Project Stormproof: Recent Episodes
Tim Varner
Short, daily messages of God’s Word that will bring us closer to God, teach us about His Word, and teach us to become Stromproof through His Word. Featuring creator of Project Stormproof, Tim Varner.
Have you ever taken the time to learn about the Fruit of the Spirit? If not, let's take a look at what the Fruit of the Spirit are and how we should live our lives according to the Word of the God. This is not an in depth analysis of all the Fruit of the Spirit, but instead a look at what the Fruit are and how we need to live to glorify God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. - Galatians 5:22-25
Have you experienced someone treating you badly? Or maybe just doing things that you believed were ungodly? What do you do in those situations? Do you get revenge? Do you make them feel bad about what they've done? No! The answer is: 1. Pray 2. Love 3. Forgive
It's not our job to judge. It's our job to love!
If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. - 1 John 5:16
What does the word "irreplaceable" mean to you?
Do you believe you're worthy and irreplaceable? Or do you believe you're worthless and replaceable?
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. - Ephesians 2:10
Have you ever taken the time to try to understand how amazing Jesus is? Have you realized He is pretty indescribable? Sure. We have many names that describe Him but how many names do you think it would take to sufficiently describe Him?
Have there been times that you tried to understand what God was doing in your life without first asking Him for wisdom and understanding? You just tried to figure it out all on your own? The best thing you can do in this situation is ask God to share His wisdom and understanding with you because when we try to make sense of what's going on by ourselves, we will surely fail.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. - Proverbs 9:10
What does the word "servant" mean to you?
What can we do while we are waiting for our purpose to be revealed to us?
Be a servant! Use your abilities and skills to glorify God in the meantime. God is able! He doesn't need us to do anything but when we work to glorify Him, it's amazing how lives can and will be changed.
When is obedience to God considered real obedience?
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. - Ecclesiastes 12:13
What do you let define you? Do you let your past define you? How about what people have said about you? Or how about what people are saying about you right now? Do believe the lies? If so, let that all go! The Word of God gives us all the truths that we need and it truly defines us.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your Heart. - Jeremiah 29:11-14
Do you know someone who is a "Sunday Christian"? They act like just because they go to church on Sunday for a couple hours that they'll be saved and spend eternity in Heaven? I'm sure we all know someone like that and I'm even more sure that most of us have been there at some point in our lives. If you're living that way right now, it's time to make a decision about getting on the right path. Jesus is coming back at some point and you don't want to be caught off guard. There are no second chances, no redos.
“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.” - Matthew 15:8-9
Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Merry X-Mas! Have you every paid attention to the difference in these expressions? The world tries to nonchalantly remove Christ from Christmas so the next time you hear someone say Happy Holidays or Merry X-Mas, I encourage you to respond with Merry Christmas!
Don't forget that the Reason for the season is Jesus. Our Savior was born Christmas many years ago and for THAT reason, we celebrate this day.
“Glory to God in the highest Heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.” - Luke 2:14
I truly believe that Thanksgiving and Christmas should be celebrated together. Not necessarily Christmas during Thanksgiving, but definitely Thanksgiving during Christmas. Why is that you ask? Because our Savior was born! And without Him, we have nothing but hell waiting on us, but because of Him, we have eternity to look forward to.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6
The amazing truth that God sent Jesus to the earth to be human so He could experience life as us so He could become merciful and faithful in service to God is one of the greatest truths and gifts God has given us if not the most important one. Without Jesus's sacrifice, we do not have life, but we have death.
The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Immanuel (which means “God with us”). - Matthew 1:23
Have you been offended? Have you been hurt? Have you been treated badly? Especially by someone who is supposed to make you feel good? Again, you're not alone if this has happened to you. There is good news, though! Turn the pain and the hurt into goodness. Look to God for comfort and forgive those who've hurt you. Continue being the kind and nice person you know you are. Don't let them crush you!
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. - Psalm 139:23-24
Do you believe that God will do what He says He will do?
Has God done what He said He would do time and time again? The answer is absolutely. We can see it in His Word. Time and time again He has been faithful and He will continue to be because He is a Man of His Word.
God is not human, that he should lie,
not a human being, that he should change his mind.
Does he speak and then not act?
Does he promise and not fulfill? - Numbers 23:19
Have you ever wondered why bad things happen? Have you ever wondered why they happen to people who deserve better?
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. - 1 Peter 5:10-11
Has God ever called you to the unknown? Has He ever asked you to step out and rely on your faith in Him? Are you nervous about being outside of your comfort zone? Are you scared you'll fail? Are you scared you won't survive? If so, you're not alone. It's not easy to do, but that's why it's so important that we do it when God calls us to it - so we grow in Him.
I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. - Isaiah 42:16
Have you ever asked God for something and His answer was no? What did you do in that situation? Did you accept his no or did you do what YOU thought was best? It never feels good to get no as an answer, but sometimes it's necessary. If you go through a door that God shut, you will be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Be wise in the decisions you make. God will never fail you.
It's easy to get burned out when you put a lot of time and effort into something and the same goes for being on fire for God, but it's important to analyze what's going on and find your way back to being on fire for God. In this video, I'm going to talk to you about finding your passion once again.
Have you ever felt like you were useless to do God's work? Let me tell you something. You are never useless when it comes to performing God's work. Whatever your circumstances, God can use YOU. You just have to make yourself available. The question is not "Can God use you?", but "Will you allow God to use you?"
What do you do when you're going through a rough time? Do you give up? Do you fight? Or do you let go and let God? Just like in 2 Chronicles 20, we must realize that we can't do it alone. God already holds the victory. He has since the beginning, He does today, and He will forever and always.
Remember - the devil is NOT for you. He is and will always be against you. Don't believe his lies. God is for you and will ALWAYS be for you! For the truth is in Him and His word. Again, He holds the only VICTORY that matters. Believe that.
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. - John 8:44
Sometimes it's hard to know if God opened or closed the door or if it was the devil that opened or closed the door. I have a sure-fire way to know - by following the Word of God.
Are you holding on to bitterness because of how you've been treated by someone? Is it difficult for you to truly forgive that person? If so, have no worries because God always has an answer. There's a 4 step process to forgiveness and anyone can do it.
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. - Psalm 103:12
We've all heard the song Amazing Grace hundreds of times, but have you ever thought about what amazing grace really is? What's the extent of God's grace and mercy? There is one answer here and it is that He sent His only Son to die on the cross for us on which He bore all of our sins. We believers have eternal life because of that AMAZING GRACE. Thank you God for Your Amazing Grace!
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. - Ephesians 2:4-5
Rejection is hard, especially when you believe the lies about yourself. Don't believe the lies, believe the TRUTH. The truth is that we have been made in God's image and when you call yourself worthless, you're saying that God has not made you perfectly you. I'm not saying we are perfect, but what I am saying is that YOU. ARE. WORTHY! Believe that because that is the truth. No matter what type of rejection, or how much rejection you experience, God will never reject you when you turn to Him.
Sometimes our faith will be tested, but in the moments when we are feeling pressure, we need to remember that God is our strength, our Mighty Fortress, and that He will never fail us. Refuse to doubt. Refuse to lose your faith.
There are many circumstances in life that are less than desirable, but when we rest in Jesus, we can find peace in any situation. One thing we must never forget is that God is ALWAYS with us. He will never leave our side, and because of that we can rest easy. Rejoice in the name of God in the good and bad times alike because God is ALWAYS good.
What seeds are you planting? Good? Bad? In between? Remember that every action has a consequence so do your best to be kind and treat others with respect and dignity.
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. - 2 Corinthians 9:6
Have you experienced a time in your life when you felt distant from God? You felt like your spiritual thirst was quenched and then all of a sudden you were thirsty experiencing a drought? It's more common than you think and for that reason we have a community to support us getting back to where we need to be with God. The good news is that He is always waiting on our return. He is faithful and He is the God of grace and mercy.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? - Psalm 42:2
Are you living a life that goes against the way God wants you to live? Is there just one thing or many things that you wish you could overcome so you could live a holy life? Let's lean on God to become the obedient, holy children we should be.
As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” - 1 Peter 1:14-16
Have you ever faced a challenge so great that you were unsure how you could even face it? Not to mention how you'd overcome it? My question to you is this - should we focus on the obstacle? Or should we focus on God? The answer is easy. Satan wants us to focus on the obstacle and how WE can overcome it which leads to us depending on ourselves and not on God. The next time you're faced with a challenge so great, focus and depend on God.
Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” - Isaiah 40:4-5
One of the best ways if not THE best way to share Jesus with others is by being happy and showing your happiness and joyfulness to others. Even though we experience being hurt just like everyone else, when we can smile through the pain and share that with others, people will start to wonder what is different about us. They will end up asking you why you're happy all the time and in THAT moment is when you can share THE REASON. The reason for the season!
Those who look to Him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame. - Psalm 34:5
Have you ever thought "Can God really use me? Can You really make something of my life?" Don't worry because according to the Word of God, even before you were born God has had a plan for you. All you have to do is accept whatever He has planned for your life.
The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” - Jeremiah 1:4-5
How is the foundation of your faith? Is it weak? Is it strong? Maybe somewhere in between? No matter where you are, do not worry because by taking a dive into the Word will surely strengthen your spiritual foundation.
But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. - Matthew 13:21
Sometimes it's difficult to wait when God is being silent and not answering your prayers right away. Sometimes He stays silent for months or years, but believe me, it's all for a purpose. We need to wait for His answer because when we make our own decision, it could be completely opposite of what His will is.
Are you just talking the talk? Or are you walking the walk? Let's learn how to walk the walk together.
We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. - 1 John 2:3-6
Are you living by luck or are you living by faith? When we decide to put our time and effort and thoughts into luck and chance, that takes away from what we can give God and at some point God will become so small in our lives that we may even forget He is here. Let's get focused on God and spend our time and effort depending on Him!
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. - Ephesians 2:8-9
Have you ever told God that you weren't going to do something He told you to do? You were persistent in saying no. Hmmm.. kind of makes me think of Jonah and how he didn't want to go to Nineveh. Anyways, it usually doesn't work out in your favor. You're going to end up doing what God told you to do anyways. So, the word of the day is - Make Time.
Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord... - Hosea 10:12