Does this struggle sound familiar?

Faith Filled Thoughts
October 31th, 2008
By Connie Ciccone
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Does this struggle sound familiar?


Scripture: II Thessalonians 2:7 "For the mystery of iniquity does already work."

A mystery is a secret. It's a truth that is closed for the present and can only be opened or comprehended by revelation. There was a mystery going on in Paul's heart and soul that baffled his intelligence. He personified the strife of two natures within himself; the Adamic nature that he was born with and the divine nature, which he received through his spiritual new birth in Christ. He described this struggle in Romans 7:19 as he was moved by the Holy Spirit. He said that he didn't do the good that he wanted to do, but instead he did the evil, which he didn't want to do. In his inner man, he found delight in the law of God but the members of his own body warred against his desire to be obedient to that law.
Does this struggle sound familiar? It is no surprise, for the closer that we get to being in the center of God's will, the harder Satan fights against us. As long as our body is tied to this world there will be an unseen battle raging within us, for we are no different than Jesus, the Apostle Paul, or the other New Testament saints. In all of our lives there lurks an underlying current of evil oppression. It is like an unwanted houseguest or a mouse in the pantry. We don't want it there and we hate to deal with it, but we can't ignore it. Something has to be done to rid it from our presence and we are the ones that must do it with the help of the Holy Spirit.
God allows nothing in your life that He will not use for your good and for the benefit of His great and wonderful cause. Jesus passed this way before you and He understands your struggles as He was also tempted by the devil, yet He remained without sin. However, He knows that, like the Apostle Paul, you don't always do the things that you want to do and that sometimes you do the very things that you do not want to do. Jesus is touched by your feelings of discouragement as you experience disappointment in yourself. He continually prays that your faith will not fail even though Satan desires to sift you as wheat (Luke 22:31). God is doing great and mighty things and He wants you to be a part of it. As He enlarges your vision and stretches your borders, He wants to impart a revelation that will help you understand this mystery of iniquity so that you can move forward and fulfill His purposes. He desires that your heart be filled with peace concerning the temptations that you face and realize that these challenges are just part of the battle. God is on your side and He wants you to have victory over sin. Temptations will come, but if you submit yourself to God and resist the devil, the devil will have to flee (James 4:7).
May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie

Hope

Faith Filled Thoughts
October 30th, 2008
By Connie Ciccone
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Hope

Scripture: Psalms 105:19 "Until the time that his word came (to pass); the word of the Lord tried him.

When Joseph received a dream from God, it took about sixteen years for that dream to come to pass. In the meantime, God worked to get the physical circumstances just right and worked changes in the heart of Joseph. There were many challenges that Joseph had to face as he waited on God's purpose and perfect timing to come to pass. Many times he must have experienced the let down of hope and the frustrations of delay. He may have even gotten sick and tired of trying to hold on to his hope, for Proverbs 13:12 tells us that "Hope deferred makes the heart sick."
The disappointment that comes when our hopes are not realized is hard to cope with. Like Joseph's situation, when God reveals His intentions and purposes for our lives, things do not happen immediately. Our calling demands a season of testing and training where God rids our heart of things that would hinder His anointing and prevent His purpose. During this time, He never allows us to see behind the scenes. He places a veil between the natural, that which we see, and the spiritual, that which He is doing, and He forces us to walk by faith. And until the word that we received from God comes to pass, He tries that word. Even Jesus was tempted in the wilderness and was tried in other areas before the words concerning Him came to pass. Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would be "a tried stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone of a sure foundation" (Isaiah 28:16)
God is the potter and He knows His clay. He is attempting to mold you and make you into the image that He has designed and ordained. You must make a predetermined decision to submit to God and allow Him to sort things out in your heart. The challenges and trials that you will face during this preparation process will develop wisdom and give birth to His anointing. God has good intentions and your best interest at heart but you cannot be used until you have been tried and tested. Adversity will form you and is the basis of your life message. You can only truly know what you have actually experienced. You can only rescue others from the valleys that you have been through. God has given you a word, a hope, and vision to keep you stable as He fits your life into His plan. Trust His faithfulness even while your word is being tried.
May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie
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Blessed Are Those Who Hear The Word Of God and Do It!

Faith Filled Thoughts
October 29th, 2008
By Connie Ciccone
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Blessed Are Those Who Hear The Word Of God and Do It!

Scripture: Jonah 1:1 & 3:1 "The word of the Lord came to Jonah" ... "The word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time."

There was much that went on between the two times that the Lord spoke to Jonah. The first time God spoke, He instructed Jonah to arise and go preach against the wickedness of the great city of Nineveh, but instead Jonah got on a ship and fled to Tarshish. In the midst of his rebellious flight, Jonah was thrown off of the ship and swallowed by a whale. He stayed in this terrible dilemma for three days and three nights. While he was in the belly of the fish, he came to terms with his disobedience and remembered God. When he began to cry out to the Lord for deliverance, the Lord spoke to the fish and it vomited Jonah out onto the dry ground. Then, the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time and told him to go preach to Nineveh. After all the distress and suffering that Jonah had endured, God had not changed His mind and His word to Jonah remained the same, "Arise, go to Nineveh and preach."
All of us have probably walked down the trail of disobedience at some point in our lives and discovered that its fruits were not very pleasant. I could tell you about a terrible situation that I got myself into because I was following after my own heart's desires instead of the perfect will of God for my life. Like Jonah, I found myself in the belly of a whale, not physically of course, but spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. It was the darkest and most painful experience that I ever endured. The hopelessness and distress drove me to my knees, for I knew that only God could deliver me. God is very loving and merciful and He understood my frail humanity. He was faithful and patient with me and graciously provided a way of escape.
Every time that God speaks, the devil comes to challenge that word so that he can steal the blessing that God has planned. God's word to us is meant to touch other lives as well as our own. Jonah clearly heard the word of the Lord both times and knew that God wanted to use him to bring deliverance to the people of Nineveh. The first time God spoke, Jonah chose not to obey, but the second time he was convinced that he needed to do God's will regardless of his own personal preference, for he had experienced the results of disobedience and it wasn't very pleasant. When God speaks and we find it difficult to submit, we must remember the example of Jonah. We must make a determination to be attentive to God's voice and be obedient to do His perfect will the very first time that He speaks to us so that He doesn't have to speak to us the second time.
May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie
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He Surrounds You with Songs of Deliverance!

Faith Filled Thoughts
October 28th, 2008
By Connie Ciccone
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He Surrounds You with Songs of Deliverance!

Scripture: Psalms 32:7 (Amplified) "You are a hiding place for me; You Lord, preserve me from trouble: You surround me with songs and shouts of deliverance."

David wrote this psalm and he knew what it meant to face adversities and danger. When he was just a lad in the open field tending sheep, he was forced to fight a lion. Another time, he had to fight a bear. Then he went from protecting sheep to protecting men and also the nation of Israel as he came against the giant, Goliath. With just a sling and a few stones he conquered the giant, while others trembled in the presence of this mighty foe. David also had personal battles. He had to flee the presence of King Saul who was determined to kill him. And David had to bear the heartache of the insurrection of his own son, Absalom, who sought to take David's kingdom for himself.
David's conflicts were not always one on one as he also battled against great armies. David was a mighty warrior in battle and conquered thousands, yet he never depended upon his own strength. He always leaned upon God and sought out His direction and guidance. David knew that the Lord would preserve him from trouble and he made God his hiding place and trusted in Him for deliverance. He wrote many songs to this effect, which even today bring comfort and instill hope. Whether David was up or down or fighting against one person or an army of thousands, the Lord's presence was always with him, surrounding him with songs of deliverance.
David was not the only one who was surrounded with songs of deliverance. Songs of deliverance went before the armies of Jehoshaphat in II Chronicle 20. As they sang praises to God, their enemies destroyed themselves. Songs of deliverance surrounded Paul and Silas as they praised God at the midnight hour in the prison. As they worshipped God, the prison was shaken, the doors were opened, and their bonds were loosed. Songs of deliverance will also surround you. In the midst of your adversity, whether it be fear, loneliness, depression, or other challenges, you will hear a sound from heaven in the private chambers of your heart. Allow that melody to arise within you and join with God as He surrounds you with songs of deliverance. Zephaniah 3:17 says, "The Lord your God in the midst of you is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest in His love; He will joy over you with singing."
May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie
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Faith Filled Thoughts
October 27th, 2008
By Connie Ciccone
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Love Is How? and Why?

Scripture: Luke 6:31 (NIV) "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

We've heard this Golden Rule since we were children but we may not realize that these words are right in the middle of a sermon that Jesus preached nearly two thousand years ago. Yet, the value of these words still remains. In this great exhortation, Jesus spoke of loving our enemies and doing good to those who hate us. He told us to bless those that curse us and pray for those who use us. If we are struck on the cheek, we are to turn and offer our other cheek to our abuser. Jesus' teaching also declared that if someone decided to take away our coat or material goods, we should allow them to take even more. We are to lend and expect nothing in return. Show mercy in all situations and not be judgmental.
In this teaching, Jesus takes us through several areas of abuse: emotional abuse because our enemies hate us; verbal abuse by those who curse us; physical abuse by those who actually strike us; and abuse by those who would take advantage of us materially. How can we do good to these types of people and why should we obey this command? The answer is found in verse thirty-five, which tells us to love our enemies and our reward will be great. Love is the "How" and God's reward is the "Why."
As God enables us with His supernatural love, we are able to bless, forgive, and pray for those who abuse and do evil against us. We may not like the circumstances or appreciate the actions against us, but we can love because Jesus lives within us. He is the vine and we are the branches. As His life flows through us, we are able to manifest the fruits of the Holy Spirit. His life is full of mercy, love, and forgiveness and His grace extends to all situations. II Corinthians 13:4 & 7 tells us that His "love is patient and kind ... and is able to bear and endure all things." Our Father showed us by example how to love the unlovely. He obeyed His own Golden Rule and sacrificed His Son, by being "kind to the unthankful and to the evil" (Luke 6:35). When we are able to emulate our heavenly Father, Jesus said that we would receive a great reward and be called children of the Highest. Doing good to others is a very small price to pay for such a great reward.
May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie

Now Is The Time To Pray

Faith Filled Thoughts
October 24th, 2008
By Connie Ciccone
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Now Is The Time To Pray


Scripture: I Samuel 2:30 "Those who honor Me, I will honor."

God's words are very powerful and His promises are very sure. In a few brief words, He states very plainly His intentions to make a distinction between those who honor Him and those who don't. He says that those who honor Him will be honored by Him. Throughout the scriptures we see this principle at work. When the righteous ruled a nation, the nation prospered and had victory in its battles. But when the wicked ruled a nation, the nation suffered defeat and reproach. Time and time again, this scene repeated itself like a broken record. Those nations that did not honor God failed and those that did honor Him became strong and were lifted up. God always showed Himself to be on the side of those who trusted in Him and He stood beside those who declared Him to be the Lord of their lives.
God and God alone has the ability to elevate and exalt a nation. We are a blessed people because He has chosen to do that for this country. Our foundation was structured in righteousness by godly men. Our pledge of allegiance states, "One Nation Under God" and our coins still inscribe our declaration of faith, "In God We Trust." Many have died on our behalf so that we could live in a nation with religious freedom and hold to these beliefs and truths. Let us remember our heritage and consider our future today as we pray for this great nation. God has been our refuge and strength in the past because we have chosen Him as Lord over America. The future is now before us and God will continue to exalt our nation as we honor Him in righteousness.

We need a National Day of Prayer for the United States of America and the scripture we are using for this devotional is the theme for this prayer request. This devotional goes to many nations throughout the world and I encourage all of you to pray for your nation as we are praying for our nation. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ, regardless of our nationality. Let us remember that God is no respecter of persons and His promise is meant for all people. The Lord is faithful and He will honor you and your nation as you honor Him.

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie
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Why doesn't God come through for me?

Faith Filled Thoughts
October 23rd, 2008
By Connie Ciccone
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Why doesn't God come through for me?



Scripture: Matthew 27:46 (Amplified) "Jesus cried with a loud voice, My God, My God, why have You abandoned Me - leaving Me helpless, forsaking and failing Me in My time of need?"

When Jesus was hanging on the cross, He spoke these words, quoting Psalm 22:1, which King David had spoken to God. The scripture says that David was a man after God's own heart and Jesus was God's only begotten Son. Yet both of these great men, whom God loved, found themselves in such distressing situations that they felt that God had utterly forsaken and abandoned them. In their hour of need, the One whom they loved and trusted the most had seemingly rejected them. They both found it difficult to understand why God had not come to their rescue. Their question "Why?" searched for some kind of answer about His intentions to deliver them from their painful and perplexing situations.

How many times has this small word come to our mind and even crossed our lips when we faced difficult situations? Why did I have to wreck my car, get a ticket, lose my job, get sick, or lose my mate? Why doesn't God come through for me? Why doesn't He heal me? Why is He waiting so long to deliver me? Why has He abandoned me, leaving me helpless? Why has He forsaken me in the time of my greatest need?

These questions are hard and full of reality. We don't always discern God's working or understand His purpose. It is difficult to understand why God doesn't immediately eliminate our painful situation, but it is comforting to know that we have a Savior and Friend who knows exactly where we are and how we feel. Jesus was touched by every pain and anxiety that we will ever face, and He sits on the right hand of God making intercession for us.

As our High Priest, He prays for us with feeling because He was in a place where He cried out in His own pain and distress. Hebrews 4:15 and 16 in the Message Bible says, "We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experiencing it all - all but the sin. So let's walk right up to Him and get what He is so ready to give. Take the mercy and the help." Hide these words in your heart and when your time of testing comes, turn your 'WHY' into 'WHO' and look to your High Priest, Jesus.
In the final outcome, He will deliver you and give you victory.


May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie

Seed Time and Harvest

Faith Filled Thoughts
October 22nd, 2008
By Connie Ciccone
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Scripture: Genesis 8:22 "While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."

From the very beginning of time, God set irrevocable laws into motion. One of those laws is that there would always be seed time and harvest. God has established a season to plant and also a season for us to enjoy the fruits of all of our labors. It is as sure as the night that follows the day or the promise of summer and winter. Another part of that law is that we will reap what we sow We can't plant a bean seed and hope for a corn crop any more than we can plant an orange seed and expect to produce an apple tree. Seeds are limited to the laws of nature and respond to the commands of God. In the beginning, when God created the Earth and everything in it, He spoke to every plant and told them to bring forth after their own kind, and that law is still in force today. God's eternal word still controls the harvest.
The law of seed time and harvest sounds so simple, but many times we fail to remember that it works just as well in the spiritual realm as it does in the physical realm. The Apostle Paul spoke to the church in Galatia and said, "Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap." The Amplified Bible makes a firmer statement saying, "that and that only is what he will reap." When we think about Paul's words, we must consider more carefully what we sow, for every deed that we do and every word that we speak is going to bring forth a harvest after its own kind. Even the thoughts that we allow ourselves to think will eventually bear some kind of fruit, for every kind action starts with a kind thought and every evil action starts with an evil thought.
Another law of seed time and harvest is that there is a space of time before the seeds begin to produce a harvest. Seeds are placed in the ground and hidden from view and for several weeks it looks as though nothing is happening. And then suddenly, life springs forth from the ground and whatever has been planted will make its way through the soil and expose itself. Sometimes the seeds lay dormant and the crop is slow in coming. Three years ago, I planted a yellow rose bush in my flowerbed. I was very disappointed the first year because they did not bloom. I thought they were totally lost so I just forgot about them. The next year, to my surprise, a few of them came up and bloomed. Finally, the third year, I had a large harvest of yellow roses. It was slow but the promised harvest did come. The same is true with the spiritual seeds that we sow We may not see immediate results for the good or bad seed that we have sown, but we can be sure that ultimately there will be a harvest. We may even think that we are getting away with sowing bad seed, but when we least expect it, our seed will yield fruit and it will be according to the kind of seed that we have planted. Our good deeds will produce rewards and our sins will surely find us out. Let us keep these thoughts in our minds and remember that every choice is a seed. For that reason, we must be careful to sow only what we want to reap, for a harvest will surely follow our seed time.
May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie

What Barns are You Filling in Your Life?

Faith Filled Thoughts
October 21st, 2008
By Connie Ciccone
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What Barns are You Filling in Your Life?

Scripture: Luke 12:15 "A man's life does not consist in the abundance of things which he possesses."

These words from Jesus remind us that real life and happiness does not depend upon how much stuff we have. We are human and have needs in the natural, but Jesus said we are not to be "anxious and troubled about these things ... for life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing."

Jesus proceeded to tell the story of a man who had an immoderate desire for wealth. He was greedy and desired to have more and more. He kept gathering grain into his storehouse until he had to build other storehouses just to accommodate his wealth, as he would not share his blessings. He was very secure within himself and measured the wealth of his life by the abundance of his storehouses. When he thought he had fully arrived, he decided to sit back and enjoy life. His words to himself were, "Take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry." God had other plans, however. He came on the scene that very night, requiring the man's life, and all that the man had stored up was passed to someone else. In the Message Bible, Eugene Peterson said, "This is what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God."
Jesus was relating to us that a barn full of stuff is not life. You can't define or measure life by the things you have or the things you don't have. Real life is found in Jesus. In John 14:6 Jesus says, "I am life." And the important "stuff of life" is found in our families, children, health, peace, and happiness. Too many times we take our life and health for granted, and forget to count the blessings that God has provided for us. Many folks today would give everything they own to have their health, youth, marriage, and family relations restored. Those paralyzed and diseased would trade all of their possessions to be able to live a normal life. The fact remains that the best things in life cannot be purchased or stored up. A quote from an unknown source encourages us with these words:

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

"Measure wealth not by the things you have,

But by the things you have for which you would not take money."

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie

WHEN WE SHARE
By Connie Ciccone

When we share laughter,

There's twice the fun;

When we share success,

We surpass what we've done.

When we share problems,

There's half the pain;

When we share tears,

A rainbow follows rain.

When we share dreams,

They become more real;

When we share secrets,

It's our hearts we reveal.

If we share a smile,

Then our love shows;

If we share a hug,

Then our love grows.

If we share with someone

On whom we depend,

That person becomes

Family and friend.

And what draws us closer

And makes us all care,

Is not what we have,

But the things that we share.

And God gives us grace
With the gifts that we share.
To perform all these tasks
And today that you wear!

Connie Ciccone ©November 2005

Beauty For YOUR Ashes

Faith Filled Thoughts
October 20th, 2008
By Connie Ciccone
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Beauty For YOUR Ashes



Scripture: Genesis 37:35 "He refused to be comforted."

Joseph's brothers were jealous of him and sold him to the slave traders who took him to Egypt. Then his brothers dipped Joseph's coat of many colors into the blood of an animal and returned it to Jacob, their father. When Jacob saw the condition of this special coat that he had made for Joseph, he assumed that Joseph had been devoured by an evil beast and he immediately went into mourning. Jacob had eleven other sons besides Joseph and some daughters, and all of them attempted to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. Jacob made a decision to continue to grieve over this loss and declared that he would go to the grave in mourning over Joseph. Little did Jacob know that God was working His sovereign plan in Joseph's life and would use him as an instrument to save a multitude of people from the famine. Neither did he know that one day he and Joseph would be destined to be together again.

Sometimes our lives seem to shipwreck on the ocean of life. Everything seems to be going along fine until suddenly an unexpected storm comes up and blows us over, we run our ship into a sand bank, or like the Titanic, we hit an iceberg that tears us apart. Everything in our life turns dark as we sink into the waters of hopelessness where our faith is tested beyond measure. The people whom we love and trust the most may fail us or we might even lose them to death. Possibly, our financial deals all fall through and we don't know what direction to take next. Perhaps we receive a bad report from our doctor or we find ourselves in legal trouble. After the shock of these spiritual shipwrecks, the spirit of grief will attempt to find a safe harbor in our soul.

Grief is a strong spirit, and if it can build a stronghold in your life, it will control you. You will never be able to move forward while you are trying to bear the burden or carry the baggage of grief. It is just too heavy. King Solomon said that there is a time to weep and grieve over the losses in our lives, but mourning should only last for a season. There comes a time when we must let go of every loss and every pain of the past and face the future with joy in our hearts. The Lord is waiting to comfort you in your sorrow. You can either be like Jacob, who made a conscious decision to continue in pain by refusing to be comforted, or you can receive the comfort that is available to you right now. (Jesus came to give you beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness Isaiah 61:3). If you submit your grief to Him, He will comfort you. He loves you with an everlasting love, so please don't refuse His offer to set you free from your pain.

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie

Can I Keep My Mouth Shut and Wait Upon God??

Faith Filled Thoughts
October 17th, 2008
By Connie Ciccone
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Can I Keep My Mouth Shut and Wait Upon God??


Scripture: Psalms 39:1 "I will keep my mouth with a bridle."

In this Psalm David made a commitment to take heed of his actions and his words so that he wouldn't sin against God and told God of his awkward situation. While the wicked were there in the room before him, he tried to act dumb, hold his peace, and just remain quiet. But the longer he did this, the worse things got and finally sorrow began to stir inside of him. David said, "My heart was hot within me, and while I was musing, the fire burned." In other words he was saying, "The more I thought about it, the more it just burned me up!" Have you ever been there, and said that?

David finally reached the point that he responded and said,

"Then I spoke up with my tongue." The Message Bible says it a little plainer:

"The longer I kept silent the worse it got --

my insides got hotter and hotter,

My thoughts boiled over; and I spilled my guts.

"We often allow the actions and words of others to disturb us in this fashion until we reach the boiling point. In front of God and everybody, at the worst time, we just spill our guts. God's word says that if we can control our tongue, we can control our whole body. James 3:2 (Amplified) states, "For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if any one does not offend in speech -- never says the wrong things -- he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb (or bridle) his entire nature." If we want to control our whole body and curb our entire nature, there are three things that we must consciously do:

1) We must stop musing about the situation in an adverse way.

2) We must disallow our emotions to burn within us.

3) We must keep our mouth shut until God tells us how to respond.

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie

We have to work at making a change

Faith Filled Thoughts
October 16th, 2008
By Connie Ciccone
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We have to work at making a change.


II Timothy 3:7 "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."

The Apostle Paul writes to Timothy, his son in the faith, and cautions him about the world around him. In the previous six verses, Paul tells him that perilous times would come and he then gave Timothy a list of things that would be happening in the last days. Paul said that men would be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affections, trucebreakers, false accusers, uncontrolled, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, and that there would be silly women laden with sins seeking to lead them astray. He also said that a form of godliness would abound, but that the power of God would be denied.

The Apostle Paul wrote these words in 63 AD, which was about 30 years after Christ was crucified. But you would think that he was describing our problem society today, for we witness these characteristics every day as we watch the television, hear the news, or observe public behavior. It is very evident that there are many who are truly "ever learning, but never coming to the knowledge of the truth." There has never been a time when the gospel was more accessible or proclaimed through so many mediums, but many who hear the word never change their lives. Satan deceives them from knowing their true needs and their self-satisfying lust blind them from being able to understand the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus, Himself, used graphic illustrations in His teachings and made everything He taught come alive, but even in His day, many could not understand His simple teachings because their minds were closed to receive the truth.

The scriptures are given by inspiration of God and they are designed to teach us good doctrine and instruct us in the ways of righteousness. They are also there to reprove and correct us (II Timothy 3:16). Our shortcomings may not be in the list that Paul gave to Timothy, but we must acknowledge that we all have areas in our lives where God is dealing with us to come into the knowledge of the truth. We hear a word that pricks our heart, but we tend to push it away because we don't want to be accountable to its truth. Like Paul's statement, we learn about the truth but we never come to know the truth because we do not allow ourselves to experience it.

It is one thing to learn that we are to live a holy life but it is quite another to understand that truth by submitting our entire being to God and actually living a holy life before Him. There is a difference in learning about thankfulness and being truly thankful. We can learn about the spirit of arrogance but that does not impart a spirit of humility in our lives. We have to work at making a change. The Holy Spirit will teach us daily and guide us into the truth, but we must give heed to His leading. If we want to change we must make a determination that as we hear the truth, we will discipline ourselves to obey God's words of wisdom. If we do not obey them, we will find ourselves fulfilling the words of Paul, "ever learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth."

God is dealing with us to come into the knowledge of the truth



May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie

Keep Your Fork

Faith Filled Thoughts
October 15th, 2008
By Connie Ciccone
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Keep Your Fork

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:12 (Living Bible) "There is nothing better for a man than to be happy and to enjoy himself as long as he can.

"Life on this earth is as a vapor, and compared to eternity it is as a moment in a day. James 4:14 tells us that our life "appears for a while, then it vanishes." Not only is the span of life that we are given very short, it is also divided into many unpredictable seasons. Some of them are joyful and some are sad. Solomon said there are seasons to laugh and seasons to cry. There are times to love, to hate, to build, to tear down, to have peace, and to be at war. He lists many other seasons that we will encounter in our lifetime, but he says, "God makes everything beautiful in His time."

For so long, we have murmured and complained and taken so many things for granted. We are often dissatisfied, for we see our glass as half-empty instead of half-full. It is only when we encounter sickness that we begin to appreciate health. Or when we come face to face with death that we see life as a gift, and our every breath becomes precious to us. We give little thought to our vision and mobility until we see a close friend suddenly lose their eyesight or become paralyzed due to injury. We never think of the blessing of hearing until our hearing is gone. Our voice and ability to communicate is considered mundane until we are unable to speak or sing. And it is only when a loved one is stricken with a fatal disease that we come to the realization that we should cherish our loved ones and thankfully hold on to each moment that we have together and spend it very carefully.

My Hopes that this story given to me by a Faithful reader will inspire you and teach you how life is funny and precious…

A Woman and a Fork

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness
and had been given three months to live.
So as she was getting her things 'in order,' she contacted her Pastor
and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.

She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service,
what scriptures she would like read,

and what outfit she wanted to be buried in.

Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to leave
when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.

'There's one more thing,' she said excitedly.

What's that?' came the Pastor's reply. 'This is very important,'
the young woman continued.
'I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.'

The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say.

That surprises you, doesn't it?' the young woman asked.

'Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request,'

said the Pastor. The young woman explained.

'My grandmother once told me this story,
and from that time on I have always tried to pass along

its message to those I love
and those who are in need of encouragement.

In all my years of attending socials and dinners,
I always remember that when the dishes

of the main course were being cleared,
someone would inevitably lean over and say,

'Keep your fork.'
It was my favorite part because

I knew that something better was coming...
like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie.

Something wonderful, and with substance!'

So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand
and I want them to wonder

'What's with the fork?'
Then I want you to tell them: '
Keep your fork ..
the best is yet to come.'

The Pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy

as he hugged the young woman good-bye.
He knew this would be one of the last times

he would see her before her death.
But he also knew that the young woman

had a better grasp of heaven than he did.
She had a better grasp of what heaven

would be like than many people twice her age,
with twice as much experience and knowledge.

She KNEW that something better was coming.

At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket
and they saw the cloak she was wearing

and the fork placed in her right hand.
Over and over, the Pastor heard the question,

'What's with the fork?'

And over and over he smiled.

During his message, the Pastor told the people

of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died.
He also told them about the fork

and about what it symbolized to her.
He told the people how he could not stop

thinking about the fork
and told them that they probably

would not be able to stop thinking about it either.

He was right.

So the next time you reach down for your fork let it remind you,
ever so gently, that the best is yet to come.

Friends are a very rare jewel , indeed
. They make you smile

and encourage you to succeed Cherish the time you have ,
and the memories you share ...
being friends with someone is not an opportunity

but a sweet responsibility.

SO SMILE MY FRIEND I LOVE YOU AND REMEMBER…..
Keep Your Fork

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie

SO LET’S GET GOD INVOVED BEFORE WE CHOOSE OUR BATTLES

Faith Filled Thoughts
October 14th, 2008
By Connie Ciccone
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SO LET’S GET GOD INVOVED BEFORE WE CHOOSE OUR BATTLES



Scripture: Proverbs 26:17 "He that passes by and meddles with strife that does not belong to him, is like one that takes a dog by the ears."

King Solomon spoke very wisely concerning the business of battles. He warned us about getting involved in situations that do not belong to us and described these actions as meddling. For sure, there are many challenges in life and battles will come to the best of us, but Solomon said that if we are not careful in our choices, we will end up being like someone who grabs a dog by the ears. In other words, when we meddle in the wrong battles, they bite back. Solomon's words reminded me of a small and fierce dog that our family used to have. He would have never harmed those to whom he belonged but I pity the stranger who would have tried to grab him by the ears. Even if they had been trying to help him, their good intentions would have been misunderstood and unappreciated.

So it is with life. Choosing the battles that we should get involved in is a difficult matter, for our actions can be misunderstood and unappreciated. So when conflicts present themselves, whether it is our battle or someone else's or whether it is a huge conflict or small skirmish, our first strategy should be to go to God for counsel. God is awesome and His knowledge and ways are much higher than ours. He showed us His wisdom and His mighty power in the battles that were fought in the scriptures. David was a small shepherd boy, but he went to battle against Goliath, the giant warrior. He chose this battle because Goliath was mocking God and defying the armies of Israel. When David's own brothers questioned him about his choice to fight, David answered them with the words, "Is there not a cause?" (I Samuel 17:29). David not only chose to defend the cause of God, but ran towards the battle that was set before him and killed the giant. Yet, there were other times when God specifically instructed men not to go against their enemy in battle. When the enemy came against Jehoshaphat, he sought the Lord, and the Lord told him that he didn't need to fight the battle, for the battle belonged to the Lord. God told Jehoshaphat to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. The Lord had a unique plan and instructed him to send worshippers into the battle instead of warriors. When the people began to sing and to praise the Lord, God sent an ambush against the enemy and they destroyed themselves (II Chronicles 20:22).

There are battles that we are destined to fight and many times we are called to fight them alone. Like David's situation, the cause may be greater than our own small world, but we can be assured that if God sends us into the battle, He will be our shield and defense. There will be other challenges that we are to simply praise our way through as God fights for us. God may say, "Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord" or "pursue the enemy and take back you territory." Our battles may be conflicts in relationships, financial hardships, problems with our children, health issues, or spiritual matters. Regardless of the challenge, the battle belongs to the Lord, for the Apostle Paul said that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces. We must understand that the devil is not an easy foe to reckon with, but God in His mercy has provided us with His own armor and spiritual weapons. God didn't tell David, who was known for his wonderful praise and worship, to go out singing before the giant and neither did He tell Jehoshaphat to go against the enemy with a few stones and a sling. Like these mighty warriors, our battles will be won while we are on our knees in prayer.

So let us get God involved when we are choosing our battles and make a determination that we will not meddle or grab just any dog by the ears."

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie

He will answer you, He will honor you, and He will deliver you….

Faith Filled Thoughts
October 13th, 2008
By Connie Ciccone
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Faith Filled thoughts released Monday –Friday excluding Holidays





He will answer you, He will honor you, and He will deliver you….


Scripture: Psalms 150:6 "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."

In this psalm, we are exhorted to praise the Lord for His mighty acts and for His excellent greatness. We are told to praise God with trumpets, harps, organs, and stringed instruments. The psalmist then concludes by saying, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord." In other words, regardless of your circumstances, if you still have breath, you are to praise the Lord.

Notice the psalmist doesn't distinguish between those who are full of joy and those who are in mourning. Nor does he say let those in health and wealth praise the Lord. He says let everything that has breath give praise. If you are in trouble, but are still breathing, you are to praise the Lord. If you are bankrupt and don't know how you are going to feed your family or pay the bills, you are to still praise the Lord. If your spouse has left you and your best friend has rejected you, praise should still be in your heart and on your lips for who God is in your life. If you are in the midst of a mighty storm or a raging fire, you are to praise the Lord.

If you have breath within your being, you are to forget your ill fate and adverse circumstances and praise the Lord, for you still have hope because God is able to change your situation and restore all things. Look at some instances in the scriptures where praise prevailed. In Habakkuk 3:17-18, even though the prophet's vines, fields, and cattle were not producing, and things were getting very lean, he still rejoiced in the God of his salvation. His praise did not depend upon what he had but who God was. In II Chronicles 20:21, Jehoshaphat appointed singers to go before the army with praises unto the Lord. As they sang, God caused the opposing army to fight against itself, and Jehoshaphat won the battle. Praise confuses Satan. In Acts 16:25, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God at the midnight hour. They were waiting to be executed, but God opened the doors of the prison by means of a great earthquake and set them free. Praise brings deliverance.

The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong for those whose hearts is perfect towards Him (II Chronicles 16:9). God is continually looking and listening for those who are worshiping Him with their hearts and praising Him with their lips. When you begin to set your love upon God in this manner, Psalm 91:14-15 declares that God will be with you in trouble, He will answer you, He will honor you, and He will deliver you.

Praise is a mighty weapon so if you still have breath, praise the Lord.

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie

Always Pray Do Not Give Up

Faith Filled Thoughts
October 7th, 2008
By Connie Ciccone
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Scripture: Luke 18:1 (Amplified) "Always pray ... do not turn coward, faint, lose heart and give up."

This scripture deals with a widow who received justice from a judge. The judge gives his account of the situation and explains why he granted her justice. He did not avenge her because he reverenced and feared God. Neither did he grant her petition because he had respect and consideration for her as a person. The judge avenged her because he began to realize that she was not going to give him any peace until she got some answers. Every time he turned around, she was there, and her voice was in his ears. She was bothersome and an intolerable annoyance to him.

In verse seven, Jesus said, just like this unjust judge, "Shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them?" How many answers do we fail to receive because we quit praying and give up? James 5:16 says, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." This speaks of Elijah's earnest prayers concerning rain. His was not a "one time" prayer. I Kings 18:42-43 tells us that Elijah cast himself down upon the earth, put his face between his knees, and prayed seven times until he saw that his answer was on the way. Effective prayer continues until there are results. It is like boiling a pot of water. Water must reach 212 degrees before it begins to boil. We can stand there and wait until it reaches 210 degrees and give up each time just before it starts to boil, or we can see the process through.

In Mark 8:22-25, Jesus put His hands on a blind man the second time before the man's vision was restored completely. And Daniel's prayer was heard from the first day that he prayed, but his answer was delayed twenty-one days (Daniel 10:12). Shameless persistent faith holds on until the answer comes. You must never give in to disappointment and discouragement if you want to experience victory. Luke 11:9 (Amplified) says, "Ask and keep on asking, and it shall be given unto you; seek and keep on seeking, and you will find; knock and keep on knocking, and the door shall be opened to you."


May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie

Do You Put God In A Box?

Faith Filled Thoughts
October 2nd, 2008
By Connie Ciccone
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Faith Filled thoughts released Monday –Friday excluding Holidays



Do You Put God In A Box?
Only To Bring Him Out When You Need Him!




Scripture: Matthew 6:26 (NIV) "Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

I stood at the edge of the seawall near the beach one day and held up a piece of bread in my hand. There was not a single bird in sight, but within a few seconds they began to flock around me. I was amazed when I realized that these birds were able to find the unexpected provisions that were being offered to them. I wondered at the event, as they were too far away to smell the bread in the midst of the ocean breeze and were not close enough to see it. Yet, God had led them to their provisions. To me, this was a natural occurrence, but for the birds it may have seemed a miracle. This incident was not the norm for them as they usually found their food along the beaches or in the ocean itself. In reality, this was God fulfilling His promise, for He said that He would always provide for them, and on this particular day He chose to surprise them with something different.

God's provisions for us are no less natural and no less miraculous than that of the birds. Everything that we have or will ever have comes from His gracious hand, and like the birds of the air God causes us to reap where we have not sown. When we put our trust in Him and seek His kingdom first, He promises that all that we need will be added to us. We are not to be anxious or worried about anything for He said that we are much more valuable than the birds. When we consider this fact, we have to conclude that God is watching over us continually and knows our every need. Most of the time He will use the earth and our natural faculties to meet our needs, but we must not put God in a box and forget that He is the creator. Often He will cause our blessings to come to us in uncertain and unfamiliar ways to let us know that He is God and that He is not limited by our usual circumstances. He is full of surprises and can do new things!

In Psalms 50:11 God says, "I know all the birds of the mountains." He doesn't just know some of them; He declared that He knows all of them. Even a small sparrow doesn't fall to the ground without His knowledge (Matthew 10:27). If God knows all the birds, He also knows you and cares for you. As you face today, seek God's kingdom in all that you do and rest in His promise of provision. His provisions will always reflect His glory, for He will meet all of your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). He will cause someone to stand on the seawall of your life, if necessary, to manifest His power and to give you something new and fresh. God desires to feed you and clothe you in radiant colors as He does the birds because He values you and delights when you are able to soar in the beauty that He has ordained for you.

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie

CONTENTMENT LOOKS TO GOD

Faith Filled Thoughts
October 1st, 2008
By Connie Ciccone
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CONTENTMENT LOOKS TO GOD

Scripture: Philippians 4:11 "For I have learned to be content with whatever I have."

It is easy to be content when you have plenty and things are going good, but it is another story to be content when nothing is going right for you and your life is falling apart. The Apostle Paul said that he had learned to be content. Learning is a process that only comes through study or experience. Paul had experienced many victories as he shared the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. However, he had also faced many disappointments and suffered times of hardship and lack. Yet, regardless of the state that he found himself in, Paul had learned the virtue of contentment. He had learned to be content during the times of plenty and he had learned how to be content when he was forced to fast out of necessity.

Many times we confuse contentment with happiness, but they are not the same. Happiness is contingent upon what is happening around you and when things are going good, happiness abounds. But happiness comes to a sudden halt when adversities come and circumstances change. Contentment, on the other hand, is more stable. It is a knowing that God is in control even though your ship is being tossed about in the midst of the storm. Things may not look good, but contentment trusts God. It reports that "It is well with my soul" even though a loved one is passing through the valley of the shadow of death. And when you are facing the worst of situations, contentment allows you to say as Job said, "Though God slay me, yet will I trust Him." Contentment looks to God when weaknesses challenge and says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Verse 13). In battle it says, "I will not fear, for God is with me." Contentment never dwells on evil. Instead it says, "Whatever things are honest, lovely, and of good report, I will think on these things" (Verse 8). Contentment doesn't worry when there is lack but declares, "God shall supply all of my needs" (Verse 19).
One day a friend and I had lunch at a small store. Erin ordered her usual a soup and salad and I ordered a tuna fish sandwich. When our order arrived, we both said a prayer and began to eat. Erin noticed that my sandwich was a bacon lettuce and tomato sandwich. Not what I had ordered. She quickly asked me why am I eating a sandwich in which I did not order? I said “Well God must have wanted me to have a bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich. See I have learned to be content in most circumstances where, If I would of made a choice to make a big fuss out of it. It would have simply ruined my lunch and perhaps my entire day. That is why I think God said choose your Battles wisely.

The contentment that Paul had learned left no space in his heart for murmuring or complaining. He declared that God's grace was sufficient and he learned to rejoice and give thanks in all things. He knew that all things were going to work together for good in his life because he loved God and was called according to His purpose. Allow God to work in your heart in this same manner, and like Paul, fix your mind to learn how to be content with whatever you have. As you do, you will find that God will make up the difference.

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie