Rick Costa

The righteous person has many troubles, but the LORD rescues him from all of them.

– Psalm 34:19 (GOD’S WORD® Translation (©1995))

We all go through many hard times but trust God to see you through every one of them.

Doing what is right and fair is more acceptable to the LORD than offering a sacrifice.

– Proverbs 21:3 (GOD’S WORD® Translation (©1995))

You can’t do an occasional “good deed” to make God forget you’re not living right.

Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

– Psalm 107:21 (King James Bible)

Always be grateful for all the good things God allows you to have.  Remember this…none of us are entitled to ANYTHING.  It’s by God’s grace that you are even saved in the first place let alone that you are blessed in this life.  Millions in this world don’t have a fraction of what we call necessities.

The Pharisees saw this and asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”  When Jesus heard that, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor; those who are sick do.  Learn what this means: ‘I want mercy, not sacrifices.’ I’ve come to call sinners, not people who think they have God’s approval.”

-Matthew 9:11-13 ((GOD’S WORD® Translation (©1995))

Jesus can’t help people who think they have it all together with God despite the fact that they don’t really know Him.  He looks for those who are humble and freely admit that they are sinful and need His help.

If you then, with all your human frailty, know how to give your children gifts that are good for them, how much more certainly will your Father who is in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

– Luke 11:13 (Weymouth New Testament)

God is much more willing to give His children the gift of the Holy Spirit than we are even willing to receive Him.

‘I looked for someone among you who could build walls or stand in front of me by the gaps in the walls to defend the land and keep it from being destroyed. But I couldn’t find anyone.’

– Ezekiel 22:30 ((GOD’S WORD® Translation (©1995))

Never neglect the call of God to pray.  Even just ONE person can stay the hand of God from allowing destruction to occur.  Just ask Abraham about Sodom and Gomorrah.  If he had asked God if only 1 were found righteous then the cities probably wouldn’t have been destroyed but he stopped short at 10 righteous.  Pray and pray specifically!

But if from there you shall seek the LORD your God, you shall find him, if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

– Deuteronomy 4:29  (American King James Version)

God will reveal Himself to ANYONE, ANYWHERE if they seek Him truly with all that is within them no matter who they are.

When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.

– Matthew 14:14 (New American Standard Bible (©1995))

Sometimes neither you nor the person agreeing with you in prayer needs the faith to make you well.  In many cases it’s simply God’s compassion that does it.  This explains how even unbelievers can get healed.  What an awesome God!

Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don’t expect, the Son of Man will come.

– Matthew 24:44 (World English Bible)

Whether it be in His second coming or when we pass from this life to the next, we must always be ready to go.  That time can happen at ANY moment.  Don’t waste time in foolishness now only to regret it later.

Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard? The eternal God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, doesn’t grow tired or become weary. His understanding is beyond reach.

– Isaiah 40:28 (GOD’S WORD® Translation (©1995))

Don’t ever think that God will get tired of hearing from you.  Call on Him at anytime.  He’s available 24 hours a day!