Devotion, Faith

Symbiotic Relationships

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Proverbs 27:17 states “As iron sharpens iron, so a person sharpens the countenance of his friend.”

If you’re surrounded by people who encourage you in your Faith & Walk with Jesus, who lift you up not tear you down, push you to be better, hold you accountable, but love you as you are: these are the Proverbs 27:17 friends.

They are the friends we need and need to be in this life, and they are hard to find…

In nature there are three kinds of relationships called Symbiotic Relationships.

1.) Mutual (or Mutualism)

2.) Common (or Commensalism)

3.) Parasitic (or Parasitism)

In a mutual relationship both organisms benefit, such as a bee and a flower. In a Common relationship one benefits and the other isn’t affected at all. A Parasitic relationship is great for one but harmful, and sometimes fatal, for the other.

Which best describes you and your relationships? Think about the closest people in your life right now and reconsider… Are you both building and encouraging one another or is one person really gaining from your relationship and the other, not so much. Are you suffering cruel actions or discouraging words to your detriment and the destruction of your self-esteem, while the other profits in mind, body, and soul?

Jesus tells us,

Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love.

Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness(Jeremiah 31:2 TLV)

and that

“No one has greater love than this:

that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13 TLV)

Jesus loves you so much that He died for you and has granted you everlasting life, love, and mercy.

A man with many friends may be harmed by them,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24 TLV)

Jesus is our best and truest friend, one who sticks closer than a brother, loves us unconditionally, and walks with us everyday of our lives; through the good and bad.

Friends, if Jesus loves you and tells you that you are valuable, that you have unconditional, everlasting, never-ceasing love from the Father, then don’t surround yourself with people who say otherwise.

Jesus said “The thief comes only to steal, slaughter, and destroy. I have come that they might have life, and have it abundantly!” (John 10:10 TLV) 

If you are not living life abundantly in your relationships, relationships of a mutual standing, it’s time to let them go.

I like this quote from Booker T. Washington, it says, “Associate yourself with people of good quality, for it is better to be alone than in bad company.” -Booker T. Washington

And that’s a true statement, it may not be fun being alone, I know, but you are not harmed, hurt, or worse-off all together in bad company. And best of all when you’re in a season of being friendless , that’s when you see God’s love and glory and closeness in your life more than you ever have before. And that is the most beautiful and all-satisfying thing!

The Bible clearly leads us on the path of choosing good friendships saying,

“The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” -Proverbs 12:26

“A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.”-Proverbs 17:17

 

I hope this blog encouraged you my friends, to know that you are valuable, loved and worthy of good relationships! I pray that Jesus’s Love and the Truth of His word will fill you and bring you peace and blessings!

 

Shalom🕊& God Bless you! ☀️

 

 

Devotion, Faith

“Jesus Is All The World To Me”

“Jesus is all the world to me; My life, my joy, my all. He is my strength from day to day; Without Him I would fall. When I am sad, to Him I go; No …

“Jesus Is All The World To Me”
Christianity, Devotion

I Know Whom I have Trusted

For this reason I also am suffering these things—but I am not ashamed, for I know in whom I have trusted and I am convinced He is able to safeguard what I have entrusted to Him until that Day.”


‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1:12‬ ‭TLV‬‬

Faith

Trust in God

To trust God in the light is nothing,

but trust him in the dark—

that is faith.

-Charles Spurgeon
Faith

He is Risen!

“But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know you are looking for Yeshua who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.

And behold, Yeshua met them. “ Shalom!” He said. They drew near, grasped his feet, and worshiped Him.”
‭‭-Matthew‬ ‭28:5-6, 9‬ ‭TLV‬‬

Devotion, Faith

Treasure in Earthen Vessels

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, so that the surpassing greatness of the power may be from God and not from ourselves

-2 Corinthians 4:7 TLV

Devotion, Faith

Fear Not, I Am

Fear not, for I am with you,

be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you.

Surely I will help you.

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

-Isaiah‬ ‭41:10‬ ‭TLV

Bible, Devotion

The Short Term, The Long Term, and, with Every Step

landscape photo of pathway between green leaf trees

What is our purpose?      What is our work?

That was the question a crowd in Capernaum, gathered around Jesus’s feet, wondered. They asked Jesus “What shall we do to perform the works of God?”  (John 6:28 TLV)  and Christ replied ” This is the work of God, to trust in the One He sent.”(John 6:29 TLV)

Really? That’s it? Just trusting in Jesus?

Yup. That’s it. But I’ve discovered 3 things about trusting in Jesus, it’s a simple request, the best thing you could do, but also the hardest. Whether it’s trusting God with our short term goals, long term future, or our daily lives, trusting can be difficult.

What makes trusting in God so difficult is the conscious decision to fully submit life’s circumstances and outcomes to God. An idea your senses cannot grab and only your faith can cling onto. It ultimately involves walking into the unknown.

The unknown can be a scary place, especially if you’ve experienced hurts, pains, and disappointments in your life, but remember, there is never anything to fear.

If we remember that Jesus loves us enough to die for us, and only wants what’s best for us as our Heavenly Father, we can take courage to believe that if He asks us to completely trust in Him, it will always be for our good. We can know without a doubt that it will be better than alright, it will be perfect as only He could do!

Trusting in God frees us to walk with joy and peace into all the wonderful plans and promises He has for us in our lives. Trusting in Jesus also brings you closer to Him, to see Him work in ways you would not have seen, or even fathomed, if you hadn’t trusted in God.

Trusting God with our long term future, short term goals, and every step of our lives is the work which fulfills our purpose. It is the best and surest thing you could possibly do.

“Surely no one who waits for You will be ashamed.”

-Psalms 25:3 TLV

    

 

Devotion, Faith

Trust & Rest in Jesus ❤️

“In a day when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you…”

“This I know—that God is for me.”

“Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, For in You my soul takes refuge.

In the shadow of Your wings I take refuge, until destruction passes by.”

“…But I—I sing of your strength! Yes in the morning I sing aloud of Your lovingkindness”

“For God is my strong tower—My God of lovingkindness”

Psalm 56:4,10 . Psalm 57:2 . Psalm 59:17-18

Christianity, Devotion

When I Call on Jesus

I’m so very ordinary, nothing special on my own.

Oh, I have never walked on water, And I have never calmed a storm

Sometimes I’m hiding away from the madness around me,

Like a child who’s afraid of the dark…

But when I call on Jesus,

All things are possible

I can mount on wings like eagles’ and soar

When I call on Jesus,

Mountains are gonna fall

‘Cause He’ll move heaven and earth to come rescue me when I call

Weary brother, broken daughter,

Widowed lover, you’re not alone

If your tired and scared of the madness around you

If you can’t find the strength to carry on

Call Him in the morning, in the afternoon time

Late in the evening He’ll be there

When your heart is broken and You feel discouraged,

You can just remeber that He siad

He’ll be there

When I call on Jesus

All things are possible

I can mount on wings like eagles’ and soar

When I call on Jesus,

Mountains are gonna fall

‘Cause He’ll move heaven and earth to come rescue me when I call

Song by Nicole C. Mullen