Love of the World

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15 NKJV) We are to love the world and take care of it. After all, God made it, and loves us and the things that He made. However, we are not to love it, and its ways, more than God. God tells us that we are not to be attached to it. God wants us to follow Him and only Him, and His way of doing things. The world's ways of doing things is often against the way God would do them and involves sinning. Satan also moves within the world and tries influencing us in ways that turn us against God, and alienate us from Him. When we love the world more we are saying that we are loving its ways more than God...in other words basically rejecting God and turning our backs on God. Also, if we are more in the world than with God, we are more anxious, worried, troubled, and have our mind on things other than pleasing God and doing His will. God loves us more than anything and anyone. Turning our backs on Him is the exact opposite of what He wants for us. God wants us to not be attached to the world, so that we can concentrate totally on His will for us...and the fact He loves us more than anyone or anything means that He will ALWAYS have our best interest at heart and everything will be done with the upmost love and affection...and isn't that what we all want for ourselves?? Love, Beau

Provisions

"And of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female." (Genesis 6:19 NKJV) God cannot keep everything bad from happening. That is a consequence of free will. However, for all the bad things happening, God makes provision for the faithful of His children. Before God started the flood, He had Noah build an ark and fill it with His family, and male and female animals of all kind. He made provision that they would survive. Even all the animals would reproduce and fill the earth once again! When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, and they wandered in the desert for 40 years, he provided Manna for them to eat and therefore survive. And, God gave Lot and his family a chance to get out before he destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. Even today, when bad things happen God minimizes losses the best He can and provides a way out for His faithful children. The disclaimer is this: You are still responsible for your actions. Just about in every natural disaster I know, there are always those who choose to stay behind and consequently die. It reminds me of the story where a man is on the roof of his flooded house praying to God for help. Time goes by and the man refuses help from a person in a boat 3 different times. As the man drowns, he asks God where He was when he asked for help. God tells him he sent help 3 different times and He turned it down. Even Lot's wife chose to look back, when told not to, and consequently turned into a pilar of salt. God does provide, but also look for His anges and heed His warnings! Love, Beau

With ALL Your Heart

"I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart;" (Psalm 9:1a NKJV) God wants all your attention, and He wants you to praise Him with ALL your heart. When you pray He says to go into a closet and pray. That means God doesn't want you distracted by worldly things and be showy, but to give Him your total, sincere attention. The same is true with praise. God doesn't want you to be distracted or bothered when you praise Him. He also doesn't want half-hearted, lukewarm, ingenuine praise. When you praise God, He wants you to fully, and joyfully, praise Him with all your heart and soul. And, God wants it to be sincere and genuine. So, praise God...praise Him with your whole heart. It will make God smile! Love, Beau

God's Glory

"And you said: ‘Surely the LORD our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire. We have seen this day that God speaks with man; yet he still lives." (Deuteronomy 5:24 NKJV) All you have to do is look around is to see ways God shows us His glory...by the beauty around us, the things He blesses us with...and with all the disasters that have happened all over the world, and how it's brought out the best in people, that too has shown us His glory and greatness. People coming together helping one another, coming together in love, support, and caring is one of the best ways we not only see His glory, greatness, and "heard his voice from the midst of the fire," but it is also one of the best ways each of us can be an example of all that is good and glorious about God. It is a way we can pay it forward for all that God has done for us. After all, that is what God wants...for us to be an example to others of God's love, grace and glory. Love, Beau