Facts!!!

God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand.
I'm an open book to you;
even from a distance, you know what I'm thinking.
You know when I leave and when I get back;
I'm never out of your sight.
You know everything I'm going to say
before I start the first sentence.
I look behind me and you're there,
then up ahead and you're there, too—
your reassuring presence, coming and going.
This is too much, too wonderful—
I can't take it all in!

Psalm 139:1-6

Love comes when we take the time to understand and care for another person.

Janette Oke

Impossible

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”Matthew 19:26

Only those who can see the invisible can do the impossible!

The Light Within

Let us outdo each other in being helpful and kind to each other and in doing good.  Hebrews 10:22

People are like stained glass windows; they sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light within.  Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

Fasting

⁶ “Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?
⁷ Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
⁸ Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
And your righteousness shall go before you;
The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
⁹ Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.

Isaiah 58:6-9a

This morning Pastor Michael's sermon was on how we are to "Fast for the harvest, not just fast from something."  Verse 6 tells us that God will deliver us.  Verse 7 tells us to share what we have.  Verse 8 tells us to let God's radiance shine through us.  Give up something that is taking you away from God!  We are to fast for God's glory not mans!

God, with all His giving heart, can only give us himself as we recognize the depth of the need in our own lives.  Eugenia Price

God's Love

God not only knows us, but He values us highly in spite of all He knows.  "You are worth more than many sparrows."  How do we get to know God?  By spending time with Him in prayer and then taking the time to listen.

Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.  Mark 11:24 

Do you criticize/judge others?

At one time or another we have all criticize/judged others.  Were we right in doing this?  Absolutely not!  We are totally wrong when we do this.  We have no idea of what the person we are criticizing/judging has gone through and what the situation may be that they are reacting to or someone else is reacting to.  We are to show them love and concern.  We are to pray for them.  If they have done something that offends you they may be unaware of the offense.  Spend time in prayer, go to them, talk out the situation, and try to work things out as that is exactly what God's Word tells us to do.

“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.  Matthew 7:1-5 

I am trying really hard not to react when someone offends me.  Am I always successful?  The answer to that question would be No!  Lately I have been walking away from situations and spending time in prayer.  I find that is the best thing for me to do as I won't say harmful things that I can't take back.  I'm not perfect nor do I claim to be.  I am still a work in progress and God is not finished with me.

Happy Valentines Day

Fully Rely On God

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.  Mark 12:30