Tag Archives: Jesus

What is Faith? Three Easy Ways to Grow Your Faith

May 19, 2022FaithFaith, Jesusmichellemr777

woman reading a book beside the window — Photo by Rahul Shah on Pexels.com

As a Christian, faith in Jesus is the glue holding the Christian life together. But what about those who are struggling with their faith? Let’s discover what is faith and three easy steps to grow your faith.

Faith Comes by Hearing

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 NKJV

Faith is believing pure and simple. In order to have it you have to have something to believe in.

That’s one of the reasons church is so important, and having a pastor is important. Preachers teach us about Jesus, and help us understand the life we should live according to the bible. Reading the bible is also important. You need to hear the word of God first in order to act on it.

Remember when Jesus healed the lame man at the pool of Bethesda? Jesus told Him, ““Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.”” John 5: 8.

The lame man heard what Jesus said first then he had to decide if he would believe it as true (that if he tried to, he would be able to walk). Again, faith without works is dead.

Study the Bible

The Bible is our guidebook for life. Understanding what God desires of you will help build your faith.

Listen to the bible app, read the bible in the morning and evening. Listen to a good preaching, a few times a week. And memorize bible verses: write them down on sticky notes, post them on your bathroom mirror. However you can get the word in you.

When you know what the Bible says and act on it your faith can grow. Here are some Bible verses to get you started!

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4: 13

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Selah.” Psalm 62: 8

“Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.” Proverbs 16: 3

Don’t Talk about it Be About it

Finally, faith = action.

James 2:17 says, “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead (NKJV).”

If you are reading the Bible , and trying to grow in your relationship with God-for more insights into growing in your relationship with God, check out my article here-there will come a time when you will have to act on those beliefs.

Conclusion

If you are going through hard times, study Psalm 62: 8 and trust God is your refuge. Need healing? Believe Psalm 103: 3 and know God will heal you.

I’ve heard many pastors preach that faith is a muscle. Thus, it has to be flexed and strengthened daily. That is how to grow in your faith.

Blessings,

M/M

Faith Comes by Hearing

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 NKJV

Faith is believing pure and simple. In order to have it you have to have something to believe in.

The lame man heard what Jesus said first then he had to decide if he would believe it as true (that if he tried to, he would be able to walk). Again, faith without works is dead.

Study the Bible

The Bible is our guidebook for life. Understanding what God desires of you will help build your faith.

When you know what the Bible says and act on it your faith can grow. Here are some Bible verses to get you started!

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4: 13

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Selah.” Psalm 62: 8

“Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.” Proverbs 16: 3

Don’t Talk about it Be About it

Finally, faith = action.

James 2:17 says, “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead (NKJV).”

Conclusion

If you are going through hard times, study Psalm 62: 8 and trust God is your refuge. Need healing? Believe Psalm 103: 3 and know God will heal you.

I’ve heard many pastors preach that faith is a muscle. Thus, it has to be flexed and strengthened daily. That is how to grow in your faith.

Blessings,

M/M

Faith Comes by Hearing

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 NKJV

Faith is believing pure and simple. In order to have it you have to have something to believe in.

The lame man heard what Jesus said first then he had to decide if he would believe it as true (that if he tried to, he would be able to walk). Again, faith without works is dead.

Study the Bible

The Bible is our guidebook for life. Understanding what God desires of you will help build your faith.

When you know what the Bible says and act on it your faith can grow. Here are some Bible verses to get you started!

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4: 13

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Selah.” Psalm 62: 8

“Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.” Proverbs 16: 3

Don’t Talk about it Be About it

Finally, faith = action.

James 2:17 says, “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead (NKJV).”

Conclusion

If you are going through hard times, study Psalm 62: 8 and trust God is your refuge. Need healing? Believe Psalm 103: 3 and know God will heal you.

I’ve heard many pastors preach that faith is a muscle. Thus, it has to be flexed and strengthened daily. That is how to grow in your faith.

Blessings,

M/M

8 Bible Verses for Wives You Need to Know

February 25, 2022marriagebible, Jesus, marriagemichellemr777

The Bible is relevant for every aspect of our lives-including us wives. Sometimes it can be hard to be married. It can be hard to please God as a wife. But thankfully, God gives us grace when we fail. He also provides His word that is a great guide for this season of your life as a wife. So, let’s take a look at some bible verses for wives to know.

Wives Desire Your Husband

“Unto the woman he said… thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.” Genesis 3:16, KJV.

God gave us women a strong desire or longing for our husbands. This ties to 1 Corinthians 7:34 where Paul explains,

“There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.” 1 Corinthians 7:34, KJV.

I know the last part of Genesis 3:16 can leave a bad taste in some women’s mouths: “he shall rule over thee.” But God didn’t intend marriage to be a dictatorship where the man barks out orders to his wife for her to blindly follow in fear.

Wives, Submit to Hubby

Men and women are equal in God’s eyes, as Paul states,

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for “you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28, KJV).”

So we are all equal in God’s eyes, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have the same roles. Men were called by God to lead the homes, and the marriage relationship. But that doesn’t mean wives have no say.

When we submit to our husbands we please God. Submission, as I explain in my post about submission in marriage, is about respecting your husband as the head of the home, accountable to God as the leader of the family.

“Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting to the Lord.” Colossians 3:18, KJV.

Wives, Be Kind

It’s also important to be kind, speak and act in love toward everyone, and be faithful at all times which can prove hard but we please God when we do so as 1 Timothy 3: 11 says,

“their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things (ESV).”

The way we speak is super important as well. We as wives need to learn to be prudent: to think before we speak and use our words with wisdom. Titus 3:4-5 provides some good insight into this as well.

“And so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled (ESV).”

When we love our husbands and children, are self-controlled, pure, take care of our homes, are kind and submissive to our husbands we ensure the word of God isn’t blasphemed.

Why? Because we are living out what the word says and others around us see the good fruit that comes when we do what the word says.

The Example of the Proverbs 31 Wife

Finally, take the example and testimony of the Proverbs 31 wife:

“An excellent wife who can find?

She is far more precious than jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.

She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.

She seeks wool and flax,
    and works with willing hands.
She is like the ships of the merchant;
    she brings her food from afar.
She rises while it is yet night
    and provides food for her household
    and portions for her maidens.

She considers a field and buys it;
    with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
She dresses herself with strength
    and makes her arms strong.
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
    Her lamp does not go out at night

She puts her hands to the distaff,
    and her hands hold the spindle.
She opens her hand to the poor
    and reaches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of snow for her household,
    for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
She makes bed coverings for herself;
    her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates
    when he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them;
    she delivers sashes to the merchant.
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
    and she laughs at the time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
    and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:

“Many women have done excellently,
    but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands,
    and let her works praise her in the gates.”

This woman is a force! She has her own business, she takes care of the needs of her household, she gets up early to work, she takes care of herself by eating well and strengthening her arms, she opens her mouth with wisdom, and she is a giver.

Her children, and those around her call her blessed because of the woman she is. A few things I noticed about this passage is that the first things spoken about her is her husband trusts her-this is a biggie. It’s so important to have the trusts of our husbands. Her character: her selflessness, kindness, hard work, chastity, and prudence enabled her husband to trust her.

Another thing to take notice: the passage doesn’t mention her beauty. Perhaps because her inner beauty of character far exceeds her outward beauty. The only physical description we get of her is her strong arms. Perhaps because the Lord is more concerned with our beauty within, as 1 Peter 3: 3 says,

“Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious (ESV).”

Conclusion

Now, I’m not saying how you present yourself doesn’t matter. I’m saying to take care of your attitude and inner man just as much as you take care of your outer man. I talk more about beauty in this post. These bible verses for wives are definitely some to commit to memory: write them down, put them on pot-it notes, read them daily. I am sure they will change your life as they have mine.

Blessings,

M/M

The Parable of the Talents: Living Your Best Life for God

February 24, 2022FaithChristianity, heaven, Jesus, parablemichellemr777

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

The Parable of the Talents is a popular parable of significant meaning. The most interesting character being the man who hid his talents out of fear and was condemned. Are you like this man? Not pursuing God’s perfect plan for your life, and at risk of condemnation from God? Well, you don’t have to be!

God’s Perfect Plan for You

The Bible says God has a perfect plan for our lives. But He does give us free will. We can choose to do things our way, outside of God’s will.

Just look at Adam and Eve. God’s perfect will for them was to stay in the Garden of Eden: where they lived in peace, and had all the food and fulfillment they needed. But they chose to live outside of God’s plan for them. This plan was not as good as God’s plan: filled with toil, pain, sweat, and hurt. I often wondered what would have happened if Adam chose to allow God to lead his life instead of himself.

If we allow God to lead our lives, we won’t ever have to question what if. Because we will be in God’s perfect will. Now we are human, all of us struggle with doubt, or fear. But this is an appeal to live a life of faith. If you feel the Lord leading you to write a book-write the book. Or if you hear Him tell you to start a hard conversation with a family member about their faith, start that conversation.

If you’re feeling afraid, do it afraid. God will see you through! You never know what is on the other side of your obedience. And if you stumble in your obedience, repent and keep going. God doesn’t give up on us if we struggle with our faith.

Use Your Gifts to Worship God

Live your best life for God! Use every gift and talent the Lord has given you. He gave it to you, so use it! Are you gifted in painting? Sell paintings or teach a class. Can you play piano? Play at church or in a band.

Be like the man in the Parable of the talents who used all the talents the Lord gave him and brought a return on them (Matthew 25:14-30). And if you aren’t sure what your gifts are, pray for guidance, do some online personality tests and some self-exploration. Check out the personality tests below:

https://www.16personalities.com

https://www.focusonthefamily.com/bring-your-bible/personality-test/

“He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.”

“His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord…Lord (wicked servant speaking), I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown…And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.”

“His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed…And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 25:14-30).

Don’t hide your talents out of fear. Do you know why the Lord was angry at the servant for hiding his talents? Because God gives us gifts to be used. Our gifts aren’t given to serve ourselves, but they’re given to be used as a form of worship in service to others. Just as Christ came not to be served but to serve others (Matthew 20:28).

Live Your Best Life for God

I don’t know if you can feel it but I feel we are in the last days. It’s like a feeling in me confirmed by what I see in the world every day.

Jesus says in the last days there would be wars and rumors of wars (Matthew 24:6). Just take a look at the news and you can see this is a fact. Right now, commentators are speculating the US and China could go to war in the South Pacific. Daniel 9:27 says the antichrist would establish himself as god in the third temple in Jerusalem. There hasn’t been a temple or sacrificial system in Israel for many years but Israeli leaders have already started planning for the building of the third temple.

Why am I telling you all this? Because I don’t want you to have any regrets. Now more than ever, Christians need to be who God called us to be: ALL of what God called us to be. We are called to be bold as lions (Proverbs 28:1), have strong confidence (Proverbs 14:26), to preach the truth to all who will listen (Matthew 28:16-20), to work hard (Colossians 3:23), and to love God and others (Mark 12:31).

We should live hard for God everyday. Compared to our lives on Earth, Eternity is a long time. I personally don’t want to spend that time asking myself what if: What if I had prayed more? What if I had fasted more? What if I had loved more? What if I did everything God wanted me to do? Because by then, it will be too late. If you want to know more about being saved, check out my post here.

Blessings,

M/M

5 Ways to Have a Relationship With God

February 24, 2022FaithChristian girl, Christian woman, Christianity, Jesus, lovemichellemr777

woman holding book — Photo by Rodolfo Quirós on Pexels.com

Many of us want a stronger relationship with God. It often seems like God is so far away from us, but He is not. How do we do that then? How do you have a relationship with God?

Spend Quality Time with Him

Prayer, bible study and fasting are great ways to know more about God, and to destroy your own sinful desires. But also spending the day talking to Him helps you grow in your relationship with God. The Bible teaches us to “pray without ceasing,” (1 Thessalonians 5: 17). Just like you text your friends or family members when something happens, talk to God about it too.

Watch movies or read books with Him! Include God in what you’re doing and spend quality time with Him. Make sure you take the time to listen, too. Sometimes we treat God as our therapist and just blab on and on about everything when God is waiting to get a word in. I’m guilty of this!

Give him that space to talk too. Prayer should be a conversation not a soliloquy. When you spend time in prayer daily, (mornings are best in my opinion) you start to recognize His still, small voice.

Obey

Jesus taught in John 14:21, “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me.” And also in 1 Samuel 15:22, “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”

I heard a YouTube once says that Obedience is God’s love language-I believe that. When you obey God you’re acting in faith that you believe He is God, that what He says is true. Abraham was called a friend of God because He trusted God, obeyed God by faith, even to the point of almost sacrificing his own son (Genesis 22:1-19)! So, if you want to have a stronger relationship with God, obey what He says.

When you get closer to him, eventually He will tell you to do things that you won’t want to do. Do it! When you obey, your confidence and faith in God will grow too.

Tune Out the Noise

There is so much noise in our society. So many voices and opinions. Making it hard to tune into what God is saying to us. Learn to cut out the noise: cut out voices that don’t glorify God or His ways. This includes movies, tv shows, social media, Youtube, music, books. Back in the Bible days, it was easier to grow close to God because they didn’t have the distraction of movies, Instagram, Youtube or music.

King David said, “I will set no evil thing before my face (Psalm 101: 3).” The Apostle Paul said, “All things are lawful [that is, morally legitimate, permissible], but not all things are beneficial or advantageous. All things are lawful, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life] (1 Corinthians 10:23).”

Do you struggle with envy but love scrolling through for hours on end? Maybe take a break from Instagram for some time. Make sure you’re feeding yourself with things that glorify God more than things that do not glorify God. Know where your struggle areas are. Be attentive to what comes into your ear gate and eye gate. The eyes are the windows of the soul. What you watch, listen to, and read does affect you and how you view God.

“Be ye Holy as I am Holy” (1 Peter 1:16

Being Holy means to be set apart. As Christians, we are in the world, but we are not of the world (John 17: 16). God called the people of Israel to be a light to the world (Isaiah 49: 6). When they got to the promised land, He told them to utterly destroy the surrounding nations who served other Gods.

This was because God knew if they were around things and people who didn’t serve Him, His people would do the same. And they did. Eventually the people of Israel became so depraved, they worshipped the Gods of the surrounding nations and became just like them. We have to be careful not to be like the people of Israel. We have to rid our lives of things that can destroy our relationship with God. We are called to be Holy as He is holy.

When we are filled with His spirit (Joel 2: 28=29, Acts 2: 38, Acts 10: 44-46) His spirit will help us to live holy. He will convict us if we are watching, or listening to things, or reading things that will hinder our relationship with Him. Don’t grieve the spirit by doing things He doesn’t like.

When you carry the spirit of the living and Holy God in you, He doesn’t want to be in places that are not Holy. And He doesn’t want to you to take in things that are unholy. Think about that. So when you’re filled with His spirit, you will feel uncomfortable because you have His spirit in you.

Are There Any Other Idols in your Life?

The final way to get closer to God is to get rid of any other idols in your life. God is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14). He desires, and deserves complete and total devotion. Most people nowadays don’t worship idols from the bible days. But we all can idolize something without erecting an idol.

Jesus says in Matthew 6: 21, “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Where are you putting your money? What do you worship? Do you worship your job? What about an entertainer or a sport? Is getting married your highest goal in life? Do you worship yourself?

God wants to be the only God in your life, He commanded don’t have any other gods before me. What gods are in your life? You’ll know based on how much time you spend on it, and /or how much money you give the idol.

“To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek him the greatest adventure; to find him, the greatest human achievement.” St. Augustine

Having a relationship with God, like any relationship takes work and dedication. But also sacrifice. You have to be willing to obey God, and to surrender your life to God. But it is so worth it. No one else loves like God loves. When you fall in love with God, you learn so much about yourself and grow in so many ways.

Blessings,

M/M

Marriage Mondays: Encouraging Respect for Your Husband

February 14, 2022marriageChristian, Christian marriage, Jesus, love, marriage, respect, womenmichellemr777

This valentines day, show love to your husband or boyfriend in the way he’ll appreciate most. According to Dr. Emerson Eggerichs in his bestselling book “Love and Respect,” women desire to be loved, while men (also desire to be loved obviously) but they desire respect more so.

So, lets discuss some encouraging respect for your husband by showing them we respect them.

What is His Love Language?

First, it’s important to know what his love language is. According to Gary Chapman, bestselling author of “The 5 Love Languages” there are five love languages: words of affirmation, physical touch, quality time, acts of service, and receiving gifts.

Does your husband seem to enjoy gifts? Give your gift with an encouraging love note (we’ll get to said words later). Or does he get excited when you spend time with him? Speak some encouraging words to him when you’re alone with him.

Knowing your husband’s love language is a special touch to add when encouraging respect for your husband. But, as I mentioned above, its important to know what encouraging words for your husband, which leads to the next point.

What do You Tell Him?

Decide what you will say. Don’t write a cookie-cutter, fortune cookie message. Be specific about what you admire or respect about him. According to Dr. Eggerichs, men desire to be admired and respected.

Think up some reasons why you admire him. If you’re having some trouble thinking of things, go back to when you were engaged: what did you admire about him? What drew you to him?

Some ideas:

This is why I respect you….

I respect you because…

I’m so glad you chose me to be your wife

I’m proud to be your wife because…

I believe in you.

You’re the strongest (and/or sexiest) man I know

You’re such a great protector

You’re such a hard worker because…

I appreciate how hard you work every day for our family

You’re the most hardworking man I know because…

Say these things or make little notes for him to find (lunchbox, work desk, etc). But why are these notes based on respect or admiration? Well, most men desire respect more than love. Not to say they don’t want love, but most men want respect more.

After surveying hundreds of men, Shaunti Feldhahn author of “For Women Only” found that 74% of men said they would rather feel unloved than disrespected. Respect is a big deal for men. If you want to show your man how much you adore him, show him some respect.

Conclusion

Men endure a lot-as the leaders of the home they carry a heavy burden. It’s important to uplift and encourage the men we love in our lives. Not just our husbands, but also our brothers, and fathers or father-figures. On a side note, another way to show respect for your husband is to show submission to him. You can read more about submission in my article “what does submission mean in marriage” here.

I love gassing up my husband. No one should be better at gassing up my man than me. Surely there will be others who will encourage him-whether at work or elsewhere. So, make sure it’s you, his leading lady, who is giving him the utmost encouragement and respect he craves!

Blessings,

M/M

P.S.

Check out the aforementioned books below to revamp and grow your marriage!

6 Reasons Why Jesus is Coming Soon

January 31, 2022FaithChristianity, end times, Jesusmichellemr777

For many years, those of the Christian faith have waited for the coming and return of Jesus Christ. But people have been waiting for years for his return making one ask the question-is He actually returning? Let’s discuss six reasons why Jesus is coming soon.

In my post “If God is real, why does He allow bad things to happen,” I explain the validity of the Bible. The Bible is thousands of years old, yet the texts written so long ago are still relevant today. Below I’ll detail many instances that have predicted what will happen before the coming of the Lord.

1. Wars and Rumors of Wars

Matthew 24 says that in the last days “…ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled (Matthew 24:6, KJV).”

There are many war rumors and tensions in the world today. Many world leaders are threatening and or preparing for war. Currently, China is threatening war with Taiwan, and the United States. Russia is also threatening war with Ukraine.

There have been wars throughout human history, but taking into account the next reasons for why Jesus is coming soon it all adds up.

2. The Euphrates River Drying Up

Revelation 16:12 says, “And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.”

In August 2021, Syria’s longest river prophetically dried up, and is becoming a desert. Exactly what the Bible predicted would happen hundreds of years ago!

3. Earthquakes in Various Places

In Matthew 24:6 Jesus states, “there shall be… and earthquakes, in divers[e] places.”

The Unites States Geological Survey stated in their frequently asked questions section article titled “Why are we having so many earthquakes? Has naturally occurring earthquake activity been increasing? Does this mean a big one is going to hit? OR We haven’t had any earthquakes in a long time; does this mean that the pressure is building up for a big one?”

The article states, “In the past 40-50 years, our records show that we have exceeded the long-term average number (about 16 earthquakes per year) of major earthquakes about a dozen times.”

4. “All that Live Godly in Christ Will Suffer Persecution”

2 Timothy 3:12 says,

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

In the aforementioned chapter Matthew 24, in verse 9 Jesus speaks about the last days warning,

“Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.”

According to the 2022 World Watch List by Christian Persecution Organization Open Doors International, persecution against Christians continues to rise especially in Asian and African countries and that the COVID 19 pandemic has further exacerbated discrimination with over 360 million experiencing persecution.

5. Famines (hunger)

Matthew 24:6 also says there will be “famines…”

The organization Action Against Hunger states, after declining for a decade, world hunger increased. From 2019 to 2020, the number of undernourished people grew by as many as 161 million, a crisis driven largely by conflict, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

6. Seas of Blood

Revelation 16:3 says “And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.”

Could this “sea of blood” be the harmful red algal bloom that have been spotted and reported in every U.S. coastal state according to studies and researchers that believe it could be on the rise.

Conclusion

This post is not to scare but to inform. As Christians, we should be aware of the times we’re living in. So, let’s live the best life we can for God, and hold nothing back: love God, love others, live peacefully with others. And if you’re not a Christian, I hope this post opens your mind about the validity of the Bible. For more info about Jesus and salvation, check out my post, “How do I Get Saved” here.

Blessings,

M/M

How Satan Plans to Destroy Your Marriage Through Your Mind

January 3, 2022marriageChristianity, Christians, conflict in marriage, Faith, family, God, Jesus, love, marriage, relationships, womenmichellemr777

The Bible tells us in John 10:10 that Satan comes to steal , kill, and destroy. He doesnt just want to destroy your life, he also wants to destroy your marriage.

Why?

Everything good that God creates, Satan hates. He wants to twist it, and make it evil. Not only that, but he hates unity, and will di anything to divide your marriage. Don’t let him do that to your marriage!

Satan is very crafty, and cunning. He won’t attack you right in the open so you know its him. He will be stealthy. The Bible warns us to be aware of Satan’s tricks unless he’ll trip us up. And he will often use us as the enemy to drive us away from our spouses.

What are some of Satan’s tricks to destroy your marriage? Let’s see.

He’ll Attack Your Thoughts

I once heard a pastor teach how Satan attacks your thinking. He said Satan will speak thoughts into your head in a way that sounds like its you thinking those things.

Thoughts like,

“My husband is an idiot.”

“He doesn’t think I’m pretty.”

Of course, these thoughts could be from you or from Satan. Either way, talk back to yourself-“my husband is not an idiot.” Or ask your husband, “do you think I’m pretty?” To get the reassurance you need.

The Bible calls us to take control over our unruly thoughts in 2 Corinthians 10:5,

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ…”

Satan dwells in the shadows. Expose his little lies by simply going to your partner and seeking the truth yourself. He’s riding on you dwelling on these thoughts for hours and days, and eventually believing them to be true.

Which is why the Bible also commands us to only think on good, positive things in Philippians 4:8,

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Again, its so important to be watching what you think. Watching your thoughts will also reveal what demonic spirit could be trying to influence you.

Watch Your Thoughts

Demons can identify themselves by the thoughts you hear in your mind. You can tell the thoughts are not your own usually if they are something you’ve never thoguht before, something way out of left field, or dramatic.

Such as:

-constant angry thoughts could be a sign of a spirit of anger

-sinful thoughts

-thoughts of harm

If you notice any of these thoughts pop into your head, rebuke them and speak Philippians 4:8 mentioned above. It’s important to not consider these thoughts for a moment, and to rebuke them.

Also, sometimes evil thoughts can be from us since we are inherently sinful. But sometimes spirits do come and try to influence us. If you entertain them you will have a problem. And if you give them a way in through what you watch or listen to, that’s another problem.

Be Careful What You Watch

Certain tv shows, music, and movies can open up a door way for Satan to come in. Such as?

-Movies or shows that invoke spirit of fear like horror movies

-Porn or other sexually explicit entertainment

Horror movies because God doesn’t call us to a spirit of fear as 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us,

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Porn because the Bible warns us to run from sexual immorality in 1 Corinthians 6:18. “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.”

“But its just a movie.”

“it’s Just a show!”

You might be lamenting. What you watch and listen to can affect how you think about yourself and others.

Why do I think my husband is a bozo after watching Real Housewives of Atlanta all week (just an example, I hate reality tv)? Or why do I think my husband could be cheating on me after watching Tyler Perry’s Temptation?

That’s why King David wisely said in Psalms 101:3, “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.”

The things we watch, and listen to can have an effect on us and be an opening for Satan to destroy our marriages through our minds.

Conclusion

All wisdom comes from God. If youre unsure about a tv show, movie, someone in your life, or even going somewhere, ask the Lord for wisdom. Does he want you to continue watching or listening to that?

Before you leave the house every day Put on the whole armor of God daily (Ephesians 6:11-18). Ask the Lord to give you discernment to know what is good and what is evil.

God wants us to have happy marriages. Don’t let little thoughts these sink root in your mind and cause an argument, or a root of bitterness in yourself and your marriage. Expose these lies for what they are and live free!

Blessings,

M/M

What is the Meaning of Dreams?

December 6, 2021FaithChristianity, dreams, God, Jesusmichellemr777

woman sleeping in bed near smartphone — What do my dreams mean?

Everyone has experienced having dreams. Some of us have good dreams, that make us wake up with a smile. Others have nightmares. But some of us will have recurring dreams that frequent our heads every night. Begging the question: what do my dreams mean? Let’s see.

God is Trying to Tell you Something

Have you ever had your mom or dad pester you about the same thing over and over again? Maybe its cleaning your room, or taking out the trash. They will keep bringing it up until you do something about it. Well, as a loving father, God does the same thing with us.

For example, In 1 Samuel 28:15, King Saul states,

“I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”

Sometimes God would speak directly to people in their dreams like He did with Abimelek in Genesis 20:3,

“But God came to Abimelek in a dream one night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.”

It makes sense for God to speak to us (indirectly or directly) in dreams. Throughout the day, were often too busy with the things of life and have too much on our minds for us to fully hear God’s voice. So consider, is God trying to speak to me in my dreams? Maybe the dream is a wake up call to pray. Or perhaps your dream may foretell things to come.

Our Dreams May Foretell the Future

Considering the average person dreams four to six times per night according to the National sleep foundation, the fact we wake up remembering one specific one can be significant. It may be prudent to ask a pastor or trusted spiritual authority in your life about the dream. Just like King Nebuchadnezzar did in Daniel 2: 1-2.

“In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams…”

This king had one dream that was so impactful he threatened to kill people over it (can you say “crazy?”). When you have a dream that sticks with you and “troubles you” its from the Lord. Again, don’t be so quick to write off dreams! Especially the ones that trouble you.

Conclusion

Now I know some of us have dreams that are weird or crazy. But some of them do have a meaning: and I encourage you to pray and search for the meaning. Dreams have meaning. Don’t be so quick to write off your dream: especially if its recurring or if they trouble you. Like the wise turtle Oogway from the movie Kung Fu panda once said, “nothing is without meaning.”

Blessings,

M/M

Marriage Gym: Is Work Getting in the Way of Intimacy?

November 15, 2021marriageChristian marriage, christian men, Christian relationships, Christian woman, husband, Jesus, love, marriage, relationships, spouses, wifemichellemr777

We all have to work, right? I mean we gotta work to survive and thrive. Some of us have jobs that we really love, and some of us have jobs (or school) that can be pretty demanding. There is nothing wrong with having a job that you love and are passionate about. But there is always a danger of work getting in the way of intimacy with your partner.

I’ve experienced this with my husband. He loves his job in insurance, but he is in a season where he works 12-13 hour days. His work schedule can be pretty hard because we’re not spending as much time together than we usually do. So we have had to work a little harder to promote intimacy with each other. Here are a few things we’ve done to encourage intamcy and continue to strengthen our marriage.

1. Communicate Your Love

Like the late songbird Whitney Houston sang, “how do I know that he really loves me?” You won’t know unless your told! My husband and I need reassurance that we still love and are attracted to each other. You can do this by leaving little notes for your partner to see: write a love message on a sticky note, or text them a sweet message, or surprise them with a small gift or card. A little goes a long way. Leave no room for speculation or doubt by telling your partner directly you love them.

2. Carve Out Time for Each Other

I know there can be times where it feels like we literally have no time to even breathe or eat, but its important to make time for the ones we love. When there’s a will, there’s a way. Even if its just an hour or two to share a cup of coffee together in the morning, or a saturday night to watch a movie together, or do something new together. Make the time. There’s an old saying that goes like this: love is spelled: T-I-M-E.

3. Cuddle More

Studies show cuddling is a great way to deepen love between spouses. Cuddling (hugging as well) releases the brain hormone oxytocin. This hormone makes you feel a connection with your spouse and deepens intimacy. Dr. Katherine Harmon studies the power of touch and found that cuddling also is shown to reduce anxiety and stress by increasing brain hormones like oxcytocin and dopamine (which makes you feel good) and lowers cortisol (a stress hormone)which could give you a better sleep. So if youre feeling especially disconnected from your spouse, get your cuddle (or hugging) on! Cuddle your spouse in the evenings and mornings before you start your day.

Intimacy is so important in marriage. When we’re married and just living our lives, its easy to get comfortable with our spouses and feel like we dont have to work too hard to woo our spouse anymore. Dont fall for that trap! Work to continue to woo your spouse and love on your spouse. But, intimacy is important outside of marriage too: if you have a boyfriend or friend or family member you’re not spending as much time with, find time to reach out or spend time with them whenever possible.

Blessings,

M/M

How to be Saved: 3 Steps From the Bible

November 14, 2021FaithChristians, Faith, Jesus, love, salvationmichellemr777

If you haven’t noticed, our world is crazy. If you don’t believe me, go take a look at the news and you’ll find: murder, depression, lawlessness, and all forms of evil in the world today. It’s easy to get depressed, or anxious, or hopeless, unnoticed, or unloved. We all are looking for something. I can tell you that when you get saved, you’ll find that Jesus is the answer to all of your questions. Let’s discover how to be saved according to the Bible.

Salvation: a 3 Step Process

Salvation is a three step process according to the Bible: Know you need a savior, Repent, Believe in Jesus, Get Baptised in water and Spirit. But don’t let those steps hinder you and make you think salvation is this long, arduous process. It is not. Each step is meant to strengthen yourself, affirm your salvation, and strengthen your relationship with Jesus.

1. Know You Need a Savior

Romans 3:23 says all men have sinned (meaning done wrong). According to God’s righteous standard, all of us have messed up in some way. All of us have done something were not supposed to because its in our nature as people. None of us came out the womb perfect. So we all need forgiveness from the bad things we’ve done. And that comes by repentance.

2. Repent

Since all of us have sinned, we all need to repent to God for our sins.

Acts 3:19 says, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” If you ask the Lord for forgiveness and recognize you need a savior then you are forgiven. Now it takes faith to do this: to believe in Jesus and to believe He’s forgiven you takes faith.

We’re saved by faith according to Ephesians 2:8,

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”

But you cant stop there though. You cant just say these things without backing it up with some action, too. The Bible says by faith we’re saved, but faith without works is dead. So we have to demonstrate our faith by action: baptism.

3. Baptism (in the water and the Spirit)

Some of Jesus’ last words with his disciples was for them to “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).”

Baptism is super important: and the disciples took it seriously. They baptised people specifically in Jesus’ name:

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38

“And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.” Acts 22:16

Notice Paul says once youre baptised you will recive the gift of the Holy Ghost. This is the final step to salvation.

Jesus instructed the curious Nicodemous that to be saved you must be baptised in the water and spirit. He actually urged Nicodemus saying in John 3:5, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.”

Receiving the gift of the Holy spirt was so important for salvation it was stressed by the apostles. So how do you receive it? Simple: keep asking until you get it.

Paul mentions this in Acts 19: 2, 6,

“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them. “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.”

Conclusion

When you have salvation, you not only have the peace of God, but also purpose, a history, a family, and a loving Father who takes care of you. I have all of this and more.

We all need purpose. We all need love. Love is a basic human need. The Bible says God loved us before we even knew Him.

Blessings and Love,

M/M