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Posts Tagged ‘Truth’

My Special Words

Posted in Christian, tagged , , , , on April 13, 2021| Leave a Comment »

As I have unpacked and hung pictures on the wall of my new apartment, I smile. Many are sayings that booster my faith, even when I just glance at them. I find God’s love adnpeace in them.

So, I thought I’d share some with you. Perhaps they’ll make you smile as well. We all need something to smile about.

I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know Who holds tomorrow.

The Bible is the only book whose author is always present when one reads it.

We cannot change the wind but we can direct our sails.

Anyone can count the seeds in an apple but only God can count the apples in a seed.

From ghouiles and ghosties and long-legged beasties and things that go bump in the night, good Lord deliver us. (From an ancient Scottish Litany.)

And the Scriptural ones – perhaps you have these as well:

Every good and perfect gift comes from above. James 1:17

The Lord will watch over your going out and your coming in forever more. Psalm 121:8

The Lord is our refuge and our strength, our very present help in times of trouble. Psalm 46:1

If my people, which are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray….I will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

And above all else may we never forget that….

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It’s Not Just Halloween Today

Posted in Christian, tagged , , , , on October 31, 2017| 1 Comment »

HAPPY REFORMATION DAY!

“On this day in 1517, the priest and scholar Martin Luther approaches the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, and nails a piece of paper to it containing the 95 revolutionary opinions that would begin the Protestant Reformation...A number of princes and other supporters of Luther issued a protest, declaring that their allegiance to God trumped their allegiance to the emperor. They became known to their opponents as Protestants; gradually this name came to apply to all who believed the Church should be reformed, even those outside Germany. By the time Luther died, of natural causes, in 1546, his revolutionary beliefs had formed the basis for the Protestant Reformation, which would over the next three centuries revolutionize Western civilization.” * 

Out of one man’s protests five hundred years ago, many denominations, and even non-denoms, have sprung. Bibles, in the native language, have been placed in the hands of billions. Revivals have defrosted the frozen chosen.

Reformation – revival. Throughout Scripture God has used prophets, angels, His Son and His apostles, to realign His people with the Truth. We humans have a tendency to muddle it, complicate it, and even add conditions to it.

Every once in awhile the Church needs correction. Many believe it does today. Theologically, some pulpits have veered from Biblical straight and narrow path. Others have become too complacent and put the Great Commission on the back burner. Still others have divided over what hymns to sing, or what color the carpet down the center aisle should be.

Realign yourself with the Truth today. Nothing spooky about it, trust me. But it often takes gumption, and that can be a bit teeth chattering!  The outcome, however, is a treat--eternal life in the presence of the Lord as He smiles and says, “Well done good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21) No tricks.

Lord, may October 31 remind us to safeguard the faith. Give us the fervor to always seek Your ways and not our own interpretations of it. Through your Son, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Amen.

*http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/martin-luther-posts-95-theses

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A Word, Please

Posted in Christian, Devotional, tagged , , , , , , , on April 23, 2017| Leave a Comment »

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

Over my first month as an internet missionary, I have felt the weightiness of words. Words can build up hope or slash a person’s dreams. They can offend or bolster one’s beliefs. They can trigger interest or make someone click off and seek elsewhere on the web.

Such power! And that is just “human” words. Written words. What about the Word? How are we using that? Or are we?

At Power To Change’s The Life Project, we are careful to not offend because we want to draw people to Jesus – not push them away. However, we also have the responsibility to bear witness to the Truth. Over 20,000 people from all over the world daily click on our articles and devotionals. Our words reach places we cannot fathom.

Isn’t that the same with each of us in our social media conversations, whether texted, posted or tweeted? The internet is a powerful platform. Folks post for different reasons. Some seek answers. There are those who seek pity while others crave fame, even if it is negative or offensive. A few want to use their words as weapons.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

As Christians, we have been given the Word. We need to not only monitor what comes out of our mouths, but what is typed on our QWERTY boards and appearing on the screens of people we may never have direct contact with.

Review your past few weeks of tweets, posts and texts. What message are you sending? Are you using the internet to build up or tear down? To bolster your own ego or point to Jesus?  Whine about your life, your elected officials, the weather, your coworkers – or count your blessings? Console others or one-up them with your list of woes? Share the Good News or gossip?

Words – powerful things. The Word, is power personified. Which will we tap into the most this week to communicate?

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Hit Me

Posted in Christian, Devotional, tagged , , , , , on June 17, 2016| Leave a Comment »

HIT- it can be past tense, future tense or present tense verb. Perhaps because when you are hit, physically, emotionally or spiritually, time doesn’t matter. The impact is still vivid.

hand-36759_640Words can smack us in the heart, and once uttered cannot be taken back. Victims of abuse can tell you the exact time and place when that first whack from someone they thought loved them occurred. In most cases, the hurt is very real and can last a lifetime if not dealt with. You might say “hit” is Hurt Intentionally Targeted.

Sometimes, the hit is out of carelessness and is unintentional. A friend lashes out in anger with their tongue, then feels bad about it. Anyone who has been in a wreck cringes at the sound of automobile metal hitting each other. It is a very unmistakable sound. We have all seen the bloopers where a child misses an aim and hits the parent in the head or groin.

But a thought just hit me–“hit” is not always a bad thing.

Sometimes we need something to smack us to jolt us out of our complacency, or to get our attention, or to stop us in our tracks. I believe God can use these surprise hits, these blind-sided whomps, to His glory.  It may be the truthful words of a trusted friend who knows us well enough to speak them.

Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it, for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers. Psalm 141:5

Yes, to “hit” someone with the intention to hurt them is wrong, no doubt. But to smack them with God’s truth in order to steer them back to His side is a good thing. Never strike out in anger, even if you feel justified. But, if the Holy Spirit prompts you to speak truth, even if you think it may cause hurt, pray on it. If your motivation is their welfare and not your own, then ask God to help you find the strength, the timing and the words to speak. Jesus at times was harsh-tongued, but all His words were said in love.

And if someone whacks you with Truth, no matter how much it hurts, take it to God and learn His purpose for it. Examine the validity. Ask God to shine the mirror  reflecting His Light onto your heart and show you what changes need to be made. Never hold a grudge on the person who brought your personality flaw to the surface.

Above all else, if someone hits you with the intent to cause pain, forgive them. Pray for them. (That doesn’t mean condone their behavior or allow them to abuse you.) Pray for our Lord to shield and shelter you, and also that He may touch the heart of the person who has hurt you. Their actions are most likely because, deep inside, they are hurting, too.

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Legitimate Lies

Posted in Books, tagged , , , , , , , on January 14, 2015| Leave a Comment »

God can be found in fiction novels, too. I have a tab above which lists the ones I recommend, and many more can be found on www.efictionfinds.com ( at least one posted a day is a free download onto your electronic device. The rest are under $4,00.)

Now, here is the blatant advertisement my newest faith-based, romantic suspense novel, Legitimate Lies, which launches today. Please check it out at http://amzn.to/1AbN1PN . (Also in paperback on Amazon and Amazon.uk)

Thanks,

(PS- even though it is definitely not offensive, You Tube has decided it may require you to turn off your safety mode before you can view it. Sorry. Who knows why?) You can also view it on my Facebook page: juliebcosgrove.tx

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“Delivery”

Posted in Devotional, tagged , , , , , on March 22, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Two blog  posts  hit my inbox today–  one from an anti-trafficking missionary, another from a writer of devotionals. One in the field, one at a desk. Same message: it can’t be about you.

“Your eyes and heart need to be constantly on Jesus. Not on the circumstance or the evil that you know exists, but the love you know is eternal.” Prayer For Freedom 

“Why would God call, consecrate, and commission us to share our faith, when many believers experience perceived failure and consider it mission: impossible? Often, perception doesn’t reflect reality. Actually, God never asks us to perform a task without empowering and equipping us to accomplish His task.”  Allan Mitchell – Power to Change

There is one thing which will stop the message of the GOSPEL from reaching the ears who need to hear it…my pride. To share the love of ID-10056738Christ, I must not worry about rejection, rolling eyes or retracting footsteps. I am to, when prompted,  share what I know: Jesus loves me and you so much He died to be with us,  He is the one gift we are supposed to re-gift.

Whether that truth comes out in actions, in words, or in a smile, I am not the one giving the gift of Life.  My Lord is, through me. I am just the one who delivers the package. Christ i  s the present that can be clutched to the heart, or left on the table unopened. I may be the first person to offer the gift, or the fiftieth. Each time, it is up to the receiver to accept it, lay it aside, or toss it in the trash,

Lord keep me from focusing more on the method of delivery instead of the gift, which is You. Let me realize I am not the one they are accepting or rejecting, I am only the one You have deemed to be the person who knocks on their door and says, “Delivery.”

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

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