During a tough week recently, I realized that I was being bombarded by the enemy with what I call, “stress bombs!” Fear and anxiety were dropping into my days and making me miserable. Satan was taking advantage of my trials and pounding me with anxious thoughts that led me to think all was hopeless. And like a dummy, I believed him for a bit. He just would not let up until I was miserable. But then… I read the verse below and realized I was being lied to!

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44 NIV

The enemy uses lies because that is what he does best! It is his normal, natural “native language.” That means that we need to be aware of our thoughts and who is influencing them, for evil OR for good. The way I see it… my anxious thoughts can go 1 of 2 ways. I can give in to the harmful thoughts and let the enemy’s tactics of fear and insecurity stress and weaken me or I can look at and grab hold of God’s truth that strengthens me! There’s only one right choice:)

It’s like this…We either believe the father of lies or trust the Father of truth.

WE get to choose what we focus on. WE get to set our perspectives each new day! WE get to choose God in the morning and choose Him every minute and hour after that! Honestly, some days we have to choose over and over, huh?

Even though we know God is there always, it is good to acknowledge Him many times a day, and I think it’s also good to look the enemy in the face and say, “You are such a liar! My God tells me the truth!” Ah…that feels great to say!

Try saying it the next time you are lied to! Then tell God, “Thank you for helping me see the truth!”

Dear precious Father,

I sometimes believe the enemy’s lies before realizing I have done so. Thank you for being my perfect and truthful God, that will never, ever lie to me. Not only will you not lie to me, you promise me that good things are in store for me and all those who love and serve you! I really don’t know what I would do without you…and I never want to find out! Please guide my heart to recognize deception but cling to your truth. I love you! Amen

With love from our Father to you, have a great day!

Tina

Wow! Has this year flown by or what? This was a year of family blessings and gatherings and us helping each other learn more about Christ as we navigate life together. Also abundant this year were many crises and unexpected trials.

How about you? Did you have lots of highs and lows too? Do you feel grateful to have made it through 2023? I wonder what you’ve gone through and what highs and lows you experienced, as I consider my own. Through all of it, the Lord was present, persistent and perfect with me. With you too? I hope so.

So… it’s the time of year for “resolutions.” Though I am not a huge fan of them, because they focus on achieving more for ourselves, my thought here, today, is…Why can’t we make this next year all about less of us, less “resolving” and more “allowing God” to help us want what HE wants? And just what is that?

I believe God wants the simple things of us; honesty, humility, praise, obedience and most of all, love for others. So, of course, I need to write a poem to express all this. That’s just how my mind works, lol.

Resolution to My King

To dedicate this year, I take a stand

to now surrender all my dreams and plans

My feet, my hands, my body all are yours

to magnify and glorify you, Lord

So do with as You will, with all of me

and use this servant, Lord, to somehow be

a witness of Your love for everyone

a missioned servant pointing to the Son

Perfection I will never half achieve

though that’s the world’s attempt to sure deceive

Hold calm my heart and guide it Your own way

in everything I ask and do and say

For when I leave this world at Your command

I will not cry for all that I had planned

My soul will crave to know that I have tried

to spread the truth and love for which You died

Dear friends, thank you for following my little blog. It’s encouraging to me that so many want to read truth on here, to combat the lies the enemy is propagating in the world. I love you and pray for you to have a Lord-led, Lord- glorifying and healthy year!

With love from the Father to you,

Tina

copyright 2023 Christina Crute

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking on the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Philippians 2:5-7

Church yesterday was so good. Good, because my brothers and sisters in Christ were there. Good, because my 86 year old Dad was there. Good, because God’s servant pastor was there. Good because God was there! He always shows up for our seeking.

Just a quick thought…Pastor said, “You have to go down to go up.” (Phillipians 2)

Its all about how far down we are willing to go for Jesus. How this translated to my heart… I must humble myself. We must lower ourselves to go the higher road. We must desire to humble ourselves, at the expense of ourselves, to be obedient to Jesus’ example.

It dawned on me that we can exalt God from any position, but what if we praise Him by lowering ourselves…

Perhaps the most beautiful praise we can raise is one from a humble position.

We shouldn’t just be looking AT God, but looking UP to Him.

Friends, have a blessed day and start to your week. Thank you, Pastor.

Tina

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

I couldn’t sleep, so I grabbed my Bible, notebook and pen. I get quiet time with God!❤️

How blessed are we to have a copy of God’s Word AND have His Word that He has our backs.
Thinking on this, I jotted down thoughts God gifted me.

All God Allows

God allows as He allows, allots as He alots.

All He allots is all I’ve got. As He allows, I tremble not.

For He alone, my heart adores, no matter what He has in store.

What He allows, my soul shall raise, allot to Him the highest praise.

Copyright@2023 ChristinaCrute

Micah 7:18 says, Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.

God’s mercy is given with delight! Don’t you love the picture this verse paints? He is happy to be merciful.

For several weeks, the Lord has allowed a three-word-command to linger in my mind. At various times of day and night, a phrase has come to the forefront of my thought. Over and over and over, I hear Jesus speaking this into my heart. It is a personal command, but I am confused…

I keep hearing, “GIVE THEM MERCY.”

“What am I to do with this, Lord? I asked. “What does it mean?” Then I keep hearing, ” GIVE THEM MERCY.”

My thoughts…”GIVE them mercy.” Am I not giving enough? To whom do I GIVE, Lord?

Give THEM mercy. THEM, who? Everyone? I do try to do that, Lord. Have I not given THEM something I should’ve?

Give them MERCY. I do, Lord. I donate. I try to give my time. I listen to others, though I can do better. Am I not MERCIFUL enough?

The Lord’s reply was to keep that phrase on my heart and in my head all day every day.

Keeping His words in our hearts so they guide our actions…THAT IS the answer, to have mercy ready to be applied to anyone, any time of day, for any opportunity that the Lord sends our way.

We only have a God-appointed number of days to give mercy, mercy like Jesus gave us. I needed his guidance to understand the importance of mercy.

You never know when someone may need your compassion, your friendliness, your financial help, your forgiveness, your listening ear, your guidance, etc.

Mercy comes in many forms, but to me, Mercy says… You matter to me and I am here to love you, no matter what.

Dear Father, Thank you for putting that phrase in my head. You have given me mercy many times over, for my sins. Thank you for loving me despite my human flaws and showing me that I need to do the same for others. We are all flawed but we have a perfect Savior. That doesn’t compute to me but it is a blessed thing! Please help me to be more loving, attentive and supportive of others who need it. I ask this in your beautiful name that I love. Amen

With love from the Father to you, have a beautiful day!

Tina

 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Mark 10:13-15

Today is a poetry day! One of the most precious topics to “poet” on is children. A little one’s faith in Jesus is so beautiful to see, isn’t it? I love to hear the sweet, innocent voices of children when they sing Jesus songs. It touches me, reminds me of how we all should be, as children, fully trusting and obeying our Father and willing to sing about Him at any moment!

His Small Servants

Don’t discount our small amount. We’re fully filled with Jesus.

Though we’re small, we’re standing tall and know that God still sees us.

He has plans, we understand, and to be used will please us.

Though small we be, His servants be, we know that God can use us.

Dear Father, thank you for another day to praise you! Sometimes I feel inadequate to do so because I am so imperfect, but thank you for loving me and hearing my praise. Please help me to keep my words, actions, motives, thoughts and desires centered on you. I ask this in your beautiful name. Amen.

With love from the Father to you, have a wonderful day! Feel free to belt out a song of praise at any moment. As His children, let’s sing about Him! Jesus loves to hear our hearts coming out in a song:)

Tina

Copyright 2023 Christina Crute

The Lord is exalted over all the nations, His glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? Psalm 113: 4-6 NIV

The verses above are some of my favorites because they describe God’s high and holy throned position. He is a holy God, yet, He stoops down to US? Yes, our throned God, who is above all, has to bend down, even to look on heaven and earth. In my mind, I see a loving God who wants a close look, so He bends down and gets involved. That is who He is! God is a hands-on God. His hands are not just holy, but they are actively helpful.

In Psalms 113:7-8, we read, “He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needs from the ash heap.” He even gets His hands dirty! He loves the poor and needy and goes to great lengths to help them. We are all poor and needy in ways, but we have a loving God who is willing to come to us, meeting us in our pain, trials and messy circumstances even though we are SO beneath Him. And He does this why?

For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13 NIV

Our holy God loves us. His Holy hands take ours. What a great God we serve! The whole 41st chapter of Isaiah is about God’s care of Israel, a picture of what He promises to all of us, His loving protection. Isn’t He awesome?!

Spiritual food for thought this week… Do we (Do I) get my hands dirty? Am I willing to do that? Do I “stoop down” or look intently around, to see who needs help? Are my hands only serving me and not others?

Dear Lord,

Your holiness on high is a wonderful thing for us to think on, especially when we think of how far You are willing to go to help us, even holding our hand with your holy one. Please help us to use our hands for reaching however far we need to, to help others, even if our hands get messy. Thank you for sending Your Son, whose hands and body took our punishment. We ask these things in your name, to honor you. Amen

With love from our Father to you, have a great week!

Tina