Month: February 2024

Love Is

Annette Coffey1 Comment

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1-2

It is God’s will that we love others the way he has loved us and I hate seeing someone treat others improperly and in anger. But I never really thought of the consequences. I do know that people can bring on consequences in their life because of sins in their lives. We can do so many things like taking drugs or robbing banks that can end very badly but just being mean? I read this verse this morning, I mean I really read it. It says that everything you do is exactly what will be done to you. Think about your day, about everything you say to others and do to others. Is that how you want treated? It can go the opposite way too. Do you like it when people say good morning or I love that green blouse on you it brings out your eyes and you look awesome. Do you like it when someone prays for you when you’re not feeling well. Or when someone invites you to a party or to just have coffee. These things make us feel important. But that is love. Making someone feel special and respected and well loved. Did you just ignore the people around you as you went through your day. That isn’t being mean but could you show people you care in a small way or even a bigger way. Let’s say you’re shopping and the person in front of you is short a $1, offer to pay it. Have you ever been a $1 short, it’s embarrassing and upsetting. Do you say something when someone irritates you? Maybe they are having a hard day and maybe that’s just how they are but being loving might change them. Maybe you could say a quick prayer for whatever is hurting them. Loving others isn’t always easy but if you just put yourself in their shoes for a minute you might have more understanding and compassion. I like my day to go well and I like to interact with people. People are what is special about life. Not just your friends and family but all people. Why not try to make your friends and family bigger by making someone new apart of it by loving someone new.

Provision

Annette Coffey1 Comment

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.” Matthew 10:29

Worrying will not accomplish anything. We all worry though. We fear not having enough, fear of the unknown, fear we won’t measure up to the next guy, not being able to provide our needs. But God is ultimately in control of it all. He doesn’t just give us enough he wants us to have abundance. This world tells us we need more and just the right things. Prada, Rolex, BMW, and everything there is to get. He who has the most toys wins, right? I always worked hard and had a good life but it wasn’t till I no longer had a job and an income that I stopped worrying about stuff. I don’t have room for much stuff anyway. But I have learned after 64 years that God has always taken good care of me and he isn’t retiring, ever. When you have very little you realize you don’t need much. I always have food, clothes, books and my IPad and God and that’s more than enough. My supplies seem to go much farther than they used to. Because I can’t do much anymore I don’t need much. Everything I can’t do is done for me and I have a comfortable home. Although it is shared by 100 + others. I like always having people around me. They are my family. I do tend to stay by myself to read and write. That’s why I have to have my IPad so I can do plenty of research and save my writings. But you tend to be a lot more grateful the less stuff you have. My family is real important. My church and church friends. Being able to be able to do everything during the day on my own. Independent for the most part. It may take me four times as long as someone else but God does help me to get it done. I learned that the wisest thing I can do is pray about everything, even the little stuff when I’m thinking about it. Don’t ignore your concerns but take them to God. If you do that then you have plenty of time to joyfully enjoy your day. A day spent with God is always enjoyable.

Lord Of The Harvest

Annette Coffey1 Comment

“So neither is the one who plants or the one who waters anything, but only God who makes things grow.” 1 Corinthians 3:7

We have all been commissioned by the Lord to go out into all the world and make disciples. To love others into God’s kingdom. We may be excited to be going to heaven and God’s kingdom one day but so many people will not be going with us. Most people just don’t know what they are missing out on. People don’t think about their death but just assume they have a long time left. They also don’t think about where they will spend eternity. A lot of people think you just go to sleep and never wake up. That doesn’t seem that bad unless you wake up and you are in the torment of pain, agony, and fear for ever. Then it doesn’t sound so simple anymore. Unless someone shares the good news with them they will not know they have a choice.The person whose life is full of sin and pride and doesn’t even know any better is dying in his sin. He has a deadly cancerous disease raging in his body and he is probably unaware of it. Let’s say you once were full of cancerous sin but you heard of someone who had a cure that was free and could give you an excellent healing and live happily and healthy again. Do you think this person would want to know about this cure? They may decide to ignore their sickness but at least you could give them the option. Making a decision for their future is painless and simple. All you need to do is ask and it can be had. The thing with cancer is you don’t always know you have it until it’s too late. I went through a time in my life where pride took control and I thought I was living. Going out drinking with my friends till the crack of dawn and usually feeling hungover the next day. I was deceived into thinking it was living. Until my stroke almost took my life and I knew I was missing something. I had somebody come to see me and offered to read the Bible to me and pray for me. It was just someone I had worked with who I respected. She kept coming by and didn’t give up on me. I didn’t do anything right away but it really got me started seeking wisdom. It was ten years later when I had the lightbulb moment and I couldn’t not do everything I could to have that relationship I longed for. I had always gone to church when I was younger. But I was a Sunday morning Christian and the rest of the week I did my own thing. Until I got to know the great physician personally and learned more and more about him I didn’t understand. The point is that this is very important information to have and it doesn’t matter who brings it or how because it is the Lord who convicts us and convinces us to do something. Sometimes it takes several people planting and watering for years before you realize you need to do something. But God doesn’t give up on us.

Blessings For Generations

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“but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Exodus 20:6

This is such a special promise. Growing up I had a wonderful life and I thought everyone had the same things I had. My family had been serving the Lord for as long as I knew. My grandfather had a church and I was in it from my very beginning. All my extended family served the Lord and my parents loved all of us kids and we had a wonderful life. It wasn’t till I was grown that I saw people who didn’t have it so good. My kids married Christian’s and my grandkids loved the Lord. Then my daughter’s husband walked out on her and their three children. She was a very good mom and eventually met and married a great young man who loved the Lord and who adored her and her children. They had a baby and this week I saw a video of my daughter bouncing him on her lap and tickling him. He was squealing with laughter through the whole thing. He was just 3 months old and I just couldn’t get over how perfect we were made. He didn’t have to be taught to laugh, we were made to enjoy this life and rejoice. There is no way with all that we just know and can do that we just happened or evolved from an ape or a fish. We can learn and understand and have natural emotions and thoughts. I also watch people who don’t know the Lord struggle and have diseases and problems. I know that trials and problems come to everyone but not as much to those serving the Lord. People who don’t know the Lord have so many more trials that they bring on themselves with their lifestyle choices. This life can be hard and I appreciate every advantage I have and serving the Lord has proven to be so worth all the effort. Having somebody who is always giving you the strength day to day to do all that comes your way is so valuable. Also knowing that I am loved unconditionally by someone who will bless me and is in control of my future is so comforting also.