Difficult to Love the Proud by Robert Ricciardelli

It is easy to love the humble and brokenhearted, and sometimes difficult to love the proud, or those who operate in control and manipulation. Move in His love and trust in the power of His presence in your own life. As you operate in His love and wisdom, miraculous changes can take place in others through love, prayer, and the receiving of the grace that only God can give. Love the unlovely, and watch what God does.

Your Future Starts Now by Robert Ricciardelli

Whatever has happened along life's journey has brought you to today. Do not remain stuck in yesterday's experiences, or where you find yourself now. Today is a new day to seek, to find, and to know, that God is with you in building a brighter tomorrow. We cannot go back to our beginning to make a brand new start, but we can start now to make the changes necessary to adjust our course for a victorious future.

Choosing Love, Checking Attitude by Robert Ricciardelli

Loving people requires the desire to see the living Christ among them. This is true in our love for the poor, the oppressed, and the forgotten ones, as well as leaders, the proud, and the popular. This love doesn't mean agreeing with or liking everyone's ideas or behavior. On occasion, it even means confronting the attitudes and actions of others. The attitudes of our own hearts, and choosing love matters much.

Loving God's Family by Robert Ricciardelli

Loving Church as an organization often seems close to impossible. Still, we must remind ourselves of all the people within them that God loves and has called us to love and seek to become one with. They are all part of God's family and He dwells within them regardless of whether they are known, unknown, liberal, or conservative. Drawing people to God's love begins with our love for Him, and then loving each other.

Father of All of Creation by Robert Ricciardelli

How are we viewing God's creation? Do we relate to it as a place full of people and things we can use to help fulfill our desires, goals, and agendas? Or do we see creation through the heart of God's love, and the beautiful revealing of Himself to the world? When we understand God as Father over all of creation, we can truly worship Him while appreciating and valuing the beauty and uniqueness of all of His handiwork.

Thankful Giving by Robert Ricciardelli

An unthankful heart cannot give or receive love or mercy. A thankful heart can see God and can give selflessly to others in His love, mercy, and goodness. When we thankfully receive all that God has done in our lives, we can powerfully serve others in bringing them towards an awakened and thankful existence. May grateful and joyful hearts in God bring forth heavenly blessings, this day and everyday!

Word, Spirit, and Life by Robert Ricciardelli

The sky and earth will pass away, but The Words of God will never pass away. God's Word has the power to transform hearts and minds and lead them into His Kingdom. The Words of Spirit and Life flow through our minds and into the depths of our heart. As our hearts open up to the Word, a dwelling place is formed for the Spirit of God to Live, Move, and Have His being. Let us remain in Word, Spirit, and in His life.

Eating the Bread of Life by Robert Ricciardelli

The words of Christ gives us the strength and confidence to overcome in the midst of challenges. When darkness surrounds us His Words encourage us and give us life even when everything around us speaks of death. Jesus' words are food for our eternal journey. They are far more powerful than concepts, and inspiration. When we keep close to the Word, we will enter even more deeply into the everlasting love of God.

Living to Leave a Legacy by Robert Ricciardelli

We are called to pursue a legacy, a deposit of our life into the lives of others we loved and served. Many people accomplish tremendous things later on in life, so we must never quit in allowing God to grow us, and flow through us to others. Many have chosen to change little and remain in what they know. That won't build a great life or legacy. Every living moment should be moments of growing and sowing with God.

Seek Godly Intentions by Robert Ricciardelli

God has a plan for you that is unique and specific. Seek after His Kingdom, live in His nature, and He will reveal His plans for you. Talk to him about the things you may have on your heart before you pursue them on your own. Are they desires He has placed in you, or has authorized for you to go after? Before you prayerfully declare them, ask the Lord if it aligns with the intentions He has designed for your life.

His Potential and Voice of Truth by Robert Ricciardelli

Knowing that we belong to God and are safe with Him in the midst of existential challenges, allows us to have faith and hope that overcomes fear, suffering, and grim worldly thoughts. The Kingdom of here, now, and yet to come, is an ongoing event in the realm of the Spirit, and is not subject to the boundaries of time or happenstance. God gives us eyes to see His potential, and ears to hear the Voice of Truth.

Remaining Faithful At Any Cost by Robert Ricciardelli

Disillusionment and diminishing hope can come when expectations of life remain unfulfilled. Faithful people do not react to the world around them but remain faithful to God, people, and their divine purpose. In faith they stand and rise up to the challenges that come their way. They pray, love much, and know that the world's problems will not all be solved before the end of time, yet remain faithful at any cost.

Christlike Servants to Replace Religion by Robert Ricciardelli

As we seek first the Kingdom God, we will find ourselves looking less and less like us and more like Christ. The Spirit of God will continue to force out of us the things that do not in align with His presence. God has given us family, community and relationships to encourage and train us up in His ways. Servant-leaders who work relationally to equip His people will continue to replace stagnant hierarchical religion.

Being Rather Than Doing by Robert Ricciardelli

Religion judges you for what you do rather than who you are. The Kingdom is about who you are in God, and His empowerment to do good. So it is in the being rather than the doing, while the doing flows out of our being. God is shifting and broadening our mindsets to align us with what is possible with Him rather than what self can ever imagine or do. Our true identity flourishes in God and presents God to the world.

Occupied in God by Robert Ricciardelli

Deliverance does not come from being occupied in self or self pity. Desire to change rarely produces change and especially transformational life changes. Our greatest need is to be delivered from ourselves and into Christ. By being occupied in God we share in His glory and find His intentions and activities concerning our lives. It is Christ or God in us that we hope in, and there is no hope or glory anywhere else.

Victory in Battle and Love by Robert Ricciardelli

Sometimes we rely on our preparedness rather than the presence of God for success and overcoming obstacles. Train hard in the disciplines of the Lord, be ready for every good work, but most importantly, remain deeply anchored in the love of God and secure about who you are. With our hearts connected to Christ, advance securely in Him, knowing that the victory and glory in both battle and love is the Lords.

Strength to Hold Our Ground by Robert Ricciardelli

In a world of turmoil in the sovereign freedom that God gives humanity, many will say "Why doesn't this loving God do something about this mess!" Some will declare our faith irrelevant, or consider it an obstacle towards real solutions. We were promised persecution and for God to give us a timely response. Let's not be afraid of cynicism coming our way, but trust that God will give us the strength to hold our ground.

Vulnerability Is A Sign of Great Strength by Robert Ricciardelli

Vulnerability is often seen as a weakness. when it is actually a sign of great strength. Real life begins with the reality of self while rejecting all pretenses. To the level we allow ourselves to be ourselves before God and mankind is the level of healing and wholeness we will receive and live by. Healthy and whole people live authentically and allow others to see them as they really are, imperfections and all.

Guard Your Heart and Souls by Robert Ricciardelli

Losing our souls means to lose touch with our center and true calling in life. We can become so distracted by all that is happening around us that we can become fragmented and confused. Take care not to be deceived as many will come in Christ's or other names promising all sorts of experiences. It is important for us to be of sober mind, and remain faithfully centered on Christ Himself, His Kingdom, and His glory.

Extending Himself to Others by Robert Ricciardelli

Come what may, we are all called to live each moment to the fullest. As ambassadors of God's love, we each share in bringing the light of His love to the world around us. There are countless opportunities each day to testify of His goodness and of His Everlasting Kingdom. The many disasters in our world, and all the tragedies that happen to people each day are opportunities to extend ourselves, Himself to others

Be Concerned of Your Own End Time by Robert Ricciardelli

Living in the end-times or last days has been spoken from generation to generation. This does not mean that creation will soon come to its end, but that we continue towards the fullness of all things. Terrible events have surrounded every generation and must be lived as preparation for the fullness of God's unfolding Kingdom. Do not fear end-time theories, but rather live in faith and complete your own end time well.

The Importance of Verbalizing Love by Robert Ricciardelli

Words can communicate love while also affirming our actions of love. It is important to verbalize love and encouragement to others. It brings life to them, empowers them, and completes the exchanges of love. It is not always easy to express our love directly in words. But whenever we do, we discover we have offered a blessing that will be long remembered. Words have the power to create life.

Better Days Ahead by Robert Ricciardelli

Earnest prayers of the righteous produce powerful results. We are righteous in Christ so we can be assured that no matter how bad things may look right now, your prayers carry weight with God. He has your every breath and your blessed assurance is in Him. There are better days ahead, so keep your body, soul, and spirit in alignment with His, and watch what Father will do to bring His glory through your lives.

Words Matter by Robert Ricciardelli

Words matter long after they are spoken. When we speak hurtfully, we may ruin a relationship for life. Words can continue to do harm for many years. I have met many who are still seeking to be healed from wounds caused by words spoken to them from their past. Be a healer, and not a hurter, and bring life to others while drawing them to God. Choose your words wisely and sometimes it is wisdom to choose to be silent.

Delay That Email by Robert Ricciardelli

When you want to angrily send an email to a friend who has hurt you deeply, don't send it! Let the email sit for a day, read it over a number of times, then ask yourself, "Will this email bring life to me and my friend? Will it bring healing, will it bring a blessing?" You do not have to hide the hurt or offense, but you can respond in a way that makes healing and forgiveness possible and opens the door for new life.

Overcoming Impulses by Robert Ricciardelli

Impulses win sometimes. We get hit, we want to hit back. We want something, and we go after it. Our will, aligned and empowered by God's Spirit can override our natural responses to life. The key to allowing Spirit to direct us is to wait before responding. We must delay until we are able to bring life into our happenings. A prayerful and thoughtful response helps repay evil with good while glorifying our God.

Seek First to Understand by Robert Ricciardelli

If you desire to win friends and influence people, it is best to "Seek first to understand, and then to be understood." When we value and validate others first, we gain trust, favor, and the reciprocity of others desiring to understand us. Speak sparingly, wisely, and humbly while having your spiritual ears and eyes wide open. A listening and caring heart goes a long way towards trust filled relationships.

Pioneers Mindful of What they Cannot See by Robert Ricciardelli

As pioneers on the journey of God's eternal ways and partakers of His divine nature, all things work together to prepare us for a glorious future. As we live for our future now, our lives are in constant adjustment towards God's intended finish. The view we see now gives way to the view we have yet to see of God's unfolding Kingdom. We must understand that unseen realities are as real as what we presently see.