Vocal
6 Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 1 Timothy 1:6-8
As I was watching my son umpire a baseball game this week, I noticed a few things about people. What truly stuck out to me were the very vocal people around the fences that were not playing the game. You probably know these people, the ones who talk and talk who say very little that useful for building people up. Or, the people who speak like they are an expert on what is being discussed, but they don't know the first thing about what is going on. During my week I also see people who call themselves Christian but they are more legalistic and judgmental than following how God wants us to act. I am certainly not talking about being perfect, and I don't claim to know everything. However, I do know that if I don't understand something, I am definitely going to find out more about what is going on before I speak. I also know that God wants me to love these people who act like they know all the answers and make sure that I don't judge them for the way they act. Loving these people is one of the more difficult things to do in our life, but we must follow Christ's example. We also need to be living a life of honor and pursuing where God wants us to be.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, October 30, 2015
Friday, October 23, 2015
Fantastic Friday #494 - Frightened
Frightened
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. Philippians 1:27-30
Do you ever find yourself frightened? A lot of times the enemy will put thoughts in your mind that make you frightened of something or someone. He uses this tactic to put fear in your mind that God does not want you, does not care about you and wouldn't take the time to take you away from your fear. As I walked through my week, I found myself in a crowd of 1000's of people at an event at least 30 miles from my home. This crowd of people made me anxious at times because I was out of my comfort zone and I don't do well with large crowds. The enemy put it in my head that God didn't care about me, and that all of these people were unknown to me and made me feel unsafe. However, little did the enemy know that I wasn't going to let him win. I ended up seeing three people I knew who may not be an important part of my life, but are in my life and I knew by seeing these people I was not alone in this sea of individuals. I was among a group of people that God loves and cares about in this small yet large world. So when I think of being afraid, all I have to do is look at the little reminders God gives me to show me that He cares about and loves me and places people in my life for a reason. God keeps us from being frightened and knows our heart.
Have a great weekend.
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. Philippians 1:27-30
Do you ever find yourself frightened? A lot of times the enemy will put thoughts in your mind that make you frightened of something or someone. He uses this tactic to put fear in your mind that God does not want you, does not care about you and wouldn't take the time to take you away from your fear. As I walked through my week, I found myself in a crowd of 1000's of people at an event at least 30 miles from my home. This crowd of people made me anxious at times because I was out of my comfort zone and I don't do well with large crowds. The enemy put it in my head that God didn't care about me, and that all of these people were unknown to me and made me feel unsafe. However, little did the enemy know that I wasn't going to let him win. I ended up seeing three people I knew who may not be an important part of my life, but are in my life and I knew by seeing these people I was not alone in this sea of individuals. I was among a group of people that God loves and cares about in this small yet large world. So when I think of being afraid, all I have to do is look at the little reminders God gives me to show me that He cares about and loves me and places people in my life for a reason. God keeps us from being frightened and knows our heart.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, October 16, 2015
Fantastic Friday #493 - Grow
Grow
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3
This week I ran another race with my family. I had trained for the race and I thought I had trained enough to feel comfortable finishing the race strong. However, I soon found an obstacle of a large hill in the final part of the race which made my legs week and made me struggle during the final part of the race. I didn't seem to grow stronger but felt very weak, but in the end I was able to finish the race without stopping and without giving up. In the end, I ran faster than I had run any pre-run that I had covered the same distance and I met a goal I set for myself. So, in fact I had grown throughout my training and been strong enough to finish the race that was ahead. Our spiritual life can be the same way, we need to fight through whatever pain and weakness we have to live a righteous life that God wants us to live. We need to know that God helps us grow by bringing us through the challenges and we should not grow weary as the scripture says, but we should endure with the strength that God has given us. Remember that what Jesus suffered on the cross is what gives us our reward.
Have a great weekend.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3
This week I ran another race with my family. I had trained for the race and I thought I had trained enough to feel comfortable finishing the race strong. However, I soon found an obstacle of a large hill in the final part of the race which made my legs week and made me struggle during the final part of the race. I didn't seem to grow stronger but felt very weak, but in the end I was able to finish the race without stopping and without giving up. In the end, I ran faster than I had run any pre-run that I had covered the same distance and I met a goal I set for myself. So, in fact I had grown throughout my training and been strong enough to finish the race that was ahead. Our spiritual life can be the same way, we need to fight through whatever pain and weakness we have to live a righteous life that God wants us to live. We need to know that God helps us grow by bringing us through the challenges and we should not grow weary as the scripture says, but we should endure with the strength that God has given us. Remember that what Jesus suffered on the cross is what gives us our reward.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, October 9, 2015
Fantastic Friday #492 - Given
Given
15 Shouts of joy and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!
16 The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;
the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”
17 I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
18 The Lord has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open for me the gates of the righteous;
I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord
through which the righteous may enter.
21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation. Psalm 118:15-21
Do you find that people around you are playing the role of entitlement? Do they always seem to expect everyone to give to them without doing anything for it? Our world is filled with people who think they are entitled to something but truly what are we entitled to? We are not just given anything without hard work on this earth, but what God did give us is the opportunity to live a righteous life. God has also given us the opportunity to live with Him again, and He has provided us a path to follow. Not one of us is entitled to this gift, but God has done great and mighty things to help mark the path to return to him. If people would just realize that we aren't deserving of this gift, then maybe we would be kinder to others and not act so entitled. Focus on giving thanks, living a righteous life, and walk on that path that God so generously gave us so many years ago.
Have a great weekend.
15 Shouts of joy and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!
16 The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;
the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”
17 I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
18 The Lord has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open for me the gates of the righteous;
I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord
through which the righteous may enter.
21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation. Psalm 118:15-21
Do you find that people around you are playing the role of entitlement? Do they always seem to expect everyone to give to them without doing anything for it? Our world is filled with people who think they are entitled to something but truly what are we entitled to? We are not just given anything without hard work on this earth, but what God did give us is the opportunity to live a righteous life. God has also given us the opportunity to live with Him again, and He has provided us a path to follow. Not one of us is entitled to this gift, but God has done great and mighty things to help mark the path to return to him. If people would just realize that we aren't deserving of this gift, then maybe we would be kinder to others and not act so entitled. Focus on giving thanks, living a righteous life, and walk on that path that God so generously gave us so many years ago.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, October 2, 2015
Fantastic Friday #491 - Helper
Helper
5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”
6 So we say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6
Do you ever think of who your helpers are in your life? Helpers can come in many shapes and sizes, with many differing personalties, likes and dislikes. Think about your spouse, significant other, or best friend, do they have every single trait that makes you complete? Are they always available for every single thing that you need? Today is so full of technology in our lives, do you find yourself spending more time on the Internet googling or binging for help? There is no one person or thing on this earth in your life that is the true helper, because there is no one person here that is perfect. Only the Lord is our true Helper, and until we realize this we are going to continue to be helpless looking for perfection. Do not be afraid to ask your helper for assistance, because our perfect Lord is always there and willing.
Have a great weekend.
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