Corals Blog

The Gift of Giving

Matthew 2:11 tells us that when wise men came to see the baby Jesus, they bowed down and worshipped Him. They also presented Him with gifts. There are many gifts that we can give to Jesus today. We give gifts to Jesus every time we share the good news of salvation with someone; every time we let the love of God flow through us and forgive someone who has hurt us. Our lives honor our heavenly Father when we obey His Word and keep His commandments. God loves you and He wants to bless you. Show God how much you love Him by giving to others your time, your talent and your friendship. Merry Christmas and may 2012 be the happiest New Year you have ever had.

God's Gift to You

The holiday season seems to create a sense of pressure of its very own.  You might be feeling a little weary because you may not be able to do all that you want to do for everyone in your life?  Galatians 6:9 tells us not to be weary in doing what is right because in due season we will reap if we don’t give up.  I believe in miracles.  The birth of Jesus Christ was a miracle.  Mary received a promise from God at a time in her life when it looked impossible but she held on to that promise and we must do the same.  Don’t give up on God or his promises to you.  Be strong, unshakeable.  God’s grace is sufficient and it will carry you through the tough times that will surely come to steal your peace and joy.  Believe God for the miraculous.  God has a plan for your life and no mater what your current circumstances look like, joy will come in the morning  because nothing is impossible with God.  God loves you.  Keep your eyes upon him and enjoy his gift to you – his Son, Jesus Christ – the real reason for this season.

Give Thanks

"O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endures forever." (I Chronicles 16:34).  Thanksgiving is almost here.  I'm thankful for my wonderful family and I'm so thankful to you.  Most of all, I'm thankful to our Lord who has given us life and freedom.  

I hope you will enjoy great food with your family and friends.  Love each other, and give thanks to Almighty God whose love for you is ever lasting.

Dual Citizenship

I recently went through the process of obtaining dual citizenship for Ali.  In three months she will not only be a citizen of the United States, but of Russia as well.  It’s important to keep her connected to her roots.  Every child of God also has dual citizenship.  Not only do we enjoy the rights and privileges of being a citizen of this great country, but we also enjoy the rights and privileges of being a citizen of the kingdom of God, and it is important that we stay connected to both.

Luke 17:21 tells us that “the kingdom of God is within you.”  Being a citizen of the kingdom of God will enable us to live in peace and have joy at all times because “the kingdom of God is righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 15:17).  Enjoy your life today and the people you share it with.

Back to School

 
Are you ready for your children to go back to school?  I have enjoyed the time that I’ve spent with Ali.  We have made a lot of memories that I hope mean as much to her and they do to me.  But now it is time to focus on what lies ahead for them in this next school year.  It’s important for parents to pray for their children every day.  They will encounter obstacles in one form or another, but if they are covered in prayer, those obstacles will have no affect on them. Whether your children are in grade school, high school or college; whether they are living on campus or at home, they are never outside the power of prayer.  Prayer is a very powerful force that can change us and the circumstances we face.   So as you are shopping for your children’s school needs, add prayer to your list.

Perseverance

Life is not easy for any of us.  We must have perseverance and confidence in ourselves.  We must believe that God has gifted us for something great and we should focus on achieving that goal.  No one is born a natural at anything.  We must work hard to get good at something; then we must work hard to get better.  James 1:2-3 says “my brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

If you are going through challenging times, keep on going.  The only way out is by going through.  Never give up.  God has equipped you to achieve the desires of your heart.

Trust God

There seems to be a lot of things going on in the world today that could result in a high level of stress in a person’s life. There are so many things that are uncertain such as our economy; the stability of our jobs. Nothings appears to be certain and everything is constantly changing; but God told us to “trust in the Lord with all of your heart, lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Put your trust in God. God never changes and you can depend on Him to fulfill His word. You don’t have to figure things out because many times there is no rhyme nor reason why things happen as they do and you could be left disappointed because you simply don’t understand. Sometimes it’s OK to not understand the “why’s” and just trust in a loving Father.

God loves you and He wants you to be happy. Keep your eyes upon the Lord and trust Him for your happiness and you will not be disappointed.

Looking Forward

The Bible tells us to forget those things which are behind us and to look forward to those things that are before us.  Philippians 3:13.  Nothing is as good or as bad as you think that it was in the past.  It’s so exciting to have something to look forward to.  Treat every day as an opportunity for you to accomplish your goals.  Don’t be discouraged by looking back.  It’s hard to walk forward when you are looking behind you.  God has great plans for you.  Don’t miss out on what He wants to do in your life.

You Are an Overcomer

All of us are juggling a lot of responsibilities and trying not to drop the ball, but there will come a time when you might feel overwhelmed by the challenges in your life but God does not want you to get stuck in that place.  God wants you to keep moving forward and to be an overcomer.  Revelation 12:11 says ‘and they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.’

Hold on to God’s unchanging hand as you journey through life.  Remember that He is with you every step of the way.

Something New

Now that summer is in full swing I hope you are enjoying swimming, outdoor barbeques and all the other fun things that summer brings to mind.

I’m thinking of God’s faithfulness and how the end of one thing brings about the beginning of something new.  Isaiah 43:19 says ‘behold, I will do a new thing.’  God wants to do a new thing in our lives. Open your hearts so that God can pour into you everything that He desires for you.  I’m ready – are you?