Encouraging Notes

Don’t be surprised if the things that you really want in life are difficult to obtain! Please understand; there is nothing in life that is truly worth achieving that is easy. Anyone who says that it is easy to achieve greatness is lying! Indeed, greatness requires doing hard things. Losing weight, getting in shape, being successful in business or marriage, or producing anything of real value or excellence will require hard work!

Matthew 7:13-14 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow, and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. (NLT)

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Do you not know that in a race, all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore, I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (NIV)

Those who choose the “couch potato” way of living find out that poverty, obesity, purposelessness, depression, and hopelessness will chase them down!

Prov 20:4 Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest.

Prov 12:24 Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor. (NIV)

Success is not a stroke of luck but rather a choice to pursue what God has told you to do with diligence. The path of least resistance does not pay off in the long run! Those who are willing to do the hard work upfront are those who will experience the best future! Of this, you can be sure; greatness comes to those willing to do hard things!

How about it? Are you ready to grab life by the horns and pursue God’s dreams for your life with diligence and tenacity? My dear friend, God wants to come alongside your hard work and empower you to step into the blessing he has desired for you all along! As you go, just keep this in the back of your mind; the easiest way isn’t really…

THE EASY WAY

Read More

Have you ever had someone tell you something you didn’t want to hear but knew it was the truth that you needed to hear? Those who are willing to set you down and, in love, tell you what you don’t want to hear are the ones who genuinely care about you!

Prov 27:5-6 An open rebuke is better than hidden love! 6 Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.

People often don’t want to get in another person’s business because they don’t want to go through the possible pain of being rejected or misunderstood. But, God calls us to love each other enough to confront those things that could hurt the people we care about.

Mat 18:15 If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.

Sometimes, the only way you can sincerely love your brother or sister is to confront them about something that hinders or could even destroy their lives. This kind of love is not easy, but it is what real love does. The Bible instructs us to love one another deeply from the heart.

1 Pet 1:22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.

Loving someone deeply, from the heart, will at times require you to say difficult things! Apostle Paul gave this instruction to the Galatian church.

Gal 6:1-2 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Often, when someone is struggling with sin, they feel burdened on the inside and walk around carrying a load that seems too heavy to bear! They need to be set free! When you sincerely love them, you are willing to do what is hard so that you can help them be set free from their burden. I am praying for you today – I am asking God to fill you with his love and with his wisdom. May you care so deeply that you will, by faith, step out and prayerfully, lovingly, and gently help them…

REMOVE THE BURDEN!

Read More

If you, and one other person, would be willing to fight a well-trained and well-equipped army of hundreds of thousands of men, you would be considered as either Crazy, out of your mind, wanting to commit suicide or, a person that knows something nobody else knows! Well, this is precisely the situation Jonathan and his armor-bearer found themselves facing in this gripping story found in the 13th and 14th chapters of 1st Samuel.

1 Sam 13:5 The Philistines assembled to fight Israel, with three thousand chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth Aven.

1 Samuel 14:6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.” (NIV84)

The outcome of the story was nothing less than a miracle from God! As Jonathan and his armor-bearer stepped out in total reliance upon the Spirit of the Living God, supernatural power showed up! After Jonathan and his armor-bearer had killed 20 men in a small field about the size of 1/2 an acre, God’s power showed up, and the enemy was soundly defeated that day! Jonathan was willing to step out upon what he believed the Holy Spirit was telling him to do. He wasn’t crazy or out of his mind, and he definitely wasn’t trying to commit suicide! Jonathan knew what others did not know; he knew that God would fight for him if he would trust him and step out! Bold trust in God is a sign of someone through whom God will move mightily!

Never forget this; when you are willing to listen to and trust in the Lord, no enemy can successfully stand up against you! I am praying today that you will listen to the Holy Spirit, put your complete trust in what he is saying and step out because God can save whether by many or few or even…

JUST YOU!

Read More

Luke 5:16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Have you ever wondered why Jesus often withdrew to lonely places to pray? Have you ever wondered if he felt obligated to fulfill a religious duty? Do you think he ever felt like he was less of a person when he was not out there praying in that secluded place? Do you think he ever felt condemned when he did not pray “enough?”

When a young man has found the woman of his dreams, does he feel obligated to hang out with her and talk to her? Does he feel condemned because he didn’t spend enough time with her? NO! When I met my wife, I wanted to spend every waking moment with her! I wanted to talk to her all the time! Even when I wasn’t with her, she was always on my mind. This is what happens to someone who finds out about God’s beauty, love, and grace! When someone understands the immensity of God’s love and grace, they can never be the same again!

Though it is true, if we do not spend time with or think about that special person of our dreams, that love can fade and even disappear. Though once special, it is possible to get caught up with other loves and miss out on the blessing God had in store for us. Apostle Paul gave the Colossian church this great advice, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2

The absolute, most precious relationship you will ever experience is your relationship with the one who made you! He is more beautiful than words can describe and loves you more than you can fathom! The more you explore the glory of who he is, the more you will fall in love with him!

I am praying for you today. I believe that this is your day for a breakthrough in your mind, will, and emotions! Today is your day to be so fulfilled inside the love of your life that hurt, pain, and worry are removed and erased! Today is your day for that radiance and sparkle that comes upon one who feels loved to fill your being! Yes! It is time for the love you’ve always longed for to saturate your soul! Today, my dear friend, I am asking God to grant you the revelation that will cause you to be filled with his love like never before! May today be a day where you, like Jesus, find yourself longing for…

A LONELY PLACE TO PRAY

Read More

A competitive marksman would never be satisfied with only aiming in the general direction of the target! No! He would want to hit bull’s-eye! Similarly, as Christians, we must aim for perfection. But, not our own perfection but that which God has granted us through Jesus Christ! Trusting in our good works to be right with God is like a blind man trying to shoot high-flying birds in midair! That’s a guaranteed miss! No, No, No! We must be accurate! We must set our sights on the very best that God has for us!

Prov 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is the way of death.

2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

Whenever a man deems himself wiser than God, he has become a fool. Our efforts to be righteous in God’s sight on our own is a guaranteed miss in life! The perfect way of God is the love, forgiveness, and freedom found only in the cross and blood of Jesus!

Romans 3:21-25 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.

If you want to hit bullseye with your life, let these Scriptures penetrate the deepest part of your soul! Trying to do good deeds to be right with God is like blindly shooting in the air and thinking you will hit your mark. It’s like thinking that if you try hard enough this time, you will be able to jump that 200’ wall – Simply not possible!

What are you aiming at in life? Are you trusting in your own righteousness? Unwavering faith in God’s redemptive plan is the perfect way and the only way! There is no way to miss in life when your sights are focused on his plan! Oh yes! Trust God! You won’t miss the mark! You will be…

RIGHT ON

Read More

When we trust something other than God to be our source for life, whatever we trust has become our God. When you need protection or a breakthrough from God in your life, the best thing you can do is to trust God alone for your answer. Anything you trust besides God is an idol! Consider these wise words of Samuel to the people of Israel.

And Samuel said to the whole house of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” 1 Samuel 7:3 (NIV84)

Putting your trust in something other than God prevents you from living in the faith necessary to access his power and protection! The question is never whether God wants to help you or not, but rather what you have put your faith in. The power and provision God has for us are accessed by faith alone. It is not need that moves the hand of God; it is faith! Faith is the only thing that taps a person into the spiritual realm where God’s power and provision exist. This is why the writer of Hebrews said, “And without faith, it is impossible to please God.” Heb 11:6a God’s greatest longing is to bless you with all that he is and has. He knows that unless you believe him, you cannot access what he desires to give you!

King David and said, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me.” Psalm 23:4 His trust was not in his strength or the strength of those around him – it was in God alone! The things you might be tempted to trust might include your job, spouse, children, parents, pastors, or even friends, but God is where your help will come from! God may use those people in your life to bring about the answer, but it will be God that makes it happen!

Oh yes! Your Father in heaven knows what you need, and he alone is your answer! I am praying this morning that you will take careful note of the prophet Samuel’s wise instructions to the children of Israel and that for you there will be…

NO OTHER GODS!

Read More