Is Your Mind Set on the Things of God?
In a very interesting exchange between Peter and Jesus, Jesus looks at Peter and tells Satan to get behind Him. I find this to be problematic because Peter is a person, a follower of Jesus, a man who declares Jesus to be the Messiah just 4 verses before Jesus calls him Satan! Let’s take a look […]
Do You Think Before You Speak?
To be rash with our words is to be hasty in expressing them, to not give much thought to what we say and how we say it, to be afraid and terrified or anxious as we express them is another element of its use too. Pretty much I take it as speaking and doing things without giving it much thought.
I love being around someone who is patient and careful with their words! I usually will tend to listen more intently to what they have to say when they do speak because I know that they are choosing their words carefully. That is wisdom! To think through our responses, to listen to the other persons perspective, or the whole issue before offering up counsel, is so important and creates security for the other people involved.
How Can You Receive Blessings in 2021?
Jeremiah 17:7 (NET) “My blessing is on those people who trust in me, who put their confidence in me.” Whenever we celebrate a New Year, there is always an anticipation of what that year will hold for us. Will we get that new job, will we start a new habit that will benefit our life, are […]
Love is Primary
In Deuteronomy 6:5 we are told to “…love the Lord your God with your whole mind, your whole being, and all your strength.” The essential aspect of our Covenant with the Lord (covenant means a binding agreement) is love! There is nothing more important to God than for us to understand His love for us and that we would love Him. This is why I say that Love is primary, because there is nothing more important to God in regard to us.
Joy in Today’s World?
Joy is that type of disposition that is not dependent upon the feelings we have (although the dictionary States that it is a “feeling” of great pleasure), but upon the choices we make daily to remain hopeful and dependent upon our Savior Jesus Christ. In the Christmas story found in Luke chapter 2, when the Angel appeared to the Shepherds he told them not to be afraid because he brings them good news that will bring great joy to many people (Luke 2:8-14). The Shepherds had a choice to make right then on whether to believe this angel, remain fearful, or to take courage and be filled with joy at the message he was giving them. the message was this, “Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11). This was what was to bring great joy to many people!
How Does Peace Change Us?
We are called to be peace-makers not peace-keepers! Unfortunately, we will spend much of our time when we are not at peace in ourselves seeking to keep the peace around us, and we inevitably end up either hurting ourselves or others, or we just burn out trying. When we are whole and secure in Christ (at peace) we are perfectly positioned to make peace wherever we go. Our very presence will bring peace because it is actually the presence of the God of Peace within us that we are submitted to, and people can and will feel that!
Four Weeks of Expectation – Are You Prepared?
Advent not only is a time of expectation, it is a season of preparation as well. This may be one of the key elements of the “why” behind Advent. Whenever we are able to prepare our hearts in order to encounter God it is a “win”! That exercise will never be without great reward. We do not have to wait until a special season in order to do it either, we can examine and prepare our heart condition anytime throughout the year. But there are certain seasons where we are sort of forced into (or out of) different rhythms of life, and when that happens it is a very good thing to contemplate the condition of our hearts and minds.
God has Fond Memories of You!
If you have wandered from God, please hear His words in Jeremiah 2. Please understand that He misses you and desires to be reconciled to you through your decision to devote yourself to Him and His ways again. Repent, confess your sins, and walk in His closeness again my friend. He loves you! For that we can all be grateful during this Thanksgiving season!
Are we Worshiping in Vain?
Why? you ask, because these people were doing everything they could to manipulate God! Yes they had the appearance of godliness and they were “rewarded” in the culture as important and highly honored, but they were not connected to the heart of God! God hates insincere rituals and empty religious platitudes that are designed to manipulate Him into thinking that we are somehow better people as a result of them (see Isaiah 1:11-15). God desires expressions of devotion from the heart that recognizes Him as the only reason for any sort of goodness within the one offering up such worship (see Ps. 51:16-17). See, Jesus knew their hearts (as He knows our hearts) and knew that they were not interested in worshiping to be near to God but more interested in showing piety in order to impress and overpower the people around them. He even calls them “white-washed tombs” in Matt. 23:27, saying that they make the outside look clean but on the inside they are full of dead bones. Those are some very harsh words from the One receiving our worship!
Operational Upgrades for Our Lives
Prayer is that part of the process that allows us to be honest about our system’s operating functions, and communicates the issues to the Technical Advisor (Holy Spirit). Once you have communicated to God through prayer, heard from the Spirit through the Word, and confirmed it through a close and trusted support group, then it is time to change (repent). Make the necessary adjustments in your life and allow the new and improved update from the Lord to enhance your life and your relationships with those that are close to you. Anytime we receive a system upgrade, it should allow for a better all around experience of our devices. The same should be true of our lives whenever we receive upgrades from the Spirit too!