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Friday, February 26, 2021

Social Media Vs. Your True Identity, Value and Worth.

My Friend,

Social media is often shallow and toxic. Many people get caught up in it as if it somehow equates to their identity, value and worth.

The truth is that your worth is not found in these things, they are ultimately only completely found in Jesus.

We can all fall into the comparison game as if others are more valuable than we are because they appear to have more followers, etc. Admittedly, I've even fallen into the comparison game once in a while as well.

Please hear me now: Do not seek affirmation, identity, security, value, self worth, acceptance or anything like this from social media as anything you can find online is temporary.

Don't trade what God can only provide...which is permanent...for the temporal feelings you may receive from social media or other people.

Check out the following post sometime regarding who you are in Christ which who you are in Christ is what matters most:

https://www.ashepherdsheart.org/2012/03/who-you-are-in-christ.html

Don't compare yourself to others, rather, you do you/you be who you are in Christ and find your affirmation, identity, security, value, self worth, acceptance and more...in Him!

Your Brother and Servant in Christ,

Randolph Koch

Here's one place that lists where you can connect with A Shepherd's Heart:

Please pray for and help A Shepherd's Heart here. Thank you!
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Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Grow!

My Friend,

What are you doing to grow in the grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Jesus day-by-day?

What are you doing to grow in your relationship with Him on a consistent basis?

No one else can grow for you. There is no autopilot or "magic pill" you can take to grow.
You have to put in the daily work to build your relationship with the Lord and grow still more in Him.

Part of the goal in our life in Christ is to become mature in Him. (See for example Colossians 1:28-29, 1 Peter 2:1-3, Colossians 1:9-13)

Whatever you do, don't stop growing in Him. Don't stop growing to know Him. Don't stop growing to make Him known. Don't stop allowing Him to do a work in and through you for His kingdom and glory.

Let me encourage you to...

-Regularly read/study/abide in God's Word and live it out.

-Regularly talk to God through prayer.

-Regularly serve The Lord and others.

-Regularly grow in relationships within The Body of Christ as Iron Sharpens Iron. (Proverbs 27:17)

-Regularly stay vigilant and active in your relationship with Him.

In Sum, Grow and never stop growing.

You're in my prayers. Philippians 1:6

Your brother and servant in Christ,
Randolph Koch

Here's one place that lists where you can connect with A Shepherd's Heart:

Please pray for and help A Shepherd's Heart here. Thank you!


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Thursday, February 04, 2021

Living and Walking In Integrity.

Read: Proverbs 19, Proverbs 11:3, and Proverbs 20:7

My Friend,

Character matters. 
 
Whether it's in your home life, your business dealings, no matter what or where, character matters. 
 
Let me ask you, are you a person of integrity?
 
Character qualities including integrity are woven throughout God's Word and integrity is one of the hallmarks of faith and character.   

If you don't have integrity, I'd submit to you that a lot of the other character qualities cannot be 100% fulfilled. 

You also cannot represent God well in your life if you lack integrity. 

Whether it's living in integrity in your life and work through keeping true to your word, being honest, and keeping true to His Word, really matters.

Another example of integrity is not compartmentalizing who you are in Christ through your life.
What I mean is you need to be a follower of Christ at all times. If you're a person of integrity, you don't just live for Him on "Sunday's" and then live and be someone entirely different in your business practices or life outside of the four walls of the church meeting place. 

Here are a few other examples of a person who lives and walks in integrity:
  • Someone who lives and walks in integrity is honest and treats their employees, coworkers, and others according to godly principles. 
  • Someone who lives and walks in integrity  doesn't lie or steal.
  • Someone who lives and walks in integrity  doesn't cheat on their taxes or in any other way.
  • Someone who lives and walks in integrity  doesn't mistreat or take advantage of others. 
  • Someone who lives and walks in integrity doesn't say that they want to be accountable to others in Christ just to please someone or "tell them what they think they want to hear" only to turn around and prove they really have no interest in the first place. 
  • Someone who lives and walks in integrity  strives to follow through with their commitments. 
  • Someone who lives and walks in integrity  keeps their word (and keeps God's Word) as they  seek to do what they say they will do.
  • Someone who lives and walks in integrity  shows it in their relationships through how they treat people. 
  • Someone who lives and walks in integrity shows it through how they manage their money. 
  • Someone who lives and walks in integrity puts God first in their finances and in every area of life.
The above list is just a representation of some of the areas that integrity is visible or not but God knows you well, knows you well and wants you to live in and with integrity.  


I pray you and I strive to be people of integrity.

Here are a few verses to read, study, and take to heart regarding the importance of integrity: Proverbs 19, Proverbs 11:3, and Proverbs 20:7 for starters. 
 
I encourage you to pause and pray, asking The Holy Spirit to help spotlight your life when it comes to integrity. Then ask yourself, "Am I a person of integrity?"
 
May we all live and walk in integrity for His Kingdom and Glory!

I'm praying for you and please pray for me.

Your Brother and Servant in Christ,
Randolph Koch

P.S. Please pass on this encouragement to others who may be encouraged that God hears their prayers.

Here's one place that lists where you can connect with A Shepherd's Heart:

Please pray for and help A Shepherd's Heart. Thank you!
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Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Give It All To God!

Someone, including me, needs to hear this periodic reminder.

This is something God continues to remind me time and time again, including in the midst of the challenging season I've been facing.

Always remember

Give it all to God.
He knows exactly
what you need.
He knows exactly
what you're going through.
He's got you covered, always!


You're in my prayers!

Your brother and servant in Christ,

Randolph Koch

P.S. Please pass on this encouragement to others who may be encouraged that God hears their prayers.

Here's one place that lists where you can connect with A Shepherd's Heart:
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Wednesday, January 20, 2021

No Matter Who Leads A Nation, God Is Still On The Throne.

"And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you." -Psalm 9:10 ESV

My Friend,
Who are you putting your trust in?

It's inauguration day in the USA and there are many who will either be happy, sad, or somewhere in between.

I simply want to encourage you today with a reminder (no matter where you live) that politicians, no matter where you land politically, are not The Savior, only Jesus is.

Politicians can only provide temporary supposed solutions to peace, provision, unity, hope and more while Jesus is your true refuge and is The Only One Who can provide true peace, provision, unity, hope and more.
For everyone reading this today, let me encourage you in that no matter what nation you live in, if you are a follower of Christ, one of the greatest things you can devote yourself to is praying for your leadership state, local, and national. It doesn't matter if they are in Christ or not, you can pray for them and God hears the prayers of His people.

Put your trust and hope in The Lord and not in any politician or other human.

If you're anxious or worried today, let me encourage you to turn from that and instead, turn to The Lord in prayer and through abiding in His Word. Put your trust in The Lord.

Read, study, and take to heart Luke 12:25-31 and Psalm 9:10.

Praying for you and praying for our leaders...may we all turn To The Lord in all and for all things.

Your Brother and Servant In Christ,
Randolph Koch

P.S. Please pass on this encouragement to others who may be encouraged that God hears their prayers.

Here's one place that lists where you can connect with A Shepherd's Heart:
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Taking Steps Of Faith (Regardless Of Whether You Have It All Figured Out.)

My Friend,

I don't know about you but sometimes I freeze in my steps because I kind of want all the details before I move forward or sort of "to be in control" of things. I like to know as much details as possible and sometimes I get stuck with the "analysis paralysis" because I'm focusing more on rethinking things too much instead of doing what I should do first, which is seek God first.

I also tend to be a "perfectionist" at times and don't complete something as soon as I should because I fall into the false idea that it needs to be somehow "perfect" when there is no such thing! I'm sure I'm the "only one" who struggles with things like this. ;-)

While there is wisdom in planning, what matters most is seeking God through prayer and through His Word for each plan, dream, goal, and step of faith as the first step for anything we do.

I encourage you to seek Him through prayer, His Word, and through seeking Godly counsel as needed, then take the step or leap of faith knowing Jesus is The One directing your path. Even if you're afraid, you will know His peace as you do what He's calling you to do. We will never have it all figured out, but we know The One Who does have it all figured out.
Just like when Peter stepped out of the boat after he asked Jesus, "If it's you Lord, tell me to come to you on the water." and Jesus said, "Come" (See Matthew 14:22-33), Jesus was calling Peter to take a step of faith. While water was familiar, Peter had never walked on water before and instead of keeping his eyes on Jesus, he looked at the stormy waters and started to sink. He did the right thing though by crying out to The One Who was able to save Him, Jesus, and Jesus came to His rescue but Jesus said "Come" with no further instructions and while Peter did, again, he didn't keep His eyes on Jesus as he stepped out of the boat in faith.

We're not too different from Peter and each day God is calling you and I to take steps of faith. Sometimes, it's full on scary to take that step of faith, but none-the-less, Jesus knows and will help us, He is calling us regardless of whether or not we have all the details. We're supposed to live by faith and not by sight. (See 2 Corinthians 5:7)

Whatever you're facing today, whether a major decision, something you've put off for a while that you know He has called you to do, or whatever it is, remember this: IF you put your trust in The Lord, (and not in yourself alone) you don't have to have all the details to move forward... just take one step of faith at a time with or without the details.

Here are a few of the many passages to read, study, and take steps of faith regarding: Proverbs 3:5-6, Philippians 4:13, and Hebrews 11:8.

Your brother and servant in Christ,
Randolph Koch

P.S. Please pass on this encouragement to others who may be encouraged that God hears their prayers.

Here's one place that lists where you can connect with A Shepherd's Heart:
_
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