Love Your Enemies

[Jesus said,] “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:43-45 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Jesus says: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you!

We often talk about the privileges of being a child of God; forgiveness, salvation, a future in heaven with Him, healing for our bodies, prosperity, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and ultimate victory when Christ comes. One of the greatest privileges we get, however, is the opportunity to act toward those who dislike and hate us in a way that reflects the character and nature of God Himself. God is Love! Anyone can return hate for hate, but it takes a true child of God to return a blessing and a prayer for their enemies who hate and abuse them. The last bit of the above verse (since it is a part of the entire verse) also indicates, according to the Bible, that this action of loving, blessing, and praying for those who hate and despitefully use us is a necessary action needed to become a son (daughter) of God. “Faith without works is dead!” Works = corresponding actions, actions involved in doing the Word of God. Because in doing the Word of God do you work out your salvation through His grace, You become as He is.

MY PRAYER…
Father, thank You for loving me when I was still an enemy to You. Thank You for risking the death of Your Son to offer me the chance to accept or reject Your love. As You have promised, You are pouring Your love into my heart so I may love even my enemies as You have loved me. Father, by the power of Your Holy Spirit, help me to love everyone just as Jesus did and even now still does. Help me Lord to show that true AGAPE love to all I meet. Through Jesus, the gift of Your love, I pray.
Amen

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Mind Control

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable; if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things.
Philippians 4:8 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Do you have total control of your mind, your thoughts?

Our actions follow our thoughts just like a heat-seeking missile follows the hot exhaust of a jet fighter plane’s engine. Therefore we must be very careful what it is that we are thinking on. God’s Word says take no thought saying. There is a very good reason for that, if our actions follow our thoughts, then we must be careful what we think on and then speak on. That means that when you speak something you have taken a thought and put it into action. Our words create a power that will bring to pass an action, be it good or bad depending on what was spoken. So in a day and age when so much of the things around us distract us, fills our minds, and trains us to find and dwell on the negative in life, we must aggressively think and pursue the character, the qualities, and the things of life that Jesus teaches us about and that He patterned His Life after. We must learn to get our focus off the negative things of this world and onto the positive things of Jesus in our life and in the promises of God for us. They’re ours, He has already given them to us! We need to make sure that every word that comes forth out our mouths lines up with God’s Word and not with the worldly things around us. For what proceeds from our mouth is the confession we make and is the thoughts we have taken to heart!

MY PRAYER…
Holy and Magnificent Father, thank You for being better than anything this world can offer me. Thank You for calling me out of this world and to a higher standard than the world accepts. Thank You for giving me the promise of a better future than any human can ever imagine. Thank You Lord for all things that pertain to life and Godliness. Thank you for giving me such a high calling through the blood of Jesus. In Jesus’ holy name I pray.
Amen

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Open Heart Surgery

The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
How often do you let God do major surgery on your heart (spirit man) as His Spirit uses the Word to encourage, judge, motivate, convict, correct, instruct, and inspire? So many people think their conscience is what they are hearing when they do something they shouldn’t or are about to. That’s not your conscience you are hearing, it’s the still small voice of God through your spirit man trying to get through to you. With such a great tool so readily at hand for most of us, let’s not let a day go by that we don’t let God use His Word on hearts. We may not always like what He has to say through His Word, but did you always like what your natural father had to say? What He does, He does because He loves us. No one, not even the Word, said being a Christian would be easy. It is a walk and a work that we must decide we are going to do, otherwise it won’t work for us.

MY PRAYER…
Almighty God, Heavenly Father, Your will is my heart’s desire. But I realize that I need to be fed more consistently by Your Word revealed in Scripture. I realize that I need to read, to meditate, to speak , and to do Your Word more and more every day. Lord, Give me strength and consistency in my walk with You through Your Word. Through Your Holy Spirit, inspire me to change what needs to be changed and to be blessed and encouraged in the areas that I need it most. I turn to You and rely on and trust in Your Word to point me in the way of life that You would have for me. Through Jesus I pray.
Amen

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Who Do You Trust In?

So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].
Isaiah 26:4 Amplified Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…

Who do you trust in for your strength? Yourself, the news media, your pastor (you do have one?) This verse declares who you should trust in!

When we see mountains we feel small, knowing not only how much larger they are than we, but also how much longer they have been in existence than we have. But the Lord existed long before any mountain and He will exist long after the mountains have melted into nothing. For the hills melt like wax at the presence of the Lord. The only rock of security, and all the for-evers we have, are found in Him. Only through the strength and power we have in and through Him can we move those mountains and cause them to melt like wax. But, He says: “With God, ALL things are possible.” Remember yesterday when Jesus said He ask the Father and He would give Him more than 12 legions of Angels. Well everything Jesus did in the Bible was there to be an example fort us. That means I/you can call on the Father and He would also give you more than 12 legions of Angels if there was a legitimate need for them in your life!! I have seen this happen. There is NO other God like Him.

MY PRAYER…
Great and Eternal I Am, who was and is and will be forever, I trust that You are and will always be my God, my Redeemer, my Savior, my Shepherd, my Provider, my Healer, my Banner, my Strength, and my Father. I commit all of my tomorrows to You. Here I am Lord, take me and do with me what You will Lord, for I am Yours.
Through Jesus my Lord.
Amen

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Lay down your life!

Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
John 10:17-18 King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Have you laid down your life for Jesus?
Hear the Words Jesus spoke, “No man taketh it (His life) from me, but I lay it down of myself” they were spoken for us. He made the choice to lay down His life for us. That choice was made for you and me, and everyone else who would call on His name. No man could have taken it from Him if He had not chosen to lay it down. He was/is God! He said Himself, “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and He shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?” Do you know how many a legion is? A legion referred to the number of soldiers in a legion of the Roman Army, at least 6,000 and some say could go as high as 12,000 in a legion. Twelve legions of just 6,000 each would then be 72,000 angels, but you can add many thousands more. Jesus said the Father would give Him MORE than 12 legions of Angels! But if He had done that, where would we be today? Who would have paid the price for our redemption? He loved us that much, that He laid down His life for us before we ever loved Him. Should we not do the same for Him and for our brothers. Have you laid your life before Him yet, or are you still trying to do it your way? He who loves his own life shall lose it!

MY PRAYER…
Almighty God, I give you all praise and glory forever. Father thank You for sending Your Son to take my place and receive the punishment I was due. Thank You Jesus for loving me so much that You would lay down Your own life that I might live and have eternal life. Lord I thank You that You made a way through Your Son that I could come boldly before Your throne of grace knowing that You have forgiven me through the cleansing of His blood. Lord help me to live the way Jesus did and to show the same love toward Your people as He did when He walked the earth. In His precious name I pray.
Amen

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Are you deceived?

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 John 1:8 King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…

Don’t be deceived in what you are thinking or doing.

There isn’t a man (or a woman) that ever walked the face of the earth that didn’t have sin,save the man Jesus Christ Himself. This includes you and me! I don’t care who you are or that you say you’ve never sinned. The Bible says: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.(Rom 3:23)” And God’s Word (The Bible) is truth! For we were all born of Adam’s seed, who put mankind into sin, and we deceive ourselves if we say we have no sin or have never sinned. But, God (everybody say, “But, God “) in His great mercy saw fit to send His only Son to pay the price for us. He had to because there was no other way we could be made righteous before Him. His righteous judgment would have demanded our death. But, Jesus bought us out of sin, sickness, poverty, depression, bondage and whatever else you might need recovered from with His blood on the cross that great day over 2000 years ago. We must now walk (be renewed by) in the light of His Grace and Mercy. Receive what Jesus has already done for you and allow His Word to change and conform you into the image of Him. Yes, into the image and likeness of God Himself!

MY PRAYER…
Loving Father, thank You for making a way for me where there was no way. Thank You for showing me the sin in my life and making a way for my forgiveness through the blood of Jesus. Father, help me by the power of Your Holy Spirit to walk and live a sinless life from this day forward. Change me Lord and renew my mind in You. Help me to know that I have been cleansed with the blood of Jesus and been made righteous before You, through His righteousness. In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen

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Who do you acknowledge?       

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6         New International Version  

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…     Who do you acknowledge for what you are and what you have in life, yourself, the world, or God? Do you credit yourself with your prosperity and well being, do credit the World, or do you give God the credit? You should be acknowledging God, for He gives us our very breath and the ability to gain wealth! When things are tough and it seems like everything is going wrong, like everyone is against you, can you find it easy to turn and call on God and to lean on His mercy and grace?  I must confess, when I’m reveling in His blessings and things are going super, I am so much like the Israelites and tend to forget to acknowledge that all the blessings I have and all the opportunities I have received are mine ONLY because of His grace and His mercy toward me.  In our joy and success, we need to remember to acknowledge Him and thank Him for all He has done for us and for all we are enjoying.  He has redeemed us and made our path straight.  He has given us every good and perfect gift.  And it is He who has come and saved us every time we have been down and out. That’s why only one set of footprints in the sand – He was carrying you!  Then, we also need to remember to thank Him even when things are going bad around us, for in thanking Him we acknowledge Him and then He will help us!  

MY PRAYER… Gracious Father, every good thing I have in my life has come because of and from You.  The family I have been blessed with, the protection I have received, the values that I now hold, the successes I have enjoyed, the hope I now have, the salvation I have received, and the future I anticipate are all mine because of Your grace and mercy, not because of my goodness or my works of the flesh.  They are all mine because of what You did through Your Son and not the result of anything I have ever done.  Thank You Father! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Through Jesus I thank You for ever more! Amen  

  If you would like to see this ministry’s mailings to continue then please help support it by giving a donation/love offering .   No support No mailings.   You may send your donation/love offering to me via Paypal by using my Paypal.me link.   Any donation/love offering helps.   Want to help? Here’s the link: https://www.paypal.me/Duane466

“Watch where you’re supposed to be going!”

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter (Finisher) of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning (despising) its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…

“Watch where you’re supposed to be going!”

It usually happens when we are looking somewhere besides where we should be looking. We will invariably walk or drive in the direction we are looking instead of where we should be going. Because we have been distracted! But the same thing is true of the way we live. We “live like where we look, where we see, and where we listen.” Wherever we are spending the most of our time that’s the way we will live also. If we spend our time with the world, with worldly people, in front of the “Boob Tube” (ever wonder why they nicknamed the TV that?) or other worldly media, then that’s the way we are going to live. If you spend your day watching soap operas then your life will be a soap opera lived out! Because what you feed on (sow) is what you will reap, because what you feed on the most is what gets into your heart. That’s why it’s important to fix our eyes and ears on Jesus! Forget or at least put aside this world and fix ourselves on Jesus, spend time with Him and His Word. Who He is, what He has done for us, and where He is taking us. When you understand that principle, it will change the course of your life.

Wonder Bread once had a slogan that said: “You are what you eat, from your head down to your feet!”
What are you feeding on the most, the world or the things of God? Don’t say: “Oh, it’s just a movie , it won’t hurt anything!” Wanna bet! Been there, done that! Wore the ‘Tee’ Shirt! It’s something sowed. Feed your kids Harry Potter stuff and they’ll turn out “New Age” , Wiccan or even worse. Feed them just Wonder Bread and not fruits and vegetables and they’ll be fat and diabetic! We must feed our spirit the things of God daily!

MY PRAYER…
Almighty and holy God, without Your grace and the gift of Your salvation, through Jesus, I could not approach You with confidence. Thank You for sending Jesus! Thank You for His life, His death, His burial, His resurrection, His exaltation and His intercession at Your right hand for me. I pledge this day to keep my eyes on Him! I pledge to live by Faith in Him and who He is. The report of a stranger I will not believe. In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen

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Faith

Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
Hebrews 10:35-36 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
How is your Faith?

There are always some tough times in life, there will always be trials and tests that we will face! They’re inescapable. Jesus said, “But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.” That’s when our faith in the Lord and our relationship with Him will be tested! It is one thing to stand in a worship service at church and sing “it is well with my soul”, but it is quite another to be able to sing it when you are in stocks and chains in a prison dungeon like Paul and Silas were. Or when they auction off your house at the courthouse steps or you’ve lost a child to some horrendous act of the Devil. That’s when the commitment to your faith must be at it’s strongest. That’s when we must know that we know that we know and can walk in that faith in the Lord. We can’t wait until that happens and then try and build our faith. Our faith can’t take a holiday and then us try and travel through the ghettos of hell or we’ll never find our way out. So don’t throw your faith in Jesus away, or push it aside because you don’t think you need it right now. No, stand on it, always, at all times and declare it to the world. Build up your faith day by day.

MY PRAYER…
Holy and Mighty Father God, today is a good day for me. But I am acutely aware that some of those I love, some of my brothers and sisters are wrestling with and are throwing away their confidence in Your love, mercy, grace, peace, and deliverance. Please use me, but even more I pray that You use Your Holy Spirit through me to renew their hearts. I pray that You reveal unto them the errors they have been making. Reveal unto them the real need for holding on to their faith and confidence in You. Lord, place Your mighty hand upon their lives and our lives and intervene directly to change the course of events and give us relief through Your rest. In Jesus name I pray.
Amen

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ONLY ONE way!

The name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth… Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.
Acts 4:12 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY!
Yes, I know, I said this not very long ago, but it’s true. And everyone needs to understand it. THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY! Do not let someone convince you otherwise!
Don’t try and tell me we are all trying to get to heaven our own way, or that there are many ways. There is NO other way! I didn’t say that, the Word of God did! Who do you say Jesus is? Jesus is God’s gift to mankind. A gift is free, you do NOT have to earn it but you must receive it for it to be of benefit to you. Will you receive God’s gift?
Jesus, “there’s just something about that name!” The words to that old song are right on. That name made the Pharisees of old seethe with anger and indignation. How dare Him call Himself the “Son of God!” But to me, that name is anything and everything I need for Salvation from what a warped, broken, and morally degenerate and corrupt world can NOT provide. Salvation is more than just going to heaven someday for eternity. Salvation is much more than just fire-insurance! Salvation is for now, here on earth also! It is a package deal full of the promises of God. The Greek word soteria (so-tay-ree’-ah), translated above as salvation also means: rescue or safety; deliver, health, salvation, save, saving (the Hebrew word includes prosperity and liberty as well.) Salvation through the blood of Jesus is total redemption from sin, sickness, disease and poverty, not when we get to Heaven, but, NOW here on earth just as it is in Heaven! Mat 6:10 “Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as [it
is] in heaven.” His will is total salvation now! He is our Savior because He was willing to become a man like us (to lay aside His deity for a time) and come into this world, to live the only sinless life ever lived and to bear our limitations, shame, sickness, disease and sin, in His Body for us on the Cross. He then triumphed over them through His death, burial and resurrection by the power of the Holy Spirit of God (the same Holy Spirit that He gave to us). He defeated death, hell, and the grave; He defeated the devil, and now he (the devil) doesn’t have a leg or feet to stand on!

MY PRAYER…
Through the precious name of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, my Lord, I thank and praise You God. Your love has given the ultimate sacrifice for my sin and Your grace and power have given me the assurance of my resurrection from the dead by the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the grave. Your Son’s willingness to spend a lifetime with and to be to me a Great High Priest who forever lives to intercede at Your right hand on my behalf has ensured my eternal destiny. His example lets me know of Your great love. You so loved me, that You gave Your only begotten Son that I might have eternal life. Thank You Father, for being so gracious and merciful, for giving me such a wonderful Savior.
Amen

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