Author: Annette Coffey

“Grace and peace to you from God and Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 1:2

As Gods precious children we have been chosen since before the world began by God to receive every personal blessing. Everything we will need to finish strong. That encompasses so many things because God is gracious. Elegance and beauty, effortless, pleasing and attractive, favor and goodwill, especially favors by our superior. Clemency and pardon, temporary immunity, freely given and unmerited favor of God, influence by the Holy Spirit to give strength, the virtue of excellence, one of the elect. Moral strength, royalty. Wow that is a lot of blessings. Those are all things that should be said about Gods children. I’m sure the world would love those things to be said about them but they don’t necessarily have Gods grace in their lives. But even though God is willing to do so much there is one thing he can’t do for us. That is to believe. Without believing it is impossible to please God and receive his blessings. The biggest blessing is when Jesus paid off our incredible debt with his blood so God could forgive us. He didn’t have to but he gladly did. For every single person God has called he would have died just for them alone. But there are millions. So many brothers and sisters that we may never get to know them all. No matter how far gone you think you are, if you were called by God he will keep working on you till you get it right. He has never lost one of his beloved. There is nothing we can do to be forgiven or nothing we do will keep us from being saved because God will get it done in his time. We have been washed in Christ’s blood. Whatever it takes he will do because he loves us so much. Some people he has to smack up the side of their head and say wake up, what are you doing? Because we are pretty stubborn at times. We also seem to think we have so much time to waste. But one minute we’re a kid and the next someone is calling us grandma. Life goes by fast.

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

This is my God, he is very personal for everyone who knows him. He isn’t just a God, but the only true God who created heaven and earth and all that dwells in them. He wishes for you to trust him completely and rely on his faithfulness. It doesn’t matter what your needs may be, he is more than capable to meet them. Daniel in the lion’s den, or Israelites crossing the Red Sea. Wherever you need the mountain moved God is there. Are you facing something insurmountable well God knew it was coming yesterday and he is already working it out in his unique way. There is nothing that God cannot do or won’t do. Maybe you are faced with cancer and you are overwhelmed by the circumstances. He can miraculously heal you or you can grow stronger throughout the time you have it. He will give you strength and peace through it all. Even if he calls you home and your healing comes after you pass, you still will have no more pain, tears or grief. Living in perfection in paradise with Jesus forever is my heart’s desire and doesn’t sound bad. All of our needs are unique to our situations and everyone faces different giants. It depends on how God is working in your life and how he is growing you personally. Maybe you are raising a handicapped child. Well I know many handicapped individuals who are so different and special, sensitive and caring, and their families wouldn’t trade them for anyone because they are a blessing. I know someone who adopted several handicapped children from around the world and they are all so special and amazing. I am forced to live in a nursing home because I cannot care for myself at all. But I wouldn’t trade my life for any other because Jesus has become my best friend a gives me purpose. I still wake up every day ready to embrace the day and rejoice because it’s always a special day with Jesus. We can dwell on the problems or we can embrace the journey and it is up to us. I still wake up everyday to a new sunrise and new challenges to get through but I have help Evan if I sometimes get frustrated God will never leave me or forsake me and together we can overcome.

“Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If it were my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

Jesus was brought here to free his children but if they don’t know the truth they will never be truly free. God’s truth is very important if you want to do right and not wrong. Once you become a child of God your freedom is purchased. The blood he shed for the sins of the world paid your debt in full. There is nothing to do because God did it all when he forgave you of all your sins. He doesn’t even remember them anymore. You don’t need to keep asking to be forgiven because once is enough and there is nothing you can do to be more forgiven. There will be evidence in your life because you will love God and want to do all he has asked. I know myself, I’m a perfectionist and I will never be perfect but I’ll keep doing all that I can because they have done so much for me. But we will keep sinning because we are human and we have a sin nature. We should be sorry when we do sin and know it. And we should ask forgiveness for that sin. Doing all I can to get closer to perfect will give me more peace and more joy. It will not get me into heaven because of what I have done, but because I have the golden key which is Jesus Christ. He paid it all for me.When I die I do know that I will be resurrected to a new heavenly body just like my savior was. There is no reason to wonder if I have done enough to get in. I have total faith in God’s promises. Having a holy fear of God is knowing that you can never do it without him and you never want to. Having complete respect and awe for everything he keeps doing and always will. Knowing without a shadow of doubt in your spirit that he is more than enough to get me safely home to my mansion in paradise. That I could never imagine what is waiting for me. It’s so exciting trying to imagine but I know it will be so much better than anything I can envision.

“Jesus wept.” John 11:35

Jesus had great compassion for people. They all meant so much to him. It didn’t matter who you were or what you were like. He definitely cried with those who cried and laughed with those who laughed. When he saw someone sick or hurting his heart went out to them, when Satan was oppressing one of his, he had to act. Whether they were blind, crippled, disease ridden, or demon possessed. Male or female didn’t matter because you were equal to God no matter what and he had no favorites. When he was hung on that cross he forgave those who were torturing him. Because that was his Father’s will for a lost and dying world. They knew it had to be this way. It was all under their control or it wouldn’t have happened and we would perish forever. But they couldn’t let that happen because of their love. We didn’t really have any say, and we didn’t deserve it, but they wanted us to live with them the way they intended. They just want for us to be more like that. We owe them so much that we could never begin to repay them. Everyday they do more and more to let us know how much they care. They will never stop doing everything they can because that is who they are. Even when people say they don’t believe that God exists because they are so lost and out of hope. They might even be angry with God by something that has happened to them, but he still loves them greatly. We might do many bad things that we think he could never forgive but we are wrong. He will forgive anything if we just ask him. He doesn’t want anyone to perish but all to be forgiven. It doesn’t matter how bad it was. You may have been sentenced to life in prison for a crime but some of the biggest miracles take place when a mass murderer finds Jesus in prison and he changes their life and turns it around. God is always working in someone’s life and he always does excellent work and he might be working on you next.

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:24

God wants to fulfill our needs and he uses us to intercede for others. There is so much power in prayer and people’s needs matter to God. He isn’t going to answer just any prayer but he will do what is best for everyone. It may not be what we want or how we think he will answer. The more we get to know God through reading his words and praying the better we get to know his will. That way we can pray more effectively. Some people just don’t know how to pray they just know they have a need. Or maybe something is bothering them or they are sick. God can use trials and sickness to strengthen us and sometimes they are there for a reason. You don’t grow stronger when things are comfortable, but as you learn to trust God, when he does come through even when it might be at the last minute. Kind of like when the Israelites were being chased as they left Egypt right to the Red Sea. God had a plan but that didn’t know that. He parted the water and they walked right through on dry ground. Causing the chasing army to follow them back and they were drowned in the sea. No more problem! Didn’t quite expect that. Sometimes it doesn’t seem like God is hearing our prayers but we don’t seem to get the answers we want. Maybe it’s just not what is best for you or that he is working on something so much better if we just trust him. Maybe we are having problems because we have sinned or not followed God’s commands and wisdom. We can sometimes be our worst enemy. When we do things our way and not God’s way he will let us because he has given us free will. We can get in relationships and situations that God has warned us against but we wanted them so bad and it just isn’t good for us causing more problems. Someone wants to be married but they aren’t patient and they marry the first person who seems interested even a non Christian and they end up miserable. Always pray for guidance when making a big decision like marriage or financial decisions. Because if it’s not God’s will it could be a big mistake. But if you follow God’s guidance and his ways life is so much easier. I know I did a lot of things because I just wanted to and God let me have my way but it always had consequences because it definitely wasn’t following Gods guidance and commands and it usually didn’t work out. Once you put God first in your life and others second things will start falling into place for you I know they have for me. It helps knowing Gods word and following it and staying far from sin that can trip us up. God loves taking good care of his children and not seeing us make mistakes that aren’t good for us.