A TIME TO TRUST

Aloha!

Ecclesiastes 3:8 “A time of war, and a time of peace.”

We can have the PEACE OF GOD right in the middle of our chaotic world! Trust God completely!

We live in perilous and uncertain times.  Our lives are fraught with conflict.  There are challenges on every side. Watching the news can be depressing. Does being a Christian mean you are exempt?  No.

Peace doesn’t mean the absence of trouble. It’s a knowing assurance, deep down in your heart, that God is in control.  It cannot be fabricated and isn’t mind over matter.  It’s a supernatural gift of God.

I’ve had people tell me I have great faith and have a wonderful philosophy of life. The fact of the matter is it all comes from my personal relationship with Jesus.  I experience life’s trials myself and the Lord is with me through them all.  He is my COMPASS when I can’t find my way.  He’s my ROCK when everything around me is being shaken.  He’s my PEACE in every storm.  He promised to never leave or forsake me and I’ve taken Him at His word. Deuteronomy 31:6 I can testify of His faithfulness.

Picture Jesus standing in front of you holding a gift in his hands.  He gives you the gift.  The gift is PEACE.  It’s up to you to accept and receive it.  Let this scripture speak to your heart and receive His perfect PEACE today.  You don’t have to live in torment, fear, and turmoil.

John 14:27 “PEACE I leave with you, my PEACE I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

PEACE is not only a GIFT, it is also a FRUIT of the Spirit.  It needs to be cultivated to grow.  If you dwell on fear and accept the turmoil you’re facing into your heart, you won’t have peace.  TRUST GOD and continually Turn to Him amidst fearful situations; and He will give your heart PEACE.

Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect PEACE him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.”

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have PEACE.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”

Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the PEACE of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and PEACE as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

When the waves are crashing all around you, don’t focus on them.  Set your heart on the Lord and speak to those waves, “Peace be still.”  Keep your eyes on the Lord.  Trust God!

God fills us with His perfect peace.  Let His peace rule and reign in your hearts continually.

SONG: “It Is Well” – Kristene DiMarco & Bethel Music – You Make Me Brave https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNqo4Un2uZI

(Song Story) It is Well // Kristene DiMarco// You Make Me Brave https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Opy0stb64G0

Mahalo,

Cindy Bice

“TIMES OF REFRESHING” Garden Bible Study in Hawaii

Please contact me via my Facebook for more information:

www.facebook.com/cindy.b.bice

A TIME FOR LOVE

Aloha!

Ecclesiastes 3:8 “A TIME FOR LOVE”

If you don’t feel loved, it’s time for you to know God because GOD IS LOVE!

God loves you with an unconditional and everlasting love!   He loves you so much more than you realize!  Accept and embrace the LOVE of God in all of your life!

1 John 4:16 “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.  GOD IS LOVE.  Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Is your Cup of LOVE full, half full, or empty?  Your Cup of Love can be so full, it’s running over and touching many lives!  Accept God’s unconditional love for you and start filling up your Cup!  No one deserves His wonderful Love!  No one can earn it!  We’re all sinners saved by Grace!

When you are saturated with the love of God, you are then able to share His wonderful love with others. To the degree that you are filled with God’s love, you are able to turn around and love others!

1 John 5:3 “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.  And his commandments are not burdensome.”

One of the first songs I can remember, as a child, was “Jesus loves me.”  Sometimes we need to remind ourselves of how much God loves us!  When we face terrible situations and “Life” happens, we must remind ourselves of His wonderful love for us.  Embrace God’s love through all of life’s storms!  He is God with us! We serve a great big God whose lovingkindness and tender mercies are new every morning!  Remind yourself daily, “Yes, Jesus loves me!”

Lamentations 3:22 “Because of the LORD’s gracious love we are not consumed, since his compassions never end.”

Romans 5:1,5 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 5”And hope does not put us to shame, because GOD’S LOVE has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

There’s a precious family who volunteer, on a regular basis, at the McDonald House here in Hawaii. They’ve seen some of the children grow up!  They also help with Wounded Warriors.  It’s wonderful they’ve raised their children to love others and to share that love by helping others! Big Love!

“God equips us to love others by saturating us with his love.  As we receive His love, we’re empowered to love others big.”

SONG: “How He Loves Us” Kim Walker-Smith/Jesus Culture https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoC1ec-lYps

Mahalo,

Cindy Bice

“TIMES OF REFRESHING” Garden Bible Study in Hawaii

Please contact me via my Facebook for more information:

www.facebook.com/cindy.b.bice

A TIME FOR SILENCE & SPEAKING

Aloha!

Ecclesiastes 3:7 “A time to keep silence, and a time to speak.”

“Sometimes God calls us to speak up.  Sometimes God calls us to remain silent.  To discern the difference, we can seek God through prayer.”

My Mamma said, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.”  She lived by that rule and taught us to do so also.  Don’t just say whatever pops into your head.  Words are powerful!  They can be used to help and encourage someone or they can be used to discourage and crush someone.  Choose your words wisely.  Once spoken, you can’t take words back.

Think before you speak.  Before you open your mouth, ask yourself, “Is this how I want to be spoken to?”

The attitude with which you speak is also important.  Saying something in a thoughtful tone will be more productive than yelling or being demeaning.

Proverbs 18:21 “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Proverbs 31:26 “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.”

Know when to speak and when not to.  1 Peter 3:15, 16: “We should always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks us to give a reason for our hope.” Proverbs 17:28 “Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.”

Esther is a great example of knowing when to and not to speak.  She was very wise in holding her tongue and in speaking. In the end she saved not only herself and her Uncle, but also her people.  Esther 2:17-20 and Esther 4:12-14

Does your speech honor and glorify God or is it a reproach on the name of the Lord? Let’s be mindful of what comes out of our mouth.  Break an old habit of negativity and putting down people. Let’s make a new habit of speaking kindly, thoughtfully, and positively!

Your words can make all the difference in someone’s life!  We don’t know what other people are facing.  A little bit of kindness goes a long way!

James 1:19 “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this:  everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,”

SONG: “How Great is our God” Hillsong https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2wGrwTYGL0

Mahalo,

Cindy Bice

“TIMES OF REFRESHING” Garden Bible Study in Hawaii

Please contact me via my Facebook for more information:

www.facebook.com/cindy.b.bice

A TIME FOR RESOLUTIONS

Aloha!

Ecclesiastes 3:6, 7 “A time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew.”

Making and fulfilling new resolutions require CHANGE.  The desired end must be greater than staying where you are right now.  Are you willing to do what it takes to achieve your desired goal?

“Rome wasn’t built in a day.” John Heywood   Rome was built by laying one brick at a time!

It’s easy to make resolutions.  It’s hard to see them through to the end.  Change, usually, isn’t easy.  It will take effort to obtain your goal.  Have faith and encourage yourself along the way.

If you slip up, “Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again!”  Remove, “I can’t” from your vocabulary. Don’t give up!  Don’t quit!

RECOGNIZE you need change.  DECIDE to change.  Devise a PLAN.  Have someone you can be ACCOUNTABLE to and or a support group.  DO IT until it’s done!

What are your resolutions this year?  What are you doing about them? “Begin it now.” Goethe

A marathon is won by those who have prepared for it and actually begin it!  A mountain is climbed by taking one step at a time.  A Degree is earned by attending one class at a time.

A common resolution is to lose weight.  I have both lost and gained.  Where I have found success in losing and keeping it off is having a set goal; desiring the end weight more than I want to eat the delicious, high, calorie food; and having an accountability partner.

Keep a JOURNAL in whatever change you are desiring to make. Write down your goals and daily accomplishments.  You can refer back to it when you need to.  You’ll see what to do differently and can also encourage yourself with what is working!

Our encouraging confidence and hope through all change is through our Blessed Savior, Jesus Christ.

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Joshua 1:3-9 “Be strong and very courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Song:  Jesus Culture “Break Every Chain” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtyVdC7E6Wo

Mahalo,

Cindy Bice

“TIMES OF REFRESHING” Garden Bible Study in Hawaii

Please contact me via my Facebook for more information:

www.facebook.com/cindy.b.bice