Coming Clean leads to God's Blessings

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“Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity…” — Psalm 32:5
We individually need to acknowledge our sin to God. This needs to be a personal responsibility and much as it desires personal integrity – being honest before God. We need to confess everything openly to God because He knows our deceit. He is omniscient He knows all even our darkest secret.
Confession brings freedom, concealment lead to continued misery. Confession of our sins, knowing that they are covered by God gives the blessings of joy and peace .

To love money is to lose sight of the Source of Life

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“The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness” — 1Tim6:10
As we learn to see that Christ is the source of all we have, we will find contentment in Him rather than in material possessions. When we seek godliness rather than riches, we will gain a desire to be faithful with what we have been given.
Let’s deliberately cultivate an attitude of contentment in God, and faithfully submit to Him; for our Provider will care for us.

God knows us inside and out. No renovation project is too big for Him.

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“For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood” — Rev5:9
A house listed “as is” usually means that it may require further investment. How remarkable it is then, that when Jesus died, He paid the highest price for each of us, regardless of our condition. We were bought “as is”, faults, defects, needed renovation included. By faith, we are under His ownership, in the process of remodeling for God’s glory. How wonderful that God knew us, loves us, and bought us just as we are.

The gains of heaven will more than compensate for the losses of earth.

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“I saw a new heaven and a new earth” – Revelations 21:1
Heaven is not an afterthought or an optional belief. It is the final justification of all creation. The Bible never belittles human tragedy and disappointment however is does add one key word: temporary. What we feel now, we will not always feel. The time for re-creation will come.
For people who feel trapped in pain or in a broken home, in economic misery or in fear – for all of us – heaven promises a timeless future of health, wholeness, pleasure and peace. The Bible begins with a Redeemer (Gen3:15) and ends with a promise (Rev21:1-7) – a guarantee of future reality.

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you" ~ Jesus

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“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” — 2Timothy1:7
We tend to crave refreshment and well-being when we are plagued by anger, fear or sadness. God has given to those who accepted him, His Holy Spirit. Therefore, when we are agitated or anxious, we can remember that God’s Spirit produces power, love and self control. God’s influence in our lives can create a calming effect – one that leads to comfort and wholeness.

When the Spirit prompts, take action

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“From now on you will catch men” — Luke5:10
Have you ever thought of Jesus’ declaration to His fishermen-disciples? There are great opportunities that come our way, every day – people circling around us, searching for that elusive “something” for which their souls crave – occasions to show the love of Christ and speak of the hope that is in us. These are opportunities we might miss if not alerted.
All through this day, O Lord, let me touch as many lives as possible for You – through the words, I speak, the prayers I breathe, the letters I write and the life I live.

Forgive As Christ Forgave You

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“If anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do” — Colossians 3:13
Hate hurts the hater more than the hated, no matter how justified it may seem. We each have the opportunity to love our enemy and choose forgiveness. Forgiveness doesn’t excuse the offense, but when we forgive we show Christ to the world. “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph4:32).
God will help you let go of every angry grudge as you watch the Spirit build into you a place where others see the Savior. The love of God within our hearts enables us to show forgiveness; that is undeserved, so others too might know.

A Saddened Heart to God's Joy

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“I am weary with my groaning; all night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears” — Ps6:6
Though we aren’t told the events that prompted its writing, the lyrics are filled with grief. But that’s not where the song ends. David knew pain and loss, but he also knew God’s comfort. And so he wrote “the Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer” (v.9)
In His grief, David found a reason to trust God, whose faithfulness bridges all of life’s hard seasons. In the warmth of His presence, our sorrows gain a hopeful perspective.
A song of sadness can turn our hearts to the God whose joy for us is forever.

A heart for Compassion, A Hand to Give

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“Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” — James 2:17
James reminds us that we demonstrate our faith by our actions. The needs in our world are varied and overwhelming but when we love our neighbor as ourselves, as Jesus said (Mark12:31), we reach people with God’s love.
Open our eyes, dear Father, to those in need. Allow us to find ways to help meet those needs. Help us to take the focus off ourselves and place it on those who can use our assistance.
Open your heart to God to learn compassion and open your hand to give help.

Wear the Full Armor of God

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“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” — 1Peter5:8
In their natural habitat, the hunger of a lion tell them to go hunting. They seek the young, weak, sick or injured. Peter used “a roaring lion” as a metaphor for Satan. He is a confident predator, looking for an easy prey to devour.
In dealing with this adversary, God’s children must be vigilant at putting “on the whole armor of God” and thus they can “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Eph6:10-11)
No evil can penetrate the armor of God.