Words from Bishop Shaw

GOD IS FOR YOU Romans 8:31-32 (NKJV) What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? This is a verse that we should claim every day of our lives. "If God is for us?" Stop there for a moment and think about that. God, your Father, is for you! He wants you to succeed, to be well, and to be blessed. Any good earthly father would want that for his children. How much more the Father of fathers? Our Heavenly Father is so for us, that it does not matter who would be against us. Even if everyone in this world is against me, I have the One who created the world on my side! We used to say as kids, "My dad's bigger than your dad," and you know, sometimes he was and sometimes he was not. But in this case, we boldly declare that our Dad is bigger than anything that this world can throw at us! You might say, "I have messed so many things up in my life, God could not restore them." Why not? Throughout the Bible, we see people who have messed up, and how God restored them. Jesus did not come for only those who are well; He came for us that are sick. We see Jesus empowering the woman at the well who was married five times and was living with a guy. We see Jesus helping the woman caught in adultery. We see Jesus having dinner with a tax collector, and we see the Father running to embrace his prodigal son. These stories of real people's lives were written for you and for me. They were written so that you might know that God is for you and not against you. That He is on your side, and today, He wants you to be a winner in life. He wants you blessed so you can be a blessing. Confession: My Heavenly Father is for me. He wants me to succeed and be blessed. He wants me so blessed, today, that it will overflow to others. My Father cares about the big and little things in my life. With this knowledge, I know that I can win in life!

PEACE WITH GOD Romans 5:1 (NKJV) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Peace with God; what a beautiful thought! I know growing up, I always thought that God was mad at me, and that He was looking for ways to make my life miserable. Then, I was born again. I let Jesus into my heart to save me from my sins, and to be my friend. Once I did that, everything changed. I found that God was my Father, and He wanted to take a Father's place in my life. I found that He loved me and gave me His very best, Jesus, His only begotten Son. I found out that He wanted to take my hand and walk me through the valleys of life. He promised me that He would never leave me, and never forsake me. Just as I, an earthly father, want the very best for my children, so I saw that God, my Heavenly Father, wanted the very best for me. Since then, it has truly been an adventure and a blessing! So, where are you in your walk with your Heavenly Father? Do you have peace with Him? From this verse, we see that it is available to us, and it is by faith that we obtain it. The first part of this verse says, "Having been justified by faith." Our justification comes through faith in the finished work of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. It does not come by how good we can be, but by faith in His great atonement for us. So, instead of looking at all your mistakes and shortcomings, look to Jesus, and see His perfection and holiness. Then see yourself "in Him." See yourself justified, or "just as if you have never sinned." See yourself at peace with God, and talk to Him as if it is true, because it is! That is how God, your Father, sees you, and that is how He wants you to live! Confession: Today, I see myself as justified and at peace with God. I see myself holy in His sight, not because of what I have done, but because of what Jesus, my Lord, has done for me.

GIVE THANKS 2 Corinthians 9:15 (AMP) Now thanks be to God for His Gift, [precious] beyond telling [His indescribable, inexpressible, free Gift]! Ephesians 5:20 (NKJV) Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thanksgiving is here! When we think of this day, we, as Christians, should rise up and GIVE THANKS, no matter what life has brought our way. We, as Christians, have a hope that the unsaved do not have. You might say, "Well, if you knew my life, you would not be saying that." But I think of the words of Jesus that He said to His disciples when they came back from a mission trip and were so excited about casting out devils: Luke 10:20, "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." You and I have a blessed hope. We have eternal life within us. One day, all of this is going to be gone, and we will be living with Him for all eternity. All that is in this world is going to pass away, but all that we do for Christ will last forever. So today, I want to let you in on a little secret. The way to have victory, and to live above the things of this world, is to give thanks. Not to give thanks for the evil the devil might be bringing against you, but to rejoice because your Father in heaven is with you, and will always give you the victory, if you keep your trust in Him. When trials come, and they come to all of us, start praising the Father and giving Him thanks. Lift up your eyes to Him and rejoice in His goodness. Do not dwell on what the enemy is trying to bring against you, but dwell on the One who is able to deliver you and bring you to a higher place. So this REJOICE, and give thanks! This pleases the Father, and shows Him that your trust is in Him, and not in the situations of life. Rejoice today, because your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life! Confession: Today, I make a decision not to dwell on all that is going on in me, or in the world. Instead, I will dwell on my Father's goodness, and give Him thanks on this Thanksgiving Day!