When times are tough, what do you do?

When times are tough, what do you do? This is a question many people ask, especially in times like these. But the answer from the Lord may surprise many.

Here's the answer, and here's what the Lord says, "Keep loving. Keep sowing seeds of love and care. Help anyone who needs genuine help. Look out for one another and look after one another."

There's no denying the fact that the world (I mean, the people of the world) has become 'colder' and 'colder', even though the earth is getting warmer and warmer (due to climate change). People are getting more and more selfish (lovers of their own selves without considering others or to the detriment of others), and more and more inward-looking.

2 Timothy 3:1-4 (NKJV) says, 'But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God'.

But how about you who are the disciples of Jesus?

In Matthew 5:15-16, Jesus says, "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

In tough times like these, the Lord's answer for us is all the more let our light shine brighter and brighter, even as the world gets darker and darker! 

But how do you shine your light? 

Through acts of love and kindness from a genuine and sincere heart!

1 John 3:18 (NKJV) says, 'My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth'.

1 John 4:8 (NKJV) says, 'He who does not love does not know God, for God is love'.

1 John 4:12 (NKJV) says, 'No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us'.

In Matthew 25:34-40, Jesus says, "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'"

You see, as you scatter seeds of love and kindness wherever you are, as you help those who are helpless, and care for those who are uncared for, the Lord will know how to reward you and honor you, even in ways that no man can! The Lord sees it even when man never sees or recognizes it!

Galatians 6:9 (NKJV) says, 'And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart'.

In Luke 6:38, Jesus says, "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

It doesn't necessarily have to be giving in the form of money. It can be using your spiritual gifts, your talents, your time, your energy, or in any way that you can be a blessing others! It goes a long way in bringing hope to many, and you'd never know how much this means to some who are in dire situations at the moment!

So, beloved of God, go ahead and love others! Make a difference in this world! Not just in words, but also in deeds! Your 'light' will shine ever brighter in the spiritual realm! And you will reap the good that you sow! Amen!

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God hasn't given up on you!

In a time of worship and prayer recently, I heard these words from the Lord:
"Tell My people I have not given up on them, even if they think they have failed Me or have made a bad mistake in life. Tell them to look to My mercy and tell them to receive My mercy! My mercy is greater than judgment."

I then heard further:
"This is a time to receive a renewed hope, even if you think your situation is hopeless and beyond repair. Look to Me, for I am in the midst of doing a renewal work in many of My people - spirit, soul, and body."

Isaiah 62 is a key chapter in this time and season. It is a chapter that brings a renewed hope to God's people, and it speaks of the Lord who never gives up on His people, even if they think they have failed Him or have made a bad mistake in life.

Here's what the Lord say in Isaiah 62:1-4, 'For Zion's sake I will not hold My peace (keep silent). And for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burns. The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings (shall see) your glory. You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord will name. You shall also be a crown of glory... and a royal diadem (crown worn as a sign of royal power)... You shall no longer be called 'Forsaken', nor shall your land any more be called 'Desolate'; but you shall be called 'Hephzibah' (My delight is in her), and your land be called 'Beulah' (Married to the King)'.

See the word 'until' here? He will not give up doing His great work in you until 'your righteousness goes forth as brightness, and your salvation as a lamp that burns'! Even though this chapter refers to Zion, it is also a 'picture' of what the Lord wants to do in His beloved (i.e. you and I, the believers) today.

Jesus came to a 'dead-end road' at the cross (i.e. became 'Forsaken' and 'Desolate'), so now you are called 'Hephzibah' (My delight is in her), and your land be called 'Beulah' (Married to the King)! Indeed, as a believer in the New Covenant, God's delight is in you, and as a people of God, you and I are the 'bride' prepared for the coming of the 'Bridegroom'! (Revelation 21:2)

One amazing passage about God's great love for us (in spite of our sins and mistakes) is found in the book of Hosea. In Hosea 1:2-3, the Lord said to him (Hosea), "Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry, for the land has committed a great harlotry by departing from the Lord." So Hosea went and took Gomer...

The name 'Hosea' here in Hebrew is from this word 'yasha', meaning 'to set free, to help, to deliver, to save, to rescue', and the name 'Gomer' is from the word 'gamar', meaning 'to end, to cease, to come to an end, to fail, to be gone'. In one way or another, we are all like Gomer - doomed, damned, 'the end', 'goner', if Jesus never come and save us!

Hosea 3:1 then says, 'The Lord said to me (Hosea), "Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the Lord for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans."

Notice the word 'again' here? Like Hosea to Gomer, this passage is a 'picture' of God's love towards Israel, and God's love towards His people, even when there are times we have broken His heart with our unfaithfulness, sins, and disobedience (to His voice, leading, and guidance).

Hosea taking Gomer as his wife here speaks of Jesus embracing you (in spite of your sins and mistakes in life). Like Hosea, His love for you never quits, and He definitely hasn't given up on you! The devil (or the enemy) will always want to make you think that God has quit you and has given up on you. And he wants to make you think that you have reached a point beyond repair (a point of no return), and you have come to an end of God's mercy and grace (exhausted God's mercy and grace) in your life!

But the truth is God's desire for you is always mercy, and not judgment; to save you, and not to hurt you! He is a God who longs to show you mercy the moment you return to Him (and His ways). Psalm 145:8 says, 'The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy'. The Bible tells us that His anger lasts only for a moment, but His mercy endures forever.
Note: The word 'mercy' here is pronounced 'kheh-sed' in Hebrew, and it can also mean 'loving kindness'.

Therefore, no matter what your past may be (or what wrong you may have committed), come boldly to the throne of grace, that you may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16). Condemn yourself no more, and let go of those past! He is here to heal you (and restore you), and He wants to give you a 'new name' (which speaks of a 'new character') today, just as it is written in Isaiah 62:2! Take it, and receive it! As you turn a new leaf in your life and receive a fresh new hope, declare that you too will see many more good days ahead of you. In Jesus' name. Amen!