So, doing way too much thinking as of late, figuring things out in my life. Not a lot of fun. But, now what do I do?
Really, what are any of us to, whether we know our issues or not? We all face problems, with or without additional issues, so there must be something we are to do - one way or another .....
There are plenty of examples in the Bible about people whom faced challenges, issues and problems I can easily see as being insurmountable! So, I looked for an example ...
I have always had respect for Joshua. Not only did he seem to do well by God, but he faced some horrible situations being thrust upon! Yeah, God used him ...
Joshua 1:1-9
Go Where God Tells You
In verses 1 and 2, Joshua is being told to go into the unknown.
Journeying into the unknown always requires faith.
Lots of faith.
God likes it when we are forced to live by faith and not our own strength!
Know and Obey God's Word
If you do not know God's voice, you can not hear Him.
If you do not know you Bible, you will never hear God's voice.
If you hear and do not do - God will abandon you to your folly.
Obeying means that you live it and practice it!
Obedience is what God does expect from you!
God Is always With You
Verse 9 sums it up nicely.
If we are called by His name, He is with us.
If we are doing His will, He is with us, even unto martyrdom.
If we are not doing His will, He will watch us fail and wait for us to call on Him.
If we are not called by name, well He waits for you to call on Him for salvation.
So, I can see that if I am His, if I am willing to do His will, He will be with me in what I do for Him that He has called me to.
So, I need to be courageous in facing life ...
Showing posts with label Encouragement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Encouragement. Show all posts
August 3, 2016
December 16, 2015
Turf Wars - Jealousy
Jealousy, the horrible green eyed monster of William Shakespeare!
Jealousy is not envy.
Jealousy is desire for what another has.
Envy is wanting what someone else has and wanting them to not have it - whether you have it or not!
Either of these can destroy friendships, marriages, business and yes, tear a church apart.
It is a problem for everyone, even you ...
Read Mark 9:38-41
Reach For Jesus
Release the jealousy.
Talk to yourself - Why am I jealousy of that person? What is it about their success that bothers me?
It is about Jesus, not my method versus your method.
It is about Jesus, not my success versus your success.
Decide That Different Is Not Demonic
If you are not against us, you are for us.
Different is fine - as long as we are all for Jesus.
There are false teachers, we are warned of them, but if the teaching is Scriptural - well, it is just fine.
- we are sinners
- we need a savior
- Jesus paid the price for our sin
The rest is just difference and what we should not be separating over!
Just stop your comparisons!
Worry about your relationship with Jesus.
Sincerely Applaud The Success Of Others
Their success is based upon their preparation and readiness to be used.
Applaud others accoplishments.
Draw attention to what others do right, not what they do right.
Applaud others victories.
Do not turn conversations to being about you.
Get The Priorities Right
God only asks you to do what you can do - not what you can not do - not what others can do.
Bless others in Jesus name.
Jealousy is not envy.
Jealousy is desire for what another has.
Envy is wanting what someone else has and wanting them to not have it - whether you have it or not!
Either of these can destroy friendships, marriages, business and yes, tear a church apart.
It is a problem for everyone, even you ...
Read Mark 9:38-41
Reach For Jesus
Release the jealousy.
Talk to yourself - Why am I jealousy of that person? What is it about their success that bothers me?
It is about Jesus, not my method versus your method.
It is about Jesus, not my success versus your success.
Decide That Different Is Not Demonic
If you are not against us, you are for us.
Different is fine - as long as we are all for Jesus.
There are false teachers, we are warned of them, but if the teaching is Scriptural - well, it is just fine.
- we are sinners
- we need a savior
- Jesus paid the price for our sin
The rest is just difference and what we should not be separating over!
Just stop your comparisons!
Worry about your relationship with Jesus.
Sincerely Applaud The Success Of Others
Their success is based upon their preparation and readiness to be used.
Applaud others accoplishments.
Draw attention to what others do right, not what they do right.
Applaud others victories.
Do not turn conversations to being about you.
Get The Priorities Right
God only asks you to do what you can do - not what you can not do - not what others can do.
Bless others in Jesus name.
November 20, 2015
First Love
John captures in the opening to the book of Revelation (John's Apocalypse, et al, to the non-American World) with an address to the Seven Church's. Lots of arguments as to why seven, why these, etc - but this is not what this post is about. Ephesus is the one we want to look at today.
Revelation 2:1-7, consider verse 5
If you are a normal human being, you have a first love - even I had one. Think back to the exhilaration of that love ... There is an excitement associated with even thinking about that person. Yeah, I know, humans rarely can maintain that first love - because one or the other or both will go their own way and leave a wound behind. (Probably how God feels about us at times ... sigh) But, try to remember that instinctual euphoria you felt, perhaps as a teenager - for that very special person! (Yes, even with almost complete anesthesia I can at least remember that much! And, the pain of utter rejection.)
You want to be with them, around them, you think about them, they literally take all of your waking attention and perhaps your dreams as well. Sigh ...
And God is telling John about how the Church of Ephesus needs to remember their first love.
Now Paul had founded the church, Timothy had been a pastor there and the Apostle John was the overseer of the churches throughout the area. It was in Ephesus John was arrested and sent to Patmos, was thrown in boiling oil to kill him for his Christian belief, was as an old man to be carried by bearers throughout his ministry area to continue when he no longer could walk.
Remember That First Love
Of course we are talking about the word used here: Agape - God's divine love.
If you can not remember your first love, then your lampstand will be removed in Heaven - a harsh consequence.
If you can remember your first love, then you will will be allowed to eat of the Tree of Life - a blessing.
Reignite That Passion
For your first love - Jesus.
Change your mind, change your direction, repent of your abandonment of your love.
Relaunch That Lifestyle
Do what you did at first!
Repent!
Restart that relationship.
Relive the euphoria.
Of course, we learn from history that the Church of Ephesus flourished and certainly had a witness for centuries. However, in time, the harbor was to silt up and the town essentially abandoned. And what happened to that original church? Those faithful believers that God called back? Well at least I wonder ...
And they faded away?
No not really. In truth many whom are reading this are descendants in the faith from those first early Christians. I know the name of whose witness led me to the Lord, but not whom led her or further back - what is the string of witnesses? Yes, we are all the product of the ministry of the Holy Spirit and its witness - including bringing those physical witnesses into our life. It would be cool to know if you were the product of John's witness or Paul's or Peter's or .... But, in the end that has nothing to do with our relation ship with Jesus or God the Father.
And like those in Ephesus, we need to vigilant that we do not leave our first love for God ...
Revelation 2:1-7, consider verse 5
If you are a normal human being, you have a first love - even I had one. Think back to the exhilaration of that love ... There is an excitement associated with even thinking about that person. Yeah, I know, humans rarely can maintain that first love - because one or the other or both will go their own way and leave a wound behind. (Probably how God feels about us at times ... sigh) But, try to remember that instinctual euphoria you felt, perhaps as a teenager - for that very special person! (Yes, even with almost complete anesthesia I can at least remember that much! And, the pain of utter rejection.)
You want to be with them, around them, you think about them, they literally take all of your waking attention and perhaps your dreams as well. Sigh ...
And God is telling John about how the Church of Ephesus needs to remember their first love.
Now Paul had founded the church, Timothy had been a pastor there and the Apostle John was the overseer of the churches throughout the area. It was in Ephesus John was arrested and sent to Patmos, was thrown in boiling oil to kill him for his Christian belief, was as an old man to be carried by bearers throughout his ministry area to continue when he no longer could walk.
Remember That First Love
Of course we are talking about the word used here: Agape - God's divine love.
If you can not remember your first love, then your lampstand will be removed in Heaven - a harsh consequence.
If you can remember your first love, then you will will be allowed to eat of the Tree of Life - a blessing.
Reignite That Passion
For your first love - Jesus.
Change your mind, change your direction, repent of your abandonment of your love.
Relaunch That Lifestyle
Do what you did at first!
Repent!
Restart that relationship.
Relive the euphoria.
Of course, we learn from history that the Church of Ephesus flourished and certainly had a witness for centuries. However, in time, the harbor was to silt up and the town essentially abandoned. And what happened to that original church? Those faithful believers that God called back? Well at least I wonder ...
And they faded away?
No not really. In truth many whom are reading this are descendants in the faith from those first early Christians. I know the name of whose witness led me to the Lord, but not whom led her or further back - what is the string of witnesses? Yes, we are all the product of the ministry of the Holy Spirit and its witness - including bringing those physical witnesses into our life. It would be cool to know if you were the product of John's witness or Paul's or Peter's or .... But, in the end that has nothing to do with our relation ship with Jesus or God the Father.
And like those in Ephesus, we need to vigilant that we do not leave our first love for God ...
August 15, 2014
If You Will
Mark 1:40 - 45
From this passage comes one of my favorite quotations, "If you will, you can make me clean ... "
Leprosy is a skin, bone and joint disease. If you had this you were an outcast from society and it was believed that this was a judgment from God due to your sin. God is punishing you. You are going to lose your identity, your community, family, everything!
Can You Care Enough To Feel Compassion?
God came to be the father to the father-less.
Jesus confronted with a leper, is moved to act.
Are You Convinced Enough To Ask?
Twice in the Old Testament, God had healed leprosy.
This leper saw that Jesus could heal.
He KNEW Jesus could heal him!
Will You Stretch Yourself Enough To Touch?
Jesus touched the leper.
He did not have to.
But, he was proving that God is not unclean!
And the leper was healed, cleansed, now ceremonially clean!
Are you even aware of the needs of those around you?
Who are the untouchables in your life?
Will You Be Bold Enough To Tell Others?
The leper witnessed to all whom would listen!
Jesus was not looking for followers based upon miracles.
Even though miracles, in this case healing, is a sign of God - it is the cross and resurrection which are the point!
Touch someone this week ....
Jesus, did and so can you.
From this passage comes one of my favorite quotations, "If you will, you can make me clean ... "
Leprosy is a skin, bone and joint disease. If you had this you were an outcast from society and it was believed that this was a judgment from God due to your sin. God is punishing you. You are going to lose your identity, your community, family, everything!
Can You Care Enough To Feel Compassion?
God came to be the father to the father-less.
Jesus confronted with a leper, is moved to act.
Are You Convinced Enough To Ask?
Twice in the Old Testament, God had healed leprosy.
This leper saw that Jesus could heal.
He KNEW Jesus could heal him!
Will You Stretch Yourself Enough To Touch?
Jesus touched the leper.
He did not have to.
But, he was proving that God is not unclean!
And the leper was healed, cleansed, now ceremonially clean!
Are you even aware of the needs of those around you?
Who are the untouchables in your life?
Will You Be Bold Enough To Tell Others?
The leper witnessed to all whom would listen!
Jesus was not looking for followers based upon miracles.
Even though miracles, in this case healing, is a sign of God - it is the cross and resurrection which are the point!
Touch someone this week ....
Jesus, did and so can you.
June 3, 2014
Its Not About You
Forgiveness Is Important
Forgive those whom have disappointed you.
Paul is remembering those whom have hurt him and/or the Church.
Paul is remembering those whom have blessed him and the Church, as well.
Demas, whom went back into the world.
Mark, whom was useful yet dropped out on a mission trip.
I think Paul's point here is that failure does not have to be permanent nor final.
Warn of Wolves
They are dangerous!
Warn others of those whom can harm them!
More than likely, all churches have a few wolves in their midst:
Our duty is to be sure that know only our church bodies know but that any other assemblies they wish to attend are waned as well!
We are told of Alexander the Coppersmith, and told to avoid.
Give Thanks
For those whom have been a blessing in your life
Encourage Others
You are not dead, yet, so keep working. All of us need to action while there is still time!
Did you get the point of Paul's closing to Timothy? It is not about you, it is about everyone else - from your point of view.
Forgive those whom have disappointed you.
Paul is remembering those whom have hurt him and/or the Church.
Paul is remembering those whom have blessed him and the Church, as well.
Demas, whom went back into the world.
Mark, whom was useful yet dropped out on a mission trip.
I think Paul's point here is that failure does not have to be permanent nor final.
Warn of Wolves
They are dangerous!
Warn others of those whom can harm them!
More than likely, all churches have a few wolves in their midst:
- Predators, those whom prey upon the weak or immature
- Anti-Christ's, those whom attempt to change doctrines or ministries
Our duty is to be sure that know only our church bodies know but that any other assemblies they wish to attend are waned as well!
We are told of Alexander the Coppersmith, and told to avoid.
Give Thanks
For those whom have been a blessing in your life
Encourage Others
You are not dead, yet, so keep working. All of us need to action while there is still time!
Did you get the point of Paul's closing to Timothy? It is not about you, it is about everyone else - from your point of view.
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