Receive

Key Scriptures Romans 8:18-23 and Luke 13:4-5 Earthquake Aftershock If we have an openness and are willing to learn, we can come to recognize the voice of God with assistance from those who are familiar with the divine voice from their own experience. On the other hand, we should understand that it is in Satan’s best interest to make an inherent mystery of God’s word coming directly to us. In this way, the power of God’s specific word for our lives can be hindered or lost. Without qualified help working alongside our desire to learn and readiness to cooperate, God’s direct word may remain a riddle or a game of theological charades. This is generally the condition of the church today, I suspect. This would explain why there is such great confusion and difficulty about what it really means t...

If I’m being honest, when I see the word ‘abundance’ these days, my first thought is not of the plentiful ways God has blessed me, though I’d like to say it is. I just find it a whole lot easier to look at struggles with anxiety, problems in relationships, and poor health and just see chaos. I’m not one to press into fear, pain, or conflict, choosing instead to ignore it and distract myself with other things. But as I’ve had to face the reality of some ongoing health issues lately, I’ve found there can be a balance of both facing the negative and seeing the abundance of Christ in it all, despite the mess. In 2 Corinthians 1:3-5, Paul says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we...

When my daughter was born, my husband and I decided that I would leave my full-time job and stay home with the baby. One of the things we continued to do, no matter how much or how little we had, was tithe. We did not tithe out of religious obedience. We tithed because we knew it pleased God to do so. In hindsight, that decision was one of the most important decisions Christopher and I made in our marriage. It shifted the trajectory of our lives, as it pertained to how we understood our finances, and stewarded the money we had. Neither of us understood all of what our tithe entailed as far as the benefits it would bring to our lives, but God has been faithful to bring us into greater understanding by offering him our firstfruits. If you’re new to the concept of tithing or just looking for ...

            “I’m not as young as I used to be, but I’m not as old as I’m going to be.” I can remember my grandfather telling me this many times with a big laugh and plenty of personality to go along.  I smile now, even as I think about it, as a forty-one year old. The same can be said for each one of us.  We’re not getting any younger. Whether you stumbled upon this article as a young twenty-something or you are entering into your “young-at-heart” years, there is valuable information encompassed in the following words.  You are never too young or too old to think about a retirement plan.  Now, financial advisors or retirement planners may beg to differ, but if your Christian journey has been anything like mine, you’...

                         www.insideoutwithcourtnaye.org Have you ever felt like you just had too much on your plate? Too many things on the To-Do-List, too many errands to run in one day, too many commitments, too many responsibilities, too many people pulling on you, too many yes(s)? If you have, then I totally get you, sis! Because I have definitely been there. That’s when I had to get to a place in my life where I said, “Some things have got to come off of my plate!” And the same goes for you…that’s why you’re reading this right now. So, let’s think about this for a moment. If you did a quick inventory of your life right now, what do you think would need to come off of your plate? What task or idea could be removed? What d...

Excavation is a messy business,the plowing throughfeelings more than feelings,memories that rise andshape the caverns of hiding.Look around—begin whereyou are, he says…* How are you navigating the landscape of your heart today? Take out your tools. Do not be complacent. We have this day to let Jesus work in us. And another. Let’s go. *excerpt from the poem, “excavation.” by Jennifer J. Camp This post appeared originally at jenniferjcamp.com

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10  The kingdom of God is a central theme of the Gospels as well as other New Testament books. It is the message that John the Baptist declared in preparation for Jesus (Mt 3:2Mk 1:14-15), what Jesus taught the disciples in the 40 days between his resurrection and ascension (Ac 1:3), and what Paul is recorded as proclaiming at the conclusion of the book of Acts (Ac 28:31). A kingdom is a place where someone has a rule or governance. The same is true of the kingdom of God. Jesus said in his prayer: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt 6:10). The kingdom of God is where God’s will is carried out. The Old Testament theme of Yahweh’s rule and reign is another way of describing t...

I have never liked conflict Real peace Like many people, I would go to great lengths to avoid it, and I fear its approaching. Romans 12:16-18 (KJV)16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 20   You clash with the character of one person or another…. It has to be that way—you are not a dollar bill to be liked by everyone. Besides, without those clashes which arise in dealing with your neighbors, how could you ever lose the sharp corners, the edges—imperfections and defects of your character—and acquire the order, the smoothness, an...

Israel was hoping for a tougher response to Iranian aggression, but hacking their computers will have to do US launched a cyber-attack against Iranian military computer systems On Thursday evening, the US launched a cyber-attack against Iranian military computer systems. The attack first reported in Yahoo News comes in retaliation for recent assaults on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow passage through the Persian Gulf with Iran along the north coast. One-third of the world’s liquefied natural gas and almost 20 percent of total global oil consumption passes through the strait, making it a highly important strategic location for international trade. More than 17 million barrels of oil pass through the region every day. Iran’s ...

                    www.insideoutwithcourtnaye.org Have you ever thought about how important you are to those around you as a Christian woman? Because you are! God chose you, adopted you into the faith, and created you to be His child – His precious daughter. He also created and called you to be a beacon of light to a dying world for Him and to be a godly influence and impact to those He has entrusted to you in your lifespan. In a nutshell, you were created on purpose and for a purpose. And God wants to use you, sis –NOW! Right now, with so much going on in our world today, people need a Savior. In the midst of all of this growing darkness, they need a flood of light. You and I are that light on the hilltop that cannot be hid...

If I could live outside of timeLike God does To know what was, what is,And most importantly,What is to come Perhaps I wouldWorry lessLaugh morePersevere effortlesslyHope absolutelyPray without ceasing And yet here I standBound by timeWatching minute by minuteNot knowing what’s nextUnsure of tomorrow or next year Jesus existed in timelessnessHe is the Alpha and the OmegaWho was, and is, and is to come Nevertheless, He stepped into timeSpent three decadesPlus three yearsAs the third Person of the TrinityMade flesh like us Here in this wastelandOf pain and sufferingHe walked and criedHealed and taught He trusted the FatherLaughed with His disciplesAnd prayed without ceasing Jesus knew why He cameBut didn’t know the whenOf what was to comeUntil it was time, His time And so perhapsWit...

In our loneliness, we cry to God. Where are You? Can You hear me? And His language, His translation of our heart’s cry, helps us decipher our needs. But only after we recognize His voice first.  You see, it is a battle to fight for our own hearts. It is a battle to fight for the heart of the beloved, the one whom He came for. How amazing this is. How worth it. So I ask myself, how can I deny him? How can I choose to ignore His choice to love me, fight for me, by refusing to participate in the dance of love around me and in me and for me as I work, as I sleep, as I love, as I disappoint, as I let Him pick me up, again and again and again? How are you crying out to Him this day? Are you letting Him help you know what your heart needs? What is it? ...