‘Word of God’

Tuesday A Calm Undisturbed Mind

(AMP) Proverbs 14:30
A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones.

Yesterday I encouraged you to think on God. Another step toward a calm and undisturbed mind is to praise Him, specifically for the Word of God.

(AMP) Psalm 119:164-165
Seven times a day and all day long do I praise You because of Your righteous decrees. [165] Great peace have they who love Your law; nothing shall offend them or make them stumble.

The NLT states it this way: (NLT) Psalm 119:164-165
I will praise you seven times a day because all your regulations are just. [165] Those who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble.

Do you love God’s instructions? Do you love the Bible? Have you spent time in it today, this week, this month? Are you obeying it’s instructions? These questions are not here to make feel guilty. They are here to tell you, if you are of a disturbed mindset, perhaps it is because you have been too long away from the source of peace. The Word of God is there for you like a blanket kicked to the foot of the bed on a cold winter night. All you have to do is reach for it and draw it up around you. Immerse yourself in God’s word and find that calm undisturbed mind.

Today fall in love with the Word of God. Make an appointment with your Heavenly Father every day. Meet Him at His Word. Find His peace in it’s comfort.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr

Put a Helmet on!

Eph 6:17  Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Eph 6:17  Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

1Jn 4:8  But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
1Jn 4:10  This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
There is a comedian who uses the statement, “Put a helmet on!” as a way of poking fun at people who do or say silly things.” Truth is we all get silly if we listen to the lies of Satan and let them take control of our thoughts. So God has provided a Helmet of Salvation for us.
One of the biggest things Satan uses in his relentless attacks is a simple question, “Hath God Said?”  Then he continues by trying to explain away what God “hath said”.
This is why the Helmet of Salvation is so very important. Rom 12:2  Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
The Helmet of Salvation is the truth that God is who He says He is and that He loves us and that we are His children if we have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.
Some trial comes into our lives and Satan is right there saying, “If God really loved you…” That is when you had better have that Helmet of Salvation on.  Here is a good and simple way to put it on right now if you haven’t already done so today.
Sing it with me…
Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak but He is strong
Yes Jesus loves me
Yes Jesus loves me
Yes Jesus loves me
The Bible tells me so
A child’s song? Really, Brother Steve? Yes a child’s song with the most precious and powerful message ever proclaimed. Sing it until you believe it so much that no matter what comes into your life you truly believe that God loves you and that He will work all things together for your good. Rom 8:28.
Today sing it, believe it and share it.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr.

Truth verses Hype, Fear and Guilt

I don’t use snopes. I use truthorfiction.com. However, when it comes to truth there is really only one we can fully rely on, that person being Jesus Christ. After all He is the way, the truth and the life.

Most of this stuff that gets sent out over the internet as a BIG WARNING is hype. Truth is Christ promised we would have trouble in this world and along with that promise came this encouragement, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Further more, many types of emails that go out with, “if you care let all your friends know” plastered on them are meant to spread fear.  Jesus said, “(NLT) Matthew 10:28 “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”  We are also told in 2Ti 1:7  For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

Other such emails are sent to make us angry about something.  Eph 4:26  And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, Eph 4:27  for anger gives a foothold to the devil. Eph 4:31  Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.

Here’s another one. “If you love Jesus you will send this to 10 people in the next 30 seconds.” My love for Jesus is not measured in the emails I send.  It is measured in whether I’m keeping His commands.  Some wishy washy email that only speaks of God’s love but says nothing of His justice and the need for repentance is only going to spread a false sense of security to people who are already complacent in their relationship with God almighty. You want to show Jesus you love Him? Push away from your computer, come out of hiding and love some real people you can see. Share with them the Gospel. Share your food and clothes with them. Visit the nursing home, the hospital and the jail. Go out into the streets and talk to some homeless folks. Give a smile to the check out clerk at the store who is moving a little slow. Say, “God Bless You!”, instead of griping how long they took. Show the love of God.

So, Truth is, I ignore a lot of these forwarded emails. Yes, I hit delete without even opening them. Father, God can be trusted. Pray, write your congressmen and senators, but speak with grace and truth, not bitterness and anger. Share your faith with people face to face.

Feel free to save this and send it to those people who insist on filling your inbox with all their fears, guilt trips and rants. Or you can delete it. There are no miracles waiting to happen one way or the other as a result, except that some may find you unreasonable in your trust of almighty God and may remove you from their spam list.

Oh, one more thing, please don’t send me those forwarded emails. Someone will no doubt write me and say, “But you like getting jokes, don’t you?”  Yes, yes I do.  Pro 17:22  A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. So send on the good CLEAN jokes.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr.

Sealed

2 Corinthians 1:18 As surely as God is faithful, our word to you does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” 19 For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” He is the one whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says. 20 For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory. 21 It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, 22 and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.

Here is vs 22 in the NKJV 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

Think about this. We are identified as His. “I’m a child of the king”. Say that about three times slowly. Now find someone to share that with. You are a child of the King, a child of God almighty. That’s what the seal is about in the NKJV. It also means that we are sealed.

John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, 29 for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”

And the Holy Spirit is the Guarantee that all God’s promises will come to pass.

Signed, Sealed and delivery is on the way. HALELLUJAH!!!

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr

The Fulfillment

2 Corinthians 1:18 As surely as God is faithful, our word to you does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” 19 For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” He is the one whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says. 20 For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory. 21 It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, 22 and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.

Have you ever anticipated or at least hoped for a victory and when it arrived you caught yourself shouting, “YES!” Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all our holy anticipation. He is the fulfillment of all the Father’s promises. Because of Him our sins are forgiven, we are made whole in God’s sight, we are given life, we are empowered to do the work of the kingdom, and we have a place with Him for all eternity. Because of Him we escape the torments of hell and eternal damnation.

We are told to pray in His name because all our hope, peace, joy and consolation is in Him.

Today, think on Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, prince of Peace, Savior and your Friend. Then talk to Father on the authority of His Son in Whom He is well pleased. And then anticipate answers to your prayers based on Jesus Christ the Yes and AMEN!

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr

Do Not Lose Heart

Deut 31:8 Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Neh 6:9 They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination.

Matt 28:20b And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Gal 6:9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

A discouraged heart is weak and apt to give in and give up. The enemy wants to discourage us so we do just that, quit!

Christ is with us and will not leave us. Be encouraged in this today.

Take some time to pray for someone else who is facing insurmountable odds. Pray we will be strong in the Lord and the power of His might and that we will not sin. Include me in that prayer. Pray for one another.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr

Authority

Matthew 9:1 Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town. 2 Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.” 3 But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, “That’s blasphemy! Does he think he’s God?” 4 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Is it easier to say `Your sins are forgiven,’ or `Stand up and walk’? 6 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” 7 And the man jumped up and went home! 8 Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for sending a man with such great authority.

Jesus came from God and came with authority. He has authority to forgive sin, to heal all sorts of disease and deformity. He also has authority to speak peace and strength into you to deal with your situation.

Take a few deep breaths and then take your situation to Him.

1Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

Perhaps, pray the Lord’s prayer. That helps me focus my heart and mind on God as the center of life instead of allowing myself or my problem take center stage.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr

Everlasting Good Father

Isaiah 9:6 For a child is born to us,  a son is given to us.The government will rest on his shoulders.  And he will be called:Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,  Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Everlasting Father: For those who did not have a good dad those words could bring terror to mind. “I’m going to spend eternity with someone like my earthly father?”

Malachi 4:5 “Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives. 6 His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

I am blessed to have a wonderful father and mother. I assure you that our Heavenly Father is indeed wonderful as well. Think about it; He left His throne in Glory and died a horrible death to pay the penalty for our sin. We are safe in His care.

Everlasting (Good) Father.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr

Papa’s Lap

Gal 4: 4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” 7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

Dwell on that today. You are His child. You are free and His child.

Take a little time today to curl up in His lap and share your deepest desires with Him. When they were little my children had no problem crawling into my lap and asking me for anything. So, like a little child, go to your Heavenly Father and ask.

James 4:2b Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr

No Comparison

Rom 8:18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.

Rev 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” 5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” 6 And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. 7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.

Gao Zhisheng is a Christian Lawyer in China. He has been imprisoned and tortured at least three different times for defending believers. He has now been in prison since last February. He is tortured daily for his beliefs.

And yet, all he has endured is not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed to us on that day. If we truly believe it:

Today let us rejoice in the promise of His return, and in the promise of our amazing eternal home.

And let us remember to pray for our syblings in Christ who truly suffer for their faith.

And let us cover our mouths in shame when we start to complain about our circumstances.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr