JamJay Magale

God’s Perfect Timing

It’s human nature to be impatient, not wanting to stand in line at the checkout counter, or sit in the waiting room wondering when your name will be called. It’s frustrating when sending an email and then having to wait for a response. And when you wait for a test result that will determine your fate - ten minutes can seem like a lifetime! But God’s timing is perfect, for after all, He is the Creator of Time! He alone knows the end from the beginning and what is best for us. He also knows when our hearts are ready to receive the blessings He has in store for us. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3:11, “ He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.” It’s not our job to “know” the future - it’s our job to “trust” God to do what’s best for us. God’s Holy Word makes it very clear that man’s timing and God’s timing is completely different! In 2 Peter 3:8 we’re told, “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” The best thing to do is trust God in all things - and yes, that includes His perfect timing! Text: Ecclesiastes 3:1, Psalm 89:47, Job 7:6

Happy Sabbath day! God bless you all!

Bucketload of Bitterness

Sometimes people can say or do things that may instantly send you reeling from the sting. Intentional or not, the hurt is the same. But instead of letting it pe*****te your heart with pain, ask God to replace every bad thought and feeling with an extra measure of love for those who hurt you and then move on. Don’t put time and energy into wondering what others think - it only matters what God thinks. Be comfortable with who you are and know your worth. What people choose to do or say about you is a reflection on them, not you. When you are ignored, snubbed, or mistreated by others, don’t waste a minute of your time being upset or even offended. Instead, praise God for revealing their true characters and then pray for them. The Bible says in Matthew 5:44, “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Someone once said, "Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward.” Sadly, letting go is a huge struggle for many people. Mareez Reyes, a famous poet, put it this way: “One of the hardest lessons in life is letting go. Whether it's guilt, anger, love, loss, or betrayal. Change is never easy. We fight to hold on and we fight to let go.” But holding on to a bucketload of bitterness will not only rob you of all peace and joy on this earth but also in the earth to come . . . because you won’t be there. God clearly says in Matthew 6:14-15, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Let go of all the hard feelings and choose to forgive, forget, and move on with Jesus. You’ll feel like a ton of bricks were just lifted from your shoulders. Choose to be an encouragement to others, especially those who mistreat you. The choice does not belong to fate - it belongs to you. Instead of treating them as they deserve, show kindness, patience, and love. You’ll be amazed at how fast God’s love will change hearts and prevent a bucketload of bitterness. Text: Hebrews 12:14-15, Ephesians 4:31-32, Psalm 37:8, 1 Peter 2:1

Have a great day everyone!

© Brenda Walsh

Worshiping Idols

God does not want His children worshiping idols. In fact, He feels so strongly about it that it is one of the Ten Commandments that He wrote with His own finger on a tablet of stone. It is recorded in Exodus 20:3-6: “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in the heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God.” And in Leviticus 26:1, it says, “You shall not make idols for yourselves or erect an image or pillar, and you shall not set up a figured stone in your land to bow down to it, for I am the Lord your God.” You see, God wants you to love and obey Him, and worship ‘only’ Him. He doesn’t want you to worship anything or anyone else. Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” Some Christians worship idols without even realizing it, because anything that you love more than Jesus Christ . . . is an idol. It could be your fancy new car, a prestigious job, wealth, beauty, power, or countless other things, even people. If you love material things or your relationships more than you love God, then you are worshiping idols. Whatever is standing in the way of your friendship with Jesus, move it or get rid of it! Nothing is more important than your relationship with God! Show Him how much you love Him by praising and worshiping Him - and only Him! In John 4:23, we’re told, “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.” Don’t waste your time worshiping material things or people . . . worship the King of the Universe . . . and only the King! Text: Romans 1:25, Psalm 115:4-8, Psalm 31:6, Colossians 3:5

© Brenda Walsh