Today I Smiled!

Today I smiled, and all at once

Things didn't look so bad.

Today I shared with someone else,
A little bit of hope I had.

Today I sang a little song,
And felt my heart grow light.

I walked a happy little mile,
With not a cloud in sight.

Today I worked with what I had,
And longed for nothing more,

And what had seemed like only weeds,
Were flowers at my door.

Today I loved a little more,
And complained a little less.

And in the giving of myself,
I forgot my weariness.

~ Author Unknown

He Will Work It Out

Oh, the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out! "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen Romans 11:33-36

This doxology is a prayer of praise to God for the wisdom of His plan. Although God's methods and means are beyond our comprehension, God himself is not arbitrary. He governs the universe and our lives in perfect wisdom, justice, and love. The implication of these questions is that no one has fully understood the mind of the Lord. No one has been His counselor. And God owes nothing to anyone of us. Isaiah and Jeremiah asked similar questions to show that we are unable to give advice to God or criticize His ways. God alone is a possessor of absolute power and absolute wisdom. In the final analysis, all of us are absolutely dependent on God. He is the source of all things, including ourselves. He is the power that sustains and rules the world that we live in. And God works out all things to bring glory to Himself. The all-powerful God of the universe deserves our praise and adoration. Praise Him today for what He has done and what He is doing and what He will do. He will work it out. God Bless you, J.H

Grieving the Holy Spirit

  Do not let any of unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with the all forms of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgive you.
Ephesians 4:29-32

We can grieve the Holy Spirit by the way we live. Paul warns us against unwholesome language, bitterness, improper use of anger, brawling, slander, and bad attitudes toward others. Instead of acting that way, we should be forgiving, just as God has forgiven us. Act in love toward your brothers and sisters in Christ, just as God acted in love by sending his son to die for your sins. God does not forgive us because we forgive others, but solely because of his great mercy. As we come to understand his mercy, however, we will want to be more like Him. Having received forgiveness, we will pass it on to others. Those who are unwilling to forgive have not become one with Christ, who was willing to forgive even those who crucified Him.

God Bless you,
J.H.

Born of the Spirit

  In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit."
John 3:3,5

What did Nicodemus know about the kingdom? From the Bible, he knew it would be ruled by God, it would be restored on earth, and it would incorporate God's people. Jesus revealed to this devout Pharisee that the kingdom would come to the whole world, not just the Jews, and that Nicodemus would not be a part of it unless he was personally born-again. This was a revolutionary concept: the kingdom is personal, not national or ethnic, and its entrance requirements are repentance and spiritual rebirth. Jesus later taught that God's kingdom has already begun in the hearts of believers. It will be fully realized when Jesus returns again to judge the world and abolish evil forever. It is impossible for man to have a new life without a new birth. Being a Christian is a great deal more than joining a church and making resolutions. It is experiencing a regeneration through a crucified Redeemer.
God Bless you,
JH

Love in Action

  Elijah was a man, just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for 3 1/2 years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth, and someone should bring him back, remember this: whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.   James 5:17-20

The book of James emphasizes faith in action. Right living is the evidence and result of faith. The church must serve with compassion, speak lovingly and truthfully, live in obedience to God's Word, and love one another. The body of believers ought to be an example of heaven on earth, drawing people to Christ through love for God and each other. If we truly believe God's Word, we will live it day by day. God's word is not merely something we read or think about, but something we do. Believe, faith, and trust must have hands and feet - ours! The only way a difference will be made here on earth in our decrepit society is by becoming one body through Christ, which is the church. The church needs to come together as never before in order to do God's will. Don't you think that it is long enough we have sat on the sidelines in the name of political correctness? We are so careful not to offend anyone, or to push our religion onto another. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, but by me." He didn't say, "Don't offend anyone. Be nice. Be careful of other people's feelings. Show tolerance." Indeed, "They will hate you because of Me." It seems to me that we are playing by the world's rules. Let's see what God will do once we begin playing by His.
Share you faith today like you mean it,
God Bless you,

J.H

Keep Close

I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing. But you, oh Lord, be not far off; oh my Strength, come quickly to help me. I will declare Your Name to my Brothers; in the congregation, I will praise you.
Psalm 22:17-19, 22
     It is a great insult to human dignity to rob a person of everything, even his clothing, leaving him naked and destitute. Jesus would suffer this humiliating experience on the cross. Most of us will never know the shame and suffering of being penniless and virtually naked in a public place, as many of the Jews experienced during the Nazi Holocaust or even the homeless on the streets of our cities today. But most of us would feel equally exposed and naked when some sin, secret or not, would be uncovered. At that time, we will need to cry out with David, "oh my Strength, come quickly to help me." David would praise God in the congregation, because his private deliverance deserved public testimony. God wonderfully delivers us in the quiet moments when we are hurting, and we must be prepared to offer public praise for His Love.
God Bless you,
J.H.

Pray for Unity

 "Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you have sent me and have loved them, even as you have loved me."
John 17:21-23

Jesus' great desire for His disciples was that they would become one. He wanted them unified as a powerful witness to the reality of God's love. Are you helping to unify the body of Christ, the church? You can pray for the Christians, you can avoid gossip, you can build others up, you can work together in humility, you can give your time and your money, you can exalt Christ with your life, and you can refuse to get sidetracked by arguing over divisive matters. When are we going to stop waving church labels in each other's face and just worship the Lord? This is what Jesus prayed for long ago. He is the way, the truth, and the life - He is the answer, the difference; He is everything. Let us follow Him together.
God Bless you,
J.H.