UNITED HEARTS: REMEMBER AND BELIEVE!

By Sherry Cumby
Rainbows & Butterflies; Branches and Promises. Rainbows & Butterflies; Branches and Promises

There are many things that should warm our hearts and bring out the child in us.

Rainbows, Butterflies, and heart-shaped rose petals are gifts God has given us in creation that cause our hearts to light up with shear delight by linking the pleasures of this earth with the heart of God bringing out the joy of appreciation!

Today, May We Remember:

• The promise above every rainbow,
• The patience required for a caterpillar to become a beautiful butterfly, and
• To always take time to be still and smell the roses.

Prayer is a gift which sets our HEARTS on fire by a supernatural metamorphosis because of who God is and what Jesus Christ has done for us by His Holy Spirit who lives in our hearts.

Stop and consider that we can be in our living room, in our church, or at the mall; yet, our prayers, when prayed with faith, go into the very presence of the Glory of the Lord's throne room in heaven.

As Christians, we are to stretch a rainbow of God's promises over the local church and its ministries.

The purpose of our church is to provide the community and those attending our church with spiritual inspiration, personal motivation, practical instruction, and a renewed commitment to serve God in every area of our lives. Whether it be as a representative of the church or just doing our chores throughout the week, we represent God's people and His love for mankind.

The Challenge:
From Genesis to Malachi we are commanded to REMEMBER.

• Remember that God is our Creator.
• Remember that He created light, the heavens, earth with dry land, seas, and vegetation; the sun, moon, planets and stars; the fish, birds, and butterflies; animals and mankind
• Remember that He rested on the 7th day.

Remember the Flood and His promise of the rainbow, Genesis 9:16, "When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth."
        All of nature benefits from such a promise!!!

Just as it is important for God to remember His promise(s), He is absolutely delighted when we choose to remember and receive them as our own and share the Good News with others.

• Remember His greatness. God is the Great I AM. He is a Promise Keeper.
• Remember that nothing happens without prayer.
• Remember that God has called us to join Him in His work.
• Remember to stay focused on Him as we work together in a spirit of unity with enthusiasm for His glory.
  Genesis 9:16 "When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth."

The rainbow which stretched from the ark ended at the cross of Calvary, dazzled the entrance of the empty tomb, and remained in the cloud as Jesus ascended into the very presence of God our Father.

We truly have seen the ends of the rainbow! The fulfillment of the promised covenant is reflective in the glory on the faces of the pregnant mother, the innocence of children, and the hope we see in the elderly when they are stretching out to the Father for their protection and their call to their heavenly home.
Someone has said that the word which sums up the Old Testament is REMEMBER; the summary of the New Testament is BELIEVE.

Not only must we Remember but we must Believe.
Jesus said: "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

As we remember and listen to the voice of God who calls us to prayer, let us believe in a restoration of believers. Believers who believe nothing is impossible with God. Believers whose faith is steadfast and whose face is looking for the Master's touch on everything we attempt to do. Let us run the race remembering His promises and believing that all those promises have or will be fulfilled as we partner with Him in all of our endeavors.

Matthew 18:18 "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven."

Matthew 18:19 "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst."

Matthew 17:20 "...I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain 'Move from here to there,' and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you."

Acts 4:31 "And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak the word of God with boldness."

Ephesians 6:18 "...pray at all times in the Spirit..."

And God rested on the 7th day!

We are to take note that God was not tired, nor was he needing to sleep where his energy could be renewed.

He simply needed to worship and rest in His promises to mankind.

We need to do likewise! Worship the Creator, not the created...and rest in the promise that we who have placed our faith and trust in the Savior, God's only Begotten Son (Jesus), will be with Him for eternity.