Beside
22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and
said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and
God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. ACTS 27:22-25
Do you often think about the person that is sitting beside you at
work or school, or maybe the person that is standing beside you in line
somewhere? What about the person at church who is sitting beside you? I
sometimes wonder if that person beside me has a relationship with Jesus
Christ, and if they do, I wonder if they have someone that is connected
to them to stand beside them as a friend or even a brother or sister in
Christ. We often can have times where we can slip and fall into a rut
and need that person to stand beside us and lift us up in prayer or
support. Christ came to earth and if you notice He did not stand alone,
he stood with several beside him. We cannot be on an island by
ourselves and expect that we can have an impact on others, or that
others can impact us if we don't have others beside us. Paul was not
standing alone, but had an angel stand beside him. Why not be like
Christ and have those stand beside you, and then allow Christ to stand
beside you in your time of need. Just like Paul had the angel, we have
with Christ.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Friday, October 19, 2012
Fantastic Friday #337- Talking
Talking
13 A gossip betrays a confidence,
but a trustworthy person keeps a secret. Proverbs 11:3
28 A perverse person stirs up conflict,
and a gossip separates close friends Proverbs 16:28
19 A gossip betrays a confidence;
so avoid anyone who talks too much. Proverbs 20:19
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to the inmost parts. Proverbs 26:22
We all probably all have experienced gossip on either end of the spectrum at some time in our life. Maybe your reputation has been tarnished by something someone falsely said about you. Maybe you spoke about someone and it has come back to you completely different or exactly how you had discussed and it wasn't very uplifting. Words as we all know can be very powerful, but if we are not careful the words we say can be changed into something which completely goes against what we were meaning to say or shouldn't have said. Three words that are prominent above verses are betray, conflict, and morsels. Betray and conflict are obvious words that we are familiar with and how they can tear friendships apart, but morsels? If you think of the smallest morsel being a bite of a chocolate chip cookie and the path that it takes to get to your stomach, you can imagine how it changes over its trip. Gossip doesn't build individuals up in any way, it really tears people down like the morsel on its trip. Watch your words and avoid those who work to turn people into morsels.
Have a great weekend.
13 A gossip betrays a confidence,
but a trustworthy person keeps a secret. Proverbs 11:3
28 A perverse person stirs up conflict,
and a gossip separates close friends Proverbs 16:28
19 A gossip betrays a confidence;
so avoid anyone who talks too much. Proverbs 20:19
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to the inmost parts. Proverbs 26:22
We all probably all have experienced gossip on either end of the spectrum at some time in our life. Maybe your reputation has been tarnished by something someone falsely said about you. Maybe you spoke about someone and it has come back to you completely different or exactly how you had discussed and it wasn't very uplifting. Words as we all know can be very powerful, but if we are not careful the words we say can be changed into something which completely goes against what we were meaning to say or shouldn't have said. Three words that are prominent above verses are betray, conflict, and morsels. Betray and conflict are obvious words that we are familiar with and how they can tear friendships apart, but morsels? If you think of the smallest morsel being a bite of a chocolate chip cookie and the path that it takes to get to your stomach, you can imagine how it changes over its trip. Gossip doesn't build individuals up in any way, it really tears people down like the morsel on its trip. Watch your words and avoid those who work to turn people into morsels.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Fantastic Friday #336 - Influence
Influence
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me. 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans 15:1-4
Is there something about ourselves that gives us the inclination to focus only on what we need at times? I look around and see the me-me culture, and I wonder how it has progressively gotten to the point that several in our society think only about what they are getting and not how they are influencing others. I spoke with a friend this week about decisions in the work place and how it seems like a lot of times we have to do so much in order to make a change. They talked about how there is a certain point in our immediate surroundings where we control what is going on and then we can influence others, but we can only influence to a certain extent and then it is in someone else's hands to address. After this conversation it made me think that our focus should probably not be on ourselves, but the influence we can create for others and then let our Lord and Savior take it from there. We cannot have a circle of influence without God guiding us.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Fantastic Friday #335- Renew
Renew
3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:3-7
Do you ever feel like you are running on all cylinders, and everything is moving past you at the speed of light. Your body begins to wear down thinking you have to prove yourself, or get the job done at all costs. Many people around us have this type of lifestyle that begins to affect their family life, friends and close loved ones because they can't slow down. It is amazing to think that we don't have to do several things to grasp the love of our Lord. I know that I would fall short every time if I had to prove myself to my Father in Heaven. I feel quite renewed when I slow down enough to realize that all this craziness, fast paced work in my life is not going to get me closer to my Lord. I have confidence that the Grace He has afforded me will Renew my spirit any time I stop and think about what has already been accomplished. Be renewed this week, slow down and realize you don't have to perform any special ritual to be close to our Father in Heaven, but spend time with Him.
Have a great weekend.
3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:3-7
Do you ever feel like you are running on all cylinders, and everything is moving past you at the speed of light. Your body begins to wear down thinking you have to prove yourself, or get the job done at all costs. Many people around us have this type of lifestyle that begins to affect their family life, friends and close loved ones because they can't slow down. It is amazing to think that we don't have to do several things to grasp the love of our Lord. I know that I would fall short every time if I had to prove myself to my Father in Heaven. I feel quite renewed when I slow down enough to realize that all this craziness, fast paced work in my life is not going to get me closer to my Lord. I have confidence that the Grace He has afforded me will Renew my spirit any time I stop and think about what has already been accomplished. Be renewed this week, slow down and realize you don't have to perform any special ritual to be close to our Father in Heaven, but spend time with Him.
Have a great weekend.
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