Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Not too many things are free in this day and age. In fact, prices have gone up on many hot commodities, such as gas and groceries. Virtually the only thing that's free is God's gift of salvation. Being completely human, there is nothing that we can do to deserve salvation. Similarly, there is nothing we can do to lose such a gift.
Does that mean we should walk aimlessly through life? Absolutely not. We need to understand God's grace, forgiveness, and offerings. We need to appreciate Jesus for his eternal gift of salvation everyday.
We can show this appreciation by of course praising God. However, this gratitude can also be shown by doing as God would do and loving others. Always treat others fairly. Finally, don't separate from God. How could you and why would you do that to yourself?
Think about this: If you've given God lots of glory, how has it impacted your life? What more can you do to appreciate God's sacrifice?
Check out this video: A Parable on Salvation.
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Spiritual Habits.
1 Timothy 4:7-10
7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance 10(and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.
Many things in life take practice. It takes practice to have good study habits, to use the computer, to run, and to drive a car. These activities definitely are not answered overnight. It takes a little longer for a good method and effective strategy to develop. That's the thing: You can be practicing, and doing something all wrong, and therefore all the practice goes to waste if it doesn't involve going down the right path to begin with.
When we become good at something, it just becomes a normal part of our routine, and it becomes a habit. Habits can be good or bad. Putting your cell phone in the same place everyday, for instance, is a good habit because you always know where it is.
If we have habits in life as a whole, then we definitely have habits with regard to our spirituality. A good spiritual habit would include reading the Bible every morning without even thinking about it. Eventually, you learn certain activities are important, so there is no need to question why you should do it.
Practice on your spiritual habits. This involveS being a more Godly individual. I have heard that it takes at least 28 days to start a new habit and change. It is difficult, but with determination and perseverance it is possible. Don't prolong those good spiritual habits another day!
7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance 10(and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.
Many things in life take practice. It takes practice to have good study habits, to use the computer, to run, and to drive a car. These activities definitely are not answered overnight. It takes a little longer for a good method and effective strategy to develop. That's the thing: You can be practicing, and doing something all wrong, and therefore all the practice goes to waste if it doesn't involve going down the right path to begin with.
When we become good at something, it just becomes a normal part of our routine, and it becomes a habit. Habits can be good or bad. Putting your cell phone in the same place everyday, for instance, is a good habit because you always know where it is.
If we have habits in life as a whole, then we definitely have habits with regard to our spirituality. A good spiritual habit would include reading the Bible every morning without even thinking about it. Eventually, you learn certain activities are important, so there is no need to question why you should do it.
Practice on your spiritual habits. This involveS being a more Godly individual. I have heard that it takes at least 28 days to start a new habit and change. It is difficult, but with determination and perseverance it is possible. Don't prolong those good spiritual habits another day!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Sacrificing Time to Fulfill God.
Romans 12:1
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
Do you ever get interested in something and then all of a sudden become tired of it? At that point, whatever it is sometimes has to be pushed aside. Maybe it's very addicting or maybe it's very tense and stressful. You finally tell yourself "I have to quit this or else I'm going to drive myself insane." We're ready to sacrifice that activity with something else.
As easy as it is to surrender and avoid doing something specific, you have to be sacrificial and train yourself to be able to give up some things for God or get really focused on him.
He's not just important on Sundays or at night for a bedtime prayer, but he wants to be incorporated into your own life. It's time to give 100 percent to spend more time with God!
The good news is that there are no sketchy parts as to what God has to offer when you sacrifice time in order to be with God. We know he loves and cares for us eternally. What's keeping you from spending time with him today?
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
Do you ever get interested in something and then all of a sudden become tired of it? At that point, whatever it is sometimes has to be pushed aside. Maybe it's very addicting or maybe it's very tense and stressful. You finally tell yourself "I have to quit this or else I'm going to drive myself insane." We're ready to sacrifice that activity with something else.
As easy as it is to surrender and avoid doing something specific, you have to be sacrificial and train yourself to be able to give up some things for God or get really focused on him.
He's not just important on Sundays or at night for a bedtime prayer, but he wants to be incorporated into your own life. It's time to give 100 percent to spend more time with God!
The good news is that there are no sketchy parts as to what God has to offer when you sacrifice time in order to be with God. We know he loves and cares for us eternally. What's keeping you from spending time with him today?
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Influences of the World.
Romans 7:21-25
21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
Do you find anything interesting or ironic about this scripture? I'm not saying that the rest of the Bible isn't true, but today's reading just seems to be so true in today's age that it hits the nail on the head.
My point is that I'm sure a majority of us want to please God in everything we do. However, everything else seems to give us a different idea, including: music, Hollywood, or even friends that try to convince you to do something wrong like stealing. These can easily transform our Godly thoughts into secular thoughts. After all, sometimes it's just easier to not think about or do what's right.
Notice how the Apostle Paul in this scripture called himself "wretched." Everyone is struggles with this concept. When he says wretched he means "hopeless." This coincides with how we feel after we realize our temptations today. We feel terrible for making God upset.
If Paul's such a "good" person then how can we possibly experience a restoration of hope?
It's all because of Jesus. I mentioned yesterday that Jesus made us so that we weren't completely perfect, and therefore he knows everything we have to face. Why? Because he himself experienced loneliness, abandonment, discouragement, and temptation. Jesus doesn't want us to have that wretched feeling. He cares about us. He wants us to be hopeful and knowledgeable about his love for us. Lastly, he can guide us through our temptations! You can be easily led through temptation by praying to the one who cares. Do what it takes to be strong and don't be afraid to remove those guilty feelings and turn them over to God.
“Good habits result from resisting temptation.” ~Unknown Proverbs
Here's a comforting song for today..."Oh Happy Day" by Tim Hughes:
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
Do you find anything interesting or ironic about this scripture? I'm not saying that the rest of the Bible isn't true, but today's reading just seems to be so true in today's age that it hits the nail on the head.
My point is that I'm sure a majority of us want to please God in everything we do. However, everything else seems to give us a different idea, including: music, Hollywood, or even friends that try to convince you to do something wrong like stealing. These can easily transform our Godly thoughts into secular thoughts. After all, sometimes it's just easier to not think about or do what's right.
Notice how the Apostle Paul in this scripture called himself "wretched." Everyone is struggles with this concept. When he says wretched he means "hopeless." This coincides with how we feel after we realize our temptations today. We feel terrible for making God upset.
If Paul's such a "good" person then how can we possibly experience a restoration of hope?
It's all because of Jesus. I mentioned yesterday that Jesus made us so that we weren't completely perfect, and therefore he knows everything we have to face. Why? Because he himself experienced loneliness, abandonment, discouragement, and temptation. Jesus doesn't want us to have that wretched feeling. He cares about us. He wants us to be hopeful and knowledgeable about his love for us. Lastly, he can guide us through our temptations! You can be easily led through temptation by praying to the one who cares. Do what it takes to be strong and don't be afraid to remove those guilty feelings and turn them over to God.
“Good habits result from resisting temptation.” ~Unknown Proverbs
Here's a comforting song for today..."Oh Happy Day" by Tim Hughes:
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Falling Short of Perfection.
Psalm 18:30-32
30 As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him.
31 For who is God besides the LORD ?
And who is the Rock except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.
It's a tough fact to swallow. We're not perfect. Yet, it seems like we're asked to be perfect because God's perfect?
I couldn't begin to tell you all my imperfections. There's not a moment that goes by when I don't make mistakes. If I had to put all my mistakes just from today on one sheet of paper, I'm sure it wouldn't fit even in the smallest font.
I'm very glad that God doesn't exactly expect us to be completely perfect. Go back and read the passage for a moment. God's way is perfect. That's the important part understand. We need to strive for near perfection (but look at it as God-like).
God created you and I'm pretty sure he'd have no other way. Does that mean you can't TRY? Absolutely not. He really wants you to make wise choices. You're not trying, if you're not even thinking your actions through: that is, understanding right from wrong. From that, we are to learn from our mistake, and try to avoid the same mistake next time.
Do you see how much God cares for us? We know that God's perfect. As a result, it's best if we're close to God so we can lean on his perfection. Part of the attempt to become nearly perfect doesn't go without work however. Don't let the devil tempt you. Keep God as the major influence in your life. You have to again TRY by spending time with him each day in his Word and pray to him.
30 As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him.
31 For who is God besides the LORD ?
And who is the Rock except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.
It's a tough fact to swallow. We're not perfect. Yet, it seems like we're asked to be perfect because God's perfect?
I couldn't begin to tell you all my imperfections. There's not a moment that goes by when I don't make mistakes. If I had to put all my mistakes just from today on one sheet of paper, I'm sure it wouldn't fit even in the smallest font.
I'm very glad that God doesn't exactly expect us to be completely perfect. Go back and read the passage for a moment. God's way is perfect. That's the important part understand. We need to strive for near perfection (but look at it as God-like).
God created you and I'm pretty sure he'd have no other way. Does that mean you can't TRY? Absolutely not. He really wants you to make wise choices. You're not trying, if you're not even thinking your actions through: that is, understanding right from wrong. From that, we are to learn from our mistake, and try to avoid the same mistake next time.
Do you see how much God cares for us? We know that God's perfect. As a result, it's best if we're close to God so we can lean on his perfection. Part of the attempt to become nearly perfect doesn't go without work however. Don't let the devil tempt you. Keep God as the major influence in your life. You have to again TRY by spending time with him each day in his Word and pray to him.
Monday, October 26, 2009
"One Nation, Under God."
1 Corinthians 12:26-27
26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
I had a mixture of emotions when I read a news article this weekend. It's about a home depot employee who got fired after wearing an American flag pin that has "One nation, under God, indivisible" written on it. He had been working there for 19 months and had been wearing the pin for over a year. Nobody had said anything to him about the pin except for a supervisor who said that she liked it. Then one day, about a month ago, he brought a Bible to work and that's when his manager confronted him about his pin, not his Bible, mind you. He refused to take his pin off after the manager kept telling him to take it off. He was suspended for six days and was then terminated before he could return.
The problem I have with this is not Home Depot or the manager because I know we all make mistakes and don't make the best choices. It couldn't have been too good of a choice if the employee received several awards - he must have been doing his a terrific job. I just don't understand the situation and how someone can be bumped off the job for their beliefs. Sure everyone has different beliefs, but I'm pretty sure everyone can have some tolerance. The pin was not even a bad reference, it was essentially just stating a portion of America's history.
Unless there's more to the story, he wasn't forcing his beliefs down anyone's throat. He was just expressing his opinion and no one has to believe and agree with it. Obviously it wasn't too offensive if none of the customers mentioned anything about the pin. Additionally, wearing his pin is a part of who he is. Tell me this: why was this situation not taken care of for so long?
I give the employee a lot of credit for standing up to his belief. We have that freedom in America, and there is no reason why his job should be jeopardized. This story is an example of putting God before anything else.
It seems like sometimes we look for excuses to get others in trouble. Why do we do that? Most likely we have trouble in our lives. Actually, I know we do. We approach others about their issues before we even look at ours. I'm not saying this exactly what happened, but it's a good reminder nonetheless.
I leave you with the question today: Why can't we just be "one nation, under God, indivisible...once and for all"?
Read the article: http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/oct/23/home-depot-worker-wears-under-god-button-more/
Tell me what you think about this...Send me an e-mail at heytbone92@gmail.com. I'd love to hear your opinion, even if you completely disagree with me!
26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
I had a mixture of emotions when I read a news article this weekend. It's about a home depot employee who got fired after wearing an American flag pin that has "One nation, under God, indivisible" written on it. He had been working there for 19 months and had been wearing the pin for over a year. Nobody had said anything to him about the pin except for a supervisor who said that she liked it. Then one day, about a month ago, he brought a Bible to work and that's when his manager confronted him about his pin, not his Bible, mind you. He refused to take his pin off after the manager kept telling him to take it off. He was suspended for six days and was then terminated before he could return.
The problem I have with this is not Home Depot or the manager because I know we all make mistakes and don't make the best choices. It couldn't have been too good of a choice if the employee received several awards - he must have been doing his a terrific job. I just don't understand the situation and how someone can be bumped off the job for their beliefs. Sure everyone has different beliefs, but I'm pretty sure everyone can have some tolerance. The pin was not even a bad reference, it was essentially just stating a portion of America's history.
Unless there's more to the story, he wasn't forcing his beliefs down anyone's throat. He was just expressing his opinion and no one has to believe and agree with it. Obviously it wasn't too offensive if none of the customers mentioned anything about the pin. Additionally, wearing his pin is a part of who he is. Tell me this: why was this situation not taken care of for so long?
I give the employee a lot of credit for standing up to his belief. We have that freedom in America, and there is no reason why his job should be jeopardized. This story is an example of putting God before anything else.
It seems like sometimes we look for excuses to get others in trouble. Why do we do that? Most likely we have trouble in our lives. Actually, I know we do. We approach others about their issues before we even look at ours. I'm not saying this exactly what happened, but it's a good reminder nonetheless.
I leave you with the question today: Why can't we just be "one nation, under God, indivisible...once and for all"?
Read the article: http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/oct/23/home-depot-worker-wears-under-god-button-more/
Tell me what you think about this...Send me an e-mail at heytbone92@gmail.com. I'd love to hear your opinion, even if you completely disagree with me!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Focus on the One and Only God.
Jeremiah 29:13
13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
What does God want us to do? We know he wants us to love others, be obedient, and follow the other commandments. What about the not so obvious things - the subtle ones. God wants us to seek him as that's the significance of accepting God into our lives.
I don't know about you, but I can't really multitask and do each task perfectly. I do multitask to do what I have to get done, however, it's not a preferred method. How successful do you feel when you multitask?
That's the problem. We often multitask (or multithink, if you will) while we seek God. We don't give God our full, undivided attention. When something captivates our interest, we take our mind off God, if we even began to think about him in the first place (sometimes it's hard to even get started with God). This world is a demanding place, but don't let it spill into God's time. God should be and needs to be given your full attention.
Lord, let me make you my number one focus in my life. Don't let anything distract me from doing your kingdom work.
God's is more outstanding and noteworthy than anything else. Remind yourself of that today.
13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
What does God want us to do? We know he wants us to love others, be obedient, and follow the other commandments. What about the not so obvious things - the subtle ones. God wants us to seek him as that's the significance of accepting God into our lives.
I don't know about you, but I can't really multitask and do each task perfectly. I do multitask to do what I have to get done, however, it's not a preferred method. How successful do you feel when you multitask?
That's the problem. We often multitask (or multithink, if you will) while we seek God. We don't give God our full, undivided attention. When something captivates our interest, we take our mind off God, if we even began to think about him in the first place (sometimes it's hard to even get started with God). This world is a demanding place, but don't let it spill into God's time. God should be and needs to be given your full attention.
Lord, let me make you my number one focus in my life. Don't let anything distract me from doing your kingdom work.
God's is more outstanding and noteworthy than anything else. Remind yourself of that today.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Callings From God.
Acts 13:2
2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
How often do you worship God? I don't know if anyone can say they worship him as much as they would like to do so. When we like to do something, we tend to satisfy those desires pretty quickly. What we don't always realize is that it's very important to worship God.
Why is this time so important? Not only are we praising God for all he's done at, we're opening the opportunities for him to talk to us. Worship is often a time where you'll hear God speak to you through music, scripture etc. You have to be full-heartedly worshiping, however.
Worshiping shouldn't just last a few minutes. If you're worshiping at church, as you leave, let it stay with you. Any worship that we do, should motivate us to inspire the world in our service.
You may hear a friend say what God told them, but don't think God would tell you the same thing. God has something different in mind for you. He has a mission for all of us to complete. Remember listen particularly close to his music and scripture.
2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
How often do you worship God? I don't know if anyone can say they worship him as much as they would like to do so. When we like to do something, we tend to satisfy those desires pretty quickly. What we don't always realize is that it's very important to worship God.
Why is this time so important? Not only are we praising God for all he's done at, we're opening the opportunities for him to talk to us. Worship is often a time where you'll hear God speak to you through music, scripture etc. You have to be full-heartedly worshiping, however.
Worshiping shouldn't just last a few minutes. If you're worshiping at church, as you leave, let it stay with you. Any worship that we do, should motivate us to inspire the world in our service.
You may hear a friend say what God told them, but don't think God would tell you the same thing. God has something different in mind for you. He has a mission for all of us to complete. Remember listen particularly close to his music and scripture.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Beauty and Anticipation.
1 Corinthians 2:9
9 However, as it is written:
"No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him"
I'm sure we all treasure certain moments of our lives. As a kid, Christmas and birthdays were always a biggie. Today, I'd have to say a nice break from school is much appreciated. We imagine the greatness of these events.
Meantime, from a Christian perspective, I am really looking forward to heaven - a beautiful place. There's also the thought of seeing Jesus face-to-face for the first time...what a miraculous moment that must be! As far as I know, we will also be reunited with our loved ones.
How can we even imagine the promises that God has? I don't think we can. They'll definitely be better than the best Christmas, birthday, or vacation. I expect to be surprised. We should remember that nothing on this Earth will ever compare to the brilliance of heaven and everything God has to offer.
Please listen to "Beautiful One" by Jeremy Camp. It's a great song...notice how in the first verse it has today's Bible verse within it.
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
9 However, as it is written:
"No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him"
I'm sure we all treasure certain moments of our lives. As a kid, Christmas and birthdays were always a biggie. Today, I'd have to say a nice break from school is much appreciated. We imagine the greatness of these events.
Meantime, from a Christian perspective, I am really looking forward to heaven - a beautiful place. There's also the thought of seeing Jesus face-to-face for the first time...what a miraculous moment that must be! As far as I know, we will also be reunited with our loved ones.
How can we even imagine the promises that God has? I don't think we can. They'll definitely be better than the best Christmas, birthday, or vacation. I expect to be surprised. We should remember that nothing on this Earth will ever compare to the brilliance of heaven and everything God has to offer.
Please listen to "Beautiful One" by Jeremy Camp. It's a great song...notice how in the first verse it has today's Bible verse within it.
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
There's More to it than Wisdom.
Proverbs 3:7
7 Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.
Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
We know that God is awesome because of his vast amount of holiness. He also has a great deal of power, grace, and love. There's no way any of us can top him. He is way beyond our abilities.
Have you even come across a word that is long, difficult to pronounce, and incomprehensible? This leaves you not even understanding the meaning. Many times the only option is to break the word down if we absolutely have to determine what it means. This can help with pronunciation and meaning.
The same is true with God. God's mighty power is so big and strong that it can't be identified sometimes. How do we go about getting an idea of God's power then? Examine the smallest acts of glory. This helps to understand better how God works.
We must remember that evilness along with other emotions can be contagious. We have to avoid being separate from God. You may have small peaks of glory but God doesn't want a small amount of you!
Let us understand what evil is. In addition, thanks for giving us your grace and holiness.
7 Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.
Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
We know that God is awesome because of his vast amount of holiness. He also has a great deal of power, grace, and love. There's no way any of us can top him. He is way beyond our abilities.
Have you even come across a word that is long, difficult to pronounce, and incomprehensible? This leaves you not even understanding the meaning. Many times the only option is to break the word down if we absolutely have to determine what it means. This can help with pronunciation and meaning.
The same is true with God. God's mighty power is so big and strong that it can't be identified sometimes. How do we go about getting an idea of God's power then? Examine the smallest acts of glory. This helps to understand better how God works.
We must remember that evilness along with other emotions can be contagious. We have to avoid being separate from God. You may have small peaks of glory but God doesn't want a small amount of you!
Let us understand what evil is. In addition, thanks for giving us your grace and holiness.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Ignorance v. Wisdom.
James 1:5
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
How many times do we act out of ignorance? More than enough I'd say. The end results of our ignorance are never too pretty. We end up having to pay the consequences (sometimes more severe than others) again because of our ignorance.
God has an ever so longing desire to provide you with the wisdom to make the right choices. That can include the difference in going to a party instead of doing work or making key decisions in a relationship. Thanks to God's grace, it is possible to replace ignorance with wisdom.
First and foremost, we have to seek God and ask him for hit infinite wisdom by praying to him. That is, we have to request his wisdom before we get up each day and make difficult decisions. His wisdom is there for you to use!
May your daily decisions be beneficial to you and certainly a blessing to others!
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
How many times do we act out of ignorance? More than enough I'd say. The end results of our ignorance are never too pretty. We end up having to pay the consequences (sometimes more severe than others) again because of our ignorance.
God has an ever so longing desire to provide you with the wisdom to make the right choices. That can include the difference in going to a party instead of doing work or making key decisions in a relationship. Thanks to God's grace, it is possible to replace ignorance with wisdom.
First and foremost, we have to seek God and ask him for hit infinite wisdom by praying to him. That is, we have to request his wisdom before we get up each day and make difficult decisions. His wisdom is there for you to use!
May your daily decisions be beneficial to you and certainly a blessing to others!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Avoid Evil.
Proverbs 10:12
12 Hatred stirs up dissension,
but love covers over all wrongs.
We all have our human instincts that we would automatically go ahead and do if it didn't really matter and if we had no boundaries for ourselves. We want to show evil because it was given to us or hatred because someone hated us, for instance. This of course is not the right way to act. We are to be the influences of the world, and therefore avoid such behavior.
Everyone is different and special in their own way. We need to ignore what the world says is right, and quit "hating." We need to do all we can in order to make the world a better place, even if it's not an easy task.
What does it take for you to be motivated to do something? Hopefully you can make the world a better place today, even though that is so cliche sounding. Pray that the Holy Spirit can cleanse you and provide you what you need to do that.
12 Hatred stirs up dissension,
but love covers over all wrongs.
We all have our human instincts that we would automatically go ahead and do if it didn't really matter and if we had no boundaries for ourselves. We want to show evil because it was given to us or hatred because someone hated us, for instance. This of course is not the right way to act. We are to be the influences of the world, and therefore avoid such behavior.
Everyone is different and special in their own way. We need to ignore what the world says is right, and quit "hating." We need to do all we can in order to make the world a better place, even if it's not an easy task.
What does it take for you to be motivated to do something? Hopefully you can make the world a better place today, even though that is so cliche sounding. Pray that the Holy Spirit can cleanse you and provide you what you need to do that.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Community Fall Festival.
1 Corinthians 10:24
24 Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.
Today is a pretty big day for my church and the community. It is the day of our fall festival. Every year we have this event on our property and it's a spectacular one. I think what's most appreciated by the community is the fact that the entire event is FREE, except for the pumpkins that we are selling. It is a day that is fun for the family: bounce houses, crafts, music, food, and more! That's a pretty good deal considering the current state of the economy.
The most inspiring part of this event is to see the community gathered in one place together. It is so good for the kids to get an idea or to be introduced to Jesus Christ on this day. They need it now before they grow up because soon they will lose interest. In fact, as my Pastor always says, "if by the age of 8, a child doesn't have any religious morals in them and/or know Christ, then the chance of them learning these values decreases exponentially each year.
I'm going to be dressed up as Jesus and walk around passing candy and meeting the kids at the festival. I'm praying to God that I can literally be Jesus and an influence to these kids today, even if it affects just one child!
I heard a quote this week that I'm going to remind myself of today: "Serving with the hands and feet of God will be a blessing if it comes from lips that pray."
24 Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.
Today is a pretty big day for my church and the community. It is the day of our fall festival. Every year we have this event on our property and it's a spectacular one. I think what's most appreciated by the community is the fact that the entire event is FREE, except for the pumpkins that we are selling. It is a day that is fun for the family: bounce houses, crafts, music, food, and more! That's a pretty good deal considering the current state of the economy.
The most inspiring part of this event is to see the community gathered in one place together. It is so good for the kids to get an idea or to be introduced to Jesus Christ on this day. They need it now before they grow up because soon they will lose interest. In fact, as my Pastor always says, "if by the age of 8, a child doesn't have any religious morals in them and/or know Christ, then the chance of them learning these values decreases exponentially each year.
I'm going to be dressed up as Jesus and walk around passing candy and meeting the kids at the festival. I'm praying to God that I can literally be Jesus and an influence to these kids today, even if it affects just one child!
I heard a quote this week that I'm going to remind myself of today: "Serving with the hands and feet of God will be a blessing if it comes from lips that pray."
Friday, October 16, 2009
Don't Question God's Abilities.
Matthew 8:13
Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! It will be done just as you
believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very hour.
By observing other people's strengths and weaknesses, we can conclude their abilities more or less. We all have very different abilities that we should know about.
Meanwhile, a centurion wasn't just a soldier, he was a Godly individual. He understands and conveys to the reader that one should bring their issues and the evil entities of the world to God via faith. The stronger our faith is, the greater our confidence in Christ is.
The servant in this passage was healed by God mainly because of the servant's obedience. We must go about our ways following the directions that God provides in his word.
Recently, I've mentioned that God keeps his promises. He does! If you read the Bible and learn something about God, you have to trust that it is true and you absolutely have to remember that God can do anything imaginable.
Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! It will be done just as you
believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very hour.
By observing other people's strengths and weaknesses, we can conclude their abilities more or less. We all have very different abilities that we should know about.
Meanwhile, a centurion wasn't just a soldier, he was a Godly individual. He understands and conveys to the reader that one should bring their issues and the evil entities of the world to God via faith. The stronger our faith is, the greater our confidence in Christ is.
The servant in this passage was healed by God mainly because of the servant's obedience. We must go about our ways following the directions that God provides in his word.
Recently, I've mentioned that God keeps his promises. He does! If you read the Bible and learn something about God, you have to trust that it is true and you absolutely have to remember that God can do anything imaginable.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Friends and Encouragment.
Hebrews 10:22-25
22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Think about it: change can be good and bad. Some will argue that they love change, while some are stuck in their ways day in and day out. Even though I don't mind change, I feel like I have a pretty strict routine and could mix up things a little bit. Sometimes I say, "Wow it feels like someone keeps on pressing the repeat button on my life. In retrospect, I'm really the one doing that.
In the same way, ideas can get old. From time to time it is wise to get some fresh thought and decisions in your mind. How do you go about this? It goes back to what I mentioned yesterday: finding a friend with a similar belief system as you. Often when a situation arises, they have a fresh thought pattern that they can offer. If you've been mulling over an issue, they haven't been mulling over the same one.
These friends can also introduce you to fresh "good deeds." If it's a friend that knows you well, they can really help you with this. They can be the support you need to carry out those good deeds.
Last but not least, your friends can help eliminate your guilt. As an understanding friend, they will forgive you. They can even talk you out of your guilt. This can further increase your hope.
So switch it up a little bit. Do something you wouldn't normally do, like talk very seriously about your faith with another friend.
22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Think about it: change can be good and bad. Some will argue that they love change, while some are stuck in their ways day in and day out. Even though I don't mind change, I feel like I have a pretty strict routine and could mix up things a little bit. Sometimes I say, "Wow it feels like someone keeps on pressing the repeat button on my life. In retrospect, I'm really the one doing that.
In the same way, ideas can get old. From time to time it is wise to get some fresh thought and decisions in your mind. How do you go about this? It goes back to what I mentioned yesterday: finding a friend with a similar belief system as you. Often when a situation arises, they have a fresh thought pattern that they can offer. If you've been mulling over an issue, they haven't been mulling over the same one.
These friends can also introduce you to fresh "good deeds." If it's a friend that knows you well, they can really help you with this. They can be the support you need to carry out those good deeds.
Last but not least, your friends can help eliminate your guilt. As an understanding friend, they will forgive you. They can even talk you out of your guilt. This can further increase your hope.
So switch it up a little bit. Do something you wouldn't normally do, like talk very seriously about your faith with another friend.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Christian Acquaintances.
Genesis 2:18
18 The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."
It's never fun to be alone. I mean sure, we all need the time sometimes, but we can go crazy if we're alone for too long. There's a logical reason for that though: we're not intended to be alone.
As Christians, we are to spend time with other believers. They can help pull the Satanic messages out of you and cleanse you with what God has to say. We need people who we can turn to whenever need be because in reality, temptation is right there. Also, other believers can help strengthen your faith - they can give you the roots that are necessary to hang on to your faith.
This meeting time with other Christians can give you that extra jump in your step. In other words, their words, actions or presence can impact and be encouraging to you. Friends, who you can count on, can give you comfort and sit down with you bringing you peace from the tension of the world.
I know when I discuss God and his word with my peers, it's beneficial. I'll admit I still have to work on that though. Nonetheless, gracing yourself with the presence of other believers is exactly what Jesus wants you to do so that you can evaluate and assess your faith. With that said, don't ignore those who are non-believers. It's just important that you stay firm to your beliefs while loving them.
“Accountability breeds response-ability.” ~Stephen R. Covey
Enjoy the message and pictures of this video. The song is "Friends" by Michael W. Smith.
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
18 The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."
It's never fun to be alone. I mean sure, we all need the time sometimes, but we can go crazy if we're alone for too long. There's a logical reason for that though: we're not intended to be alone.
As Christians, we are to spend time with other believers. They can help pull the Satanic messages out of you and cleanse you with what God has to say. We need people who we can turn to whenever need be because in reality, temptation is right there. Also, other believers can help strengthen your faith - they can give you the roots that are necessary to hang on to your faith.
This meeting time with other Christians can give you that extra jump in your step. In other words, their words, actions or presence can impact and be encouraging to you. Friends, who you can count on, can give you comfort and sit down with you bringing you peace from the tension of the world.
I know when I discuss God and his word with my peers, it's beneficial. I'll admit I still have to work on that though. Nonetheless, gracing yourself with the presence of other believers is exactly what Jesus wants you to do so that you can evaluate and assess your faith. With that said, don't ignore those who are non-believers. It's just important that you stay firm to your beliefs while loving them.
“Accountability breeds response-ability.” ~Stephen R. Covey
Enjoy the message and pictures of this video. The song is "Friends" by Michael W. Smith.
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Building Endurance.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
This weekend I spent some time volunteering at an annual Cross Country meet. It was the first time I had seen one, let alone been to one. I helped pass out water and snacks with some others from my school.
It was an experience because I learned so much. I realized, man, these runners, and all athletes for that matter, have such endurance. They are so good at what they do. In this case, the runners ran so fast, it was a blur.
They're very focused too. They're so focused that I suppose it makes running easier and it looks easy when they run, to me, but at the same time, I know very well it's not.
Before long, it's about time for the runners to start darting across the finish line, one after the other. I realized there may be a winner, but really everyone who ran that race is a winner. I know it took hard work to get where they are today. It takes a lot of time management. Everyone, including athletes, has their good days and their bad days. Because all of those runners have prepared for months or even years to get to where they are today, they are all winners. It's not the race itself that matters, it's the training and discipline that goes into all this.
Let this scenario be your guide for your spiritual walk. Sometimes you're going to have to up the anny a little. Train yourself (to read and know God's word), Focus yourself (on God), and pace yourself so you can get closer to God each day. Start running!
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
This weekend I spent some time volunteering at an annual Cross Country meet. It was the first time I had seen one, let alone been to one. I helped pass out water and snacks with some others from my school.
It was an experience because I learned so much. I realized, man, these runners, and all athletes for that matter, have such endurance. They are so good at what they do. In this case, the runners ran so fast, it was a blur.
They're very focused too. They're so focused that I suppose it makes running easier and it looks easy when they run, to me, but at the same time, I know very well it's not.
Before long, it's about time for the runners to start darting across the finish line, one after the other. I realized there may be a winner, but really everyone who ran that race is a winner. I know it took hard work to get where they are today. It takes a lot of time management. Everyone, including athletes, has their good days and their bad days. Because all of those runners have prepared for months or even years to get to where they are today, they are all winners. It's not the race itself that matters, it's the training and discipline that goes into all this.
Let this scenario be your guide for your spiritual walk. Sometimes you're going to have to up the anny a little. Train yourself (to read and know God's word), Focus yourself (on God), and pace yourself so you can get closer to God each day. Start running!
Monday, October 12, 2009
God Keeps His Promises
Deuteronomy 7:9
9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.
As if you haven't already been able to tell that God is good, he really is good. Not only does he love us and care about us, but he keeps all of his promises. These are qualities that no human can do all the time nor master perfectly. We make the wrong choices sometimes. Think of it this way though: God is so pure, good, and amazing. Breaking a promise involves making some poor choices. This probably means that it's not even possible for God to break a promise.
Have you ever heard someone say, "this behavior is just not like him (or her)." This is the case with God. If God broke a promise, it just wouldn't be like him.
Because God lives up to his word, and keeps his promises, it is easier to trust him. No one wants to trust someone who can't keep their promises, even if it's a best friend. God NEVER EVER broke a promise.
Some of God's most significant promises include that he will love us no matter what and that we have a place specially made for us in heaven. Please realize that you are a child of the great God...who keeps his promises!
In this video, word is enough. It is some proof of God's promises.
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.
As if you haven't already been able to tell that God is good, he really is good. Not only does he love us and care about us, but he keeps all of his promises. These are qualities that no human can do all the time nor master perfectly. We make the wrong choices sometimes. Think of it this way though: God is so pure, good, and amazing. Breaking a promise involves making some poor choices. This probably means that it's not even possible for God to break a promise.
Have you ever heard someone say, "this behavior is just not like him (or her)." This is the case with God. If God broke a promise, it just wouldn't be like him.
Because God lives up to his word, and keeps his promises, it is easier to trust him. No one wants to trust someone who can't keep their promises, even if it's a best friend. God NEVER EVER broke a promise.
Some of God's most significant promises include that he will love us no matter what and that we have a place specially made for us in heaven. Please realize that you are a child of the great God...who keeps his promises!
In this video, word is enough. It is some proof of God's promises.
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Don't Get Too Caught Up in Gifts.
Psalm 27:5-6
5 For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle
and set me high upon a rock.
6 Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the LORD.
I always mention that it's necessary to praise God for our blessings and gifts. Looking at the other side of the spectrum, however, I want to ask you: do you ever get so caught up in all the blessings that you receive from God? Yes, God is good, but we have to understand and acknowledge his presence too. We have to remember he has a will for us in the present. God also wants us to have a personal and intimate relationship with him at the same time. Think of God as your best friend. He is a true friend - he will never leave you or betray you.
King David is a good role model in this instance. He knew how vital it was to praise God for his gifts and blessings while dwelling in his house and spirit. If you approach God in this manner, even more blessings will stem from this. You will gain a great deal of joy as well. Just remember that...
...The bottom line is that you should pursue God with all your heart, not just his offerings he gives to you.
5 For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle
and set me high upon a rock.
6 Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the LORD.
I always mention that it's necessary to praise God for our blessings and gifts. Looking at the other side of the spectrum, however, I want to ask you: do you ever get so caught up in all the blessings that you receive from God? Yes, God is good, but we have to understand and acknowledge his presence too. We have to remember he has a will for us in the present. God also wants us to have a personal and intimate relationship with him at the same time. Think of God as your best friend. He is a true friend - he will never leave you or betray you.
King David is a good role model in this instance. He knew how vital it was to praise God for his gifts and blessings while dwelling in his house and spirit. If you approach God in this manner, even more blessings will stem from this. You will gain a great deal of joy as well. Just remember that...
...The bottom line is that you should pursue God with all your heart, not just his offerings he gives to you.
Friday, October 9, 2009
The Credit Goes to God for Going to Heaven.
Romans 3:10
10 As it is written:
"There is no one righteous, not even one;
There are many misconceptions about getting into heaven. Some people think that just because they're doing good deeds and have lived a good life, a spot is guaranteed for them in heaven. However, if this was the sole criterion for getting into heaven, then as far as I'm concerned, no one would have that privilege and honor.
Paul knew that it's not possible to make pure decisions 100 percent of the time in life. That's what he is referring to in this scripture. However, God didn't hesitate to solve this issue: he sent his only begotten son (see John 3:16). Christ died for our sins to save us from all the unrighteousness that exists. This is suggested by 1 Peter 3:18 as it states: For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.
No reference to reaching heaven is made in the above scriptures. We do not have the power to go to heaven on our own - we need God and we need to thank for sending his son so we can go to heaven, despite our mistakes. Our salvation and entrance to heaven is all thanks to the sacrifice God has made.
With that said, you still have to believe in Christ as your Lord and Savior. The path to heaven is very narrow and Jesus is the only way to stay on that path.
Here's a fabulous video that describes Jesus: "That's My King!"
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
10 As it is written:
"There is no one righteous, not even one;
There are many misconceptions about getting into heaven. Some people think that just because they're doing good deeds and have lived a good life, a spot is guaranteed for them in heaven. However, if this was the sole criterion for getting into heaven, then as far as I'm concerned, no one would have that privilege and honor.
Paul knew that it's not possible to make pure decisions 100 percent of the time in life. That's what he is referring to in this scripture. However, God didn't hesitate to solve this issue: he sent his only begotten son (see John 3:16). Christ died for our sins to save us from all the unrighteousness that exists. This is suggested by 1 Peter 3:18 as it states: For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.
No reference to reaching heaven is made in the above scriptures. We do not have the power to go to heaven on our own - we need God and we need to thank for sending his son so we can go to heaven, despite our mistakes. Our salvation and entrance to heaven is all thanks to the sacrifice God has made.
With that said, you still have to believe in Christ as your Lord and Savior. The path to heaven is very narrow and Jesus is the only way to stay on that path.
Here's a fabulous video that describes Jesus: "That's My King!"
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Love Yourself, Then Love Others.
1 John 4:11
11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
It seems like almost everything you can think of has been mentioned recently on my posts. The point about love comes up very frequently. That is because it is so important to grasp the understanding of love as a Christian and there are many different aspects to love. Knowing this very fact, keeps you in tune with the Word of God and God's love.
God loves us a great deal, and it is our responsibility to pass that on to others. There is no doubt that Jesus told us several times to love one another, other than in this verse. In fact, it's mentioned at least once in the first four books of the New Testament.
God loves us, and that makes it so much easier to love others. It's never easy to give away something that doesn't exist. Therefore, if you personally don't openly receive God's love, then what is there to give to others? Keep in mind that God is our model and shows us the 'how to' part of loving others.
Let your love overflow toward others. Make sure you fill up your heart with love today! Go forth receiving love and then in turn giving that love to those who need it.
11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
It seems like almost everything you can think of has been mentioned recently on my posts. The point about love comes up very frequently. That is because it is so important to grasp the understanding of love as a Christian and there are many different aspects to love. Knowing this very fact, keeps you in tune with the Word of God and God's love.
God loves us a great deal, and it is our responsibility to pass that on to others. There is no doubt that Jesus told us several times to love one another, other than in this verse. In fact, it's mentioned at least once in the first four books of the New Testament.
God loves us, and that makes it so much easier to love others. It's never easy to give away something that doesn't exist. Therefore, if you personally don't openly receive God's love, then what is there to give to others? Keep in mind that God is our model and shows us the 'how to' part of loving others.
Let your love overflow toward others. Make sure you fill up your heart with love today! Go forth receiving love and then in turn giving that love to those who need it.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Follow God.
Matthew 7:24-27
24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
You are encountering a severe thunderstorm. The rain is coming down in sheets and lightning strikes frequently. You hear the clank of hail stones on your roof. Finally, a strong gust comes through and your power is out.
These storms often come at a moment's notice. The same can be said for your emotions. Everyone's emotions are toiled some days and can knock us out. In fact, our emotions tend to be fickle.
Additionally, thunderstorms destabilize the atmosphere and therefore result in instability. Again emotions coincide with this concept. Since our emotions and feelings can be a little rocky and unstable, we must be careful not to trust our instincts and feelings 100 percent. It is those who live according to their unpredictable feelings and emotions that leads to our whimsical behavior.
We need to live according to God, not to our feelings. He is the only protection against so much instability. We must solidify our lives on the rock - God - to straighten things out. God is one sturdy rock so I challenge you to take shelter with him to avoid the storm!
24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
You are encountering a severe thunderstorm. The rain is coming down in sheets and lightning strikes frequently. You hear the clank of hail stones on your roof. Finally, a strong gust comes through and your power is out.
These storms often come at a moment's notice. The same can be said for your emotions. Everyone's emotions are toiled some days and can knock us out. In fact, our emotions tend to be fickle.
Additionally, thunderstorms destabilize the atmosphere and therefore result in instability. Again emotions coincide with this concept. Since our emotions and feelings can be a little rocky and unstable, we must be careful not to trust our instincts and feelings 100 percent. It is those who live according to their unpredictable feelings and emotions that leads to our whimsical behavior.
We need to live according to God, not to our feelings. He is the only protection against so much instability. We must solidify our lives on the rock - God - to straighten things out. God is one sturdy rock so I challenge you to take shelter with him to avoid the storm!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Escaping Temptation.
1 Corinthians 10:13
13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Times are tough sometimes, but God is never going to let you deal with circumstances that are beyond tolerable, nor will he leave you to be alone. I mean think of it this way: nothing will ever be remotely close to what Jesus had to face on the cross. Also, God is a great guide book - look at the Bible.
Temptation is always going to be surrounding you and wanting to eat you away. Why? It's Satan's job...simple as that. Satan is always busy trying to trick us and get us on the wrong path. However, the good news is that God gives you "a way out."
Look at Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Satan tempted them big time. Satan told Adam and Eve not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge because otherwise they would be too God-like. He said that God was all a lie. Satan was not short of his goals either as they sinned.
I mentioned you have a way out, and that's certainly true. You have free will and so you are NOT forced to do anything. Therefore, Satan does not force anyone to sin. He just tries his hardest. Adam and Eve could have eaten other items in the garden because in reality, God was taking care of them. Therefore, they had a way out, but instead chose to disrespect God.
Focus and remind yourself that there is a way out of the devil's traps. Re-adjust your beliefs and focus on God and his love. Finally, the easiest thing you can do is PRAY about temptation. If Satan says praying isn't good, don't listen to him!
13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Times are tough sometimes, but God is never going to let you deal with circumstances that are beyond tolerable, nor will he leave you to be alone. I mean think of it this way: nothing will ever be remotely close to what Jesus had to face on the cross. Also, God is a great guide book - look at the Bible.
Temptation is always going to be surrounding you and wanting to eat you away. Why? It's Satan's job...simple as that. Satan is always busy trying to trick us and get us on the wrong path. However, the good news is that God gives you "a way out."
Look at Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Satan tempted them big time. Satan told Adam and Eve not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge because otherwise they would be too God-like. He said that God was all a lie. Satan was not short of his goals either as they sinned.
I mentioned you have a way out, and that's certainly true. You have free will and so you are NOT forced to do anything. Therefore, Satan does not force anyone to sin. He just tries his hardest. Adam and Eve could have eaten other items in the garden because in reality, God was taking care of them. Therefore, they had a way out, but instead chose to disrespect God.
Focus and remind yourself that there is a way out of the devil's traps. Re-adjust your beliefs and focus on God and his love. Finally, the easiest thing you can do is PRAY about temptation. If Satan says praying isn't good, don't listen to him!
Monday, October 5, 2009
The Perfect Remedy for Doubt.
Joshua 1:7-8
7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
I don't know what happens sometimes, but some people look at God as a huge puzzle and one that they can't figure out. They also question whether it's worth living a life that glorifies God. Some don't even know whether the choices they are making are pleasing to God or not. There's also those who believe God is big, powerful, and therefore is a cloud of negativity - a being only to come after them when they go wrong.
I often ask myself how could I EVER go about day without being granted that piece of mind that God offers when you walk by his side. I never want to lose that. I never want to doubt God now that I have found my faith.
Perhaps, if you or someone you know questions God's presence, then the Bible is an ideal solution. It certainly helps to guide one's decisions. Remember, Jesus shows us how to make God happy.
This isn't an overnight resolution for sure, however, I think practice will make better (not perfect). The more engaged and involved you get in the scripture, the more answers you'll have - I promise! We gain awareness of Jesus' teachings. When you add prayer to the mix, this adds extra direction and teaching.
What could you do to be more involved in the Word of God and strengthen your intimacy with God? Would you be able to attend a Bible study at least once a week? The odds are for you, my friend. There are ways to overcome uncertainty about God. I would recommend starting off by reading some scripture everyday, if anything.
Best of luck to everyone as you overcome any doubt about Christ!
Here's TobyMac's new song "City On Our Knees"
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
I don't know what happens sometimes, but some people look at God as a huge puzzle and one that they can't figure out. They also question whether it's worth living a life that glorifies God. Some don't even know whether the choices they are making are pleasing to God or not. There's also those who believe God is big, powerful, and therefore is a cloud of negativity - a being only to come after them when they go wrong.
I often ask myself how could I EVER go about day without being granted that piece of mind that God offers when you walk by his side. I never want to lose that. I never want to doubt God now that I have found my faith.
Perhaps, if you or someone you know questions God's presence, then the Bible is an ideal solution. It certainly helps to guide one's decisions. Remember, Jesus shows us how to make God happy.
This isn't an overnight resolution for sure, however, I think practice will make better (not perfect). The more engaged and involved you get in the scripture, the more answers you'll have - I promise! We gain awareness of Jesus' teachings. When you add prayer to the mix, this adds extra direction and teaching.
What could you do to be more involved in the Word of God and strengthen your intimacy with God? Would you be able to attend a Bible study at least once a week? The odds are for you, my friend. There are ways to overcome uncertainty about God. I would recommend starting off by reading some scripture everyday, if anything.
Best of luck to everyone as you overcome any doubt about Christ!
Here's TobyMac's new song "City On Our Knees"
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Don't Forget to Praise.
Daniel 2:19-23
19 During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven 20 and said:
"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
wisdom and power are his.
21 He changes times and seasons;
he sets up kings and deposes them.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.
22 He reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with him.
23 I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers:
You have given me wisdom and power,
you have made known to me what we asked of you,
you have made known to us the dream of the king."
This is a different kind of reading for the day, don't you think? I don't know why, but this scripture especially stands out to me today. I love the part where it says "he knows...light dwells with him. This reminds me how God knows so much and is much more authoritative than we like to think. It's because he's so powerful that "he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning." That's comforting!
Many times we get so caught up in the little stuff that we turn it all into a big deal. Too often if we do go to God, we approach him almost in fear. There's no reason to let that fear exist; it will hinder you relationship with God.
The items that are mentioned in this passage are a perfect example of what we should tell God. We can pray and pray and pray all we want, but he'd really love to hear some praises from time to time as well. So, don't approach God in a fearful manner. He is longing to hear from you. Try reading this at least a few times today. Let God know that you want to praise him constantly. Praise be to God!
Hear this song from David Crowder Band called "Oh Praise Him."
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Love is a Must.
1 Peter 4:8
8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
This Bible verse reminds me of the priorities that I set for myself. Some things shouldn't be a priority, but I haven't quite worked them out of my routine. It is in this case where we see love is a priority. In fact, it's probably the most important virtue there is.
Love is so important in a relationship, let alone in a Christian relationship. How can you be one of God if you don't love people? It's one of those things, that's hard sometimes. God never finds it hard to love us though...no matter how thick our heads are. He loves us all the time!
I mentioned that God loves. He loves beyond you can even begin to imagine. It is our job to sacrifice some of our time for others to show that we care and love them just as God deeply loves us.
If you think about it, love sets everything else in place. Exhibiting loves allows you to obey and so on.
Let the good (love) outweigh the bad (sin) and make it known to the world!
8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
This Bible verse reminds me of the priorities that I set for myself. Some things shouldn't be a priority, but I haven't quite worked them out of my routine. It is in this case where we see love is a priority. In fact, it's probably the most important virtue there is.
Love is so important in a relationship, let alone in a Christian relationship. How can you be one of God if you don't love people? It's one of those things, that's hard sometimes. God never finds it hard to love us though...no matter how thick our heads are. He loves us all the time!
I mentioned that God loves. He loves beyond you can even begin to imagine. It is our job to sacrifice some of our time for others to show that we care and love them just as God deeply loves us.
If you think about it, love sets everything else in place. Exhibiting loves allows you to obey and so on.
Let the good (love) outweigh the bad (sin) and make it known to the world!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Isaiah's Description of Heaven.
Isaiah 25:6-8
6 On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare
a feast of rich food for all peoples,
a banquet of aged wine—
the best of meats and the finest of wines.
7 On this mountain he will destroy
the shroud that enfolds all peoples,
the sheet that covers all nations;
8 he will swallow up death forever.
The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears
from all faces;
he will remove the disgrace of his people
from all the earth.
The LORD has spoken.
Hopefully over the past few days you've learned what your life would be like if you followed God's commands and confessed your sins (or it reminds you if you ever stray from his path for a while). God is all FOR you! That's really important to realize. Also, life is much more meaningful when you understand and accept that God the creator is your savior.
But there's more...On the other side of the spectrum, there's eternal life - ideally in heaven. Isaiah is discussing what heaven will be like. It sounds like an amazing place to me. The abundance of food is a good thing too I suppose, but in the last verse it says, no more sorrow, no more pain, and no more death will occur...these are the best things above all. This party has no end in sight either.
Remember, that if you obey God and accept him (pretty much everything I'd list would go back to obedience), then you're guaranteed a spot in heaven.
6 On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare
a feast of rich food for all peoples,
a banquet of aged wine—
the best of meats and the finest of wines.
7 On this mountain he will destroy
the shroud that enfolds all peoples,
the sheet that covers all nations;
8 he will swallow up death forever.
The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears
from all faces;
he will remove the disgrace of his people
from all the earth.
The LORD has spoken.
Hopefully over the past few days you've learned what your life would be like if you followed God's commands and confessed your sins (or it reminds you if you ever stray from his path for a while). God is all FOR you! That's really important to realize. Also, life is much more meaningful when you understand and accept that God the creator is your savior.
But there's more...On the other side of the spectrum, there's eternal life - ideally in heaven. Isaiah is discussing what heaven will be like. It sounds like an amazing place to me. The abundance of food is a good thing too I suppose, but in the last verse it says, no more sorrow, no more pain, and no more death will occur...these are the best things above all. This party has no end in sight either.
Remember, that if you obey God and accept him (pretty much everything I'd list would go back to obedience), then you're guaranteed a spot in heaven.
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