God’s presence is the source of our joy. Singing, dancing, playing musical instruments are expression of sincere enthusiasm for God’s nearness, “I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God,” Psalm 43:4. “David was dancing before the Lord with all his might,” 2 Samuel 6:14. …
The Lord’s Delight Read More »
God’s need for my presence became paramount in my daily schedule. My priorities for prayer time shifted from asking to praising, from requesting to worshiping the God who loves us. However, these noble priorities were about to be thoroughly tested. Apparently, God wanted to see how determined I was to rebuild my schedule according to his needs, his desires, his expectations, and his joy.
From 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. seemed to be the best time of my day for a private session with the Lord. Our guest bedroom became my place for meeting with God. But here’s what happened. …
Breaking Through the Transition BarrierRead More »
Breaking Through the Transition Barrier Read More »
Mountainous waves crashed down upon the vessel carrying the Apostle Paul to Rome. Walls of green Mediterranean water swept the tiny craft from stem to stern. The little ship shuddered and vibrated as hurricane force wind and furious waves pounded its decks and sides.
Reasons for discouragement unrelentingly filled the thoughts of both passengers and crew. Everyone gave up hope of being saved. …
Unending Reasons for EncouragementRead More »
Unending Reasons for Encouragement Read More »
God can’t take his eyes off you.
Have you ever been so physically ill that you couldn’t focus attention on the Lord? Has depression, fear or worry ever gripped you so tightly that you couldn’t think about the Lord? Sometimes life becomes so difficult that we are unable to meditate on the Lord even if we wish to. Then we feel guilty for not directing our thoughts toward God.
Well, you have nothing to worry about! Even when you are unable to concentrate on God, he continues directing his attention toward you. Job 36:7 promises that God “does not take his eyes off the righteous,” Psalm 34:15. promises that “the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry.”
God constantly thinks of us whether or not we constantly think of him. You truly are God’s treasured possession. He loves you so much that he just can’t take his eyes off you.
The next time you feel unworthy of God’s unswerving attention, look up and quote a portion of Genesis 16:13. This scripture portion says, “You are the God who sees me.”
Scriptures referred to: Job 36:7; Psalm 34:15; Genesis 16:13.
God’s Unbroken Concentration Read More »
“By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; by his knowledge the deeps were divided,” Proverbs 3:19-20.
Since God’s wisdom, knowledge and understanding made everything, shouldn’t we humans seek to be possessed by divine wisdom, knowledge and understanding? How blessed our relationships with other humans would be! How much better we would do on the job! How much more love and joy would fill our hearts! Yes, when God’s thoughts control our minds, words and behavior, his blessings rest upon everything we are and everything we do!
There’s a book in the Bible called Proverbs. As we read this book again and again, it gains control over us. It begins influencing our thoughts, beliefs and words. Godly wisdom, understanding and knowledge flow from Proverbs into our emotions and thoughts. God’s way of living becomes our way of living. God’s way of treating people becomes our way of treating them. God’s beliefs become our beliefs.
Why not try reading Proverbs? There are thirty-one chapters in the book. Try reading a chapter a day according to the calendar date. In this way, you will read Proverbs through each month. Think of that! For just a few minutes a day you can read Proverbs through twelve times a year.
Then, Godly wisdom, understanding and knowledge will possess you. You will enjoy increased harmony in your relationships with people. More and more divine happiness will fill your heart.
Be greatly encouraged,
Pastor James Fields
God’s Wisdom, Understanding & Knowledge Possessing You Read More »
Most Christians know that Jesus wants us loving one another. Nevertheless, loving other humans proves more difficult than loving God. So the Lord wisely included several Love One Another scriptures in the New Testament. As we read the forty-three one another scriptures listed below, His Word will empower us with the ability to choose love for each other. When you don’t feel love, choose to love. Christian love produces feelings of love, but Christian love never depends only upon feelings. “For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen,” 1 John 4:20.
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Every day we face concerns and obstacles in our lives. We have to remind ourselves to look to God’s Word to help us overcome discouragement. His joy will spring up in us despite everything around us when we meditate on his holy Scriptures. We pray these verses are an encouragement to you!
- God will surely come to your aid. (Genesis 50:24 & 25)
- Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you…The Lord will fight for you. (Exodus 14:13-14)
- Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory. (Deuteronomy 20:3-4)
- Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. (2 Chronicles 20:15)
- I tell you, do not worry about your life….Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? (Matthew 6:25-34)
- Make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. (Luke 21:13-15)
- Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)
- Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)
Scriptures that Destroy Worry Read More »
Our Creator designed us with minds filled with meditation that makes us spiritually, physically, and emotionally healthy. Consequently, the evil one appealed to Eve’s mind in an attempt to inject unhealthy meditation into her. Regrettably, both Eve and Adam succumbed to the type of thoughts detrimental to their health. Since then, the human race has practiced extremely unhealthy meditation that led the human race from the Lord and into lots of suffering. But, there is some really great news! …
Extremely Healthy MeditationRead More »
Extremely Healthy Meditation Read More »
In 2oo3, Delores and I decided to explore the possibility of returning to Japan as pastors of Tsukuba International Christian Assembly in Tsukba, Japan. We flew to Tokyo and the missionary picked us up in his vehicle and we drove two or three hours to Tsukuba. We spent three weeks there preaching every Sunday and visiting the people of this international congregation. At the end of three weeks we told the current pastor that we would be willing to move to Japan in December 2003. …
Delores and I always wanted to serve as missionaries. We planned on going to the mission field early in our career, but that didn’t work out. So, after pastoring eighteen years, we decided to move to Singapore, Southeast Asia. On the other hand, the missions department had earlier turned down our application to serve as missionaries because of my legal blindness. Well, we decided that we had to go to the mission field because we were in our early 40’s. We couldn’t wait any longer. …
Living by God’s PromisesRead More »
Living by God’s Promises Read More »
