Growing Faith

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17

How do I grow my faith? The scriptures tell us by reading God's Word! It seems so simple and yet Satan finds ways to talk us out of doing something so simple as reading. Our lives get bogged down with stuff to do, people to see, places to go. Some of those things are good things too. We should never be so busy that we do not take time to read our Bibles.

The enemy is out to destroy our minds and we need the guidance of the scriptures to keep that from happening. How many times do you find your thoughts and mind saturated with negative thought processes? Prayer and scriptures are needed to fight that negativity so our minds can be used for something more useful in life.

When our faith increases then our life is more useful. We can grow spiritually and recognize when our hearts and minds are under attack. We need to protect our thoughts and trust God to take care of everything in our life. That will bring peace that is beyond our comprehension. If we are only taking in the negative of life then our life will produce negativity. Let's saturate our hearts and mind with the Word of God! It brings good things.....

                 Peace is not the absence of conflict, but of inner conflict.

This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success. Joshua 1:88

Feeling Worthless?

There are many reasons people feel they are worthless. I know in my own life there have been times when I have carried the feelings of worthlessness. At those moments of utter disappointment and sadness I run to the Lord who picks me up, dust me off and shows me that I am not worthless. He helps me find my worth in His Word or at church from some sweet saint. Some times God will bring the perfect book into my life for me to read and reprogram my mind to undo all the harm done. Other days, it will be a sweet card in the mail, an unexpected visit or a kind word from someone. 

Dear Lord, I want to always be an encouragement to those around me and never destroy their spirit with my words.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

This picture was taken after the afternoon rains on July 2014.

Sanballat Syndrome

But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews.  Nehemiah 4:1

Sanballat set out to discourage and defeat the Jews. He made fun of them, mocked them and then went to battle against them. He even had Jews from within the camp that were helping give him information to help him overcome them. He became obsessed with their defeat because he was filled with so much hatred and despised them.

Does that sound like anyone in our own life? Unfortunately there are people within our families, communities and even churches that suffer from the Sanballat Syndrome. They have made it their quest to set out, mock, destroy and conquer others. They may not have an army with shields and swords but they have many other destructive tools. Gossip, slander and sarcasm are used to destroy one's spirit and reputation. Not acknowledging people or treating them as if they have no value is another method.

God protected the Jewish nation from Sanballat and God will protect us too! Some days it feels as if we are being defeated but no matter how things may seem always TRUST GOD!

 This picture was taken in the Everglades, May 2013.