Daily and Weekly Christian Inspiration
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
Don’t follow the crowd take the road less travelled.
Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate:for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it
At this season of the year when the earth is blanketed in snow and ice, I am amazed as I consider the ugly tulip and daffodil bulbs that are frozen under the soil which will soon sprout and bear beautiful flowers of hope as the earth is rejuvenated during spring time. And even in the dead of winter when shivering hope appears to be frozen God gives a glimmer of hope as the snowdrops pop their heads bravely through the fallen snow. Oh the joy of seeing that first fragile yet hardy snowdrop – what a wonderful window to our souls of His desire to feed our faith to believe for brighter days. I thank God for His faithfulness in the seasons and look forward in faith to the spring.
Dear Child,
I am also faithful in the seasons of your life! Each season has its own unique beauty and purpose, the same is true with the seasons of your life. The same is true in the ministry of your life.
A time to believe in naked faith, a time to sow, a time to water and tend the potential harvest, and then a time of reward and reaping! The winter season is a time of hidden dormancy on the surface, but oh! under the surface what preparation is going on to burst to life in the spring! Be prepared for the spring! child.
Every season of your life has its own winter of faith, planting time in spring, watering time in summer, and reaping time in the fall. But this winter time of dormancy and darkness without any fruit, is when you must walk by faith and trust my hand to be working in My sovereignty under the surface, to bring beauty to your life in the spring!
You trust me with the seasons of the earth, trust me with the seasons of your life!
Thus saith Papa
Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
WINTER — The Season of FAITH
SPRING — The Season of HOPE
SUMMER —The Season of LABOR
AUTUMN — The Season of FRUITFULNESS
CHALLENGE: If you are in the season of a fruitless winter, in faith hold unto hope, don’t give up, spring is on its way, for He is faithful!
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Watch and be inspired by my short video “Changed from Glory to Glory”
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Honoring the memory of one of our greatest songwriters and worshippers of our time who went home to be with His Lord this week by quoting some of his lyrics which have impacted my walk with the Lord for so many years.
Take me back, take me back dear Lord
To the place where I first received you.
Take me back, take me back dear Lord where I
First believed.”
So often don’t we need to return to the place where we first believed, to the foot of the cross?
“How can I say thanks for the things
You have done for me?
Things so undeserved yet you gave
To prove your love for me
The voices of a million angels
Could not express my gratitude
All that I am, and ever hope to be
I owe it all to thee”
These words have reminded me so many times to have a grateful heart.
“I thank God for the mountains,
And I thank Him for the valleys,
I thank Him for the storms He brought me through.
For if I’d never had a problem,
I wouldn’t know God could solve them,
I’d never know what faith in God could do.”
How many times have these lyrics seen me through hard times!
“The blood that Jesus shed for me,
Way back on Calvary;
The blood that gives me strength
From day to day,
It will never lose it’s power.
It reaches to the highest mountain,
It flows to the lowest valley;
The blood that gives me strength
From day to day,
It will never lose it’s power.
It soothes my doubts and calms my fears,
And it dries all my tears;
The blood that gives me strength
From day to day,
It will never lose it’s power.”
This has to be my favorite of all his many great songs, for it is the foundational power of our Christian faith. And all of God’s children said “AMEN!!!”
This week we will all be packing away our Christmas tree decor for another year and discarding all that torn wrapping paper and empty gift boxes. We will be stripping our homes of the symbols of Christmas but don’t let us strip our hearts of love, expectation of hope, joy and peace and the sentiment of the season. We don’t have to pack away the Christmas spirit. We can pack away the symbolic babe of the nativity scene but don’t pack away the living Christ for He lives in us ! Lift Him high for the world to see all year long not only in a manger during the Christmas Season.
Galatians 2:20 It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.
Don’t store away the light of the world with your Christmas lights.
Matthew 5:13 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Don’t discard Him as you discard the dying Christmas tree losing the glory of its pines for He ever lives in all His glory.
Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore.
1 Peter 5:11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen
CHALLENGE: Pray for grace to live the Christmas message of love, peace and hope throughout the coming year.