She Believes 3
Author

Marico Early

Browsing
She Believes 3 Devotion

GOD IS BIGGER THAN …….

Numbers 13:27-33
27 They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.” 30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” 32 And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. 33 We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”

Numbers 14:1-9
14 That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. 2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” 5 Then Moses and Aaron fell face down in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. 6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8 If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”

GOD IS BIGGER THAN …….

So many times we choose to look at the size of our problem instead of looking at the size of our God.  At the sight of disaster or disappointment, we cower and resort to feelings of helplessness, discouragement, depression, and some even become physically ill.  As Christians we should be confident enough in our God, to stand tall in our shoes, and stare our trials down. The power we have been blessed with through Christ can overcome any obstacle.
We sometimes forget that the scripture; 1 John 4:4 says:  Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world.

I want to encourage you today, that no matter what you are currently facing, or will ever face in the future, God is Bigger than it could ever possibly be, no matter the size!  God is bigger than any illness, including cancer.  He is bigger than relationship problems, financial problems, or any other problem that you could possibly have.  He and He alone is our only hope always because He is the only one that can handle anything no matter the size or threat that it presents to us.   He is almighty and all-knowing. He sees and knows our future and He holds the keys to it all. He will only allow what will draw us closer to Him and what is best for us.

Today as you consider the set of unpredictable sets of circumstances that you may find yourself in, know that if God is your Lord and Savior, you will be OK.  He works all things out for our good, and if He allows us to walk through a fiery trial, there’s a purpose in it.  No need to worry or fret, because there is no problem bigger than your God and that is truly something that we all should take comfort in knowing.

Jeremiah 23: 23-24
“Am I a God near at hand,” says the Lord, “And not a God afar off?
24 Can anyone hide himself in secret places, So I shall not see him?” says the Lord;
“Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the Lord.

Jeremiah 32:17
17 ‘Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too [a]hard for You.

Isaiah 55: 8-9
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 40: 28
Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.

Psalm 147: 5
Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.

Jeremiah 32:27
27 “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?

2nd Chronicles 6:18
18 “But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this [a]temple which I have built!

Deuteronomy 31:8
8 And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”

Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Genesis 18:14
14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”

Jeremiah 10:12
He has made the earth by His power, He has established the world by His wisdom,
And has stretched out the heavens at His discretion.

Job 42: 2
“I know that You can do everything,  And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.

Job 11:17
And your life would be brighter than noonday. Though you were dark, you would be like the morning.

Psalm 90: 2
Before the mountains were brought forth,
Or ever You [a]had formed the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

Job 26:14
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?”

Job 9:4
God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered?

Jeremiah 10: 12
He has made the earth by His power, He has established the world by His wisdom,
And has stretched out the heavens at His discretion.

Isaiah 14:27
For the Lord of hosts has purposed, And who will annul it?
His hand is stretched out, And who will turn it back?”

 

by
Keep Reading
She Believes 3 Devotion

45 Reasons That It Will Be OK    Part 2 

45 Reasons That It Will Be OK    Part 2    

My prayer is that as you continue reading the scriptures below in Part 2 of,  45 Reasons That It Will Be OK, that you are even more convinced that God is with you every step of the way.   No matter the challenge, or adversity it will be OK and you will be OK too.  Just continue to trust that His words are true.

God Bless!
Isaiah 12: 2
Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For (B)Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ ”

Psalm 86:5
For (A)You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.

Hebrews 13: 6
6 So we may boldly say:(A)“The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
Psalm 55: 22
Cast your burden on the Lord, And (B)He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be [a]moved.

Romans 5: 2-5
2 (A)through whom also we have access by faith into this grace (B)in which we stand, and (C)rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but (D)we also glory in tribulations, (E)knowing that tribulation produces [a]perseverance; 4 (F)and perseverance, [b]character; and character, hope. 5 (G)Now hope does not disappoint, (H)because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Isaiah 40: 29
29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.

Psalm 56:3
Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You

Jeremiah 15:20
20 And I will make you to this people a fortified bronze (A)wall;
And they will fight against you, But (B)they shall not prevail against you;
For I am with you to save you And deliver you,” says the Lord.

Nahum 1: 7
The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And (B)He knows those who trust in Him.

Luke 11: 9-13
9 (B)“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; (C)seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 (D)If a son asks for [a]bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give (E)good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

Psalm 102:17
17 (A)He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, And shall not despise their prayer.

Psalm 145:18
18 (A)The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him (B)in truth.

1 John 1: 9
9 If we (A)confess our sins, He is (B)faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to (C)cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord your God (A)in your midst, The Mighty One, will save;
(B)He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”

2 Corinthians 9: 8
8 (A)And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Romans 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those (A)who are the called according to His purpose.

Matthew 6: 31-33
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But (A)seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Joshua 1: 9
9 (A)Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; (B)do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Mark 11: 24
4 Therefore I say to you, (A)whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Matthew 28:20
 (A)teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am (B)with you always, even to the end of the age.” [a]Amen.

by
Keep Reading
She Believes 3 Devotion

45 Reasons That It Will Be Ok  Part 1   

45 Reasons That It Will Be Ok Part 1   

So many of us are going through a season of adversity, or we know someone who is dealing with adversity at this time.  Today I would like to share a few scriptures with you, that will strengthen you and give you hope.   God has blessed us with so many promises to stand on. Promises that will anchor us during our times of trials. I hope that these scriptures do just that for you today.  Trust that God cannot lie and that if He says it, you can stand firm on it, because it’s true.

May God bless you as you forge ahead on your journey, knowing that God has your back no matter what it looks like, or how dark it gets? He’s got you!  Be blessed and be restored by believing the truth of God’s Word.

Isaiah 43: 2
When you pass through the waters,(A) I will be with you;(B)and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,(C) you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.(D)

Romans 8: 37-39
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors(A) through him who loved us.(B) 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future,(C) nor any powers,(D) 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God(E) that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.(F)

Psalm 27: 1
The Lord is my light(A) and my salvation(B)— whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold(C) of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?(D)

Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the plans(A) I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper(B) you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.(C)

Deuteronomy 31: 8
8 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you;(A) he will never leave you nor forsake you.(B) Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Psalm 139: 7-10
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee(A) from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens,(B) you are there; if I make my bed(C) in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,(D)  your right hand(E) will hold me fast.

Philippians 4:13
13 I can do all things (A)through [a]Christ who strengthens me.

Psalm 23
The Lord is (A)my shepherd; I shall not [a]want.
2 (C)He makes me to lie down in [b]green pastures;
(D)He leads me beside the [c]still waters.
3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of (F)the shadow of death,
(G)I will fear no evil;
(H)For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You (I)prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You (J)anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me  All the days of my life;
And I will [d]dwell in the house of the Lord
[e]Forever.

John 14: 27
27 (A)Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Matthew 17: 20
20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your [a]unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, (A)if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

I Corinthians 10:13
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but (A)God is faithful, (B)who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to [a]bear it.

Ephesians 2:4-7
But God, (A)who is rich in mercy, because of His (B)great love with which He loved us, 5 (C)even when we were dead in trespasses, (D)made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together (E)in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in (F)His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

2 Thessalonians 3:3
3 But (A)the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and (B)guard you from the evil one.

Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, (B)for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Psalm 91
He (A)who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide (B)under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 (C)I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”3 Surely (D)He shall deliver you from the snare of the [a]fowler And from the perilous pestilence. 4 (E)He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and [b]buckler. 5 (F)You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
8 Only (G)with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord, who is (H)my refuge,
Even the Most High, (I)your dwelling place, 10 (J)No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 (K)For He shall give His angels charge over you,To keep you in all your ways.
12 In their hands they shall [c]bear you up, Lest you [d]dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will [e]set him on high, because he has (M)known My name.
15 He shall (N)call upon Me, and I will answer him;I will be (O)with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With [f]long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”

Philippians 4: 6-7
6 (A)Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with (B)thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and (C)the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Luke 1: 37
7 For (A)with God nothing will be impossible.”

Psalm 18: 30
As for God, (A)His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is [a]proven;
He is a shield (C)to all who trust in Him.

Proverbs 3: 5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall [a]direct your paths.

Matthew 11:28-30
28 Come to (A)Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you (B)and learn from Me, for I am [a]gentle and (C)lowly in heart, (D)and you will find rest for your souls. 30 (E)For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

John 8: 36
36 (A)Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
2 Chronicles 7:14
4 if My people who are (A)called by My name will (B)humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, (C)then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

by
Keep Reading
She Believes 3 Devotion

A TRIBUTE TO DAD’S

A TRIBUTE TO DAD’S

 Psalm 127:3(NKJV)
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth.
5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

Proverbs 17:6 (NKJV)
6 Children’s children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (NKJV)
6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Just as God loved us so much that He sacrificed His Son, and His Son willingly sacrificed His life for us, so our dads express their love for us through sacrifice each and every day.

Just as God protects us and provides for us, dads are to do the same for their children.  Our dads should be to us the earthly example of our heavenly Father.  When our earthly fathers are the fathers that God desires for them to be, their examples of fatherhood makes it easier for their children to understand God’s role as their heavenly Father and what their relationship to Him should be like.

Unfortunately, we live in a society where many dads are missing in action, also, unfortunately, we live in a society that does not respect and honor our good dads as frequently as we should.  As we approach Father’s Day, I would like to encourage you to joyfully and gratefully honor the men in your life.

Whether it is your father, your husband, brother, or nephew, if they are dads who are present and active in their children’s lives they should be honored.

I cannot imagine the load that is appointed to them as the providers, protectors, and the spiritual leaders of our families. This is an awesome responsibility that comes with a lot of weight. Men many times do not have nearly the support system that we as women have.

I realize that there are many men who have walked off and left the responsibility of raising and providing for their children to their wives, who are then left behind to endure a life of struggle. That is not who I am talking about. I am talking about the men like my wonderful dad and my husband and brothers who have been present and active, not perfect, but present and active, who have sacrificed and given every day of their lives willingly to make sure that meals were on the table. That shoes were on everyone’s feet, clothes on their backs, and a roof over their heads.

Men who did not tell their children where the church was or drop them off at the church door but who led them by example and got up on Sunday mornings, and led their families to church.
Men who have done without many things they would like to have had so that their families could have what they needed.
Men who taught their sons how to respect women by the example they saw in the way they loved and respected their moms.
Men who no matter how tired they were, mustered up the energy at the end of a workday to play with their children or to go to one more ball game or to teach them to ride a bike for the first time.
Men who led prayer over each meal and taught their children to thank God for providing it and to thank mom for preparing it.
Men who help those outsides of their own families that were in need, whether cutting the grass for someone who was unable to do so for themselves or sharing words of wisdom with a young man who had no clue of how to be a great husband and father.

Dads who were watchful of the words they expressed before their children with full understanding that their words could build up or tear down.

I also want to celebrate the single fathers who by no choice of their own find themselves with the daunting task of raising their children alone and they are brave enough and love them enough to do so, trusting God each day for wisdom and guidance. Stay strong brothers, stay strong.  God will see you through.

Dads where would we be without you?

 God knew you would be vital to the family, so much so that he made you head of the family. I respect your role and I honor you for your dedication to being obedient to the call of providing for, protecting and leading your families to God’s Pearly Gates.

Many men will never allow anyone to see them in a vulnerable state.  I am convinced that we may never know how many tears they have secretly shed as they went before our heavenly Father for wisdom and guidance to know how to lead and direct their families in those dark and stressful moments that we are all faced with at some point.

Dads, my prayer is that you will always cherish the gift God has given you,  in that of being responsible for and taking care of your family, and that you will hear him say “well done my good and faithful servant” someday. However, until then know this, that we need your presence in our lives and the lives of our children.

Thank you for your life of love and sacrifice and may you always look to our heavenly Father for
STRENGTH, WISDOM, COURAGE, AND GUIDANCE.

Happy Father’s Day!

Luke 11:11-13 (NKJV)
11 If a son asks for bread[a] from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

by
Keep Reading
She Believes 3 Devotion

God’s Plan for Living in Racial Harmony

A few weeks ago I spoke at a Women’s Conference at a University here in my home state. My topic was “God’s Plan For Racial Harmony”. Initially, I was excited to do this, and then at some point in my time of preparation, God made it very clear to me, that even though I was passionate about doing this, I had an awesome responsibility to get this right. It was by no means to be a political speech but a Biblical one.

I was also excited that this was going to be discussed on a college campus. With all of the divisiveness going on in our country these days, I thought having this conversation would be healing for some and informative for others.
Though excited it saddened me, that we are still needing to have this conversation in our country.   The reality is that we have definitely made progress In this area,  but our hearts still need to be pricked and opened more to see and accept others as God does.  The reality also, is that we are on a journey to be more like Him and God is love. We are to love everyone, not just those that look like us, or that we are comfortable being around, but everyone.  Maybe it’s time to give yourself a heart check. Only God can give us the ability to love as He does, and that is totally unconditional.  With His help and His help alone, we really can achieve this capacity to love others as He does.
To help you start your journey of living a life in Racial Harmony and loving others as Christ does, I have I shared a few of my notes from this speech.  I hope that they will enlighten some of you and remind others of you what God’s word says about how we should treat one another, no matter the color of our skin.  You may know individuals that struggle with this terrible sin called racism, and if so, I would love for you to encourage them to read this also.

I.  What Does Living In Racial Harmony Mean?
To live in harmony is to live, working peacefully together.  It means we are living peacefully, instead of living at odds or in conflict with one another.
Colossians 3:14
14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
Psalm 133:1
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!
Hebrews 12:14
14 Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.
Romans 12:16
 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!
2.  To Live In Racial Harmony We Have To Recognize That There Is Only One Race.

Genesis 1:26-27 (NLT)
26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings[a] in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth,[b] and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”27 So God created human beings[c] in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Acts 17: 26-28
26 From one man[a] he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.27 “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. 28 For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your[b] own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

There is only one race, however, there are several ethnicities within this one race, such as Africans, Asians,   Caucasians, Latinos, Indians, Arabs, Jews, etc.
Ethnicity is generally made up of cultural traditions and behaviors as well as beliefs that are common to a specific group.

3.  God Does Not Show Partiality, So Neither Should We
God’s plan for racial harmony was revealed through His sacrificial death on the cross.  God desires unity among His children.
 Ephesians 2:14-22 (NLT)
14 For Christ, himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.
17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
Deuteronomy 10:17-19
17 “For the Lord, your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God, who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed. 18 He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing. 19 So you, too, must show love to foreigners, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.
Acts 10:34-36
34 Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. 35 In every nation, he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. 36 This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. As children of God we all share the same DNA, therefore spiritually speaking we are all saved by one bloodline and that’s the blood of Jesus Christ.  Physically speaking we are all connected through one bloodline also and that’s the bloodline of Adam and Eve.  We are connected physically and spiritually.

  1.  10 Things We Must Do to Live In Racial Harmony With One Another
    1).  We must acknowledge that racism is a sin. The reason racism is a sin is that showing partiality is a sin.
    James 2:1
    My dear brothers and sisters,[a] how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?
    James 2: 9
    9 But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.
    James 2:12-13
    12 So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. 13 There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.
    2). Our hearts and minds must change.
    Romans 12:2
    2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
    Psalm 51:10
    10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. If you have been programmed to think stereotypical thoughts of others or to think biased towards others, you must transform your thoughts with the word of God, and then your heart will change also. Ask God to create in you a clean heart and He will.
    3). We must exemplify Golden Rule Living
    Matthew 7:12
     12 “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.
    Simply treat others the way you would want them to treat you if the situation or circumstance were reversed.
    4). We must see others through the eyes of Christ.  God sees value in every human life and we must do the same.
    Romans 5:8
    8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners remember that in God’s eyes we all have value. The same blood that was shed for your redemption was shed for mine. We all have purpose, gifts, and talents. Let’s also see the value in our differences and celebrate how God has uniquely created each of us.
    5). We must respect everyone no matter their race or color.
    1st Peter 2:16-17 (NLT)
    16 For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. 17 Respect everyone, and love the family of believers.[a] Fear God, and respect the king.
    Every human being on the planet desires to be loved first, and secondly to be respected. When we respect someone we are saying that they matter. It is a validation of their worth.
    6). We must show compassion to all humanity not just to those who look like you.
    Luke 10:30-37
    30 Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.31 “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Temple assistant[a] walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins,[b] telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy. ”Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.
    ”7). We should share each other’s burdens. By willing to help by giving to, and sharing with those in need, no matter who they are.
    Galatians 6:2
    2. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.
    8). Communication is key! — Start the conversation, learn about other cultures.  Educate yourself.  Validate and affirm those who need it.  Be just as willing to listen and consider another point of view.
    James 1:19
    19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.
     Ephesians 4:29
     29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. We must listen to start the process of understanding each other as well as to start the healing process in our country.  One of the reasons that our country is still so racially divided is because everyone is talking and giving their point of view, yet no one is listening.
    “People fail to get along because they fear each other, they fear each other because they don’t know each other, and they don’t know each other because they have not communicated with each other.”
    Dr. Martin Luther King Jr
    9). Women, you have the power to change the world right at your kitchen table, with the conversation you have with your husbands and children. When you hear things that are racially biased or outright wrong Speak Up!   Teach your family what is right, don’t just turn your head as though you don’t hear the conversation. Many of the issues that are causing societal problems can be resolved right at home. Remember, when you know what to do and you don’t do it, you will be held accountable before God. “He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetuate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.”“Never, never be afraid to do what’s right, especially if the well being of a person or animal is at stake. Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.”
    Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Proverbs 31: 11
    Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.
    Proverbs 31:26
    26 When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.
    10). Love the way Christ loved.
    Psalm 86:15
    15 But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
    1st Corinthians 13:4-84
    Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages[a] and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! Christ was compassionate, loving, gentle, patient, merciful, forgiving, generous, and gracious.  Most importantly He was obedient to the will of His Father.

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.” “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”  “ I have decided to stick with love-hate is too great a burden to bear.”
 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Definitions Of Key Words Regarding Racism

Justice- Just behavior or treatment. The quality of being fair and reasonable in treatment to others.
Isaiah 1:17
17 Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans.
Fight for the rights of widows.
Proverbs 31: 8-9
8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.
9 Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.
Injustice – Lack of fairness or justice in the way we treat others.
Leviticus 19: 15
15 “Do not twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly.
Racism- Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior. The belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.
Racist– A person who shows or feels discrimination or prejudice against people of other races, or who believes that a particular race is superior to another.
Systemic Racism or Institutional Racism– is a form of racism expressed in the practice of social and political institutions.  It is reflected in disparities regarding wealth, income, criminal justice, employment, housing, health care, political power, and education, among other factors. (Wikipedia)
Bigotry– intolerance toward those who hold different opinions from oneself.
Discrimination– The unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex.
Segregation– The action or state of setting someone or something apart from other people or things or being set apart.
Oppression– Prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control.
Slavery- a condition compared to that of a slave in respect of exhausting labor or restricted freedom. A system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. A slave is unable to withdraw unilaterally from such an arrangement and works without remuneration.
Supremacist– An advocate of the supremacy of a particular group, especially one determined by race or sex.
White Privilege– is the social privilege that benefits people whom society identifies as white in some countries, beyond what is commonly experienced by non-white people under the same social, political, or economic circumstances.
Hate Crimes- A crime, typically one involving violence that is motivated by prejudice on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation, or other grounds.

References:
The Bible
Oxford Dictionary
Wikipedia
 Knowledge

Recommend Reading:
Holy Bible
Bloodline by John Piper
by
Keep Reading
Fruit of the Spirit

God’s Plan For Living In Racial Harmony 

"God’s Plan For Living In Racial Harmony" was originally posted in March 2019.
In light of all that is going on in our country at this time,  I thought it appropriate to repost.

A a few weeks ago I spoke at a Women’s Conference at a University here in my home state. My topic was “God’s Plan For Racial Harmony”. Initially, I was excited to do this, and then at some point in my time of preparation, God made it very clear to me, that even though I was passionate about doing this, I had an awesome responsibility to get this right. It was by no means to be a political speech but a Biblical one.

I was also excited that this was going to be discussed on a college campus. With all of the divisiveness going on in our country these days, I thought having this conversation would be healing for some and informative for others.
Though excited it saddened me, that we are still needing to have this conversation in our country.   The reality is that we have definitely made progress In this area,  but our hearts still need to be pricked and opened more to see and accept others as God does.  The reality also, is that we are on a journey to be more like Him and God is love. We are to love everyone, not just those that look like us, or that we are comfortable being around, but everyone.  Maybe it’s time to give yourself a heart check. Only God can give us the ability to love as He does, and that is totally unconditional.  With His help and His help alone, we really can achieve this capacity to love others as He does.
To help you start your journey of living a life in Racial Harmony and loving others as Christ does, I have I shared a few of my notes from this speech.  I hope that they will enlighten some of you and remind others of you what God’s word says about how we should treat one another, no matter the color of our skin.  You may know individuals that struggle with this terrible sin called racism, and if so, I would love for you to encourage them to read this also. 

I.  What Does Living In Racial Harmony Mean?
To live in harmony is to live, working peacefully together.  It means we are living peacefully, instead of living at odds or in conflict with one another.
Colossians 3:14
14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
Psalm 133:1
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!
Hebrews 12:14
14 Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.
Romans 12:16
 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!
2.  To Live In Racial Harmony We Have To Recognize That There Is Only One Race.

Genesis 1:26-27 (NLT)
26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings[a] in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth,[b] and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”27 So God created human beings[c] in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Acts 17: 26-28
26 From one man[a] he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.27 “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. 28 For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your[b] own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

There is only one race, however, there are several ethnicities within this one race, such as Africans, Asians,   Caucasians, Latinos, Indians, Arabs, Jews, etc.
Ethnicity is generally made up of cultural traditions and behaviors as well as beliefs that are common to a specific group.

3.  God Does Not Show Partiality, So Neither Should We
God’s plan for racial harmony was revealed through His sacrificial death on the cross.  God desires unity among His children.
 Ephesians 2:14-22 (NLT)
14 For Christ, himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.
17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
Deuteronomy 10:17-19
17 “For the Lord, your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God, who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed. 18 He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing. 19 So you, too, must show love to foreigners, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.
Acts 10:34-36
34 Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. 35 In every nation, he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. 36 This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. As children of God we all share the same DNA, therefore spiritually speaking we are all saved by one bloodline and that’s the blood of Jesus Christ.  Physically speaking we are all connected through one bloodline also and that’s the bloodline of Adam and Eve.  We are connected physically and spiritually.

  1.  10 Things We Must Do to Live In Racial Harmony With One Another
    1).  We must acknowledge that racism is a sin. The reason racism is a sin is that showing partiality is a sin.
    James 2:1
    My dear brothers and sisters,[a] how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?
    James 2: 9
    9 But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.
    James 2:12-13
    12 So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. 13 There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.
    2). Our hearts and minds must change.
    Romans 12:2
    2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
    Psalm 51:10
    10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. If you have been programmed to think stereotypical thoughts of others or to think biased towards others, you must transform your thoughts with the word of God, and then your heart will change also. Ask God to create in you a clean heart and He will.
    3). We must exemplify Golden Rule Living
    Matthew 7:12
     12 “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.
    Simply treat others the way you would want them to treat you if the situation or circumstance were reversed.

    4). We must see others through the eyes of Christ.  God sees value in every human life and we must do the same.
    Romans 5:8
    8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners remember that in God’s eyes we all have value. The same blood that was shed for your redemption was shed for mine. We all have purpose, gifts, and talents. Let’s also see the value in our differences and celebrate how God has uniquely created each of us.
    5). We must respect everyone no matter their race or color.
    1st Peter 2:16-17 (NLT)
    16 For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. 17 Respect everyone, and love the family of believers.[a] Fear God, and respect the king.
    Every human being on the planet desires to be loved first, and secondly to be respected. When we respect someone we are saying that they matter. It is a validation of their worth.
    6). We must show compassion to all humanity not just to those who look like you.
    Luke 10:30-37
    30 Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.31 “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Temple assistant[a] walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins,[b] telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy. ”Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.
    ”    7). We should share each other’s burdens. By willing to help by giving to, and sharing with those in need, no matter who they are.
    Galatians 6:2
    2. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.
    8). Communication is key! — Start the conversation, learn about other cultures.  Educate yourself.  Validate and affirm those who need it.  Be just as willing to listen and consider another point of view.
    James 1:19
    19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.
     Ephesians 4:29
     29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. We must listen to start the process of understanding each other as well as to start the healing process in our country.  One of the reasons that our country is still so racially divided is because everyone is talking and giving their point of view, yet no one is listening.
    “People fail to get along because they fear each other, they fear each other because they don’t know each other, and they don’t know each other because they have not communicated with each other.”
    Dr. Martin Luther King Jr
    9). Women, you have the power to change the world right at your kitchen table, with the conversation you have with your husbands and children. When you hear things that are racially biased or outright wrong Speak Up!   Teach your family what is right, don’t just turn your head as though you don’t hear the conversation. Many of the issues that are causing societal problems can be resolved right at home. Remember, when you know what to do and you don’t do it, you will be held accountable before God. “He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetuate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.”“Never, never be afraid to do what’s right, especially if the well being of a person or animal is at stake. Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.”
    Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Proverbs 31: 11
    Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.
    Proverbs 31:26
    26 When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.
    10). Love the way Christ loved.
    Psalm 86:15
    15 But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
    1st Corinthians 13:4-84
    Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages[a] and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! Christ was compassionate, loving, gentle, patient, merciful, forgiving, generous, and gracious.  Most importantly He was obedient to the will of His Father.

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.” “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”  “ I have decided to stick with love-hate is too great a burden to bear.”
 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Definitions Of Key Words Regarding Racism

Justice- Just behavior or treatment. The quality of being fair and reasonable in treatment to others.
Isaiah 1:17
17 Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. 
Fight for the rights of widows.
Proverbs 31: 8-9
8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.
9 Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.
Injustice – Lack of fairness or justice in the way we treat others.
Leviticus 19: 15
15 “Do not twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly.
Racism- Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior. The belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.
Racist– A person who shows or feels discrimination or prejudice against people of other races, or who believes that a particular race is superior to another.
Systemic Racism or Institutional Racism– is a form of racism expressed in the practice of social and political institutions.  It is reflected in disparities regarding wealth, income, criminal justice, employment, housing, health care, political power, and education, among other factors. (Wikipedia)
Bigotry– intolerance toward those who hold different opinions from oneself.
Discrimination– The unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex.
Segregation– The action or state of setting someone or something apart from other people or things or being set apart.
Oppression– Prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control.
Slavery- a condition compared to that of a slave in respect of exhausting labor or restricted freedom. A system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. A slave is unable to withdraw unilaterally from such an arrangement and works without remuneration.
Supremacist– An advocate of the supremacy of a particular group, especially one determined by race or sex.
White Privilege– is the social privilege that benefits people whom society identifies as white in some countries, beyond what is commonly experienced by non-white people under the same social, political, or economic circumstances.
Hate Crimes- A crime, typically one involving violence that is motivated by prejudice on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation, or other grounds.

References:
The Bible
Oxford Dictionary
Wikipedia
 Knowledge

Recommend Reading:
Holy Bible
Bloodline by John Piper

 

 

by
Keep Reading
She Believes 3 Devotion

Happy Mother’s Day!

Happy Mother’s Day!

This was originally posted in May of 2013, and many of you enjoyed reading it so I thought I would share it again.

Proverbs 31 NKJV
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her.

One of the most precious gifts that God has granted us is our mothers. God only can love deeper, and stronger than a mother. She possesses so many of the characteristics of God. She is patient and self-sacrificing, she loves unconditionally, she always sees the best in her children, she protects them, and she is so honored to care for each one of them. She has the ability to make each child feel as though they are her favorite of all. She nurtures and acknowledges their gifts and talents. A mom is her child’s greatest cheerleader; she is their source of security.

Moms make everything feel better. When the world is falling apart, your mom can say it will be ok and it is as though the sun burst forth on a cloudy day. All of a sudden everything seems so much better and totally bearable.

There is certainly nothing more precious than a mother that loves and serves God, a mother that teaches her children to pray and to study His Holy Word, or a mother who sets the example of what it means to serve God by serving others. She simply cherishes her children and they cherish her.

When her children are sick a mom will spend countless hours by their bedside nursing them back to health, because she knows no one can soothe and console them like her.

Mothers are to be loved, respected, honored and appreciated for their sacrifices, their hard work, and their dedication to their families. Mothers are the blessings that God has given the world to mold and shape the minds of those He creates. What an awesome responsibility and what an honor.

I encourage you to honor your mother not just on Mother’s day but throughout the year, by calling her and spending time with her. Honor her also in the way you live your life and by the way you parent your own children.

If your mother is no longer here, cherish her memory by taking time to reflect on the great times you have shared with her, remember the special things she taught you, and always thank God for the time you did have with her.

Moms, I applaud you for all that you mean to your families and to this world because truly your influence reaches far and wide and there are no words to express the power of your love and touch, which is straight from the hand of God.

Thank you and Happy Mother’s Day!



Proverbs 31 NKJV
10 Who[b] can find a virtuous[c] wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
15 She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.
20 She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.

 

by
Keep Reading
She Believes 3 Devotion

Why GOD says “FEAR NOT”

There are times in our lives when things happen that are totally out of our control.   During these times, fear of the unknown can set in, and we become paralyzed with the “What Ifs “.   Unfortunately, this is not uncommon. We all have experienced fear to some degree.  God knew that doubts and fears would be the tools that Satan would use, to make us not trust His word, promises, and power.  They are merely distractions used to make us take our eyes off of God.   When we live with these fears too long, we are in bondage.   We are being held hostage by Satan.  This strips us of the confidence that we should have as God’s children.
Today I would like to share some scriptures with you that speak to the character of God.  When we are clear about God’s character, we realize that as His children we have nothing to fear.  I hope that learning more about God’s character helps you to fully understand why God commands us to “Fear Not”.

Psalm 46:2  (NIV)
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
Genesis 15:1-6
After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:

“Do  not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield,[a]
your very great reward.[b]”
2 But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit[c] my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” 4 Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring[d] be.” 6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Luke 12:32
32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

UNDERSTANDING THE CHARACTER OF GOD

F
FAITHFUL FATHER 

  1st John 3:1
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

2nd Thessalonians 3:3
3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.

 Deuteronomy 32:4
He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong,  upright, and just is he.

 Deuteronomy 7:9
9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.

FORGIVING
Psalm 65:3
When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave[a] our transgressions.

FORTRESS
Psalm 18:2
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer;   my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield[a] and the horn[b] of my salvation, my stronghold.

FRIEND
John 15:13
13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

E
ETHICAL
Luke 18:19
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.

Psalm 34:8
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
A
ABBA FATHER
Romans 8:15
15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[a] And by him we cry, “Abba,[b] Father.”
ALMIGHTY
Revelations 1:8
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

ABUNDANT
Psalm 50:10-12
10 for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine.
12 If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.

AWESOME
Psalm 68:35
You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!

Romans 8:38-39
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

ACCURATE
R
RELIABLE
RIGHTEOUS
Deuteronomy 32:4
He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong,  upright, and just is he.
RESPONSIBLE

RESTORES
Psalm 23:3 KJV
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

REDEEMER
Psalm 78:35
 They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer.

Isaiah 63:16
But you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us or Israel acknowledge us;
you, Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.

N
NEAR
Psalm 145:18
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[a] I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

O
OMNISCIENT
Psalm 147:5
Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.

OMNIPRESENT 
Jeremiah 23:24
Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the Lord.  “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord.

Psalm 139:7-10
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;   if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,  your right hand will hold me fast.

Omnipotent 

Hebrew 1:3
3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

T
TRUTHFUL
Numbers 23:19
God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?

TRUSTWORTHY
Psalm 19:7
The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

 2 Samuel 7:28
28 Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.

Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,  because the Lord has anointed me  to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]

UNHEALTHY FEAR
Romans 8:15
15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[a] And by him we cry, “Abba,[b] Father.”

2 Timothy 1:7
7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

HEALTHY FEAR

HOLY FEAR / RESPECT/ REVERENCE FOR GOD
Proverbs 14:27
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.

Psalm 145:19
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.

Isaiah 6:5
5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”

Luke 5:8
8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”

If you have an unhealthy fear of the Lord, remember these three things from Author Kelly Balarie.

1.  God doesn’t speak like an accuser.
2.  Condemnation is not the sound of his voice.
3.  Conviction is his method, but the truth spoken in love is always his manner.

 

by
Keep Reading
She Believes 3 Devotion

His Sacrifice, Our Hope!!

His Sacrifice, Our Hope!!

The Crucifixion

Luke 23:26-43  (AKJV)
26 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.

27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. 28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. 29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. 30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. 31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. 33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. 36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, 37 and saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. 38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew,
THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

The Death of Jesus

Luke 23:44-49 (AKJV)
44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. 46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. 47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. 48 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. 49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

The Burial of Jesus

Luke 23:50-55  (AKJV)
50 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: 51 (the same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathæa, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. 53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. 54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. 55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.

The Resurrection of Jesus

Luke 24:1-12  AKJV)
24 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5 and as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7 saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. 12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

 

by
Keep Reading
She Believes 3 Devotion

The Silver Lining

Romans 8:28 (NIV)
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.

Due to the Corona Virus, so many of us are locked in and having to work from home.  Some of us are bored to tears, while others are enjoying a much needed break.  I personally, have enjoyed slowing down a bit, even though I still have work to do.

My daughter and I took a walk on yesterday, and just enjoyed sucking in some much needed sunshine.  While we were out we saw our neighbors out walking their dogs, and enjoying the day also.

It has always amazed me, how God works well from tragic events.  There is no doubt that we are already starting to see this occur.  I have been blessed by seeing, communities all over the country, come together virtually, in an effort to stay well and to help others to stay well also.

People have pulled out their sewing machines and dusted them off, and are making mask for others to wear.  I personally, have a sweet neighbor that has texted me on two different occasions and said “I am going to the store, do you all need anything”?  It was a simple, kind gesture that showed her sincere concern for her neighbors.

One of my friends posted on Facebook, how someone anonymously had ordered several pizzas, and had them delivered to the hospital where she works, for the nurses to eat for lunch.  I also saw a segment on the news where a man left a $2200. Tip at the end of his meal.  There were twenty two employees that worked at this restaurant, and he wanted to give each employee $100.

by
Keep Reading