But God…

When we have a relationship with God, through His one and only Son, Jesus, we have eternal security!

Eternal security is the Biblical truth that guarantees we are going to be with God forever. 

Romans 8:38-39 states that truth this way:

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Please take time to consider the implications of being eternally secure in God.  What is God speaking about to your heart?

When we begin to grasp this truth, and its intended meaning for our lives, we will view everything that takes place differently.

For instance, since we cannot be separated from God as one of His followers, should we end up in a coma, we will still be connected to Him. I believe that His Spirit can still interact with our spirit.

Whenever anything in this world threatens to shake you to your core, you can remember this truth, and endure in His power, knowing that the things of this world will pass away, and you will be eternally with Jesus in the New Heaven and the New Earth, when your name is in His book of life: 

Revelation 21:7 states this truth: “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

The promise of eternal security is NOT for those who fail to accept Jesus during this lifetime. We have only the days of this earthly life to accept Christ’s gift of forgiveness for our sins. Once we die, that opportunity is no longer available: “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” Hebrews 9:27

Since we never know when God will appoint our last breath, please don’t let today pass without taking this opportunity to acknowledge your sinful state, and your need for Jesus’ atoning sacrifice.

Once you make this connection with God, He will, through His Holy Spirit, provide your righteousness because of Jesus’ gift of redemption and justification. You and I can never attain this on our own. He will mark you with His Holy Spirit, and you will have His gift of eternal life. Ephesians 1:13: “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.”

Praise God for this amazing gift of love and sacrifice on His part!

When we find ourselves in situations that look overwhelming, as God’s people, we can find comfort and the ability to endure when we remember that because of God’s gift of eternal security, everything will work out for our benefit: Romans 8:28, Amplified Version: “And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.”

Consider this promise made by Jesus in Revelation 3:10: “Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.”

Since Jesus wants us to patiently endure, He will enable those who abide in Him to do so. How well are you enduring? What does this indicate about how well you are abiding in Jesus?

If you are weak in this area, what might you do to strengthen your relationship with the Lord so that you are abiding more deeply?

Knowing that you are eternally secure in your relationship with the Lord should lead you to want to abide in Him more intentionally.

Eternal security is a gift not to be taken lightly. It came at great cost to God. Praise Him for His mercy and grace!

The Apostle Paul endured, knowing He was secure in Christ: “At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” 2 Timothy 4:16–18

I am encouraged by Paul’s endurance and encouragement in his eternal security. To whom might God want us to share this wonderful message, so they are also encouraged?

Do you have confidence that you are eternally secure in Christ? You can have this absolute assurance.  

Please contact me at :  ButGodCares@gmail.com if you want to have a conversation about enduring because of being secure in Jesus.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you.

Copyright 2024 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

Have you ever wondered how God wants you to live life, what His will is?

The Bible gives us vast amounts of information on the subject of God’s will.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 provides us with an answer to that question:

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Please consider the three points made in the above verses.

First, we are to rejoice always. Always? Even when I’m diagnosed with cancer? Even when I lost my job? Even when my spouse left me? Even when my child made a horrific choice? Even when….?  Yes, even when! 

This is not something we can manage to do on our own. It is a work of God’s Holy Spirit in the lives of those who have committed themselves to Jesus as Lord and Savior. 

Why do you think God wants us to rejoice ALWAYS? 

I have found that when I turn my heart to the Lord during really tough times [Well, at any time!], praising Him, and rejoicing in His presence in my life, something inside me is released so that my heart is not downcast. Instead, my outlook changes so that in spite of the situation, I don’t feel hopeless or terrified or whatever negative emotions want to grip me. God moves in me. Hope arises because of Jesus!

Pray continually follows rejoicing in God’s instructions to us through Paul.

Prayer brings an intimate connection with Jesus. It is in that intimacy that God works through His Spirit to renew our mind. He works to settle our uneasiness that arises in this life, using God’s Word to facilitate His work. Prayer provides God’s people with His perspective on life and our challenges. Prayer shows God that we are dependent upon Him, and that is the best place to be. Continual prayer helps us to abide in Christ [John15]. There is no better place to be in this life than abiding in Jesus!

The last part of the above verse instructs us to give thanks in all circumstances. It doesn’t say in the circumstances we like, but in ALL circumstances. That means we are supposed to give thanks when someone crashes into our vehicle. It means giving thanks when our health declines. It means giving thanks whether we feel like it or not. 

Giving thanks, no matter where we find ourselves, is healing. It is similar to rejoicing. Consider Proverbs 17:22: “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” 

God knows what is beneficial for us. He will never ask us, or involve us in something, that will, in His sovereign power, be detrimental to our well-being.

God always wants what is best for everyone. That is why Jesus’ work on the cross was for all people – even those who refuse to acknowledge and accept His work on their own behalf.

Therefore, when God instructs us to rejoice and be thankful, there is a benefit for us in obeying these instructions.

Further verses that help us identify God’s will for us are:

“For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.” 1 Peter 2:15

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality.” 1 Thessalonians 4:3

We don’t have to figure out God’s will on our own. His Word and His Holy Spirit facilitate and provide us with all we need to know God’s will: 

“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21

Doing God’s will takes our minds off of ourselves and places our thoughts on Him. When we do this, we can rejoice always because we are praying continuously, and giving thanks in all things to our great God who created us for this purpose.

Do you struggle with rejoicing ALWAYS, praying continuously, and giving thanks in all things? If so, please reach out to me, or another Christ follower, to help you walk through this so that your relationship with God is strengthened.

If you do not have a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus, I would like to talk with you about knowing Him in this way.

You can contact me at:  ButGodCares@gmail.com if you want to talk.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you.

Copyright 2024 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

Billy Graham made this statement: “When we come to the end of ourselves, we come to the beginning of God.”

As I consider knowing God along with Billy Graham’s statement, I think about Joseph, whose account is told in the book of Genesis. I also think about Ruth, whose biography is written in the book of Ruth. I am also mindful of the apostles Peter and Paul, whose accounts are in the New Testament of the Bible.

Each of these people came to a saving and intimate love relationship with the Lord. But God first brought them to the end of themselves.

What does it mean to “come to the end of ourselves”? 

I define that as the point in which I realize that I cannot do this life on my own, that I need the Lord Jesus to save me from my sins, and set my value. At that point for me, I realized that operating life outside of the parameters of God and His Word was a waste of time. Especially when I compare this with what the Bible teaches about what God can do when our lives are operated under His auspices. 

It means that I no longer try to hide who I am behind a smokescreen, but I allow God to work His power in me to change me so that I am becoming holy (Holy also means to be made whole.).

I want to be whole! I don’t like being broken, and that is what I was before accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

The world cannot offer this to me, but God does!

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [that is, separate you from profane and vulgar things, make you pure and whole and undamaged—consecrated to Him—set apart for His purpose]; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete and [be found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Amplified Bible

For many years I chased after the ways of this world, believing they were the answer to my longings. But God revealed to me that was a lie. He pulled me out of the muck and mire of my sin. 

He opened my heart to my need for Jesus as Lord and Savior.

He reveals Himself to me through His Word every day.

He shows His faithfulness to me in the ways He works in my life each day.

He works His power in and through me for His good pleasure, and I am blessed.

But first I had to come to the end of myself so that I could wholeheartedly embrace Him.

Now, I would never want to turn back to the ways of the world. They are cheap lies, a counterfeit that is valueless, often an imitation of what God offers, that only lets us down.

For instance, living together outside of marriage. It’s an imitation of God’s plan for people.

I don’t belong to myself! I belong to God: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Consider what God said regarding the Israelites in Jeremiah 2:13: “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”

Those same truths apply to all people. We are all created by God, and made in His image. We have all forsaken God [“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” – Romans 3:23], who offers “living water” [see John 4]. We are all like broken cisterns, that are worthless.

Since we are all created by God, we need to live according to His ways, because, as our Creator, He knows what is best for us.

But God sees what He can do in and through us when we give up fighting Him, and allow Him to direct EVERY step of our lives.

Consider the Amplified Bible’s version of Philippians 2:13: “For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.”

For me, coming to the end of myself comes when I use my mind, my intellect, to seek God [who is infinite in knowledge, wisdom and power], and listen as He directs me according to His plans – His plans for His purposes.  That is why He created me – for His purposes.  The alternative is using my mind to conjure up what I, in my finite wisdom and knowledge, can determine to do with my life.

When I compare the two ways I have lived my life – without God at the center or with God at the center – I see the ridiculousness of living life without God. I am very grateful that God grabbed hold of me 37 years ago, and radically changed my life. 

The old person I was is gone, and I am now alive in Christ! It is exactly what God tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” The realization of the new life in Christ takes time. Every person grows in this new life at a different pace.

How quickly do you want to know God more intimately? The more you get to know God, the more His Spirit brings growth in the relationship.

This is what it takes to know God – a living and active love relationship established through the Lord Jesus. 

A relationship that is motivated by love. [Mark 12:30]

A relationship that is submissive to the Lord. [James 4:7]

A relationship based in faith in Christ, not in sight. [Hebrews 11:1 and Hebrews 11:6]

A relationship marked by confession of sin and repentance. [1 John 1:9]

A relationship built by the power of God. [Ephesians 3:16-19]

There is so much more to our relationship with God, but we must come to the end of ourselves, regularly, so that our relationship grows steadily.

I often think of the song, “I Surrender All”. The truth for me is that I want to surrender all, but I’m only surrendering some at a time, but as I look back, I realize that God has brought me a long way in surrendering my life to His oversight.

To God be the glory that He doesn’t give up on me! He keeps working in me, to produce His holiness, His wholeness, and one day it will all be fully realized when this life is over, and I am with Jesus forever!!

You can have that same experience and hope in God! 

I would enjoy talking with you about coming to the end of ourselves, so that we can know God personally and intimately.  You can contact me at:  ButGodCares@gmail.com if you want to talk.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you.

Copyright 2024 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

The following quote made me stop and think:

“May the gospel keep me humble and patient…. I don’t want to waste one 

more self-absorbed moment rehearsing things that hurt me and relishing 

personal revenge.”


I am brought up short, as the saying goes, by the content of the above quote. I am sad to admit that I waste too much time on the wrong things. I may not think I relish personal revenge, but then I realize that at times I look forward to the day God deals with those who have wronged me. I’m ashamed by that. 

But God shows me how to handle myself when I’m wronged, and what His role is in those situations: 

1 Peter 3:16: “keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” 

I want to be like Jesus. I want to deal with those who wrong me in a humble manner, and be able to say what He said in Luke 23:34: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” 

Jesus was never self-absorbed. Jesus was always humble.

I don’t want to rehearse anything negative that comes my way. I want to be a grateful and appreciative follower of Jesus Christ.

I want to “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18, as Paul encouraged the Thessalonians.

Thanking God moves my mind from self-absorption to humility. I need to do this far more often each day.

No matter what the situation, I can always thank God for saving me, and giving me the hope of eternity with Him! That’s a fact for every true follower of Christ.

Philippians 4:11 provides me with further insight into myself: “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” When I am off rehearsing hurts or looking for God to make me look good, I realize those feelings come from discontentment. How can I be discontented with anything when I have the greatest gift – eternal life??? Shame on me!

How should I deal with those thoughts, those feelings? I need to immediately take them to Jesus so He can correct my thinking, so that I will honor Him.

I imagine it is like a child, wanting to make her parent proud. I want my heavenly Father to shine, because, with His Spirit’s help, I am more prone to focus on what is commanded in Philippians 4:8: “Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].” Amplified Version

God’s commands are good. 

God’s commands are for my edification.

God’s commands are for my protection.

God’s commands relieve stress, and bring peace and calmness when obeyed.

God’s word provides everything I need for life – now and for all eternity!

How about joining me in taking up the challenge in the statement I opened with: 

“May the gospel keep me humble and patient…. I don’t want to waste one 

more self-absorbed moment rehearsing things that hurt me and relishing 

personal revenge.”


I look forward to God working more of Jesus’ character into me, therefore, my being able to love others as God loves me.

Do you have a personal love relationship with Jesus? If you do not, it would be my pleasure to speak with you about the difference Christ has made in me. If you are already in a love relationship with Jesus, I’d be excited to talk with you about your experiences with Him.

Please contact me at:  ButGodCares@gmail.com if you want to talk.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you.

Copyright 2024 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

The Apostle Paul, in Philippians 3:10 wrote the following: 

“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” [I have made myself cards with this verse so that I see one when I wake up, and the second is in the bathroom I use all day. I want that same determination Paul had. Jesus will work that into me!]

I am convicted by Paul’s determination to know Jesus. 

I don’t wake up every morning thinking that my goal is to know Christ better. I want to experience His power, the power that resurrected Him from the dead. I want to be willing to participate in His kingdom such that I am sharing in His sufferings, so that I am becoming more and more like Him, when He willingly chose to take upon Himself the wrath of God to pay the penalty for my sins. He was sinless. I am guilty. He was innocent. He became the guilty party, and I became the innocent party. 

I want that determination to be what motivates me to get out of bed each day. I want this to be woven deeply into my character so that others can see Jesus, not me, and want to share in His kingdom also.

Having an experience with God is very different than having head knowledge of who He is. I want more than information about my Lord and Savior. I want to experience His presence in my daily life. I want to experience His love. I want a rich love relationship with Him.

His love is true love. It is love that is active on our behalf. It is love that is unconditional, and so much more than I can grasp, but I want to know as much of His love as I can before I meet Jesus in person.

We need knowledge from the Bible that will lead us into a loving, living relationship with God. But Godcatapults the knowledge we gain from studying His word, into experiences of His love, goodness, discipline, comfort, compassion, and so much more.

Paul learned, as he states in Philippians 3:7, that earthly gains are meaningless when compared to the richness of having an intimate and personal relationship with the living God! 

Philippians 3:7-9 states: “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”

Paul had a lot of worldly advantages – he had a strong religious position [He was a high standing Pharisee.], he was an upwardly mobile young man, but God touched his life, and turned all of that into something of eternal value. None of what Paul had before his conversion to Christ had eternal significance. 

So many people today put value on all the wrong achievements. Money, fame, high position and any other earthly status symbols are insignificant when compared to knowing God personally.

What motivates you to get up each morning? What is the deepest desire of your heart? If it is not knowing and serving Jesus, I recommend that you get alone with the Holy Bible, and ask God to help you know what truly matters in life. Because it not only matters for this life, but has eternal significance.

Consider Paul’s words in Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

It was not frightening to Paul to lose his life for Christ, it was what fulfilled him. It is what will fulfill you, as well. It is what fulfills me.

Prior to God opening my heart to be His child through Christ, I looked for fulfillment in all the wrong places. I was a sinful wanderer, lacking the moral compass of Christ, but didn’t realize it was Jesus I needed. But God, in His great mercy and compassion, opened my heart and mind to know Him personally. I have the pleasure of experiencing Him each day as I traverse the challenges of this life. 

Prior to my relationship with Christ, I managed life. I found ways to cope with its challenges. But Godchanged all that. Now I don’t have to cope or manage my life, I seek God, His kingdom, and He takes care of all the rest.

Please don’t misunderstand what I am saying. I don’t sit on my couch eating bonbons all day. Following the Lord is often a rigorous path. But God doesn’t leave me alone, He carries me through the challenges. I experience His presence every day through His Holy Spirit who permanently indwells me.

He is my comfort. I experience Him in my life when I am distraught. His presence, through His Holy Spirit is as real as if He were here in the flesh.

He is my source of provision so I can live in this world. I experience God personally in the many ways He provides for us financially. He provides me with emotional stability.

He is the source for my spiritual strength.

He is my Protector. That doesn’t mean He stops all hardships, but He protects me in and through them. I experience His peace and calm in the midst of rejection, unkindness, and so much more. 

He is so much more….and you can discover that truth when you dig into the Bible. 

Please contact me at:  ButGodCares@gmail.com if you want to discuss how to dig into God’s word, and have a living and vibrant relationship with Jesus so you can know Him with the same exuberance as the Apostle Paul.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you.

Copyright 2024 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

Last week I began writing about knowing the Bible well.

When we have a greater depth of understanding of God’s word, He will produce in us a deeper understanding of who He is.

Why is it necessary to know God and His character? Why is it necessary to have that understanding be accurate? 

Knowing God accurately deepens our relationship with Him. A relationship with God is the absolute greatest gift we can ever have. Everything in this life will one day be gone. As the saying goes, “we can’t take it with us”, so everything of this world is valueless when we compare it with a personal, living, vibrant relationship with God, through Jesus.

Additionally, I find that knowing God, based upon the Bible, produces discernment of truth for me as I traverse this life. 

I know people who believe that God is only out to judge us and is mean. People, wrongly, attempt to extrapolate that view from their limited knowledge of God’s actions in the Old Testament. However, when you take time to do a serious study of the Old Testament, you find that God is loving, kind, merciful, and gracious to those who love Him. His judgment is there. It is necessary. We will see that wrath again in the final days of this world. 

But God cares about people. He created us for fellowship. He created us to have a relationship with Him. He loves us. He demonstrated that through sending His only Son Jesus to this earth to be a living sacrifice for our sins. Jesus paid our penalty. These truths are embedded from Genesis to Revelation, but you need to spend time digging into and studying the Bible in order to understand these truths.

God is not against us, He is for us!!!

Jesus never puts His people down, but always desires to build us up. When we are feeling as if God is condemning us, betraying us, or not doing what we expect, knowledge of His character, from the Bible, helps us to center our thoughts on what is good, pure and true.  We can approach the lies with truth.

Consider this verse: Jeremiah 29:11-12: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” This is a wonderful promise from God. It was initially directed to the Israelites, but it expresses the heart of God for those who love Him. How do we know we love Him? This verse gives us insight – God’s people will call upon Him, communicate with Him, and obey Him. 

How about these common thoughts:

God helps those who help themselves. We cannot save ourselves. We cannot sanctify [become more like Jesus] ourselves, and we cannot even provide our own strength for what we need to do for the Lord, He provides it. God wants us to depend upon Him, He doesn’t want us to figure out our lives. He has it all worked out. We simply need to seek Him.  Psalm 29:11: “The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.” Psalm 91:14-15: “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.”

Money is the root of all evil. That is a misquote of 1 Timothy 6:6-10: “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

Cleanliness is next to Godliness. This leads us to believe that our outward appearance is what matters most to God. That is a lie. Consider 1 Samuel 16:7: “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Many common thoughts are extrapolated from the Bible, the problem is that many are inaccurate. We must always depend upon what the Bible actually says. 

Acts 17:11 points us to people who responsibly handled what they heard: “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”

As I have been doing the “Experiencing God” study by Henry Blackaby, I came across these points as to why it is critical that we know God accurately:

“God reveals Himself to increase faith that leads to action.” “What He shows you will be critical when you come to a crisis of belief.” Page 99 of the 12 lesson study workbook. [If you have never participated in this study, I highly recommend taking the time to participate with a few others. It will strengthen your relationship with the Lord.]

Blackaby goes on to give us several points on why we need to know the God of the Bible accurately. Each point relates to our relationship with Him. 

Every day we are confronted with lies about God. Often they are subtle, and they are insidious. The only way to discern them from God’s word, is by knowing what the Bible says. I challenge you to be a committed and serious student of the Bible, to make this your lifelong daily endeavor. You will never regret it! Jeremiah 29:13 states: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Please contact me at:  ButGodCares@gmail.com if you want to discuss what it is to know Jesus.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you.

Copyright 2024 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

How well do you know the Bible, so that when someone “quotes” something, and insists it is what the Bible says, you know to question it?

Familiarity with the Bible is essential for everyone who has a true relationship with Jesus Christ.

It is not that you need to know every word of the Bible.  It is essential to have a deep enough understanding of the character of God, based upon the Bible, and God’s principles, so that you are able to discern the lies of this world. 

For instance, have you ever heard someone say “Everything always works out for the best.”? Is that what the Bible says? It comes from Romans 8:28, but is only partially accurate. The verse actually says: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” The truth is, that promise is for those who love God, and are following Him.

In order to discern whether something is counterfeit or true, we must be increasingly familiar with God’s word, which is the only standard for truth. Until we gain greater familiarity with the Bible, it is always wise to discuss matters with those who can help us locate truth in the Bible.

Consider warnings found in the Bible. Starting in the Old Testament and straight through the New Testament, God provides warnings for His people. One warning is to beware of false prophets and false teachers.

In Deuteronomy 18:20, God provides this warning:

“But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.”

God’s judgment rests heavy on those who mislead people, who lead people away from the Lord. This is another reason we want to be certain to know God’s character and word accurately. We don’t want to be misled.

Matthew 7:15-18 gives us some guidance regarding the ability to discern truth:

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.”

The question arises – how do we know good fruit from bad fruit? The only way is to search God’s word. 

Consider the topic of eternal salvation. Many people today live believing that doing good works is going to get a person into heaven. That is a lie. The Bible clearly teaches in John 14:6 that only through Jesus does one enter the kingdom of God: “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Entering heaven based upon our good deeds sounds good to us, and seems reasonable to the human mind, but God debunks that lie. Everyone who believes that is destined for eternal separation from Jesus, a fate NO ONE wants.

Having an accurate understanding of God’s word is the only way to know for certain that we will be with Jesus for all eternity.

TO BE CONTINUED….

Please contact me at:  ButGodCares@gmail.com if you want to discuss having a relationship with Jesus, and tips on studying the Bible.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you.

Copyright 2024 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

The walk with Jesus for His followers is not about who does more, but about each of us serving Christ as He calls us to do so individually.  This works together to support the body of Christ, which, as the Apostle Paul explains below, is made up of many parts [Christ’s followers]:

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many.” 1 Corinthians 12:12-14.

As in our physical bodies, each part of the body has a different role. This does not mean that one part is more important, it is the way God designed our bodies to work. In the same way, the members of the body of Christ each have a different role, but none is more important than the other.

God is looking for us to give Him all we have, so He can work His supernatural power to facilitate the plans He has prepared since before the creation of our world.

What matters is that every member of Christ’s body needs to seek Him, abide in Him, and obediently follow the path He has set before us. One person may be called to more responsibilities than another, but each one needs to do whatever responsibilities God sets before us without grumbling, without comparison to others, and with His power and strength for excellence to His glory.

Romans 12:1 tells us that we are to offer ourselves for Christ, as living sacrifices: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” People would have understood what the Apostle Paul was speaking about, because those who did not have a relationship with Jesus were accustomed to offering sacrifices to their false gods.  The Israelites, who rejected Jesus, continued to offer sacrifices at the temple until it was destroyed in 70 AD. 

But God wants His people to live their lives in such a way that onlookers will see evidence of Christ in us – His power, His character, His love and goodness. This happens when we give our all for God.

I think about the people noted in Hebrews 11, and the testimony that still speaks to us today because they were men and women who were living sacrifices for God, men and women who gave their all for God. 

I know people today who offer their lives for the Lord’s purposes at personal cost. Their all out service to God invigorates me to give my all for Jesus.

I am going to share about a woman, who is in her late thirties, whose childhood was rough. When she married, and had her first child, she was ecstatic.  At three weeks old, her baby was diagnosed with a severe blood disorder. It took a few years of treatments to bring health to her baby, including a bone marrow transplant from England. This was a very challenging and difficult time. She leaned upon God. God never failed her. Her baby is now 12! A great kid, with some side effects from the treatments, but alive and a blessing.

She now has four children. The fourth child was adopted last year after a few years of being fostered. This little boy is around 4, and has had dozens of surgeries. In fact, he just went home from the hospital after having had five more surgeries! More surgeries are yet to be scheduled.

This mom now home schools her 3 older children because of the ungodly curriculum in her local school district.

I’ve never heard her complain!

Additionally, she is now caring for her father-in-law who is living with them under hospice.

She gives credit to God for all she is able to accomplish. 

She proves that when a person abides in Jesus, He will equip and provide for all His plans for our lives.

I know God can equip you to do the deeds He has prepared for you since before we were created. You may not be called to the same challenges as my friend, but God will call upon you to do hard and challenging things for Him.

How do you view the struggles and challenges in your life? Do you tackle them by abiding in Jesus, or on your own initiative? Do you shrink back from following God when it looks overwhelming, or do you lean into Him for the power and strength to overcome? You have the free will to decide, but God will not give up on drawing you into following His path into challenges, if you are a true follower of Jesus.

Many verses in Scripture remind us and challenge us to endure hardships, these are a few:

Psalm 119:67 reminds us that affliction causes us to look to God, and keeps us on His path: “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.”

Philippians 3:10 states: “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death”. When we walk through and share in the sufferings of this life, not necessarily the ones we bring on ourselves, God works to transform our character to be more like Jesus. This should be our desire!

Accounts of people who have followed God through faith in His promises, especially those who have suffered for His cause, have always inspired me to trust God more deeply, and to want to be a living sacrifice for His kingdom, giving Him my all.

Below are additional verses that encourage us to be living sacrifices:

John 15:11: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

John 12:25: “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”

Blessings come as we endure challenges, by leaning on God.

Additionally, I like to read books that will motivate me to give my all for Jesus.

These are a few of the books you might read, there are many others who have their accounts of giving their all for Jesus you can read:

“Created for Commitment” – A. Wetherell Johnson

“George Muller of Bristol”

Any book by Rosemary Jensen.

I like to surround myself with people who love and serve Jesus selflessly, people who are open to follow God, no matter where He leads, giving their all for Him. I spend time with those who don’t have a relationship with Jesus so I can share the Gospel with them, however, time spent with Christ’s followers is far greater than time I spend with those who don’t have a living and active relationship with Jesus. How do you choose to spend your time? Why do you think it matters how we spend our free time?

Please contact me at:  ButGodCares@gmail.com if you want to discuss having a relationship with Jesus, and giving your all for Him.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you.

Copyright 2024 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

I heard something that made me really consider how I should tell others about my love relationship with the Lord.

Then I came across this quote: “Christianity is not merely a program of conduct; it is the power of a new life.”

That made me ask myself some questions. What might I be missing when I tell others about the Gospel? Could I be missing the heart of the Gospel?

The heart of the Gospel is God’s love for us. His love is the power in the Gospel.

Many people have heard 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.”

It might be easy to skim over the fact that what motivated God to develop His plan of mankind’s salvation is love.

That truth can cause a problem for those of us who are English speaking people. We tend to interpret love based upon our experiences, and our experiences with love are generally not the same as God’s love. Therefore, we misinterpret what it means that God “loved the world”.

There are multiple ways love is used in the Bible.

This is from the site, Got Questions:

“The Bible uses several different words for “love” in the Hebrew and Greek, interchanging them depending on context. Some of these words mean “affectionate love”; others indicate “friendship”; and still others, “erotic, sexual love.” There is also a distinct word for the type of love that God displays. In the Greek, this word is agape, and it refers to a benevolent and charitable love that seeks the best for the loved one.”

The agape love that God shows us is described in the Bible. Some of its characteristics are included in 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a:

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

As I consider that God’s love encompasses all those characteristics, and many more, I am in awe of Him. 

When I put that together with Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” I am overwhelmed by His extension of His love to me! 

I know I am a wretched sinner. I’m forgiven because of His love. I experience His love each day, as I read and ponder His word, as I serve others, and as others touch my life. 

I know I deserve nothing from Him, but God has chosen to lavish His love on me: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1a”.

As I further think about all of this, I realize that this amazing gift of a love relationship with my Creator, is not something to peddle, but something to offer others to experience. God’s love empowers me to share his message of salvation for others.

I always used to feel as if I had to “sell” people on how great God is. But God has shown me that is not necessary. I simply need to share the amazing ways He showers me with His love.

This switch in my thinking, makes it more natural for me to talk about Jesus, and who He is, and what He does in and for me every day. 

Whether we acknowledge it or not, God DOES show His love to every person every day. 

If you have food, God has shown you His love.

If you have clothing, God has shown you His love.

If you have breath today, God is showing you His love.

Matthew 5:45b [Amplified Version] comes to my mind when I consider how gracious God is to show His love for all people: “for He makes His sun rise on those who are evil and on those who are good, and makes the rain fall on the righteous [those who are morally upright] and the unrighteous [the unrepentant, those who oppose Him].”

Every person needs to know that God loves them. This truth is not a sales pitch, it is the greatest truth we can share with people.

We don’t need to be timid when sharing about the ways God shows His love to us, we simply need to be aware of them, and excited about His displays of love in our lives. That excitement is contagious…maybe not immediately when we share it, but God can use it for good for His kingdom.

I challenge you to take time today to write (even in your Notes on your phone), a list of what has happened to you today. Then ask God how those events reveal His love for you. If you have had really challenging events, you may need to work through the difficulties, so that you can find God’s love in their midst, because His word makes it clear that He is in the details.

Consider the story of Joseph in Genesis 37-50. Here was a man who experienced oppressive circumstances for many years, because his jealous brothers sold him into slavery. Yet, when he finally had the opportunity to see them and talk with them, he summed up his experience in Genesis 50:20: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

There is never any indication anywhere in Scripture that Joseph doubted God’s love for Him. Joseph remained steadfastly true to God, and one can only do that when there is a true love relationship with Him.

I encourage you to be a witness to others of God’s great love. Sharing your testimony of your experiences of God’s love will go further than any sales pitch you might consider!

I’d love to share some of my experiences of God’s love with you. Please contact me at:  ButGodCares@gmail.com.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you.

Copyright 2024 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

I love to read, and have for as long as I can remember. I’m dating myself, but I can remember reading ALL “The Bobbsey Twins” books when I was young. Of course, “Nancy Drew” and “The Hardy Boys” were also stories I devoured as a child.

As a follower of Jesus, I still read novels. For me, they must be clean stories, mysteries, some romance is fine, but storylines that drive home a Biblical message is an absolute component of the books I read. I learn from the lessons the authors’ characters are learning about God, and who He is to them.

The following is an excerpt from one of my recent reads:

“And now you have to simply be.” He looked up, to black sky. And weirdly, Jonas was in his head. Again. “This time-out God has given you is His way of showing you that you need Him more than you need a grand purpose.” “I don’t know how to be. I’ve always had a purpose.”

“Son. A purpose is a good thing. But it can be an idol. God is not a purpose. He’s a person. And maybe He’s saying, ‘I love you for who you are, not what you can do.'” “I sort of want to be loved for what I do.” “No, you don’t.” He drew in a breath. 

“Here’s the truth. If you ever thought you were enough, then you were making yourself, your abilities, an idol. And you will fail yourself.” Right. He lifted his hand, looked at his bloody knuckles. “I think I already have.” “Then maybe, right now, God is rescuing you from yourself. God isn’t done with you yet, Fraser. You just need to get out of your own way, stop looking for your glorious purpose, and lean into the God who loves you.”

As I read those words, God was speaking to my heart.

I could easily relate to the character in this story. 

I could relate, because it is easier for me to be busy, than to simply be still with God, and allow Him to speak to my heart.

I could relate, because it is easier for me to believe the lie that I need a grand purpose that isn’t God Himself.

I could relate, because in the past I have believed the lie that God’s love is based upon what I do, and not who I am – His child, created in His image, by His loving Hands.

I could relate, because in the past I thought far too highly of myself, in fact, that false thinking can start to creep into my heart again if I’m not taking every thought captive to Christ, for His help in straightening me out.

I love the truth stated in this novel regarding God “rescuing you from yourself”– the truth is, God has rescued me from myself!

I give Him all the glory, praise, and thanksgiving for rescuing me from the fate I would have chosen for myself. A fate of a life lived outside of His will. 

God rescued me from the depths of my sin, and He wants to rescue you also. [2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”]

The truth is, we are dead in our sins and transgressions [Ephesians 2:4-5: “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”]

This is another quote from the same book:

“But the good thing is that feelings do not define truth. God’s word defines truth.”

Our culture is bent on allowing our feelings, our emotions, to drive us, to define us, and to define truth. 

But God is the only One who has the right to define us and define truth, because He is our Creator! He defines us through the writings in His word, and His word is truth.

His word defines our purpose:

Ecclesiastes 12:13: “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.”

That verse concludes Solomon’s writings in Ecclesiastes. Solomon, as the wisest man ever, concluded that nothing the world offered compares to a personal relationship with God [my paraphrase of Solomon’s conclusion]. Solomon had everything the world offered. He proved for us that none of it could compare to the riches we have in Christ Jesus. If we learn from his hard lessons, we can save ourselves a lot of heartache.

Psalm 17:15, written by King David, reminds us also of what should satisfy us: “As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.”  We should be satisfied, now, with the knowledge that one day, as true followers of Christ, we will have an unhindered intimate relationship forever with Him, and knowing that we are made in His likeness should give us great contentment now. Nothing can compare to having a love relationship with Jesus!

What lie have you believed about your purpose, and how does the truth from God’s word help to set you free from that lie, so that you can rest in God’s grand purpose for you, His grand purpose of walking together in an intimate love relationship?

I found this summary regarding our purpose: “The purpose of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. We glorify God by fearing and obeying Him, keeping our eyes on our future home in heaven, and knowing Him intimately. We enjoy God by following His purpose for our lives, which enables us to experience true and lasting joy—the abundant life that He desires for us.”

Do you feel the bondage of your sin, the sin of attempting to attain fulfillment and finding purpose from the things of this world? If so, I would be glad to talk with you and share more about how you can find your grand purpose in God, as you are set free from slavery to sin, through the gift of Jesus Christ. Please contact me at:  ButGodCares@gmail.com.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you.

Copyright 2024 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.