Encourage One Another

 

Verse of the day

Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. ~ Proverbs12:25

I'd be lying if I said I didn't worry. In fact I believe everyone worries at some point in their life. I'm not a big worrier but from time to time, I fall and need to be lifted up again.

When we worry, we often lose touch of who we are in God's Kingdom and we lose focus on His ways and his perfect plan for our lives. When I say perfect plan, I don't mean we get whatever we want. After all our lives are to be lived to glorify Christ - not ourselves. It's these simple reminders that can lift us out of a funk.

The body of Christ is called to do just that. Help others who are down. A simple word of encouragement can lift a brother or sister's spirit. We may not be able to ever solve the problem but encouragement goes a long way.

Much of the time it is just being around one another and lending an ear. If I know I'm not alone in this world, then my problems are not insurmountable. If I hear encouraging words or words of love and caring, many times that will drive out despair. 

Let us all be in unity with one another, lifting each other up.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the beauty that surrounds us. Thank you for the beautiful sunrise this morning. And thank you that you gave me a voice to speak to others in love and with encouragement. And may we all do this for your glory Lord.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Live What You Believe

 

Verse of the day

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.  Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. ~ John 11:25‭-‬26

There were many examples of Jesus trying to convince people to believe in him and love in him. Many did, but many struggled to do so. Even His closest disciples could not fully grasp who Jesus was.

Even after centuries of study and God's revelation to us, to this day, many will not believe. Even those claiming to be Christians will learn about Jesus. Even call him Lord, but do not truly believe in Him. They choose not to live in Jesus but of this world.

In order to live for Jesus we must acknowledge who he is. Jesus is 100% God, 100% Living Truth and 100% our Lord and Savior. As we live our lives we must pray, listen and obey what He has spoken to our hearts. We must live out God's truth.

In today's world, we are told how to live as it is becoming more and more opposite of how God intended is to live. Choosing to live for Christ is becoming increasingly difficult. But we must overcome this world. Every day that passes is a day closer to our Lord's return. Let us not be caught unaware.

Heavenly Father,

Your son Jesus had saved us from our sins. You are most powerful and the only one we can trust with our lives. May I listen and obey to every word you put on my heart.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Don't Hold On To This Life

Verse of the Day

People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. ~ 1 Peter 1:24

When we start out in life, we have many dreams of achievements, going places, becoming a person with many accomplishments. And for some they will achieve what they set as their goal. But in the end, whatever we have accomplished or acquired will wither away.

Even our youthful beauty is but a glimpse in eternity. It also fades away as we get older. In our latter years, our priorities change. What we strived so hard for in the previous years, are not as important as our loved ones who surround us.

When we became a Christian our old life begins to fade away and we now look forward to an eternal life with Christ. One that doesn't tarnish, wither or fades away but one filled with love for Jesus and others.

It is this love that is eternal. As long as we remain in Christ, that love will never fail. It is eternal and can be experienced in this life and the life after our physical death. Let us focus on that love for Christ and one another.

Heavenly Father,

I thank you for reminding me that the things of this earth are only temporary but a life in you is eternal. While I may see things around me fade away, I do not have to lose hope in an eternal life with you.

May I set my eyes upon you and not lose focus on what is most important in this life...and that is LOVE.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Overcoming Hardships

Verse of the Day

Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. ~ James 5:13

Everyone suffers through hardships. I haven't met a person who hasn't gone through a trial or a difficult time in their life. It could be financial problems, health issues, loss of a loved one or any number of things that throw life into chaos.

So what do we do when faced with an overwhelming hardship? Many of us will one of two things. We will go down a self-destructive path or we will seek a more positive outcome.

Those in Christ can be rest assured that we have hope in these very instances. We are not alone in our trials. God is always with us and will never forsake us.

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you. ~ Deuteronomy 31:6

We need to pray and cry out to the Lord. We need to seek him in our times of suffering. And as hard as it can be, we also need to praise him in our tough times. We do this to acknowledge that he is all powerful and in control when we give him our lives.

We have hope in Christ when we pray. As we lift up our God in praises, he will lift our spirits up. He will show us healing and perseverance in the darkest hours. Your faith will be renewed and you will have the strength to carry on.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for walking with me when I struggle and feel like nothing else will help. You are all powerful, you are all loving and you care about me. You lift me up when I feel like there is no hope. May I put all my hope in you and sing praises every step of the way.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.
 

For the Love of Money

 

Verse of the day

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ~ Matthew 6:19

We all need provision to survive. Our lives depend on it. We buy food, clothing and use money to put a roof over our head. We also buy things that are often not necessary to live. These things (or wants) entertain us and we just can't seem to get enough of these things. 

But no matter how much one accumulates, it never satisfies. Money can buy you everything you've ever dreamed of. And when you obtain many of these things, they are great for awhile but the excitement begins to tarnish and we're off looking for the next best thing. There is no peace in striving for material wealth or items.

There is peace when we pause and give thanks to the Lord who has provided us with food to eat, a family to love and covers all of our basic necessities. In fact we are not to worry about any of these needs. God will provide them to us.

Let us remember who gave us our blessings and what truly makes us happy. 

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your provision you give me each day. Your promises are given so that I may believe in, rely on and expect them with a thankful heart. I pray for your continued blessings and may I not get wrapped up in the love of money but love for the Creator of all things.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Living the Word of God

When I first began to read the Bible it was through a King James Version (KJV). Not only did I feel overwhelmed not knowing where to start but I found the language difficult to read. After many years of reading many different versions of the Bible, I no longer am intimidated by the KJV translation but I also find that other versions can sometimes fill in the gaps in helping me understand God's word.

My favorite translation to read is the New Living Translation (NLV). The language is in everyday language I use. Some may argue that it isn't the most accurate translation but I believe the overall meaning has been preserved and is helpful for devotional time with God.

The words "New Living" reminds me of how I should live my life. We are made new when we come to make Jesus Christ the Lord of our lives. And when we are made new in Him, then we should live new lives as well. The transformation, for many, doesn't always happen overnight. It can take time to overcome bad habits, old sins and temptations that have plagued us in our former life.

But when we read the Bible, how do we actually take what is reads and apply it to our lives. It's not always easy jumping from one culture to our current culture. Or perhaps the time period over 2,000 years ago may not seem as relevant today. We have to remember that the truths found in the Bible are eternal. They haven't changed and never will.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. ~Hebrews 13:8

When we read God's word, let us not just skim by the truths He has revealed to us. It is not enough to know what God tells us but to be obedient and to live these truths out in our everyday lives. And sometimes this isn't easy to do. Sometimes it goes against what everyone else is telling us to do. 

To stand firm in God's word (especially when you're the only one), will give you faith and strength to preserve through the most difficult times. Those moments you choose to believe and live by faith rewards you with a peace and closeness to God that the world cannot touch.

May we continue to learn and live in obedience to God's word as it is the only form of truth we can trust.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your word. Thank you for your truth. You have not changed in over the centuries. You continue to be my guiding light when things are dark all around me. You guide my path and protect me from evil.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Jesus is coming to take us home soon

Prepare everyone your hearts. If you don't know Jesus, seek him out NOW. There isn't much time before his return. God bless you all. 

Farewell For Now

Update
Unfortunately, I am putting this blog on hold. I've recently started a job where my schedule often leaves me very little time to focus on writing or photography. I hope you enjoyed seeing new pictures every day and reading the daily verse and devotion. Thank you for stopping by.

For all those seeking or growing in the Lord, I encourage everyone to continue to seek and grow in the wisdom of the Lord. The free Bible app will continue to send you a daily verse of the day. Please seek out a good Bible based church and tell others of the Good News.

Perhaps if circumstances change, I will start this blog up again.

God bless.

Greg Silver

Roots in the Shadows

Verse of the day
Romans 15:4 - Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

Prophecies tell us what is to come. They can also be considered God's promises as every prophecy written either has been fulfilled or will be someday. There are still prophecies both in the Old Testament and New Testament that have yet to be fulfilled in regards to the end times.

As I read the news or witness the world around me, I see how fast we are moving to the very end. Yet, no one knows the exact time when Jesus will return.

However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. - Matthew 24:36

And even though we do not know the day or hour we can still find hope and encouragement in the Scriptures until the last of God's promises have been fulfilled.

We know in life there are many troubles, turmoil and tragedies. In the end times these will all be greater and more extreme. How wonderful it is to have God's word to comfort us. He speaks through every word on every page. It is Holy.

As we continue on our journey to the end, let us persevere and learn what God's word has in store for our lives. Let us find hope and encouragement in the Scriptures. And may we all be blessed knowing that God's word will last forever and we can count on His promises.

Heavenly Father, Your word is truth to my heart. You have given me hope and encouragement when life feels overwhelming. You teach us daily through your Word how to live a life full of love for you, ourselves and others. Thank you for the Scriptures you deliberately, purposefully and carefully had written. It has changed my life in more ways I could ever express.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Clear Skies Ahead

Verse of the day
Proverbs 21:2 - People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart.

There are times in our lives when we believe we are doing the right thing, but in fact we are doing something wrong. As all sin comes from the heart, God knows every secret motive we have.

An example of this can be found in the Bible during the time shortly after the death of Jesus. It was a time when the Holy Spirit came to dwell among the believers. Everyone met in homes and with the apostles learning, worshipping and giving.

Some would even sell their land so that the poor could live. Ananias and Sapphira were one such couple who sold their land. They kept some of the money for themselves thinking with their own eyes they were doing what was right for them. However, God knew what was in their hearts and the outcome for both of them was death.

But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest. 

Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!” 

As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified. Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him. 

About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?” 

“Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.” 

And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.” 

Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened. - Acts 5:1‭-‬11

We can lie to others and we can lie to ourselves thinking we are in the right, but we cannot lie to God. He sees every motive, every secret and every hidden desire that comes from our heart.

And as in the case of Ananias and Sapphira, there are consequences to our actions. We may not experience a physical death but certainly a spiritual one unless we confess our sins before Jesus.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6:23

Let us seek out God's truth as revealed in scripture. And may our hearts exemplify this truth with pure and honest motives.

Heavenly Father, You know me better than I know myself. Examine my heart and reveal to me any impure motives, secret desires or selfish ambitions that may corrupt my character and lead me away from you. Give me strength to do what is right and let my heart not be corrupted by the things of this world.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Early Morning Frosted Bales

Verse of the day
Romans 4:7 - Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight.

Sin can take on many different forms. It can come from our actions. And it can come from our thoughts. It is destructive, disobedient and deadly.

It's what separates us from God and, except for Jesus, everyone single one of us sins.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. - Romans 3:23

But the Good News is that through the death and resurrection of Jesus, we can be forgiven of our sins when we ask him. God eagerly awaits us to come to him. By confessing our sins to God, we acknowledge that we are in need of a savior.

Without coming to Jesus, we cannot be saved. Jesus is the ONLY way to God, the Father. No one else can save you from your sin.

Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. - John 14:6

There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. - Acts 4:12

Once our sins are forgiven and have given our lives to Jesus, we are no longer a slave to sin. It no longer controls our destiny. Our sins are put out of sight when we are forgiven.

I know personally, the past sometimes creeps up and I am reminded of my sinful past. Sometimes it's my own thoughts that remind me. Sometimes it's others.

Regardless, I have to remember that once my sin is forgiven, I need not be reminded or be forgiven again. It is in the past and I only need to look forward to the future.

The Apostle Paul took that stance when he said,

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, - Philippians 3:13

Past sins can haunt us if we allow them. Don't let them. Let us make every effort to learn from our past sins and move on. We must press on and preserve to the very end.

Heavenly Father, Thank you that you are a loving and forgiving God. You've provided me with a way to be forgiven of my sins through your son, Jesus Christ. Help me to forget the past and look forward to what lies ahead.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.