Thank You God Above

Faith Filled Thoughts
November 25th 2009
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Thank You God Above
By Connie Ciccone

Dearest Lord, we thank Thee
And so to you we pray
For all the things that you provide
Throughout each and every day...

For the sun that shines and warms our hearts,
For the flowers and the trees,
For blue skies and oceans
And the wind's cool, gentle breeze.

Thank you for the nutrients
In all the things we eat.
We thank you for giving us shelter
And for the ground beneath our feet

We thank you for the rain that falls
Upon this wondrous land,
And for the fresh air that we breathe,
Created by your hand.

So on this day we raise our hands
Giving Thanks to God Above
And with Our Praise and Worship
We Send To You Our Love

Thank You God Above!!

May all Of You Have A Blessed Thanksgiving and we
Will see you after the Holiday November 30th 2009
Connie Ciccone ©November 2006

and
Remember….

God is God, and He is able


May He Bless You and Keep You Today!
With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Pastor Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit !:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykVkmtB4b58

Job as a Model for Faith

Faith Filled Thoughts
November 23rd, 2009
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Thankfulness Series

The Last of the Thankfulness Series


Job as a Model for Faith -- Trusting God in Hard Times


Job Feared and Loved God and was Blessed
with Twice as Much as He Had Before His Tragedies
It was a bad day for Job.
His sons and daughters died in a freak wind storm
that collapsed the house where they were gathered.
Also, Job's employees were brutally murdered
and all of his livestock was destroyed or stolen.

After Job heard these reports,
he ripped his robe and shaved his head,
both outward indications of grief and mourning.
God's Word states that he then fell to the ground and worshiped.
Job said,
“Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there.
The Lord gave,
and the Lord has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:20, 21)

Most people in Job's circumstances would completely break down emotionally,
perhaps blame and curse God,
and descend into a long period of inconsolable depression.
Job lost everything but his immediate reaction was to worship God first.
He didn't blame God, nor did he curse God, as his wife suggested.
His devastating situation was overwhelming,
so he instantly yielded himself and his circumstances
to the One Who could actually do something about it.

Job's life was before the time of Moses and the written Law of God,
but Job
“was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.” (Job 1:1)
Job was a disciplined, prosperous and virtuous.
Although his fear magnetically attracted the evils that came upon him
(Job 3:25),
his love and reverence for God took precedence in his life. In the end,
God blessed Job with twice as much as he had before.

Not many people have lived through tragic circumstances such as Job's
and refused to become bitter and hardened.
Job serves as a unique example of a submissive attitude towards
God and one whose reaction in crisis sets a standard worthy of meditation.
Imagine Job's great loss compared to what most people consider as disastrous.

It is true that some people lose homes and possessions in terrible storms
and some lose family members in dreadful accidents.
Some people lose their job or their life savings due to ill health or other situations.
All of these hard times can be challenging
and stressful to the people going through them,
but few lose everything in one day.
Whatever challenges one faces,
the best reaction is positive action,
and the best action is to turn to God, to seek His help
, to go to the God Who can actually do something about it.

In Matthew 22:37,
Jesus quoted the first and great commandment.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, and with all your mind.”

First and foremost, God wants peoples' hearts,
the innermost part of their being.
The heart is the center of the character of the individual.
The soul represents mind, will and emotion.
The mind as it is used in this verse
(as well as Mark 12:30 and Luke 10:27)
refers to reflective thought, or one's exercised conscience.

Luke 10:27 adds the word “strength” referring to physical strength.
To love God with the whole being and every aspect
of one’s entire being is what God wants,
and it is what mankind actually needs to do to have a rich and satisfying life.
“We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19).

When the love relationship is present and appreciated by the receiver,
man, directed towards the Giver,
God, the human knows his life and times are in the hands of God,
and there is peace and rest,
instead of chaos and stress.
Although Job mourned his losses and struggled with questions,
he didn't stop loving God and believing
that God would bring him through.
God did not disappoint Job

He Brought Him Through It All…..

Remember….

God is God, and He is able


May He Bless You and Keep You Today!
With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Pastor Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit !:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDg2Fnr6KRE

Surrender and Submit

Faith Filled Thoughts
November 20th, 2009
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Thankfulness Series



Surrender and Submit -- Trusting God in Hard Times

To Trust God in Hard Times Christians Must Surrender to God
and Submit to the Word of God

Partnering with trust is the concept of surrender,
a term usually associated with defeat.
Its usage here, however, means that a believer completely gives up his own will
and subjects his thoughts, ideas and deeds to the Word and will of God.
Surrendering to God is simply another way of saying submitting completely to Him.

In Luke 18:18-23,
a wealthy man came to Jesus and asked him,
“What shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus recited five of the Ten Commandments to him, and the man replied,
“All these things I have kept from my youth.”
Then Jesus said,
“You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

When the man heard this, he became very sad,
because he was very rich.
This man was sincere, and was conscientious about obedience to the commandments.
But he loved his money more than God,
and was not ready to give it up for treasure in heaven.
His priority of immediate earthly comfort blinded his eyes to any future consequences.

Often times it takes times of crises to awaken people to what is truly valuable in life.
God's Word differentiates for believers what is lasting and meaningful,
and what is not.

“Do not love the world or the things in the world.
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world -- the lust of the flesh,
the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world.
And the world is passing away,
and the lust of it;
but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15-17)

In 1 Timothy,
Paul writes to Timothy and anyone in leadership of the Christian church,
to help them keep their priorities straight.
God is first and foremost,
and He promises to supply every need.
The tempter attempts to lure Christians, especially leadership,
away from God and the things of God's kingdom,
making the things of the world glisten and glitter with enchantment.
But the tempter is also the thief, who steals, kills and destroys,
and he is the liar,
and no truth is in him.
He is god of this world, the accuser and the adversary of God and God's people.

God's Word is Pure
and dazzling light, and exposes the harsh ugliness of the deception.
“For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare,
and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil,
for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness,
and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6:7-10)

To trust God in hard times includes surrendering to Him and submitting to His Word.
The Christians of the first century church
quickly learned the value in community,
pooling their finances and resources, and trusting the apostles and leadership
to distribute to those who had needs.
They even went so far as to sell extra houses and lands,
and donate the proceeds so that the church could have stability and strength.

Surrendering to God demonstrates love, trust and faith in Him.
When God sees one of His children so
completely relinquishing every aspect of their life to Him,
He is able to work mightily in and through the life of that believer.

Jesus taught,
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled,
and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12)

Years later, Jesus' half-brother, James, echoed the Lord' words in
James 4:10.
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

Remember….

God is God, and He is able


May He Bless You and Keep You Today!
With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Pastor Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit !:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvUNkRbi5Rc&feature=related

The Favor of God

Faith Filled Thoughts
November 19th, 2009
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Thankfulness Series



The Favor of God -- Trusting God in Hard Times

Those who Apply Biblical Principles

Abound in the Goodness and Favor of God


God's people have God's favor.
Every day, believers, and honestly, even unbelievers, can wake up in a world
where God's favor shines down like the sun on a warm summer day.
Believers, however, know the source of this favor,
and should appreciate it more because they can learn
the Biblical principles to access more and more of God's wonderful favor.

The Bible makes it clear that God is no respecter of persons,
which means that He shows no partiality.
(2 Samuel 14:14; 2 Chronicles 19:7;
Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11;
Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25;
1 Peter 1:17)

So in considering the subject of God's favor,
it must be understood that He is not randomly singling out one person
on whom to bestow His favor,
and nonchalantly dismissing another.
He has no favorites.

“He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good,
and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45)

The word translated favor is the same Greek word translated grace.
The word is charis, and it especially denotes God's divine
and undeserved grace and favor manifested towards mankind
or to any individual.
It is free and unmerited, shown forth to humanity,
regardless of sin or good works.
It is the goodness and love of God
demonstrated in all of creation,
and especially through Jesus Christ's works,
to appeal to mankind.
The believer, by obedience to God's Word,
can tap into the richness of the goldmine of God's favor.

During the time of Noah, God saw the irreparable wickedness of mankind,
and devised a plan to cleanse the earth so that He could begin again.

“I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth,
both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air,
for I am sorry that I have made them.” (Genesis 6:7)

It was at this time that Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
This is the first place in the Bible where the word grace, or favor,
is used. Noah was the last believing man in the lineage of Seth.

“Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations.
Noah walked with God.” (Genesis 6:9)

Noah's heart of faith and lifestyle of righteousness qualified him
to be the sole candidate of God's favor.
In truth, the requirements have never changed.

Job was “blameless and upright,
and one who feared God and shunned evil.”
In Job's own words to God,
even after his calamities,
he acknowledged God as the source of favor.
“You have granted me life and favor,
And Your care has preserved my spirit.” (Job 10:12)

In 1 Samuel 2:26,
“The child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the Lord and men.”

Samuel grew up in the temple under the tutelage of Eli,
and at a young age he learned to hear and obey the voice of the Lord God.
Samuel became a mighty prophet, and Israel's last judge,
who also anointed both Saul and David as kings.
Over a thousand years later, another young man grew up in a godly household,
with the diligent and righteous parenting skills of Joseph and Mary.
Similar to Samuel,

“Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” (Luke 2:52)

In hard times God's people clearly need and desire God's favor.
Even in slavery and imprisonment,
Joseph set his heart to trust God,
and found favor in the eyes of those over him (Genesis 39:4, 21).
Trusting God is clear-cut and simple when one's lifestyle
is already in alignment and harmony with God's Word.
The righteous men previously mentioned all kept God's commandments
and disciplined their lives to be obedient, thereby securing God's favor.

“Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart,
and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.”
(Proverbs 3:3, 4)

Remember that God has no favorites.

There is no such thing as luck.

Those who faithfully apply the principles of the Bible in daily living
abound in God's graciousness and goodness.
He shows His favor to those who do His Word.

“The Lord will give grace and glory;
No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous;
with favor You will surround him as with a shield.
He who earnestly seeks good finds favor,
but trouble will come to him who seeks evil.
Good understanding gains favor,
but the way of the unfaithful is hard.
Fools mock at sin, but among the upright there is favor.”
(Psalm 84:11; 5:12; Proverbs 11:27; 13:15; 14:9)

Remember that God has no favorites.

Remember….

God is God, and He is able


May He Bless You and Keep You Today!
With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Pastor Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit !:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu4PWSnVabg

The Wisdom of God Solves Problems

Faith Filled Thoughts
November 17th, 2009
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Thankfulness Series


The Wisdom of God Solves Problems -- Trusting God in Hard Times


Trusting God in Hard Times is Easy When Believers Get Wisdom
The simple definition of wisdom is the application of knowledge.
Wisdom is generally understood as the capacity
to correctly apply knowledge acquired through life's experiences.
People usually think older people are wise. Not necessarily so.
They are only wise to the degree that they have learned
to rightly apply knowledge in various areas of life.
The so-called scientific method is essentially trial and error, and often repeated errors.
Most people stumble through life and learn by this method.
But there is a better way.

When it comes to the Bible, wisdom is correctly applying the knowledge of God's Word.
The book of Proverbs is a treasure chest of wisdom.
Often people's problems are due to a lack of wisdom.
Trusting God in hard times becomes uncomplicated
and more manageable when one realizes
that the best way to solve a problem is to get wisdom.

The New Century Version translates
Ecclesiastes 10:10, “A dull ax means harder work. Being wise will make it easier.”
Seems obvious enough.
Wisdom is to sharpen the axe so that the work
can be completed faster and with less effort.
This truth extends into the use of one’s talents and abilities in life.
To get better results, sharpen the axe.
To sharpen the axe, get wisdom.

Get wisdom!

Get understanding!

“Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:5,7,8)

Proverbs chapter 8 personifies wisdom.
“I love those who love me,
and those who seek me diligently will find me
. Riches and honor are with me,
enduring riches and righteousness.
My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,
and my revenue than choice silver.
I traverse the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,
that I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth,
that I may fill their treasuries.” (8:17-20,21)

Wisdom has value above currency or any precious metals or stones.
Those who love wisdom and diligently seek wisdom
can learn the principles of what it takes to acquire and accumulate wealth.
Money is not evil in itself,
only when someone loves money more than God does money become evil.
God's Word guarantees that true godly wisdom can lead on to prosperity.

Proverbs 10:21 says,
“Fools die for lack of wisdom,”

Proverbs 12:15
warns the one who tries to circumvent wisdom with shortcuts.
“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.”

Seeking good advice and guidance takes humility,
but it is a wise and safe move, for young people especially,
but also for anyone of any age who lacks knowledge and experience.

“He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.”

Plans are established by counsel, and without counsel, plans go sour.
In a multitude of counselors there is safety.
(13:20; 20:18, 15:22; 24:6)
All of these admonitions can save time, money, and even lives.
Just as evil associations corrupt good morals,
as 1 Corinthians 15:33 teaches,
so bad advice can ruin someone's life and cause a setback that may be irreversible.
Wisdom is critical, not only in hard times, but all the time.

In the New Testament, James 1:5
encourages seeking wisdom.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God,
who gives to all liberally and without reproach,
and it will be given to him.”

The first place to seek wisdom is in God's Word,
then with proven leadership within the church, such as one's pastor or elders.
Other solid and savvy successful business people within the church family
can offer tried and tested wisdom.
Once one has received wisdom,
“do not let go; keep her, for she is your life.” (Proverbs 4:13)

Remember….

God is God, and He is able


May He Bless You and Keep You Today!
With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Pastor Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit !:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu4PWSnVabg&feature=related

Ups and Downs of Christian Life

Faith Filled Thoughts
November 16th, 2009
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Thankfulness Series




Ups and Downs of Christian Life -

- Trusting God in Hard Times


Christians Have their Ups and Downs
so the Keys to Overcoming is to Never Lose Heart or Grow Weary
Sometimes there seems to be more month than money,
and it is nerve-racking trying to figure out what bills to pay now,
and which ones can wait another week.
It can be frustrating prioritizing how much to spend on food, or gasoline,
and if there is anything left over, how to allocate it ,
make an extra payment on a debt, rent a movie, get new shoes, or go to the dentist.

Perhaps there are things being left undone around the house, or with the car.
One of the kids is behind in their schoolwork,
or maybe there is tension with a co-worker on the job.
God knows there are times of exasperation,
discouragement, even feelings of despair.
Sometimes life feels like a roller coaster of ups and downs,
and other times like a merry-go-round,
going around and around but seemingly getting nowhere.

Trusting God in hard times can certainly have its obstacles,
but God's Word encourages believers to persevere,
and not to allow mental or physical weariness to prevail.
Do not faint, do not lose heart,
but, as Joshua 1:9 says,
“Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed
, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

The adversary tries to wear people down,
and especially Christians who are trying to do God's will.
The “course of this world” (Ephesians 2:2),
in “this present evil age” (Galatians 1:4)
causes erosion to people's dreams and aspirations,
just like streams of water running through a valley
over the span of thousands of years that cut away the earth.

In Matthew 9:36, Jesus had been going city to city,
teaching, preaching and healing people.
“But when He saw the multitudes,
He was moved with compassion for them,
because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.”

The Greek word translated weary implies more than just people being physically tired.
Its deeper meaning is that their hearts and souls were wounded,
as if they had been flayed and lacerated,
and the word for scattered literally means thrown down.
These people coming to be healed by Jesus were just like people of today:
beat up, torn apart, and worn out.

No matter what the current circumstances,
each day is a new day, and every day steps can be taken to improve the situation,
however small those steps may seem.
Add, change, delete, as each problem or challenge requires, but don't faint.
In the New Testament, there are a few verses that convey this message.
The Greek word translated faint in KJV and weary in NKJV is a word
that literally means to turn out to be a coward,
to become despondent, to lose heart because of trials or evils, or from moral weakness.

The first usage is in
Luke 18:1, where Jesus teaches a parable, making the point
“that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.”
Jesus went on to teach about a widow who persevered
in her cause before the local judge,
and because of her tenacity, he took action on her behalf.

In 2 Corinthians 4:1, it says that “since we have this ministry,
as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.”

Just as God's grace is always sufficient,
God's unfailing mercy is always enough
so that Christians shouldn't quit serving in the ministry.
Later in chapter 4, Paul writes,
“We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus,
will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you.”
(4:14 NLT)

Christians have the promise of resurrection life,
the hope of reigning in the future with Jesus Christ.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing,
yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16)

Though the physical body is aging, the “inward man”
of Christ inside never gets old and weary.
Staying spiritually healthy and enthusiastic for Jesus Christ
must become a priority.

There are choices to make every day,
decisions regarding seemingly small matters,
and not so small matters in life.
Galatians 6:7-9 remind the believer that whatever a man sows is what he reaps.
“For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption,
but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
And let us not grow weary while doing good,
for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” .

It is vital to conscientiously sow good seed daily,
spiritually speaking, in order to reap a Godly spiritual harvest.
Because there is always time between sowing seed and reaping the harvest,
God's Word again encourages the Christian to not lose heart.

“But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

Remember….

God is God, and He is able


May He Bless You and Keep You Today!
With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Pastor Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit !:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP6YR81wPZE&feature=fvw

Good Stewardship

Faith Filled Thoughts
November 10th, 2009
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Thankfulness Series



Good Stewardship -- Trusting God in Hard Times

Trusting God in Hard Times

Necessitates Good Stewardship of Money
The Bible has hundreds of references to money.
Every civilization has used some form of currency for exchange of goods and services.
Every culture has had its wealthy and its poor people.
Deuteronomy 8:18 “states that it is God Who gives
His people the power to get wealth,
and it is God Who has promised all sufficiency in all things always,”
as 2 Corinthians 9:8 teaches.

There are many keys in the Bible that can be learned regarding
accumulating honest wealth and the correct stewardship of it.
This is vital to understand:

God is owner of all,

and He gives His people the opportunity
and privilege to become good stewards.

Trusting God in hard times necessitates good stewardship.
Affluence can give rise to laziness and financial carelessness,
which may make it challenging initially when it's suddenly time to tighten the belt.
Poverty can induce people to be greedy and stingy,
and even to steal, and hard times can fuel that wrong thinking.
Whatever background someone may be struggling with,
Biblical principles can be learned and Christians
can discover how to prosper and flourish in hard times.

First things first.
God is the source of all provision, so
“Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the first
fruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will overflow with new wine.” (Proverbs 3:9, 10)

Malachi 3:8-12 addresses tithing,
which continues to be a rock-solid key to prosperity.
Even unbelievers and non-Christian business people understand and practice charitable giving.
Christians should not fearfully hang on to every penny they have, but
like the Macedonian believers who had taken up an offering for another church in need,
recorded in 2 Corinthians 8:3 and 4,
“they gave as much as they were able and even more than they could afford.
No one told them to do it.
But they begged and pleaded
with us to let them share in this service for God's people.”

Giving is a joy,
Did You Hear Me?
Giving is a joy,


and there are always people less fortunate to share with.
There can never be a harvest without sowing seeds.
A generous attitude and a cheerful giver is something God can really bless.
It's important to keep money in its place with an appropriate perspective.

“Give me neither poverty nor riches;
Feed me with the food allotted to me;
Lest I be full and deny You, and say,
“Who is the Lord?
Or lest I be poor and steal,
and profane the name of my God.” (Proverbs 30:8,9)

“If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10)

This verse is in the context of people who rather than making an honest living,
meddle in the lives of others.
People like this are takers, not givers,
talebearers and backbiters
. God's people should never involve themselves in such destructive activities.

A good steward will value their own time as well as others' time.
“Those who work their land will have plenty of food,
but the ones who chase empty dreams instead will end up poor.”
(Proverbs 28:19 New Century Version)

“Any enterprise is built by wise planning, becomes strong through
common sense, and profits wonderfully by keeping
abreast of the facts.” (Proverbs 24:3 TLB)

Colossians 3:23 teaches Christians to put their whole heart into their work.
This will bring satisfaction and God's blessings.

In hard times, the good steward controls spending and learns to live within a budget.
This is not motivated by fear or uncertainty.
It is motivated by love for one's family to take thoughtful,
preventive actions so life and Christian service
is not interrupted by self-inflicted crisis.

“But if anyone does not provide for his own,
and especially for those of his household,
he has denied the faith
and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Timothy 5:8)

There is desirable treasure,
and oil in the dwelling of the wise,
but a foolish man squanders it.” (Proverbs 21:20)

If at all possible, have a savings plan.
Again, it's not out of fear, but with a purpose.
“Dishonest money dwindles away,
but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.”
(Proverbs 13:11 NIV)

It may be for a vacation, or education,
or an emergency fund.
Even saving a little is a little more than nothing.

It is always advisable to get out of debt.

“The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.”
(Proverbs 22:7)

Having a financial plan, making menus and shopping lists,
and having a debt payoff strategy are all good steps to take.
The good steward is diligent and conscientious,
watching over all details of their household. It takes a little extra time,
and it may require seeking counsel,
but Proverbs 11:14 and 24:6
teach that
“in a multitude of counselors there is safety.”

Remember….

God is God, and He is able


May He Bless You and Keep You Today!
With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Pastor Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit !:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t2jOlyxrVQ&feature=fvw

Handling a Financial Crisis-

Faith Filled Thoughts
November 6th, 2009
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Thankfulness Series



Handling a Financial Crisis--

Trusting God in Hard Times


During Financial Struggles it is Wise

to Get Good Spiritual and Practical Counsel
Trusting God in hard times can be especially
challenging if a person is financially strapped.
It's time to take action.
It's not too late.
Further delay will only make the situation more agonizing.
There are steps to take, and now is the time.

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for
. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking
, and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives.
Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone
who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7,8 NLT)

Jesus said,
“For whoever exalts himself will be humbled
, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)

People's pride often becomes an obstacle,
even when they desperately need help.
Humorist and social commentator,

Will Rogers said,
“Everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects.”
It's okay to get help; as a matter of fact, it is a very wise thing to do.

Proverbs 11:14 states,
“Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”

Get humble and get counsel, if needed.
Don't wait for things to get worse.
Make a plan and deal with whatever must be handled,
and trust God in the process for wonderful and manageable results.

If the pile of bills is getting high, be bold and call creditors.
Talk to a supervisor, explain the situation and ask what can be done.
There is no need to argue or be unpleasant.
Be calm and negotiate a workable solution.
Keep it realistic and achievable.
Make a payment plan and stay with it.

Pray specifically.

Philippians 4:6 is always great advice.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication
, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

Find specific Scriptures that are positive and encouraging.
Read them, memorize them, put them on the bathroom mirror or refrigerator.
Here are a few:

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31)

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

“He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

Be sure to be in alignment and harmony with God.
This certainly could have been placed first, but sometimes,
when many things are out of order,
it is hard to remember where to begin.
Get forgiveness.
This really goes with the exhortation to get humble.
Be sure there are no “secret sins” blocking answers to prayer.

Psalm 66:18 says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.”

Don't be pessimistic and negative.

Psalm 142:2 is clear. “I pour out my complaint before Him;
I declare before Him my trouble.”

Better to go to God with ones problems because He can handle it.
Any words that are opposite of what God's Word says are lies anyway.
Don't profess Satan's lies,
and don't blame God for negative circumstances.
Whatever the situation is,
it can't be as bad as what Job went through.

When Job lost his employees and livestock,
and all of his sons and daughters were killed in a freak accident,
Job fell on his face and worshipped God.
“Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there.
The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
It also adds that Job never charged God with wrongdoing or injustice.

Take authority over the situation.
“And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.”
Christian believers are God's property,
redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.
The adversary has no legal right to trespass on a Christian's property,
in their home, family or work, and the believer should not allow the access.
Righteous, redeemed, sanctified and justified.
These are some of the Christian's sonship rights.

(1 Corinthians 1:30) Claim them!

Perhaps this could have been placed first,
or near the top of the list. Be sure to keep sowing.
There is no harvest without planting seed.
This means keep tithing, or start, as the case may be.

“He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you,
that you, always having all sufficiency in all things,
may have an abundance for every good work.” (2 Corinthians 6:6, 8)

Theodore Roosevelt said,
“In a moment of decision,

the best thing you can do is the right thing to do.
The worst thing you can do is nothing.”

Be thankful.
There is always something to be thankful for.
“In everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Don't give up and don't get discouraged.
Never forget God's comforting words in Hebrews 13:5.
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Remember….

God is God, and He is able.


May He Bless You and Keep You Today!
With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Pastor Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit !:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BObRMO2Vsbg&feature=related

Do Not Worry About Tomorrow

Faith Filled Thoughts
November 5th, 2009
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Thankfulness Series



Do Not Worry About Tomorrow
Jesus Said Each Day Brings Enough Trouble of its Own

It was God's idea.
From the beginning, He compartmentalized time into 24-hour days,
made the sun and moon to separate day from night,
and said,
“Let them be for signs, and seasons, and for days and years.” (Genesis 1:5 and 14)

Its a good thing, too.
God knew in His infinite wisdom that 24 hours a day
was a manageable number for a human.
Sometimes days seem so long,
and sometimes too short, but each day is still 24 hours,
no more and no less, and there are no scheduled changes on the horizon.
“While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest,
cold and heat, winter and summer,
and day and night shall not cease.” (Genesis 8:22)

In the famous Sermon on the Mount,
Jesus taught against worrying.
Some versions say to not be anxious.
Currently, the commonly used word is stress.
In this world, stress seems to be a normal part of everyone's daily life.
More and more people are taking mood management drugs,
or using other kinds of intoxicants to numb themselves
from the escalating tension of unresolved problems
or the avoidance of oncoming problems.

The words of Jesus Christ still reverberate with truth.
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34 NIV)

He was teaching people who had ears to hear
to learn to live one day at a time.
The context of Jesus' profound recommendation begins in Matthew 6:35,
and concludes in the final verses of this life-changing lesson.
“Therefore do not worry, saying,
'What shall we eat?'
or 'What shall we drink?'
or 'What shall we wear?'
For after all these things the Gentiles seek.
For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,
and all these things shall be added to you
. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will worry about its own things.
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
(Matthew 6:31-34 NKJV)

In his book written in 1948 entitled How to Stop Worrying and Start Living,
Dale Carnegie wrote
about living in “day-tight compartments,”
something he learned from the famous Canadian physician,
Sir William Osler, who was described as the Father of Modern Medicine.

Sir Osler was a physician, teacher, historian, author and collector of books,
a public speaker, and more.
He had an illustrious career including being the professor of medicine
at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia,
the first chief of staff at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1889,
and one of the first professors at Johns Hopkins University
School of Medicine which he co-founded in 1893.)

In 1905, Osler he was appointed the prestigious position of Regius Professor of Medicine
at the distinguished University of Oxford in England.
Osler's resume is unending, and one might understandably wonder how one man could do so much.
Because he lived in “day-tight compartments.”
It was not his original idea.
He got it from Jesus.
Get up and live each moment in the immediate present now,
and don't waste any time or strength worrying about the future.
It will come, and when it does, it will necessitate one's full attention.

God is with and for His people at all times.
Absolutely nothing is able to separate them from His love.
He knows the needs of His people.
And He instructs His cherished people not to worry
about their essential needs, and not to act like those who do not know Him.

God asks His people to seek Him first,
to look to Him, to believe in Him, to trust in Him.
There is no benefit or advantage in fretting about tomorrow today,
because today requires every ounce of mental alacrity and physical energy,
and tomorrow will demand just as much.
Jesus maximized his short time on earth,
and each day was a masterpiece of excellence.
By applying Jesus' words,
believers today can learn to trust God in hard times,
One Day At A Time.
Because Remember….

God is God, and He is able.


May He Bless You and Keep You Today!
With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Pastor Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit !:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1j8JYWQW90&feature=related

Do Not Panic

Faith Filled Thoughts
November 4th, 2009
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Thankfulness Series



Do Not Panic -- Trusting God in Hard Times

God is God and He is Able -- Mo Matter What

the Circumstances Are God Can Do It

Fear is the believer's greatest enemy.
When a believer has fear, he cannot have believing faith.
Fear paralyzes, frustrates and cripples.
Fear also involves torment as as 1 John 4:18 states.
Someone said, “Fear is the prison of the heart.”
Trusting God in hard times requires refusing to be frightened, refusing to be immobilized, refusing to panic.

In his first Inaugural Address in 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt said these famous words:

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself -- nameless, unreasoning,
unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”
Regardless of one's partisanship, these words still ring true.

God's Word is filled with powerful exhortations to not be afraid.

In Deuteronomy 31:8, Moses said,
“And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you,
He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”

Isaiah was told to
“Say to those who are fearful-hearted,
“Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance
, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you.
For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you,
'Fear not, I will help you.'” (Isaiah 35:4; 41:13)

In Genesis 26:1 and following, God's Word records that there was a famine in the land.
Abraham may have told his son, Isaac,
about the famine he had experienced years before as recorded in Genesis 12:10,
and how he had gone down to Egypt.
Now Isaac was experiencing for himself a severe famine,
and may have considered taking the same action. But God told Isaac,
“Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I will tell you.
I will be with you and will favor you with blessings.”

Isaac obeyed the Lord and stayed where he was, trusting God. Verses 12 through 14 state that

“Then Isaac sowed seed in that land and received in the same year a hundred times
as much as he had planted, and the Lord favored him with blessings.
And the man became great and gained more and more until he became very wealthy
and distinguished; He owned flocks, herds, and a great supply of servants,
and the Philistines envied him.”

Isaac could have panicked and reacted out of fear.
Instead, he trusted and believed God, and defied the negative circumstances surrounding him.

God is God, and He is able.

Period.
No matter what the prevailing conditions are,
God can still do “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.”
Ephesians 3:20 promises,
“And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating
will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing.”
(2 Corinthians 9:10 Amplified Bible)

The lesson in Genesis is to not thoughtlessly react,
but to listen for God's quiet whisper and to have a hearing ear to hear
His specific guidance tailor-made for the given situation.
What worked before may not work now.
Isaac could have just packed up and gone to Egypt
, but God told him to stay right where he was and plant, even in famine.
The results were fantastic, but God is the God of the fantastic.

Author and speaker Dale Carnegie once said,
“Inaction breeds doubt and fear.
Action breeds confidence and courage.
If you want to conquer fear,
do not sit home and think about it.
Go out and get busy.”

Today's hard times necessitate trusting God.
It may be disastrous not to. Whatever happens, refuse to fear,
don't panic, but first seek God's counsel.
If it is unclear at the time, seek the counsel of proven Christian people.
God can speak through them, too.
No matter what is going on, remember what Jesus said.
“The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” (Luke 18:27)

Because Remember….

God is God, and He is able.


May He Bless You and Keep You Today!
With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Pastor Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit !:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1kCZ21A3_M

Do Not Lean On Your Own Understanding

Faith Filled Thoughts
November 3rd, 2009
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Thankfulness Series



Do Not Lean On Your Own Understanding

Run To Him

In Hard Times, It is Important to Get the Wisdom, Love and Strength of God

After Thomas touched the wounds of the resurrected Jesus Christ,
he became a believing believer.

Jesus said, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed.
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

Faith is defined as confidence or trust, belief, such as belief in God.
Faith is something every Christian knows something about, if only a little bit.
Hebrews 11:1 is probably the most succinct definition of faith found in the Bible.
“Faith means being sure of the things we hope for
and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it.” (New Century Version)

Very concise. The Amplified Bible expands.
“Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for,
being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality
[faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].”

The definition of trust is remarkably similar.
Trust is the confident expectation of something,
or confidence in the certainty of the future fulfillment of something.
Trust is reliance on the integrity, strength and ability of a person or thing.

Trust and faith go hand in hand.

In difficult times, financial struggles or health problems,
it is not always easy to trust,
but God has proven to be trustworthy over time on countless occasions.
Like a leap of faith, sometimes one must take a leap of trust.
Once one discovers that God can be trusted,
it becomes easier to trust Him again and again.

Proverbs 3:5 and 6 give wise advice, and continuously implore God's people.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him
, and He shall direct your paths.”

These words challenge believers to put more confidence in God's ability than in their own,
to not try to analyze and figure out every detail themselves,
but to place their belief in God's wisdom, love and strength,
to lean on God instead of relying on themselves or anyone else.

C. S. Lewis wrote,
“To trust Him means, of course, trying to do all that He says.
There would be no sense in saying you trusted a person
if you would not take his advice.
Thus if you have really handed yourself over to Him,
it must follow that you are trying to obey Him.
But trying in a new way, a less worried way.”

God makes the distinction between the heart and the mind.
Nothing wrong with using one's mind, and this verse is not saying to stop thinking.
But some situations are complex and cannot be successfully
dissected and still make sense.
Rather than making foolish and perhaps risky decisions and leaping
off a precipice into a chasm of catastrophe,
it's much safer to relinquish all to God, and trust Him.
God is the One with foreknowledge, and sees around corners.

Proverbs 3:7 says, “Do not be wise in your own eyes.”
Romans 12:16 rephrases this. “Never overestimate yourself or be wise in your own conceits.” (Amplified Bible)

God is all-knowing, all-powerful and everywhere-present. He is tried, true and trustworthy.

The Message translates Proverbs 3:5-7 in a very practical way.
“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God's voice in everything you do,
everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track.
Don't assume that you know it all.
Run to God! Run from evil!”
For Christians, the God Who saved them is still watching over them.
He can be counted on to be right about everything one hundred percent of the time.

God is faithful and always dependable.
Remember Always
God Is Able


May He Bless You and Keep You Today!
With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Pastor Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit !:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s2wCVcmYOU&feature=related

Centered in the Will of God

Faith Filled Thoughts
November 2nd, 2009
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Thankfulness Series



Centered in the Will of God -- Trusting God in Hard Times

God's Grace is Sufficient for Christians in Hard Times

The word translated grace is the same Greek word translated favor.
The word is charis, and it especially denotes God's divine
and undeserved favor manifested towards mankind or to any individual.
It is free and unmerited, shown forth regardless of sin or good works.
It is the goodness and love of God exhibited in all of creation,
and especially through Jesus Christ's works, to appeal to mankind.
The believer, by obedience to God's Word, can tap into the richness of God's grace.

In hard times, believers should want to be unquestionably
in the center of God's will, and prayerfully walking according to Biblical precepts.
In so doing, they will be safe and secure from all the random alarms
broadcasted daily in the world.
Such messages of death, disasters and destruction glorify the enemy of God,
stirring up a cauldron of catastrophe, bringing everything on the bottom to the surface.
These are attempts to distract people, especially Christians,
from looking steadfastly to God for His wisdom and grace to help in times of need.

Trusting God can become habitual,
replacing anxious reactions to the unnerving doom and gloom in the daily news.
The key is to spend more time in God's Word,
and less time reading or listening to the news, or any media,
unless it is Biblically based or uplifting and inspirational.
Crisis brings out the best and the worst in humanity.
The media has a way of finding the most depraved acts
of humanity and turning them into headlines that sow fear in the hearts of people.
But God, “according to the riches of His grace” has done so much
and given so much and promises so much,
that believers need to tune out the god of this world
(the adversary) and tune in to the God of truth and

“the riches of His grace.” (Ephesians 1:7)

God is gracious, compassionate and merciful.
He alone is trustworthy in hard times, and all the time.
Through the completed work of Jesus Christ.
God “has saved us and called us with a holy calling,
not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace
which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.” (2 Timothy 1:9)

No matter what challenges His people may face,
God's words to the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9 and 10 are true for all believers.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.
For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

The Amplified Bible translates these verses as follows:
“But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy)
is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you
to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power
are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective
in [your] weakness. For when I am weak [in human strength],
then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength).”

The grace of God is enough for anyone in any and every situation.

“Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace.
And your best days are never so good that you're beyond the need of God's grace.”
The person who spoke these words is unknown,
but the words are certainly true.
No times are ever so hard but that God can come through and save the day.
No matter what,
God's grace is as vital to survival as oxygen and water.

Author Sarah Ban Breathnach said,
“Grace is available for each of us every day –
our spiritual daily bread –
but we've got to remember to ask for it with a grateful heart
and not worry about whether there will be enough for tomorrow.”

Just as God provided manna each day for the children of Israel
during their forty years in the wilderness,
just enough and no more than enough,
God is still able
and willing to provide for His people whatever their daily needs require.
And when this life is over,
God's grace doesn't end then, either.
Ephesians 2:7 reveals that, in the future, God is planning to
“show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction he addeth his mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

God is still able



May He Bless You and Keep You Today!
With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Pastor Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit !:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33aGaYAZvL4&feature=related