But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. 1 Peter 3:15a NIV

A lot of people claim to know Christ, but those who are truly His, are those who have chosen in their hearts to make Him Lord!

Lord indicates one of authority. In the truest sense Lord means boss. I think most of us have a pretty good understanding of that word!

Sometimes the word

"announce now to the people, 'Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead."" so twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained. Judges 7:3 NIV

I can almost hear Gideon now, approaching the people with this one:

" Okay now, listen up men, if any of you are just too afraid to do this, let it be known now or

Do not be a terror to me; you are my refuge in the day of disaster. Jeremiah 17:17 NIV

The life of a Christian is not always smooth sailing. I'm quite sorry if you are new to the faith and that statement surprises or disappoints you. Sometimes the outside world assumes that because we claim to know God personally that we have somehow risen above

Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. Luke 15:22 NIV

I just knew I was in for the discipline of my life. I had really disappointed my mother this time. How could I have been so foolish? Just the shame of it was enough to teach me a valuable lesson. I braced myself for the worst......and got

"Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me?" says the Lord. Acts 7:49 NIV

I don't know everything about Heaven, but I know one thing: Heaven is B I G!!!

God says that Heaven is His throne. Not His whole house, just where He sits to rule! And earth is His footstool. Wow! Now that will make you

My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life. Psalm 119:50 NIV

Have you ever heard that the end justifies the means? I think that statement basically means that the final outcome is really what is important in a situation. Sometimes getting to a solution may be tough, but if the ending is good, it will be worth the effort

May Your unfailing love be my comfort, according to Your promise to Your servant. Psalm 119:76 NIV

I am going to go ahead and admit that some readers are not going to agree with this Mustard Seed. Many, even if they agree that its true, will not want it to be true. Believe me, I understand.

Here we go! I do not believe God has promised to take

Comfort, comfort my people, says Your God. Isaiah 40:1 NIV

God wants to comfort His people. He really does.

I have heard so many people saying "I don't feel God" or "I don't feel close to God". I must tell you very plainly, it is not because of God's lack of concern for you or His lace of a desire to offer comfort.

While talking with a

As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem." Isaiah 66:13 NIV

There is nothing quite like seeing a young child comforted by his mother. I was in grocery recently and witnessed a little boy falling. He wasn't hurt that much, but he started to cry. I tried to offer help to him, but he didn't

Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. Jeremiah 31:13 NIV

One day it will all be over! One day Jesus will return! One day the final comfort will be given! If you are like me, you are looking forward to that day.

For the 11

The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, "Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever. Genesis 13:14-15 NASU

After Lot, Abram's nephew, left him with the choice land Abram

And He took him outside and said, "Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:5-6 NASU

God promised Abraham a son. God promised that even in Abraham and Sarah's old age

and I said, "O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens. Ezra 9:6 NASU

You may want more than anything to sense the approval of God. You may want to follow His plan for your life, but every time you try; you fail. It

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail. Isaiah 51:6

We just got a new roof. They replaced the "20 year" roof; that lasted only 10 years, with

"But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Luke 21:28 NASU

Someday it will all be over (but the shouting!) Someday the pain and suffering of your life will end. Someday your unanswered questions will be resolved. Someday the separation between man and His

Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it." Haggai 1:5-6 NIV

God knows us pretty well, doesn't

"You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home I blew away. Why?" declares the Lord Almighty. "Because my house remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house." Haggai 1:9 NIV

Sometimes we wonder why we cannot get ahead. The Israelites felt likewise one time. In the days of the prophet Haggai, Israel

Then Haggai, the Lord's messenger, gave this message of the Lord to the people: "I am with you," declares the Lord. So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the

"Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? Haggai 2:3 NIV

Haggai, the prophet, was bringing God's Word to the people concerning the rebuilding of a temple for the Lord. God didn't need the temple, but He wanted it built as a symbol of His importance among His

"But now be strong, O Zerubbabel,' declares the Lord. 'Be strong O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,' declares the Lord. 'For I AM with you,' declares the Lord Almighty. 'This is why I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.' Haggai 2:4-5 NIV

In

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18 NIV

Have you ever had "one of those days"? One of those days where nothing seems to go right? One of those days where everyone around you is in a bad mood? One of those days where YOU are in a bad mood? One of those days where