A MOTHER'S LOVE AND FAITH

Greetings!

As the world prepares for Mother's Day, Sunday, May 12, I am encouraged by the story of  this widow/mother recorded in 2 Kings 4:1-7: "The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”  Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”  

“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”  Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few.  Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.” She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”  But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.  She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.” (NIV)

This widow/mother is nameless in this recording, but we do not need to know her name. What we do know is that she was a concerned mother. We know that she was a virtuous woman.  Why? She did not ask one question when Elisa gave her instructions to collect empty jars. She operated in faith and so was obedient to what the prophet Elisa told her to do. She gathered those jars and filled them with oil.  She sold the jars of oil, and because of her obedience and faith, she was able to pay the debts.  God rewards us for faithfulness. We see that not only she was able to pay her debts, but she enough money left to support herself and her sons.  Glory to God! 

To that single mother, to the widow with children .... walk in faith and not by sight.  Be obedient to the Word of God. Faithfulness and obedience to shall bring reward.  You see, God shall provide ALL your needs according to his riches in glory!  When things look and seem gloom, do not dismay. God will pour oil into your empty jars!  

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! 

Therese from Belize

Excuses Accomplish Nothing

Greetings! 

Rev. Marvin King, Pastor of First Baptist Church of Winchester, Kentucky had suggested two things about people who like to make excuses: one, people who often use excuses accomplish nothing; and two, people often make excuses because they do not believe God could use them too.  

I believe that people get so comfortable with making excuses because their hearts are broken and their bones have all dried up.  Proverbs 17:22 says, "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." (KJV)  My friends, here is the good news!  No need to keep making excuses because of your broken spirit.  Ah, for a broken spirit can be reversed, in the name of Jesus.  The Word of God roots out a broken spirit.  The Word of God brings joy and peace to the heart.  The Word of God is good medicine for the entire being. The Word of God brings laughter and cheer.  The Word of God brings energy, and then action is put in motion!  

The truth is that God wants to use each of us.  HE cannot use us, however, if we keep making excuses.  I am determined to make my bones active for the Lord! And, like Pastor Anna Davis of Christ Temple New Assembly Apostolic Church of Lexington, KY, even when I die, I pray that God will continue to use my bones!  

Today is your day of commitment.  Stop making excuses because it accomplishes nothing. The prophet Jeremiah, even in his difficult time of wanting to give up, realized that the Word is like a fire. Jeremiah 20:9 tells us, "But if I say, 'I will not mention his word   or speak anymore in his name,' his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot." (NIV)  

I urge you, get in God's Word, believe in HIS Word, and commit your plans to the Lord.  You will reap the reward of a cheerful spirit. Your attitude will improve; you will become revived and rejuvenated; and you will have that drive to put your plan into action.  God's Word will be like a fire, a fire shut up in your bones! Glory be to God. 

Ta ta,

Therese from Belize 

FOR FAMILIES IN NEED - SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 2013

Families are invited to the William Wells Brown Community Center to select clothing they need. This is a FREE community service to the East End of Lexington, Kentucky.

James 2:14-17, "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?  Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." (NIV)

LIVE, LEARN, BELIEVE

Greetings!

I was writing with a pen I had gotten from Georgetown College, Georgetown, Kentucky. It says, "Live, Learn, Believe". This motto gave me encouragement today.

Live each day as if it is my last. Proverbs 27:1, "Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." (KJV) 

Learn by reading, meditating and seeking knowledge of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12: 7-8, "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.  For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit." (KJV)

Believe that nothing shall be impossible with God. Luke 1:37, "For with God nothing shall be impossible." (KJV)

I smiled a peaceful smile knowing that all is well. Sometimes, self-encouragement is all that's needed to keep pressing forward! I believe that God is my refuge and my strength; believing that I am the head and not the tail; above and not beneath. Yes, I am the child of the one true and living GOD!

Psalm 46:1, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (KJV)

 
Stay encouraged,
Ta ta,
Therese from Belize

Kim Stratton Favor Aint Fair

Ohhhhh....... love this song. It ministers to my heart! Hope you will get an encouragement from this song ... speak life into that which is planted into your hearts.  You have a revelation? Put that faith into works!

Blessings
Therese from Belize

Do You Really Believe What You Are Speaking?

Greetings, friends!

What does "highly blessed and favored" mean? What does "favor ain't fair" means? For me, the answer lies in God's WORD.  I know the story of Ruth and Naomi; the story of Esther; the life of Job and David and Rahab, and I know about the Samaritan woman at the well and Mary Magdalene. Just to name a few of God's faithful who have been blessed and highly favored! 

To be highly blessed and favored entail faith. Faith, not only in believing, but faith in action.  James 2:14-18 tells me, "What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?   If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,  and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?  Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.”  Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works." (NKJV) 

God rewards HIS children for their faithfulness in their work.  Yes, you may be praying all the time, you may believe, but if you are not moving despite God telling you to move, then you are being disobedient.  Put your faith into works and it will please God.  God reigns favor over our lives when HE wants to put a pep in our step, when HE sees that we are doing HIS work and serving HIS people despite ....

Favor aint fair .... BUT GOD.

Do you really believe what you are speaking when you say you are favored?  How so?  Have you dreamed a big dream? Are you making that dream come to reality or are you too ashamed to speak life into its existence? 

 Are you one to just "talk and talk and talk" about what you will do or where you will go?  What about that business? What about the ministry of serving the least of these? What about giving God HIS 10% and relying on HIM to supply ALL your needs?

 

My friends, if you are benefiting from God's favor, then show God through your works that you appreciate HIS favor and you are grateful for HIS favor.  God is faithful to us, let us be faithful to HIM.

In Christ,
Therese From Belize  

CLOTHING GIVEAWAY - Saturday, April 13, 2013

Families are invited to the William Wells Brown Community Center to select clothing they need. This is a FREE community service to the East End of Lexington, Kentucky. 

James 2:14-17, "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?  Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." (NIV)