Trusting God with our past

When we remember God's faithfulness in our past, we can trust Him with our future.  God will always make a way, when we think there is no way.


Proverbs 3:5 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding"


Trusting is what we do because of the faith we have been given.  Even when the evidence seems to be against us, trust God in all circumstances.  


We need to trust in God, wholly.  Trusting in ourselves is like walking confidently across a rotten wooden bridge over a large cavern, thousands of feet deep.  Disaster inevitably follows.


I can honestly say that because of my history with God, and the past that He's walked with me through, I trust Him totally with my life.


Trust God, and feel the freedom.

Can't we all just get along?

I know you've probably heard this at some time during your life, but what does it really mean, especially to those of us who claim to be Christians?


1 John 4:20 - "If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen."


As a Christian, it should be our desire to be more like God.  And, the more we understand what God requires of each of us, the more we get this verse (above).


Liars can fool men, but not God.  Hatred is a poison that destroys us from within.  It produces bitterness that eats away at our hearts and minds.  Hatred can also spoil a Christian's witness.


Lying can be as simple as telling someone you will be there, and you're constantly late at appointments.  This causes mistrust and resentment.  


Trust God, follow His commands, love one another, and get along!

Obey with faith

John 14:15 - "If you love me, you will keep my commandments."


Obedience is defined as submissive compliance to the commands of one in authority.  We should be obeying Him because we love Him.  


Obedience to God's commands will make us light and salt in a dark and tasteless world.


I've learned that obedience requires faith, even when things don't seem to be going right, or when we're obeying and what we're hoping for is not happening.  Knowing and trusting that God will ALWAYS bless us, in His timing.


Hebrews 11:1 - "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see"


We don't always see the resolution or the ending to a problem, but by faith, we can put our trust in God and obey Him while waiting!

Worry wort?

Luke 12:25 - "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?"


It's an old phrase, still used today, but I have been called a 'worry-wort'.  Have you?  Most of us will fall into the trap of worrying in a situation, knowing that it doesn't help matters, but we do it anyway.  We often think that worrying will help us control things that are out of control, but in fact, worry does the exact opposite.  It ends up controlling us.  It steals our time and energy.  It steals our time and focus on God, and how He has things under His control.


Instead of worrying, try this:  PRAY.  Think about it.  What if, every time you started worrying, you shifted your focus and started praying?  


God is bigger than any challenge you face, my friends.  He already knows the outcome.  He already knows what is required of you to get you through the situation, and He has your best interest at heart.


From past experience, I can honestly profess that any time I'm overwhelmed with worry, I put my focus on God, and what I'm already blessed with. I commit my focus on my relationship with Him and giving Him more of me.  This is when I start seeing more blessings and my worries start drifting from my mind.


Don't be a worry-wort.  God gives us new mercy every day to face whatever comes our way.  Trust Him!

Reaching the unreached

Matthew 28:19-20 - "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” 


So, brothers and sisters in Christ, it is up to us to reach those unreached people.  Unfortunately most of us miss out on this opportunity because most are thinking they need to travel across the country to these primitive villages.  But, it is quite the contrary.  Those unreached people could be in your own neighborhood, your own city; your work, etc.


Don't be afraid to stand up for Christ, tell others of this good news, that Christ came to save us from a world of destruction and sin.  It's a free gift!


God will use each of us to give the gospel message because this is what He delights in doing.


Go.  Reach the unreached today!

Dianne PetreyComment
Addicted to ?

1 Corinthians 10:13 - "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. "


Have you ever been addicted to something?  Some would normally think of a substance such as alcohol, cigarettes, etc. as having an addiction.  But, did you know you can be addicted to TV, people's lives, cleaning, etc.?


One of the common messages in the Bible regarding sin or addiction is that righteousness, peace, salvation, or sobriety all comes from reorienting yourself with spirit, rather than “pleasures of the flesh.


Addiction not only affects the individual, but it typically affects whole families.


God wants us to be addicted to Him.  We can fall in love with doing other things, things that feed the flesh, but God desires our hearts and wants us to fall in love with Him.

Who are you addicted to today?  What are you addicted to today?


Get addicted to Jesus!  Your life will never be the same!

Dianne PetreyComment
Honor God by serving the elderly

Ephesians 6:2 - “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise)"




Unfortunately, some children of the elderly see their parents as burdens, instead of blessings.  They forget the sacrifices they made when raising us.


Regardless of the choices of the elderly, we still have an obligation to our parents. It is one of the commandments from God.


No matter the situation or health status of the elderly, we all have a duty to serve them; to enhance the quality of their life left to live.  


Visit a nursing home or assisted living today.  Give your time and care to those who are feeble and lonely.  You will be blessed beyond measure.  Everybody could use a hug!

Dianne PetreyComment
finding the lost sheep

Matthew 18:12-14

12 “What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? 13 If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. 14 So it is not the will [a]of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish.

I think it is amazing to think that God looks out for me.  I feel special that even on my worst days, He’s there to guide me on my path.  It’s also a humbling reminder that God is not interested in just us, but also in those who do not know Him.

The plan of salvation is not supposed to end with us, once we’re saved, but it is intended for us to go out to other sheep and spread the good news of God’s salvation.  God’s mission is to constantly save the one lost sheep.

This mission means we have are to leave our comfort zones and our own selfish desires to join God in His mission for the lost sheep.

Dianne PetreyComment