First
2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 1 Corinthians 15:2-3
For the first time in over nine years I missed a Friday. Now, you might not think that is a big deal to miss a Fantastic Friday, but when I committed so many years ago to my friend Kevin to begin writing these, he reminded me that I should first remember why I am doing this. I am not doing this for my benefit every Friday, although I have learned some things by listening to the Lord. When writing I take the time highlighting something in God's Word that I hope will make a difference in someone's life. I am not sure what impact this has had all these Fridays, but I do know one thing, God's Word first is the chief importance in our lives. While God had me deeply entrenched in my family these last several days, He once again showed me how important the reason for sending His son. We do not know how long we are on this earth, but I do know that my family is first after God and we should all remember this spend time focusing on both.
Have a great weekend.
Saturday, December 26, 2015
Friday, December 18, 2015
Fantastic Friday #502 - Working
Working
7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, Ephesians 3:7-8
Many of us find ourselves working long hours in our jobs to serve our fellow man, support our families and hopefully honor God. Do you really see yourself working and contributing to those around you? Do you get frustrated when those around you don't seem to care or work hard enough? Do you think it is really you working or is it something else that drives you to complete the tasks set out before you? I don't think we ever stop and process how God is working through us by His power. I know just like God has given us grace through His work, He also works through us daily to meet His plan. If we would just stop to think about His power working through us, our work would seem less like work and more like honoring our Father. Let the Lord work through you and rejoice in His righteousness.
Have a great weekend.
7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, Ephesians 3:7-8
Many of us find ourselves working long hours in our jobs to serve our fellow man, support our families and hopefully honor God. Do you really see yourself working and contributing to those around you? Do you get frustrated when those around you don't seem to care or work hard enough? Do you think it is really you working or is it something else that drives you to complete the tasks set out before you? I don't think we ever stop and process how God is working through us by His power. I know just like God has given us grace through His work, He also works through us daily to meet His plan. If we would just stop to think about His power working through us, our work would seem less like work and more like honoring our Father. Let the Lord work through you and rejoice in His righteousness.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, December 11, 2015
Fantastic Friday #501 - Take care of...
Take care of...
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. John 21:15-17
What do you find yourself taking care of or do you look to be taken care of by someone? As parents we take care of our children over the years. As children we take care of our chores, sometimes not before being asked. As friends we take care of each other when we need something if our friends truly mean something to us. I listened to an interesting story this week about a man who was told by God in a dream that He was coming to visit him. Instead of seeing God come to his door, three different people came to his door he was not expecting whom he took in and cared for their needs. When God didn't come, the man asked why didn't you come Lord. I won't finish the story, but think about what God expects us to do on a daily basis. He expects us to Love others and take care of others in whatever way we can. Take a moment at this season in your life to find a way to take care of sheep that are around you every day.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, December 4, 2015
Fantastic Friday #500- Perseverance
Perseverance
17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18 They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” 19 These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Jude 17-21
What keeps you from relying on your faith when you are in a difficult situation? Is it the people around you who seem to be doing just a little bit better than you, both in life and in their faith? Maybe when you look at these people it is not the good they are doing in life, it is how you are perceiving they view you and your life. Or maybe those people through their actions have a negative impact on you and you act in ways that are unholy and unfaithful. Here's the thing, God has warned us that people will be scoffers in living a good life and try to have us follow our natural instincts which are typically driven by the enemy. But we have something that those people don't have and that is being clothed with the Holy Spirit to guide us. All we need to do is lean into the Spirit regularly when we feel less than adequate. We are more than adequate in many ways, and if we keep our faith in God and persevere through the difficult times we will be rewarded because God loves us. Keep the faith and stay on the right path and don't let the scoffers push you further away from God.
Have a great weekend.
17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18 They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” 19 These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Jude 17-21
What keeps you from relying on your faith when you are in a difficult situation? Is it the people around you who seem to be doing just a little bit better than you, both in life and in their faith? Maybe when you look at these people it is not the good they are doing in life, it is how you are perceiving they view you and your life. Or maybe those people through their actions have a negative impact on you and you act in ways that are unholy and unfaithful. Here's the thing, God has warned us that people will be scoffers in living a good life and try to have us follow our natural instincts which are typically driven by the enemy. But we have something that those people don't have and that is being clothed with the Holy Spirit to guide us. All we need to do is lean into the Spirit regularly when we feel less than adequate. We are more than adequate in many ways, and if we keep our faith in God and persevere through the difficult times we will be rewarded because God loves us. Keep the faith and stay on the right path and don't let the scoffers push you further away from God.
Have a great weekend.
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