Just Shine

Today’s Scripture…

1 Thessalonians 1:8-10

8 The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

Thoughts…

You don’t have to say a word! People know the kind of person you are by your actions. The old saying actions speak louder than words is very true. The number one way to tell people about God is let His light shine through you (Matt 5:16). Your friends, family, and yes even your enemies will take notice. 

I always smile when someone who claims to not even believe in God asks me to pray for them. I had students make comment to other students to watch their language because, “we don’t cuss in front of Mrs. Frick.” I was also blessed when someone tried to spread lies about me and no one in my life believed them. All of these things happened not because I go around shoving my religion down everyone’s throat. It happened because I “turned to God from idols to serve the living true God” and then I lived it.

My hope is that I can show how. Jesus rescued me and continues to rescue me each and everyday. If He does this for me, He will certainly do it for them and you!

Prayer…

 Copyright © 2020 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Write This Down

Today’s Scripture…

Revelation 21:1-5

1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Thoughts…

Can you ever remember a day without death, mourning, crying, or pain? A day with no stress seems totally unfathomable. God is promising us no more stress at all forever and ever. Obviously there will be know news or Facebook…LOL!

We try to make the best of things here on Earth. We love, we offer help, we bring peace when we can. We pray. We depend on God and keep our faith in Him. Hope takes us through every single day. Unfortunately, we are also left at the end of the day wondering if this is it. Surely there is something more than just surviving.

I can promise you there is more. A day will come when it is all over. No more tears, death, mourning, crying or pain is on the horizon. Until then, we find our God wink moments and link them together. We enjoy the journey and spread love, peace, and joy along the way. 

You can “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Prayer…

 Copyright © 2020 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Forgive and/or Forget??

Today’s Scripture…

Ezekiel 18:21-23

21 “But if a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die. 22 None of the offenses they have committed will be remembered against them. Because of the righteous things they have done, they will live. 23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?

Thoughts…

If I were to ask you to think of someone you don’t think will ever turn to Christ, could you come up with one? Could you forgive them and be genuinely happy for them if you they did? It is not as easy as you think. Seriously, think of the Hitlers of this world. What if you found out Charles Manson, Hitler, or even Stalin gave their lives to Christ. It isn’t easy to forget the things they did.

Ahhhh…but did you notice my verb change I made. I started by saying forgive and changed it to forget. Many people read this verse as there offenses will be forgotten. God has that power to forget offenses. But what this verse says is it will not be remembered against them. 

Forgetting all the hurt that someone has brought on you is impossible. We are not expected to do that. We are in charge of not holding it against that person That isn’t always easy either, but with God’s help it is possible.

Prayer…

 Copyright © 2020 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Pop Quiz

Today’s Scripture…

Luke 24:45-47

45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Thoughts…

I am going to give you a quiz on nuclear physics. I am not going to teach you about it. I might give you a book or read some pages to you, but I will nor explain it.  How well do you think you will do? Straight A’s, right!?! No? Hmmm…maybe I should open your minds so you can understand it!

Jesus taught the Disciples. He explained to them what the scriptures said. He showed them He was the Messiah. He was the one they had read about all along. Jesus taught them so they could go out and teach others.

God doesn’t expect you to have the entire bible memorized. He never expects you to know all the answers all of the time. What He expects is you to be willing to learn.. He wants to open your mind and teach you, so you can go out and teach others. We are always growing and learning, all we need to do is keep searching for the answers

Now, who is ready for that pop quiz?

Prayer…

 Copyright © 2020 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Be the Map

Today’s Scripture…

James 5:19-20

19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

Thoughts

Today I met with my students for preplan meetings. Basically, they have a project due and we take time to do check in points to make sure they are on target. Sometimes they totally veer off track and I have to get the back in the right direction. These meetings are time consuming. It usually takes me most of the day to check in with everyone. In the end though, it is so worth it because the students turn in really good projects.

We as Christians should be checking in with others also. We need to see how people are doing. New Christian’s especially need help. It is our duty as mature Christians to guide them and get them back on the right path if they start to veer off.

I know this can be time consuming. We all have so much on our plates already. However, it is so worth the effort. You build strong relationships and let people know you are there for them. Who knows, they may just be your guide someday when you find yourself lost in a desert.

Prayer…

 Copyright © 2020 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

The Gift of Grace

Today’s Scripture…

Ephesians 2:8-9

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Thoughts…

You do not deserve grace. You never deserved grace, you will never deserve grace. Yet, God gives you grace. He just freely hands it out because He loves you.

Grace however, is not a free get out of jail (consequences) card. It does not mean I get to do what I want, when I want, just because I want. Then go back to God and expect God to just look the other way. That little word faith plays a part in it. You see we all screw up. We make mistakes. The differnce between us and that person in the paragraph above is our faith. Faith is a belief in God. It is a strong hold on a belief. Part of our belief is a striving to be more like God. It is our desire to do what is right in the eyes of God. It is our belief that we love God with all our heart and love our neighbors. 

Let me put it this way. Faith without works is dead. No faith means no salvation through grace. Our works don’t earn us grace, Faith changes our focus on the desire to do the right works and grace covers our mistakes while we try to do what is right.

Prayer…

 Copyright © 2020 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Out of Time

Today’s Scripture…

Isaiah 55:6-7

6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

Thoughts

Seek Him while you can. Don’t read this wrong. This does not mean God is not there for you. It does not mean one day He will decide He isn’t going to be there and the next day He is there. God is not human. He does not just turn on and off His love for you. He is not fickle, wishy-washy, or indecisive. 

These verses are referring to the end of life as we know. It may be in death or rapture but eventually, your time here will end. For those who do not turn to God, when that day comes, it is the end of time. They will have no more chances. God does not allow late fees or late assignments. The End, means the movie, or book is finished. There are no sequels! Our time on Earth is limited. Those around you, family, friends, acquaintances, and yes even enemies all live on borrowed time. 

What we do now, today, is so important. For those who seek God will find mercy and grace. Are you seeking God? Are you helping others find Him? This cannot wait until tomorrow!

Prayer…

 Copyright © 2020 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Light the Path, Don’t Blind Them

Today’s Scripture…

John 3:16-21

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

Thoughts..

News Flash…we have all sinned! I am pretty safe in saying we have all sinned today! Sorry to break it to you but you (and I) are NOT perfect.  The difference between us and others (evil doers) is we know it. We acknowledge it. Yet, we don’t try to hide it. We live in the light.

Verse 21 is not saying we live by truth meaning we never lie or always do what is correct. It means we are willing to confess the truth and live in the light. We are willing to work on what we did wrong. We are willing to make corrections in our lives. 

God has never expected any of us to be perfect. If He did, what do we need grace for??? He just wants us to fess up to our mistakes and try better next time. He wants us to share with others our mistakes and how He helped us through them.

So here is the painful part of my story. Stop turning your nose up at everyone else no matter what their sin. Instead, invite them to the light. Walk with them and let them know they are not alone in their struggles. Be a light to Christ not a blinding light to turn them away.

Prayer…

 Copyright © 2020 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Always on the Lookout!

Today’s Scripture…

2 Chronicles 7:14-15

14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.

Thoughts…

Always on the lookout! That is my God! Verse 15 says it all, “Not my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.” We never have to be worried if God hears our prayers. He is just waiting to hear from us.

I know there are days when you feel like your prayers are hitting a ceiling and going know where. Please know that is not true. That feeling and that thought is directly from Satan’s lips! Your prayers are always heard. 

There is no where you can go that God is not there. You cannot run far enough or even hide good enough. You can’t even sin to bad for Him to not be right there waiting for you to turn and say save me Lord! I have been there, I know!

You are always on God’s mind. That should put a smile on your face today. Don’t let Satan ever tell you any different. He is a liar. God loves you and He always will. Why don’t you give Him a call today?

Prayer…

 Copyright © 2020 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Be Willing to Be Willing

Today’s Scripture…

Psalms 51:10-12

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Thoughts…

I can identify with these verses today. When I read them the first word that flashes in my head is forgiveness. My heart can get pretty ugly and impure when I am angry with others or myself. Grace is not at the top of my list! Dare I say all my joy can get replaced with hatred. 

During those times there is one prayer on my lips, make me willing to be willing!. When I am extremely frustrated or angry with someone, I have to pray to be willing to be willing to forgive. I start asking for the Holy Spirit to hang on to me. Help me work through this anger.

Thankfully, God is so gracious. He sees through to my heart. He knows that by asking, I really do want to forgive. I really do want to make amends. I just need to work through my emotions first and I will.

I hope you never go through this, but if you do, know Hod is there. He will walk you through the process too. You just need to be willing ti be willing.

Prayer…

 Copyright © 2020 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved