Words of encouragement

When Jesus tells us to ask for things we need... He's talking about what we need to advance the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven... not to fulfil our earthly pleasures...

As Christians are we fully awake to the fact we carry the presence of Christ in us? When Peter became aware, He saw Christ's glory!... How cool would that be?!!!

Do we realise Jesus is in us? What do we do with that information? Here's some ideas...

In John 6:40 we learn what God's will and purpose is and how we can apply it to our lives, make it our own, both now and on the last day!

There's no question, everyone has an expiration date attached... how do we choose to respond? Check it out in this edition of "First Move".

We must be childlike in our faith because children are innocent, pure and unpolluted to much of our world's corrupted influence!

Today, let's ask God to give us His desires and knowledge of His ways with the strength to obey, in our efforts to draw near to Him, so He will draw near to us!

Let's reflect on who Jesus is to us and ask Him to reveal that part of His nature to us today!

Who made the first move between you and the love of your life? Was it an exchange of phone numbers?... a quick holding of the hand?... God made the ultimate 1st move by sending His Son to buy back our freedom... now in growing that relationship, it's up to us to make the first move ! Let's do this together!

Is the heaviness of self-centredness holding you back or holding you down? Jesus tells us to lay it down, then pick up your cross!

Must take a temporary break from this channel... thank you for your loyalty and remember to spend time in the secret place, just you and God alone... that's where the real encouragement comes from...looking forward to what God has in store for the future!

Sometimes the simplest message is the most effective... Jesus Loves you and God has a plan for your life!

Have you noticed the instances of raging in public lately? Those that need peace just need to repent of their sins and receive the Prince of Peace...Jesus... as their Lord and Saviour... problem solved!

Training to know God personally through our daily time spent in the secret place (just us and God alone) prepares us for the heavy lifting of actually ministering what we know to others.

This world is led by the great deceiver as described in Revelation 12:9...so isn't it refreshing to have access to Someone King David says he trusts, relies and has confidence in more than anyone!

In the bible, Job teaches us that on the outside, we may seem rich and right with God, we still need a saviour (Jesus) to cleanse us from all sin and unrighteousness... because on our own, our works are like filthy rags to a holy God.

Just like you don't want someone to love you because they are required to, Father God set us free through Jesus, from having to earn His love based on some legal requirements... rather, He wants our relationship based on our love for Him!

As weird as it sounds, as believers, we are to consider it all joy when we fall into various trials, because these are the building blocks of a sincere faith!

To all who are lost and need to be set free, there's a plea deal on the table...accept God's terms and conditions, in exchange for Jesus life for your sins..in return you serve no prison time and no probation... hurry and accept, because the clock is ticking!

While it may be hard to love the self who lives in darkness and without God, there is a new self to be had which is easy to love, full of light and growing in all the character traits of Christ!

Don't take God for granted! He's not someone you can tip your hat to once a week and think you know Him... He longs for a deep personal relationship with those who say they love Him... requiring all their heart, soul, mind and strength!

A relationship with Father God through Jesus is more than just going to church once or twice a week... He values our obedience and all the quality time we can spend in His presence!

Could you even imagine a life without Jesus? Life full of darkness, no hope, relying on our own efforts to get to heaven...what a dismal life many are choosing to live right now!

There are few certainties in this life, but we can be thankful of this: God loves us so much He sacrificed His only Son, Jesus, to pay for our sins! That's freedom and it's available to all who would repent of their sin and ask Jesus into their hearts!

How awesome would it be if we truly believed this about our God?! Nothing would be impossible!

We read the bible to get to both know about God and to come to know Him personally... this only happens when we read with faith and our hearts are filled with love.

Maintain readiness for Jesus return... keep your hearts prepared and be found fully invested in your giftings...not hiding them!

When Jesus physically left this earth, He didn't leave us without provision to get our mission done. He left us keys to the Kingdom of God's storehouse here on earth as it is in heaven!

God is willing to move heaven and earth for those who diligently seek Him! What's holding us back, unbelief, lack of love, sin? Whatever it is, we have this promise...Draw near to Him and He will draw near to us!

What side of our God do we want to interact with the most? His loving nature or His nature as a just Judge? The choice is ours. He's merciful to forgive us when we repent, turning back to Him through Jesus as Lord and Saviour!

Do we rejoice over sinners who repent and turn to Jesus or do we see them through the eyes of pride and look down on them in displeasure?

God has made a way for those of us who believe to enter His presence through prayer, worship and communion. It's available anytime we desire more of Him and less of ourselves...

Reading the book of James in the bible is a lot like relatives sitting on the porch listening to a favourite uncle as he shares life strategie learned from Father God and his brother, Jesus...

Got big plans? It's o.k., we have a big God to lean on to see us through any troubles we run into while doing the good works He planned for us from the beginning!

If our interests and concerns are purely about things in this physical world, then we are missing the mark... God wants our full focus on seeking Jesus' words as they give eternal life!

So, the repairman didn't show like he/she said they would...The home renovation was stalled because workers didn't show.. Isn't it comforting to know our God is faithful...someone we can turn to despite the circumstances... His Word is His bond...just like it should be with us!

In basketball, the player who first comes off the bench to substitute for starting players is known as the 6th man/woman. Jesus is the Ultimate 6th Man! He substituted His life for ours!

Jesus left us a golden gift card pre-loaded with everything we need to be successful in this life and the life in eternity. Let's make sure we use it often and don't forget we have it!

Don't give into the world's call for separating from those who disagree on things that don't matter in the eternal scheme of things...rather be ministers of reconciliation looking for common ground, else we forfeit the power of agreement!

Don't get cheated out of your inheritance as a believer in Christ! You are a heir of a kingdom full of goodness beyond your wildest dreams!...So don't live as a spiritual pauper!

Like Nehemiah gave up his privileges to resurrect the walls of Jerusalem, Christ gave up His privileges to help resurrect the lives of those who believe!

To those who are about to throw in the towel, wanting to quit something you've devoted a lot of time and effort to...be encouraged, the seed you planted is ready to break through, continue to stand in faith!

Why are these things happening? Confused about the logical outcomes we expected but didn't get? That's because we need spiritual wisdom to get the full picture which comes from getting to know God through daily interaction and studying His Word...

As believers in Christ, we get the luxury of opting out of the fear, anxiety, and hopelessness of this world and embrace the Peace of God that the world can never understand unless they repent and receive Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

God is equally concerned with the condition of a nation's soul as He is with individuals...His ultimate desire is that none should suffer eternal death...The choice is ours to make!

Hope, joy and peace can only be found in the King of Kings and Lord of Lords...Jesus...not in any person or philosophy this world has to offer...we beg you to take hold of His divine favour while it's still being offered!

Today millions of voting-age people in America are choosing who they will follow... But there is a more important choice we make on a daily basis which effects not just the next 4 years, but our eternity!

Isn't it comforting to know, despite the changes our world goes through, our God never changes...Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever!

You could travel to the ends of the earth and never find the joy and pleasures associated with the daily journey we could make into the presence of the Lord.

As Christians, we are to be good treasure hunters, digging deep into God's word as our map...looking for clues to find where X marks the spot!

As believers, saved by Christ, we must battle the temptation to take this life for granted... We have been given a new life thanks to the precious blood of Jesus and we will be judged by what we do with this gift!