It’s reassuring to know that God knows the trials that we face and that he is with us. Helps us Lord to trust you when we encounter various trials, and understand that what was meant to hurt us that you will turn it around for our good. Lord, we will take one step at a time, and trust you to lead the way. Lord we would rather walk in the dark with you, than go alone in the light, we would rather walk by faith with you, than go alone by sight. Praise the Lord!

All around us we are faced with opportunities to show kindness. Sometimes we could help by just sharing a loving word, or a smile. Yesterday, I was moved with compassion for this young black man who came on the train, a packed train, and just like Bartimaeus, he shouted out his name without shame, and he said, “I am down on my luck, could someone please help me with a dollar or two? My brothers and sisters in Christ, we are all one step away from that young man without steady employment, let us learn to pass it on. “Like the singing of a bird, pass it on, let it cheer another’s woe, you have reaped what others sow, pass it on. If you found the heavenly light, pass is on, souls are groping in the night, pass it on, hold thy lighted lamp up high, be a star in someone’s sky, be not selfish in your greed, look upon another’s need, if you live for self, you live in vain, live for Christ and you will gain.” Pass on a random act of kindness today and be blessed.

‘Twas GRACE that taught my heart to fear God, and that same GRACE relieved all my earthly fears, Oh, how precious did that GRACE appear, the hour, I first believed. Since that hour, many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come through, but, ‘tis GRACE that brought me safe thus far, and the same GRACE will lead me home. Come, Lord Jesus! Make us ready to receive you. May all who are lost come to find you, and BELIEVE, and experience your love, joy and peace.

Whenever we try to do something good, especially the work of the Lord, we find many who try to derail our efforts; you don’t ask their opinion but they are quick to tell you why it’s not going to work. But, scripture reminds us to watch, to stand fast in the faith, to be brave and to be strong, and let all that we do be done in love and to the glory of God, for he who does the work of the lord will not be alone, and his labor will not be in vain; therefore, when God impresses upon our heart the work He has set before us, we should be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that our labor will never be in vain. God knew beforehand that when He opens great and effective doors for us to walk through that there would be many adversaries, and that is why He said, lo, I will be with you always, I will never leave you nor forsake you. My brothers and sisters in Christ, if God has called you to do His will He has already equipped you, don’t allow the enemy to steal your tools, use them against him. Amen!

“All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet, He opened not His mouth, He was led as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before its shearer is silent.” God did this for us, yet, we are not willing to bear the shortcomings of our brothers and sisters. We are quick to judge, we are harsh with criticisms, we are evil in backbiting, we are swift to condemn and slow to forgive. But, God who is rich in mercy has borne our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, and we still beat Him with cruel stripes every day, but because of his mercy, by those same stripes, we are healed. Thank you Lord!

“Therefore, we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet, the inward man is being renewed day by day, for our light affliction which is but for a moment, is working for us  far more exceeding weight in glory. While we do not look at the things which are seen, but the unseen, for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” But are we faithful enough to understand these things? Do we trust God enough to bring us through the situations we face? Are we so overwhelmed by our afflictions, that we lose hope? My brothers and sisters in Christ, we cannot lose heart, we cannot give up, we must be confident of this very thing, that all things happen for our sakes, that grace having spread through us, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, if you hear God’s voice calling you this morning, harden not your hearts. No matter what you have done, or where you have been, come to Jesus, the God of second chances. Do not allow the past to define you, let it refine you, for where you have been will not hinder you from going where God is leading you. What you have done, will not stop what God will do for you, so if you are burdened with the weight of sin, give it all to Jesus, he is a forgiving and an understanding God and He will turn your sorrows into joy. Praise the Lord!

“I know I am weak and sinful, but I hear that voice calling me, come, and I know it’s the Savior who calls me, so I’ll answer His knock at the door. I am the lowest of those who love me, the weakest of those who pray, but I will come as He is bidding, for He will never turn me away. The mistakes His free grace will cover, my sins He will wash away, and my feet that shrink and falter, will continually walk in His way. The mistakes of my life have been many, and my spirit was sick with sin, and I scarce could see for weeping, but Christ Jesus let me in.”  God is knocking at your hearts door today, sinner, won’t you let Him in? I heard His knock and answered His call, and now He is my all in all. Praise the Lord!

“Like wandering sheep o’re mountains cold, since all have gone astray, they have been scattered from the fold, how will they find their way? Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Christ is the way, the truth and the life, and I will no more roam, for he will guide me to my Father house and to my eternal home.” Thank you, Lord!

When a wicked man turns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is lawful and right he preserves himself alive. Therefore, if we repent, none of the transgressions we have committed will be remembered against us. Who else could be this merciful forgiving and kind to us but our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? Come to Jesus and make no delay. A ruler once came to Jesus by night to ask Him the way of salvation and light, and Jesus said to him, ye must be born again. We too, if we are ashamed, we could come to Jesus in the still of the night, in our quiet places and repent and be forgiven of all our transgressions, for he promised that if we call upon His name that we shall be saved. The Lord did not come to save the righteous, but that all sinners through him might be saved. Thank you, Lord for forgiveness.