Author: Bill

Reasoning! —Mark 8:14-17 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf. & He charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, & of the leaven of Herod. & they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread. & when Jesus knew it, He saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? — Reasoning led the disciples to a lack of understanding & maybe even hardening of their hearts! —Isaiah 1:18 (ESV) Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. 1 Peter 3:18 In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness & respect. — We must learn to trust God & lean not on our own understanding, acknowledge Him in ALL our ways & He will forgive us! Love Mel

Matt 7:24-25 (NIV) Jesus: “Everyone who hears these words of mine & puts them into practice is like the wise man who built his house on a solid rock. The rain came down, & the water rose, & the winds blew-hard & beat against that house; yet it did not fall! Why? Because it had its foundation on the rock. Prov 10:25 Storms can blow away unrighteous people, but the godly have a foundation that keeps them standing firm.  —Being able to sail against the wind enable you to sail anywhere. Life is a lot like sailing, we must learn to sail against the winds of life! Standing firm in the presence of strong winds is key to a successful journey! It is all about foundation! Build it on the foundation of God & you will withstand the winds of life! Love Mel

Nun 13:30 (KJV) Caleb stilled the people before Moses, & said, Let us go up at once, & possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. The men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. Num 14:8 If the LORD delight in us, then He will bring us into this land, & give it us; a land which floweth with milk & honey. Jonah 1:4 The LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, & there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. Jonah 1:17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. & Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days & three nights. —Overtaking the giants is the strength & nourishment from God during battle! Our assignment always entices fear! Running from our assignment opens up the mouth of the great fish! Stop fearing & stop running! God has got this & just bc the assignment doesn’t look like you thought it would doesn’t mean that it isn’t from God! Stay in the battle & fight your giants for God is with us! Love Mel

Isaiah 49:16 (ESV) Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. Isaiah 41:13 For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you. Psalm 139:10 Even there your hand shall lead me, & your right hand shall hold me. John 10:28 I give them eternal life, & they will never perish, & no one will snatch them out of my hand. — We serve a God who comforts us up close! Hand in Hand! Reminds me of the old Gospel Song, “Put your hand in the hand of the man who stilled the water;  Put your hand in the hand of the man who calmed the sea;  Take a look at yourself & you can look at others differently;  By puttin’ your hand in the hand of the man from Galilee” Love Mel

Billy Graham once said, “Change yourself, Change the world!” Jesus, said the greatest commandments are, Mark 12:30-31 (ESV)You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart & with all your soul & with all your mind & with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandments greater than these.” Jesus also said, Matt 5:44-45 I say to you, Love your enemies & pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. …Romans14:22 Every one of us shall give account of himself to God. — Are you disappointed with society? Do you hate what is going on in the world around you? Then we must find it inside of each of us to do what we know to do is right no matter what the situation! And don’t forget to pray for those that have hurt you! For it will be well with your soul! Love Mel