For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, (KJV) ( 1 Thessalonians 5:9 ) After reading through the Old Testament people often mistake God as being quick to anger. This is further from the truth. God saved us by offering up His son as a sacrifice. He did this so that we can have a personal relationship with Him. He hears your prayers and responds to your heart with love. He showers you with blessings and brings healing to your life. Our God chose to save us out of love, not anger. If you see God as an angry God, take a closer look....

        An Invitation to Abundant Life “Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. Isaiah 55:6-8...

Your Three Best Weapons Through careful strategy and cunning deceit, Satan attempts to wage war against you and keep you in a mindset of defeat. But God has given you spiritual weapons to use against him. Here are the main three spiritual weapons you can use to fight off the enemy: 1. God’s Word: Receive it through preaching, teaching, reading and private Bible study. Continue in the Word until it becomes revelation given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. 2. Praise: This defeats the devil faster and more efficiently than any other battle plan, but it must be genuine heart-praise, not just lip service or a religious ritual. 3. Prayer: Prayer is relationship with the Godhead. It is communication with God, asking Him for help or talking with Him about whatever is on your heart. To have an effective prayer life, we must develop an intimate, personal relationship with the Father. Know that He loves you and that He wants to help you. There is a war going on, but God is fighting on your side and has given you the weapons you need. Use them to send Satan running! Prayer Starter: Lord, thank You so much for giving me the spiritual weapons I need to fight my enemy. With Your help, I know that I can win the battle today! ~~Joyce Meyer : Promises For Your Everyday...

Apart from Christ there is no bearing good fruit, no glorifying God, no authentic love, and no entrance into relationship with God our Father. We are desperately and utterly dependent upon Christ for any power, salvation, forgiveness, redemption, revelation, or repentance working in and through our lives. Jesus is everything, He is our gate, our way, our truth, and our very lives. Missing Jesus means missing everything. If you believe you are living in service to God, yet do not believe in Jesus Christ, you are living a lie! Righteousness is in Christ alone. “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”  (John...

The wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. Matthew 25:4. – {AG 214.1} The two classes of watchers [in the parable of the ten virgins] represent the two classes who profess to be waiting for their Lord. They are called virgins because they profess a pure faith. By the lamps is represented the Word of God…. The oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit…. – {AG 214.2} In the parable, all the ten virgins went out to meet the bridegroom. All had lamps and vessels for oil. For a time there was seen no difference between them. So with the church that lives just before Christ’s second coming. All have a knowledge of the Scriptures. All have heard the message of Christ’s near approach, and confidently expect His appearing. But as in the parable, so it is now. A time of waiting intervenes, faith is tried; and when the cry is heard, “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him,” many are unready…. They are destitute of the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit of God a knowledge of His Word is of no avail. The theory of truth, unaccompanied by the Holy Spirit, cannot quicken the soul or sanctify the heart…. Without the enlightenment of the Spirit, men will not be able to distinguish truth from error, and they will fall under the masterful temptations of Satan…. – {AG 214.3} The grace of God has been freely offered to every soul…. But character is not transferable. No man can believe for another…. No man can impart to another the character which is the fruit of the Spirit’s working…. – {AG 214.4} We cannot be ready to meet the Lord by waking when the cry is heard, “Behold, the Bridegroom!” and then gathering up our empty lamps to have them replenished…. In the parable the wise virgins had oil in their vessels with their lamps. Their light burned with undimmed flame through the night of watching…. So the followers of Christ are to shed light into the darkness of the world. Through the Holy Spirit, God’s word is a light as it becomes a transforming power in the life of the receiver. By implanting in their hearts the principles of His word, the Holy Spirit develops in men the attributes of God. The light of His glory—His character—is to shine forth in His followers. – {AG 214.5} Ask God to give you much of the oil of His grace. – {AG 214.6} From Gods Amazing Grace by Ellen G....

Seek Wisdom from Above But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. James 3:17. Dear Edson and Emma: … My greatest desire is that you may be a polished instrument in the hand of God to be used to His glory. I hope you will not think you can go forward in your own strength relying upon your own judgment. Seek wisdom from above. Be true, be noble in purpose. Be elevated in life, and may the God of peace sanctify you wholly, soul, body, and spirit. Do not cease searching and studying and getting at the very bottom of things. God will help you in all your earnest efforts, my dear children. If you both consecrate yourselves unselfishly to God and to His work, He will accept you. You will not have the reward here, but you must look for the reward by and by when the “Well done” is spoken by the Master…. All who enter heaven must be brought to the test and tried as gold in the fire even in this world. Our greatest danger will be in a carnal security. God help you, my children, to never boast in self. Unless you both watch unto prayer, you will fail at last. Never fancy it a brave life to live at ease…. Be sure, my son, dig deep, lay the foundation sure. Do not … [be deficient in] thoroughness in your efforts to seek God. Do not seek to cover up or gloss over one sin, but search deep. Guard against moving from impulse, calling it religious zeal. Surrounding influence may affect the feelings of many. The good example of others may have weight for a season, but if the heart is not renewed, if it is not thoroughly converted, it will return naturally to its own element. Watch, my dear children, against self-deception. Selfish ends may want to creep and insinuate themselves into the best actions, but give no place to the devil. Stir up your souls with daily fears of sin. Connect with heaven, and angels will minister unto you…. Cling to Jesus, your Redeemer. He has given you continual evidences of His love in that He has given you adversity time and again. If we cannot bear these lighter trials, if a little lift of prosperity or adversity discover in us falseness, pride, and selfishness in the heart, if we yield to discouragement and to sin, if the scoffs and frowns of wicked men afflict us and take away our courage and hope, and we faint in the day of adversity,...