Entitled

A thought broken little devotional below.

And may you find encouragement in it.

God Bless.

Entitled? In the beginning, in the Garden, we were not encumbered by the trap of comparison to others, or by feelings of insignificance, jealousy, envy, vanity or pride. Our focus and attention was fully upon God, our Father, and our glory covering was too thick for us to be aware of our nakedness. We were simply happy to be in a love relationship with our Father and one with another. This freedom is our inheritance in Christ today. But the orphan spirit of Cain still strives to come to the fore, to bring an “offering” better than Abel’s, and is consumed with the murderous thoughts of darkness. Orphans must succeed and prove themselves. Sons and daughters of God, however, stand approved by heaven, enjoying their relationship and working alongside their Father. In Matthew 20:1-16 Jesus told a parable about the master of a house who hired a number of workers for his vineyard. Some labored for several hours and others for a much shorter time, but they all got the same reward at the end. The workers who had toiled for longer immediately rose up with a sense of self-entitlement. “How come we didn’t get paid more than those others?” Jesus infers that it wasn’t that the master didn’t pay them a fair day’s wage, rather they had fallen into the trap of comparing what they’d received with what the others had received. Jesus’ simple, profound summary of this episode is, “So the last will be first, and the first last” (Matthew 20:16) The principle of the parable is that the Christian life is all grace from beginning to end. Jesus is the master in the parable, distributing grace generously to all. The workers who felt cheated received just as much grace as anyone else, but they measured it by worldly standards. We live in an upside down kingdom that makes little sense to the worldly wise. The principles of God’s kingdom have nothing to do with the principles of the world we’ve left behind. We must stop bringing all our “old ideas” to the table. There is nothing so wrong as the spirit which argues, “I have done this, therefore I expect something in return.” God is not a celestial vending machine. We cannot manipulate Him. No matter what we do, we can never argue for our entitlement. Rather, in His presence we receive all the reward we could desire and more. His presence is full of joy, peace and satisfaction. Let’s learn the art of thankfulness!

-Author Unknown 

Think Thankful

This bares repeating. Stay the course. God Bless. Think Thankful When do we offer thanksgiving? At all times—in every situation, in all things—and by so doing we enter into a victorious life where the devil cannot control us!

Video: Give Thanks Watch Now

Today's Scripture: Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name. [Lev. 7:12; Isa. 57:19; Hos. 14:2.] Hebrews 13:15 AMPC

Tip: Think about the things you have to be thankful for every day. Thank the Lord for them in prayer, and as you do you will find your heart filling up with life and light.

Article: Thankfulness: The Key to Having the Life You Really Want If you want victory in your life, all you have to do is adopt one attitude. Read more

Grace, Up Close And Personal

Good to know and such an encouraging little devotional. He loves us so...

God Bless.

Grace, Up Close And Personal 

Did we get into God’s kingdom by virtue of our own good works or merely through Jesus? The extent to which we understand our part in this process, I believe, determines the extent to which we will extend grace and mercy, both to ourselves and to those stuck in sin. The more we credit ourselves with inherent goodness, the less grace and mercy has a role to play! But the degree to which we become uninhibited receptors of God’s grace is the degree to which we can and will extend that grace to others. Pope Francis said, “The proclamation of the saving love of God comes before moral and religious imperatives.” In other words, when God looks at a person, He first sees someone whom He loves and wants unconditionally, before He is remotely concerned with their sin. Through the cross of Calvary God endorses, loves and invites every one of His children to heaven, before tripping over their sin, however vile it may be. But even this does not adequately capture Francis’ deeper insight – the priority of the person. This personalist with which God deals with us is one of the most radical aspects of the Christian faith. In every way that matters to God, human beings are completely equal and completely loved. They can’t be reduced to ethical object lessons. Their dignity runs deeper than their failures. They matter more than any cause. They are the cause. Grace is the empowering presence of God to do what only He can do. Grace doesn’t excuse sin – it empowers righteousness. Grace is unmerited favor. Let’s ask ourselves this question: “How much unmerited favor can I afford to pay out today? How deep are my reserves?” If we feel low on grace, we need only to return to the Source and ask to be refilled.

-Author Unknown 

The Pressure’s Off

This little devotional may help those of us who like to be in control, along with having trouble not to control others around them, and doesn't like others to put their two cents worth in.

We need to understand what pressure is and how much it can and does contol our lives but this little devotional is meant to help open eyes and then what we do with it, is up to us. Choose life and relax in Him.

God Bless.

The Pressure’s Off 

The pressure to live well isn’t on me or you. Jesus did it all and He lives in us. Grace works as we yield to Him, living in and through us. Religion says, Do … achieve … earn your validation … justify your very existence … the pressure is on you to perform... Jesus says, Done … accepted … validated … justified … the pressure’s off! The daily lot of those driven by religion is striving, anxiety and, ultimately, exhaustion and burn out. The inheritance of the child of God led by Christ’s grace is freedom, joy and peace. Those who fall back on self-reliance and their own resourcefulness to navigate life, who have taken on the principles of the world, unwittingly or otherwise, will know the daily pressure to perform and be dogged by a constant sense of failing to reach an acceptable standard. For those who are dead to self, humbled and dependent, the pressure is off. Yet we so easily succumb to the trap of trying to resume control of our lives. Author Larry Crabb expresses it well: “We need to yield control over what happens in our lives and trust God to do whatever He thinks best … until we develop a taste for God we prefer a better life of blessings from God over a better hope of intimacy with Him … we prefer control over trust … you were saved by grace and you’ll grow by grace … the law imposed the intolerable pressure to live perfectly in order to live well. You now stand in the Law of Liberty. Stand tall. Live as free men and women.” When praying and reflecting upon His ministry in John 17, Jesus said to His Father “You have given me…” twelve times. Jesus’ humble dependence upon His Father is stunning and freeing at the same time. It reminds us that all we receive, we receive only by God’s grace. We live to play a role in God’s story, not He in ours. He is God, we are not. He is central, we are peripheral. It’s all about Him, not about us. There is freedom in this truth. The pressure is off!

-Author Unknown 

It's Laid Up For You

This is good little devotional to keep you fighting the good fight of faith.

Be encouraged and start speaking life and change over it.

God Bless.

It’s Laid Up for You!  

by Gloria Copeland 

 “He who by charging excessive interest and who by unjust efforts to get gain increases his material possession gathers it for him [to spend] who is kind and generous to the poor.” Proverbs 28:8, The Amplified Bible 

As I’ve studied the subject of prosperity, one point is always clear: God is a God of justice as well as mercy. He is fair in all His dealings. His mercy is evident by His giving us the handbook—His Word—on how to live a godly life, which is the foundation for prosperity. When we are obedient to follow His commands, He takes care of us and blesses us. His justice is evident in the outcome for those who don’t live according to His Word: “The Lord delights in justice and forsakes not His saints; they are preserved for ever, but the offspring of the wicked [in time] shall be cut off” (Psalm 37:28, The Amplified Bible). Now, some people may feel that God is neither just nor merciful in taking a long time to fulfill some of His promises. But He’s actually both! “The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people’s conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9, The Amplified Bible). God is giving the unrighteous plenty of time to repent; however, He is well aware of what they are doing in the meantime (Proverbs 5:21, 15:3). They may appear to prosper through evildoing, but their success will be short-lived (James 5:1-4; Psalm 37:7-9). 

The Word of God indicates that in the last days, there will be a transfer of wealth from the hands of the wicked to the hands of the just (Proverbs 13:22). The sinners actually have the job of storing up wealth for the righteous (Ecclesiastes 2:26). That wealth will be transferred into the kingdom of God in different ways. Those who become believers will bring their resources with them. For those who already are believers, they’ll increase in faith and the Word of God operating in their lives—such as through the hundredfold return. People who increase their giving will see ever-increasing returns. The reservoirs that have held riches from unjust gain will be tapped by their faith. The wicked rich who refuse to obey God will begin to see their wealth dwindle. And the riches will be placed into the hands of the givers. I’m determined to be one of those givers. I’m ready to receive the riches of the wicked in my hands, to be used to reach souls and change lives. I’m ready for more prosperity. You need to be ready too. Get your words in line with God’s Word. Believe for the hundredfold return. Release your faith. Learn to give. And watch for the wealth of the wicked to come into your hands, because it’s laid up for you! 

Speak the Word “The wealth of the sinner is laid up for me. It finds its way into my hands.” —Proverbs 13:22, The Amplified Bible 

Need prayer? Call 817-852-6000. We’re here for you, 24/7! Also, visit www.kcm.org/youversion to receive a free gift from Kenneth and Gloria Copeland.

Jesus Christ Is The Same

We should stop what we are doing and begin to praise Jesus for being the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow and Hw will come through for us.

God Bless.

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 

Jesus Christ is both God and man in full.  Consider that Jesus Christ is the kind of man, and the kind of God, that would suffer and die on a cross so that you would be made free.  That Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Jesus Christ rose from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of God.  His hope is still that you would be saved; a path made possible by Him alone.  He is the same God today, and offers the same promise of eternal life to all who will believe in Him.  Praise Jesus for He is worthy!

Verse/Commentary courtesy of 'Verse-A-Day' android app.

http://www.verse-a-day.com/Apps

Kindness

This world could use a little bit of kindness. But the question is, how are you going to do your part and help change the world?

God Bless.

Kindness

Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. (NLT) -Proverbs 3:3

Kindness is what it looks like to to be a Christ follower.  You should stand out in your workplace and community as a kind person.  Kindness should color your every interaction, from checking out at the grocery store to how you address your spouse.  Let kindness define your actions today.  

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