Quit???

Galatians 6:9 - And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.Do u ever just feel like giving up? Quitting? Forget it all its just to hard. Why bother. Doesn't feel like its worth it.....
 Don't you remember that you are the most tired at the top of the hill? When you have put in the time effort and energy into seeking out the Father and His ways. Why would you quit now??
Unless you haven't built on a strong foundation. If you are feeling shaken in your faith then it is time to return to your first love. What drew you to Christ and obedience to the Father? What steps did you take to remove the entangling of the world from your life?Where have you let your guard down?
 
 

 1 Corinthians 15:58 - Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

John 16:33“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Psalms 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.24 Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
Isaiah 40:31 - But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.

Revelation 14:12“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

 Ecclesiastes 7:8 - Better [is] the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: [and] the patient in spirit [is] better than the proud in spirit.

Now is the time to search the scriptures and stand on their words of inspiration and encouragement. Take them into your thought just as you would a letter from a dear friend or a compliment from a loved one. Stand on the promises you find in the word and meditate on the one who gave them. Keep focused saints we are so close!

You are only as good as your last decision.

Ezekiel 18:19Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done, he shall live.23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.25 Yet ye say The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?26 When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.27 Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.28 Because he considereth, and turneth away from all the transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

 Every day we are faced with decisions. What to eat, drink, wear, where to go, who to speak to. How do you handle the daily decision making in your life? Do you make decisions that feed your flesh or your spirit? Decisions that build your spiritual foundation or tear it down? Decisions that build you into your best self, aiming for perfection, or self-destruction?

 

 So you woke up this morning. You were given a fresh start. Another chance to get it right. Make good choices. Reflect on the things you did in the last few days or weeks that you shouldn't have. See the tricks and the traps of the enemy. Here is your chance! Make a plan to begin again. 

Begin with gratitude for another day. A grateful heart will set you on the path towards recognition of how far the Father has brought you.

Seek correction, chastisement, and direction in regards to your poor decisions.  Repent( turn away from not to repeat again) of your sinful behavior.

Decide how you are going to face the challenges that are headed your way.

Now get up and do it!!!!

 Will you perfect? Probably not, but if you are walking with a grateful, repentant heart, and conscious of your thoughts, actions, and behavior you are well on your way to perfection with Christ. 

 Remember:

Philippians 4:13“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

It is never too late to begin.

Take this new day, this new chance and build your treasure up in the kingdom that will remain for eternity.

 

Are you a mature follower?

Hebrews 5:¹²For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. ¹³For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. ¹⁴But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. 

 When you begin this walk with Christ there is a time of surrender and learning. After this, there is a time of trial and testing and if you can remain a follower then you get to enter boot camp. This is the phase where you go through a series of tests and highs and lows in order to teach you things it is also the phase where you are expected to learn the basics of what the word says.

1 Peter 2:¹Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, ²As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: ³If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. ⁴To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ⁵Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal and walk as men?

Here is a comparison from the New Living Translation Study Bible about whether you are making choices of maturity in your faith or immaturity.

Your choices will change with personal growth. An evaluation of your life against this chart will give you some insight into where you are in your walk. We will always have work to do, and in times of crisis it is always advised to return to the foundations that cannot be shaken, but don't be like the forgetful Israelites who when they had been delivered from Egypt desired to return to bondage rather than exercising Faith to make it to their Promised land.

Once in a Lifetime

Matthew 6:34 “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” 

 

 

There are so many things that happen to us. I often wonder will today be a once in a lifetime day or will today pass by without recognition or remembrance? Will this day live on in your memory or be one that you will try to forget. Each day that we wake up we are given another chance to make this a day that we will never forget. Are you living your life to the fullest? Doing the most you can do to serve in the Father's Kingdom? Are you using the tools that you have on hand to build your portion?

Hebrews 3:⁷Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, ⁸Harden, not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: ⁹When your fathers tempted me, proved me and saw my works forty years.

So many times we get caught up in our routine, or in a rut that we forget that we apart of the bigger picture. That what we are doing matters, and that today might be the last chance you get to fulfill your mission. As you go about your day look for opportunities, if nothing else to glorify the father and thank him for the opportunity that he has given you to live each day.

2 Peter 3: 11Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Hypocrite

How dare you how dare you live by double standard! Why is it okay for you but not okay for others?

Proverbs 11:9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbor: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

You may as well be in the Christian church walking around looking at everyone else's stuff and never getting your spirit straight or yourself right.  When you were in that position, when you were that person, when you were doing as Paul said, "as once were some of you,"(1 Corinthians 6:11) Did you want to be criticized and judged, ostracized and counted as less than? Or did you want to be loved with a rightous love?  Did you want to be prayed for?  Did you want to be thought of or considered? The bible says we better get the beam out of our own eye before we point out another's flaw.


Matthew 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. 

  Is that what you think the kingdom is? A Kingdom full of pointing fingers? A kingdom full of people focused on each other? A Kingdom full of people telling the king, "such and such is acting this way or that?" That's not the kingdom I'm looking forward to. The kingdom I'm looking forward to his genuine love in it, the kingdom I'm looking forward to all eyes are on the king, the kingdom I'm looking forward to is full of righteousness, patience, grace, and beauty.

 Job 8: ¹³So are the paths of all that forget God, and the hypocrite's hope shall perish: ¹⁴Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web. ¹⁵He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.

  *[[2Pe 3:17]] KJV* Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 
 
James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Petitioning the King

When you go into prayer where is your mind?  What are you focused on?  Is it all of your problems and concerns? Is it your feelings and thoughts? Or is it the chance to speak to the king? The chance to bow before the creator and be allowed to speak to him?


If it was an earthly king you would make sure you were dressed appropriately, and that you had fulfilled all of his conditions before you approached him. You would be sure that you came correct so that you didn't suffer the consequences of his anger.

Esther 4:10 Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;11 All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.12 And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?15 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

 

So I ask you again when you enter into prayer where is your focus? Prayer is a vital key to our strength and endurance. Are you pursuing the father with your prayer?

 

Ecclesiasticus 18:23“Before thou prayest, prepare thyself; and be not as one that tempteth the Lord.” 

Revelation 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 

Revelation 8:3-4And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

Slow Down and read the Scriptures

Proverbs 4:7“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”

So many times we go into a study to see how much we can learn or go over. Over time I have learned that when you do that you miss so very much.  Slowing down and reading the scriptures slowly and carefully helps you to understand and get the full meaning.  



Psalms 119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. 

  Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Psalms 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.


Proverbs 19:8“He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.”

Ecclesiasticus 19:24 He that hath small understanding, and feareth God, is better than one that hath much wisdom, and transgresseth the law of the most High.
Proverbs 3:13-18 - Happy [is] the man [that] findeth wisdom, and the man [that] getteth understanding. (Read More...)
Job 12:12-13 With the ancient is wisdom and in length of days understanding.With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
Psalms 111:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
 

Proverbs 2:2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, [and] apply thine heart to understanding;3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, [and] liftest up thy voice for understanding;4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as [for] hid treasures;5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
Ecclesiasticus 11:15 Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of the law, are of the Lord: love, and the way of good works, are from him.
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

2 Esdras 14:34“Therefore if so be that ye will subdue your own understanding, and reform your hearts, ye shall be kept alive and after death, ye shall obtain mercy.”
Ecclesiasticus 33:3  A man of understanding trusteth in the law; and the law is faithful unto him, as an oracle. 

Mark 12:30And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. 32And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: 33And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

Ecclesiasticus 6:22 For wisdom is according to her name, and she is not manifest unto many.23 Give ear, my son, receive my advice, and refuse not my counsel,24 And put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chain.25 Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her bonds.26 Come unto her with thy whole heart, and keep her ways with all thy power.27 Search, and seek, and she shall be made known unto thee: and when thou hast got hold of her, let her not go.28 For at the last thou shalt find her rest, and that shall be turned to thy joy.29 Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and her chains a robe of glory.30 For there is a golden ornament upon her, and her bands are purple lace.31 Thou shalt put her on as a robe of honour, and shalt put her about thee as a crown of joy.32 My son, if thou wilt, thou shalt be taught: and if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be prudent.33 If thou love to hear, thou shalt receive understanding: and if thou bow thine ear, thou shalt be wise,34 Stand in the multitude of the elders; and cleave unto him that is wise.

1 Timothy 4: ¹⁵Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. ¹⁶Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Whispers

Ecclesiasticus 21:28 A whisperer defileth his own soul, and is hated wheresoever he dwelleth.

Psalms 41:7“All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.”

Proverbs 16:28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends. 

Ecclesiasticus 5:14 Be not called a whisperer, and lie not in wait with thy tongue: for a foul shame is upon the thief, and an evil condemnation upon the double tongue.


Ecclesiasticus 28:13 Curse the whisperer and doubletongued: for such have destroyed many that were at peace.

The words that you allow to come out of your mouth about others may be the very cause of the problems in your life. Whispering about the sins of others causes you to take your focus off of you and The Most High. Why are you so focused on them??? How is that helping you?  

Romans 1:28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

2 Corinthians 12: 19Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying. 20For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: 21And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

  Where is your focus? Do you have a goal set?

Hebrews 10:22
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

 2 Timothy 2:22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.


1 Peter 1:22Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.


1 John 3:3“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

What are you allowing?

What are you allowing the devil to whisper in your ear? What is inside of you let makes you want to be tempted for evil instead of good?  What darkness is in your eye? Instead of life what are you focused on? Money, Sex, Material things?  None of that will be in the Kingdom to come. Focus on Eternal things.

 Matthew 6:22 - The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. ²³But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! ²⁴No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Matthew 5:29 - And if thy right eye offends thee, pluck it out, and cast [it] from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not [that] thy whole body should be cast into hell.

1 Corinthians 10:13 - There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].

Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.

Psalms 101:3 - I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; [it] shall not cleave to me.

Salt

Leviticus 2:13
And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.


 It was a voluntary offering. Acknowledging all we have belongs to him.

Numbers 18:19
All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the LORD, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: it is a covenant of salt for ever before the LORD unto thee and to thy seed with thee.

2 Chronicles 13:5“Ought ye not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David forever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?”-"A "covenant of salt" (Num. 18:19; 2 Chr. 13:5) was a covenant of perpetual obligation.

The offerings were seasoned with salt as a reminder of the people's covenant with Ahyah. Salt is a good symbol of The Most High's activity in a person's life because it penetrates, preserves, and aids in healing. He wants to be active in your life! Let him become a part of you, penetrating every aspect of your life, preserving you from all evil, and healing you of your sins and shortcomings!

Colossians 4:6
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.  

Isn't it interesting that popular culture has once again perverted the meaning of being Salty?According to the Urban dictionary: Being salty is the same as being bitter towards something or someone. Just like the devil to take a biblical principle and make it seem like a bad thing. Although, if you really are speaking truth Always people will accuse you of being salty. The words of life are a sword after all.


Matthew 5:13
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Luke 14:34
Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shallit be seasoned?

  Mark 9:50
Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.


Salt ( from KJV online)

 Disciples are likened unto salt, with reference to" its cleansing and preserving uses (Matt. 5:13).

 
Mark 9:49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.