Category: Treasures for the Heart

Everyone can use encouragement!

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Unthankfulness

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5


Unthankfulness is a costly, toxic sin.  All of the symptoms listed in the passage above can come from allowing unthankfulness to take root in our hearts.  

Ungrateful people tend to complain and are nitpicky about everything. They complain about everything, never seem to enjoy life, and always want more.


God’s word repeatedly implores us to “give thanks” in all things.
1 Thessalonians 5:18, Colossians 3:15, Psalm 100:4. Developing a grateful heart is an important part in the growth of a Christian.  God’s grace enables all believers to give thanks in all things (2 Corinthians 4:15).


Regardless of the pain or problems we face in this life, each of us has something for which to be thankful.  Even in the midst of our darkest trials, God is working things out for our good and His eternal glory.  By faith, we can have a grateful heart in all circumstances.

I would like to encourage you to take time each day to think about three things for which you are thankful.  It will not only lift your spirits, but it will also calm your busy mind and help you sleep more peacefully tonight.

10/19/2017

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Panting for God

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.  Psalm 42:1

Just as the deer depends on water for life, our lives should depend on God.  Our greatest desire should be to seek after God with our whole heart.  As our relationship with God becomes stronger, the enemy will do whatever necessary to distract us from Him. 

When we find that we are in the midst of the battle, we need to  remember that we need supernatural powers to defeat our foe.  We put on our armour (Ephesians 6:10-18) by seeking God and his righteousness first and foremost (Matthew 6:33).  Know that God is our shield and our great reward.

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.  Psalm 28:7

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Good Cheer

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.  John 16:33

In the hustle and bustle of life, things sometimes seem to be chaotic and spinning out of control.  This can cause us to feel overwhelmed and downhearted.

When this happens, the best thing to do is to get in the Word.  We are to be rooted and grounded (Ephesians 3:17) so that we may be steadfast and unmovable in the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58).

The Lord is our HOPE.  Jesus is our Rock, our firm foundation upon which we can stand.  Psalm 18:2 says, “The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”

When our spirit within us begins to sink, we must remind ourselves to cheer up (John 16:33) because Jesus never fails and He is always by our side (Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:9; Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 28:20).

Remember to SMILE because Jesus loves you! 

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Day By Day

Day By Day

by Karolina W. Sandell-Berg, 1865
tr. by Andrew L. Skoog

Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find, to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He Whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best—
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day, the Lord Himself is near me
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,
He Whose Name is Counselor and Pow’r.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”
This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then in every tribulation
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E’er to take, as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.

copyright status is Public Domain

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Prescription for Worry & Fear

“The reasons our problems often seem overwhelming is [that] we allow the things of time to loom larger in our gaze than the things of eternity. The tiniest of coins, when held close to the eyes, can blot out the sun.” -Selwyn Hughes

Philippians 4:6-7
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

God’s prescription for worry & fear is to be thankful in all things.  Sometimes that’s a hard pill to swallow.

Worry tends to cloud our minds.  Fear tends to immobilize us.  Both make our problems seem like a mountain, not the molehill they are.  Both have no room for God.

Thankfulness is an important key to have in our lives.  For when we are thankful for what God has done in and through our lives, it gives us the power to change not only our attitude but also our perspective.

Prayer is also another important key.  When we allow the cares of this world to occupy our minds, we cause static in the communication lines making it difficult to hear when God is trying to speak to us.
Prayer is our lifeline to God.

Take time to talk to the Lord in prayer.  Thank Him for all He has done past, present, and future.  When we choose to pray, we decide to have a thankful heart regardless of our circumstances, this allows God to guard our hearts and minds.  Prayer & thanksgiving not only magnifies Christ but also delivers us from fear (Psalm 34:3-4).

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Seasoned with Salt?

Leviticus 2:13 states, “And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt.”  God specifically mentions “season with salt”.   Hmm?

Why mention the minor detail of salt?

Webster’s dictionary states that salt is used to season or preserve.  What is the significance?

In cross-referencing with Numbers 18:18 “it is a covenant of salt for ever before the Lord unto thee and to thy seed with thee”, salt is a symbol of preserving a covenant between the Lord and His people.  God promised David that He would establish the throne of His kingdom forever (2 Samuel 7:12-13).  Salt was a reminder of God’s working in the lives of His people.

In Mark 9:50, God commands us to “have salt in yourselves”.  This salt will help to not only preserve us from the evil of this present world but also will help us to make a difference in the world around us. The salt in our lives should cause others to desire a change of flavor in their own lives.  This will glorify Christ.

“Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.”  Mark 9:50

“Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man”.  Colossians 4:6

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Purposeful Prayers

Matthew 6:5-6
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

“In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than wprds without a heart.” – John Bunyan

Our prayer time must be a purposeful matter of our heart. God does not want a nonchalant attitude or fluffy words to make it sound good. The model prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 is an example to show us how to acknowledge His presence, declare His sovereignty, submit our needs, ask forgiveness, forgive others, and ask for protection and deliverance from evil. He never expected us to vainly repeat His prayer example. He wants a sincere heart.

There may be even times when your heart is so burdened and laden with the cares of this world that you don’t even know what to say. That is when the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf. He prays for what we do not even know how to express (Romans 8:26-27). God loves and cares for you. Remember to take time each day to spend with the Lord. He loves you!

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Daily Dose of Vitamins

1 Peter 1:7-9                                                That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Did you know that spending time in the Word, prayer, and fellowship with your Saviour is like making sure you get your daily dose of vitamins? Those of us who try to focus on being healthy make sure we are trying to get our daily dose of vitamins whether through eating the right foods or taking vitamin supplements.

Sometimes that healthy exercise can be tough and quite a struggle, but the end results are satisfactory & rewarding.

The only way that we can truly endure the trials of this life is through a firm foundation in Jesus Christ.  While our salvation guarantees heaven, it doesn’t warrant a healthy, spiritual life.  Our spiritual life is determined by our searching the Scriptures diligently and constant fellowship with the Saviour.

Another important healthy part is to make sure our lives are filled with joy.  What is joy?  Webster’s dictionary defines joy as “a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.”

How do I have joy in the midst of trials?  Sometimes it’s not easy, but it’s through determination to have a merry heart (Proverbs 11:22). Trails are to strengthen our faith. We receive our strength through having joy in the Lord (Nehemiah 8:10).

I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes I just don’t want to be tested or endure one more trial.  At times, I do find myself getting weary in well doing.  BUT it is in that moment that I realize I need to take time to meditate (think) upon Scripture and get alone with God in order to not stay down-in-the-dumps.  It also helps me to listen to God-honoring music to help lift my soul from the miry (very muddy) clay.

In order to have more of God’s power in our lives, we must cast-off the negatives and embrace the positives.  When we allow the presence of God in our lives, we will experience more peace and joy (Psalm 16:11).

One of the nine (9) Fruits of the Spirit is Joy (Galatians 5:22-23).  Harvested fruit tastes delicious, but trying to eat it before its ready can taste horrible.  It must be cultivated through planting, weeding, and watering.  When it’s time, it can be picked for the enjoyment of eating.  The same is true in our lives.  In order for our spiritual fruits to grow and mature over time, they need to be nourished.

The “Fruit” of Joy doesn’t happen overnight.  Not only must we work at it, but we must choose to add it to our lives.  Don’t forget to add the important vitamin of Joy to your daily dose of vitamins.  You’ll be glad you did!

 

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Better or Bitter?

August 22, 2018

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”  Philippians 1:6

We will incur many adversities in our lives.  How we choose to approach them will affect our outcome.  Will you choose to be better and allow the trial you are currently enduring to make you stronger becoming the victor through Christ’s help?  OR will you choose to become bitter and allow yourself to fail and become the victim?

Though I fail at times, I would like to think that I try to press on to the victory – looking for the lesson I might learn that I may grow in Christ and in turn be able to help others do the same.  Sometimes pain is the very thing that God can use to help you help show the love of Christ to others in only a way that you can.

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:14

“When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off.  You sit and trust the engineer.” – Corrie ten Boom, Holocaust survivor.

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