Need Your Help

"The upright will ask Him: 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food; thirsty and give you drink, or a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to see you?' The King will answer, 'Truly, I say to you: whenever you did this to one of the least, of these my brothers, you did it to me'" - Matthew 25:37-40

For a while now there's been a ministry I've wanted to start and I would like you to help me. Jesus calls us to be light and salt of the world - light which shines and let's people see our faith and salt that preserves the faith of His people. This blog, these messages are light because God speaks through this and builds our faith, but we're missing the salt. When Jesus asks me if I fed His people, gave drink to His people, clothed them, welcomed them, I can't say that I have, but I want to. That's where you come in… please join me to become salt. I would like to start a community of people that join together to identify needs and work together to provide for those needs. For example, if one of us knows someone who needs some money and doesn't have the resources, we join together to help. If one of us knows someone who is going on an interview and can't afford a formal outfit, we join together to help. Or even if we know someone who is older and just needs some company, we join together to help.

Even if you're someone who doesn't particularly like to go to church or pray often, for being a part of something like this, God will immensely bless you and give you much more than what you will be giving away.

Please pray about this and get back to me so we can build this for the sake of others. Jesus will be asking you…

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, by Your grace You have given me so much. I am Your hands and Your feet, use me to do Your work for Your people. In Your Name we pray, amen.

What ARE You Doing?

"Brothers, what good is it to profess faith without showing works? Such faith has no power to save you." - James 2:14

Being a good person is often viewed in terms of what we don't do. Someone could say, "I'm a good person; I don't cheat, I don't kill, I don't steal." Great! Good for you! But now tell me… what ARE you doing?

A sin of omission, holding back on a good we could have done for someone, is just as bad as actively committing a sin. When an opportunity comes for you to help someone, you better believe that's God putting that in your way for you to lend a hand. It could be the time someone asked to borrow 20 bucks, although you knew they wouldn't pay you back. It could be the time that annoying person called you because they needed to talk to someone. It could be that woman you saw carrying all the bags to her car by herself. The bible says that even the demons believe in God and tremble, so if you say you believe in God and pass up these opportunities to actually do good for people God has put in your way, how is your faith any different than that of the demons? In the end, God will decide we're good people based on the work we did for Him, not from just believing. How do we show God we believe if not by the actions we take?

And don't stop at just helping out when a situation arises… look for these situations! Talk to someone who is depressed about the love of God! Be inspired to be a blessing for others. It's not all about you and what you need from God! There are people going through serious hardships, and if you want God to bless you, you better be willing to be a blessing to other people. Saying you believe in God can't save you, but living a life dedicated to the service of others will.

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, in the same way You spent Your life serving others, I want to spend mine doing Your work. Help me see those that need my assistance. I am here to do Your will, My Lord. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Nothing Will Be Against Us

"What shall we say after this? If God is with us, who shall be against us?" - Romans 8:31

This is a verse of victory through adversity. As you know, I was sad yesterday but thanks to your prayers, I have been uplifted. It's so easy to forget the power of God when we're going through trials and even easier to overlook it when our faith is lacking, but that does not change the truth - if God is on our side, who can defeat us/ what can hurt us? I can see myself up to the neck in trouble, but that's as far as it will go because God is on my side. He protects me for I know His Name. If He watches out for me in the small things, the power of His hand is astonishing in the big things. Nothing can ever hurt us if we cling on to Him, even though in this life, trials occur at every corner. This should be a reason for hope. He is with you to protect you against any evil, any fear, any worry. Rely on Him for health problems, rely on Him for financial problems, emotional problems. Anything, He can and will overcome if you truly trust in Him.

One of my readers wrote me today and told me how she was going through some financial difficulties, and without even asking for it, she was offered a job and she starts on Monday. She told me, "God is good!" She expressed how she just decided to trust in Him and now she has seen His care for her. There is nothing too big or even too small that the Lord Almighty can't deliver you from! Praise Him for He really is good and deserves our deepest adoration.

Today's Prayer:
My Lord, forgive me for not being more grateful for the way You take care of me. Thank You for reminding me that with my eyes fixed on You, nothing can EVER harm me for I am protected by Your love and faithfulness. In Your Name we pray, Amen.

Lend When There Is Nothing to Receive

"Do to others as you would have others do to you. If you love only those who love you, what kind of graciousness is yours? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do favors to those who are good to you, what kind of graciousness is yours? Even sinners do the same. If you lend only when you expect to receive, what kind of graciousness is yours? For sinners also lend to sinners, expecting to receive something in return. But love your enemies and do good to them and lend when there is nothing to expect in return. Then will your reward be great and you will be children of the Most High. For He is kind towards the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." - Luke 6:31-36

What a hard thing to do! I could think of a couple of people right now that I'd rather be really mean to, but Jesus is calling me to do good right now as He is calling you.

We all know how you have to love your enemies and turn the other cheek but I want to focus on another message in this passage - "lend when there is nothing to expect in return." This doesn't necessarily mean to give something material, but it means to give of yourself. Maybe do a favor to someone in need or listen to them when they need help.

I know many of us need someone to lend to us, help us, but the best way to receive really is to give. By "lending" to someone, you're doing God the favor of helping out one of His children, and in the same way you helped them, God will make sure that someone helps you in your time of need. As the scripture says, even sinners help others, so what makes you any different from someone who doesn't believe in Jesus if you help only those who will help you in return?

For the love of God, step outside of your world today, out of your troubles and the things you want and look around you. Who do you see around you that could use some help from you today? Does your mom need some help with the dishes? Does the old lady crossing the street need your help? Maybe someone just really needs to be told that you appreciate them. I'm sure that if you look, there is something small that you can do that will mean a great deal to someone else! People always ask God for help or for a miracle, but God works through you and I to provide those miracles. I heard someone say recently that we need to be other people's miracles, so please open yourselves so that God can create miracles through you.

Today's Prayer:
Jesus, I know that I can be so selfish and only think about what I want and what I need, but please help me to see outside of myself to the people around me that I am able to touch. Put love in my heart so that I am able to please you by giving of myself to others. In Your name we pray, Amen.