The Fruit of Self Control

 

A Daily Spiritual Exercise

The Fruit of Self Control     Have you ever driven on a snowy, icy road in winter? If you have, you know how dangerous it can be. If you try to stop the care too fast, you will start to swerve and slide.  This week's topic is about self control, and it can be likened to driving on a slippery road in winter. A smart driver will go out and practice in a parking lot or someplace safe to hit the brakes and refamiliarize themselves with how the car responds in icy conditions. That practice will pay off when one is in a real life situation that will require immediate response to keep the car under control.  When we think of maintaining self control in our lives, it is the same principle. We encounter lots of situations in life where we could lose control. However, if we have taken the time to practice on a daily basis, when it comes to situations that may cause us to get out of control, we can be ready for each situation and able to handle it victoriously.  How do we practice self control? One is by reading the Word of God daily to understand how the Lord wants us to live. Daily study builds spiritual faith and strength to endure the hardships and trying times that we face.   Self control is a fruit of Holy Spirit given to us by God. But in order to be "fruitful" in that, we must daily exercise our spiritual authority, knowing who we are in Christ Jesus, and understanding the power that we have within us. If we were a car on the slippery road, we would be able to hit the brakes in just the right way because of daily training.  This week, I pray for us all to get in there and do the daily exercise of practicing self control in all areas of our lives. We have God's Word to help us, and best of all, we have Holy Spirit Who lives inside of us and He is always available to help us in every situation.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)  Have a wonderful week and always let us know how we can be praying for or with you!  This blog is reaching people all over the world! God is sending His Word out to the nations! Be blessed and filled dear friend and pass this message along to others.  We love you so much!  Love and blessings! Denny & Hanny Stearns   Denny & Hanny Stearns Fish N Loaves Ministries, Inc. Multiplying God's Word around the globe! Email: Denny.Stearns@gmail.com Email: Hannylynn05@gmail.com   Website: www.Fishnloavesministries.org Blog:Fishnloavesministries.blogspot.com     Don't forget to go to our website and order your copy of my new book! It's getting fantastic reviews! It is sure to touch many hearts and lead people closer to Jesus. Share a copy with a friend or relative after you have read it and keep praying that this message will have a global reach!

The Greatest Treasure

 esus Your Greatest Treasure?

The Greatest Treasure   What is your greatest treasure?   Look at this...  ...again it's like a treasure hidden in a field which a man found in hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. (Matthew 13:44)  "The Kingdom of heaven is like a very precious treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid again; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field securing the treasure for himself. (AMP Version Mt. 13:44)  This tells me that when we find something so precious, we will give everything we have to secure it. Like when we found Jesus, only by God's grace, we give our whole life for his use and purpose.  Philippians 3:7-8 says what things were gained to me, these things I have counted loss for Christ. Yet I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him.  “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (Isaiah 55:)   We can get all we need from God!  I counsel you to buy for me gold that has been heated red hot and refined by fire so that you may become truly rich; white clothes representing righteousness to clothe yourself so that the shame of your nakedness will not be seen; And healing salve to put on your eyes so that you may see. (Revelation 3:18 AMP)   2 Corinthians 5:3 says if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.   When we receive from God, that which has been purified, then we are truly rich and properly clothed with the white pure garments of salvation - all of it a free gift from God! Thank you Jesus!   I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)   And finally...  But as it is written, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love him." (1 Corinthians 2:9)  2 Corinthians 9:15 says "thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"   Jesus is our greatest treasure, that precious gift from God Who has given us this precious gift of salvation, and clothed us in white, which means purity and He has made us rich with the garments of salvation! He is the treasure above all treasures. And that we have found by God's abundant manifold grace!   He is worthy of all we are and have! Oh let his glory fill our hearts in Jesus name! Hallelujah, Amen! I pray this message blesses you.   Check out the song, "Holy in my Heart on YouTube.   Have a wonderful week and always let us know how we can be praying for or with you!   This blog is reaching people all over the world! God is sending His Word out to the nations! Be blessed and filled dear friend and pass this message along to others.   We love you so much!   Love and blessings! Denny & Hanny Stearns    Denny & Hanny Stearns Fish N Loaves Ministries, Inc. Multiplying God's Word around the globe! Email: Denny.Stearns@gmail.com Email: Hannylynn05@gmail.com   Website: www.Fishnloavesministries.org Blog:Fishnloavesministries.blogspot.com   Don't forget to go to our website and order your copy of my new book! It's getting fantastic reviews! It is sure to touch many hearts and lead people closer to Jesus. Share a copy with a friend or relative after you have read it and keep praying that this message will have a global reach!

SOFTEN YOUR HEART

 Tender Before the Lord

Soften Your Heart     Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you. (Hosea 10:12)  This is a great Old Testament verse spoken through the Prophet Hosea, who followed in ministry after Elisha. For 45 Years of his life God used him to speak to His people. In this verse, this is what I see God saying to me. Perhaps it will help you as well.  First, He is saying to sow for ourselves in righteousness. What does this mean? The way I see it is for us to choose to do the right thing - righteousness. When we do the right thing, we will reap mercy - meaning God will have mercy on us. Well thanks be to God that His greatest act of mercy was when He sent Jesus Who shed His precious Blood and brought us forgiveness for all our sins, past, present and future when we get born-again.  Even though this is an old covenant word, the Bible is still the primary way we can hear from God. He can use any part of His Word to bring us into alignment with His will because His Word is His will.  So we see in this verse He is calling us to repent if we need to, and most of the time there is something we need to change or correct. It is a lifelong process. He goes on to tell us to break up the fallow ground. What He is saying is for us to soften our hearts, and seek the Lord. He wants to show us something. He wants to correct or adjust something in our lives. And the cool thing is, (Oh God our Father is so good!) that He does everything in the deepest and kindest love toward us. He knows we are far from perfect and we will make mistakes and get in the flesh and at time we may try to do things our own way. But here comes our heavenly Father with the light of His Word to lovingly steer us back onto the right path.  All He asks is that we are humble and tender before Him and allow Him to go in deep; deep into our hearts and bring up and out anything that's in there that needs to be changed or removed. That's when we will reap (receive) a blessing so big we can't contain it.  Now remember, the call is to soften one's heart and let the Master do His surgery the way He sees fit, knowing it is always done from perfect love for us. I love this next verse that came to me this morning:  The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands. (Psalm 138:8 NKJV)  The Lord will accomplish that which concerns me; Your [unwavering] lovingkindness, O Lord, endures forever—Do not abandon the works of Your own hands. (Same verse in the Amplified Bible)  How awesome is our God! So today, what area of your heart may need to be broken up, or softened? Will You let Holy Spirit come into that area and do His wonderful loving work? You will feel better if you do! God bless you my friend.  If you want to partner with our ministry, you may go to our website and click on the "donate" button. All contributions are tax deductible and will be used to help us reach more people with more.   Our blog is reaching people all over the world! God is sending His Word out to the nations! Let us know how we can pray for you. We love to pray for people and see great things happen!  We love you so much in the Lord!  Denny & Hanny Stearns   Denny & Hanny Stearns Fish N Loaves Ministries, Inc. Multiplying God's Word around the globe! Email: Denny.Stearns@gmail.com Email: Hannylynn05@gmail.com   Website: www.Fishnloavesministries.org Blog:Fishnloavesministries.blogspot.com     Don't forget to go to our website and order your copy of my new book! It's getting fantastic reviews! It is sure to touch many hearts and lead people closer to Jesus. Share a copy with a friend or relative after you have read it and keep praying that this message will have a global reach!

Do You Love You Like God Does?

 

Experience His Deep & Unconditional Love

Do You Love You Like God Does?     May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, that you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]! Eph. 3:17-19 AMPC  Here's a topic for us to think seriously about. We all know how we should love God first with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. We also know that loving others like ourselves is the second greatest commandment. But how many of us REALLY experience the love of God for ourselves like we should? It seems easy enough to love the lovable people in our lives and not so easy to love the not so easy to love people, but what about ourselves? I mean, do we really see ourselves in the love of God that is fully and completely in our Lord Jesus? Do we see ourselves as so precious that He would die for us and go to hell for us if we were the only person on the planet??  Do we love ourselves enough to give ourselves a break from unrealistic expectations? At 69 years old, I have to be transparent and admit that loving me like God does has been a task that I have not yet mastered. However, that said, I'm getting help with that and as I get help and become victorious over that mountain in my life, I always look to share it with others. For it is through our experience, strength and hope that we can comfort others with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.  One of the ways the devil gets a grip on us is when we have unforgiveness in our hearts, and that includes unforgiveness of oneself. If you or someone you know has ever struggled with this, I am here to tell you there is help. The Word of God is the lamp to our feet and the light to our path, and as we explore the riches of His Word which never fails, we will see His undying, never ending love wrapped in the very pages of the scriptures.  Today's opening verse is a plea for the people of God to really KNOW the love of God that is in Christ. Once we get a real grip on this love, we can rest, be calm and comforted deeply in our inner man, knowing that no matter what we have ever done or will do, nothing can ever separate us from the love of God that is in His Son Jesus! Nothing!  So stop and think of the person you love more than anyone in your life. Think about how you feel when you think that nothing they could ever do would stop you from loving them. Then think about the Lord our God and Father. His love is far more perfect and complete than any human love, and when we start to think anything less of ourselves, we can stop and remember that when God looks at us, He sees His Son Jesus. It's a perfect, unending, "I'm your Daddy in heaven" kind of love that will one day wipe away all tears and human struggles.  So the next time you want to crucify yourself for a mistake or seeming failure, pick yourself up, dust off your Bible and get in there and see the greatest love any person can ever know. Remember how special you are to God. Now be that special to yourself. Myself, I am going to really practice that this year and I plan to be successful at it. How about you? Be blessed! We love you very much!  If you want to partner with our ministry, you may go to our website and click on the "donate" button. All contributions are tax deductible and will be used to help us reach more people with more.  Our blog is reaching people all over the world! God is sending His Word out to the nations! Be blessed and filled dear friend and pass this message along to others. Let us know how we can pray for you.  We love you so much!  Denny & Hanny Stearns   Denny & Hanny Stearns Fish N Loaves Ministries, Inc. Multiplying God's Word around the globe! Email: Denny.Stearns@gmail.com Email: Hannylynn05@gmail.com   Website: www.Fishnloavesministries.org Blog:Fishnloavesministries.blogspot.com     Don't forget to go to our website and order your copy of my new book! It's getting fantastic reviews! It is sure to touch many hearts and lead people closer to Jesus. Share a copy with a friend or relative after you have read it and keep praying that this message will have a global reach!

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