Owed and offended

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The devil wants people to believe the world, and God, owes them something, and therefore, they have the right to be offended. Satan wants people to think God is uncaring, insensitive, unaware, distant and is holding out on them. The more the enemy can keep people feeling owed and offended, the more people are provoked. Negativity and offenses spread like wildfire by the pit of hell to send as many as possible to the pit of hell.

The enemy spends his time wreaking havoc in the world, abusing, terrorizing, putting out negative news about the terrible things the devil does, then pointing to God that it’s all His fault.

Anything that causes you to feel owed and offended, did not come from God. If you are a Christian, you are safe from hell, but the enemy can make you think you live in hell on earth if you don’t keep a heavenly perspective. If you are going to think about anything, share anything, ponder anything, let it be God’s truth. Stand on the solid foundation of God’s truth. God’s Word is truth and His truth sets you free.

Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, trust that God knows and will repay evil. Everything done in the dark will be exposed in the light. “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” ~ Romans 12:19 (NASB)

Forgive. Forgiveness is a gift for yourself, take it, accept it, use it, and live free! “For if you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins.” ~ Matthew 6:14-15 (NET Bible) “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” ~ Ephesians 4:32 (NASB)

Don’t allow being offended ruin you or anyone else around you. “Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look [after one another], to see that no one falls back from and fails to secure God’s grace (His unmerited favor and spiritual blessing), in order that no root of resentment (rancor, bitterness, or hatred) shoots forth and causes trouble and bitter torment, and the many become contaminated and defiled by it.“ ~ Hebrews 12:15 (AMPC)

Drop your offenses at the foot of the Cross where your debt was paid and all your offenses were forgiven. Live free, unoffended, knowing the Lord is generous, kind, compassionate, loving, and eternally takes care of His children.

Remember, whatever your need God “will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” ~ Philippians 4:19 (NASB) And, what you sow for God’s kingdom will be eternally rewarded in God’s kingdom. Don’t grow weary in doing good, your reward will come.

Therefore, “live lives [of honor, moral courage, and personal integrity] worthy of the God who [saves you and] calls you into His own kingdom and glory. As Jesus said, “Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.  Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 2:12 (AMP), John 13:34-35 (NLT)

“So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.” Galatians 6:9-10 (MSG)

(Emphasis added on scripture)

Adapted from Present in His Presence, https://amzn.to/3QInS9G

 

 

 

Bluebird photo credit

A gentle story

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Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/y98d1bmuEUU

My sweet hubby and I watched a movie from the 1940’s — a gentle story of a family with all their funny little idiosyncrasies, struggles, hopes, and dreams. For days, I contemplated the gentleness of the film, the love the family had for one another and the sacrifices they made through each hardship. Their story gentled my heart.

In a world full of hardships and struggles, we need a gentle story. We need to see that others have made it through the pain, misunderstandings, family issues, and life issues. We need a happy ending.

The Bible has the most gentle of stories, the story of One who laid down His all so we could gain all. Jesus Christ sacrificed so all who will come to Him become His family. Jesus grants eternal life and gives His gentle help through the trials and difficulties here on earth.

God hushes storms to gentle whispers, and He offers to carry our heart-wrenching burdens on His gentle heart. In the family of God, He will help us through the pain, misunderstandings, family issues, and life issues, and will always bring us to a happy ending.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the offer of anyone to come into Your family through Jesus Christ. Thank You for Your unfailing love and that You will never leave us or forsake us. Thank You that You are an ever-present help in time of trouble. Thank You Heavenly Father, for Your gentle heart that carries us through this crazy world and brings us safely home. Please gentle my heart in You. 

“He hushes the storm to a calm and to a gentle whisper, so that the waves of the sea are still” (Psalm 107:29, AMPC). 

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29, AMPC). 

Adapted from, We Were Meant for Paradise by Lisa Buffaloe, Amazon — https://amzn.to/2o0aSR1

 

God waits

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During a morning walk, I thought of a wicked person who has been in power for decades, and I wondered why God had not removed them. God gently reminded, “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, AMPC, emphasis added).

God also knows that removing someone too early from this earth can hinder others. Jesus told the parable of a farmer who sowed good seed in his field, but an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat. When the plants sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also appeared. The servants asked the farmer if they should pull out the weeds. The farmer told them to wait because when “you gather up the weeds, you might also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I’ll tell the reapers: Gather the weeds first and tie them in bundles to burn them, but store the wheat in my barn” (Matthew 13:24-30, HCSB).

I asked for the Lord’s forgiveness for my thoughts about that person. I need to trust God even when evil people seem to prosper and evil seems to win. There are more souls at stake than I can conceive. Only God knows a person’s heart and if they will repent and come to Him for salvation.

When Saul was persecuting and murdering Christians, how many prayed for his destruction? How many didn’t understand why God would allow such a horrible man to continue persecuting the early believers? Yet, when Saul became a Christian and became Paul, how many lives have been saved because of Paul’s testimony and writings?

Later, when Paul was on a ship being destroyed by a storm, “the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape. But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land, and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land” (Acts 27:42-43, NKJV, underline added). How many prisoners who were kept from death that day came to know the Lord as Savior? When one is saved, many more may be saved.

Heavenly Father, help me to trust in Your timing and Your ways. Only You know the big picture, the future, and all that is at stake. Thank You that Your tender, gracious, merciful love continues to call to those who are lost. I pray that You would bless that person with salvation and that many would see and also be saved. I ask these things in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who is our Savior. Amen.

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