God is faithful even when we are not

So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. (HEBREWS 6:18) This is what makes the foundation of our relationship with God so solid God has given us His Word. Which cannot fail. If we are ever presented with evidence contrary to what God says, we can know we are being presented with a lie. For it is impossible for God to lie. God cannot lie because it is not His nature, and because whatever He speaks will happen. Let the church declare with a resounding voice that our King and Redeemer can be trusted! For our Heavenly Father has proven His faithfulness to us. Even while we have been unfaithful to Him! God does not lie. He is both love and truth! Worthy to praise! No other King has ever been so true and so faithful to you and me.

The greater good

Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:10) Oh true children of God! Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another as Christ has demonstrated love at Calvary! It is easy to say anything? But to give love feet and put it into action is fulfilling Jesus' direct orders to His followers. If you are a true follower of Christ. This must be the major characteristic found in you! The unending love of Christ is active in your daily life. When was the last time you focused on the greater good for another? Even better for one, you declare your love. Not the greater good as you see it, or are comfortable with. If you think Jesus was comfortable on that cross. You have missed the whole point of the gospel and the love that Jesus demands we give to others. Do you not understand that kind of love is a trademark found only in the true children of God? For whoever loves others as Christ loves the church has fulfilled the law. 

Early

Early Sunday morning two inconsolable women went to complete Jesus’ burial preparation, which had been left unfinished because of the Sabbath. Yet in an instant, their mourning was turned to joy. An angel greeted them, saying, “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said” (28:6).  Their original task forgotten, the women ran to tell the disciples. And on the way, they saw the Messiah—as if Jesus had never been gone! There He was, breathing and smiling and very much alive, bearing the scars of His passion.  Tomorrow, their joy will be ours once again as we celebrate Christ’s resurrection. Tomorrow, we will sing of His triumph over sin and the grave. But today, we dwell in the silence. Let us focus our heart and mind on what occurred behind that heavy stone and know it was accomplished for us.

Psalm 77:11-12

I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work and meditate on your mighty deeds. (Psalm 77:11-12) The author of Psalm 77, Asaph, acknowledges that he feels overwhelmed by his present plight. His world seems to be falling apart. God feels distant and he doesn’t know what to do. Maybe you are in that place today. Can you relate to being overwhelmed with external stressors? Asaph shows us the only way is God! Brothers and sisters let us remember and reflect on God’s faithfulness, our current worries, fears, and anxieties begin to fade into the background. God might not necessarily remove the circumstances, but He will give us that eternal perspective with which to view them. Notice Asaph refers to the “deeds of the Lord” and “wonders of old.” Specifically, he recounts how God showed His power on behalf of His people through the exodus from Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea. He focused on tangible demonstrations of God’s victory over the forces of chaos and oppression. The same God who parted the sea is still present and active in our lives today. Look again and see that Asaph gives us more helpful direction. “I will ponder all Your work,” he writes, “and meditate on Your mighty deeds.” Two words emphasize that remembering is active and intentional. Ponder (think carefully, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion). Meditate (think deeply and digest the truth of God’s Word). Oh, Father in Heaven you search the hearts of mankind. Holy Spirit guide us to that place where we fully are dependent upon Jesus! That we can learn to rejoice even in hard times! Who and what are you trusting in? When the storms come and yes they will. Remember Jesus as Peter told his wife as Peter was heading to the cross!

John 1:3-5

All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not. (John 1:3-5) Do you not know? That the creator of the universe is mindful of you! Yes, you! He left heaven to come and see about us in our lost state! He is the light of the world. If you are His, then let the world which dwells happily in darkness see Jesus' light shining brightly in you! Stephen's light shined so bright that they decided he had to die. But Jesus' light can never be put out. Lord may your light be found operating daily in our lives. May all we do and say reflect your love to a world in darkness. May they see the light of Jesus operating in your life and desire to walk in the light of Jesus.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:20-21

We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God. Him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him. (2 CORINTHIANS 5:20-21) An ambassador is a resident representative for the head of state of their own country. As citizens of Heaven, we are authorized to represent our King, the Lord Jesus Christ, here on Earth. Because of what Jesus did on the cross at Calvary you! Yes, you! Have been put in right standing with God. By the shedding of the blood of the Lamb of God! No longer are you a slave, but now a child of the King. The logic supporting the plea in verse 20, to be reconciled to God, is found in verse 21: the sin separating us from God has been dealt with through Christ. So we no longer need to hide from God, or fear His judgment. Instead, we can enjoy His gift of being made right with Him. A good ambassador for Heaven must know the Word of God, and live it out accurately and according to the will of God! So that others will want to accompany you back to your Father's house. After He has many rooms, He wants His house full!

John 15:16

Ye did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that ye should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. (John 15:16) Oh Church, let us rejoice in being the redeemed of the Lord! God so loved you, that He sent His only begotten Son down from Heaven! To redeem that which was lost. What love the Father has. I'm so thankful for Calvary, for there is where we were set free of sin. You are no longer a slave to sin. So stop acting like one! You are a child of the King of the universe. Act like a child of the King, so that the world might come to believe and know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior!

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23) This is why oh children of God. Our hope must be in Christ alone. Not in works plus Christ! Those that accept the gift of Salvation, that Christ offers to all of mankind. Is freed from slavery to sin. We must decide to trust and follow Christ. For there is no other name by which we can be saved!

John 14:6

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (JOHN 14:6) The original church was called the Way! The word translated as "way" means road. Jesus is the road to God. The Bible is clear. Jesus did not lie. There is no salvation or access to Heaven without receiving Jesus Christ. There is no other name by which we can be saved! Let the church rejoice that Jesus is the way to salvation. Is the way for the broken-hearted to find peace in Jesus. The way to find Perfect love is by finding Jesus! For Jesus is the way and the truth and light. Oh church if Jesus is not found in you. Then you are not found in Jesus. Let it be known to all that have ears to hear. Jesus is our all and all, if you have Jesus you have all that you need!

1 Corinthians 10:13

No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it. (1 CORINTHIANS 10:13) Daily I feel overwhelmed and want to say please take me home! I'm not strong enough for this! At some point, all of us will be tempted to lose hope and give up. But we always have a choice: focus on God and stay in faith, or focus on the problem and give up. Problems no matter how huge they seem to us are no problem to God. Nothing is too hard, or complicated, for God to solve. But God wants us to trust Him. So what should you do when you are being tempted and feel like giving in and giving up? Refuse! Just keep your focus on the Lord and rejoice in His faithfulness. Remember that God cannot lie, and will never fail. God will see you through.

Psalm 104:1-3

Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Who covers thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind.” (Psalm 104:1-3) David directs the follower of God to lift their voices to the Creator of the universe. Our whole being is called to bless the Lord at all times. He is my Redeemer and my Savior and Lord. Before the foundation of the earth was established. He knew you! What great love the Father has for mankind. What other god, do you know of, that would leave their thrown? To suffer in the place of the guilty? Let us bless the name of our Redeemer and Lord! For He is worthy of all the praises.

ISAIAH 61:1

I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels. (ISAIAH 61:10) Children of God, remember that it was Calvary that we were set free from our slavery to sin! Never allow the lies of the father of lies to convince you. That God's love and redemption for you is real! Go ahead jump and shout! Oh church It pleases God for us to trust Him and in the salvation He has given us!

HABAKKUK 3:18

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! (HABAKKUK 3:18) Children of the King. Let the joy of the Lord be found operating in your daily life! To rejoice means to re-joy, or repeatedly enjoy. We are to repeatedly and continually enjoy the love grace and mercy that is poured out on us daily! Let us be mindful and filled with thanksgiving and joy. For what Jesus has done for us at Calvary and our daily provisions are above and beyond what we deserve. Let the church always be filled with the joy of the Lord!

If He calls you answer

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God” (1 Corinthians 1:26-29) Perhaps you are like me. I feel and know I'm not qualified. I find it hard to believe that God would call one such as me! Then I was Reminded of this truth. “God doesn’t call the qualified; he qualifies the called.” Did you know that Moses had a speech impediment? He gave every excuse and begged God to use someone else instead when God called him to lead (Exodus 4). Abraham lived the first part of his life in the Ur of the Chaldees, a country steeped in polytheism. Not exactly the best prep to become the patriarch of the people of God, right? The Apostle Paul, before his conversion, actively persecuted and killed followers of Christ. King David was an adulterer and murderer and a liar . Jonah ran from where God called him to go. The list goes on and on. So if God is calling you! You are in good company. Perhaps this will help? God does need us but invites us to be apart of what He is doing. My earthly father would invite me to help him. I later found out, it was to spend time with him. God wants to spend time with you! He will prepare you to do the good works He gives you to do. Father be glorified in all that we do for your name sake! Whether it is to be a teacher of the Word. Bring glory to His name. Whether it is to be a parent, a spouse, a friend, the janitor, or a part of the parking lot team. Do it all unto the Lord. Bring honor and glory to Him and not your flesh! Choose today to bring honor or shame to His Holy name. Your actions speak louder than words!

Do not let your heart grow weary

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (GALATIANS 6:9) Oh, church do not grow weary. Keep your eyes on the Lord. His Word will work and produce a harvest of blessings in your life. Don't doubt it! Let the children of God keep trusting in God and never give up! He did not bring you this to abandon you. He came to make all things news. We must die to ourselves and fully trust Jesus. We can not trust your flesh or your feelings or your fears! Do you not know? All of these wars are against the will of God for your life! Perhaps we must admit we have no clue what good is. God’s version of Good is His perfect love. Putting the well-being of those that God has placed in your circle of influence( friends, family, spouse, neighbors, co-workers). Let not our selfish version of love, but God’s perfect love be found operating in all that we say and do! So God and not our flesh is glorified!

God can not lie

God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? (NUMBERS 23:19) So the promises of God can be trusted. He is worthy of the praises. It's not just that God has decided He will not lie He CANNOT lie. God only speaks the truth! Whatever God says will come into being even if it did not exist before He said it. Oh, church do you not know? God cannot lie because it is contrary to His nature. God's nature is one of selfless love for you and me. His nature is not to deceive. It is natural for God to be truthful and loving and never to deceive.

1 Corinthians 10:13

No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it. (1 CORINTHIANS 10:13) Daily I feel overwhelmed and want to say please take me home! I'm not strong enough for this! At some point, all of us will be tempted to lose hope and give up. But we always have a choice: focus on God and stay in faith, or focus on the problem and give up. Problems no matter how huge they seem to us are no problem to God. Nothing is too hard, or complicated, for God to solve. But God wants us to trust Him. So what should you do when you are being tempted and feel like giving in and giving up? Refuse! Just keep your focus on the Lord and rejoice in His faithfulness. Remember that God cannot lie, and will never fail. God will see you through.

Putting others first as Christ did

Each of us should please our neighbors for their own good, to build them up. (Romans 15:2) Oh, church do you not know? That even Christ Himself did not seek His greater good. Yet He sought the greater good for mankind. Even at a great cost to Himself! If you only seek your own happiness and the greater good for yourself. Then you only know of Jesus, you do not know Him! For we are called to be light and salt in a dark world. How can that be accomplished? If you are not operating in Jesus' perfect love. Today and every day we must learn to die to self and our will and seek to do the will of Jesus. That the world sees His perfect love in action in your life. So what are you waiting for? It

Clean Heart

Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10) Why was this so important to David? Maybe it is because from the heart of mankind springs forth evil intentions such as fornication, theft, and murder, to name a few. Like David, I'm aware that only God can fix the heart. Oh, church let us hold fast to God's promise. He declared in Ezekiel. He will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; God alone not you plus God. Just God Himself will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Let us pray to have our hearts in line with the will of God! No longer with the will of our flesh!

God is Good

Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (GENESIS 1:31) God says that all He made is good. Oh children of the true king of kings! If we listen to or begin to believe the father of lies. We begin to believe that there is nothing good in this world/our lives Such lies we will bring about depressed, or maybe even bitterness toward God! If we think life is good, we will be thankful. No matter what your circumstances are, there are always things to be thankful for and reasons to rejoice. If we focus on the goodness and greatness of God: all He has created and all He has done for us, life will seem good. If, instead, we focus on our pains and problems, we will not know joy! Even the bad things in life are all the result of sin entering into the world. Anything that causes us the church to draw nearer to God and act on His Word is good. It will bring forth Good fruit! Let us seek the goodwill of our Heavenly Father for our lives while it is still day.

https://endhomelessness.org/

 By Per Capita Experiences of Homelessness. Population size is important. But another critical question is: how common is it to experience homelessness within a jurisdiction? Per capita data answers this question by highlighting the share of the general population falling into the group.

 

Per capita experiences of homelessness vary greatly. For example, at the state level, Mississippi represents a low rate of homelessness, with only 4 people out of every 10,000 experiencing homelessness. Californians have the highest likelihood of being unhoused, however—44 out of every 10,000 residents. Similar variation exists at the local level, with Humboldt County, California reporting the highest per capita experiences of homelessness (121 out of every 10,000 people) and the CoC serving Dearborn, Michigan having the lowest (2 out of every 10,000 people).

Several major cities with high housing costs top the list of CoCs with the highest likelihood of homelessness, including San Francisco, New York City, Los Angeles, Boston, Washington, D.C., Portland, and Seattle. Implementing solutions to the housing affordability crisis in those areas would tremendously advance the goal of ending homelessness.

While housing costs and population size play into per capita experiences of homelessness, there are likely other factors contributing to high per capita rates. Researchers, data experts, and others should continue efforts to identify and unpack them.