Verse of the Day

Hi All,

I have just added Bible Gateway's Verse of the Day to my blog. Now you can log on everyday and get a verse that God has arranged in advance for you to read. Please feel free to check this site often to see what verse God has for you each day. He loves you and is thinking of you constantly! He deeply desires a close relationship with you.

See the verse of the day on the right above the Roman Road to Salvation. Click on it to read the verse, then click the back button to get back to this site.
Have a blessed day!
Darlene

Gentle Nudges

Verse: Galatians 5: 22 & 23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

I had a cat that loved for me to pet her. She would stand right beside me and nudge me with her nose. She knew exactly where to put that cold wet nose so that I would have no choice but to move my arm to get away from that nose. Then she waited for my arm to come down right next to her and for my hand to land on her waiting head. It worked every time.

God is gentle, patient and loving toward us. In Galatians 5:22 & 23 the fruits of the spirit are listed as; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The fruits of the spirit are traits that we gain by imitating Christ and living in obedience to His Spirit. Since that is how we obtain these fruits, then it is true that Christ, already possesses these traits. He must first possess them in order to give them to us. When we are obedient to Him these traits are blessings that are given to us as a reward for our continued faithfulness. Since God, the Father, is gentle, then it makes sense that He would urge us toward obedience and stepping out of our comfort zone, gently.

Vine’s Concise Dictionary of the Bible defines gentle as: ‘not insisting on the letter of the law,’ and ‘sweet reasonableness’ (p. 152). In 1 Kings 19:12 the Lord spoke in a gentle whisper. Zechariah 9:9 states that He is gentle, (lowly) and Matthew 11:29 says that He is gentle and humble. From these verses we see that Jesus and God the Father are gentle in speech, and in actions, and in His request for obedience. Therefore, when we perceive something coming from Him in a forceful manner we may be interpreting His actions according to the world’s standards. Biblically that is not His nature when He interacts with believers.

If we are thinking that He is being harsh then that is most likely a misinterpretation on our part. Also, remember the fruits of the spirit. One of them is gentleness, in order for God to give these traits to us (believers), He must first possess them Himself.

Love the Lord, all His saints!

Prayer: Father, thank you for your gentleness towards me. Help me understand the characteristics you possess so that I can recognize your work in progress and join you.

Read More:
Matthew 11:28-30

Action Plan (James 1:22-25):
Ask God to show you where you can step out of your comfort zone for Him. Remember that He will be gentle about it and it will be your decision to obey. He will never force you.

Peace and encouragement

This is from an e-mail I sent to some friends who are experiencing difficulty right now. I hope it may be a blessing to others as well:

Last night I was reading a book by Anne Graham Lotz (Billy Graham's daughter) and something struck me and I am hoping that it will bring you peace and encouragement today because I know you are going through a difficult and stressful time right now.

Anne Graham Lotz says in her book, 'Pursuing More of Jesus', that to the disciples Jesus' death on the cross appeared to them as murder (p. 180). Remember that the disciples saw Jesus walk on water, calm storms with one word, raise Lazarus from the dead, and heal many people who were sick. Now He was taken from them and crucified.

We have the benefit of knowing the rest of the story, that Jesus would be resurrected 3 days later, however to the disciples this looked like an unplanned, traumatic event. It looked like Jesus was murdered and that His ministsry was defeated, and over. Anne Graham Lotz says about the disciples that, "Their faith would be rocked to its foundation." (p. 180).

Now, consider your situation. We can only see what looks to us like abandonment, or that we are deserted, forsaken, forgotten or ignored, because we can only see in part (1 Corinthians 13:12). Just as the disciples could only see what looked like murder. However, 3 days later it turned out to be an opportunity for God's glory.

I bought a new CD last week. One of the songs is entitled, 'Stay Strong' by the Newsboys.
The lyrics read:
"Stay strong, you are not lost. Fix your eyes ahead. We've come to far to lose our way."

It is easier said than done but when things don't make sense, trust. Trust Him. Anne Graham Lotz says, "We simply have to trust our Heavenly Father to know best. We have to trust God's silences and respect God's mysteries and wait for God's answers (p. 181)."

Peace and encouragement to you!
Darlene