Smiles from God

You can stop negative thinking with God's help. Ask yourself,

1. ​ Is it true?
2. ​ Is it helpful?
3. ​ Is it in line with God’s Word?

With God’s help, as you recognize the thoughts, identify and filter them, your brain will begin to change. Over time, you will notice the negative thoughts decrease and the positive ones increase.

Use God’s truth, the Bible, to counter the negative

thoughts. When the truth is planted in your mind, God will use it to transform you.

Free Bible Verse Cards (2.5”x3.5”) Download

https://canva.link/rb92sq4qxkm29zj

What do you think of the Commandments of God? Do you see them as liberating or restricting? In this week’s episode I discuss how the Commandments of God are loving guidelines that keep us safe and help us to live our best lives. Imagine seeing  your child going into a dangerous situation, what would you do? You’d probably intervene before something terrible happens. 

Imagine that same child, you’ve probably given many guidelines to him/her because you want to keep him/her safe and well. God’s love for us is far greater than any love we can have for our children. He is also omniscient - He knows everything that will happen long before it does. Because of His great love for us, He gave us His Word to guide us.

When we know Him, it’s easy to trust Him. When we trust Him obeying Him becomes easy. Like David we would say, “‘I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is  within my heart.’” Psalms 40:8. I pray that God’s law would find it’s rightful place in your heart and you would experience God’s love to the fullest. 

Whenever you find a great deal, listen to an inspiring video or hear good news, what do you do? You think of someone who you can share it with. This is what God calls us to do as believers, tell others about the love of Jesus. 

In the Desire of Ages page 339 paragraph 4, author Ellen G. White wrote, “It is in working to spread the good news of salvation that we are brought near to the Saviour.” DA 339.4. Additionally, Jesus said in Matthew 28:18-20: …“‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.’

Sometimes we think that sharing our faith means that people will be baptised into the same church. It can be discouraging when this expectation isn’t realized. Nevertheless, if we look at our Example, Jesus, he shared God’s love with thousands, but only a handful believed and followed Him. This didn’t deter nor discourage Him. He knew His mission was outlined in Isaiah 61:1-2: '“The Spirit of the Lord God  is upon Me, Because the Lord  has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those  who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,”

With this said, here are some practical ways in which you can share the love you’ve experienced in Jesus.

• Preaching/public speaking

• Teaching e.g. the benefits of a healthy lifestyle

• Starting a podcast/YouTube channel, a Blog

• Giving out literature - brochures about life’s challenges, relationships, etc

• Going on a mission trip to a foreign country or another part of the country where you live

• Giving a care package to the garbage collectors/delivery people who come to your home - water, energy bar, a piece of literature and a thank you card

• Writing messages on your driveway/mailbox/in the park

• Giving out flowers to persons passing by your home - this is a powerful way to share Jesus as it makes the recipient feel very special. 

• Random acts of kindness to people in your life and even strangers (as God impresses you)

• Adopting a child or sponsoring one

• LISTENING to people. Wherever you go, there’s always someone who needs a listening ear. Jesus always took time to listen. You can, (if He impresses you to), do the same. 

• Calling/visiting the elderly, widowed/widower, etc

• Being hospitable - to strangers - opening the door, saying hello when you enter a public space and there is someone close to you

• BEING KIND - especially to the Duct Cleaning callers, or the telemarketers/scammers 

• Helping the needy - donating necessary items, doing different chores for them

• Volunteering 

• Social media posts 

• BUT, of all of the foregoing, the best way to share your faith is by the life you live. People hear our actions louder than they do our words. As Jesus lives in our hearts He will transform us and make us brand new. As we let His love flow through us to everyone around us, the Holy Spirit will convict them of God’s love and saving grace.

May God bless you as you live for Jesus.

Author Ellen G. White says of prayer, “Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him.” Prayer p8 p4. 

It’s our great privilege to come into the presence of the Almighty and speak with Him at any time about anything. Prayer fosters growth, trust and faith. It reminds us that we have a loving heavenly Father, who longs to be with us. While we wait for that great reunion, prayer and the study of God’s Word, remind us daily that we are precious and invaluable to God. 

In this episode, I discuss:

1. What prayer is - 

2. Why we should pray

3. What’s the best time to pray

4. Different types of prayer

5. Things that hinder prayer

6. Our posture during prayer 

7. Whether to pray out loud or in our minds

8. Different models of prayer 

God desires that we come to Him in humility and with great expectation. As we seek Him with our whole heart and pour our hearts out to Him, He gently and patiently transforms us into His image. He brings us from who we are to who He desires us to be.

May God guide your prayers to be sweet smelling incense before His throne. May He give you the ability to pray like Jesus and always pray according to God’s will. 

Did you know that Bible study can change your life? God said in Romans 12:2 - “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” When approached with a humble heart, seeking to know God intimately, He will give His Holy Spirit to help us.

Without the Holy Spirit, the Bible would be another book. The Spirit works in and with us to understand the Word, apply it to our lives and change us. Below is a summary of what’s covered in this episode: 

1. How to study 

1. It is advisable to study and pray. Pray for God’s Holy Spirit to teach you as you study. Pray before you begin and at different intervals during the study. Take a few verses or a story at a time so that you can diligently go over the verses.

2. Study by subject. Let’s say you want to learn more about Jesus’ life. You would find all the texts that speak about Jesus and go through each of them. 

3. Study by passage. For e.g. you may choose the book of John. Each time you study, you should diligently read and pray over a section of the book. 

2. Materials you need - a Bible, pens, a notebook

1. Helpful resources - a concordance, highlighters, a Bible commentary, a dictionary

3. Best time to study - Whenever you can be focused and undisturbed. If Bible study is during your personal devotion time, then it should be a part of the first thing you do after waking up. 

4. Suitable study environments - A place that is clean, quiet and suitable for writing.

5. Study on Isaiah 43:1

May God bless you as you study His Word diligently.

God can bring you into the perfect Father-child relationship with Himself. This is His heart's desire. He’s waiting for you. What are you waiting for?

Your life will change when you surrender to Jesus. He will do all that you need and cannot do. When you learn to trust Him, you will worry less and seek Him more. You will become a new person that you love. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he  is  a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." II Corinthians 5:17

1. God cares about your issues. He has your best interest at heart. “casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. [Ps 55:22]” 1 Peter 5:7 AMP
2. He loves you “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:3 KJV and “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:16-17 KJV
3. He is on your side “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8:31-32 NKJV
4. He is capable of, and willing to solve your problems “Call on Me in the day of trouble; I will rescue you, and you shall honor and glorify Me.” Psalms 50:15 AMP, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV and
5. He can make you feel better. “Blessed [gratefully praised and adored] be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts and encourages us in every trouble so that we will be able to comfort and encourage those who are in any kind of trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 AMP
6. You were incapable of handling the situation. You needed someone bigger and stronger than yourself. “But Jesus looked at them and said to them, ‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” Matthew 19:26 NKJV
7. He enjoys spending time with you. “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24 NKJV, “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.”Joshua 1:5 NKJV and “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:”Matthew 25:34 NKJV

Is it possible that God is answering your prayer through a child in your life? As you pray and seek God, ask Him for an attentive and discerning spirit to hear His voice. Sometimes God answers us in the least expected way. If we are listening with expectation, we will hear Him clearly.

In this week’s episode, I share three experiences when God spoke through my three year old son. The first time we totally missed God’s voice, until after the experience happened. The next two occurrences, thankfully, God gave me an attentive spirit to recognize His voice. All three instances were powerful reminders that there is no one like our loving God.

Joel 2:28-29 says, “'And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on My  menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.’”

God may be using a little child to bring His word to you. I pray that you will hear His voice clearly every day and that He will give you a heart full of love to obey. May you be courageous to accept all that He reveals to you and humbly follow Him.

Worry is something that steals our joy and peace. It robs us of our relationship with our Lord. Though we know worry is unproductive and harmful, we still worry. Why? We believe that Jesus is our Lord who has reconnected us with God. We believe that God owns the world, yet we as His children are worrying ourselves to the point of illness. 

When you worry, you are saying that God cannot be trusted; His Word isn’t sure and maybe He won’t come through as you expect. You choose instead to depend on self and try to resolve your issues in your desired way, hoping that God will work with you in the way you choose. 

God is not our personal assistant who moves according to our desires and will. His thoughts are not ours neither are His ways our ways (Isaiah 55:8-10). Instead of depending on our shortsightedness, our inability to see the future or our lack of wisdom, let us trust God totally. Let us choose God’s Word over our feelings and self-dependence. Let us choose to have faith in our faithful Lord instead of other sources. God is able and willing. He will do what He has promised. He can be trusted. May God give you the power to overcome worry.

These are some of the Scriptures that were mentioned in this episode.

Jeremiah 29:11 

Mark 11:24

2 Corinthians 12:9

Proverbs 3:5-6

1 Peter 5:7

1 John 1:9

Have you ever heard the voice of God give you clear and specific instruction, but you hesitate because you don't want to offend anyone? This exact thing happened to me.

During COVID, we began writing messages on our driveway and the sidewalk by our house. The messages reached a lot of people because we lived on a busy street. One day, God told me to write Matthew 11:28, "Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."

At first I questioned whether I should or not. Then God reminded me of the tired people who would pass by who the verse could bless. So I wrote it.

Some months later, one Saturday afternoon, a young man came to our house. He told us, (my husband who answered the door, then me), that one day, he was walking by, depressed and suicidal. He saw the verse, went home and began reading his Bible. He accepted Jesus, got baptized and now he and his friend are going around telling people about Jesus.

God is indeed amazing. He saved someone's life through a verse He impressed me to write. He also answered a prayer by sending the young man to my home.

I pray that God would give us a spirit of obedience to always follow His Word.

When fear comes into your mind, what do you do? Do you trust in God’s Word or do you dwell on those thoughts? Fear can paralyze and kill us; it steals our joy, peace and power. It separates us from our God and isolates us. It’s a tactic of the enemy to destroy us. 

God wants us to live full and free lives. He wants us to experience the fullness of His love and power to save. His Word is alive and powerful, Hebrews 4:12 and it can help you to overcome fear. In this episode I:

1. Define fear and show where fear originated in our existence as humans.

1. Genesis 3:8-10

2. Discuss some of the ways it shows up in our lives

1. Procrastination

2. Excuses

3. Feelings of unfitness

4. Physical ailments

3. Give you simple steps to deal with it effectively

1. Be proactive by seeking out, memorizing and making a note of the texts against fear.

2. Identify what you are dealing with.

3. Address it. Don’t ignore nor bury it. Rebuke it in the name of Jesus.

4. Praise and thank God for what He has already done for you that you WILL see.

4. Demonstrate how to pray God’s Word to overcome fear

1. Some of the Scriptures you can pray over different fears.

1. Helplessness - “So we may boldly say: “The Lord  is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”' Hebrews 13:6

1. Failure - “Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.” Psalm 1:1-3

1. Family separating (divorce, children leaving) - “‘I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;  that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.’” John 17:20-21

1. Lack - “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8

1. Dying - “I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the Lord. The Lord has chastened me severely, But He has not given me over to death.” Psalm 118:17-18

1. Pray for you to overcome fear and be full of faith

May God bless and keep you as you depend on Him to fill you with faith and take away your fears. May He use you for His honour and glory.