Diligent
9 Even though we speak
like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your
case—the things that have to do with salvation. 10
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have
shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Hebrews 6:9-12
What do you do with persevering attention in your life? This is what
diligence means. Do you help others without complaining, do share the
Gospel with a diligent heart? Or do find it easier to be lazy and just
get by without a patient heart. When you think that God is silent or
maybe isn't giving you the direction you think you need to head, God has
you rest for the things that are more important later. As friends of
ours begin on a journey of trusting God for their future, I know that
their faith is strong and their friends can diligently help them in many
ways. Don't be lazy but call on the diligent strength God has for you
to support Him and those around you in His cause for this world.
Have a great weekend.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Friday, July 27, 2012
Fantastic Friday #325- Doubt
Doubt
19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall. 22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin. Romans 14:22-23
Doubt is a word that is one way to describe some on a regular basis. I can have doubts about my abilities, doubts about whether I am going to be good enough, doubts about where my strengths lie. What is missing from this picture of doubt is the faith I have in my Lord. Faith can be easily swallowed by doubt, because it is sin. We can't sit around doubting whether things are going to turn out ok, or whether God is going to take care of us. God is there for us and we cannot destroy His work in us that he has planned all along. We need to let go and let Him work out His plan, and we need to strengthen our Faith in Him who does everything in His time.
Have a great weekend.
19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall. 22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin. Romans 14:22-23
Doubt is a word that is one way to describe some on a regular basis. I can have doubts about my abilities, doubts about whether I am going to be good enough, doubts about where my strengths lie. What is missing from this picture of doubt is the faith I have in my Lord. Faith can be easily swallowed by doubt, because it is sin. We can't sit around doubting whether things are going to turn out ok, or whether God is going to take care of us. God is there for us and we cannot destroy His work in us that he has planned all along. We need to let go and let Him work out His plan, and we need to strengthen our Faith in Him who does everything in His time.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Fantastic Friday #324- Strife
Strife
but wisdom is found in those who take advice. Proverbs 13:9-11
Did you have a struggle with anyone this week? Do you find times when strife is taking place, you don't want to back down because you know that you are right? Not backing down can be considered sin, if you let pride take over a situation. It is very easy to slip into this type of sin because many of us typically feel strongly about whatever we believe in and aren't willing to let go. We should be a light that shines brightly in these situations and gain wisdom by listening to those around us as the scripture says. Many of us probably don't think we can learn anything when we have strife, but God has plenty for us to learn. We don't need to slip into strife, but we need to be humble and respect those around us. God has placed individuals in our path so we can grow by listening and not letting pride take over.
Have a great weekend.
9 The light of the righteous shines brightly,
but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.
10 Where there is strife, there is pride,but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.
but wisdom is found in those who take advice. Proverbs 13:9-11
Did you have a struggle with anyone this week? Do you find times when strife is taking place, you don't want to back down because you know that you are right? Not backing down can be considered sin, if you let pride take over a situation. It is very easy to slip into this type of sin because many of us typically feel strongly about whatever we believe in and aren't willing to let go. We should be a light that shines brightly in these situations and gain wisdom by listening to those around us as the scripture says. Many of us probably don't think we can learn anything when we have strife, but God has plenty for us to learn. We don't need to slip into strife, but we need to be humble and respect those around us. God has placed individuals in our path so we can grow by listening and not letting pride take over.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Fantastic Friday #323- But & Rise
But & Rise
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48
When you rise in the morning, do you think much about who you are going to deal with, or do you have someone you really don't want to deal with today? A lot of times I think we can focus quite a bit on avoidance, or how we can get back at that person you had a problem with. That comes from sin and maybe we need to think about what is said in the first verse. Jesus was pretty blunt and straight-forward with what His expectations were with loving our neighbor. A lot of us will see this verse and use the "but" excuse. But that person was rude. But that person was mean. But that person was dishonest. But that person was negative. I don't think Jesus' "but" in verse 44 is the same kind of "but" most of us use or see daily. In verse 45 He notes that God loves everyone, and He doesn't focus just on the "good" people. If we are focusing just on the "good" people or looking down on the people who are rude or mean to us, then we are doing the exact opposite of what Jesus commanded. We need to Rise up and focus on loving our neighbor and enemies, and head toward that perfection that He speaks about.
Have a great weekend.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48
When you rise in the morning, do you think much about who you are going to deal with, or do you have someone you really don't want to deal with today? A lot of times I think we can focus quite a bit on avoidance, or how we can get back at that person you had a problem with. That comes from sin and maybe we need to think about what is said in the first verse. Jesus was pretty blunt and straight-forward with what His expectations were with loving our neighbor. A lot of us will see this verse and use the "but" excuse. But that person was rude. But that person was mean. But that person was dishonest. But that person was negative. I don't think Jesus' "but" in verse 44 is the same kind of "but" most of us use or see daily. In verse 45 He notes that God loves everyone, and He doesn't focus just on the "good" people. If we are focusing just on the "good" people or looking down on the people who are rude or mean to us, then we are doing the exact opposite of what Jesus commanded. We need to Rise up and focus on loving our neighbor and enemies, and head toward that perfection that He speaks about.
Have a great weekend.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Fantastic Friday #322- Spotless
Spotless
13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. 14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 2 Peter 13-15
Camping in the camper this week, most of our morning was spent cleaning up and policing the campsite and inside the camper. The funny thing is that when we were cleaning, things were so peaceful and ended up pretty clean, for a few hours anyway. With all the kids and all the animals, it didn't take long for us have little messes here and there. The campsite is kind of like us and how we are constantly trying to keep ourselves clean. There is only one spotless individual in our lives and His cleanliness covers us, but that doesn't mean that we don't need to work on our cleanliness. Take those moments to sit back and see where you can work on being spotless and blameless in order to be where He is, in heaven.
Have a great weekend.
13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. 14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 2 Peter 13-15
Camping in the camper this week, most of our morning was spent cleaning up and policing the campsite and inside the camper. The funny thing is that when we were cleaning, things were so peaceful and ended up pretty clean, for a few hours anyway. With all the kids and all the animals, it didn't take long for us have little messes here and there. The campsite is kind of like us and how we are constantly trying to keep ourselves clean. There is only one spotless individual in our lives and His cleanliness covers us, but that doesn't mean that we don't need to work on our cleanliness. Take those moments to sit back and see where you can work on being spotless and blameless in order to be where He is, in heaven.
Have a great weekend.
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