WE BECOME NEW

We want to be believers, but on our terms, living in hate, wickedness, and sin. 1 John 2:15-16 doesn't love this evil world or the things in it. If you love the world, you do not have a love of the Father in you. This is all there is in the world: wanting to please our sinful selves, wanting the wicked things we see, and being too proud of what we have. But none of these comes from the Father. They come from the world.  We want all the rewards as long as we don't have to sacrifice to receive them. Some of us attend Church but want to worship and praise Him.  We want God and the Church to bless us, but we want to tithe, serve, or help others.  We are believers in the flesh; we know Christ, but we choose to live in the world. We must be restored to THE FATHER; by repenting, asking for forgiveness, and turning away from our sins to receive the promise.

Matthews 9:16 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. The patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. 17Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will spill, and the wineskins will be ruined. So instead, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved. When we are restored to God, we become new; the old will pass away as we study the Word daily, pray without ceasing, and keep the faith.  Then we allow ourselves to reflect Christ-like character and show our Father how grateful we are for Christ's sacrifice.  So don't just talk about Christ; the scriptures we post can be read from the Book. But to take action can only come from a renewed heart and mind.  God does not patch us together; He renews us inside and out, mind, body, and soul.

Lord, so often, it's the little things in life that get to us, and it seems to be so many of them. Whenever we are tempted to lose our temper, blame someone, judge someone, or just give up, help us see You.  Lord, help us live a quiet life, helping those in need and serving You, just as You instructed us before. Then people who are not believers will respect the way we live and see You through us. Lord, You have redeemed us by Your precious Blood and made us new; we are incredibly blessed and loved, and we are so grateful.  Father, may Your blessings fill our hearts with hope, peace, and joy all the days of our lives.  Lord God, our Creator and Savior of all people, we lift up in our prayers for those suffering as a result of losing their jobs, sickness, war, oppression, and violence throughout the world. So often cannot seem to grasp that people of all colors are parents, relatives, friends, and ordinary citizens.   Forgive us, Lord, for being so narrow-minded and thinking more of ourselves than we should.  We pray for the Countries that deal with devastation daily; Father, we pray for all refugees, the homeless, and the falsely incarcerated. Father, help us be full of your transforming love and compassion; and let us not be silent to injustice.  Lord, teach us that without Your love, compassion, and unity, we too will fall into the hands of the evil one.  Thank You, Lord, that there are believers of every race; and they are unity through faith, in Jesus name, Amen