Last week we started a series of blogs regarding the topic “Gifts That Bear Fruit.”  I would encourage you to go back and read last week’s entry if you have not already done so. It will lay a good foundation to what we will be discussing today and next week.

As we think about the Christmas season and the traditions of gift giving, I would like to share with you SEVEN GIFTS that we can develop in our own lives and then have ready to give to others that will in turn bear much fruit to glorify our Father.

Gift # 1:  The Gift of Forgiveness

In Matthew 18:23-35 we read about the parable of the unforgiving servant. Here are a few details we glean from this story.

•  It was a time of settling accounts.
•  The Master wanted his money.
•  The servant couldn’t pay so he begged for mercy.
•  The Master forgave him and let him go.

However, that servant refused to forgive. He then held his own worker in bondage and refused to forgive. When the...

Jesus said in John 15:8:  By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Mothers of Nations, as we come into this Christmas season, do any of you start to think about gifts? I certainly do as I ponder what I could buy for my kids, grandkids, relatives, spouse, special friends, etc.

And for me, this process seems to have become more complicated as the kids get older. Tastes change. Color preferences change. Interests change. I have found myself looking at the shelves in the stores and thinking, “Should I get this? Should I get that?”  And yet for me the process is enjoyable and gift-giving is a blessing.

But in the larger scope of things, I do believe that there are “gifts” we can give all year round that have no questions or wonderings around them! And this is the topic of the next few blogs during this Christmas season.

The Word of God tells us to “bear fruit” . . .  and lots...

Hello all you faith-filled Mothers of Nations! I pray you have been full of faith this past week and defeated every fear-filled thought that the enemy has tried to send your way. Today we will complete our discussion of Faith or Fear? by looking at two more actions that we can take as believers when fear comes to challenge our faith in God. Let’s look at those now.

•  Discourage any unbelief in our lives.

What is unbelief? It could be defined as the absence of faith or distrust. Unbelief leads to worry, anxiety, and panic. Some of the fruits of unbelief includes sickness, disappointment, depression, discouragement, and anger. Simply stated, unbelief is the very opposite of faith.

One great example of believing God rather that walking in unbelief is found in the life of Abraham.

Galatians 3: 5-7 (NLT)

⁵ I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard...

Last week we started our discussion of the topic Faith or Fear? If you did not read through that blog entry, I would encourage you to do that first before moving on with today’s selection. It will give you some great foundational information as we continue this discussion.

Regarding the choices that come before us, what do we give control to? Think about this carefully. Do we give control to faith-filled thoughts or to fear-filled thoughts? We make these choices constantly as life’s challenges come before us. Faith or fear? Faith or fear?

Mothers of Nations, consider this honestly. As we love God and are in relationship with Him, we know that we know He loves us as well! So why do we submit to fear?

1 John 4: 18 (NLT) reminds us of this truth.

Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced His perfect love.

Fear can take us on a wild mental journey of...

This week we are going to start a three-week discussion on the topic “Faith or Fear?” Mothers of Nations, fear is something we all face in our lives. Some people face fears more often than others. As Christians we must learn how to face our fears and overcome them with faith. This is simply a necessity for faith-filled lifestyles.

We know from the Word that God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind. In light of this truth, let’s consider the story of David and Goliath for a moment. We can see several points related to fear as revealed in this account.

1. Fear comes from what we see and how we perceive what we see. The Israelites looked at the “giant” situation and were terrified. (1 Samuel 17:24) On the other hand, when David looked at Goliath, he saw a person that was defying God.
2. The Israelites only looked at their own abilities. In contrast, David saw God’s ability to deal with the situation, not his own.
3. The...

Today we will conclude our four part series on God-given vision.  I pray these weekly blog entries have been a blessing to you and an encouragement to press in to all that the Lord has for you!  Let’s get started.

A vision requires setting goals.

Goal setting is an important activity for almost every part of our life. Without a “finish line” or a goal, how can we possibly measure if we have grown or achieved what we have been working towards?

The same holds true for God-given vision. It is important to break down the vision the Lord has given us into pieces so that we can measure our progress as we pursue the vision’s final goal.

Have you noticed that God does love process and details? 

We see this in Psalm 37: 23-24.

• The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.
•  Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.

Mothers of Nations, before we move on why don’t you...

We will continue this discussion of God-given vision today by looking at two more requirements. Let’s get started!

A vision requires faith.

Hebrews 11: 1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 

Mothers of Nations, we need to be like the Sons of Issachar who understood the times and seasons. We need:

• Foresight: to look ahead
• Insight: to understand now and later
• Oversight: to see the whole picture

Certainly we are all aware that fear challenges faith.  So how should we respond to those fear attacks?  That’s right, we fight fear with faith!

Take the example of the twelve spies we read about in Numbers 12: 1-13 and Deuteronomy 1: 22-24.  Only two of these spies had faith! The others allowed themselves to only receive the eyesight of a grasshopper. They couldn’t see beyond their noses and therefore fear clouded the vision God had for them in the Promised Land. 

Why don’t you...

Let’s continue our discussion of God-given vision by looking at two more vision requirements.  If you did not read our introductory blog on this subject last week, I would encourage you to do that first so that we are all on the same page as we move forward.

A vision requires action, not just seeing.

We read in Proverbs 29: 18 (NLT): When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful. Where there is no vision, the people perish (or cast off restraint – live purposeless lives).

This verse means that we can have a vision, but if we don’t put things into motion or act on it, we get nothing done. For example, if I would put a boat into the water but just let it go, it would simply follow the river current flow and never get to the specific destination that I desired. Mothers of Nations, we must see the vision. We must embrace the vision. We must “do” the vision!

Let’s think about the life of Saul before...

In these next several weeks we are going to discuss the topic of God-given vision.  We are all familiar with the Scripture in Proverbs 29:18a that says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”

But what is vision and why is God-given vision so important to us as Mothers of Nations?  I am excited to dig into this topic with you so let’s get started!

Vision is comprised of many elements.  Some of these include:

• Seeing your final destination (future).
• Seeing your future through God’s eyes.
• Asking where you are headed.
• Asking why you are doing what you do.
• Asking what you will accomplish.
• Asking how you will get there.
• Asking who will help you.

Many years ago my husband and I met a man named Dr. Kaufman. He was a pastor in the Bronx of New York and we heard him teach a message titled “What the Lord Requires.” He used Micah 6:8 as a foundation Scripture. “The Lord has told you what is good and this is what He requires of...

Let’s continue our discussion of what it means to be “thirsty” spiritually by first looking at this passage in Isaiah 44:1-5.

“Yet hear now, O Jacob My servant, and Israel whom I have chosen.
² Thus says the Lord who made you and formed you from the womb, who will help you: ‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant; and you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
³ For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring;
⁴ They will spring up among the grass like willows by the watercourses.’
⁵ One will say, ‘I am the Lord’s’; another will call himself by the name of Jacob; another will write with his hand, ‘The Lord’s,’ and name himself by the name of Israel.

As we consider this passage, why do you think God uses water to explain blessing as He says, “I will...