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.

Another Country Church

Verse of the day
Deuteronomy 30:16 - For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.

The blessings we receive come from loving God and following him by walking in his ways. Every day poses new exciting opportunities to follow God.

These opportunities might be helping others, experiencing God's beauty with a thankful heart or spending time in prayer.

Today let's give thanks for our many blessings.

Heavenly Father, I give thanks today for my many blessings. I have a roof over my head, food on the table and a family who loves me. Above all that I look forward to the salvation into your Kingdom. There is much peace looking forward to your return.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Catholic Ukrainian Rural Church

Verse of the day
Luke 16:10 - If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.

When I worked as a manager in retail, training was crucial to have things done right. You also had to be aware of the employee's progress and skillset. I had to ask myself, could this employee handle the tasks I was giving and could they be trusted to get the job done.

As we walk with Jesus, God monitors how we are doing, what we can handle and what we can be trusted with. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He examines our faith and our faithfulness.

When we walk with God and are faithful in the small things, then larger opportunities will appear. This is how we grow as Christians. God needs to know we can be trusted to handle greater responsibility before He gives it to us. And sometimes, in our minds, we think we can do a lot more than we actually can.

God knows our minds and hearts. We may not get what we want because He knows we can't be trusted with such a responsibility. It is for our own good and aligns with God's will.

As a parent, we do the same thing with our children. We give them what we can entrust them with. Giving them too much responsibility can crush them, giving them too little can underdevelop their potential in adulthood.

The key to all of this is monitoring what is going on. How great it is that our Lord watches over us, giving us what we need. He provides opportunities of faith to see how we will handle situations. Will we panic and crumble or stand strong in the face of life's many obstacles. Will we rely on God's wisdom or our own strength.

The next time we face a struggle, crisis or tragedy, God is right there watching us with an open hand. Will we reach out to Him or let our problems take over our lives. As we trust more and more, his blessings become greater and greater.

Heavenly Father, Thank you for watching over me. Every time I stumble you are there to help me. I want my faith to grow and ask you to help me in all parts of my life. Help me to overcome any sin in my life, any mountains I need to climb or any vast valleys I need to cross.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Bridge Over Frozen Water

Verse of the day
James 1:19 - Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

I heard a pastor once say, "God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason." And how true that is! We need to listen twice as much as we speak.

If we are not slow to speak, we may not control our tongue and blurt out the first thing that comes to your mind. How many have done that? I know I have - many times.

In fact, chances are, we end up saying something we'll regret later. The lack of self-control that comes with blurting out something often hurts others. Being slow to speak gives us time to get control of our minds so that we can speak with kindness, gentleness and purity.

There are two areas where I find it's most common to lose control of your mouth. The first is in a conversation within a small group. Sometimes conversations veer into ungodly territory. And the natural response is to contribute to the conversation.

But without pausing for a brief moment, we end up speaking about things that we would not normally talk about. We may end up gossiping, telling dirty jokes, using swear words - all things not of God.

The second area where your mouth can quickly get you into trouble is in a heated argument. Because emotions are running high, we tend to speak defensively. Ironically we want to protect our dignity and respect, so during a heated argument, we put others down with insults, slander or derogatory comments. These are not only disrespectful, but shows no dignity at all. This kind of talk is also not of God.

A quick note about anger. The dangers of anger go far beyond one's emotion. It can can lead to hatred, impure speech and a multitude of sins. We can murder in our minds with our anger. Living a life of anger does not show Jesus to anyone.

We cannot pass off our anger as something God knows about and will let happen. NO!  We need to have self-control. Anger that leads to sin over and over and over again without repentance, but rather a cavalier attitude that says, "That's just me - I can't help it," has no place in the Kingdom of God.

As the Book of James states, let us control our mouths by listening more, think before we speak and get control of our anger.

Heavenly Father, Forgive me for not listening first, and saying things that are hurtful to others. Help me to be slow to become angry. May people see You through my speech and through my conduct.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Too Cold For Hockey

Verse of the day
Colossians 3:15 - And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

At times, I struggle with inner peace. I'm not sure exactly why that is. Perhaps it's me struggling with the plank in my eye as I see specks in others or maybe it's seeing evil running rampant in this world and many are embracing it, including our very own governments. Or it could be all of the news I watch.

Whatever it is, sometimes it can be overwhelming. There's some truth to the old saying, "Ignorance is bliss."

On the other hand, we as Christians should not be foolish or unaware of the things that are happening around us and the things to come. We just don't need to be engrossed in them.

Our main focus should be allowing Christ and his peace to dwell in our hearts. We do this by surrendering our minds to heavenly things rather than earthly things. We need to continually live a life of prayer and thanksgiving. Even in the darkest times of our lives, there are things we can give thanks for.

The peace we have inwardly should shine bright for everyone to see. The body of Christ is his believers. His church. We need to spread out peace with other believers in unity and love. We can do this by sharing and carrying each other's burdens.

I see the church today, as I do, struggle with peace. In fact, many smaller churches are struggling with attendance. Some are shutting down programs or even their doors, leaving many searching for other places to worship and fellowship.

We need a reawakening. We need to show our light in the community. We need to show the peace of Christ to those who struggle far worse than us, with things like addiction, depression and hopelessness.

Church cannot be on Sundays only. And the church should not only focus on reaching out to fellow believers (although that is important too). But we need to break the paradigm of Christians going to church to a belief that Christians ARE the church.

Let us spread the peace of Jesus to the world!

Heavenly Father, May I find peace in you. Let me not be consumed with this world but focus on you and the things of heaven. I thank you for your blessings. You have provided me with everything I need. As I live my life in you, give me the strength and opportunities to share your peace with others.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Frozen Forest

Verse of the day
Psalms 91:1 - Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

When we take on life our way, things can fall apart fast. When we become prideful and think our way is best, our lives become superficial. And when we lie to ourselves or live a lie, we become restless.

It's only when we throw our hands up in the air and surrender our lives to God will we live in peace. As we live and abide in God, he will give us rest.

This life can be tiring. We can get weary and may even find it impossible to go on, but we will find rest in Jesus.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” - Matthew 11:28‭-‬30

Heavenly Father, Forgive me for trying to live my life alone without you. I need to give you everything. I lift my burdens up to you. I seek rest in your shadow. Thank you for lifting me up when I am weak. Your strength endures forever.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Morning Winter Skies

Verse of the day
Colossians 2:6 - And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.

After that glorious day of accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior things can become difficult. You may find yourself feeling convicted of doing certain things that were ungodly and you struggle not to do them again.

Once we accept Jesus, we also accept his ways. We cannot go back living the way we used to. We need to give up our old ways and follow what Jesus teaches us in the Bible.

The Christian life isn't an easy life. You may feel like an outsider, it can be lonley at times and you will, at some point, be ridiculed or persecuted for your faith.

Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. - 2 Timothy 3:12

These are perfectly normal feelings and experiences. In fact, if we are a Christian and haven't experienced any lonliness, rejection or persecution, perhaps we're not following as close to Jesus as we need to be.

We need to decide who is the priority in our lives. Who do we please - man or God? Are we holding on to old ungodly habits? Are we practicing worldly traditions that we grew up with? Do we change who we are just to fit into a group or family? And do we sacrifice God's truth for worldly ways so that we don't offend anyone?

These are tough questions to ask ourselves, but they can determine how serious our relationship is with Jesus Christ. Jesus was the perfect example of following his father in the face of ridicule, persecution and even death. How close do we follow Jesus' ways?

But here is some Good News, we are not alone in our struggles. We can call out to God during our journey and He will help us through any difficult time. There is nothing we can't overcome or do with the power of Jesus.

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. - Philippians 4:13

Heavenly Father, Help me to overcome any old ungodly habits or traditions that is not of you. Transform my mind into focusing on you and your ways. Thank you for your divine power that gives us strength in our times of need. I also pray for those that persecute me, that they may seek and find you.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Endless Snowdrifts

Verse of the day
Acts 2:21 - But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

It is one of the most beautiful and reassuring things to hear that everyone can be saved. All they need to do is call on the name of the Lord - Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is the only way to be saved. The name of the Lord is above all names. Salvation cannot be bought with money or good works, nor cannot be found in any other god, nor any other name.

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

Because salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, anyone wanting to be saved, regardless of their past, can be saved simply by calling upon His name.

If you are reading this and are asking yourself if you can be saved by a loving God, the answer is YES! Jesus awaits your response. He is ready to forgive any and all sin that you struggle with. All you need to do is call upon Him with a simple prayer.

Dear Jesus,
I confess that I am a sinner. Please forgive me of my sins. 

Today, I make you Lord of my life. I confess with my mouth and believe in my heart that you are the Son of God, that you are Lord and that God raised you from the dead. Come and cleanse my heart. Fill me with your Holy Spirit.

Thank you for your salvation and the gift of eternal life. Teach me how to live for you as you walk with me.

Amen.

If you prayed that simple prayer, you are saved! The next steps are to continue to grow in God through His Word and with fellowship of other Christians.

Steeple Through The Trees

Verse of the day

Galatians 6:9 - So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

Let's face it. It's much easier to do something for ourselves or nothing at all than to do good for others. Doing good often takes sacrifice of time, effort and/or money. It can also be downright difficult if we're trying to do good to others that don't appreciate it or are hard to love.

The flip side is that doing good builds a harvest of blessing. One that we will reap if we don't give up. These blessings can be in the form of unspeakable joy that we experience as we do good. Or it might be healing we experience. Unexpected provision or God's hand guiding us in the right direction. Whatever the blessing, it can be reaped through doing good to others.

But there are times when we get tired. Weary. We try to do good, but nothing changes. Our struggles continue and there is no relief. Or we hoped that by doing good to others it may have set an example, but alas our good deeds have fallen on deaf ears. It can feel disappointing, hopeless and frustrating.

But God takes note of our perserverance. By not giving up and being faithful in doing good, God awaits His perfect time to shower us with His blessings. But I believe far too often we give up too early.

We live in a time of instant results. I want my food now and hot. I want to buy now and pay later. I don't want to wait for my app to download. I hate waiting to be served.

It reminds me of a song I heard on TV from the band Queen. The lyrics go like this:

I want it all (yes I want it all)

I want it all hey

I want it all and I want it now

We want EVERYTHING and we want it NOW. But, we need to have the mindset of a farmer or gardener. Not only do we plant seeds of faith to grow and mature in others, but we also plant seeds of blessings for ourselves. These seeds take time to grow and bear fruit. We need to be patient. As they grow, we need to take care of them. 

We need to persevere and keep on doing good in the tough times. Even when we're broke, tired, cranky or feeling selfish. If we give up, we may miss out on God's blessings.

May we be reminded that, even if doing good can be hard work, it's most definitely worth it in the long run.

Heavenly Father, Give me the strength to press on doing good for others even in the toughest times. I've seen and experienced your blessings when I faithfully perservere. Thank you for your many blessings and all that you provide.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Supermoon Drifting Away From Earth

Verse of the day
Isaiah 40:28 - Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding.

I enjoy watching Mythbusters. It's a show that uses science to disprove myths from everything from scenes in movies to old wives tales to events in history. And although the show is quite entertaining and the science looks cool, where does faith come in?

Science and faith don't always mix. There are some mysteries science cannot prove without some theory behind it. The laws science uses are natural laws. And we do live in a natural world, but our Creator is supernatural. That means God has powers much greater than the natural laws on earth.

So when it comes to the creation of earth, the worldly view looks through the eyes of science. But believers in God, look at creation through faith. We know God is more powerful than we could ever understand. 

God's recorded miracles defy science. They are mysteries of the supernatural. They go beyond science and no theory based on natural laws could ever prove the power of God.

No science could explain the parting of the Red Sea, walking on water, turning water into wine, healing the blind or resurrecting the dead. There are many more accounts of miracles too numerous to mention.

If we, as Christians, believe these miracles to be true, then we must also believe God created the earth in a supernatural way that science cannot prove. One of God's greatest miracle is the creation of earth.

It defies science how the earth was created so perfectly to sustain life. We live and thrive on a planet within a lifeless universe that is so vast we cannot comprehend its size. 

Sure we see can look to the stars and see God's creation as it He intended it to be. But no matter how much we want to find other intelligent life out in space, we will never find it. We're it - so let's give thanks to our Creator who gave us life abundantly on earth.

Heavenly Father, You are the one and only creator of earth. It did not happen by chance but by your divine purpose. Your power is beyond our understanding. Thank you for your creation (both big and small). From the largest star in the sky to the smallest insect, you created a wonderful universe filled with mysteries man will never solve. All praise to the creator of the Heavens and Earth!

In Jesus' name,

Amen.