Category: Blessings

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Montana Mountain Moments

With our unseasonably high temperatures I’ve been thinking about what the weather is like in other areas where we have lived.

I always knew that by the end of October we would have snow on the ground when we lived in the panhandle of Idaho. But snow came even sooner when we lived in Montana. Always, always, we had snowfall on Columbus Day. I found this picture and it was dated October 6, 2013, a week before Columbus Day so the snow came early that year.

What a gorgeous day, I remember it well. It was a Sunday. Dave and I assisted a large animal vet, and we were called out to preg check and vaccinate a small herd at a remote ranch. There had been fresh snow fall for a couple of days; the pastures and the mountains were covered; the air was crisp and it was a beautiful day.

“He renews our hopes and heals our bodies. 4 He decided how many stars there would be in the sky and gave each one a name. 5 Our Lord is great and powerful! He understands everything…8He fills the sky with clouds and sends rain to the earth, so that the hills will be green with grass. 9 He provides food for cattle and for the young ravens, when they cry out…14God lets you live in peace, and he gives you the very best wheat. 15 As soon as God speaks, the earth obeys. 16 He covers the ground with snow like a blanket of wool, and he scatters frost like ashes on the ground.” Psalm 147 CEV

The Lord who put the stars in the sky, gives field grass to the cattle and covers the ground with snow, loves and cares for us. He has provided us with His word and every promise He gives will come to pass.

“Turn to the Lord! He can still be found.  Call out to God! He is near.7 Give up your evil ways
 and your evil thoughts. Return to the Lord our God. He will be merciful and forgive your sins. 8 The Lord says: ‘My thoughts and my ways are not like yours. 9 Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, my thoughts and my ways are higher than yours.

10 “Rain and snow fall from the sky. But they don’t return without watering the earth that produces seeds to plant and grain to eat. 11 That’s how it is with my words. They don’t return to me without doing everything I send them to do.” Isaiah 55:6-11 CEV

If you live in a place where you can see the stars, are blessed with rain, and can see snow covered mountains, then know this. These are signs of God’s promises. They are examples of His faithfulness.

His ways far exceed ours; His love is unconditional and everlasting. His mercy never ends. His faithfulness is to a thousand generations and He cannot lie, His word is true. Heaven and earth may pass away but God’s word will never fail.

I pray that you will have a Montana Mountain Moment and will be able to look around at all God has made and say “Thank you Father for loving me and always being faithful to Your word”.

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Be A Rebel

Oh, how I love God’s word! It is so practical. It gives us everyday answers for everyday situations. God’s sole purpose in giving us His word was to make our daily lives fruitful and blessed.

He’s offered to carry our load, forgive our sins, remove our worry, strengthen our minds and fill us with His love. What can be better than that.

We’re returning to the Jesus’ teaching on the mountain.

” Don’t store up treasures on earth! Moths and rust can destroy them, and thieves can break in and steal them. 20  Instead, store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves cannot break in and steal them. 21 Your heart will always be where your treasure is.” Matthew 6:19-21 CEV

Good advice.

It’s hard not to look at earthly treasure. Checking the stock market, the savings and checking accounts, looking at the 401K and if that’s not enough the interest rates on homes and cars, the price of bread and eggs, the crime report and it can send us spiraling down the rabbit hole of fear and lack.

Store up our treasures in heaven. How do we do that? There’s no heavenly ATM where we can make a deposit or is there?

“Then the godly people will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food? When did we see you thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you with no place to stay and welcome you into our home? When did we see you without clothes and give you something to wear? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and care for you?’

40 “Then the king will answer, ‘The truth is, anything you did for any of my people here, you also did for me.’” Matthew 25:37-40 ERV

Always Think of Me = ATM.

Always be ready to make a deposit in our heavenly account.

“ Each one of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give. You should not give if it makes you unhappy or if you feel forced to give. God loves those who are happy to give. 8 And God can give you more blessings than you need, and you will always have plenty of everything. You will have enough to give to every good work.” II Corinthians 9:7-8 ERV

When our earthly treasure is invested in heavenly purposes, we will have enough for every good work that God asks us to give too. We’ll be quick to give because we know we are doing it for Him.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, God has given us every spiritual blessing in heaven.” Ephesians 1:3 ERV

Be a rebel – count your blessings!

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No Showoffs Please

First of all, this morning I would like to thank you for following the link and going directly to the website to read yesterday’s blog. I’m not sure if I will be able to post to Facebook again this morning but I’m hopeful.

However, if you are blessed by reading this each morning and want to receive it each day, uninterrupted, please go to the blog tab of the website, www.arizonakristi.com, and on the right side of the page fill in your email address and you will receive it each morning, just like the old-fashioned morning newspaper.

It somehow seemed appropriate that a morning teaching on not being irritated or short-tempered would be removed for whatever reason. It certainly gave me the opportunity to practice what I preach – I was able to stay calm, it didn’t spoil my morning.

Now, on to more of Jesus’ teachings from the mountain. He had just told us to love like His Father, our Father, in every situation.

“When you do good deeds, don’t try to show off. If you do, you won’t get a reward from your Father in heaven.

2 When you give to the poor, don’t blow a loud horn. That’s what show-offs do in the synagogues and on the street corners, because they are always looking for praise. I can assure you that they already have their reward. 3 When you give to the poor, don’t let anyone know about it. 4 Then your gift will be given in secret. Your Father knows what is done in secret and will reward you.

5  When you pray, don’t be like those show-offs who love to stand up and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners. They do this just to look good. I can assure you that they already have their reward. 6 When you pray, go into a room alone and close the door. Pray to your Father in private. He knows what is done in private and will reward you.” Matthew 6:1-6 CEV

There was a problem in the Jewish synagogues with the religious leaders trying to call attention to themselves. They wanted everyone to see how long they prayed and how much money they gave. They sought to be the center of attention. They weren’t there to worship God but to draw attention to themselves.

We are often guilty of the same thing – telling people about the “good” we do to help others. Bringing attention to ourselves.

“As Jesus was teaching, he said: Guard against the teachers of the Law of Moses! They love to walk around in long robes and be greeted in the market. 39 They like the front seats in the synagogues and the best seats at banquets. 40 But they cheat widows out of their homes and pray long prayers just to show off. They will be punished most of all…42 Finally, a poor widow came up and put in two coins worth only a few pennies. 43 Jesus told his disciples to gather around him. Then he said: I tell you that this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 44 Everyone else gave what they didn’t need. But she is very poor and gave everything she had. Now she doesn’t have a cent to live on.” Mark 12:39-44 CEV

Jesus was not impressed with their piety; in fact, he faulted them for their hypocrisy. They had their reward.

God doesn’t need show-offs; His desire is that we show out His love and compassion.

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New Life

Our granddaughter shared a post yesterday. She is 37 weeks, almost to her due date. We are so excited – she is about to give birth to our second great granddaughter!

I remember those days of being an expectant mother. I wanted everything to be perfect. As I sat here thinking about those days and my emotions, the excitement is fresh in my mind. Wanting the best for them – little outfits to wear, everything perfect in the nursery, what to feed them, and who they would grow up to be.

I’m so blessed by their lives and by the Lord’s faithfulness to them. Thinking on all of this I was reminded of a teaching I did years ago on our spiritual birth and how God planned it all.

Our heavenly Father prepared for our arrival.

Read the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus in John 3 – you must be born again. Then look at the question Nicodemus asked Jesus.

“Don’t be surprised that I told you, ‘You must be born again.’…9 Nicodemus asked, “How is all this possible?” …16 Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world. He did not send him to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him.” John 3:7-17 ERV

From the time of Adam’s sin in the garden, the Father began planning for our arrival with great expectation. He sent His Son to bring spiritual birth to all of those on the earth.

He planned what we would wear.

“You have taken off those old clothes—the person you once were and the bad things you did then. 10 Now you are wearing a new life, a life that is new every day. You are growing in your understanding of the one who made you. You are becoming more and more like him. ” Colossians 3:9-10 ERV

“Wear the full armor of God. Wear God’s armor so that you can fight against the devil’s clever tricks.” Ephesians 6:11 ERV

He also planned what we should eat and drink.

“Then Jesus said, ‘I am the bread that gives life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry. No one who believes in me will ever be thirsty.'” John 6:35 ERV

“Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. 14 But anyone who drinks the water I give will never be thirsty again. The water I give people will be like a spring flowing inside them. It will bring them eternal life.’” John 4:13-14 ERV

And then He planned for all of life’s other necessities as well.

“Don’t worry and say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 That’s what those people who don’t know God are always thinking about. Don’t worry, because your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things. 33 What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need.” Matthew 6:31-33 ERV

The Father has meticulously planned for our every need. His plan is perfect. Our responsibility is to trust Him and make relationship with Him our top priority.

He has given us new life!

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The Beginning, Middle & End

Our lives are like a book. Different chapters, different characters, different locations, but God has a definite story to fill each page. Here we are starting a new month and it won’t be long until we welcome a new year.

So, let’s start at the beginning.

“In the beginning God…” Genesis 1:1a

In the beginning of creation – In the beginning of my life – In the beginning of my current situation – In the beginning GOD!

God was there at the very beginning and He’s still here halfway through and He will be there at the end! He has chosen to invest Himself in my life, in my world, in my total existence. As the King David said in the Psalms, “Selah”. Stop and think, meditate, ponder deeply these words.

He hasn’t pulled back yet and He won’t. He will continue to be involved in all He has created for all eternity – He is the eternal, the everlasting God and Father. And He’s here for us because He loves us!

“A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came to give life—life that is full and good.” John 10:10 ERV

Jesus spoke these words. He had referred to Himself as the Good Shepherd who leads us, His sheep. He leads us to green pastures; He protects us from our enemies; He gave His life to save ours.

I grew up singing this hymn, He Lives, and the older I get the more I realize the message in the words.

“I serve a risen Saviour, He’s in the world today;
I know that He is living, whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him, He’s always near.

Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King!
The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find,
None other is so loving, so good and kind.

He lives, he lives Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart!”

Amen! He lives and, in His living, He provides for all that we need.

“Jesus is the one who says that all of this is true. Now he says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all people.” Revelation 22:20-21 ERV

It should give us great joy to know that He is coming soon.

Yes, with all the uncertainty in the world one thing is certain, He is coming soon. And He was and is and will continue to be kind to all. That’s the reason He came, out of love, He became our substitute, the sacrifice for our sins so that we can be reconciled to the Father. Forgiveness is ours; new life is ours; restoration is ours – we simply need to receive it as the free gift that it is.

When we focus on our beginning, we’ll find God and as we look to the end, we will see that He’s coming. And in the middle, He is reaching out to us in kindness, wanting to be involved in our daily lives in a powerful way.

Beginning, middle and end, Lord, we place it all in your hands.

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Just Breathe

How are you going to spend your day? Do you have a list of projects that need to be completed? Are you travelling to far away places? Do you think your activities are mundane and uneventful? Or do you possibly have a “big” appointment that could be life changing?

As you hurry through your morning or stop to have a quiet cup of coffee and reflective moment, I want to encourage you to start your day praising God for the blessings in your life. You have breath, you have a computer (if you’re reading this), you slept in a bed, you have some degree of health and wealth and you have God’s promises to never leave you or abandon you!

Yes, so much to be thankful for. Just breathe!

I was reading the last chapter of Luke. Jesus disciples and apostles had followed him for 3 years. They thought he was going to set up an early kingdom, overthrow the Roman oppression and bring peace to their nation. He had died, they were dejected – He brought them hope after His resurrection and now he was leaving them again but this time they had new prospective.

What did they do?

“Jesus led his followers out of Jerusalem almost to Bethany. He raised his hands and blessed his followers. 51 While he was blessing them, he was separated from them and carried into heaven. 52 They worshiped him and went back to Jerusalem very happy. 53 They stayed at the Temple all the time, praising God.” Luke 24:50-53 ERV

They spent their time praising God!

What a great way to pass the time while you’re waiting in traffic, while in the checkout line that seems to be at a standstill, riding on a bus or commuter train, waiting to be served in a restaurant or on hold waiting for a live person to take your call.

Wherever you are waiting today, wait on the Lord – praise Him and He will fill your life with joy and just breathe!

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Promise Made, Promise Kept

When our oldest two children were in kindergarten and first grade we lived in the little community of Arlington, AZ. Arlington is in the middle of farmland and there was only a little store and a post office. So, we would take a break from baling hay when we could and go for a treat at the Dairy Queen which was 30 miles away.

If we told the kids we were taking them on Friday you can be sure that Friday morning they started reminding us of our promise. After all, a promise made is a promise kept.

That’s what I want you to remember about this morning’s verses from Ephesians. God, the Father, is a loving parent and when He makes a promise He keeps it.

“Children, you belong to the Lord, and you do the right thing when you obey your parents. The first commandment with a promise says, 2  “Obey your father and your mother, 3 and you will have a long and happy life.”

4  Parents, don’t be hard on your children. Raise them properly. Teach them and instruct them about the Lord.” Ephesians 6:1-4 CEV

Not only does the Bible give instruction to the children it also gives us, as parents, instruction.

“Fathers, do not be too hard on your children so they will become angry. Teach them in their growing years with Christian teaching.” Ephesians 6:4 NLV

We are to teach our children well. Teach them to be honest, loving, kind, understanding, respectful, and obedient. But, our teaching methods should never be harsh or demeaning. We should refrain from ridicule and criticism and instead use the same characteristics and qualities that God uses as He helps us to grow and mature into His image.

Speak the truth in love.

This same instruction follows through in our workplace relationships. Whether we are the employer or the employee, we have a responsibility before God to act in a way that pleases Him.

“Slaves, you must obey your earthly masters. Show them great respect and be as loyal to them as you are to Christ. 6 Try to please them at all times, and not just when you think they are watching. You are slaves of Christ, so with your whole heart you must do what God wants you to do. 7 Gladly serve your masters, as though they were the Lord himself, and not simply people. 8 You know that you will be rewarded for any good things you do, whether you are slaves or free.

9  Slave owners, you must treat your slaves with this same respect. Don’t threaten them. They have the same Master in heaven that you do, and he doesn’t have favorites.” Ephesians 6:5-9 CEV

If we are in someone’s employ we should be respectful and obedient. If they ask us to do something that goes contrary to God’s word, it’s time to look for a new job. We should work in such a way that God is pleased with what we do. He will reward us for our diligence.

And if we are in a place of authority with others working for us we must also please the Lord in how we lead. Those working for us should be treated with respect and we should never ask them to do something that would go against God’s instruction to us. God doesn’t play favorites.

Isaiah tells us this: “ If you are willing and obey, you will eat the best of the land.” Isaiah 1:19 NLV

Remember, a promise made is a promise kept. And God’s promises are much better than an ice cream.

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Unity & Peace

I want to start with a little history lesson this morning. When God made a blood covenant with Abraham, He set Abraham and his descendants apart as a chosen people. A people of promise. Before Jacob, Abraham’s grandson moved his descendants to Egypt during the famine, his name had been changed to Israel. The Egyptians then called these people Israelites.

Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt and God gave them a new set of laws and a new way and place of worship, first in a portable tabernacle and then in a Temple that King Solomon built. Because they lived in the area of Judah, the land God promised them, they were also known as Jews, people from Judah.

Throughout their history peoples were distinguished as Jews and Gentiles, anyone who was not a Jew or Israelite was a Gentile. There was a division. The Jews were a people of promise; God had given them His law and His blessings. The sign of their covenant was circumcision. There was a division.

This morning, I want to show you how Christ changed all of the that. He brought unity and hope.

“Don’t forget that you are Gentiles. In fact, you used to be called “uncircumcised” by those who take pride in being circumcised. 12 At that time you did not know about Christ. You were foreigners to the people of Israel, and you had no part in the promises God had made to them. You were living in this world without hope and without God, 13 and you were far from God. But Christ offered his life’s blood as a sacrifice and brought you near God.

14 Christ has made peace between Jews and Gentiles, and he has united us by breaking down the wall of hatred that separated us. Christ gave his own body 15  to destroy the Law of Moses with all its rules and commands. He even brought Jews and Gentiles together as though we were only one person, when he united us in peace. 16  On the cross Christ did away with our hatred for each other. He also made peace between us and God by uniting Jews and Gentiles in one body. 17  Christ came and preached peace to you Gentiles, who were far from God, and peace to us Jews, who were near God. 18 And because of Christ, all of us can come to the Father by the same Spirit.

19 You Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens with everyone else who belongs to the family of God. 20 You are like a building with the apostles and prophets as the foundation and with Christ as the most important stone. 21 Christ is the one who holds the building together and makes it grow into a holy temple for the Lord.” Ephesians 2:11-21 CEV

In Christ, Jew and Gentile alike, have been united in one body and we are called the body of Christ. He is our head and our firm foundation. From Him we receive His command.

“But I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you. 35 If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35 CEV

Since we now have peace with God let’s also walk in His love.

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Growing Stronger

Those words jumped off the page to me – “grow strong in faith”. Faith: complete trust or confidence in someone or something.

Faith according to the writer of Hebrews is “Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].” Hebrews 11:1 AMP

The title deed. Over the past several months I have helped a number of people through the process of transferring title. Once that is done, the property is legally and officially theirs. Faith is our title deed – it is our assurance that God has transferred His promises to us.

“And if [we are His] children, [then we are His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His spiritual blessing and inheritance], if indeed we share in His suffering so that we may also share in His glory.” Romans 8:17 AMP

A large portion of my early life was spent struggling, worrying, facing the insecurity of my failures and unworthiness. But then I began hearing messages on faith, not in my abilities but in God’s. My spiritual life began to grow stronger, like a plant in the garden that had received an infusion of fertilizer.

“But I am like a green olive tree growing in God’s Temple. I will trust God’s faithful love forever and ever. 9 God, I praise you forever for what you have done. I will speak your name before your followers because it is so good!” Psalm 52:8-9 ERV

How many millions of Christians are like I was wanting to believe God but struggling to trust?

“ So encourage each other and help each other grow stronger in faith, just as you are already doing.” I Thessalonians 5:11 ERV

That’s my goal each day; to help others grow stronger in their faith. The Apostle Paul said in Romans that faith comes by hearing and by hearing the WORD of God. That’s why it’s so important for me to fill these morning devotions with God’s word. My opinion and experiences won’t build faith, they can be examples, but faith comes by trusting in God’s word and His faithfulness.

“Jesus has the power of God. And his power has given us everything we need to live a life devoted to God. We have these things because we know him. Jesus chose us by his glory and goodness, 4 through which he also gave us the very great and rich gifts that he promised us. With these gifts you can share in being like God. And so you will escape the ruin that comes to people in the world because of the evil things they want.” II Peter 1:3-4 ERV

It is my desire to see each of you grow in faith, as you grow in the knowledge of what your relationship with Christ has given you. You have received a marvelous inheritance, the title deed to God’s promises for living the life God has provided.

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Ready to Receive?

For the better part of a week, I’ve been re-reading one particular group of verses. That’s not uncommon, I often mull over Scriptures and meditate on their meaning. These verses have been a part of my return reading for over 40 years.

 “I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, 17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. 18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. 22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.” Ephesians 1:16-23 NLT

Please go back and re-read those verses one more time.

Spiritual truth doesn’t have to be “deep” and hard to comprehend. But it does have to be received by faith. I’ve been practicing receiving from the Lord for years.

We are Christ’s body and we are God, the Father’s, inheritance!

I heard one teacher contrast the difference between receiving and getting. Getting implies working hard, striving, manipulating, using your effort to obtain. Receiving, on the other hand, is opening yourself to accept what someone else has done. You receive a gift with gratitude.

Receiving from the Lord is accepting what Jesus has already done – that’s faith. We don’t “work” to “get” from the Lord we walk by faith and accept His gifts of grace.

He wants us to understand and grow in our knowledge of Him. God isn’t trying to hide from us; He is eager for us to get to know Him. He wants our hearts to be flooded with hope as we learn about His power that He has made available to us.

“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.” Romans 8:11 NLT

“I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].” Philippians 4:13 AMPC

Are you ready to receive? Hold out your hands and thank God for the wonderful gift of His love, power and strength.

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