It's a new day - Let us rejoice!

A person can’t accomplish sanctification by themselves no matter how much he or she studies the Word or desires this quality. It is not even something God would produce in you as something you would contemplate yourself. Instead it is the Holy Spirit, His Spirit of holiness alone, who can or will communicate His holiness and continue to renew the same in you. By our complete faith we become partakers of His holiness. It is Jesus who sanctifies us for God.  (1 Corinthians 1:30) says, “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God – and righteousness and sanctification and redemption – that, as it is written, 'He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.'” We seek to surrender ourselves to God by faith, so He may enable us to live life moment by moment. By His Spirit, we are to believe the Lord will, lead us into, and keep us in, this life of holiness and consecration to God’s service. We choose to live in obedience of faith, listening to God’s voice – the...

Will listening to some kinds of music and watching too much TV affect our relationship with the Lord? Yes. Today’s society has become too tolerant, permitting all forms of media to project information that is blatantly and openly anti-Christ. In many cases it is so subtle we hardly notice the inclusion of sex, drug-orientation and immorality used to attract our attention. Even our news is created with a style of sensationalism that images of hate, violence, tragedy, and despair just appear as everyday news items. We have become so used to this corruptible kind of viewing matter we hardly pay any attention to it anymore. I am afraid to even consider what will movies, music and TV will resort to next to attract our attention in the future. Although you say you don’t pay attention to these mind invasions, it is virtually impossible to avoid all attacks of the enemy. When you hear or watch certain aspects of today’s music, movies and TV programming they almost inevitably work their way i...

"You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy" (Psalm 45:7). Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and receive His Holy Spirit our lives and our attitudes change. What we used to do, we no longer do. How we used to act, we no longer act. We adopt that same respect for righteousness Jesus shows us. And, we develop a hate for wickedness as well. We become role models for Christ and our companions. The Spirit of God has caused us to take on more of the personality and love for others Christ exampled for us. His joy comes to live in us. We then show joy to our companions because of the anointing God continues to pour over us. I remember that old me; but now I am so happy with who I am today. I know I owe it all to Jesus! He has anointed my head with His oil of incredible joy!

When I was a young boy being a Cub Scout was a really big thing. I’m sure for girls it was a huge thing to be a Brownie. Cub Scouts got to do all kinds of really cool stuff. There were many times when I got to take some of my Scout “projects” to school to do a “show-and-tell.” The other kids would be amazed that I had some Screech Owl feathers in an envelope, or an un-hatched, blue robin egg. I showed them my “board-of-knots” (a piece of plywood with several different knots of rope) I had learned to tie. Getting older, reaching the more grown-up age of twelve, I became a Boy Scout. Our Scout motto was; “Be Prepared!” and we learned the importance of knowing what to do in case of an emergency, or how to find our way out of a difficult situation. We even learned how to use a magnetic compass (another really cool thing boys my age back then took pride in learning how to do.) Now, in today’s world, maybe more than ever we need to “be prepared!” Prepared for what? Jesus said in (Matthew ...

Adopting a Proper Perspective with God and Others When I accepted Jesus as my Savior, He not only became my Redeemer, but my LORD. When we ask Him to forgive us, and save us from our sins, our lives become His. We are to adopt a life of total dependence and submission to His Will, trusting His plan for our lives. King David wrote in (Psalm 37:4, 5) “Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” All your possessions, circumstances, and the way you appear to others, all of these, God decides what is best. As you become envious of others, you lose your proper perspective toward those around you. Being envious of what others have or do places your desires above theirs. The apostle Paul wrote in (Philippians 2:3) “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only...

Oh, how He loves us! This Son of God, the Morning Star; Bread of Life; Prince of Peace; Lord of Lords; Alpha and Omega; Living Water; Redeemer… our Healer, He loves you and He loves me. We cannot conceive of how much Jesus truly does love us! How could we ever doubt this indescribable, complete, sacrificial love our Lord has for us? We do though, too often. Listen as Jesus prays to His Holy Father in heaven; as He prays for you and me (John 17:20-26.) This is proof that He cares for us, that He loves us without measure: “My prayer is not for them alone, I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you have given me that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as...

Who wouldn’t like to have victory over their anxiety and fears? We all would. No one wants to live with monsters of doubt and uncertainty. Be sure fear will follow doubt and uncertainty, and fear will consume us if we allow it to enter in. Satan attempts to use fear as a weapon of mass destruction to try to destroy our faith in all the mercies and benefits he knows God has for us. Jesus declared, “Satan get behind Me!” With all authority of Jesus, our Savior, we are able to make this same command of Satan’s attempts to wreck our lives. When you struggle with your doubts and fears seek God’s help. Confess your anxiety to God asking Him to forgive you for your lack of trust in Him. God will respond by forgiving you. He always wants you to grow into a deeper relationship with Him. The more you trust Him the stronger your faith becomes. Having faith in God assures you He not only knows your needs, He meets them. Jesus said in (Matthew 6:25-27) “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about...