Unwavering Confidence in God through Jesus Christ

Hello Dear Friends,

  How are you this week as you get ready for the Christmas season? I hope you are having many joyful moments with friends and family as you prepare. If you are without family during this wonderful time, I pray God will bring the right people into your life at just the right time to bring you joy and comfort. No matter what your situation, I hope you are clinging to Jesus and His great love for you; this is where pure joy is found.

  There is no one in heaven or on earth more deserving of our unwavering confidence than God through Jesus Christ. If God’s people will daily draw near to Him, He will be faithful to open our hearts to know Him more and more. We then will come to understand the magnitude of love that God has for us through reading His Word, journaling, and depending on Him daily. God’s people will receive confidence in His ability to comfort them, counsel them, heal them, protect them, lead them, and love them unconditionally. God’s people are able to do powerful things for God’s glory when they put their trust and confidence in Him every day of their lives. There are many of God’s people who don’t draw near to Him daily, so they are unable to receive the wisdom only God can give. They are still holding their confidence in other things besides Him. They are unable to honor God with their lives this way.

  God’s faithfulness extends through all eternity. When God's people faithfully seek Him daily, He will reveal Himself to us, and open our hearts to receive His wisdom and His love. When we as God's children put our hope and confidence in God, we can know that everything we need we can receive from Him. God freely gives His love, His protection, His peace, His wisdom and counsel even in the little things. The glory of God is shown through those who put their full confidence in God. We can trust God to give all that we need to accomplish all that He asks of us. There is nothing God won’t do for those who love Him.

  God’s children who know Him, but don’t place their confidence in Him, have hearts that are closed to receiving the abundance God desires to give them. They are not living daily to honor God; they are still living for themselves. God will do whatever it takes to reach their hearts and turn them completely to Him, to honor Him daily. This is God’s will and desire for all of His people.

  God’s servant David learned from an early age to depend on Him with complete confidence. His life reflects the life of a normal person who believed in God’s Word. David put his complete hope and trust in what God declared over his life. David went into many battles where the stakes were stacked against him and his army. But David had the confidence to know that with the Lord leading the battle, and if he obeyed His direction, David would win the battle. There is a great peace in our hearts when we realize that God can be trusted with everything.

    My unwavering confidence in Jesus Christ comes from my relationship with Him. This relationship has been developing for over nine years now. I know now, that even though I didn’t know Him personally like I do now, Jesus has always been with me, watching over me, protecting me, and directing the path that my life would go. As I have come to know Him even more, I know that there is no one else who is capable of loving my heart and soul the way He does. This love He has shown to me has helped me to let go of my striving slowly but surely, so I can let Him care for me each day. This process of surrender and submission to His authority and will is only possible because I trust Him completely with my whole life. I may not like some things He causes me to go through, but I know He lets me go through difficulties to help me grow. I love everything about Jesus, and I would do anything He asked of me. I know He has moved mountains for me already or I probably wouldn’t be here writing these letters to you wonderful people. I praise Him every day for His will over my life.

  “I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13

  “Praise be to the Lord, for He has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song. The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.” Psalm 28:6-9

  “…the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.” Proverbs 3:26

  There is no one on earth who is more dependable, and no one in the heavens more unchanging than God. Everyone who truly knows God through Jesus Christ is able to put their unwavering confidence in Him. This is because they know He truly loves them and wants the very best for them. Some of God’s children don't live daily to honor Him. They still live for themselves.  They don’t have the confidence that God is in control of their lives, so they miss out on many wonderful blessings. They are not honoring God with their lives, because they are not seeking Him for direction and guidance to do His will. Let's live this week entirely for our wonderful God. Put aside our doubts and self will and just live wholeheartedly for Him alone.

  We will continue to read Psalm 26-30 for one more week.

Blessings,

 Patricia Terrell

The Lord Loves and Cares for Each of His Children

Hello Dear Friends,

  How are you doing this week? Do you sense the presence of the Lord with you each day? Or, has it been awhile since you have felt His love and presence? I hope you are daily experiencing His grace and peace in your life. If there has been dryness in your walk with Jesus, just remember there is always hope. His love is waiting for you to come and desire Him more than anything else.

  There is great peace in Jesus, the One who created the heavens and the earth and everything in them, when His children choose to walk with Him daily. Every step we take, every thought we think, and every word we speak should be done with God’s grace and love. Then we will walk in peace and rest in Him. But when we don’t look to Him, He is unable to guide us or teach us what He desires. Our lives will be filled with anxiety and confusion. Those of us who choose our own way are not choosing God’s protection, His peace, and His abundant grace and love.

  As we grow in faith in Jesus and learn about who He is, we will understand how much we can trust in His love. If we, as God’s children, will daily seek after Him for all our needs with a soft heart, willing to learn and be reshaped into the person He desires us to be, then there is nothing He can’t do in our lives. We will experience a peace in knowing that someone greater and wiser than us loves us, desires to care for us, and wants the very best for us.

  It saddens God’s heart to see His children struggle in one way or another because we are unwilling to seek Him. There are so many things He would like to do in each of our lives that would bring glory to His Name and shine His light in this dark world. The problem is many of us are unwilling to seek God’s love and abundant care for our lives. So, God graciously continues to stand near by us and patiently waits for the day we will realize He is the only One who truly loves us and desires to care for us.

  God’s servant David was wise in that he knew God and trusted in His strength, His righteousness, and His perfect will. David knew that God was right there with him all the time. David put his whole life into God’s hands knowing He would take care of all of his needs, protect, and care for him. Because of this trust in the God of Israel, David faced off against a giant more than twice his size, unarmed. God made a way for David to have victory because faith brought honor to God’s Name.

  The gracious love and care of Jesus in my life goes back to a year and a half before I was saved. As Jesus brought other Christians into my life, who gave me materials like books, sermon CD’s, and their friendship, I was able to be lead in the right direction. Throughout the years there have been countless ways that Jesus has provided wonderful friends and daily devotionals that speak to me right where I am. He also helps me by causing me to stumble across music and movies that help me see what He is trying to teach me. Jesus has inspired me to buy books that have taught me what He desired me to learn about. His calming voice has also been a comfort and guide. I am eternally grateful for all the ways Jesus has cared for me, and loved me.

  “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His Names sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me, Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23

  “After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church – for we are members of His Body.” Ephesians 5:29-30

  “May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

  As we go about our days, I would like to encourage you to keep your eyes and ears open to all the big or little ways Jesus may be working in your life. Seek after Him for all you need and wait for Him to provide and take care of your needs in His timing. When we seek after God, our relationship with Him will grow. If we don’t seek after God daily, we may not notice any of the many ways He is speaking to us. Everything He desires to teach us is to help us be all that He created us to be.

We will begin reading Psalm 26-30 for two weeks.

Blessings,

Patricia Terrell

Our Strength in Jesus

  Hello Dear Ones,

  How are you doing this week? Is this week going well for you, or are you struggling in some way? I hope that things are going well and you are being blessed by God in many ways. If things are not going so well, I hope that you are staying close to Jesus through it, you will have peace even in the worst of storms.

  If we as God’s children grow in His strength and wisdom, we will learn the truth about the ways He has gifted us to serve in His strength. As we embrace our gifts and strengths we learn to serve God daily as He leads us, for His glory. When we daily seek God for His will, our gifts will be put to use to advance the kingdom of God. Unfortunately, many of us who are God’s children don’t know about our God given strengths and gifts, because we don’t seek after Him. We do what we think is best to do in service to God, and sadly our lives are not a blessing to God or to others. If we did, God would teach us the strengths and wisdom He has given us. God desires all of us to know and understand all the ways He has gifted us. God desires us to know the strength we have in Him because we are His children.

  God’s will is that all His children seek after Him. When we do this, we will come to know who God created us to be. There are many ways that God’s children are able to serve, but unless it is a job that we have been gifted to do by God, and in His will, we  are missing the most important part. If God and His strength are not in what we do, there is no blessing, it is just duty. The child of God who seeks after Him with all their heart and desires His Will, will flourish and be a blessing in all that they do. This is because God’s strength and will are going before them, before us, leading the way.

  In Psalm 21, The Lord’s servant David wrote a song of praise to God for the victories he had in battle. David knew it was God’s strength that caused the victory. David was faithful to seek God’s will and then God granted him the desires of his heart, because it was God’s desire. David went into battle trusting God, and he returned victorious and was given honor. The greatest blessing was given to God as David praised Him for His strength that brought victory.

  My ability to serve God and others is given to me by God. There is nothing that I do on my own that is worthy of blessing. As I daily follow Jesus through the Holy Spirit, I find that I am given all that I need to accomplish His will. My focus must be on Jesus and seeking after His will for my life. Then as I go about doing what He desires, everyone involved receives blessings and they praise God for all He has done.

  “Oh Lord, the king rejoices in your strength. How great is his joy in the victories You give! You have granted the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips… Through the victories You gave, his glory is great; You have bestowed on him splendor and majesty. Surely You have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. For the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken… Be exalted, O Lord, in Your strength; we will sing and praise your might.” Psalm 21:1-2 & 5-7 & 13

  “Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:15-20

  “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

  Our spiritual gifts and strengths are given by God to His children for the purpose of advancing the kingdom of God. This is accomplished by serving those in the church and outside the church. These gifts need to be developed and strengthened by seeking after God's help in each direction as we grow in our gifts. If we have our own ideas about how we will serve God, then we are not seeking after God and we can not expect Him to bless what we do. We are just striving, and not getting anywhere. God knows the plans that He has for you. Put your trust in His perfect will for your abilities to serve Him, and He will help you be a blessing to Him and many others.

We will continue reading Psalm 21-25 for one more week.

Blessings,

Patricia Terrell