Tailor Made

“Lord God, Behold I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” Jeremiah 1:6

Jeremiah was called to an impossible task. Jeremiah’s assignment? To warn an entire nation of their coming destruction if they did not turn back to God. God was not subtle in handing out the task. The Lord said to Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you. I ordained you a prophet to the nations”. God is saying, not only did I pick you for this job,

I Tailor Made You For This Job! 

Jeremiah tried every excuse in his arsenal to get out of the assignment. God responded, saying, “Do not say ‘I am a youth’, for you shall go to all whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces for I am with you to deliver you!” Today in our lives, when we are not enough, He is! There is no challenge too great to overcome and no dream too impossible to reach when you trust God and place yourself in His loving hands. 

Far & Away

“As far as the East is from the West, so far has He (God) removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12

Are you holding on to your past? Are you tired of living daily with the thought of what you have done and searching for something, anything, to make the unwanted memory go away? The real question is, are you ready to accept forgiveness?

Freedom Is Closer Than You Think.

On the cross Jesus paid for every sin you have ever committed. He bore our transgressions and our iniquities. He stood in our place and took the punishment to give us life. Ephesians 2:1 says, “and you Jesus made alive who were dead in sin”. You can live again through Christ! I love how Psalms 103:12 talks about just how far we can be separated from our past: “As far as the East is from the West, so far has He (God) removed our transgressions from us.” Today, stop holding on to the past. Turn your past over to Jesus, ask His forgiveness, and then forget about it! That’s exactly what He is going to do! 

Overflow

“The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry…” 1 Kings 17:14

God instructs Elijah to travel to a specific town saying that He has given instructions to a widow to care for him. Elijah does not question God’s instructions but simply goes to find her. As Elijah arrives the woman seems to have missed God’s instructions for she’s happy to give him water, but as for anything more she tells Elijah “I only have a morsel of flour and oil and was about to bake a loaf of bread that my son and I can eat before we die”. Truly she’s beyond poor, but she is also about to realize that

God’s Supply Is Endless!

Elijah says to her, “If you share the bread with me, your flour and oil jars will never go empty.” Indeed, this is exactly what transpires. God could have chosen all manner of ways to provide for Elijah’s next meal, but He chose this widow as she was really the one that needed the blessing. All she had to do was open her hand and share to receive it. The next time you have an opportunity to provide for someone, it is more than likely YOU that God is trying to provide the blessing for.

All Things Are Possible

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

The Apostle Paul wrote, “I have learned to be content, whether in plenty or in want. I know how to be abased and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” How often does this scripture verse come to mind for you? Whether in plenty or in want we can wake each morning with a contented heart because

Christ Is The One Who Sustains Us. 

Whether stricken with cancer, or holding a new baby in your arms. Whether losing a job or gaining a new career. Whether losing a loved one or walking down the aisle. You can do ALL things through Christ who promises to strengthen you. For it is Jesus who said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you!” 

Relief

“Cast your burdens on the Lord, and He shall sustain you….” Psalm 55:22

Life is filled with troubling news, usually when we least expect it. The resulting stress affects our attitude, our relationships, and steals away our joy, and hope that tomorrow will bring forth something better. Why not reach for a better solution today and

Cast Your Burdens On The Lord.

“He shall sustain you.” Of course you are always welcome to continue to live your stressed out life. Ask yourself why when there is such a better alternative. God invites you to cast your burdens upon Him.

Calm

“He calms the storm, so that its waves are still.” Psalm 107:29

There is no burden you carry that is beyond God’s power to remove. There is no grief that is beyond God’s ability to sooth. There is no stress that is beyond God’s gentle hand to lift. God calms the storms so that its waves are still. All it takes is to speak the name of Jesus. Say it in a whisper,

“Jesus, Draw Near To Me.” 

Now when He (Jesus) got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”  But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.” Matthew 8:23-26. The calm you so desperately seek is only a prayer away.  

Make The Call

God said, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

God’s promise to us in Jeremiah 33:3 is absolutely worth paying attention to. Think about it for a minute. God, who created the heavens, and the stars, and the oceans, and the mountains, and created you and I, is the same God who wants us to call upon Him. Even more amazing,

God Will Answer You.

Invite Him into circumstances of your life. “Call on Me,” God is saying to you, “and I will answer you” He promises. “And will show you great and mighty things which you do not know.” 

Greater Joy

Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.” Luke 6:27-28

Loving our enemies goes against every grain in our being. Revenge is what we want. Let those who hurt us have the same taste in their mouths that we have. Yet what Jesus shares with us in Luke 6 is a mind bender. Something that must be divine for it goes against our very nature. Jesus is asking us to forgive those who hurt us. Not just give lip service to such forgiveness, but deep down forgiving and forgetting.

Great Joy Awaits In Forgiveness.

Just a few verses later in Luke 6:35 Jesus shares that when we love our enemies, “your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the most high God.” This is a reward beyond measure. When I think of God working in my life in this manor I often think of Philippians 2:13, “for it is God at work IN YOU…” Imagine God working in your life to the point where forgiveness becomes second nature. Imagine a life filled with such inner peace. When the blows come, and they will come, with God at work in you, you too will whisper the same words Jesus said from the cross. For in spite of what His enemies were putting him through, Jesus still said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Still

“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

What are you going through today? Whatever it is, God has a word for you. 

Be Still!” 

His word, not mine. His promise, not mine. He can lift your burden. He can calm your troubled heart. “Be Still“, He says. “…know that I am God.” He’s whispering it to you at this very moment. Let Him in. Let Him fill your life with a calm only God can give. Be not troubled with your daily life. There will always be one more thing to worry about, one more problem to solve, and that’s okay because your Creator has a word for you today. Be Still, and know that I am God.    

Overcome

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” Colossians 3:2

Jesus informed us in John 16:33 that “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” So how are we to be of good cheer with all we have to deal with, from little annoyances to life altering events? Jesus tells us to be of good cheer because

Help Is Closer Than You Think.

Life may not always be a bed of roses, but no matter what you are going through, Jesus is always there for you! Focus your mind on Him. Let Jesus lead. He’s not your copilot in life, He’s your Captain, your Savior, your Provider, your Healer. He is all you need. A wise minister once said, “If take your eyes off your circumstances and focus them on Jesus. Each step you take will be a miracle”.