Promises for Temptation and for Discouragement

This is my last blog my lungs are giving me a struggle to breath and it is getting harder for me to do this so please accept my apology for giving up but it has been a joy and has helped me probably more than anyone else.  So I am doing some promises on Temptation and the on Discouragement.  Hope it will help someone as much as they have helped me.  Please keep trusting in God's promises and I will see you in the kingdom when Jesus comes.

Temptation:

1 Corinthians 15:57 "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

2 Peter 2:9  "The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation."

Discouragement:

Romans 8:28  "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

Psalm 37:23,24  "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.  Though he fall he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord upholds him with His hand."

Loneliness:

Joshua 1:5  "No man shall stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you, I will not leave you nor forsake you."

Matthew 28:20  "Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

God bless all of you for being with me day by day and even off and on.  I hope you have been encouraged to study the Word and Pray and claim these promises.  There are so many more but I just can't keep up with it.  I pray that many of you have been led into a closer walk with your Lord.  See you in the kingdom of our Lord and Savior when Jesus comes.  Grandma Joan

Promises for the Sorrowing and those who Mourn

We have all had sorrow of some kind haven't we?  We have lost loved ones, close friends and others that meant a lot to us. We sorrow over our sinful condition, or at least we should.  We sorrow when we see suffering, and starvation around the world.  There is so much sorrow and suffering, I thought some promises for this would be appropriate, so here they are:

Psalm 30:5  "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning."

Psalm 147:3  "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up  their wounds."

Isaiah 57:18  "I have seen his ways and will heal him; I will also lead him, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners."

1 Thessalonians 4:16,17,18  "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.  And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And thus we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore comfort one another with these words."

Sorrow will flee away at that moment when we all meet at Jesus second coming.  I can't wait to see my husband again, my daughter and others who have gone on before me.  No more crying, sorrow and death. No more disease, pain and tears.  It is worth all the effort it takes to surrender the keeping of our souls to Him who never fails us.  Grandma Joan

Promises regarding our Health

Some of these promises have meant so much to me because of my broken bones and weakness.  I have to trust in Him implicitly for strength each day and then I make it through the day.  I know that my condition has drawn me closer to Him because of my helpless condition but I do not ask 'why' I know why.  This is what it has taken to get me to look to Him for my strength and my continued life.  I hope to live to a hundred and something so that I can continue to share God's goodness with others.  I have had this disease for years and should have been gone long ago, but here I am and God has been so good to prolong my life and allow me to bless others.  Here are some promises for health:

Psalm 103:1-5  "Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!  Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."

I don't have to tell you that I love these verses and have memorized them, you can know why if you have been reading my blog.  We are not to forget His benefits which are: forgiveness of our sins, heals our diseases, saves our lives from destruction, and pours His lovingkindness and tender mercies on us over and over again and gives us so many good things to eat, and will renew our youth in us.
Could you ask for more?  I can't.  It covers all my desires and more.  I am so very grateful even for the little blessings of life.  Are you?  I am sure you are.  I pray God's blessing upon you as you read my blog each day.  Grandma Joan

PS, More promises tomorrow, lots more in the future. Keep reading and trusting.

Promises for Guidance

I know that we all need guidance and I also know that worldly guidance usually fails to take us where we want to go in our Spiritual life.  This is from my own experience.  How about yours?  I am learning to trust more day by day in God's guidance as I travel this pathway of life.  I am not an expert, for sure, but when we follow God's guidance, He is the Expert and He does not fail.  So here are some promises for you on God's guidance.

Proverbs 3:6  "In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths."

Isaiah 58:11  "The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail."

Psalm 25:9  "The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way."

Psalm 48:14  "For this is God, our God forever and ever, He will be our guide even unto death."

Do you like these promises?  I especially like the one in Isaiah because I have Osteoporosis and I have broken all my vertebrae twice, one hip and many breaks in my ribs and I am well acquainted with pain and He has strengthen my bones, I took a terrible fall last spring, got knocked down on to a concrete walk and hit hard and didn't break a bone, got a big bruise but that was it.  Before that I could step off a curb an break a vertebrae or the car would hit a hard bump and break one.  I pushed a gate open and broke a rib.  So you can see why I really like this verse in Isaiah.  Yes, He keeps His promises to those who trust in Him.  "In all thy ways acknowledge Him", that is the secret to being able to live by His promises.  He has been so good to me.  He will do the same for you too, I am not special, everyone is special in His eyes.  God bless you with the reading of His Word.  Grandma Joan

God Hears and Answers

I promised you some special Bible Promises for today and I know that they will mean a lot to you as they do to me and I want to incorporate them into my prayer time which will make my prayers more meaningful and also increase my faith in my God.  I know it will help me tremendously and so it may be with you.  You might try it along with me and make a comment to let me know how you are doing.  I would love that.

Jeremiah 2:12  "Then you will call upon Me and go and pray unto Me and I will listen to you."

Isaiah 30:19  "He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it He will answer you"

1 John 5: 14,15  "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him."

Isaiah 65:24  "It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer and while they are still speaking I will hear."

Isaiah 58:9  "Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am."

Psalm 91:15  "He shall call upon Me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him."

Psalm 34:17  "The righteous cry out and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles."

Do you like these promises of God hearing our prayers and answering them?  I love them.  I believe in them and know that He does answer, He has answered so many of my prayers, not because I am anything special but because I am so needy and He loves me so much.  Tomorrow I will share some more promises on special topics.  Grandma Joan

Blessing Granted

This is taken from the same chapter on the Nobleman at Capernaum.

DA 200  "The nobleman wanted to see the fulfillment of his prayer before he should believe; but he had to accept the word of Jesus that his request was heard and the blessing granted.  This lesson we also have to learn.  Not because we see or feel that God hears us are we to believe.  We are to trust in His promises.  When we come to Him in faith, every petition enters the heart of God.  When we have asked for His blessing, we should believe that we receive it, and thank Him that we have received it.  Than we are to go about our duties, assured that the blessing will be realized when we need it most.  When we have learned to do this, we shall know that our prayers are answered.  God will do for us 'exceeding abundantly,' 'according to the riches of His glory,' and 'the working of His mighty power.;  Eph. 3:20, 16; 1:19.  "

Remember we only need the faith the size of a mustard seed and He will give us the answer when it is most needed.  We are to hang on by faith in Him who healed the sick, raised the dead, stilled the stormy sea and blessed the little children and held them close to His heart. Tomorrow I am going to give you some of the promises that I am learning to trust in.  They are wonderful and they restore our faith as we include them in our prayers.  I believe there is a verse for our every need, so let's explore that tomorrow.  I love to do this and so will you once you get started.  Grandma Joan

The Nobleman

This quote is based on John 4:43-54, so if you read these few verses first then the quote has quite a bit more meaning, but even then it has a lot of meaning to me and I am sure you will gain the same benefit that I do.  The nobleman was an officer of the King's Service and His son was gravely ill and He came to Jesus with the request to heal his son.  His son was not only healed, the whole family became followers of Jesus.  A very interesting story, please read it if you will.

DA 200  "The father hurries home to greet his son.  He clasps him to his heart as one restored from the dead, and thanks God again an again for the wonderful restoration.
The nobleman longed to know more of Christ.  As he afterward heard His teaching, he an all his household became disciples.  Their affliction was sanctified to the conversion of the entire family.  Tidings of the miracle spread; and in Capernaum, where so many of His mighty works were performed, the way was prepared for Christ's personal ministry.

He who blessed the nobleman at Capernaum is just as desirous of blessing us.  But like the afflicted father, we are often led to seek Jesus by the desire for some earthly good; and upon the granting of our request we rest our confidence in His love.  The Savior longs to give us a greater blessing than we ask; and He delays the answer to our request that He may show us the evil of our own hearts, and our deep need of His grace.  He desires us to renounce the selfishness that leads us to seek Him.  Confessing our helplessness and bitter need, we are to trust ourselves wholly to His love."

Can you do that?  Trust yourself wholly to His love?  I understand that it takes faith to trust in something unseen but in reality we do it all the time.  We can't see the pillars holding up a bridge over a deep river but we still drive over it. We walk over a swinging bridge thats just held up by cable at each end, nothing under it.  We have faith that the food at a deli or other place to eat is not poison, but OK to eat.  Most of us have faith in our car to get us where we want to go.  Jesus said 'if you have faith as a mustard seed', how much faith is that?  A mustard seed is a very tiny seed, Jesus just wants us to believe in Him a little bit and He will increase our faith as we grow in Him.  Our faith will increase as our time with Him increases.  Grandma Joan

Do You Think You Are Hopeless?

We have all been there and suffered from our sins and wayward lives.  None of us are exempt from being a sinner in need of a Savior.  Do you feel that there is no hope for you?  Read on and see....
You might want to read the chapter on the 'woman at the well' in John 4 verses 1-42 in the New Testament. In any case this paragraph should give all of us hope.

DA 194  "When Jesus sat down to rest at Jacob's well,  He had come from Judea where His ministry had produced little fruit.  He had been rejected by the priests and rabbis,  and even the people who had professed to be His disciples had failed of perceiving His divine character.  He was faint and weary; yet He did not neglect the opportunity of speaking to one woman, though she was a stranger, an alien from Israel, and living in open sin.
There may be only one to hear the message;  but who can tell how far reaching will be it's influence.  It seemed a small matter, even to His disciples, for the Savior to spend His time upon a woman of Samaria.  But He reasoned more earnestly and eloquently with her than with kings, councilors, or high priests.  The lesssons He gave to that woman have been repeated to the earth's remotest bounds.
As soon as she found the Savior the Samaritan woman brought others to Him.  She proved herself a more effective missionary than is own disciples."

Do you think you are worthless, hopeless and not worthy to be His disciple?  It doesn't matter to God where you have been or what you have done, He can use you to bring others to Him just like the Samaritan woman who was a stranger, an alien and living in open sin.  Jesus died for us to forgive and restore us to Himself, please let Him do His work in you.  Grandma Joan

Are You Willing?

This quote was on John 3: 22-36 speaking of John the Baptist.  Remember he was the forerunner of Christ.  It might be well to read these verses then the quote but what ever you decide to do, this is an outstanding thought to apply to our lives.

DA 179-180  "Those who are true to their calling as messengers for God will not seek honor for themselves.  Love for self will be swallowed up in love for Christ.  No rivalry will mar the precious cause of the gospel.  They sill recognize that it is their work to proclaim, as did John the Baptist.  "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29.
So with the followers of Christ.  We can receive of heaven's light only as we are willing to be emptied of self.  We cannot discern the character of God, or accept Christ by faith, unless we consent to the bringing into captivity of every thought to the obedience of Christ.  All who do this the Holy Spirit is given without measure.  In Christ 'dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and in Him ye are made full."  Col. 2:9,10."

Are you willing to let self be swallowed up in love for Christ?  Surrender of self is the hardest thing for us to let go of.  But we must let go of self and let God have full control of our life.  It may seem a bit scary to some but it really smooths out all of life's problems and gives the Christian true peace. I need that peace and want it.  My life has been a bumpy ride and it's time for a smooth one in Christ.  It doesn't mean there will be no more trials, it just means that Christ is at the helm and is responsible for getting us through them unscathed and to be a stronger person in Him.  Grandma Joan

How Can These Things Be?

DA 175  "There are thousands today who need to learn the same truth that was taught to Nicodemus by the uplifted serpent. They depend on their obedience to the law of God to commend them to His favor.  When they are bidden to look to Jesus, and believe that He saves them solely through His grace, they exclaim, "How can these things be?"
Like Nicodemus, we must be willing to enter into life in the same way as the chief of sinners.  Than Christ, "there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."  Acts 4:12.  Through faith we receive the grace of God, but faith is not our Savior.  It earns nothing.  It is the hand by which we lay hold upon Christ, and appropriate His merits, the remedy for sin.  And we cannot even repent without the aid of the Spirit of God.  The Scripture says of Christ,"Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Savior for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."  Acts 5:31.  Repentance comes from Christ as truly as does pardon."

Tomorrow we will see 'How we are to be saved'.  Are you weary of struggling to live a good life?  Then tomorrow we will find out "How can these things be?"  Keep reading each day and I will try to lead you in the path of righteousness.  I am a sinner saved by His grace the same as everyone else but my duty now is to share how to come to this knowledge and experience, so hang in there we are doing this together.  Grandma Joan

The Uplifted Serpent

DA175, 176  "How then are we to be saved?  As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness," so the Son of man has been lifted up and everyone who has been deceived and bitten by the serpent (satan) may look and live.  "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29.  The light shining from the cross reveals the love of God.  His love is drawing us to Himself.  If we do not resist this drawing, we shall be led to the foot of the cross in repentance for the sins that have crucified the Savior.  Then the Spirit of God through faith produces a new life in the soul.  The thoughts and desires are brought into obedience to the will of Christ.  The heart, the mind are created anew in the image of Him who works in us to subdue all things to Himself.  Then the law of God is written in the mind and heart,  and we can say with Christ, 'I delight to do Thy will, O my God.' Ps. 40:8."

By looking upon Jesus we are brought into fellowship with Him.  If it were not for the sacrifice of His life on the cross, we could not be saved.  He died to save us and cover us with HIS righteousness not our own self-righteousness which are as filthy garments.  How do we look and live?  By beholding Him on the cross and studying His word to find out what His will is for us and being a 'doer of His word and not just a hearer only'.  James 1:22.  It also says, 'deceiving ourselves'.  Let's not deceive ourselves by thinking the Scripture doesn't mean what it says.  It surely does and it is so simple to just trust in God ourselves and not man.  I have had things mixed up in my life and it is such a joy to get it all straightened out by studying His word and believing it and being a doer and not just a hearer.  Grandma Joan

The Wind and The Spirit

DA 173  "While the wind is itself invisible, it produces effects that are seen and felt.  So the work of the Spirit upon the soul will reveal itself in every act of him who has felt its saving power.  When the Spirit of God takes possession of the heart, it transforms the life.  Sinful thoughts are put away, evil deeds are renounced; love humility, and peace take the place of anger, envy ,and strife.  Joy takes the place of sadness, and the countenance reflects the light of heaven.  No one sees the hand that lifts the burden, or beholds the light descend from the courts above.  The blessing comes when by faith the soul surrenders itself to God.  Then that power which no human eye can see creates a new being in the image of God.
It is impossible for finite minds to comprehend the work of redemption.  Its mystery exceeds human knowledge; yet he who passes from death to life realizes that it is a divine reality.  The beginning of redemption we may know here through a personal experience.  Its results reach through the eternal ages."

I am so very thankful for the Holy Spirit's work in my life and God's love and grace to continue working in my life.  It's true, we can't comprehend the work of redemption but we can experience it.  That much I know, and I have tried to figure out how it came about but it is impossible.  We must just trust to His power and love in our lives and it does happen, I can vouch for that.  Keep trusting and your life will change and then one of these days you will all of a sudden see what God has been doing, without your help or your knowledge.  Grandma Joan

Longing For More------

DA 187  "He who seeks to quench his thirst at the fountains of this world will drink only to thirst again.  Everywhere men are unsatisfied.  They long for something to supply the need of the soul.  Only One can meet that want.  The need of the world, "The Desire of all nations," is Christ.  The divine grace which He alone can impart, is as living water, purifying, refreshing, and invigorating the soul.
Jesus did not convey the idea that merely one draft of the water of life would suffice the receiver.  He who tastes of the love of Christ will continually long for more; but he seeks for nothing else.  The riches, honors, and pleasures of the world do not attract him.  The constant cry of his heart is, More of Thee.  And He who reveals to the soul its necessity is  waiting to satisfy its hunger and thirst.  Every human resource and dependence will fail.  The cisterns will be emptied, the pools become dry; but our Redeemer is an inexhaustible fountain.  We may drink, and drink again and ever find a fresh supply. He in whom Christ dwells has within himself the fountain of blessing--"a well of water springing up into everlasting life."  From this source he may draw strength and grace sufficient for all his needs."

Are you thirsty for something better in this life?  Try Jesus, He is the answer that I have found that keeps me going from minute to minute, hour to hour and day to day.  I have found that listening to men's counsel does not fill my extreme need. God is the answer.  Counselors can help IF they are Christian counselors, but God is the Divine Counselor and it is freely given from His Word.  Ask God for guidance and He will lead you to just what you need for the day, it really does work for me and I am sure if you are sincere it will work for you.  Try it, it just might be the answer you are looking for.  Grandma Joan

His Love Draws

DA 176  "The light shining from the cross reveals the love of God.  His love is drawing us to Himself.  If we do not resist this drawing, we shall be led to the foot of the cross in repentance of the sins that have crucified the Savior.  Then the Spirit of God through faith, produces a new life in the soul. The thoughts and desires are brought into obedience to the will of Christ.  The heart, the mind, are created anew in the image of Him who works in us to subdue all things to Himself. Then the law of God is written in the mind and heart, and we can say with Christ, 'I delight to do Thy will O my God.' Ps. 40:8."

Is His love drawing you?  It is me.  If we do not resist, we shall be drawn to Him.  How easy is that?
Don't resist.  Please let Him draw you into His presence and you will be blessed beyond your highest dreams.  Grandma Joan

Maintaining Our Connection

This is a must for the ongoing Christian.  We must maintain our connection, how do we do it?  Let's find out.

DA 676  "This union with Christ, once formed, must be maintained.  Christ said, 'Abide in Me, and I in you, As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.'  This is no casual touch, no off-and-on connection.  The branch becomes a part of the living vine.  The communication of life, strength, and fruitfulness from the root to the branches is unobstructed and constant.  Separated from the vine, the branch cannot live.  No more, said Jesus, can you live apart from Me.  The life you have received from Me can be preserved only by continual communion.  Without Me you cannot overcome one sin, or resist one temptation.

"Abide in Me, and I in you," Abiding in Christ means a constant receiving of His Spirit, a life of unreserved surrender to His service.  The channel of communication must be open continually between man and his God.  As the vine branch constantly draws the sap from the living vine, so are we to cling to Jesus and receive from Him by faith, the strength and perfection of His own character"

There you have it, the way to maintain our connection with Christ.  Spend time with Him each morning and work up to a thoughtful hour each day and your connection with Christ will become strong and He will be your very best Friend.  Grandma Joan

Strength To Keep Going

There are several ways that we can be strong or weak, Spiritually, Emotionally, and Physically.  I believe that I have experienced all three, how about you?  I believe I have found the answer this morning, check it out.

DA 668  "As Christ lived the law in humanity so we may do if we will take hold of the Strong for strength.  But we are not to place the responsibility of our duty upon others, and wait for them to tell us what to do.  We cannot depend for counsel upon humanity.  The Lord will teach us our duty just as willingly as He will teach somebody else.  If we come to Him in faith, He will speak His mysteries to us personally.  Our hearts will often burn within us as One draws nigh to commune with us as He did with Enoch.  Those who decide to do nothing in any line that will displease God, will know, after presenting their case before Him, just what course to pursue.  And they will receive not only wisdom, but strength.  Power for obedience, for service, will be imparted to them, as Christ has promised.  Whatever was given to Christ--the 'all things' to supply the need of fallen men-was given to Him as the head and representative of humanity.  And 'whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.' 1 John 3:22."

Can I encourage you to take hold of the Strong for strength and to decide in your heart to do nothing that will displease God, the promise is that we will receive not only wisdom, but strength.  Power for obedience and service.  I believe God hears our prayers for help and strength and for wisdom too, to do what He asks us to to so He can answer our prayers.  May you receive this blessing too, I am praying for this blessing.  Grandma Joan

Are You Weak?

I have been so weak now for three months and it is so slow in returning to my normal self and sometimes I wonder if I ever will.  I know my age isn't helping me but I've always worked so hard and not only that taking care of my husband for several years, I kind of became isolated from society except for the nurses at the nursing home where he was the last seven months of his life.  Now I am struggling to become normal again, whatever normal is.  So my son tried to help yesterday see that God could step in and make me normal again and then I read this:

DA 827  "All who consecrate soul, body, and spirit to God will be constantly receiving a new endowment of physical and mental power.  The inexhaustible supplies of heaven are at their command.  Christ gives them the breath of His own spirit, the life of His own life.  The Holy Spirit puts forth its highest energies to work in heart and mind.  The grace of God enlarges and multiplies their faculties, and every perfection of the divine nature comes to their assistance in the work of saving souls.  Through co-operation with Christ they are complete in Him, and in their human weakness they are enabled to do the deeds of Omnipotence."

That was so encouraging to me because of my condition.  So now I am praying for God to do just what it says He will do.  I just need to surrender to His will for me.  I am anxious to see just what He will do for this old lady at this time in my life.  I will keep you posted as long as I am able to blog.  I hope it will be a while before I have to give this up, but we will see.  Grandma Joan

We Have An Enemy

Have you every been assaulted by an enemy?  It could be physical, emotional or Spiritual.  I'm sure all humans have experience some kind of assault, but to be assaulted by God's worse enemy and ours too is another thing, because he is so subtle and we don't often recognize what's happening.  Here is a quote to explain some of it.

DA 126  "Often when Satan has failed of exciting distrust, he succeeds in leading us to presumption.  If he can cause us to place ourselves unnecessarily in the way of temptation, he knows that the victory is his.  God will preserve  all who walk in the path of obedience; but to depart from it is to venture on Satan's ground.  There we are sure to fall.  The Savior has bidden us, "Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation."  Mark 14:38.  Meditation and prayer would keep us from rushing unbidden in the way of danger, and thus we should be saved from many defeat."

Don't lose courage, time is short, we can see all the Bible prophecies being fulfilled all around us, things that we have never seen or heard of until recently are being fulfilled as the Bible has warned us.  Let us study the Word and obey and trust in Our Creator God and we will be ready when Jesus comes.  Grandma Joan

Don't Lose Courage, Victory Is Yours

These blogs that I am doing now, are strengthening my faith so much and helping me on my Christian journey.  I hope they are helping you.  I am trying to make them short and easy reading so no one will get discouraged with them.  Pray for understanding and the strength to follow Jesus.

DA 126,127  "Often when Satan has failed of exciting distrust, he succeeds in leading us to presumption.  If he can cause us to place ourselves unnecessarily in the way of temptation, he knows that the victory is his.  God will preserve all who walk in the path of obedience, but to depart form it is to venture on Satan's ground.  There we are sure to fall.  The Savior has bidden us, "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation."  Mark14:38.  Meditation and prayer would keep us from rushing unbidden into the way of danger and thus we should be saved from many a defeat."

Have you been defeated?  I have many times in the past but they are getting fewer and fewer as I am learning to trust in Him for my strength to obey and call on Him for help when I am tempted.  Will you join me in being victorious over Satan's temptation.  I sincerely hope so.  Tomorrow I will give you more encouragement along this line.  Thank you for joining me this morning.  Grandma Joan

When We Pray

Do we trust God like we should?  He is the best Friend that we could ever have and when we pray,

DA 126.  "We should not present our petitions to God to prove whether He will fulfill His word, but because He will fulfill it; not to prove that He loves us but because He loves us.  "Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for He that cometh to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6."

But faith is in no sense allied to presumption.  Only he who has true faith is secure against presumption.  For presumption is Satan's counterfeit of faith.  Faith claims God's promises, and bring forth fruit in obedience.  Presumption also claims the promises, but uses them as Satan did, to excuse transgression.  Faith would have led our first parents to trust the love of God, and to obey His commands.  Presumption led them to transgress His law, believing that His great love would save them from the consequence of their sin.  It is not faith that claims the favor of Heaven without complying with the conditions on which mercy is to be granted.  Genuine faith has its foundation in the promises and provisions of the Scriptures."

I pray that our faith increases and will lead us to love God and obey His commands and that we will not be presumptuous and try to excuse our sin and call that faith.  May God help us all to lead a life worthy of the name Christian.  Grandma Joan

The Greatest Gift Christ Could Give Us

I love gifts, don't you?  Usually they are a surprise and it is exciting to receive a surprise gift.  I also love to give, can't always give gifts but I can give myself in helping others and I love to do that.  Jesus gave us a precious gift after He ascended to heaven to be with His Father.

DA 672  "Christ has promised the gift of the holy Spirit to His church, and the promise belongs to us as much as to the first disciples.  But like every other promise, it is given on conditions.  There are many who believe and profess to claim the Lord's promise; they talk about Christ and about the Holy Spirit, yet receive no benefit.  They do not surrender the soul to be guided and controlled by the divine agencies.  We cannot use the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit is to use us.  Through the Spirit God works in His people "to will and to do of His good pleasure" Phil. 2:13.  But many will not submit to this.  They want to manage themselves.  This is why they do not receive the heavenly gift.  Only to those who wait humbly upon God, who watch for His guidance and grace, is the Spirit given.  The power of God awaits their demand and reception.  This promised blessing, claimed by faith, brings all other blessing in its train.  It is given according to the riches of the grace of Christ, and He is ready to supply every soul according to the capacity to receive."

Do you like this promise of such a special gift?  I do and I believe we do receive it when we abide by the conditions.  It is hard to give up control of our lives to others but to God when He loves us so much should be much easier, don't you think?  Let's try it and receive His special gift to us.  Grandma Joan