How Do We Thank God Enough?

Let's face it, none of us are perfect, we all have done things we wished we could change. However, we have a Redeemer, and He has shown us the greatest love ever.  On that cross Jesus gave us the greatest love that will ever be, Himself.  That's right, Jesus gave His life so that we could have life.  He made a way that we could ask for His forgiveness and be redeemed.
So our past can truly be our past. Jesus, our Redeemer, our Lord, has made a way for us to be forgiven, for us to experience the greatest love that will ever be, for us to have eternal life.
So that got me thinking this morning. How do we truly thank Him enough? A mere thank you just doesn't seem adequate to me.
Do you think that perhaps we can thank Him through our service to Him.  Do we volunteer at church, at food banks, soup kitchens, hospitals. Do we go on missions trips to help others in need?  Yes, many of us do those things.  And yes, our service can be a way of thanksgiving.  But there is something that is a very important factor.  When we volunteer, why are we volunteering?  For our benefit, to impress someone, or to truly help someone else? Are we serving to please man, or God?
We all have had times of wanting to impress someone, and that isn't always a bad thing. However, when it comes to serving our Lord Jesus, He is the only one we should be wanting to impress.  A servant's heart needs to be a humble heart.
I truly feel when we are humble, and doing what the Lord has asked of you, serving for the sake of glorifying God, then our actions will show Jesus how truly thankful we are to Him for our redemption, our salvation, and most of all His love.
Another aspect here is comparing "tasks". Do we measure our "tasks" by how difficult they are, how much it costs, how much are we sacrificing? We shouldn't be.  What may seem easy to you could be very difficult and sacrificial for someone else.  Jesus has something specific for each one of us.  He has a task set aside just for you, and another just for me.
My point being don't ever think your task, or your service to God doesn't measure up to someone else's. If Jesus has asked you to do something, then it must be very important to Him.
Now that, my friends, is a huge honor.  What an awesome feeling knowing Jesus has something specific for me to do.
I think that if we serve Him faithfully, with gratitude in our hearts, and humility serving Him, then Jesus will look at that as our thank you to Him, our gratefulness in our hearts towards Him, our great big thank you to Him.
Be encouraged my friends. Jesus loves you as much as the next, He has a job for you, a way for you to serve Him, and He will see your thankfulness in your heart towards Him.
Have a great week faithful readers.

We All Have An Opportunity

Right now the whole world is in turmoil. Country against country. Citizens against citizen. Religions against religions. I could go on and on. But there is one common thread in all of us.  We all have an opportunity to choose to do right, choose to do good, choose to treat one another with respect.
Since the beginning of time, men have disagreed about something. Even something that doesn't even matter.  Or at least it isn't a big deal.
What bothers me is folks today do not think anyone has a right to disagree with them.  We are all individuals, and God made us with our own mind, our own heart, to choose for ourselves what we will believe or whether we will do good or choose the side of evil.
With that said, I know that as a Christ follower, I have the opportunity to be used by God for His glory. We are to treat one another with respect, and show them the love of Christ in us.
This morning while doing my devotions I read a statement that said "we can open up the runway to our hearts" and allow God to use us, to fill us with His Holy Spirit, to flood our hearts with His gifts  that are available to each and everyone of us.
That got me excited, thinking how God would use me today to encourage someone, to show love to someone, to let the Holy Spirit rule in my heart.  We all can have this.  We all can be used by God. If you have opened your heart and allowed The Holy Spirit to dwell in you, then get ready.  He has a job for you.
It doesn't matter if that other person doesn't agree with you about everything. What matters is showing respect to another human being, and showing the love of Jesus.
We do not need to resort to violence, we don't need to be calling people names, and so on.
There is enough evil in this world today, it doesn't need any help from us.
Can I make a difference by doing one small act that God has asked of me?  I don't know. But maybe if we all try to be obedient to God, it can make a huge difference.
I pray this truly does happen. we need to see peace in our world we live in.
I am committed to doing what God has asked of me.  I pray I can make a difference.
Will you join me?

Victory is Mine!

How many of us need a victory in our lives today?  I will boldly say everyone of us could use a victory today.  Some of you need a small victory, maybe in your work place, or in a relationship.  Then some of you need a very big victory. It could be your health, your finances, a very important relationship, or some other major need you have.
Don't feel embarrassed or any less of yourself if you need a victory. Chances are there may be many who need the same as you.
I am not ashamed to say, my victory needed is major, it is my health. I accept that, and I know that.
So how do I approach God about asking for my victory? I always begin by thanking Him for my victory to come. I believe with my whole heart that I will have my victory when the time is right.
Most of you know by now that I choose to look at things on the positive side. You may be thinking how can someone do that in the midst of a struggle. Trust me, I've had my lows.
I think for me one of the hardest times to stay positive is during extreme pain. I can get through things usually without having a pity party for myself. But I must confess, when I am in severe, debilitating pain, the kind that requires enough medication to sedate me, I have asked God why I had to endure that. The key here is that we quickly come out of that mode of thinking.
I have always believed God is going to heal my body. When? I don't know that. What I do know is He has saved my life over and over again. And after each of those medical crisis, I come away stronger, knowing God had His hand on me the whole time. You may think why should I have to endure pain at all?  The fact is, our body is flesh. It will not last forever. We end up with a disease, a physical disability, in my case the spinal cord damage and the leukemia. Why? I don't know and I don't ask. The only thing I want to say to God is to please use me so that others can learn and prevent other people of going through the same.
That is how I approach God when waiting for my victory. I know I will have victory. When I look back over the last 40 years, I realize how many victories I have already had.  God is with me all of the time.  He is with you all of the time.  My hope is you will never feel deserted. God does not desert us.
It may take awhile, but we will receive our victory(s). I would say to you, grab ahold of that positive thought, grab ahold of God with all your might, never let go, never lose hope. He is right here with you, with me.
VICTORY IS MINE! VICTORY IS YOURS!

 “We will sing joyously over your victory, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners. May the LORD fulfill all your petitions.”
‭‭PSALM‬ ‭20:5‬ ‭AMP‬‬