GRANNY’S HANDS

Faith Filled Thoughts
January 29th, 2009
By Connie Ciccone
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GRANNY’S HANDS

Granny, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench.
She didn't move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands.

When I sat down beside her she didn't acknowledge my presence
and the longer I sat I wondered if she was OK

Finally, not really wanting to disturb her
but wanting to check on her at the same time,
I asked her if she was OK.
She raised her head and looked at me and smiled.
"Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking,"
she said in a clear voice strong..

"I didn't mean to disturb you, granny,
but you were just sitting here staring at your hands
and I wanted to make sure you were OK." I explained to her.

"Have you ever looked at your hands," she asked.
"I mean really looked at your hands?"

I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them.
I turned them over, palms up and then palms down.
No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands
as I tried to figure out the point she was making.

Granny smiled and related this story:

"Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have,
how they have served you well throughout your years.
These hands, though wrinkled shriveled and weak have been the tools
I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life."

"They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler
and I crashed upon the floor."

"They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back.
As a child, my mother taught me to fold them in prayer.
They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots.
They held my husband and wiped my tears when he went off to war."

"They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent.
They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son.
Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world
that I was married and loved someone special."

"They wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook
when I buried my parents and spouse."

"They have held my children and grandchildren,
consoled neighbors,
and shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand."

"They have covered my face, combed my hair,
and washed and cleansed the rest of my body.
They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw.
And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well
these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer."

These hands are the mark of where
I've been and the ruggedness of life."

"But more importantly it will be these hands that God
will reach out and take when he leads me home.
And with my hands He will lift me to His side
and there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ."
After that day

I never look at my hands the same again.
But I remember God reached out and took my granny’s hands and led her home.

When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my family,
my husband my friends I think of granny.
I know she has been stroked and caressed
and held by the hands of Almighty God.

I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel His hands upon my face.
So take a good look at your hands today and as I share
This story with you…know that no matter what your facing in life,
No matter how lost you may feel.
I extend my hand to you, in love
Because I know Jesus has caressed your face and heart Today.

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=NdQje_gJ0ko

Go To The Rock, Christ Jesus

Faith Filled Thoughts
January 27th, 2009
By Connie Ciccone
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Go To The Rock, Christ Jesus


Scripture: Psalms 61:2 "When my heart is overwhelmed:
lead me to the rock that is higher than I."

Have you ever been overwhelmed by circumstances
and could not seem to find your way out?
You feel utterly overcome and upset by either the physical
or emotional forces that are coming against you.
You have no control over what is happening,
and there's seems to be no one to help you.
You feel like a vessel that is being engulfed and submerged
by the waves of the sea.
It's very frightening because you don't know what to do
at that present moment and certainly can't predict the future outcome.

King David was experiencing these same emotions when he wrote this psalm.
He was overcome but knew the answer for his dilemma.
He cried out to God in his overwhelming situation
and asked the Lord to lead him to the Rock that was higher than himself.
David knew that his physical strength was insufficient and
that he couldn't depend upon his own understanding.
He wanted help from the One whose ways were higher
than his own ways and whose thoughts were higher than his own thoughts.
He looked to the past and remembered that God
had always been there as his shelter and strong tower in times of distress.
In every situation, God had protected him from the fierce enemy.

In Psalm 142, David again spoke of his spirit being overwhelmed.
He poured out his complaints to the Lord and showed Him all of his trouble.
David said,
"No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me ...
Lord, you are my only place of refuge."

Life presents us with many challenges and often overwhelming circumstances.
Like David, there will be times in our life
when there will be no one in the natural that we can turn to.
No one will want to listen to our problems or share our grief.
Yet, we can always go to the Rock of our salvation
and find our answers and comfort.
So, when you find yourself overwhelmed with life and its many battles,
remember that someone really does care your.
Then make every effort to find your way to the Rock, Christ Jesus,
and place your confidence in Him. Jesus is your only faithful refuge.

Go To The Rock, Christ Jesus

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR8rlTIU8_Y&feature=related

the Virtue of Patience

Faith Filled Thoughts
January 26th 2010
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In Remembrance of my Dear Friend Lillian
On the anniversary of her passing.
If anyone taught me patience she did.
I Love You my Sweet Friend


Virtue of Patience

One can often tell a seasoned mother from a first timer.
The first-time mother will dote over her child,
cooing and smiling at him through the whole grocery store.
But that first-time mother with invariably find herself at her wits end
when little Brian tests her patience for the umpteenth time.

On the other hand, while seasoned mothers sometimes are the ones
who accidentally forget their child at the church after a faculty meeting,
they can laugh about it later.
And seasoned mothers are the ones who know their child inside out,
how they think, how they process information,
even what brand of toothpaste they like best.

But perhaps the most inspiring and desirable virtue of a seasoned mother
is her patience.
She knows that children are not always going to get it right the first time around.
She also knows that children are not adults
and therefore should not be expected to think or act like them.
She is content to watch her child explore and discover,
question and learn.
She is not threatened by acts of rebellion
because she knows who her authority comes from
and how to correct the behavior with love and firmness.

God deals with His children much the same way a seasoned mother handles hers.
He knows their frame,
that they are dust.
(Psalm 103:14)
He also knows their hearts,
that they sometimes are bent on evil.
Yet His mercies are new every morning.
God's incredible patience with His children
is both mysterious and undeserving.

Christians are called to be examples of the love of God,
and a testimony of Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul said it well in his letter to the Ephesians:
“Be patient with each other,
making allowance for each other's
faults because of your love.” (Ephesians 4:2, NLT)

Not only are women to be patient with their children,
but also with others she comes in contact with,
knowing that she is just as fallible as the next person.
She is even-tempered and not easily disturbed when things get crazy.
She can remain collected even when little Brian
draws on the living room wall with lipstick or crayon.

Yet the virtue of patience is not limited to only mothers.
It can be alive and working within a woman who leads a Bible study
for new believers, or a woman who teaches a classroom
full of five year olds.
Patience can show up in a woman who has to care
for her aging and ailing parent.
Patience is a gift that God gives to any woman
whose own ability to endure falls short.

The Virtue of Patience is Modeled Best by God

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie
Please click below to see new poems Jesus added to our site:

http://www.faithitout.com/published.php?poem_id=69

Perseverance

Faith Filled Thoughts
January 25th 2010
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Perseverance



There are many inspiring true stories of men and women
throughout time who have accomplished fantastic and impressive things.
However, they were not always great athletes, business people or military personnel,
but sometimes very average people,
people who were highly motivated by a cause they deemed greater than their own lives.
With perseverance they were able to achieve astonishing successes,
and sometimes stunning victories against seemingly insurmountable odds.
And perseverance was the key ingredient in every success story.

After more than 10,000 attempts at inventing the incandescent light bulb
before he was successful, Thomas Alva Edison said,
"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize
how close they were to success when they gave up."

Perseverance is steady persistence in a course of action,
a purpose, especially in spite of difficulties or discouragement.
Determination, tenacity and patience also are closely related qualities.

Many examples of this kind of resolve can be found in the Bible.
Genesis gives the account of Noah who built the ark over the course of 120 years,
surrounded by corrupt and contemptuous unbelievers.
Moses led the hardhearted Israelites for 40 years in the wilderness.
The Apostle Paul, however, serves as a superstar example of perseverance.

Paul's ministry, from his unique conversion to his tragic
execution spanned about 30 years.
During that time he took three missionary journeys.
According to Christian History Magazine,
he covered about 14,000 miles, mostly on foot.
In two years and three months, under the ministry of Paul,
all Asia Minor heard the word of the Lord Jesus, according to Acts 19:8-10.
Throughout his travels Paul was constantly dealing with obstacles.
Some scholars say he was stoned to death,
but was revived and continued to preach.

Second Corinthians 11:24-27 describes in vivid detail
the hardships that Paul endured:
"From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.
Three times I was beaten with rods;
once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked;
a night and a day I have been in the deep;
in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers,
in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles,
in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness,
in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often,
in hunger and thirst, in fastings often,
in cold and nakedness."

In addition to all of this,
Paul always had in mind a concern for all
of the churches and the people he had won to the Lord.

Throughout church history, men and women have persevered for years
while suffering religious opposition and persecution.
For example, Martin Luther, considered by many the father of the Reformation,
preached, wrote and raised a family over the course of 25 years,
all while coming under the scrutiny of the Church.
In modern times, some might consider Reverend Billy Graham a "hero of the faith,
 who persevered for more than 65 years.
Reverand Graham preached Christianity to live audiences
of nearly 215 million people in more than 185 countries
and territories, and hundreds of millions
more through television, video, film and webcasts.

For most people, getting through a day, or a week or a year
is about all the perseverance they can muster.
Working full time jobs, raising children and being involved in church
and/or social clubs or activities fills all of their time.
Perseverance is not limited to maneuvering through crises or disaster,
but enduring the day-after-day faithfulness
to get up and do what is needed, To Faith It Out regardless of obstacles.

Remember we all have Perseverance Through Christ Jesus.
Just Call upon His Holy Name!

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left your Spirit!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0et-zyoKLw&feature=related

So, you’re a Christian…. What does that mean? Part 2

Faith Filled Thoughts
January 22nd 2010
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So, you’re a Christian….

What does that mean?
Part 2

Consider I John 2
3. By this we know that we have come to know Him,
if we keep His commandments.
4. The one who says, "I have come to know Him,"
and does not keep His commandments,
is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
5. but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God
has truly been perfected.
By this we know that we are in Him:
6. the one who says he abides in Him ought himself
to walk in the same manner as He walked.
7. Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you,
but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning;
the old commandment is the word which you have heard.

Christianity is a way of life…
The Christian labors toward righteousness.
This causes us to catch a lot of flack nowadays.
A homosexual recently sued a Bible publisher
because the Bible caused him emotional distress!

Repentance, the new birth,
a newness of life (all Biblical descriptions) is an essential element of Christianity.
If Jesus hasn’t changed you… you haven’t changed!

I John 3
3. And everyone who has this hope {fixed}
on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
4. Everyone who practices sin also
practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.

Jesus asks what was supposed to be a rhetorical question.
In our day it seems to be a debated question.
Luke 6: 46. "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?”

I recently had a discussion with a religious leader of our community.
He made the comment,
“I know the Bible teaches that, but I just don’t buy it.”
What is really mind boggling is that an entire congregation knows
what he believes and follows him anyway.
It is almost as if they don’t believe that this value system
won’t infect their children at the deepest levels.
This same leader told another,
“Our relationship with each other is more important than the truth.”
Ultimately what he was saying without meaning to was,
“our relationship with each other is more
important than our relationship with God!”
How many people do you know that claim to be Christians
that (deep down) believe this way but would never say it out loud?

When people begin to pick and choose
what they want from Christianity…
what they have found isn’t a new way of life.

They have followed that old politician,
we know from the garden of Eden…
“you shall not die, for God knows that….”
This serpent has done business with all of us.
“They” replace substance with hype.
“They” replace knowledge with ignorance…
often a desire not to know.

You “vote” by what you choose
as your direction/guide in life!
Do You Ever Consider Your Spirit before Voting??

Jesus said…
"If you continue in My word, {then} you are truly disciples of Mine;
and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." John 8:31-32

Truth is not all that difficult to find…
but you have to want it to keep it.
Note that Jesus’ focus was whether or not you would “continue.”
Who do we love more, God or man?
That is the choice that all of us must ultimately make.


Ok… so we must believe,
confess and repent (meaning it and living it).
Anything more?

Romans 6

3. Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized
into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?
4. Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death,
so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father,
so we too might walk in newness of life.
5. For if we have become united with {Him}
in the likeness of His death,
certainly we shall also be {in the likeness} of His resurrection,

Compare Paul’s comment above to Jesus’ great commission
Mark 16
15. And He said to them,
"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
16. "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved;
but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

Obviously, according to the Apostle Paul,
this is when and how we crossover from a state of spiritual death
to having the gift of eternal life.
Much of the New Testament is dealing with how to keep this gift of life…
but it is here that we get it.

Peter’s assessment?

Acts 2
37. Now when they heard {this,} they were pierced to the heart,
and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?"
38. Peter {said} to them,
"Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
for the forgiveness of your sins;
and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.


Notice that Peter doesn’t mention faith here… they had faith.
They needed forgiveness.
To receive forgiveness they needed to take the plunge!
Turn away from sin (repentance) and be buried for the forgiveness of sins.

I Peter 3
21. Corresponding to that,
baptism now saves you--not the removal of dirt from the flesh,
but an appeal to God for a good conscience--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
22. who is at the right hand of God,
having gone into heaven,
after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

The Bible really is consistent on all this.
Man becomes inconsistent.
We may fail… the Bible is the Word of God.
It is trustworthy.
What is a Christian?
Would you rather let your local politicians define Christianity…
or Jesus?

This Answer Should Be Obvious.

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left your Spirit!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_MyC6kJzPg&feature=related

What does the Bible say:about Keeping one's Word?

Faith Filled Thoughts
January 21st, 2010
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What does the Bible say:
about Keeping one's Word?

Are pastors, politicians, world leaders, and everyone else,
responsible for promises made?
What about honesty and integrity, is there a double standard?
How do you feel when someone makes a promise to you
and doesn't keep their word or makes excuses to get out of it?
If a "vow" is not faithfully honored then how can the person ever be trusted?
Is keeping one's word really important and will God hold people
accountable for what they promise?
How can people believe a person who doesn't keep their promised word?
What does God think when people make up excuses
in order to get out of keeping their word?
God spoke the world into existence and promised to save us
from our sins by sending us His son to die on the cross
If we repent asking Jesus to come into our heart,
God will keep His word to save us!
God keeps His word, does He expect us to keep ours?
Does God hear every word said and every promise made?
Will He hold Pastors, Politicians, and World leaders more accountable
than the rest of the world for what they speak and promise to do? Why?

Keeping promises demonstrates our
“True Inner Self.”
It shows whether or not we have corruptible
or incorruptible morals (fruitful seed) inside of us.
Integrity, Honor, Self-respect and Honesty
means everything to man and to the Lord!
What kind of Christian walk does the Lord desire us to have?
Is keeping one's word really important or do we have the right to alter and change it?
Does the world respect people who break their promises?
A broken promise means a broken trust and relationship.
Trust and respect as well as one's honor is the basis of our relationship with our Lord.
He expects us to keep our word, (vow, oath) to others as well!

God doesn't accept altering promises!

Lev 27:9-10 And if it be a beast, whereof men bring an offering
unto the LORD, all that any man giveth of such unto the LORD shall be holy.
He shall not alter it, nor change it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good

When you give your word to someone you are also giving it unto the Lord.
The Lord teaches us in the Bible that we must not go back on our promises
even if we have to pay a higher price to keep them.
Our promises are taken seriously and we will be held accountable for them.
Changing our minds is not acceptable to the Lord!
I Timothy 3:14-15 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God,
which is the church of the living God,
the pillar and ground of the truth.
The church congregation belongs to the Lord and the responsibility of them is a serious matter.
Pastors must be blameless and morally pure.
Promises must be taken seriously!
God holds them accountable because where Pastors lead the flock (congregation) will follow.
To be like Jesus is to keep your promise!
A man shall NOT break his word the Bible says
Numbers 30:2 If a man vow a vow unto the LORD,
or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond;
he shall not break his word,
he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

The importance of keeping one's word is a matter of Integrity!

Psalms 25:20-21 O keep my soul, and deliver me:
let me not be ashamed;
for I put my trust in thee.
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me;
for I wait on thee.

Integrity and righteousness are the two most
important things for a Christian to have.
Uprightness and Integrity demonstrate what we believe,
and how consistent of a walk we have with Jesus.
Pray to the Lord to help you keep your promises and strive to be pure before the Lord.
A man has real dignity of character when he has high integrity!
God requires Christians to keep their word no matter how
uncomfortable or unpleasant it may become.
God expects you to do it to the "best of your ability"
as if you were doing it for the Lord Himself


Be responsible with your words and vows!


God desires us to be moral witness in our daily walk and that includes our morals.
The words that we speak and the promises that we make demonstrate our Christian values.
This is because of the people around us watching.
We must value our words as if they were gold.
People might see Jesus through our eyes if we are honest with our words.
Avoid criticism and hurt by listening before you speak and honoring
what you commit to when you do.
Be sound of speech and honest in your promises!
Words reveal to the world and to God how honest we are

God never breaks His word nor does He give us the right to break ours

God's delights in in people who keep their promises

Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD:
but they that deal truly are his delight.
Proverbs 12:25 Heaviness in the heart maketh it stoop:
(is heavy and hurts) but a word maketh it glad.

Words are important and have a great deal of value
when used in the right way for Godly purposes.
Have you ever seen someone who just had a promise broken to them
or maybe you had a promise broken to you?
What did it feel like?
Think of something that really matters to you that someone has promised to do.
Maybe they kept you waiting for it a long, long time and it really mattered to you.
Now consider how you would feel if it were broken.
Try stepping into someone else's shoes when you break your word to them.
Feel terrible doesn't it?
Is this the will of the Father to cause this kind of hurt?
Is there a promise that you made to someone that you can still keep?
What does God want you to do?
What are you waiting for, honor your word and go do it!
People will come to respect you and follow your lead if you are honest.
Always be truthful saying what you mean and meaning what you say!
Honor your word so that it will be right before the Lord.
Integrity, honor and respect is the reward for keeping one's word.
Let's all remember to live up to the high standards that the Lord has set before us.

And remember:
God's delights in in people who keep their promises


May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Pastor Connie Ciccone

Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwsvqVmFV6Y

Lead Me Lord Just Lead Me

Faith Filled Thoughts
January 19th, 2010
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Lead Me Lord Just Lead Me

Scripture: Psalm 61:2 "From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee,
when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I."

God made this day and we should rejoice and be glad in it,
for He makes every day for our pleasure.
Yet even though we know that this is true,
we experience stress, disappointments, and things that we cannot fix
or many times don't even understand.
We approach the day with optimism,
but amid the confusion we lose our sense of peace
because our schedules become hectic
and the issues that surround us become horrific.
We must deal with illness, death, and situations in our relationships.
There are also life changing decisions to be made
and financial pressures to cope with.
Many times these things leave our spirits totally overwhelmed.

However, God does not want us to be overwhelmed by any problem,
regardless of whether it is large or small.
He sent His Son so that we could live in peace
and have true joy every day of the year.
God's Son, Jesus, is the Rock that is higher than you or me
and He is our strength and our security.
He is the one we can run to and the one whom we can depend upon
when our situations and emotions try to overpower and upset us.

David declared that from the ends of the earth
he would cry out to the Lord for help.
He was at the end of his ordeal and he felt overwhelmed,
but he had hope because he knew that there was one higher than himself.
Yet, knowing about the Rock who is higher than us
and any problem that we have and finding the Rock
in times of pressure are two different things.
David had a solution to this situation.
He asked God to lead him to the Rock.
David knew he would find peace and comfort in God's shelter,
for God always met him at the level of his need.
God will do the same for you and has given you
His word of promise for peace and comfort.
When you find your emotions stressed, your body wearied,
and you are overwhelmed by any pressure,
you can receive help by praying this same simple prayer that David prayed,

"Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I."


May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Pastor Connie Ciccone
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-gt9Ig8dpk&feature=related

So, you’re a Christian…. What does that mean?

Faith Filled Thoughts
January 18th 2010
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So, you’re a Christian…. What does that mean?
Part 1of 2

Acts 11:26 And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Today we live in a world where almost anything seems
to be defined as Christian or in the name of Christ.
Most in our society still identify themselves as Christian
… most also don’t worship God with any regularity.
Most politicians claim to be Christians…
That being said, why are we are not the least bit surprised
when one of them lies or has an extra marital fling.
How can this be?

It’s simplest level it means a follower of Christ.
What does it mean when you call yourself a Christian, a follower of Christ?

1. You must believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Believing, or even receiving Jesus is not the same as “being” a Christian…
but it is a necessary part of the equation.
In other words you can believe Jesus is the Son of God
and even receive his Word as true and still not be a Christian.

John 1
“10. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him,
and the world did not know Him.
11. He came to His own,
and those who were His own did not receive Him.
12. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become
children of God, {even} to those who believe in His name,

13. “ who were born, not of blood nor of the will
of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”


Mark 16
15. “ And He said to them,
"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
16. "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved;
but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

Ok… you must believe and receive Him as your savior but what more?

Today many wish to be “secret” Christians.
They wish to be quiet about it.
Jesus just won’t accept that.
There is militancy about true Christianity and Jesus will accept no less.

Matthew 10
32. "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men,
I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.”
33. "But whoever denies Me before men,
I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.”
34. "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth;
I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

A Christian has an inner peace,
but in truly taking on the name of Jesus and declaring that to the world…
The Christian joins a war that has been raging
with the kingdom of darkness since the dawn of the human race.
The darkness does not let go gracefully!
Satan will throw everything he has at you to drag you back down to his level.

I John 1
4. “These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.
God Is Light”
5. “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you,
that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.”

6. “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and {yet} walk in the darkness,
we lie and do not practice the truth;”
7. but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light,
we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

So, I must believe in Jesus as the Son of God.
I must declare that to the world
and take my place beside Him in the struggle of righteousness.
What more?

2. Christianity means making a change of life.
Jesus refers to this in a number of ways but one of them is described as repentance.
If you are the same person after becoming a Christian as you were before…
you missed out on something!
Are you living your life the same way now
as you would have if you had never taken on the name of Jesus?

Jesus said….
“I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3

It is important for Christians to remind themselves of where they have been,
or would have been without Jesus.
It helps us all appreciate what we have and what we are now striving for.

Ephesians 2
11. Therefore remember that formerly you,
the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision"
by the so- called "Circumcision,"
{which is} performed in the flesh by human hands—

12. {remember} that you were at that time separate from Christ,
excluded from the commonwealth of Israel,
and strangers to the covenants of promise,
having no hope and without God in the world.

3.There is no hope without Jesus,
and Jesus says there is no hope without repentance.
This is a total change in direction.
This change begins before we are saved and continues after we are saved.
Like the new birth, it is a long running part of the Christian way of life.

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie
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Giving While Under Pressure

Faith Filled Thoughts
January 15th 2010
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Giving While Under Pressure


When experiencing financial deficiency,
it is human nature to get overprotective of what one has.
Usually, generosity is in the back seat and anxiety is at the wheel.
Among the many paradoxical lessons in the Bible is to learn to give under pressure.

Under Ahab and Jezebel's leadership,
Israel had rejected God and was worshiping Baal.
The prophet Elijah announced to King Ahab of Judah
that there would be no rain until he brought word again.
At the beginning of what became a three and a half year drought,
Elijah was instructed by God to go to the city of Zarephath,
where a widow would sustain him.
Elijah obeyed, and when he entered the city,
he saw a woman gathering sticks.
He called to her and asked for a drink of water.
This was culturally acceptable, and as she was going to get it, he added,

“Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.”

She then told Elijah that she did not have any bread,
but only a handful of flour, and a little oil.
She said she had planned to take the sticks and build a fire
to make the last meal for herself and her son, and then die.
The drought had caused a severe famine in the land,
and this woman was being totally honest with Elijah.
Then Elijah did the rudest thing. He said to her,

“Do not fear; go and do as you have said,
but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me;
and afterward make some for yourself and your son.”

What a selfish and unreasonable request!
Or so it may seem.
But remember that God had told Elijah that he would find a widow woman
in the city who would sustain him.
Elijah then shared the promise of God with her.

“The bin of flour shall not be used up,
nor shall the jar of oil run dry,
until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.”

She could have told Elijah where to get off,
or walked away and ignored him.
But, even in such dire straits,
she decided to believe the words of the man of God.
She decided to trust God's word spoken by Elijah,
and first gave her food to the man of God before serving herself.
The account continues by stating that she
and her household ate for a full year,
and the flour and oil didn't run out.

George Mueller (1805-1898) is best known
for his five orphanages in Bristol, England.
He never asked for donations or support of any kind.
Instead, he prayed and believed God to supply all the needs of the facilities.
In 1871 an article in The Times stated that since 1836, 23,000 children
had been educated in the schools and thousands
had been educated in other schools at the expense of the orphanage.
The article also stated that the orphanages had distributed 64,000 Bibles,
85,000 Testaments
and 29,000,000 religious books.

Other expenses included the support of 150 missionaries.
Mueller once said,
“I have never thought it necessary to save for the future
or look out for myself or my family except that we trust God.
So, when we see someone in need, an old woman,
a sick person, or a helpless infant,
I freely give whatever I have at the time.
I know that later, when I am in need,
God will provide for me.
I don't need to look out for myself in any way
other than to trust in Him.”
Clearly, Mueller's prayers, believing and generous giving
were fundamental principles of his success.

Addressing the Corinthian believers,
Paul shared the example of the Macedonians.

“They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor.
But they are also filled with abundant joy,
which has overflowed in rich generosity.
For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford,
but far more. And they did it of their own free will.
They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing
in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.” (2 Corinthians 8:2-4 NLT)

These believers knew that they had to sow in order to reap,
and defied the circumstances.
When the pressure is on, give.
The Law of Sowing and Reaping
Requires Tests of Trust and Faith in God

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie


For The Giver God Will Bless


Do you know a heart that hungers
For a word of love and cheer?
There are many such about us
that one may be oh! so near.

Look around you, if you find it
Speak Gods word that's needed so,
Your own heart may be strengthened
By the help that you bestow.

Never think kind words are wasted,
Bread on waters cast are they.
And one day we will find them
Coming back to us, some day.

Coming back when sorely needed,
In a time of such distress,
So, my friend, let's give them freely;
For The Giver God Will Bless.

Connie Ciccone ©October 2006


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Justification by Faith

Faith Filled Thoughts
January 14th 2010
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Justification by Faith



Concerning the condition of all humanity,
the Apostle Paul bluntly repeated in Romans chapter 3
what had already been written in the Psalms and Prophets:
no one is righteous, no one understands,
no one seeks after God, no one does good,
everyone has gone their own way,
and every way of man is unprofitable.

"Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.
Their feet are swift to shed blood;
Destruction and misery are in their ways;
and the way of peace they have not known.
There is no fear of God before their eyes." (Romans 3:14-18)

Everyone in the world is guilty before God.
All have sinned and have fallen far short of God's excellence.
But God made a way for fallen man.

Jesus Christ was God's plan to release mankind
from certain death and eternal separation.
In a court of law, to justify is a legal decision to free a man from his guilt,
the action by which one is set forth as righteous.
The same is true spiritually speaking.
Justification is God's act of making a sinner righteous,
placing the previously guilty one into a right standing before God.
The atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross paid the price for the sins of mankind
and brought about reconciliation.
Jesus did all the work;
humanity got the paycheck.

A simple way to remember what it means to be justified in the Biblical sense
is to memorize the phrase:
"Just as if I'd never sinned."
Romans and Galatians provide the most details regarding this liberating reality.
Having set forth the condition of all mankind,
Romans chapter 3 continues by stating
that doing the deeds of the law are not enough to justify anyone before God.
Only through

Faith in Jesus Christ's
redemptive work can one obtain justification.

God determined in advance that the blood of Jesus
was the only acceptable payment for the collective sins of humanity.

"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith
apart from the deeds of the law.
Therefore, having been justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

(Romans 3:28 and 5:1)
Romans chapter 5 continues to build the case:

"Therefore, as through one man's offense [referring to Adam]
judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation,
even so through one Man's righteous act [referring to Jesus Christ]
the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life." (Romans 5:18)

The Apostle Paul boldly declared justification by faith to the people in Antioch,
thrilling even the Gentiles.

"Therefore let it be known to you, brethren,
that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins;
and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things
from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13:38, 39)

This new doctrine caused envious,
religious Jews to incite persecution.
They still held fast to earning their righteousness by doing the works of the Law,
and were not willing to accept justification by faith alone.

For believers today,
the reality of Jesus Christ's final words on the cross,

"It is finished,"

means that His redemptive work is perfectly complete,
leaving no remaining sacrifice for sin.
Christians need to learn and claim their legal rights as sons of God.
There are no good works adequate to gain God's favor or access to His presence.
But God made the way through His Son,
making justification by faith available.
Only through:
Faith in Jesus Christ's


May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie
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And He Called It Dad

Faith Filled Thoughts
January 13th 2010
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And He Called It Dad
By Connie Ciccone

By Connie Ciccone

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,

The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,

The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,

Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so,

He called it ... Dad

~Connie Ciccone-
Connie Ciccone ©July 2003

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie

Taking the Yoke of God

Faith Filled Thoughts
January 12th 2010
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Taking the Yoke of God

The world in which Jesus walked was that of tremendous bondage to the Law of Moses.
For generations, the Pharisees and religious teachers
were forcing the Judean citizens into subjection to the Law,
even adding to them petty rituals and ceremonies.
Many of the people remained disheartened and discouraged,
unable to maintain the demands for literal
and absolute obedience to every rule and regulation.

While that may sound extreme and even unthinkable,
many Christians today live under the same bondage and don't know it.
With dogged allegiance to traditional religious practices and habitual customs,
many believers stumble daily beneath a load too great for them to bear.
The frequent result of living a life under the weight
of self-inflicted obedience is a weakened,
ineffective Christian who will very quickly face spiritual burnout, even depression.
All too often the question they ask themselves just before giving up is,
“Why bother living the Christian life if it gets me nowhere?”
The good news is that Jesus gave the answer.
It was spoken 2000 years ago to a broken and dying generation,
but its truth still calls out to the hurting today.

It is found in Matthew 11:28-30.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden...”

Jesus knew that the people of Judea
were under the burden of strict obedience to the Law.
He also knew they were overcome with weariness,
their lives reduced to simply going through the motions.
Their existence was not marked by peace.
All they knew was their failure to make it work.
With arms outstretched, the Son of God
extended an invitation to all who were beaten down
with condemnation and discouragement.

“And I will give you rest.”

It was a promise from the Messiah:
He will give rest to those who come to Him.
It is not rest that is earned.
It is not rest that is rationed.
It is an abundantly free gift to those who have faith in Him.
No one else could provide God's people with such refreshment.

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me.”

Just as a young oxen is teamed with an older,
more experienced oxen to lead them in plowing the fields,
so a believer is instructed to team up with the One
who can lead them through a victorious Christian life.
Who better to learn from than Jesus Christ,
who holds the power over sin and death.

“For I am gentle and lowly in heart.”

Although Christians are instructed not to become
unequally yoked with unbelievers,
Jesus Himself becomes unequally yoked when
each Christian surrenders their life to Him.
Because of His great love,
Jesus humbled himself to die on the cross.
Through His blood, mankind can be reconciled to God.
His humility and gentle nature are what make Him the Good Shepherd.

“And you will find rest for your souls.”

The spirit of mankind can be easily turned away by the demands of religion.
But the Son of God came to invite mankind

into an intimate relationship with Him.
Through this relationship,
each Christian can find spiritual renewal
as the peace and freedom that Christ offers waters their thirsty soul.

“For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

The yoke that the believer takes upon themselves
is the unity found in a daily walk with Jesus Christ.
Matching Him step for step, they will find that He takes
on the weight of life for those who rely on His strength.
Likewise, the burden that they carry
is simply the ability to live a life pleasing to the Father,
an ability given by the Spirit of Christ living in and working through them.

Jesus Christ is the only answer,
the only way to the Father.
No human, in and of themselves, can ever be good enough to earn favor from God.
God is not keeping track of how many Sundays a Christian is found in the pew every month.
He is not watching the clock to count off the minutes during their prayers.
He is not taking note of how well-composed and disciplined
someone may appear to be.
God does not judge a person by what is on the outside;

He looks upon the heart.

And a heart that is fully surrendered beneath the life-giving yoke of Jesus Christ,
though they stumble,
will not only receive rest and renewal in this life,
but will be rewarded in eternity for a life well-lived.

The Promise of True Rest for the Soul

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me.”


May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left your Spirit!:

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Pride

Faith Filled Thoughts
January 11th 2010
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Pride

"In his pride the wicked does not seek him;
in all his thoughts there is no room for God." (Psalm 10:4 NIV)

The number one evil in God's black book is pride.
It is important to note that pride can be interpreted in two ways:
personal gratification for a job well done,
or the dreadful deadly sin of
"the competitive and excessive belief in one's own abilities
that interferes with the individual's recognition of the grace of God."

God's opinion in Proverbs 8:13
makes clear that He severely frowns on pride.
"The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate."
It was the very thing that rocked the heavenly realm long ago,
altering God's original plans and introducing to mankind a surefire way to hell.

The sin of Lucifer is clearly spelled out in two sections of scripture:
Isaiah chapter 14 and Ezekiel chapter 28.
Referring to Lucifer's mutiny, it is written:
"For you have said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north;
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.
Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty;
you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor."

And nothing has been quite right since.

Regarding pride, early Italian Catholic Priest Thomas Aquinas wrote:
that inordinate self-love is the cause of every sin.
This was initially epitomized by Lucifer, and he has employed it successfully
on humanity for thousands of years,
steering people away from the one true and holy God.

As Proverbs 10:4 teaches,
the one influenced by the adversary has a false sense of complete self-sufficiency,
and therefore he will not seek God,
His will, His way or His wisdom, believing erroneously there is no need
for God - in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

A notorious example of pride is Jezebel,
the evil queen and wife of Ahab,
the abominable king of Israel in the peak years of its deterioration.
Daughter of a High Priest of Baal,
Jezebel re-instated Baal worship in Israel and led her husband by the nose to do the same.
She had many of God's prophets executed
and replaced them with hundreds of false prophets,
surrounding the king and herself with devilish counsel.

Jezebel had an innocent man murdered to acquire a vineyard for Ahab.
She threatened the life of God's prophet, Elijah,
and her name is mentioned in the book of Revelation
representing a false prophetess seducing and misleading God's people into evil.
Jezebel's demise was horrific. She literally became dog food.

Proverbs states that when pride comes in,
so does shame and strife.
But perhaps the most quoted (and misquoted)
verse regarding pride is found in chapter 16, verse 18:
"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."
God cannot get through to the proud person,
but requires humility, surrender and submission,
which prepares a person to receive from Him the buffet of blessings
He desires to bountifully bestow.

So, be humble and leave your Pride at the doorstep.

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie
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Humility

Faith Filled Thoughts
January 8th 2010
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Humility

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,
and He will lift you up." (James 4:10)

True humility is a quality that Christian men and women often desire.
It is not a value to be concealed as if it expressed weakness,
but rather a precious gift that should be revealed.
Humility is the opposite of pride,
which caused Lucifer to be cast out from the presence of God.
(See Pride) Jesus taught that
"Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
And God works mightily through humble people,
lifting them to heights they never dreamed of before.

People who are genuinely humble do not draw attention to themselves
or attempt to advance a personal agenda.
Although the Biblical definition of humility is lowliness of mind,
it is not frailty or timidity.
Humble believers recognize that they don't know it all,
and seek to know God who is all-knowing.
Humility makes one teachable and willing to submit to the instruction of God
The humble Christian is not a doormat or a pushover,
but confidently puts their trust in God and does not act arrogantly.

Proverbs has many verses about humility. For example,
"The pride of man will bring him shame, but with the humble is wisdom"
or "Haughtiness precedes destruction, but humility leads to honor."
These are promises and benefits that should discourage pride in a person,
and encourage one to learn true humility.

The perfect example of humility is Jesus Christ. In Matthew 11:29, Jesus states,
"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,
for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
The Word takes the place of the absent Christ.
To learn from Jesus is to learn about Him in Scripture.

Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane
that He might not have to suffer crucifixion,
but then humbled Himself and became obedient to the Father.
He endured and excruciating death on the cross,
knowing that God would raise Him from the dead,
that He would ascend to sit at the right hand of the Fahter,
and that there was a future reward.
Likewise, believers are encouraged
to humble themselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ,
scrapping their selfish ambitions and instead entrusting their destiny to God.

God rejects those who think their way is best.
In truth, they reject Him first.
Their heart is hardened off to the things of God,
and therefore they are not vessels He can use.
But for those who follow the example of Jesus and humble themselves,
recognizing God as the ultimate authority,
they are assured that God will lift them up.


HUMBLE YOURSELVES UNDER THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie

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A Wounded Spirit Who Can Bear?

Faith Filled Thoughts
January 7th 2010
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A Wounded Spirit Who Can Bear?


Scripture: Proverbs 18:14 "The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity;
but a wounded spirit who can bear?

The spirit of a man is amazing.
It will rise up and sustain you when you are in physical pain or other trouble.
It will give birth to a determination that you didn't realize you had.
Your spirit will inspire you and assist you in conquering
the present adversity that challenges you.
It will tell you to keep going in spite of the difficulties,
and that you can make it.
You will find yourself taking courage and doing what you could not do before,
even fighting battles that you never thought possible.
Many people live through life-threatening illnesses
simply because when they heard the evil report that was issued against them,
their spirit came alive and rose up with a new
and exceptional strength that enabled them to fight for their life.

While it is true that your spirit will sustain you during your season
of infirmity or adverse situations, it is also true that it is difficult for one to rise up
when their spirit has been wounded, crushed, or broken.
Physical wounds usually come from without and are easy to understand and cope with,
but there are no simple bandages for a wounded spirit.
Wounds to the spirit are sudden blows,
and most of the time we don't see them coming, for they usually
come from those whom we love and trust the most.
This makes it hard to forget the incident or to forgive the one who inflicted the pain.
It may be years before reconciliation and restoration
of the relationship can be achieved,
for we tend to continually analyze the situation.
We are never quite sure how our loved one could have tread upon our heart
and transgressed our feeling in such a grievous manner.
It happens with our spouse, children, family, and friends.
An unexplained action or an innocent but insensitive remark
from someone we love can wound our spirit and this wound will be hard to bear.

Jesus knows and understands all that you are going through.
He understands how you can be wounded by rejection because
many rejected Him and His own disciples abandoned Him in the time of His greatest need.
He knew the tears of pain and sorrow as He grieved for His friend, Lazarus.
He understood how it felt to be misunderstood because
His own mother and brothers did not understand Him
and even declared that He was mad.
He was also wounded and hurt by the same people
that He ministered to and gave His life for.
Because He understands your feelings so well,

He came not only to dry the tears in your eyes,

but to also wipe them from your heart.
You do not have to bear your wounded spirit alone,
for He will bind up your wounds for you.
He will stay near you when your heart is broken
and continually apply the comforting healing balm of the Holy Spirit.
He will minister to your broken spirit by giving you
beauty for the ashes and disappointments of your life
. He will give you the oil of joy for mourning
and replace the heaviness that is in your soul with a garment of praise.

A wounded spirit ... who can bear? Only Jesus.
So, trust and lean upon Him.


May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie

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HOPE

Faith Filled Thoughts
January 5th, 2010
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Hope
By Connie Ciccone

To those without hope!!

Hope is inspiration
Turned inside out
Hope is expectation
Of that there is no doubt .

Hope keeps us going
Longing for a better day .
Hope keeps us rowing
Life’s boat at work and play .

Hope helps us rise each morning
Looking for grace along the way;
Hope tucks us in each night
Praying we did His will Today.

Hope is God’s eternal carrot
The goal we all work towards
Salvation removes death’s garrote
As we reap our just rewards.

Hope is you will believe me?
And can see it in my heart eyes
Hope you come and join me
As we bask in God’s blue skies.

Hope your heart will soften
As you let His spirit in
Hope you will pray often
As we all try not to sin .

Hope we can pray together
To help all the world over
United as family, sister and brother
Content under God’s Holy cover.

Connie Ciccone ©Nov 2006

So don’t give up!
Don’t stop believing!
Stay full of hope and expectation.
God’s power is limitless,
and He’ll break through for you.

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!
With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie

This is our answer

Faith Filled Thoughts
January 4th, 2009
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This is our answer.


Scripture: Judges 6:13 "If the Lord is with us ..."


Have these two questions ever crossed your mind as you faced life's challenges?
We know the scriptures declare that Jesus is a miracle worker
and that He is the same today as He was yesterday.
He doesn't change and we believe that He can still heal, provide, and deliver.
We also know that Jesus will never leave us or forsake us.
Psalms twenty-three tells us that the Lord is our Shepherd and that we shall not want for any good thing.
He will cause us to lie down in green pastures and will lead us beside still waters.
He will even restore our soul and anoint our head with oil in the presence of our enemies.
He will calm the raging seas and speak peace to all of our storms.
We have nothing to fear because Jesus is our keeper.
These truths fill our heart, yet when things are not working

out the way they should for us,
the same questions that Gideon asked come to our mind.
"If the Lord is with me, why is this happening?
If He is my provider, why don't I have enough money to pay my bills?
If the Lord is leading me beside still waters,
why do I have all of this turmoil going on in my life?
Why won't my car start or why did the tires go flat?
If the Lord is with me, where are all of His miracles?
If Jesus is my healer, why is my body wracked with pain
or why did my love one die instead of being healed?"

We can all agree that life does offer some discouraging moments.
Fear does attack.
Hardships do come.
Grief and sorrow happen to the best of us and things do not always work out
as we had hoped or planned.
There are times when we can't feel God's presence even though He is very near.
There are days of darkness as well as days of light
and there are seasons of sadness as well as times of great joy.
To be sure there are times of confusion, and although
we do not always have the answer to all of the questions in our life,
we must trust God and believe His word.

In midst of Gideon's fearful situation,

the Lord promised him peace and life (Verse 23).
But God also told him to go into battle again
st the enemy and tear down their idols of worship.
Gideon still had fear in his soul when he chose

to believe and receive the word of the Lord
. Yet in the midst of everything that was going on,
Gideon built an altar and called it Jehovah-Shalom,
which means the God of peace.
He stopped everything that he was do
ing and worshiped the Lord.
He laid his fear and insecurities at the feet of the God of peace.
This is our answer.
We don't have to know why adversity is challenging our life
or where our deliverance is at the moment.
All that we must do is lay our fears and insecurities on the altar
of Jehovah-Shalom, our God of peace,
for He is good and He is faithful all of the time.
He has a good plan for our lives and we have nothing to fear.
We should never question,
"If the Lord is with us",
but to believe His words and confess in faith,

"The Lord is with us!."


May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie
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