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by Dr. Jeanne Sheffield Estrada
I must admit sometimes I may not be the best listener, especially when my husband is talking to me about something he considers important for me to understand.
That’s why hearing is one thing, listening with a heart of love is another.
A good conversation starts by paying attention with a ”listening” ear, not just by hearing words, but by taking effort on your part to understand and read between the lines.
Some people do not know how to express all they are feeling or thinking and that is when a trained ear by the Holy Spirit can hear more than what is being said. The Holy Spirit is our Counselor and He will help you pay close attention.
In today’s scripture we first and foremost must be swift to hear and to do our best to understand without talking over a person. It is important to comprehend what he or she is relating or feeling, otherwise they may feel you are not interested in what they are saying.
Secondly we need to be slow to speak and slow to anger. Are you guilty of this part? If we would follow God’ word on this issue, there would be less arguments and misunderstandings. The Lord is calling us to stop, think and pray before we speak. Jesus didn’t give us a reactionary heart to cause dissension with other. On the contrary, He gave us a heart of love and as Christians we must be aware of that fact when talking to others.
So, if you have times when you realize you are drifting away somewhere when you should be listening and paying close attention, ask the Holy Spirit to 'prick' your ears to hear with an open heart so that you might be totally engaged with the other person and contribute in your conversation. The other person will appreciate that you value what they have to say.
Remember, Silent and listen have the same letters, so stay silent so you can listen.
God Bless Your Day Jesus Loves You
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Do you know anyone famous who was born on your birthday?
The famous actor John Wayne was born on May 26, 1907 and died June 11, 1979. Everyone has lived through a June 11th and through all the other the 364 days in the year. One of those days is the day you were born, and the other is the day you will die, but which day is it? Have you ever thought that you have lived through that day many, many, times and never knew it?
So we all have two very important days; the day that we arrive in this life, and the day that we depart from this life. The most important question is; what happens after that second date? Do you know?? If you do not or are unsure, READ ON...
Here is the thing...you have to make a decision about some key important beliefs. For example, do you believe that God Almighty - the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob - sent Jesus Christ to die for your sins, and that believing and accepting of what he did will save your soul?
That’s it...the ball is in your court! You have 100% freedom to either reject or accept Christ. Now when that day of the year comes around and your time on earth expires, are you ready to accept your eternal fate? Don’t just think about it - ACT!
That calendar day will come...(someday). Please be ready and do not delay.
Make that decision TODAY, because the day you ASSUME will happen tomorrow may never come, and as Hebrews 9:27 urgenly concludes and warns all says:
“Then Cometh THE JUDGEMENT”
God Bless Your Day Jesus Loves You
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Several years ago, I was called for jury duty. Upon checking in, I received my juror number, was directed into a large room of a hundred people and told to come forward when my number was called.
After almost an hour of waiting, a clerk came in and announced: “Number 153”
Nobody stirred, and I assumed someone was not paying attention.
“Number 153?” The voice cried out again in a slightly louder note, and again no one answered. Then an exasperated cry of “Number 153!” and I realized that I WAS 153!
After I answered the call, I was one of the jurors selected, however if I wasn’t listening or chose to ignore the call, I could have NOT been “Chosen.”
God’s call to you is exactly like being in that room full of people. It’s easy to get preoccupied in this room of life, but Jesus is calling your name. As He said, 'many are called' - but in order to respond you must listen and pay attention to hear His voice.
Friend, this is true for you too. God is calling your number right now! Your name has been selected for heaven and eternal life as you read this, and the question is:
WILL YOU ANSWER THE CALL?
God Bless Your Day Jesus Loves You
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Turmoil is the nature of today’s tempestuous world.
Today everywhere we look we see financial collapse, fear of war and nuclear conflict, flash mobs, riots, increasing earthquakes and volcanoes, widespread corruption in government leadership and soaring inflation that has many on edge. Here’s the truth:
This is EXACTLY as the world is supposed to be at this time in history.
Yet today, just like the people in this picture casually playing golf while a fire rages nearby, many likewise are blissfully ignoring the ominous emerging signs that the Bible said would be hallmarks of the end times before the return of Christ and a period the Bible refers to as “THE GREAT TRIBULATION.”
Jesus said of this time:
“For then shall be GREAT TRIBULATION, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” Matthew 24:21
The signs are all around us and as Christ said these things will escalate even more. By contrast the much enthusiastically anticipated 'Great Reset' promises a world where all are equal regardless of race, gender or sexual presence, the planet is free from pollution and advanced technology promises flourishing wealth and freedom, but just as today’s verse has prophesied, while now 'they spring up (prosper) like grass' in the end those without God will perish.
Friend, safety from the calamities of the world are not found in gold & silver, brass & lead, bug-out bags, bunkers, or bureucrats but in Christ alone.
The reality is the Bible is TRUE, Christ is coming again, and for those that trust in Christ, the Bible promises: “God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9)
If you have not done so, put your trust in Christ TODAY.
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We love our little dog Missy, however she’s never really been house trained and as many times that we let her out to water the yard, she seems to decide at random times to baptize the carpet or couch with a touch of yellow to our aggravation and frustration. Nevertheless after a little 'time out,' her mommy and daddy forgive her and she is once again back in our good graces .
Likewise when we disobey God, he too gets frustrated with us - but here’s the thing, His FORGIVENESS is always available to us because the Bible promises us that...
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to Cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ” 1 John 1:9Just as our little dog occasionally makes mistakes - so do we - but it still is no excuse to keep on doing wrong. So just as we forgive and love our little dog over and over again, even more so God will likewise always forgive us over and over again too...and He is even More Forgiving than us! Despite our mistakes and disobedience, He is always there to pick us up when we fall down and love and forgive us.
So if God can forgive US, and We can forgive our DOG, then We also need to practice the same repeated forgiveness and love towards OTHERS.
So next time somebody does a 'boo-boo' on your life...FORGIVE THEM!
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Highway 50 across Nevada has been called “The Loneliest Road in America.” It crosses five valleys and mountain ranges between Utah and California and gives the illusion of roads that go off into the distance that will never end.
Life is like that too. When most people look into the future, they see a road of life that seems like it will never end, but when I drove across Highway 50 I discovered that the longest “infinite” road was only about 20 miles. Many people’s daily commutes are longer than that – hardly an unfathomable distance.
The point is that like the warning “Objects In Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear” in that what we PERCEIVE as being a long way away is quickly zooming up to us. While you may think that you have plenty of time in life - like traversing Highway 50 - your road is going to end much sooner than you see or think and when the road ends…then what?
Well it won’t be at a truck stop restaurant, resort hotel, or another mountain pass followed by another valley across another stretch of Route 50. The fact is that the great road trip of life will come to a dead end and there will be no turning back. The question you need to come to grips with is what will you do then and where will you be when your life road-trip is over?
The Bible says that “… people are destined to die…and after that to face judgment,” In life, we are all destined to come to the end of the road of life. Google maps doesn’t have the answer, but the Bible’s God Provisioning System does. It says that your path to heaven was paved 2,000 years ago on a Cross via a Crossroad located on Calvary. Jesus told us the answer when he said,
“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” John 5:24
When the road you are on ends, where will it take you?
God Bless Your Day Jesus Loves You
Jesus’ command - “Take up your cross and follow Me” is much more than a symbol of the difficulties, frustrations and pain we as humans experience in this life. Taking up one’ s cross and following Jesus is something completely different.
Because the cross was an instrument of death, Jesus is referring to our commitment to Him, even unto death, meaning that our obedience to the extreme measure and willingness to die is a vital part of truly being His disciple.
Death on a cross was extremely painful and humiliating, so as followers of Christ He expects us to likewise be willing to endure pain or humiliation for Him — no matter what the cost.
This word picture of 'taking up your cross' paints for us the concept of “death to self” which originates in another saying of Christ in Luke 9:24-25, “For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” The truth is that NOTHING in this life is worth keeping if it means losing eternal life! Not a job, family, friends, or even your own identity. Discipleship at the core means DISCIPLINE — No Matter What The Cost — but the eternal reward is well worth the temporary pain.
Friend, taking up your cross to follow Christ simply means commitment and obedience to living a disciplined life of obedience to God even if it means giving up your worldly hopes, dreams, possessions - or even your very life if need be.
Christian, are you willing to Take Up That Cross?
God Bless Your Day Jesus Loves You NotesOnLife.org
By Dr. Jeanne Sheffield Estrada
Have you noticed that people these days don’t seem to use the word 'SIN' or even recognize that it even exists? The truth of the matter is that Sin Does Exist and the Bible says that sin is any action, feeling, or thought that goes against God’s standards of unrighteous. [ 1 John 3:4; 5:17 ] Sin, quite simply, is simply failing to do what is right.
All of our sins – be they acted out or nurtured secretly in our heart are born out of a belief that by doing the sin will make us happier or make our life easier than obeying God. Nobody sins out of duty, but instead out of SELF.
A good example of this was Adam and Eve. While God told them not to eat from the tree of good and evil, the snake tricked them into believing that “Their eyes would be opened and be as gods, knowing good and evil.” [ Genesis 3:5 ] Satan’s deceitful spin on this tricked Eve into believing that she would be better off if she ate the fruit, and that is exactly what sin is — a deceitful idea that is acted out, but in the end it is never how we’d like it to turn out.
The continuing problem with sin is that one sin usually leads to another. When we are caught in an addicting, habitual sin, we are held captive like a ball and chain in a deceptive belief that it will make us happy, yet it is not only difficult - but destructive - to ourselves, and often times to others. We may even loathe our sin in certain ways, even feel shame over it with a sincere desire to be free, but as long as we allow it we are chained to it.
If that sounds familiar, the secret to cutting that chain is instead realizing that the better promises God has made by following His path and this ALWAYS leads to a better end than “enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season” [ Hebrews 11:25 ]
Is this easy? Honestly, it’s hard because you have shaped your perceptions and behaviors for a long time, and you need to RE-SHAPE your mind into God’s thinking…and this is at the heart of the deep meaning of the word REPENT. To truly repent means to Change One’s Mind. To break free from the chains of sin you have and cut the chain that ties you to old thinking. It cannot be halfway! Either you remain tied or you Cut The Tie.
Friend, unless you become convinced that this is true, your old way of thinking will keep you tied to your sin. Starting today, CHANGE YOUR MIND and “Cut The Chain That Binds You To Sinful Thinking” by “Having the Mind Of Christ.”
God Bless Your Day Jesus Loves You
Some people are on a quest to 'find God' (as if He was hard to find) but actually the opposite is true! cannot-find-godNot only is God 'available' and waiting for people to come to Him, but He has given us a book that tells us exactly WHERE He is and how He CAN BE FOUND and it is called the Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth - The B.I.B.L.E.
The funny and sad thing about this book is that it is SO available as to be ridiculous. The Bible is the most published, most written about, most studied, most translated and most widely available book on the planet. In fact if you want one, just walk into most thrift stores and they often just give them away for free!
But here is the thing - there WILL be a time coming shortly where GOD WILL BE A LOT HARDER TO FIND. This self-same Bible speaks about a time, coming soon of when His Hand will be removed from the earth (2 Thessalonians 2:6) as well as His People, His church (1 Thessalonians 4:17). This is something called the “Great Tribulation” and it will be a time of lawlessness, persecution and death, and at that time it will be very difficult for anyone trying to find or reach out to God.
The Bible says that “TODAY is the Day of Salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2) and as today’s scripture says, “Seek the Lord while He may be found.” The good news of the gospel is that He’s Here, He’s Waiting, and He’s READILY FOUND.
If you earnestly call out to Him from your heart, He will HEAR YOU, and He will FIND YOU.
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Years ago I knew a strong sister in Christ that had a simple but effective way to deal with problems she was going through.
On her kitchen bulletin board, she pinned up a small brown paper bag, and on it it simply said 'THE GOD BAG'
Curious I asked her “What’s that for?” and she said “Whenever I have a problem, I write it down on a piece of paper, throw it into THE GOD BAG and say to myself and to the Lord, 'OK Lord, that problem is yours! And I know you’ll provide a means or way to solve it!'”
As today’s scripture reminds us, we need to cast (i.e. place) all our cares upon the Lord, and not carry them alone because He indeed does care for us! While life can be really hard at times, the Bible says that Christ will stand by our side and help as we plow along the field of life (Matthew 11:29) as He also said:
“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Matthew 6:34
Friend, when you need assistance, don’t go it alone. Cast your problem into THE GOD BAG!
God Bless Your Day
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Jesus reminded us of another great reset from centuries ago when in the days of Noah - just like today - the world had descended into perversion and debauchery. Yet despite the state of that world people continued living life large “…eating, drinking, and marrying until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.” (Luke 17:26-27)
After the flood, mankind continued to defy God. Under Nimrod, the world was united 'in one language' they built a tower into heaven, and just as technological wonders amaze us today through the brilliance and creativity in our high-tech world, those people also crafted amazing things such that the Bible says “Nothing was restrained from them of which they have imagined to do.”
Then as now, history is repeating itself!
Today the world is also united in 'one language' via the Internet, seeks to build the world back better with AI, clean energy in a non-polluting world that even also has a tower that reaches into heaven (the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.) But this reset is not what today’s scripture verse is referring to, but God’ ultimate restoration of the world he always intended mankind to live in in peace, harmony and love.
Friend, do not look to the world, its leaders or popular philosophies to be the answer to a better future (Colossians 2:8) but put your trust and faith in Jesus Christ. He is the only one that not only can but will save the world and all those that place their hopes in Him and Him ALONE.
To what RESET are you placing your trust?
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Yeah, right. We’ve heard this 'Jesus is coming and he's coming soon' deal before, so where is he? What a joke. You people are so stupid.
Two thousand years ago this is exactly what the Bible said what people would say.
Today the signs are clearer than ever that these are indeed the End Times. One look at the news and observe the collapse of our cities, society falling into decay, increased lawlessness, plagues and severe earth changes and it is clear that we are living in a time where things are so turned around that almost three thousand years ago Isaiah 5:20 said
“Woe unto them that Call EVIL GOOD, and good evil; That put DARKNESS FOR LIGHT And light for darkness; That put bitter for sweet, And sweet for bitter”It follows that especially today in a world that is truly turned around sexually, morally and spiritually that making fun of the Bible – and especially of the return of Christ – makes perfect sense. And not only that, but as Romans 1:32 confirms that those that scoff not only enjoy poking fun out of Christ’s return, but gleefully celebrate with others that also do the same.
If you don’t think that Christ is coming back, you have 100% free will to not believe and make fun of it as much as you like. But when – not IF – He returns, please heed these words:
“For the invisible things of him (God) From the creation of the world are CLEARLY SEEN Being understood by the things that are made, Even his eternal power and Godhead; So that they are WITHOUT EXCUSE.“ Romans 1:20
Friend, please do not place yourself in a situation where you will stand before Christ WITHOUT EXCUSE and be SPEECHLESS. (Matthew 22:12) Recognize, believe and CONFESS Christ as LORD. Today it’s your time. Today is the Day of Salvation.
God Bless Your Day Jesus Loves You NotesOnLife.org
by Dr. Jeanne Sheffield Estrada
When children learn to read, they have to go over each word and pay close attention many, many times in order to comprehend the meaning. This is exactly what Jesus did with His disciples to make His teachings alive and active in their hearts and mind so that they could completely understand His words to later go forth and preach the gospel. Like the apostles, we also need to pay close attention to His Word.
God’s Word is indeed alive and it is vitally important to understand this as Christians because the Word of God has POWER that we can apply for His purpose when understand it and speak it out. But before we can do that, just like children trying to comprehend words, we need to internalize what He is telling us:
“My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eye; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.“ Proverbs 4:20
It doesn’t matter whether you are new in the scriptures or have read the Bible for 50 years because the key is to spend time reading and meditating upon His scriptures and “…Keep them in the midst of your heart.” The more time we spend in His Word, the more we come to realize that we have been given the most important, powerful, divine and living book ever written. The Word of God will not only guide, direct and transform you into the likeness of Christ, but will come alive and activate your very being!
My dear friend, trust in the Lord and put all your faith in Him, not just some of it, because that’s not what God wants from you. He wants ALL of you and it happens when you let His Words sink deep down inside your being. Desire to know the Lord more than anything in this world which is quickly passing away. Read His Word every day – when you awake first thing in the morning and immediately before you go to sleep. When you do you will be amazed at the wonderful, amazing transformation God will do start to begin in your life.
“I have declared my ways, and You answered me; Teach me Your statutes. Make me to understand the way of Your precepts; so shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.” Psalm 119:26-27
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Notes On Life
By Dr. Jeanne Sheffield Estrada Article No. 0105
We live in a world that desperately needs the light and the unconditional love of Christ. So many people need compassion, understanding, empathy, acceptance, a helping hand, and a warm caring touch, but who will bring it to them?
As Christians, God has given us this responsibility in His “Great Commission” to go out into the world and share His gospel. While we are not all called to be famous preachers with huge international ministries or TV shows, how then can we be faithful and fulfill Jesus’ command? We do it by being a positive example in how we live our own personal lives and by sharing what Christ has done for us with others thorough our personal testimony. Don’t be afraid and ask the Holy Spirit to give you confidence to speak through you if you are not experienced in sharing your faith. Remember you are not alone because the Holy Spirit is inside of you and will give you the right words at the right time and situation. All you have to do is be real and honest. Jesus wants you to shine your light and shine it bright to everyone and in every situation you encounter.
If ever the world has needed the love of Jesus who gives His power to do all these things through us, it’s right NOW. Jesus is the Light of the World and the "“The Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in YOU"” (Romans 8:11) Now that’s power and light!!
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
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