Offer Help

Do you have a friend who is struggling with an addiction of some kind? Maybe you don’t believe you can help him experience freedom, but you can. You don’t have to be a spiritual giant.

Pray for him and with him. Intercession on behalf of this person not only gives you spiritual insight, but builds faith. Pray regarding what you share, and be sure it is confirmed by or does not violate Scripture.

Listen to him. Take time to understand what he is saying. Many times we don’t hear because we are planning what we are going to say next.

Do not judge. If someone confesses to you, do not criticize him. Realize that he reaches out to you because the Holy Spirit trusts you.

Keep his confession confidential. Whatever he reveals, don’t tell others. Treat his confidence as a sacred trust.

Encourage. Never forget to remind him that there is deliverance and healing in Christ.

Persevere. Don’t give up. Believe in him when he is at his lowest. Don’t allow him to isolate himself from other believers because of his addiction.

Share the Word. Assist him in Bible study, and help him discover God’s promises.

Be holy. Keep your own relationship with the Lord pure. If you are not open to the Lord’s correction, you cannot help him.

“Remember this,” James affirms. “Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins” (James 5:20). When you share the heart of Jesus, the Lord does the miraculous. Not only will the Lord save a person lost in sin from spiritual death, but Christ’s forgiveness for your own failures will take on an incredibly deeper meaning. Remember that the grace of Christ is more than sufficient to meet the challenge (II Corinthians 12:9).

MADE RICH TO GIVE

Even though I am not rich in what others might call rich, I am rich in Christ. I can't contain such rich fullness, it just overflows. It is a fullness of His Spirit that must be given away. He calls me to give all of myself away.... my heart, my thoughts, my possessions, my life....for His sake. He is the greatest giver, and He is my greatest example. He gave of His time, so I will give of mine. He gave up personal comfort, so I will give up mine. He gave all of Himself for me....His perfect life for my sinful one. He still gives all of Himself for my comfort, for my healing, for my understanding, for my sorrow, for my weakness, for my need. Because of what He has done for me, and His love that continues to abundantly flow, I also give. And in giving, I receive. I receive more joy and move peace and more love to give away. It is a never ending cycle of richness that only comes with complete surrender to the Savior who died for me. In Him is fullness of life.

”Give, and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together and running over, shall men give unto your bosom” (Luke 6:38).

 

HERE IN THIS MOMENT

Here in this moment I am still.

Here in this moment all that has bombarded my mind is silenced.

Here in this moment there is only you.

Here in this moment my heart is at rest in your love.

Here in this moment the voices that have plagued my mind are silenced.

Here in this moment I find peace that passes my human understanding.

Here in this moment I discover your joy that is my strength.

Here in this moment my prayer takes flight straight to your heart.

If not for your moment of surrender, I wouldn't have this moment.

If not for your moment of sacrifice, I wouldn't have this moment.

Here in this moment I surrender all I perceive.

Here in this moment I sacrifice all that has held me.

Here in this moment I am loved as I long to love you.

Here in this moment I have you.

Here in this moment I have eternity.

“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

Molly

My mother passed on in February of this year. She lived in a specialty care at Autumn Cove, an assisted living residence here in Anniston. For years I had visited my mother almost everyday of the week, and taken care of many things for her. With his consent, my father had allowed me to make decisions regarding my mother's health care. She had always needed me, and now in February she was suddenly gone. The emptiness in my life was very great.

A few weeks after her death, a friend from church found a bedraggled and shivering dog in the road. She posted the dog's picture on Facebook to try to locate the owner. The moment I saw the picture of that little schnauzer my heart was drawn to her. I couldn't stop thinking about her. I already had two little dogs, and I lived on a street with a strict covenant. We could have no more than two little pets. Besides my husband was the president of the homeowners association, and I couldn't put him in that position. I took a picture of this lost dog to my groomer Kathy. The dog had a damaged ear, so she immediately recognized the dog as one she had groomed a few days earlier. Kathy said that someone had found the dog. She had been all mangled and obviously a stray for a long time. Kathy couldn't say who the dog's rescuer was. But it it was obvious that the person who had rescued the dogs had also lost her. And my friend, Donna, had rescued her again.

When I first saw this little dog in Donna's living room, my heart filled to overflowing. My mama came to mind, and then this little dog just looked at me and I knew in my heart that she was a gift for this time in my life. There was nothing pretty about her condition. Her skin was just a bunch of sores. She had bitten herself raw. Her damaged ear was mangled and infected. Donna couldn't keep her because of her large dogs. Mama was gone, and now here was this little dog needing love and care. According to our covenant, we couldn't have another pet, but I took her, knowing that one day I might have to give her up.

We named her Molly, and took her to our vet. After treatments for her skin condition, and ear, Molly began to feel better, and fit into our lives with our other two dogs just perfectly. It had always bothered me that we had broken the covenant when we brought her home, but no one had ever said anything. I knew if anyone ever did, I would have to let her go. That thought was devastating, but I understood.

Loving and gentle she lays by my side watching me as I write this. Her paw rests on my leg as if to say, “it's alright. It's time for me to move on.” And it is time.... for that is what has happened. Her presence was questioned two weeks ago. We were asked if we were not aware of the covenant. For these past months she has been my companion and my friend during a time when I desperately needed someone to love and take care of. God had sent Molly to fill a time of great loneliness in my life.. And she has been my healing balm. She has been right beside me as I right devotionals each morning. Often after praying I open my eyes to see her totally concentrated on me as if to say, “I'm here for you.” She has been God's gift during one of the most difficult times of my life. The pain at the thought of separation has been devastating, but I have found through all the tears, that it is time.

Molly has been my gift to help me through grief, and now it is time for her to love and help someone else. I had Mama for awhile, and then had to let her go. It is as if I hear Mama saying, “It's OK to move on now, Lynn. It's OK.” So with Molly's incredible love and help over these last months, I can now move on. I pray that the sweet family who receives her is blessed as much as I have been by her sweet presence. And that they discover the wonderful gift that Molly has just for them.

Ask In Faith

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6, NIV).

Don't beg. Ask in faith believing He will supply all that is needed. Trust His love for you. Trust His faithfulness to you. Bring to Him your needs knowing that to lay them on the altar means immediate help in your time of need.

His desire is to supply what you need, but you must ask, believing that He will supply what is best for you. Faith is the key that unlocks the door, but it is only found in intimate contact with Him.

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him" (1 John 5:14-15, NIV).

Prayer Changes

Prayer Changes

Prayer is your closely personal time with the Lord. It is a privilege that imparts a close relationship, and brings you into the very presence of a faithful God. (Hebrews 4:16).  Prayer is God's gift to your struggling spirit. Without it, you have no strength, no guidance, no purpose, no peace, and no victory. With it all things are possible.


We often pray for God to change circumstances. Sometimes there is a change in circumstance, but often there isn't. C.S. Lewis discovered a precious truth with the impending death of his wife. When an agnostic colleague asked him why he bothered to pray when it was obvious that God was not changing the circumstance of his wife's cancer, C.S. Lewis said, “I don't pray in order to change God. I pray because God changes me.” And that is the beauty and gift of prayer. As we draw closer to God in prayer, we find ourselves changing into a person who is able to hold on to the incredible peace of God in all circumstances. Prayer changes who we are. It changes our heart, our attitudes, our desires, our choices, and every aspect of our lives.

Don’t become discouraged in prayer. Paul writes, “We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will” (Romans 8:26a-27). Allow Him to search your heart, and He will pray for you.

 

NO LIMIT

"Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

(Matthew 17:20)

Do you sometimes feel limited in what you can do in your Christian walk? There are times I feel limited. But I must understand that there is no limit to what I can accomplish (Philippians 4:13). If God has called me to do something, He will supply the strength that I need (1 Thessalonians 5:24). I will never give up because something seems beyond my power to accomplish. In my weakness, I shall realize His strength and power that moves mountains.

I love pansies. They bring color and beauty in the coldness of a winter morning. Sometimes, when it is freezing, they are shriveled and withdrawn. As I pour warm water on them, they open to the winter morning and stand strong in the frigid air. I might be weary and shriveled, but I still stand, and wait for the warmth of His Spirit to bring new life to whatever task He has given me.

And as He pours His power into me, I realize that in Him all things are possible.

Take Care of the Little Things

“For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest” (Luke 9:48b, NIV).

Real discipleship is taking care of the little things. Sometimes that is the last thing I understand. In my heart and mind I may tell myself I am ready to die for Christ, but then I don't live for Him in the the small details of my life. So many times this is the way it is toward those we love. We believe we are ready to make a big sacrifice, but discover we cannot even make the smaller ones.

I must learn to sacrifice my own desires in every area of my life. I will rejoice in all things for this is His will for me. I must overcome prideful wants and surrender to Him in the smallest areas. He desires my service in the smallest things of life. I will learn to be His servant in the least thing, and then I may learn to be His servant in the greatest.

HE CAME FOR YOU

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10

Do you see God as being generous? He is! He gives abundant life for earth, and abundant life for eternity. This is the reason He came. To give His life for souls! To give us life instead of death! To give us victory instead of defeat! To speak peace instead of turmoil! To encourage when despair darkens! To bring rest in the midst of the storms of life!

Jesus Christ came so that we may know Him and the power of His resurrection.... for the promise of heaven, and the promise of overflowing life in Him NOW. He gave all for that purpose. He sacrificed all the perfection He was for all the ugliness that we are. In His gift to us He becomes the vine that empowers. We are the branches. When the life of the vine flows into ours, we bring forth new growth! We flourish in His presence. Our being becomes one with His.

Whatever you might face today, He has already given victory. He is Peace. Joy. Strength. Power. Healing. Patience. Forgiveness.... He is everything you cannot be alone. But when you are one with Him, He is all you lack. His Life flowing through your very being is all you need. So look to Him, the Author of your faith, and take courage. It is only in Christ that you can have the greatest peace, strength, power, healing, patience, forgiveness. But you must live with Him, and in Him. Then and only then will His life accomplish the miraculous in your life.

This is abundant life! This is your purpose, and your promise. This is the reason He came. For you.

HIS LOVE IS GREATER THAN MINE

Have you ever done something to help a friend, and ended up hurting him instead? Was it something you were certain would bring relief, but all it did was bring more pain? Sometimes in an attempt to lessen a friend's pain and ease a breaking heart, we attempt to fix something that we don't really understand. Only the Holy Spirit does. Sometimes the Holy Spirit does guide and give direction to encourage our friends, but it is always His place to do the work. We can't fix anything. Only He can. Look at Job's friends. They thought that were helping Job with their advice, but they were only hurting with their words and accusations. They really didn't understand the larger picture, and neither do we. The best we can do is just be there and listen.

“Friendship is one of the sweetest joys of life,” C.H. Spurgeon wrote. “ Many might have failed beneath the bitterness of their trial had they not found a friend." This is the kind of friend I wish to be.... one who knows he can't solve the problem, but one who realizes that in listening to my friend's heart, I have given the very best I can give.

Lord, help us to be able to always say....
"So today, please forgive me, friend, if I make mistakes that hurt you. I don't do them on purpose. I try to be the best friend that I can be, but I often fail in my attempt. My heart hurts for you, but so many times I try to help you, and all I do is confuse and try to fix things that I should never attempt to fix. The best I can do for you is pray for you and ask the Holy Spirit to make me sensitive to your needs, and keep me from making mistakes or saying things that hurt you. I will always pray for your healing and for God to heal the pain in your life. If He wishes to use me, I will make myself available. But I will never assume it is my place to do anything but surrender to Him. I pray that in our mutual surrender, you will one day discover His peace and joy, and I will discover a greater depth in my walk with the Lord. I pray we both discover those unknown depths of His love and are filled to overflowing with His abundant life.”

There is no greater love than when we give our lives for our friends. We must lay down all our human judgment or preconception or expectation. We must release all this so then we are free to love. We just love with His love, and then all things are possible.