, we step out of faith, joy, and peace. These spiritual forces (the “fruit” of the spirit) are for our protection. So we can, and should, always thank God at all times. We should develop the habit of having an attitude of gratitude. Our God is amazing! He can turn bad things around and take the sting out of them. When we stay in faith, always being thankful, the st...

1 THESSALONIANS 5:18 NLT 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. When you don’t know what to say or do – say “Thank You!” Sometimes we feel like we don’t know what to do. We wonder what God’s perfect will is. Certainly the will of God is not for us to start worrying and being fearful about missing His will. Instead we should stay in faith, knowing that God is working and guiding us even when we are not aware of it. God is not responsible for the bad things that come our way in life – the devil and people are to blame. But when we start complaining and criticizing, we step out of faith, joy, and peace. These spiritual forces (the “fruit” of the spirit) are for our protection. So we can, and should, always thank God at all times. We should develop the habit of having an attitude of gratitude. Our God is amazing! He can turn bad things around and take the sting out of them. When we stay in faith, always being thankful, the st...

1 THESSALONIANS 5:18 NLT 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. When you don't know what to say or do -- say "Thank You!" Sometimes we feel like we don't know what to do. We wonder what God's perfect will is. Certainly the will of God is not for us to start worrying and being fearful about missing His will. Instead we should stay in faith, knowing that God is working and guiding us even when we are not aware of it. God is not responsible for the bad things that come our way in life -- the devil and people are to blame. But when we start complaining and criticizing, we step out of faith, joy, and peace. These spiritual forces (the "fruit" of the spirit) are for our protection. So we can, and should, always thank God at all times. We should develop the habit of having an attitude of gratitude. Our God is amazing! He can turn bad things around and take the sting out of them. When we stay i...

ROMANS 14:17 NKJ 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Here is a description of the Kingdom of God: righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Righteousness means everything being right. God has given us the gift of righteousness (Romans 5:17). That means He has put us in right standing with Himself. He has said that everything is right between us and Him. Sin no longer separates us from God, because the precious blood of Jesus has cleansed us and we are forgiven by God. Because we have right standing with God (righteousness), we have peace. There is no more struggle. God is not mad at us. God is on our side. Peace means more than the absence of conflict. Peace means nothing broken and nothing missing. Peace includes the idea of prosperity – having everything needful in abundance with no lack. When you are right with God and have peace – nothing missing and nothing broken – you will have joy. You ca...

ROMANS 15:7 NIV 7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. We have only two choices, accept people, or reject them. When you realize this, it may change the way you treat people. When we criticize or condemn people, we communicate rejection. When we try to change people, it communicates that they are not good enough for us, that we don’t like them. “But what if they are not perfect? What if they don’t believe everything I believe?” Were you born believing all you do now? Or did you go through a process of learning over time? Should we throw out people because they still have something to learn? What happens when you don’t accept people as they are? It feeds the lie that they are no good and have no value. We can accept people and celebrate their value without approving of their sins. But when we refuse to accept people until they are perfect, we communicate rejection. When someone feels rejected, they tend to reject those who reject...

1 PETER 4:12 ESV 12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. Don’t be surprised when your faith is tested! And don’t be afraid! Jesus – who promised to never forsake you – is still there to help you. The test of faith is the devil trying to steal your faith. The devil wants you to believe something other than God’s Word. MARK 4:15 ESV 15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. The devil wants to steal God’s Word out of your life, to stop your faith. So you have to hang on to your faith! You have to say “NO!” to the devil! Our enemy could never steal faith in God’s Word away from us unless at some point it seems like God’s Word is wrong. Or that God has forgotten us and forsaken us. This will happen to you sometime! When it does, trust God and His faithfulness more than you trust yo...

HEBREWS 11:6 NKJ 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Faith is often preached from the human perspective: believe God and get your needs met. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s a one-sided perspective. So let’s also try to look at faith from God’s perspective. Would you get any pleasure out of people who doubted you? Surely God gets no pleasure out of people doubting His Word, either. Does God deserve respect? YES!!! To doubt what someone says shows disrespect. While humans can be wrong, God only speaks absolute truth. Many people only think of acting on God’s Word from their perspective, without considering God’s feelings. Their motivation is completely self-centered, thinking only of what it will profit them. Let’s decide not to act this way! Do you desire to please God? If you don’t desire to please God, you don’t know Him. God is so wonderful, s...

ROMANS 14:17 NKJ 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Here is a description of the Kingdom of God: righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Righteousness means everything being right. God has given us the gift of righteousness (Romans 5:17). That means He has put us in right standing with Himself. He has said that everything is right between us and Him. Sin no longer separates us from God, because the precious blood of Jesus has cleansed us and we are forgiven by God. Because we have right standing with God (righteousness), we have peace. There is no more struggle. God is not mad at us. God is on our side. Peace means more than the absence of conflict. Peace means nothing broken and nothing missing. Peace includes the idea of prosperity – having everything needful in abundance with no lack. When you are right with God and have peace – nothing missing and nothing broken – you will have joy. You ca...

ROMANS 15:7 NIV 7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. We have only two choices, accept people, or reject them. When you realize this, it may change the way you treat people. When we criticize or condemn people, we communicate rejection. When we try to change people, it communicates that they are not good enough for us, that we don’t like them. “But what if they are not perfect? What if they don’t believe everything I believe?” Were you born believing all you do now? Or did you go through a process of learning over time? Should we throw out people because they still have something to learn? What happens when you don’t accept people as they are? It feeds the lie that they are no good and have no value. We can accept people and celebrate their value without approving of their sins. But when we refuse to accept people until they are perfect, we communicate rejection. When someone feels rejected, they tend to reject those who reject...

1 PETER 4:12 ESV 12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. Don’t be surprised when your faith is tested! And don’t be afraid! Jesus – who promised to never forsake you – is still there to help you. The test of faith is the devil trying to steal your faith. The devil wants you to believe something other than God’s Word. MARK 4:15 ESV 15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. The devil wants to steal God’s Word out of your life, to stop your faith. So you have to hang on to your faith! You have to say “NO!” to the devil! Our enemy could never steal faith in God’s Word away from us unless at some point it seems like God’s Word is wrong. Or that God has forgotten us and forsaken us. This will happen to you sometime! When it does, trust God and His faithfulness more than you trust yo...

HEBREWS 11:6 NKJ 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Faith is often preached from the human perspective: believe God and get your needs met. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s a one-sided perspective. So let’s also try to look at faith from God’s perspective. Would you get any pleasure out of people who doubted you? Surely God gets no pleasure out of people doubting His Word, either. Does God deserve respect? YES!!! To doubt what someone says shows disrespect. While humans can be wrong, God only speaks absolute truth. Many people only think of acting on God’s Word from their perspective, without considering God’s feelings. Their motivation is completely self-centered, thinking only of what it will profit them. Let’s decide not to act this way! Do you desire to please God? If you don’t desire to please God, you don’t know Him. God is so wonderful, s...

ROMANS 14:17 NKJ 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Here is a description of the Kingdom of God: righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Righteousness means everything being right. God has given us the gift of righteousness (Romans 5:17). That means He has put us in right standing with Himself. He has said that everything is right between us and Him. Sin no longer separates us from God, because the precious blood of Jesus has cleansed us and we are forgiven by God. Because we have right standing with God (righteousness), we have peace. There is no more struggle. God is not mad at us. God is on our side. Peace means more than the absence of conflict. Peace means nothing broken and nothing missing. Peace includes the idea of prosperity – having everything needful in abundance with no lack. When you are right with God and have peace – nothing missing and nothing broken – you will have joy. You ca...

ROMANS 15:7 NIV 7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. We have only two choices, accept people, or reject them. When you realize this, it may change the way you treat people. When we criticize or condemn people, we communicate rejection. When we try to change people, it communicates that they are not good enough for us, that we don’t like them. “But what if they are not perfect? What if they don’t believe everything I believe?” Were you born believing all you do now? Or did you go through a process of learning over time? Should we throw out people because they still have something to learn? What happens when you don’t accept people as they are? It feeds the lie that they are no good and have no value. We can accept people and celebrate their value without approving of their sins. But when we refuse to accept people until they are perfect, we communicate rejection. When someone feels rejected, they tend to reject those who reject...

1 PETER 4:12 ESV 12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. Don’t be surprised when your faith is tested! And don’t be afraid! Jesus – who promised to never forsake you – is still there to help you. The test of faith is the devil trying to steal your faith. The devil wants you to believe something other than God’s Word. MARK 4:15 ESV 15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. The devil wants to steal God’s Word out of your life, to stop your faith. So you have to hang on to your faith! You have to say “NO!” to the devil! Our enemy could never steal faith in God’s Word away from us unless at some point it seems like God’s Word is wrong. Or that God has forgotten us and forsaken us. This will happen to you sometime! When it does, trust God and His faithfulness more than you trust yo...

HEBREWS 11:6 NKJ 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Faith is often preached from the human perspective: believe God and get your needs met. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s a one-sided perspective. So let’s also try to look at faith from God’s perspective. Would you get any pleasure out of people who doubted you? Surely God gets no pleasure out of people doubting His Word, either. Does God deserve respect? YES!!! To doubt what someone says shows disrespect. While humans can be wrong, God only speaks absolute truth. Many people only think of acting on God’s Word from their perspective, without considering God’s feelings. Their motivation is completely self-centered, thinking only of what it will profit them. Let’s decide not to act this way! Do you desire to please God? If you don’t desire to please God, you don’t know Him. God is so wonderful, s...

ROMANS 14:17 NKJ 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Here is a description of the Kingdom of God: righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Righteousness means everything being right. God has given us the gift of righteousness (Romans 5:17). That means He has put us in right standing with Himself. He has said that everything is right between us and Him. Sin no longer separates us from God, because the precious blood of Jesus has cleansed us and we are forgiven by God. Because we have right standing with God (righteousness), we have peace. There is no more struggle. God is not mad at us. God is on our side. Peace means more than the absence of conflict. Peace means nothing broken and nothing missing. Peace includes the idea of prosperity – having everything needful in abundance with no lack. When you are right with God and have peace – nothing missing and nothing broken – you will have joy. You ca...

ROMANS 15:7 NIV 7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. We have only two choices, accept people, or reject them. When you realize this, it may change the way you treat people. When we criticize or condemn people, we communicate rejection. When we try to change people, it communicates that they are not good enough for us, that we don't like them. "But what if they are not perfect? What if they don't believe everything I believe?" Were you born believing all you do now? Or did you go through a process of learning over time? Should we throw out people because they still have something to learn? What happens when you don't accept people as they are? It feeds the lie that they are no good and have no value. We can accept people and celebrate their value without approving of their sins. But when we refuse to accept people until they are perfect, we communicate rejection. When someone feels rejected, they tend to r...

1 PETER 4:12 ESV 12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. Don’t be surprised when your faith is tested! And don’t be afraid! Jesus – who promised to never forsake you – is still there to help you. The test of faith is the devil trying to steal your faith. The devil wants you to believe something other than God’s Word. MARK 4:15 ESV 15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. The devil wants to steal God’s Word out of your life, to stop your faith. So you have to hang on to your faith! You have to say “NO!” to the devil! Our enemy could never steal faith in God’s Word away from us unless at some point it seems like God’s Word is wrong. Or that God has forgotten us and forsaken us. This will happen to you sometime! When it does, trust God and His faithfulness more than you trust yo...

HEBREWS 11:6 NKJ 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Faith is often preached from the human perspective: believe God and get your needs met. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s a one-sided perspective. So let’s also try to look at faith from God’s perspective. Would you get any pleasure out of people who doubted you? Surely God gets no pleasure out of people doubting His Word, either. Does God deserve respect? YES!!! To doubt what someone says shows disrespect. While humans can be wrong, God only speaks absolute truth. Many people only think of acting on God’s Word from their perspective, without considering God’s feelings. Their motivation is completely self-centered, thinking only of what it will profit them. Let’s decide not to act this way! Do you desire to please God? If you don’t desire to please God, you don’t know Him. God is so wonderful, s...

ROMANS 14:17 NKJ 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Here is a description of the Kingdom of God: righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Righteousness means everything being right. God has given us the gift of righteousness (Romans 5:17). That means He has put us in right standing with Himself. He has said that everything is right between us and Him. Sin no longer separates us from God, because the precious blood of Jesus has cleansed us and we are forgiven by God. Because we have right standing with God (righteousness), we have peace. There is no more struggle. God is not mad at us. God is on our side. Peace means more than the absence of conflict. Peace means nothing broken and nothing missing. Peace includes the idea of prosperity – having everything needful in abundance with no lack. When you are right with God and have peace – nothing missing and nothing broken – you will have joy. You ca...