FREEDOM

Before we accepted the free gift of Christ's salvation, we were slaves,
captives to our own sinful nature. His sacrifice on the cross gave us
total freedom to not sin and to turn our backs on our old sinful nature.
Warning! It is so easy to slip back into the old ways. Then we are again
slaves and captives to sin.

Read Galatians 5:1

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yolk of slavery." (NIV)

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us
free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." (KJV)

BEAUTIFUL

From our human viewpoint, we see things from a very limited
understanding. Those things we see as harsh and devastating
are a part of God's great plan that reveals the beauty of His love.
When things seem very very bad, remember, God will reveal
something beautiful from it in time.

Read Ecclesiastes 3:11

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set
eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God
has done from beginning to end." (NIV)

"He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set
the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that
God maketh from the beginning to the end." (KJV)

EQUAL GRACE FOR EQUAL MANKIND

The same saving grace that comes from faith in the shed blood of Jesus
Christ is the same for every person who believes. We were all sinners in
need of God's grace to rescue us. The rescue for us is free. It cost God
a very great price, His only Son. What great love He has for us!

Read Romans 3:22-24

"This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." (NIV)

"Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." (KJV)

GOD IS IN THE WATER AND FIRE

The Word tells us over and over that God will never leave us nor forsake
us. When we go through overwhelming waves (water) of suffering and tragic circumstances (fire) that make us want to give up, God is with us and will go through it all with us. Be comforted by that no matter where you are or what you are experiencing.

Read Isaiah 43:2

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you pass through the fire, you will not be burned; the Flames will not set you ablaze." (NIV)

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through
the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. (KJV)

STRONG HEARTS

The children of Israel, who had the promise of a new land, complained
and disobeyed until God took the promised land from them, and when
the last of them had died, their descendants were allowed to enter it.
We, as children of God, are warned to keep our faith strong so that we
can enter God's promised blessings of eternal life right now. We can keep our faith and belief in God by encouraging and being encouraged by our fellow Christians.

Read Hebrews 3:12,13

"See to it brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart
that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily,
as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by
sin's deceitfulness. (NIV)

"Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." (KJV)

SPIRITUAL WORKOUT

To be concerned about one's physical health is beneficial for living here in this life. To be concerned about one's spiritual life is beneficial for this life and crucial for eternal life. Take care of your body, God's temple, but make your spiritual life with God your priority.

Read 1 Itmothy 4:8

"For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." (NIV)

"For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." (KJV)

WHO UNDERSTANDS?

Those who truly seek God, spend time with God, and learn from
God will understand the goodness and the severity of God. His ways
will be understood by them. Those who have this understanding will
be known by God. Everything about God is true and without error. The
true believers will walk in God's truth and experience peace and
assurance. Those who don't know the Lord will find themselves
stumbling with confusion and uncertainty.

Read Hosea 14:9

"Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He
will understand them. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous
walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them." (NIV)

"Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? Prudent,
and he shall know them? For the ways of the LORD are right,
and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall
therein." (KJV)