Simplicity & Faith

"Get Up and stand on your feet! I have appeared to you to appoint you as servant and witness to what you have seen and will see of me...

 ^{17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’}" Acts 26:16-18

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Today's Scripture invites us to seek out and fervently embrace opportunities to share God's love with all we meet and to spread the 'Good News' of the Gospels wherever are, wherever we go. This passage is certainly a call to action in every way. In it, we are called to serve God and others, and to give witness about the Lord whenever possible.

I particularly love this Scripture because it tells us exactly what our role is as followers of Jesus Christ, as we are called to be servants and give witness. How simple is that? Well, consider this...
The truth is, not everyone is meant to stand up at a pulpit or on a street corner and preach to the masses.  In fact, most of us have a quieter, more subtle calling, to love those around us unconditionally and to share Jesus with them.

Through ministry, I have noticed that some of the most gifted, compassionate, Christian witnesses come from people living in poverty. In fact, some of them even live in the nearby woods and have done so for years. Outwardly, they seemingly have little, but they are true powerhouses for the Lord! Somehow, truly by the grace of God, these courageous people have joy, and peace, even in, and despite, their harrowing circumstances; and I feel eternally blest just to be in their company!

Faith is not dependent on riches, worldly success, being a Bible scholar, or holding a high position in a company. It's more about doing the best you have with what you have, right where you are in this life, and sharing the love of Christ with all you meet.

May the Holy Spirit fill you with fervor, peace and grace, and may  the Light of Jesus within you shine wherever you go!

                                                               Adele M. Gill   2013   Copyright

In the Palm of God's Hand

                              "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His mercy endures forever!" Psalms                       
  It has been said that the average person makes about 2000 decisions on any given day. 2000 choices. In a way, it is only human to try to depend on ourselves.  Our culture supports this idea, by telling us we are in control of our life and our own destiny. However, it is also important to know what is beyond our control as human beings.

Sure, we have much to do with what happens in our daily lives, but there is a time in everyone's life when people need help for what is beyond their reach. Infirmity. Grief over the loss of a loved one. Job loss and unemployment. Broken relationships. The list goes on and on...That is when it is imperative to pray and place your life in the palm of God's hand...

These days, I try to always do my best, and leave the rest to God. I try to place what is beyond my control squarely in the palm of God's hand, and by doing so, I have learned a lot.

God the Almighty can make something good out of anything. In His Omnipotence, He knows me better than I know myself, and is ever present to us all simply for the asking...No exceptions. His wisdom is far more advanced than our own, and He really does work all things out for the good, in fact, far beyond anything I can imagine in any circumstance.

This day, I pray you will join me in laying your life in God's eternal, loving hands. Let today be a new beginning for your life with God at the helm, and see what blessed surprises He has in-store for you. Do your best, and leave the rest to God... What transpires will be divine!

                                                   Adele M. Gill/The Inspiration Cafe Blog   2013   Copyright
         http://theinspirationcafeblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/give-thanks-to-lord-for-he-is-good-his.html

Those at Peace With God Have a Future

                                           "Those at peace with God have a future." Psalm 37:37

From day to day, many live hectic lives filled with too much to do and often too little time to do it. Sometimes we even find ourselves wishing we could slow down a bit. Truth is, every life has its own  rhythm, its own pace, that allows each person to live comfortably as we go about our day.  If your life rhythm is too fast paced, you will not have peace. If your daily life is too slow, boredom, apathy and rumination may set in.

It really is important to find the life rhythm that agrees with you most in body, mind and spirit. In essence, for most, it is really important to find what brings you peace, and do more of it! Personally, I tend to notice feelings of being 'out of sync' when  I am too busy or preoccupied with my own 'stuff'' to pray and reach out to others. Anything that prevents us from putting God first presents obstacles to living in true, enduring peace.

Through daily prayer, I have learned how to to put my own issues and desires aside, and listen through the silence of prayer to let God 'have His way' in my life. No, some days I fall short, but I continue to try because I know well that to seek God's plan for my daily life, means that problems and hurdles soon fade, and what is Eternally important naturally comes to the foreground.

When we walk in peace, we begin to trade aspiration for inspiration. With aspiration,we turn to the temporary happiness and success the world has to offer. However, inspired by His unconditional love,  joy and peace, we begin to search for peace itself~ that is, true peace, harmony with God.

                                                         Adele M. Gill   2013   Copyright

Trust That God Will Act

"Commit your way to the Lord, and trust that He will act."   Psalm 37:5

 As Scripture tells us, the Lord really is Kind and Merciful, Omnipotent and Almighty. To trust in Him means to trust that you believe He is alive and there for you to pave the way as you go through your day...You are not alone. Able to change hearts and minds and circumstances for the better at any time, He stands in wait for our earnest prayers asking for His help.

There is a big difference between hoping and praying for whatever we need. When we hope, we are wishing for something to happen or be a certain way. When we pray, we are actually asking God to intercede in a situation, to act on our behalf or for the needs of another person.

When we trust that God will hear our prayers and intercede, it takes great burdens off of our shoulders as we watch and wait for Him for His answer to our heartfelt prayers. God's divine interventions depends heavily on our belief and trust in Him.

So go on... Ask for whatever you need this day with confidence that God has it taken care of. Always try to do your best, then place your needs and challenges in His blessed hands, and rest assured He will work it out for you in His special time and way. Soon, you will be asking yourself daily, "What will God do now?" rather than shouldering daily burdens by yourself with marginal results.

                                                        Adele M. Gill    2013  Copyright

Kindness vs Holiness

"Blessed be the God ... who gives every possible encouragement; ⁴ he supports us in every hardship, so that we are able to come to the support of others, in every hardship of theirs because of the encouragement that we ourselves receive from God."  2 Corinthians 1:1-7

I don't know about you, but i am a big proponent of both prayer, and giving credit where credit is due. For me, it only seems natural to praise God on high for all His mighty blessings. What some may call coincidence, I generally attribute to Jesus Christ--The Living God.

Surely we have all heard that kindness begets kindness, but for followers of Jesus Christ, faith, kindness and encouragement are at the very core of our personal calling for each of us. Actually, kindness begets holiness. For to try to lighten the load of another is the definition of holiness.

When you have an epiphany and/or take the time to realize what the Lord has freely done for you and your loved ones--That He died on the cross for your sins and mine, and rose on the third day, and it is truly a time to rejoice!

We rejoice not because he gave us our way through prayer, but because of the depth of Jesus' unconditional love manifested in His sublime kindness and mercy on a daily basis. And it gets even better...In as much as we are able to embrace the extent of His Holy Love, it is only natural to pass this mercy and kindness on to others who need it from us.

The Joy of the Lord is My Strength

"The joy of the Lord is my strength." Nehemiah 8

Happiness and joy often look the same, however, they are quite different. Happiness is often experienced as a positive emotion such as that great feeling of winning a ball game or getting a good grade on a test. Joy, on the other hand, is actually a deep spiritual gift that comes from the Lord. Happiness may pass quickly, but there is a a far deeper, more enduring quality with joy.

Joy is a blessed gift from the Holy Spirit that comes through confident prayer, and praising God in all His glory. With joy there is a feeling of contentment that comes from knowing that you are never, ever alone in this life, no matter how isolated you may feel. Holy help awaits you, simply for the asking. In fact, it is the sublime understanding that Jesus stands by your side day and night, ready to fight every battle that comes your way--With you, and even for you, in your times of great need.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus stands in the breech averting mayhem on your behalf, and diverting arrows of darkness that fall along your path. That accident you almost had; the breakthrough in that tough relationship with your family member. Lifting you up, He brings you to higher ground, helping you to loosen the binds that tie you. For with Him, there is no darkness at all; just goodness, and pure and radiant light that comes being in the presence of the Lord.

"The joy of the Lord is my strength," hence, my soul rests in the peace that surpasses all understanding. I rest best in the Lord, because I know where my help comes from.

                                               Adele M. Gill   2013   Copyright