Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Grief

One of Jesus' most "human" moments was when He asked those closest
to Him to just be with Him in that painful time before His arrest.
Not "fix" anything. Not do anything. Not even understand. Just "be".

And they could not. How deeply do you think that hurt Him?
(Remember: He felt as we feel; He had our emotions.)

Do you suppose He still hurts when we fail to care about the things
happening in the world now that bring Him grief? Think about it. And
care. (And consider setting aside time to just "be" with Him.)
  
 He told them, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death.
  Stay here and watch with me." He went on a little farther and fell
  face down on the ground, praying, "My Father! If it is possible, let
  this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will,
  not mine." Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep.
  He said to Peter, "Couldn't you stay awake and watch with me even
  one hour? (Mat 26:38-40 NLT

Monday, June 27, 2016

Communication

Have you ever had a genuine relationship with someone you never met,
or one that grew without communication? Personally, I have not.

I believe this is true: The quality of our communication with the
Lord is an indicator of the quality of our relationship with Him.
  
 But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith
  and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you
  wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal
  life. (Jude 1:20-21 NIV)

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Your Not Alone

See if this is familiar:

You do "it"again. You do not want to or intend to, but you do it
nonetheless. You feel compelled to do "it" and powerless to stop.

You think you are struggling alone? You are not! Everyone has an
"it". There is only one who does not have an "it" and He
understands, loves you, and gave His life to have a relationship
with you. Trust His love for you even if you do "it"oagain.
  
 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do,
  but what I hate I do. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is,
  in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I
  cannot carry it out. For in my inner being I delight in God's law;
  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. (Rom 7:15,18,22,23 NIV)

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Love Hell Out of people

1 Corinthians 16:14
Do everything in love. (Hate kills, Love heals! Praying we love the hate out of people! Let's show the world we can truly love one another!) FS. SH&H.

People change the word doesn't

There is much unrest, uncertainty, violence, and hostility in the
world now. It is disturbing. Things we used to take for granted have
changed and things we depended on are no longer dependable.

Jesus and His unchanging Word is worthy of trust. He has already
overcome the source of any problem we may face. The covenant He
established and the promises contained therein will never fail.

It is possible to have peace in this world today. It depends on your
focus: Who, where, and/or what you are looking to for your security,
well-being, and future.
  
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In
  this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome
  the world." (John 16:33 NIV)

Friday, June 17, 2016

Self Condemnation

When we feel condemned, we often blame the enemy, however, it is not
always his doing. What do I mean? Just this: We do such a good job
condemning ourselves that we sometimes end up doing his job for him.

Live in the freedom and relationship that Jesus died for us to have!

  Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds
  because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by
  Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his
  sight, without blemish and free from accusation--if you continue in
  your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out
  in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been
  proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul,
  have become a servant. (Col 1:21-23 NIV)

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Expectations

I have heard people quote today's verses with unrealistic
expectations: They expected God to give them a "personality
transplant" or immediately change their circumstances.

It never happened that way for me. Instead, He taught me how to
trust His promise--through pain and troubles--that joy would come.
And it did. Always.

And looking back, I realize that was the better way.
  
Hear me, LORD, and have mercy on me. Help me, O LORD." You have
  turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my
  clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing
  praises to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you
  thanks forever! (Psa 30:10-12 

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Just A Test

A relationship test:

Consider the people in your life. Who brings you closer to God? Who
is benign (not harmful)? Who influences you away from Him?
  
 And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch
  out for people who cause divisions and upset people's faith by
  teaching things that are contrary to what you have been taught. Stay
  away from them. Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they
  are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing
  words they deceive innocent people. (Rom 16:17-18 NLT)

Thursday, June 9, 2016

A Good Day

When was the last time you opened your heart to God and told Him how
you felt about Him? One of my favorite sayings: "Today would be a
good day."
  
The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in
  truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their
  cry and saves them. The LORD watches over all who love him, but all
  the wicked he will destroy. My mouth will speak in praise of the
  LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.
  (Psa 145:18-21 NIV)

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Enemy's Weapon

Fear: One of the more powerful ways the enemy influences us--and one
we seldom recognize for what it is.

I believe that fear is a significant motivation for what we do or do
not do. An example is the fear of pain, of being hurt, e.g., lack,
rejection, humiliation, disappointment, failure, etc.

When you overcome the fear of a thing, it no longer has any control
over you. One way to overcome is to override one thing with a more
powerful thing--like God's love and the certainty of His promises.
  
When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise,
  in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?
  (Psa 56:3-4 NIV)

Monday, June 6, 2016

Be a Leader

When God puts something in you to do, find a way to do it and there
will be a way, somewhere, somehow. Things to note in today's verses:

 1. Zach recognized he would not have an encounter with Jesus if
  he did what everyone else did. (He left them and ran ahead.)

 2. He recognized that he was unable to meet Jesus on his own
  terms or without help. (In this case, his help was a tree.)

 3. Jesus made an exception for him and went to his house.

Remember: You do not necessarily have to do what everyone else does.
  
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by
  the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.
  He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not,
  because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig
  tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached
  the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down
  immediately. I must stay at your house today." So he came down at
  once and welcomed him gladly. (Luke 19:1-6 NIV)

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Commitment


Do you think about your relationship with the Lord? Here is one test
of its integrity: Has it cost you anything? Some thoughts:

Without commitment, there can be no relationship.

Commitment requires sacrifice. Sacrifice implies cost: Relationships
may be altered, lifestyles or finances affected, beliefs challenged,
behaviors disallowed, confessions and repentance required, etc.

Look honestly and deeply and ask: "Has it cost me anything?"
  
  Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil
  deeds. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls
  together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of
  the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. In this way
  the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. (Acts 19:18-20
  NIV)