Do I have to give all of my money away?

"You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven; and follow Me."  v22                                  Luke 18:18-23.  NKJV

Does this mean that God doesn't want us to be rich? Does it mean that we have to go and give all we have, to the poor before I can have treasure in Heaven and follow Jesus properly? The answer to these two questions, is no. God wants us to be rich because that way, we can help many people along the way, without us worrying about whether we have enough finance to live on ourselves.

This was a test to the rich, young ruler. He had approached Jesus wanting to know how he could inherit eternal life. Now, this man would have been quite skilled in investments and how to increase his finances. It was the business world to him. This was why he approached Jesus. He wanted to invest in his future because, no doubt, he had heard about receiving eternal life and it appealed to him.

Therefore, Jesus used this test to determine where his priorities were. Jesus knew that the man's treasure and security was in his wealth and He wanted to show him that this was a hinderance to him. His hope and security should be focused on God, not on his bank balance. After all, this could be taken off him by just one, bad investment. Sadly, the man couldn't see what Jesus was pointing out - the cost was too great. For him, God would always take second place.

There's not a lot of difference today. Many, still put their trust in their riches - their bank balance; nice house and car together with a handsomely paid salary. All of this is ok if we place God in the middle of it all. He must come first. Our trust must always be in Him before any other thing or person. After-all, He engineered that we have it all to begin with.

So enjoy what God has given you but always allow God to have His rightful place. Don't be frightened to tithe. It is God's in the first place so, He will take care of you. If you can, pray about helping others who may be in need. There are many starving and unschooled children in our world today. Can you help? Don't be scared to ask God if you should help. If you do, it will bless you, bless them and bless God as well.

Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard

grahamehoward@hotmail.com

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

*If you would like to contact me, then please send me an email😄

Wait

"Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait I say, on the LORD.'                                                                                  Psalm 27:14   NKJV

We need to be confident in our waiting, strong and full of courage. To wait is to demonstrate confident expectation. Lamentations 3:25 says, 'The LORD is good to those who wait for Him. To the soul who seeks Him.' The Hebrew word for 'wait' is Qavah. Its meaning is to wait for; to look for; to expect and to hope. Qavah is the root of the noun Tiqvah which means hope or expectancy. (Strong's Dictionary). Therefore, we are to wait hopefully.

Waiting is an area that God is speaking about to many people. If God has promised us something, we tend to want it now; not so much because we are greedy, but because we become excited that God is at work. However, there is mostly a waiting process and we have to practice patience, which I admit, is not easy. It is though, worth it. 

As we can see from Lamentations 3:25, God is good to those who wait but, He wants us to be patient. There are things that God is doing that we don't know about. He's doing this to ensure that what he has promised us is good. If it were to be rushed, it could go very wrong. Therefore, He tells us to wait.

We are all waiting for something and at times, the more we focus on it, the longer it seems to take. It is far better, if we're confident in what God has promised us, to thank Him for it, remain in expectant hope and then, get on doing what we would normally do. This way, God often surprises us with, 'Suddenly'. I love these times. We're just getting on with our day when, 'Suddenly,' God turns up and everything changes.

You may have been waiting so long for something special. Each day, you hope, but each day, it doesn't happen. Please be encouraged, today may be the day when it does happen and your whole life changes for the better. 

Just take courage and hope.

Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard

grahamehoward@hotmail.com

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

*If you would like to contact me, then please send me an email😄

Begin to see things God's way

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." 

                                                                                                    Romans 12:2   NKJV

In other words, don't allow anyone or anything to convince you that there is a better way than God's way. He is the ultimate way, there are no others that will last the course. Do not be conformed or compromised. You're on active service, don't drop your guard now.

Your mind can allow you to think defeat instead of victory. The devil will try to rob you of your joy and implant depression and fear in its place. When everything is against you, don't be tempted to think that you would be better off dead. You wouldn't and you know it.

Begin to see things God's way - think and see differently. When things begin to push you into a corner, turn them round by seeing them as a positive issue not a negative one. Look and take note of how God wants them to be. Allow God to work within you, changing you, little by little, one step at a time. It may take a while and it may be difficult at first, but allow yourself to be changed from the inside.

We've discussed lately, the lies that the devil feeds us with, and it is always advisable to reinforce this on a regular basis. The devil is a liar. He will lie about your health; he will lie about you marriage and relationships, your finances and anything else that he can trick you with. He cannot be trusted. Be careful who you trust with your lives. Scripture tells us: 'Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength.' Jeremiah 17:5. Please note that, this verse is not saying we can't trust people - not at all. It is advising us to be wise and not put anyone in God's place. If we do, it could all go wrong as many have discovered to their peril.

Learn to see things the way God sees them. He always thinks and sees the best in us. He is kind and loving to all. He is never rude or selfish. He does not associate with evil. He never gossips and He always speaks the truth.

Begin to see things God's way!

Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard

grahamehoward@hotmail.com

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

*If you would like to contact me, then please send me an email😄

He walked through our part of Samaria

"Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?"                    Luke 17:17   NKJV

Ten men who had leprosy, approached Jesus as He passed through Samaria on His way to Jerusalem. They asked Him to have mercy upon them - they needed healing. He spoke with them and then told them to go and see the priest. This was normal procedure as the priest would verify the healing. However, they were healed as they made their way there. Not all people who are prayed for receive their healing at that time. Rather like these men, they may receive healing later as they go by faith.

One of the healed men, returned to Jesus giving glory to God. But the other nine went on their way. This shows that some worship God for the good things He does for us at the time, whereas, others ask Him for help and when they receive it, they get on with their lives with no gratitude in their hearts at all. 

Be honest; haven't you ever done this? You've prayed for something and when you receive it, give very little in the way of gratitude to God. I remember a few times before I was saved, when I had various types of problems. I wasn't a Christian but I'd always believed in God, so I prayed, asking Him to help me, promising Him everything I could think of. And he did answer me and yet, I never even gave Him thanks afterwards, or the gratitude that he deserved. Shameful, but He forgave me.

This man who had returned healed to Jesus, was an outcast. He had not only had leprosy - a dreaded disease, but he was also a Samaritan - a hated race in the eyes of a Jew. And yet, Jesus not only walked through Samaria but He healed these ten diseased men.

In a way, you and I were outcasts before we knew Jesus. We were riddled with sin that would prevent any of us from entering the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, as outsiders we were destined to hell - total separation from God and all other believers. But Jesus walked through our part of Samaria and as we called out to Him, He took these outcasts and turned you and I into cherished and precious children of God.

Now, doesn't that make you want to go to Him and worship Him, showing Him all of our gratitude?

Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard

grahamehoward@hotmail.com

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

God's Formula

"Then Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I do not know a man.'" v34

                                                                                                        Luke 1:34-38   NKJV

Many things come our way on a daily basis and it is difficult to get our heads around them. This is how the young Mary must have felt the day the angel Gabriel announced to her that she would give birth to Jesus. Her panic can be heard in her reply. 'How can this be, since I do not know a man?'

Mary, a virgin, was betrothed to Joseph and she was a young lady who had found favour in the eyes of God. She knew that she was pure and God knew she was pure but, when she gave birth to this child, what would other people think of her? (We always worry about what others may think). However, the main questions were, how had this happened and how would it all work out? Let us look at this more closely:

Firstly, the angel announced this to Mary and her reaction was the same as most believers, 'How will this be? When God drops something out of the ordinary; something mind-blowing into our hearts, we go to our comfort-zone thinking, 'I can't do that - you've got to be joking.' Remember how Moses struggled when God told him to go and ask Pharaoh to release the Israelites from Egypt? (Exodus 3:11). But we need to know that when God asks us to do something for Him, He will be with us. 

Secondly, Nothing is impossible for God; it may be for us but if God asks us to do something, He will be right there with us and will provide the wherewithal. He will show us the way; He will create the way; He is the way!

Finally, there is acceptance. Mary relayed it beautifully, 'Let it be to me according to Your word.' This is spiritual surrender. This is the place God wants us to be. This is what God wants to hear from you and I whenever, He drops something into our hearts. When we can say this, God will throw open all the doors that need opening. He will bless our every step. 

Are you in a place where the Lord has spoken to you about doing something for Him. You may have struggled with the first step and may now be trying, to be faith-filled. Let me encourage you, go on to the third step, 'Let it be, Lord,' and you'll never regret it.

Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard

grahamehoward@hotmail.com

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

Be thankful

"In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.' 

                                                                                                  1 Thessalonians 5:18   NKJV

No matter what the circumstances are, we must be able to see Him in every detail of our lives. This past year, we have had the fear of Covid all around us. There has been the misery of Lockdown and restrictions that we have all struggled with. Then of course, there are the new vaccines that are being rushed through and the thoughts of whether they will do the job or make matters worse. Now there is the Brexit scenario and what will happen from thereon. All around is uncertainty and fear and this can lead to frustrations and anger, anxiety and panic.

However, God's Word tells us, 'In everything give thanks.' Not, 'For everything give thanks,' take note of that one. We are not to thank God for all the things that are coming against us, but to give thanks whilst we are going through them. There is a big difference. Wherever we may find ourselves or whatever circumstances we may find ourselves in, God wants us to continually thank Him. Praise and thanksgiving brings release. Remember Paul and Silas in the stocks at midnight? (Acts 16). As they sang praises to God, it brought them release and freedom, and it will to us too. Let's face it, the things that we have just looked at can't be changed by us. We can do very little but God can and my hope is in Him. 

In 11 days time, it will be Christmas Day and the joy that will bring to young and older faces is well worth thanking God for. That very first Christmas in a manger in Bethlehem, the King of kings was born into the world and shone His light all around in the darkness. He brought peace and joy, love and hope and for that, He is worthy of our praise and thanks.

Things may not have gone the way you had hoped this past year, but up to now, you've made it and you have a hope within your heart, that things will get better further down the line. Only God knows what will happen, but one things for sure, as we are thankful and grateful to Him, in all circumstances, He will take our hand and lead us through.

Do you know something? He never stops thinking about us. We are forever on His mind. He just can't help Himself, we are always uppermost in His thoughts. Just a thought, if we did the same; if we never stopped thinking about Him; if He was uppermost in our thoughts, we wouldn't get in half of the trouble that we find ourselves in. Just a thought to mull over.

Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard

grahamehoward@hotmail.com

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

Put it right

"When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long."                 

                                                                                                                  Psalm 32:3   NKJV

We need to be happy and grateful that God has forgiven us our sins, that is, if we've asked Him to. God is not one who sweeps things under the carpet hoping that it will never come to light again. We can fool people but we can never fool God. He knows!

When we are hanging on to unforgiven sin, things will not go right for us. This is why David wrote this statement, 'When I kept silent, my bones grew old - ." When we try to hide something away, we live in fear that it may be revealed at some time and subsequently, our heath suffers, especially our mental health, where we can suffer anguish and worry.

Here, David wrote about hiding his sin away from God. He kept silent and refused to admit his sin and he suffered for it. He realised that it was not just his feelings that were attacking him, but the heavy hand of God. Psalm 32:4.

When we are in the wrong and have let God down, the Holy Spirit leans on us with a Spirit of heaviness until we repent and put it right. We may have argued with our spouse and there is no way that we are going to admit that it was our fault. Harsh words may have been spoken, words that pierce the heart; but we may consider ourselves, not guilty. Believe me, nothing will change until we put it right.

We may have had some heated words with someone else but we refuse to admit we were in the wrong. Again, we are going nowhere until we do. 

I am sure that you know the feeling when you have done something wrong. The Holy Spirit will not let you off the hook until you do something about it. If you wronged a person who is no longer around, you can confess this to God and he will forgive you. Otherwise, you can go to the person and ask for their forgiveness. If they won't, then you have done your bit and you owe them nothing. The rest is up to them.

The thing is - do something about it. None of us are perfect. We all say and do things we regret afterwards. Be brave and put it right, this is God's formula and He knows best.

Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard

grahamehoward@hotmail.com

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com