Tag: jesus

Uncategorized

November 29, 2021 – Luke 2:10

The Kedge Anchor

Happy Monday! Here is today’s Memorize Monday free coloring page. Luke 2:10, “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.'”

Salvation for the world has arrived!! As we prepare for Christmas, take time to ponder the birth of Christ. Imagine what it was like for the shepherds. What if you were there. Would you be startled, afraid? Would you run away? Would you feel threatened or in awesome wonder?

These shepherds ran, but they ran to see baby Jesus in a manger and as they went, they passed the word along the way for others to come and see. When they arrived can you imagine? What did they see? I imagine these shepherds were Jewish and they had read the scriptures. Since the birth of Jesus was prophesied in Isaiah 9:6 “Unto us a child is born;” his prophetic promise of a “special child who would bring light into a darkened world and be the prince of peace provides comfort to readers of all generations.” Even still, not expecting this wondrous announcement, they most likely were a little scared, it probably took them a few minutes to recall what they had known.

Take some time today to reflect what it may have been like herding sheep in the thick of the night and angels appearing in the sky to tell you that the Messiah has come, Salvation is here.

Nov 29Download
“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid I bring you great joy that will cause Good News for all the people.”
Uncategorized

November 22, 2021 – 2 Corinthians 9:11

The Kedge Anchor

Happy Monday! Hope you are enjoying these free coloring pages to help with memorizing God’s word. With Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner it’s good time of year to reflect on our generosity and gratefulness. Generosity is cultivated through being grateful. When we are thankful, it changes everything about our outlook and attitude. We become generous with our time, our love, compassion, our finances, our time; we want to share what we have with others.

And think about this when we are generous today we are laying stones for the next generation like in the book of Joshua. By donating our time, our money, our resources, we are laying stones and building God’s Kingdom so that one day others will see how God worked through us and ask, “What do these stones mean to you?” Joshua 4:6.

Nov 22Download

Uncategorized

The Hope of a New Day

The Kedge Anchor

Photo by Jill Wellington on Pexels.com

    “… for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning great is your faithfulness.”

Lamentations 3:22-23

Have you ever watched the sun rise? Each day is truly a gift from God. Don’t take that for granted especially if you are waking up in a warm bed. Each day God gives us is a new space in time. He gives us this new space in time in which to live, to repent, if we haven’t the day before, a new space in time to start over, to try again, to get it right. With each new day there is hope of a break through, there is hope of restoration, reconciliation. We can start anew everyday, fresh because His mercies are new every day.

We can begin each new day with pouring out your heart to God. Express your anger, disappointments, your plea for help, your sadness, sorrow, repentance. Express your joy, your thanksgiving, be grateful, the Bible does say, “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18. So right there if you are waking up and thanking God, you are doing God’s will.

We all have problems, we all carry them around with us. Reflect on the day before. Did you carry those problems into the new day? God asks us to give Him our burdens, Matthew 11:28-30, 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” To me without starting this new day and not recognizing whether or not I am still carrying my problems with me is like moving into a new house and bringing the garbage with you. God doesn’t want you to carry your problems. He wants them. God has given you this new day, this new time in space to give Him back your worries. We are human we tend to want to do things our way and in our time. But God’s ways aren’t our ways, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” Isaiah 55:8 and everything in His time, “He has made everything beautiful in its time… ” Ecclesiastes 3:11. Those problems, the strongholds that challenge us everyday they may seem like they aren’t going away and they just shadow us day after day, give them to God, bring them to Him in prayer. God gives us enough grace and mercy for each day, not for the next day or the day after that, enough for today. We don’t have tomorrow, but God does go before us because He is omnipresent, eternal. And He does tell us not to take thought about tomorrow, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34

We are human and just when we say ,”Ok God it’s yours, we sometimes can take it right back by fretting and trying to figure out how to solve the problem, either through manipulation, stealing, cheating, lying, whatever to change the situation. So what does that look like? What does giving it to God look like? What does it look like to you? How can we not let a situation overcome us?

This is what it looks like to me. Turning that worry into prayer. Pray God’s word, pray His promises back to Him. We can let God speak to us by quieting our hearts and not get distracted. His words have power and authority. What a great resource! Maybe try to reach out to someone. Maybe there is someone you know who may be struggling too, ask them how you can pray for them. Is there an elderly person or a shut in that needs some company or something done for them? Reach out to them, bring them a home cooked meal or a dessert and spend some time with them. Offer to babysit for a friend or a single parent. Write a letter, a good old fashion letter with pen and paper or even a greeting card with encouragement and mail it. Research shows that not only helping others feels good, but we can reap the benefits by helping others. While we are doing God’s work, by helping and ministering to others, we are taking letting God take our problems and worries by getting our minds off our problems. In Galatians 6:2, the Bible tells us to carry each other’s burdens; “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

Sometimes it may be necessary to reach out to a counselor or therapist or a pastor for help. And that’s ok. God can use anyone and anything to help heal us. The struggle can be real and hard sometimes BUT with GOD… all things are possible, – Matthew 19:23-26. Watch the sunrise one day, get up early and begin your day pouring out your heart to God. There is HOPE. There is HOPE in each new day. Be encouraged.

Uncategorized

November 15, 2021 – Colossians 3:15

The Kedge Anchor

Memorize Monday – free coloring page, Colossians 3:15- “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” God asks us to be thankful. If you want to know the will of God, be thankful. Yes God has more than that for us to do, but it’s a good place to start if you are looking to do God’s will. We were called to be thankful and the peace of God to rule in our hearts. There are many benefits to being thankful. Being thankful can improve mental and physical health. Having a heart of gratitude can foster empathy and allow us to be content with what we already have. For are you thankful for today? Share in the comments and if you find encouragement in the post, please like and share.


Nov 15Download

Colossians 3:15

Uncategorized

September 20, 2021 – Philippians 2:13

The Kedge Anchor

Memorize Monday – free coloring page – Philippians 2:13 “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”

God can work through us, through the desires He gives us. If we ask Him to align our desires and hearts with Him He will lead us. We need to sensitive to His leading and His voice and be courageous to follow that leading. Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous…” Happy coloring!

Sept 20Philippians 2:13

Memorize Monday
Philippians 2:13
Uncategorized

Green Pastures

The Kedge Anchor
Image from IsraelU.org

“The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing, He makes me lie down in green pastures, …” – Psalm 23.

A good shepherd looks out for his sheep. The sheep know and follow his voice. A good shepherd goes after the one that looses its way, he leaves the 99 and searches until he finds that one lost sheep and returns to the fold. A good shepherd looks for the green pasture, the tuft of grass like the one pictured above, for the sheep to graze upon.

Back in David’s day, the green pastures aren’t the lush green pastures we think of. David was in the desert of Israel, green was far and few between. So the shepherds had to look and lead the sheep to the green pastures, the tufts of grass in the desert.

So it is with Jesus. He is our good Shepherd. He is going before us each day clearing the path for us and leading us to green pastures. He has cleared the path to the greenest pasture, Heaven.

1 Timothy 2:4 – “who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” God desires that all men be saved, to come to know Him, Truth. And so He made a way. He created us to have a relationship with Him but sin entered the world and that relationship was broken. So God sent His Son Jesus to pay sin’s penalty. It was Jesus sacrificing His life for us that paves our way to Heaven. Not our works, not our deeds, nothing of ourselves can get us into Heaven but accepting the blood of Jesus. We must choose. We must choose to hear His voice, we must choose to follow HIs voice, we must choose Him to enter our hearts.

John 10: 2 – ” The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.” John 10:9 – ““I am the Gate for the sheep,”

So even today this very moment, Jesus has not only paved the way to Heaven, which we could never do ourselves, each day He is leading us to green pastures. You may be in a difficult situation and wondering where that green pasture is. It’s there, it may not be what you think it should look like. In our own personal deserts there are green pastures. It may not be the lush green grassy field you are thinking of. It could something small and simple, unexpected. Maybe it’s just a verse from God’s word for you to cling to. Or perhaps it is a song in your heart. Maybe it’s just a text from a friend saying they are thinking of you. Maybe it’s a happy memory God gives to carry you through the day. Maybe it’s just ten minutes to savor between appointments. God gives us what we need. Its not always what we think we need. It can be hard to recognize the green pastures. Listen for his voice, follow Him.

For further reading: John 10:1-8, 1 Timothy 2:1-6

More resources: Israelu.org, Dave Adamson

Uncategorized

August 30, 2021 – John 6:54

The Kedge Anchor

Memorize Monday – free coloring page John 6:54 “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” (NIV)

Jesus is the bread of life, John 6:35. The Spirit gives life, v.63. When we are reading God’s word we are partaking of His word, His flesh, and are being filled with His Spirit, (His blood), John 1:14. In verses 40 and 47 Jesus says anyone who believes in me will have eternal life. In verse 54 Jesus says whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life. All we have to do is accept Jesus’ offer. He is asking us to believe by faith, Ephesians 2:8-9. Our good works will not get us into Heaven.

Is Jesus calling you today? He doesn’t require you to clean up your act. He’s not waiting for when you overcome your problems. When you are sick you don’t wait until you’re feeling better to go to the doctor you go when you are sick. Jesus came because of your problems, He wants to help you, He wants to give you eternal life. Let’s face it this world, it isn’t going to get better. And once Jesus comes to meet us in the clouds, there won’t be another chance. Will you let Him help you today? If not now, when?

Aug 30Download

Please subscribe if you like today’s post and be notified of new posts and as always please like and share, thank you

Uncategorized

Joy is Having a Feast

The Kedge Anchor
Photo by Taryn Elliott on Pexels.com

“Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”

Psalm 34:8

David, a man after God’s heart, who wrote the psalms, encourages the reader in Psalm 34 to experience God for themselves. We can hear about God’s goodness but David invites us to experience His goodness. We can’t really experience anything just by hearing about it. But when we use our other senses we can become fully engaged. We are invited to taste and see for ourselves God’s goodness.

All throughout the Bible there are passages that speak of feasts, festivals and food. Adam and Eve were placed in a garden with food, (Genesis2:8). In the Old Testament we can read about seven feasts that point to Christ. The Passover, (Leviticus 23:4-8); Unleavened Bread, (Leviticus 23:6); First Fruits, (Leviticus 23:10); Feast of Weeks, (Leviticus 23:16); Feast of Trumpets,(Leviticus 23:24); Day of Atonement, (Leviticus 16, 23:26-32); and the Feast of Tabernacles, (Leviticus 23:34). In the New Testament, God’s goodness was experienced at the Wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11) where Jesus turned water into wine. Jesus fed 5000 (Matthew 14:13-21) with five loaves of bread and two fish, another miracle that people were able to experience God’s goodness through food. Jesus and His disciples ate at the Last Super (Matthew 26:17-30) in the upper room and fellowshipped. In Revelation we read of the marriage super of the Lamb (Revelation 19:6-9) where we will celebrate finally being united with Jesus face to face.

Food grows us, food can heal us, food fuels us, it sustains us. Is any coincidence that God’s word is the bread of life? When we taste and see, we are experiencing. When we read God’s word, we are tasting and seeing, we are fueling our souls and fortifying our bodies. Proverbs 4:20-22 “My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.”

God speaks to us through His word, we can experience a revelation or a “ah ha” moment. We learn and when we learn we are growing our knowledge. We grow when we partake of God’s word daily. We can enhance our experience by fellowshipping with others and reading His word together. It’s kind of like sharing a meal with someone when we share God’s word and fellowship with others in His word, we are tasting and seeing, experiencing. We are not only experiencing the taste of food but enjoying company of the person or persons with whom we are eating. And what a joy it is, either sharing a meal or sharing God’s word and hearing from God Himself.

Taste and see that the Lord is good today. Feast on His word, experience Him by reading His word and sharing it with others.

Uncategorized

Happy New Year! 2020

The Kedge Anchor

AHOY! Welcome to the Kedge Anchor.

post

Jeremiah 29:11 ” 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.” (NIV)

Happy New Year! WOW the year 2020. Sounds so futuristic. Then there’s all the 2020 jokes, 20/20 vision in the new year. LOL The future can be exciting. And it can be scary. Simply because we don’t know what the future holds.

But it doesn’t have to be scary. The Bible tells us “be anxious for nothing.” Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” (NIV) You can ask God anything. He already knows what’s on your mind and heart. So why ask, you may be thinking. Because he loves you, he wants to hear from you. Just like you want to hear your spouse, your parents, your friends or those you love to say “I love you.” You know it, but you want to hear it. Jesus is the same way.

Matthew 6:25-34 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (NIV) Sometimes this is easier said than done.

But when you think about it, like verse 27 says, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Worry isn’t changing anything. It’s just stealing your peace.

We can have confidence in the future. Confident that God knows all, he is omniscient. Psalm 139:1-4 “O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, You know it all.” Job 28:24 ” for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.” He knows us in the past, Psalm 139:13 “For you created me my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” He knows us in the present ” Matthew 10:30 ” And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” And we shed hair constantly, don’t we? So, he knows at any given time how many hairs on our heads, even the gray ones. And he knows our future, Jeremiah 29:11 “ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD…”

“Worry is assuming responsibilities that God never intended for you to handle, …” I’m not sure where this quote originated, other than Facebook, but that’s exactly what we are doing when we worry. It’s hard NOT to worry, I’ve been there, but I have also been there in total surrender to God and HE HAS ALWAYS COME THROUGH!!! YAY!! VICTORY! WHo doesn’t want that? Sometimes things turned out totally different than how I planned, but it always turned out for the best. Sometimes I was in a holding pattern and for a reason. Usually to transform me and grow me and time for him to just do his work. Because, 1 Corinthians 2:9 “However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard and what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love him. (NIV).

Every time a hard situation comes up, try to let go and give it to God. And fill that void of no worry with praise and prayer. Reach out to someone in need and watch those plans he has for you unfold. The future doesn’t have to be scary. Not when you know who holds it. It’s hard, I know, but trust, little by little that trust will grow and VICTORY will be yours!
Happy New Year! 

Please click the following links to learn more About Contact Knowing Jesus