Have you ever heard that saying?  It came to mind this week when another friend reported that she has cancer, again. I have another friend who has cancer, again. I have a cousin who has cancer, again.

As I considered each of these situations, I have observed a difference between those who have a personal relationship with Jesus, and those who do not.

I thought about myself, and how I react to stressful situations and challenges, and that is when the saying, “When the rubber meets the road” came to mind.

What this phrase is conveying is how we react when situations get serious.

When the situation is serious, I want to react in a way that honors God. Sadly, that is not always my reaction. 

When I’m waiting for test results or some other event that I consider critical, I want to relax in God, but I often allow myself to venture into fear or anxiety.

But God is so patient. He allows me to turn to Him for help to change my reaction for the next time…because there WILL be a next time!

I want to react so that people see Jesus is making a difference in my life. When I react differently (in a good way) than a person expects me to react, I can testify to the work of Jesus in my heart.

I also realize that I don’t want to fake anything. I want a genuine reaction that lacks anger, frustration, self-centeredness, and anything else that would not honor Jesus.

Why do I want to react like Jesus?  The following verses help me to understand why I am to follow Jesus’ example:

“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2

“You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” John 13:13-17

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15

Since Jesus paid the full penalty for my sins, and I am completely forgiven because of His sacrifice, I want to be like Him. 

When the rubber meets the road each day, are you and I living out the Gospel message of mercy, grace, love and forgiveness?

The absolute “rubber meeting the road” will come when we die. At that time God will determine if we truly made a commitment to His Son. If so, then our names are already written in His book of life. We will then be with God for all eternity.

For those folks who have not made that commitment to Christ, they will live separated from their Maker forever. That eternal existence is literally hell. That means one will never have the privilege of experiencing God’s forgiveness, His mercy, His grace, and everything else He is. 

There isn’t any greater privilege than to be one of Jesus’ followers. Are you a true follower of Jesus?  If not, what is holding you back from making that commitment.

Do you want to discuss your eternal destiny?  Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com.  You don’t want to be on the wrong side when your life ends.

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. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

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 had never thought about the expression – “filling my bucket” – until I heard someone talk about it. 

She spoke about someone’s betrayal emptying her bucket, but then people began filling her bucket. She gave God a mention after listing several people who took part in replenishing her bucket. Where she had lost touch with Jesus, she had regained sight of Him.

This made me do some serious talking with God. 

I had to ask myself some questions:

     Who fills my bucket?

     Who should fill my bucket?

What should fill my bucket?

     If Jesus alone is not filling my bucket, why am I allowing anyone else into that place in my life?

    What needs to be renewed in my mind so that I only allow Jesus to have that privilege?

I realized that people will always betray me. When that happens, if they are the only ones filling my bucket, then my bucket is always in danger of being empty.

I thought about Jesus, and how Judas betrayed Him. Matthew 26:14-16: “Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.”

Jesus’ bucket wasn’t emptied by Judas’ betrayal because He was intimate with His Father. Jesus’ atoning sacrifice on the cross, and His subsequent resurrection, provide the opportunity for all of us to have a similar intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father. 

I used to want people to fill my bucket. I grew up wanting to please people, starting with my parents. But God has shown me that I shouldn’t want that because it is dangerous. That motive is self-serving. I want my motives purified. I want to serve others because God, through Jesus, loves me, and as His Servant, set His life down on the cross so I can be reconciled to my Heavenly Father. There is a major difference between serving the Lord and being a people pleaser. It is a sin that runs deep, but God is helping me to renew my mind with regards to that thinking.

What ways might we be people pleasers? It can happen when someone asks your opinion on a haircut, clothing, and/ or decorating idea, and you don’t want to tell them what you really think. 

There are awkward situations in life that can lead us to be dishonest people pleasers. That’s displeasing to God. Our desire should be to please Him – always.

I’ve learned to not ask an opinion from someone who is prone to not telling me the truth. If I ask a question, I always want an honest answer. Sometimes I may fuss about it, but God brings me around to acknowledge the truth in the answer.

I’ve learned to say this to someone who is asking me an opinion question: “What matters is do you like it?” or “What do you think God has to say about _____?”   

The following are thoughts from God’s Word on people pleasing [Remember, it is best to go to the Bible and read these verses in context to gain deeper insight.]:

Galatians 1:10: “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Notice Paul’s tense in his last statement in this verse. He was, at one time, a people pleaser! Praise God that He knows how to help us change that pattern in our lives. It often comes from the desire to have people’s approval. But God tells us, through Paul, that His servants need to seek to serve Him alone, and then we are ok with people. If we please God, and someone is still dissatisfied with us, that rests on them, not on those of us seeking and serving God. Acts 24:16: “So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.”

Galatians 3:23-24: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” 

Proverbs 29:25: “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.”

Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Jesus has much to say in Matthew 6 regarding our motives in our actions. Matthew 6:1 starts Jesus’ words in summary form, and the remainder of the Chapter gives practical details.

Matthew 6:1: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.”

As I’ve spent time pondering all of this with the Lord, I rest in His mercy and grace, not in the opinions of people. 

Jesus proved He is infallible. God accepted His sacrifice for the payment for our sins. That could not have occurred had Jesus failed, even once.  

Jesus proved He is infallible when He rose from the grave, by His power. Satan couldn’t hold Him there! We have our trust and hope in Him! 

When Jesus fills our bucket, He fills it with His living water.

When Jesus fills our bucket, whatever people toss our way cannot empty it. 

When Jesus fills our bucket, our hearts and minds are steadfastly focused on Him.

When Jesus fills our bucket, with His living water, we are to be His vessels to help others renew their minds, and find complete satisfaction in Him.

He gets all the praise, as these words point out: “When we hear a sermon that stimulates our minds, we owe praise to God, not the preacher. When we hear a new song that provokes our hearts to worship, we ought to praise God long before the songwriter.” I add: When someone encourages us, God is the Encourager who gets the praise, not the vessel He used. We should thank that person for being His tool, being certain God gets the glory.

I’m not inserting the complete Chapter of Matthew 6 ,referenced above in this writing, but if you click on “Matthew 6” in your web browser version of this writing, it should take you to the Chapter. You can also find it in the Blue Letter Bible app.  

If you do not have a paper Bible, please contact me, I would be glad to provide one for 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. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

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.

One of my favorite Bible teachers, Kristi McClelland, makes the above statement in her series, “Jesus and Women”. It is a powerful study that reveals how much Jesus cares for women, and how He displayed that care in His day when He interacted with them. This encourages us today, because He is still caring for women.

It is a message of love.

It is a message of grace and mercy.

It is a message of moving one from shame to honor.

It is a message of forgiveness – the message of The Gospel.

Jesus came to provide Himself as the sacrifice for the penalty of our sins. Through His sacrifice on the cross, everyone who accepts Him as Lord and Savior, is forgiven. He moves us from shame to honor. 

His sacrifice turned everything right side up for those who acknowledge Him as their Redeemer.

His sacrifice turned everything right side up for all who prove their faith through their behavior, as James states in James 2:18: “But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

One way Jesus’ true followers reveal their love for Him, and their true relationship with Him, is through forgiveness. 

These are some of the verses God inspired His writers to record regarding forgiveness:

Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Mark 11:25: “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Matthew 6:15: “But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Matthew 18:21-22: “Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

Colossians 3:13: “Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”

Luke 6:27: “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.”

Forgiveness is one of the essential elements of Jesus’ Gospel message. 

Is there someone who has hurt you?  If so, are you holding onto that hurt, maybe even allowing it to cause a root of bitterness, or are you walking in Christ’s power to forgive, and even doing good to the person who hurt you?

You may think you cannot forgive the person who hurt you, who abused you. On your own, you are correct. But God! It takes the mighty work of God’s indwelling Holy Spirit to facilitate this kind of forgiveness. He is thorough, and as we depend upon His power, we can move through the stages from bitterness to forgiveness. God can take us to the place that we can find ourselves thinking about the hurt and truly praying for His love to overtake the one who offended us, rather than feeling offended.  All praise and glory to Him!!

This is from the commentary of one of my daily Bible readings: “I heard on the radio an interesting interview with Rachel Saint, the sister of Nate Saint, one of the five men martyred in Ecuador in 1956 as they attempted to communicate with the Auca Indians. Later Rachel Saint and her companions went back to that tribe and lived among these killers. They served them, and loved them, and taught the gospel to them until they won to Christ the very man who had killed Rachel’s brother. The interviewer asked her, “Why did you go back into this tribe?” She said, “Because in the Indian culture they lived for vengeance, but as a Christian, I knew that forgiveness is our message for those who injure us.” Most of that tribe became Christians through the faithful ministry of these women.”

That is an amazing testimony of forgiveness. Rachel Saint understood the message of Jesus’ Gospel. She lived it out so that others could truly come to know Jesus personally. That is what mattered to her. What matters most to you? Is it revenge or the eternal welfare of others?

Isn’t the eternal welfare of others more important than you and I being unforgiving? It may not always be the one who injured us who comes to know Jesus personally. It may be those who observe our lives as we live Gospel centered.

How do we live in forgiveness?

I find that I must reset my focus on things above and take my thoughts off the things of this world. Those things are often the unkind, untrue words others speak to me or about me. It may be the unloving ways that others treat me. What things of this world are pulling your attention off the things of God? 

God enables me to walk in forgiveness, especially when the ones who injured me never admit their guilt, or confess their unkind treatment toward me. This is one way Jesus turns things right side up.

Repentance is a change in attitude, thinking and understanding of God and that change in perspective towards God brings about a change in our behavior. That is why we can know where we are at with the Lord. The evidence of the fruit in our lives and in the lives of others displays our true heart. When somebody has truly trusted Jesus, there is an increase in repentance, produced by a high view of God.

Has someone hurt your or abused you? Find a Godly person to help you work through the situation. Don’t remain in a place of physical danger. 

If you would like to talk about the situation, please reach out to me at:  ButGodCares@gmail.com. I would like to talk with you and ask Jesus to help you so you can live without the weight or hindrance of unforgiveness in your relationship with Jesus.

I’d also like to talk with anyone who would like to consider a relationship with Jesus. You will never regret becoming a true follower of Christ.

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. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

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.

There is an old hymn that recites those words, and they are often ringing in my ears.

As I consider the victory Jesus accomplished when He came to earth, lived a sinless life, willingly went to the cross, and rose from the dead to pay our penalty for sin, I am in awe of our amazing God!

Jesus did it all!!

Every person who loves Jesus gets to live in victory, though we didn’t do any of the work in conquering the curse of our sin. 

Jesus did it all! 

There is another old hymn, “Jesus Paid It All”. These are the words in the refrain: “Jesus paid it all, all to Him we owe. Sin had left a crimson stain. He washed it white as snow.”

What an amazing Savior we have!  He did it all!

Because Jesus did it all, my life is radically changed. I’m a new person, as 2 Corinthians 5:17 states: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

I still have sinful tendencies, but God, through His Holy Spirit, enables me to pursue Him, and to walk with Him. The Holy Spirit convicts me of my sin, reveals more of my great God to me, and then enables me to repent of my sin. 

In fact, I WANT to sin less. 

I WANT to exalt and honor God in my life.

I WANT to be more like Jesus.

I WANT to tell others about His great mercy and grace, so they can also share in this new life.

I WANT to be set apart to God, even if that means others are uncomfortable with who I am in Jesus.

All of this, and more, is not because of me, it is because of Jesus. It is because Jesus did it all to make it possible for me – and for you – to know Him, to love Him, and to walk humbly with Him, as we are instructed in Micah 6:8: “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Are you more enamored with Jesus or with things and people of this world? Do you find yourself in awe of what the world considers fine, or are you sold out for Jesus?

I recently had a garage sale, and it gave me opportunities to share about Jesus. One gentleman told me that he believed Jesus lived. He believed Jesus was a teacher. He did not believe Jesus was supernatural.

But God, through His Word, and the personal testimony of witnesses proves this man is wrong.

I am sold out to Jesus because He, through His Holy Spirit, has proved to me, personally, that He is all He tells me He is in His Word.

However, if you are not yet convinced that the Word of God, and all the personal accounts recorded are not accurate, please talk to someone, like me, who has a living, active relationship with Jesus.

I can, without any reservation, tell you that Jesus is supernatural and God.

I can, without any reservation, tell you that Jesus has made my life better, though it’s not easy.

I can, without any reservation, tell you that Jesus keeps His promises contained in the Bible.

I can, without any reservation, tell you that if you fully commit to Jesus, you will never regret it.

I can, without any reservation, tell you that if you don’t commit to Jesus, you will regret it.

Before I committed my life to Jesus, before I understood that Jesus did it all for me (and for you), I doubted the accuracy of the Bible.

When I first started to read the Bible, and read that people were 800 years old, I quickly put the Bible back on the shelf. It didn’t make sense, so I thought it was inaccurate.

But God didn’t stop drawing me to Himself, and showing me that the Bible is accurate. The Bible holds the words of life, eternal life for you and for me.

God had people talking to Him on my behalf for eternal life. 

God eventually helped me to understand how people could have lived to be 800 years old.

God proved to me the truth in Matthew 6:33: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

As I followed the leading of God’s Holy Spirit, and sought Him and His kingdom, I came to know that I am a sinner. I understood, and understand even more each day, how sinful I am.

But God also showed me how great a Savior Jesus is!  He showed me, through His Word, that His salvation is complete.

Ephesians 2:8: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”

Romans 10:13: “For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

John 3:16-17: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

How should we respond to our great God and Savior, who paid the price completely, who did it all, so we can live in victory?

We should glorify God: “And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” Psalm 50:15

If Jesus is not yet your Lord and Savior, you also can live in victory, though you did nothing to contribute to that victory. The truth is, without Jesus, we are dead in our sins and transgressions, and therefore, are fully incapable of contributing in any way to this amazing salvation – God’s gift of eternal life.

What changes in our thoughts/attitudes might we need to change so we live victoriously in Jesus?

The Message states Ephesians 2:1 this way: “It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.”

Are you still mired in the “old stagnant life of sin”? You don’t have to stay there! You can accept Jesus’ gift of eternal life. Admit you are a sinner. Admit you are incapable of doing anything about your sinful condition. Ask Jesus for forgiveness. Ask Jesus to make you His child.

This is the most important and urgent decision of your life. I would feel privileged to talk with you about this step in your life. You can reach 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.

Do you know that Jesus loves you? 

The popular song, “Jesus Loves Me” is not only for children. This song reminds us of the truth that Jesus loves us.

How can we know Jesus loves us?

We know it because the Bible tells us so!

How did Jesus prove His love for us?

He willingly got up on the cross and paid the penalty for our sin. He paid the penalty for sins He was not guilty of committing. (“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16; “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8; “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13)

Jesus did this so that we can have a true relationship with our great God. Our God created us to have intimacy with Him. He wants each of us to depend upon Him for everything. His love is not an emotional feeling. God’s love for us is revealed in His actions. 

God’s love for us is revealed in His mercies, they are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”)

God’s love is revealed in His grace, that is sufficient to cover every need we have (“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9)

Romans 8:35-39 states: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

What hardship or distressful situation are you currently experiencing? Do you feel lonely? Do you feel defeated? Do you feel stress greater than you ever thought possible? What else are you experiencing because of this situation.

You may think you are alone. But God tells us that we are not alone, because He is always with us.

Consider the above passage from Romans. No matter how tough this life gets, our God will never be separated from us. He has the power to keep that promise! He also promises that we are “more than conquerors” by His power. I’m so grateful to Jesus for all He has done for you, and for me.

People will fail us. But God will never fail us. He may not give us what we want, but what He gives us is always best.

Zephaniah 3:17: “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”

We cannot earn God’s love. His love is His gift to us. He loves everyone, even those who reject Jesus. Consider this, please. God’s acts of kindness touch every life. The sun shines for all people. Rain lands on all ground. 

Below are a few more verses regarding God’s love:

Psalm 86:15: “But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”

Ephesians 2:4-5: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.”

Psalm 136:26 provides us with our response to God for His love: “Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

How do you express your gratitude to God for the gift of His love?

If you do not have a living, active relationship with God, through Jesus, please talk to someone who does. This is the most important decision of your life. You can also reach out to 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 don’t watch or listen to a lot of news, but when I do, I often wonder about how genuine people are. How much integrity do we experience? This is also true in the church – in the group of people who profess to have a relationship with Jesus. 

Take the headlines. It appears that almost every day the mask people have worn is being torn off in someone’s life, and their lack of genuineness and integrity is revealed. 

Why do people wear a mask? Perhaps they feel the need to hide who they really are because of fear of rejection. Perhaps pride is the cause, but whatever the reason, it is so difficult to know if someone is being genuine.

I have a hard time wearing a mask, though there are times I might want to, but my expression usually reveals my thoughts. 

1 John 1:20 provides us with some insight into one who wears a mask: “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” When someone wears a mask, they are hiding behind a lie, and liars have no place in God’s kingdom: “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44

God’s people MUST be known as people who are genuine, who have integrity, who walk in truth. Remember, Jesus proclaimed: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.

God designed His followers to be a community. He expects us to be united together for His purposes. However, when people lack genuineness and integrity, this hinders the body of Christ – God’s true followers. I believe this exposes God’s people to the hand of Satan. God’s people are vulnerable to Satan’s tactics, when His people wear a mask.

In Matthew 7:5, Jesus stated: “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” The word “hypocrite” can be interpreted as a mask. The problem this verse is addressing is the lack of integrity of those who claim to have a relationship with God. These hypocrites were not concerned about their own sin, but about the sin of others.

How do we move from wearing a mask to being genuine? It is the process of repentance. What is repentance? It is coming to a true understanding of God, which in turn reveals truth in us. For instance, it is knowing that God loves me, and wants only good for me. When I grasp that truth, I can be honest about the sin in my life, and desire to turn from sin to God. That is repentance.

But God expects people to be concerned first with our own integrity before we try to help someone else. Why would that be? To me, it makes sense that we cannot help someone else know the love and forgiveness of God, His mercy and grace, unless we ourselves have truly experienced it firsthand.

There is a saying, “You can’t lead someone further than you have gone.” Therefore, we must be certain that we truly live what we expect from others.  

Matthew 15:7-9 states: “You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” Do you see the mask the people Jesus addressed were wearing? They spoke one way, but their hearts were truly in a different place. 

This cannot be so with God’s people. God expects us to have genuineness and integrity.

Does this mean we need to tell everyone all the details of our lives? Absolutely not.

But God does expect us to not hide who we really are.  

What does this look like? 

Perhaps you’ve had a situation arise in your life that is causing you anxiety. You go to church and someone asks you how you are. Without having to divulge all the details, it is ok to say that you have a struggle, and then simply ask the person to pray for you. True followers of Jesus will be ok with that. They will be glad you allowed them the privilege of knowing you need their prayer. Always be truthful. But you don’t need to disclose any information you are not comfortable revealing.

Remember, God is the One with whom we can share all the details of our lives. Afterall, He already knows them, and He simply wants to have a conversation with us about what matters to us. He wants to help us know Him better, so that we can live the abundant life He offers. This only happens when we grow tight with God.

I am reminded of what Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:1-9: “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.”

Wearing a mask, not being genuine with God and His people, lacking integrity, is not profitable. 

Are you prone to wearing a mask, lacking integrity? If you have trouble being genuine, why not find a God-fearing friend, who will not judge you, but is willing to help you know God more intimately so that you can walk with integrity?

Why do you think it is important to be genuine?

What do you think would happen in our churches if we were genuine? I think there would be less judgmentalism, because we would all see our own sin and want to help each other grow in our relationship Jesus.

You can reach 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.

Last week we started looking at Paul’s words to the Ephesian believers in Ephesians 6:18-20.  

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” Ephesians 6:18-20

Paul urged them to “be alert”. 1 Peter 5:8 put that same exhortation this way: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

Christ’s followers have a true enemy. He is powerful, but God is far 

superior and powerful, and He is on our side, when we belong to Jesus.

The next instruction Paul gives is to “always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people”. I have a prayer book [My prayer book is a composition book that I write the names of people and matters I’m praying about.], and that helps me to pray for God’s people. What are you using to help you to remember to pray in the Spirit and in the truth for Christ’s followers?

Paul provided the Ephesian believers with a request for prayer. Please note how this request is eternally minded, and God-honoring: “Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel”. This is an example of a prayer we can ask for ourselves, and for other Christ followers. 

This request from Paul coincides with what we often hear termed as “the Great Commission” given by Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20: “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Jesus has the authority to equip us to make the Gospel known. He desires that we ask Him for that equipping, which is what Paul states in the above passage to the Ephesians.

Paul reminded the Ephesians that he was in prison, but he did not fuss about it, instead, he recognized his calling as Christ’s “ambassador”. Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines ambassador as: “an authorized representative or messenger.” This is exactly what we are when we belong to Jesus. We are His the bearers of His message, and we need His empowerment to make His message known!  

No matter the hardships Paul encountered, He made certain to share the Gospel message, because the eternal welfare of others is far superior to our creature comforts on this earth. One day God’s people will live with Jesus without troubles. But God has us here now, to be His ambassadors.

How should we be declaring the Gospel?  Paul states it in his closing words in the above passage from Ephesians: “Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should”. 

We should proclaim the amazing Good News – Great News – of eternal life to people fearlessly!

Why can we do this? When we belong to Jesus we can do this because He has all power, all authority in heaven and earth, and He equips His people, through His Holy Spirit, with courage.

Do you want to fearlessly and boldly proclaim Christ’s work on the cross, or do you shrink back in fear of rejection? One is an act of faith, the other is an act of sin. 

It’s easy to make excuses why we shouldn’t share truth with others, but God calls us to be His ambassadors to make Him known. 

However, we must do this as we pray in the Spirit, and communicate with God, carefully listening to His voice, and not heading out like a bull in a china store. When we listen and obey God’s voice, as Paul exemplifies, we can fearlessly make Jesus known to others. Praying in the Spirit takes place when our spirit connects with God’s Holy Spirit, and we enter into a time of communication with our God. 

There is nothing more enjoyable, than to communicate with God, obey Him, and to share His Gospel, His message of love and hope to others.

If something is holding you back from fearlessly making Christ known, why not talk with God about it, and also with someone who is bold for Jesus? Perhaps there is something askew in your relationship with God that needs to be worked out before He equips you with courage.

Why not take the necessary time to interact with God to remove fear, and experience His equipping to be His ambassador?

You can find some other thoughts on prayer in my blogs that were published on: January 24, 2024 and March 6, 2024.

I’m always available to chat. You can reach 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.

This is what Paul wrote to the Ephesians in his letter to them:  

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” Ephesians 6:18-20

In these few short verses Paul places a major emphasis on prayer. This is due to the truth that prayer – a conversation with God – is a major part of the relationship a follower of Jesus has with God.

There are many prayers recorded in the Bible for us to study in order to understand what it is to have a conversation with God. I want to focus on the above passage, and the content of Paul’s prayer.

Paul provides several insights into prayer in this passage.

First, we are to pray “in the Spirit”.  What might Paul mean by this phrase?  The Bible is always the first place we should go to find out what it means.  This verse might provide some help:  the Amplified Version states John 4:23 as follows: “But a time is coming and is already here when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit [from the heart, the inner self] and in truth; for the Father seeks such people to be His worshipers.”

What do we learn about praying in the Spirit? Every true follower of Jesus has a new nature. The old self is gone. We have the new heart God has promised. Yes, we still sin, but the person following Jesus looks at sin differently because of being indwelled by God’s sinless Spirit. The true follower of Jesus increasingly recognizes sin and wants to repent. We no longer want to live in the darkness, because we are now in the light of Christ. 

Therefore, our prayers, our communication with God comes from a heart that is touched by God’s Spirit. There is a connection with God that did not happen prior to being born again, justified, reconciled, redeemed, and regenerated. Prior to Christ, prayers are self-focused, but with Christ, they are God-focused and others focused, centering on God’s eternal matters instead of temporary earthly ones.

When God’s people pray, we also communicate with Him honestly. I often use God’s Words in the Bible to talk with Him. Using the Bible – the Truth – keeps me focused on what matters most. 

Prayer – communication with God – is one way we worship Him.

Paul continues by indicating that we should be praying “on all occasions”.

Here are additional verses to support when we should be praying:

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer”. Romans 12:12

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Additionally, God wants us to talk with Him about everything!  Isn’t that wonderful!! We have God, all-knowing, all-powerful, eternal, and so much more, and He wants to talk with us! Paul understood this about God, and that comes through in the above verses from Ephesians: “with all kinds of prayers and requests”.

Next week we will continue looking at Paul’s words to the Ephesians.

But God wants us to incorporate what we are learning into our lives right now. 

Are you a true follower of Jesus?  If not, what is holding you back from making a commitment to Him? Is there something you believe He has done that you don’t like? Perhaps God has been misrepresented to you? 

I would be glad to listen to your concerns.  You can reach me at:  ButGodCares@gmail.com.

If you are a true follower of Jesus, are you connecting with God in Spirit and truth?  If not, why might that be a problem?  If so, praise God!!

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.

Most people have some familiarity with the following passage from Matthew 14:28-33:

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Christ’s followers must live each moment of each day by faith, not by what we see, because what we see can easily distort the truth, or distract us from the truth. 

What truth am I referring to? The truth that Jesus declared in John 14:6: ““I am the way and the truth and the life.”

What does faith in God look like? Hebrews 11:1 gives us understanding of true Godly faith: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Please carefully consider the instructions from God in this verse. Faith is an action. An action of confidence and assurance. Confidence in God that when the winds clamor to frighten us, we are not afraid, but assured that God is in control of them. We don’t falter in obeying Him, but look fully into His eyes and move forward.

When Peter began his walk toward Jesus, as detailed in the account above, he had absolute confidence and assurance in Jesus. His faith was based in keeping his focus on Jesus. But Peter took his eyes off of Jesus, and that was the beginning of his troubles, and thus, Jesus rebuked him. 

We cannot have both faith and doubt at the same time. Consider what James tells us in James 1:6: “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”

From James, do you see what happens when we live in doubt and not faith? The wind tosses us about. 

Consider what happens when a tornado or hurricane brings its fierce winds. There is chaos and disorder. People cannot stand firm. 

This is exactly what happened to Peter, and what happens to us when we take our eyes off of Jesus.

What are the winds that can rise up to distract us from living by faith in Jesus?  Illness, financial struggles, loss of a job, marital struggles, abuse, choices others make that impact us negatively, children who fail to love Jesus, persecution for following Jesus, etc. 

But God is greater than any struggle this world can blow our way. Jesus proved that to Peter when He held Peter by His hand, and safely led him to the boat, walking on the water.

Today, any Christ follower has the permanent indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit. His work includes settling us safely when the winds want to frighten and distract us from living confidently and with assurance in Jesus’ love and protection for us.

You and I have a choice to make when the winds of struggles begin to blow our way. We must decide to keep our eyes fully focused on Jesus. 

How do we keep our eyes fully focused on Jesus in the storm?

We remain true to His Word, saturating our lives in His Word as we read and study it daily. 

We obey His commands, without allowing fear to distract us. Peter obeyed Jesus when He told him to “come” to Him.  Obedience requires the power of God’s Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God will always aid us as we seek to obey Him. Why might we not trust God for that power? How foolish we are when we fail to live by faith, not trusting the One who created us, and who wants to help us!

We must spend time with others who are truly seeking God. There is plenty of opportunity to be in the midst of people who don’t worship God, but God wants us to gather with other followers of Jesus so that we can be strengthened to walk on the water, without sinking, when the winds threaten to undo us.

What are the winds in your life? Do you keep looking at them, or do you keep your focus on Jesus?

Hebrews 11:6 reminds us why we should live by faith: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

God is not a liar, but always keeps His promises. I can testify that as I’ve walked by faith, not by sight, that God has blessed me in my challenges, and calms the wind, in His perfect timing. He is our Reward. God told that to Abraham in Genesis 15:1, and His promise applies to everyone who truly has a personal relationship with Jesus: “After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward”

If you would like to talk and pray with me about the wind in your life, 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.

Victor is defined by the online dictionary as: “A person who defeats an enemy or opponent.”

Victim is defined by the online dictionary as: “A person harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime, accident, or other event or action.”

As I considered the meaning of these two words, I realized that only two letters make a major difference in the meaning of the word, and how we view ourselves. Victim is focused on us, with the ending “im” it reminds us of the word “I’m. Victor is focused on Christ, and His work for and in us.

Christ is the only One who can turn our lives around.  He can make us a victor – over our sinful selves, and where we may have been a victim at the hands of the sins of another.  All praise and honor to Him!

On the cross Jesus defeated the enemy of our souls, the one who made us victims of sin because of the temptation Adam and Eve succumbed to in the garden. 

But God changes all that when we accept Jesus’ sacrifice for the payment of our sins. 

The realization that we are no longer a victim often takes time to manifest itself in our lives. But God is always at work to make His victory real in our hearts and minds. He has provided us with His indwelling Holy Spirit, when we are His children, who works in our hearts and minds to help us change our thinking from that of being a victim to being a victor.

The following verses provide us with some insights into how God does this work in His true followers:

Psalm 51:10: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” God starts by giving us a clean heart. This is not due to anything we can make happen. It is all because of Jesus, and what He did in paying the penalty for our sins when He willingly went to the cross, and was separated from His Father, after living a perfect life of obedience to His Father while in this world.

John 1:12: “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” We gain the title and position of victor because God deemed it so!  It can’t get any better than being God’s child!

God tells us what our part is in this process of living as a victor, and not as a victim:

Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” We need to participate with God as we assume our role as victor.  It is a position that He has already provided. It is not anything we can earn, but it is something we cooperate with His Holy Spirit in as he does His work in us.

How do we “renew” our minds? Colossians 3:2 provides guidance for that process: “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” This is certainly not as easy as it sounds. At least for me, I find my thoughts straying to earthly people and situations far more than is beneficial for me. But God helps me to return my thoughts to Him.

In Colossians 3:16 Paul provides further instructions for this renewal process: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” It is not only a private matter, but it is a corporate matter – when we gather with others who have a true relationship with Jesus.

In 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 we are given additional guidance for dealing with the lies the enemy of our soul tosses at us, wanting to keep us in victim mode: “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” We must take every thought and see if it aligns with the Word of God, and if it doesn’t, we must toss them out of our thinking.

While we are daily reading God’s Word, taking time to be in communication with Him, and in vulnerable fellowship with other Christ followers, 2 Corinthians 4:16 tells us what God is doing for us: “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.”

Additionally, God promises to set us free in John 8:32: “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Jeremiah 29:11 provided God’s people, the nation of Israel, with a promise that He would be working for their future benefit. Ultimately, Jesus fulfilled that promise: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

God desires that we rest in Him, and His promises. He is always working to bring us from being victims, being held captive by sin, into His kingdom where we live as victors.  All of this is due to His mercy and grace!

All praise and glory to our great God!

Do you still feel as if you are a victim to your own sin or the sin of another?  If so, please contact me at:  ButGodCares@gmail.com so we can 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.