" Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 Hundreds of time in the Scriptures we are told not to fear. When something appears once in the Bible, it is vitally important. When we are commanded hundreds of times not to fear, we should take heed and be encouraged. Fear can be a life saving instinct when we are in dangerous, threatening situations. However

“Understand this my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense  and  to get angry. For man’s anger does not promote the righteousness God [wishes and requires].”   James 19, 20 Listening is a virtuous skill which most of us need to cultivate. Too often we listen without extending our full attention and empathy to the other person. If I have the appearance of a listener but my heart is not postured toward that perso

"If I say I have not sinned (missed the mark) the Scriptures say I am a liar" 1 John 1:8 "If I confess my sin, God is faithful to forgive and the blood of Jesus cleanses me from all unrighteousness" 1 John 1:9   What an inexpressibly wonderful gift from the Father-Jesus the payment for all our sins and transgressions. We owed a debt we could not pay and Christ paid the price we could not pay with His precious blood. When we repent (change our minds and turn to Christ, turn aw

Even for those who love the Lord and are walking with Him daily, there are times of loneliness or discouragement. Yes we should always walk by faith-not by sight, circumstances or feelings. Yet there are moments, even seasons where we find ourselves overwhelmed with this life. Thanks be to our Father God! There is always strong encouragement and truth to lay hold of in the Word of God. Hebrews 6:6 reminds us, ”So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fea

Many believers are acquainted with the beloved Psalm of David, Psalm 23. Within this short revelatory poem are many comforting eternal truths.  “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. “ While Jesus is our Shepherd, He is also my Shepherd. Our relationship is intimate and personal. He is not a God who is remote but one who is involved with my daily life. He guides me. Because He is the All Sufficient One, I need only Him. He provides all my needs. “He restores my soul.” Th

God loves us with His perfect, unchanging love. What a wonderful thought and an eternal comfort to those who serve The Almighty One. Regardless of circumstances or feelings or thoughts-Father God loves you! “For God so loved the world that He sent His only Son (Jesus) that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16 What does love look like? The Bible describes love in great detail. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love does not envy or boast

God resists the proud but he gives grace to the humble. Even as a Christian, God will resist us when we are proud. Pride is a toxic deception. It tells us we are better than someone else or that we can do things independent from God- His power and His counsel. Pride can be subtle or obvious. In either case we must stay alert and stand against pride. Jesus said without Him we can do nothing-absolutely nothing. Not a thing!  "So go low. Humble yourself under Gods mighty hand an

“…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Thankfulness is usually not our first response when we face difficult circumstances. However, a grateful, trusting heart is one of the keys to abiding joy and victory in our lives.  When Paul and Silas were unjustly stripped and beaten with rods and thrown into jail, they could have easily given into complaining and self pity. ( Acts 16 ) Instead, the Scriptures reve