Words of Encouragement

The following are from the Crossroads Community Church facebook group.  I am so encouraged by the brothers and sisters who are a part of our church!

First something written by Steve Basney.

Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22). Jesus was teaching His disciples how to deal with and influence the natural world through supernatural means. It all begins with faith in God. Faith moves mountains, receives God’s promises, and brings to birth God’s plans in the earth.

'And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak' (2 Corinthians 4:13). If you have the Holy Spirit you have the spirit of faith at work within you. The Holy Spirit wants us to look beyond negative circumstances, where we have pity parties and are negative and critical. He points us to God and His promises and stirs us to believe, pray, and proclaim those promises. The spirit of faith raises our expectations and confidence in the Lord. This faith brings us into alignment with God and releases miracles in our lives.

Of the twelve spies who went into Canaan (Numbers 13) only Joshua and Caleb had a spirit of faith. They looked beyond the obstacles to victory and said, “God can do it!”

Likewise when the Israelite armies faced Goliath they were paralyzed with fear. But young David had a spirit of faith; “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” It was the same Goliath but two different approaches.

The obstacles in obtaining the promised land were real, the giant Goliath was real (we are to face reality-not live in denial), the various challenges that you and I face are very real, but the person with a spirit of faith looks to a higher reality and lives expecting victory! The victories may not come overnight, but they will come.

I encourage and challenge you- don’t live in the mulligrubs: don’t complain and criticize. Fill your heart with God’s word, take hold of His truth and His promises. Fight the fight of faith. Press forward. Expect answers to prayer. Expect breakthroughs. Expect healings and miracles. Have a spirit of faith. Expect your tests to become testimonies. Expect and plan for your setbacks to be turned to comebacks. Expect God to move mightily! "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him" (2 Chronicles 16:9).

“Faith sings in the heart, no matter what assaults the soul.” – Lester Sumrall

~ SB

And secondly something from Don Begarowicz:

Let me share Proverbs 12:25. However as always read the whole chapter as it is very profound.  "Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up."

I have found that kindness often confounds men who are looking for evil or bad in any given situation. A kind word and a prayer goes a long way to make the most evil tempered individual calmer. Not true in all cases but in most. The next time someone attacks you in any way just speak honestly and pray quietly or ask if they would like to pray about the situation. It is just amazing how prayer can often defuse the most uncomfortable situation.

Even if you walk from the situation unresolved you have asked the great 'I Am' to comfort and love. Be blessed my brothers and sisters. Have an awesome week. Big Don.

Just a heads up in the event you would like to join a fun group on Monday nights come over to the Campgrounds and up to the residence 7:00pm and get refreshed with other Christians in prayer and digging into the word we often have worship as well.

How good it is when we can encourage one another with the Word of God!  Looking forward to seeing many of you on Sunday morning for Bible Study and Worship, or on Monday at Begarowiczes' for "Holy Spirit Christian Camaraderie"! 

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