Peace for Today, Hope for Tomorrow

"I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid." - John 14:27 (NLT)

Have you ever felt like you were living out your life on your own? Have you felt like the struggles and challenges you face were unlike anything anyone ever experienced before or could even relate too? Have you felt hopeless or forgotten about by God? If you have ever felt like this in any way, then know today that the LORD has an eternal message for you. In fact, He has gifted you with infinite promises and assurances in His Word.

Over and over again, the LORD provides countless messages of love to His beloved children. He communicates all that He is and all that He has for those who trust Him and place their hope and their future in Him.

Not only has the LORD shared His Spirit with those who follow Him in the way of Christ, but He has also shared His peace. And it is this peace that can comfort the soul who feels alone, that can provide resolution to the soul who struggles, and that can give grace to the soul with little to no hope.

No matter what you have to deal with in your life in the day-to-day, the LORD has peace for today and hope for tomorrow.

Challenge: Go forward today being intentional in claiming God's peace, being purposed in celebrating and rejoicing in God's love, and being renewed in spirit.

A Prayer for You: Most Holy Father, You have promised us perfect peace. Our hope is in You; we trust You. Help us to live each day believing the words You have said. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Kim Teamer (The Phone Tree Bible Study Group), Guest Blogger

Have You Left Your First Love?

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
(Revelation 2:4, NKJV)

When couples get married, everyone knows, there is the honeymoon phaise. You're so happy to be married and you're so thrilled to be able to have your own place. After a few years, the honeymoon period is over. In our walk with the Lord, we can have the same problem. Do you need to return to your first love today? Do you need that renewed fire and zeal? When we first get saved, we're so on fire for God and we want to do all that we can to please Him. After awhile, again, He becomes routine to us. We'll attend church because it's a ritual. We've always done it so we know that's what we're supposed to do. It's the same with our Bible reading and devotion time. There again, we've always done it, so it's just something we check off our list. Let me encourage you, stop making devotion time a thing we check off our lists, let's make it a priority!

Psalm 23, Week 6

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
(Psalm 23:6 NKJV)

When this verse says that goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, does it mean that it will always be a good day? No, absolutely not! Far from it actually. To dwell mean to live, and when we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, that means whatever bad thing happens to us, He will turn it into good. If we let the Lord use our lives, He will use it for His glory. When He begins to use our experiences in that way, ladies, you won't hardly believe some of the thing that He will accomplish through you. Did I ever think I'd be a writier and leading an online Bible study for women? No, not in a million years. When I surrendered my life over to God and said "Lord use it how ever you see fit," then he turned it into more than I could've dreamed possible! That's because He's living inside of me and I'm letting Him use my life fully and completely. Is it always easy? No! Is it always worth it? Yes, absolutely! Ladies, as we end this Bible study, let me encourage you, let the Lord use you! With Psalm 23 being such a familiar Psalm, let's also remember, don't let the words become verbatum to you. I pray this has been an encouragement to you and also a reminder of just how good our God is! Can I pray for you?

Father, I lift up my readers to you. Lord I pray that you'll just bring the things to their mind that you want them to get. Lord get me out of the way of this study so you can do your work. Work in each lady's heart, whether she needs comfort, assurance, peace or whatever it may be. In Jesus name, Amen.

Are You in Need of a Friend?

A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
(Proverbs 18:24, New King James Version)

I have a dear friend by the name of Nan Jones. Our story of the way we started communicating was nothing more than a God-thing. I'd sent one email to her asking a question about writing. I really didn't expect a response from her because she was a writer and speaker. I thought she'd be too busy to answer an email from me, especially not knowing me. Sometimes, we think Jesus is that way. We think He's too busy for little 'ole me. This verse tells us that He sticks closer than any friend or brother. I know that Nan loves me and I know she encourages me, but at the same time, even she can't take the place of the sweet encouragement that the Lord gives. She loves me, but He loves me even more than she ever can no matter how hard she tried. Sweet sisters, if you're in search of a friend today, let me encourage you to run to the greatest friend you'll ever have!

Psalm 23, Week 5

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
(Psalm 23:5 NKJV)

How many of us have or have had enimies in our lifetime? I'm sure if we're honest, we all have at some point. There's always going to be someone who doesn't like you as a person or they don't like what you do. In Scripture, we're told that until we get saved, we're God's enimy. God's enimy! That's hard to believe for some people. They say that how can a loving God have enimies? Once we're saved, we become his friends and we're treasured by Him. That, my dear sisters, should make our cup overflow with praise. We should always praise Him for that fact! To think, we can be a friend of the Creator of the universe? Wow! That's just mind boggling to me. I don't want to assume that every person that may be reading this Bible study is a Christian. If not, let me encourage you to do that. When we do, it will be the best decision you'll ever make in your life! It will also be the hardest decision you ever make because living the Christian life isn't always a bed of roses. When you get saved, you can become a friend of God! Let me encourage you to become His friend today!

Psalm 23, week 4

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; For You are with me
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
(Psalm 23:4, NKJV)

What does it mean to "walk through the valley of the shadow of death?" Some think of it as losing a loved one, and it can mean that. I think it's also when we're going through a trial in our lives. When we go through that storm or that trial, we feel as though we'll never make it out. We think we'll never make it to the other side. Though it may seem like an insurmountable obsticle, when we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us, it's not. When we're going through that difficulty, we have the comfort of an almighty God! When we're feeling so alone and even deserted at times, He's there. Ladies, I want to encourage you to take that comfort when you need it. He never gets tired of us coming to Him for the comfort that we so desperately need at different times in our lives. I'd love to know your thoughts and comments.