Give Thanks

Psalm 100:1-5

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord; all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord He is God; it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise; be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.

This psalm is looked upon as the Thanksgiving psalm and rightly so because each verse outlines how and why we are to give thanks to the Lord.  This psalm begins with a clarion call for all nations to make a joyful noise unto the Lord. Making a joyful noise unto the Lord because He is our creator and His mercy and truth last forever. Being that He is truth and never changes. Thank God He doesn't.

God being our creator gives credence to why He sustains us through His compassionate care. All humanity was created in the image and likeness of God; therefore, we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. The world is His pasture as He leads and guides us through His Spirit-the Holy Spirit.

Given who God is and all that He has done and continues to do in the lives of humanity is worthy of our heart-felt praises, honor and glory.

Constantly give thanks to our all sovereign God; He is worthy.

Comments are welcomed

Author's contacts:

white3285@sbcglobal.net

http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com

Caring For The Poor Through Giving

1 Corinthians 16:1-2

Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God has prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

Today's discussion focus is on caring for the poor believers in our church and community so they too will not be in want or need. This speaks to God's provisional care in that He made provisions for all our needs.

Paul instructs the believers at Galatia on how to make sure the less fortunate needs are met through giving. God blesses each of us according to His good pleasure; therefore, we are to bless others by giving a portion of our blessings. God gives us more than what we need to meet our needs so we can help meet the needs of others. Using this strategy, the less fortunate is cared for and there is always enough to go around.

Paul's instruction for giving to the poor at Jerusalem raises the issue of the church being the one stop shop meeting the needs of its community. People come to the church for food, clothes, money and help with housing as well as their spiritual needs.

Giving brings into focus tithing, which is giving God ten percent of what He has blessed us with because all belongs to God.

Giving is a form of worship because we serve God when we give.

Comments are welcome.

Author's contacts:

white3285@sbcglobal.net

http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com

I Surrender All

James 4:7-8a

Submit yourselves therefore to God, Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.

Why must we surrender all to God? We surrender all to God because (a)  who He is, (b) His awesome powers, (c) He is our creator and sustainer, (d) we are made in His image and likeness as He breathed the breath of life into us. (e) It is in Him that we have our being from the beginning to end and we can do nothing in and of ourselves. (f) He provides for all our needs physical and spiritual. (g) He provided salvation through His Son Jesus Christ and all who accept Christ's atoning work will spend eternity with Him. (h) He favors us with His grace each day of our lives.

Now that we have looked at some reasons why we surrender all to God, let's look at believers being the elect called by God to be His workmanship to continue spreading the gospel of Christ to a lost world. This is so that others might hear, believe and they too will join His holy nation of people.

It is noteworthy to say; as we surrender all to God we have the right view of God, self and others. This is call humility as God will exalt the humble and resist the proud. Surrendering all unto God, a close relationship develops between you and God, which is what God wants.

Surrender all to God.

Comments are welcome

Author's contacts

white3285@sbcglobal.net

http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com

What Make Our Prayers Effective?

James 5:16

Confess you faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

In our attempt to answer our topical discussion question, let's look at what our scripture text says; (a) we are to confess our fault to one another, (b) pray for one another, and (c) then a healing will occur whether it is spiritual or physical. That said, once we confess our faults the weight our own sin and or iniquities are lifted which leads to a spiritual healing. When we pray for our fellowman let it be in sincerity and with all honesty.

Let us look at what makes our prayers effective and they are (a) offer praises and adoration to God for who He is and His sovereign powers. (b) Thank God for His goodness, grace, love and mercy. His mercy took the place of justice when justice was demanded. (c) As stated above, sincerely confess our own faults/sins whether known unknown. (d) We are to pray in the name of Jesus our Lord and Savior. (e) We are to pray from the heart because God looks at the heart and knows the sincerity of the prayer's request.

We are encouraged to pray without ceasing because the "prayers of the righteous availeth much." This is because there is a close relationship between the prayer and God. Prayers also open the door for a Spirit-filled life.

The prayer has faith in his or her prayers knowing that God hears and answers prayers.

Comments are welcome

Author's contacts

white3285@sbcglobal.net

http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com

Family Time

Today's message taken from November issue of my Heavenly Bread devotional published on Kindle and CreateSpace. Thanks for allowing me to share inspiring words with you. Please share with others.


Psalm 68:6

God setteth the solitary in families; He bringeth out those which are bound with chains; but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

Our scripture text tells a lot about God's value for the family and His protective care for the family. Let us look at the structure of the family and God's care in structuring the family with the husband-man being made the head of the family, the wife as his helpmate and then children. God structured the family so there would be unity and solitary as it emulates the Godhead, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit where there is complete unity and harmony. This is how families are to operate and family time is a valued commodity just as time alone with God. It is noteworthy to say that God values His time in fellowship with His people.

Let me say, family and the time families spend together is irreplaceable because there is harmony, love and joy as well as sharing precious moments with one another that lasts a life-time. Family and family time is an institution established by God and will not be replaced by today's society and its value systems.

Let me encourage all to make family and family time a high priority in our busy schedules.
There is no time like family time with our earthly love ones and with God through prayer, worship and Bible reading.

Comments are welcome

Dr. Willie White
www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com
white3285@sbcglobal.net
http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

A Daily Walk And Talk With God

Ephesians 6:18; Exodus 25:22

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints (6:18). And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the art of the Testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

 Our scriptures texts list the importance of communing with God daily through prayer and in doing so a close relationship develops, which is what He wants. Biblical history records the closeness of Moses and God as they commune daily and as a result a close relationship developed.

Communing daily with God we gain godly wisdom and knowledge. The more we commune with God through daily prayer, Bible reading and meditating on His Word we become more like Him. In doing so, we become more trusting of His word forsaking our own understanding of things and we begin to see things as God does.

Just as God promised to meet and talk with Moses and the Israelites from above the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant He will do the same for you and me from His mercy seat of grace.

Walk and talk with God daily; He is waiting to hear from you.

comments are welcome

Author's contacts:

white3285@sbcglobal.net

http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com