Daily and Weekly Christian Inspiration
‘”The devil can cite the Scripture for his purpose .
An evil soul producing Holy witness
Is like a villain with a smiling cheek
A goodly apple rotten at the heart
O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath.”
William Shakespeare/ The Merchant of Venice
Luke 11:39 And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness
Yes, we are all in the blame game ever since the Garden of Eden.
And the snake is still the great accuser of the brethren. But praise God we have an advocate with the Father, our Great High Priest who ever lives to make intercession for us because He took our place and paid the price for our guilt. He became our scapegoat, we no longer need to play the blame game looking for a scapegoat for we already have one.
And so you see the snake still doesn’t have a leg to stand on!
Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ:for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
After a visit with Dr. Perkins, my podiatrist today, to have my toe nail removed due to incurable toe fungus, I understood even more Jesus’ warning in Mark 9:43-48 to exhort us to cut off anything in our body which offends us. We had tried so many things from tea tree oil, prescribed medication, even laser treatment to no avail. The fungus under my toe nail bed was determined to spread to my other toes, and the only option left was to remove and cut off the nail. How often in our spiritual walk do we try so many options to stop something in our lives that is causing us to stumble without taking heed to Jesus’ diagnosis and prescription “Cut it off!” to save the rest of the body? Fungus are known to be extremely persistent, just like anything in our lives that the enemy can use to destroy our testimony. Be forewarned that temptations and the enemy are also extremely persistent. Go to the root, take the Great Physician’s advice and “Cut it off!” It is better to walk straight without my toe nail than to stagger in pain with the fungus under the toe nail.
Dear Father,
How can I say thanks for all the abundant blessings in my life? May I continue to have an appreciative heart.
Dear Child,
Having a thankful heart is living the abundant life!
Having a thankful heart is a life full of joy!
Having a thankful heart is a life that can be molded to My will!
Having a thankful heart is the life of a true worshipper!
Thus saith Papa
Psalm 103:1-5 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Joel 2:21 Fear not; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.
Why does God continually remind us to be thankful?
1. A thankful heart is full of praise, which ushers us into His presence.
2. A thankful heart blesses the Father’s heart.
3. A thankful heart is a soft, pliable heart that God can mold to His image.
4. A thankful heart is a joyous heart that strengthens us spiritually.
5. A thankful heart remembers His faithfulness in the past thereby feeding our faith to
trust Him for our future.
6. A thankful heart will be a good steward of blessings.
When we cry unto the Lord, “restore unto me the joy of thy salvation” (Psalm 51:12); we are really crying out for a grateful heart! A complaining heart soon becomes a heart drowning in self-pity that will quench your joy. The fruit of thankfulness is joy and joy results in spiritual strength and fulness of life! “…neither be ye sorry;? for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).
Excerpt from my book “DEVELOPING A SECRET HISTORY WITH GOD” Available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, iTunes and a book store near you.
CHALLENGE: Be thankful lest the enemy steals the joy of the abundant life.
Be thankful that you may be conformed on the potter’s wheel.
Be thankful that you may enter His presence as a true worshipper.
“How can I say thanks for all the things that you have done for me,
Things so undeserved yet you gave to prove your love for me,
The voices of a thousand angels could not express my gratitude,
All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe it all to thee.
To God be the glory for the things He has done.”
by Andre Crouch
The above photo captures our joy as we celebrated God’s faithfulness during our 45 years together which was 8 years ago!!!
On October 31,1517, a German monk named Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of Wittenberg Church. These 95 Theses expressed his concerns over corruption found in the Catholic church. One of his primary concerns was the church selling “indulgences” to people in order to release them from having to serve penitence for their sins. An act which he considered to be people trying to buy their way into heaven. He held that salvation came by grace through faith alone, not by good works or payment.
This act opened up a debate with religious scholars of the time that eventually lead to the Protestant Reformation. On the 500th anniversary of his act of conscientious defiance, it is important to review how that moment changed the world religiously, economically, politically, socially, and intellectually. The upheaval stretched into every fabric of society, exceeding anything Martin Luther could anticipate. So widespread of an effect proclaims God’s hand was involved.
Although the Reformation of Christianity began a half-millennium ago, it has not completed its destiny.
Although the Reformation of Christianity began a half-millennium ago, it has not completed its destiny.
The Five Solae of The Reformation
which are
The Solid Foundation Of Our Faith
1 Sola Scriptura “Scripture alone”
The Bible alone is our highest authority.
2 Sola Fide “Faith alone”
We are saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ.
3 Sola Gratia “Grace alone”
We are saved by the grace of God alone.
4 Solus Christus “Christ alone”
Jesus Christ alone is our Lord, Savior, and King.
5 Soli Deo Gloria “To the glory of God alone”
We live for the glory of God alone.
We are a people who have forgotten our roots, and in many cases, we really don’t seem to care.
Numerous polls indicate widespread biblical and theological illiteracy. Many professing Christians do not grasp the contents of Scripture. Even those who have read the Bible very often have no idea what it means and how the various parts go together.
We are not in a good place, but we are not the first to be in such a position. The people of Israel forgot the past with disastrous consequences. The medieval church forgot the past with disastrous consequences. But what do we do when we realize we’ve taken a wrong turn somewhere along our journey? We go back and seek to find the correct path. We should not view the past as something that is gone and therefore useless. We should look at the past more like the way someone on the second floor of a building looks at the foundation. The foundation was built before the remaining structure. It was built in the past. But the foundation is not something that can be discarded without catastrophic results.
“We all have spiritual historical roots as well as physical historical roots. God is not pleased when we belittle the orthodoxy of the past and the saints who went before us. Without them we wouldn’t have the faith we have today. We are building on the foundation of their faith with Jesus as the chief cornerstone. Do not tread upon those roots because in doing so we are blasting away our foundation.”
An excerpt from my book “Developing A Secret History With God” Page 210
Book available on Amazon/ Barnes&Noble/ Walmart/Lulu/ itunes/ Kindle/ Nook/http wwwclfrance.com/ W.H. Smith UK/or a bookstore near you.
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