Be of good cheer

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NLT)

Real Christians face real trials. If you are facing a real challenge in your life don’t think something is wrong with you or your salvation. Don’t think God has turned His back on you. He is with you and He is for you. 

"But be of good cheer” Jesus said, “I have overcome the world.” Take heart! Take courage! Believe! The Spirit of the living God lives within you and He will teach you how to overcome and how to walk victoriously. You can have peace that God has a plan. You can walk in joy despite your current circumstance. He will use everything you face to grow you, deepen you and strengthen your faith and trust in Him.

To a Special Person

IT'S CHRISTIAN PERSON WEEK AND YOU SHOULD SEND THIS TO ALL BEAUTIFUL CHRISTIAN PEOPLE.

When I say that 'I am a Christian', I am not saying that 'I am clean living. I'm saying 'I was lost, but now I'm found and forgiven.'

When I say 'I am a Christian', I don't speak of this with pride. I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say 'I am a Christian', I'm not trying to be strong. I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say 'I am a Christian', I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting I have failed and need GOD to clean my mess.

When I say 'I am a Christian', I'm not claiming to be perfect. My flaws are far too visible, but GOD believes I am worth it.

When I say 'I am a Christian', I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon HIS name.

When I say 'I am a Christian', I'm not holier than thou, I'm just a simple sinner who received GOD's good grace, somehow!

Today is Beautiful Christian Person's Day.

Boost another person's self esteem, and send this to them!

Be Blessed, and be a Blessing.

The Appointed Time

Pride has been one of the most heartbreaking sins in my life.  You see, I was a "good" girl on the outside. I had mastered the role of what I thought everyone wanted me to be.  Unfortunately, the abundant life Christ had promised me through His Word, and which I saw in others, remained as elusive to me as ever. 

As I look back on my childhood and young adult years, I realize that the main reason I obeyed the rules was fear of disappointing others, not necessarily becuase I wanted to do the right thing. I never thought I was attactive or talented or particularly smart.  I had a driving need to feel significant, but I felt I possessed nothing that was honored by my culture to make me feel I was worthy. I did, however, have my reputation.  That was the area inwhich I was admired and fawned over by others.  I was the responsible one, the mature one - I was even called the spiritual one, often.  I strove with all my might to be what  others said I was.  This standard became my personal criteria to being accepted by others. 

After making some destructive decisions in a dating relationship in my college years, I realized I had failed to meet my own standard of what it meant to be a "good" Christian girl.  The result was crushing guilt that extinguised my joy.  Worse than that, I believed the lie that I had dissapointed God beyond hope of His forgivenenss or redemption.

Until I was confronted with my own inabilitiy to be "good", I was extremely prideful of that false goodness.  Pride is first on the list of detestable sins that God hates in Proverbs 6:16-19.  I truly didn't see my pride as sinful.  I was my own judge and jury when it came to my righteousness before God.

Self Builders:

• What have you latched onto in your life as a direct result of your need for acceptance or attention? 
• Has this been something that has proven to be constructive or destructive to your relationship with God, yourself, and others?

Exerts from "Living with Unmet Desires" - Page 105

The Fellowship of the Unashamed

Forwarded by Mary A, thanks cousin!

I am a part of the fellowship of the unashamed

I have Holy spirit power
The die has been cast,

The decision has been made

I am a disciple of Jesus

Therefore, I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still

My past is redeemed

My present is empowered

And my future is secure

I'm done with low-living

Sight walking, small planning, smooth needs, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, positions, promotions, praise or popularity

I don't have to win, be first, be right, recognized, regarded or rewarded

I now live by faith,

Lean on his presence

Love with patience

Live by prayer and

Labor with power

My goal is God's glory

My face is set

My pace is fast

My road is narrow

My way is rough

My companions are few

My guide is reliable

And my mission is clear

I cannot be bought, comprised, detoured, lured away, turned back, diluted or delayed

I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice

Hesitate in the presence of adversity

Negotiate at the table of the enemy

Ponder at the pool of popularity

Or meander in the maze of mediocrity

I won't give up, or slow up

Until I stayed up, stored up, prayed up, payed up, and spoken up for the cause of Christ
Christ has qualified me to become a part of the fellowship of the unashamed
I am His and He is mine
By. Bob Moorehead

What are your limitations?

There is nothing more frustrating to me like seeing a Christian that is not living out their full potential in God. This is one of the reasons I believe, why the Christian experience for some is boring, old and stale. What is it for some Christians that hold them back from being who they are TRULY supposed to be? And doing what they are created to do? There is totally more to you than just who you see! Fear: Some of us are just afraid of making the step. We know what we are supposed to do but we simply lack the faith to carry out the course of action. Maybe we fear that we will lose other things that we have already started, or lose other things that we do have control over. Self-Consumption: Some of us get so tied up in ourselves that we lack the freedom to be released into our God-given ministry. We get so consumed with our relationships, our economic status, our single living, our titles at work, our marital status, our different responsibilities, our roles in our families etc. that we fail to see anything else beyond those very moments we are in. Perfection: Some of us are waiting for the perfect day to step out of our caves a.k.a. comfort zones. We will not make a move until everything on our to-do list is fulfilled: we cannot afford to make a mistake, so we spend a long time anticipating the day of perfection. Or maybe we have all the plans set out: all our ducks are in one row; our mission statements & visions are written out, bound and framed; and all we need is the perfect day to start! Luke 19:13 - Occupy till I come If we are not doing what we need to be doing, then the scripture above will be in vain. The bible clearly tells us what to do until the Lord comes again. But somehow we feel that His return is in the far future, when on the contrary, it’s nearer than ever! Wherever you are right now, although it is a good place, is merely a stepping stone to a greater place in God. The higher we get in God, the closer we are in completing our walk with God. It’s like a ladder of continuous progression. My only prayer for us is that we are always going up, and not the other way around! It’ll be sad to die today, go to heaven (hopefully, for us all), and discover that you hadn’t finished your duty on earth. We need to come out of our shells, snap out of the moment, and get to work! Consider after getting that promotion at work, and then neglecting the very job that promoted you. Or after getting married, and then neglecting the work of the very God that gave you the married life. Or after buying that dream house, and then all you do is live in it (day in, day out) and never do anything with the house that God gave you. No one else will do your job but you! It’s time to wake up ladies! The word of God in Luke 19:13 requires of us to be busy with ourselves, to get into business, to do the things that really matter, to work with practice, to accomplish tasks, to collect dues, to commit to work, to carry out deeds, to do exactly what we need to do, to occupy and occupy repeatedly and regularly. AMEN!