Fantastic Friday #556 - Source

Source

16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

This week I was talking and laughing with a friend, and we discussed how important is to have people in our lives to support each other in times of need, even those people we don't know. He related a story to me where he held a door open for a woman he had never met and after his usual morning greeting, she said "The Lord is your source." He said that she didn't speak another word and he was left to ponder what she meant. It is a very simplistic message that the Lord is our source for everything we need. We can call on him in desperate need, or we can use His Word to encourage us. I think we all need to remember that while He is the ultimate one to come to in need, there are also sources in our life to give support but we need to remember that only He can provide the grace we need.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #555 - Innocence

Innocence

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:12-14

This scripture is just a small piece of what Linus expressed as a young innocent child to his friends. He was explaining to others what the true meaning of Christmas is all about over 50 years ago in a television show that still lives on today. This is one of my favorite moments and still gets me emotional today. However, something so easily shared years ago is becoming overshadowed by people being offended by the story or it is being lost in the hustle and bustle of Christmas lights, gifts for pretty girls and bright shiny trees. If you look at the way I described Linus as being innocent, there is something else there to think about. Jesus came as a baby to the world to save all those who are willing to follow Him, and those people can be made clean and innocent through His sacrifice. So, if someone as innocent as a child can show us how to achieve innocence through our Lord and Savior, it is not that difficult. Remember as you go through this holiday that the true meaning of Christmas is simple but deeper than any superficial holiday that others want you to believe.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #554 - Trials

Trials

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:3-7

Trials, road blocks and dead ends. We have all had them in our lives and continue to have them because God is testing us. You probably ask, why is God testing me and always seem to test me. Have you thought of how many times you have had faith that God would help you the moment the trial came? A lot of times we forget the times where God has come through, and focus only on the current situation. We need to learn how we can focus on what He has done and what He can continue to do. Trials build faith, strength and love for our Lord and Savior. The next time a trial comes, think about His involvement.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #553 - Abundance

Abundance

2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter 1:2

How do you view abundance? Is it measured by what you have possession of in your life? Maybe you have an abundance of food in your cabinets, or maybe you have an abundance of toys to play with, or maybe you have an abundance of money within your family. What about love? Do you have an abundance of love for your fellow man, for your family or even an abundance of care for others? Maybe we shouldn't look at the abundance in our lives of personal possessions, but more of what we can provide to others that doesn't deal with giving away money or things. In this scripture Grace and Peace are mentioned to be yours in abundance, but not through any possession these people are given, but through a knowledge of God. Use your knowledge of God and His simple commands to remember how we can bless people with abundance, especially during the holiday season.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #552 - Weakness

Weakness

4 For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him in our dealing with you. 2 Corinthians 13:4

We all have weakness in our lives. What is your weakness? If you have to think too long about it, you are not being honest with yourself. Weaknesses come in many forms, shapes and sizes. They can be very distracting for us and pull us away from where we need to be in our lives. Weaknesses can also make us stronger, but only if we allow God to guide us out of challenges to our weaknesses. Don't try to make it on your own, because we are weakest when we are by ourselves. Surround yourself with people who love God and recognize that through His power we can be made complete. Remember, through our weakness we can be strong through God.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #551 - Hills

Hills

11 You crown the year with your bounty,
    and your carts overflow with abundance.
12 The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;
    the hills are clothed with gladness. Psalm 65:11-12

Do you ever sit and think about the hills that you climb?  As we were hiking this week there was something I noticed.  Some of the hills were long periods of a gradual climb and some were a more aggressive incline that required a little bit more effort. I think as we look at the bounty that we have in our lives, we can take a look at these hills we face differently.  One moment our lives can be filled with abundance, and then other times we can face steep or long uphill climbs.  It is all in how we attack those climbs which can either lead to a positive experience or a negative one. Keep in mind all the times your climbs have been successful and full of gladness. Those are the climbs I want to have, how about you?

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #550 - Rubies

Rubies

10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life. Proverbs 31:10-12

Why is a ruby red and why do people find it to be so valuable, even in Biblical times? A ruby is red because of an element in its makeup called Chromium. Chromium is an essential part of metabolic processes that regulate blood sugar, and helps insulin transport glucose into cells, where it can be used for energy. Chromium is also the source code that is used in Google's Chrome web browser. It is interesting how the basics of a ruby can play such an important part in our life and our survival, and it is funny how a company can see the importance of such an element to name their own processes out of it. So what does all this have to do with rubies and Biblical times and our time? Well, look how valuable a ruby has been considered over the ages. A precious gem that brings happiness to some. What is even more interesting is the importance that God places on our wives, and how they are worth more than rubies. It kind of puts things in perspective, and while scripture doesn't say it here, I know that each and every one of us is more valuable to God then a ruby. In these times of strife and the unknown, rely on the fact that each person is more valuable than a ruby and treat them as such. If chromium can help a body function, think about how your kindness could impact someone.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #549 - Nearsighted

Nearsighted

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind,forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. 2 Peter 1:5-9

For those of you who know me, you know I am nearsighted and wear glasses to help me see things clearly. So as you grow older, do you find that you are not as nearsighted as you once were, or are you losing vision. I am not talking about your physical vision of seeing things in front of you, I am talking about seeing things further out ahead of you and the impact on your life. I remember my life in my 20's and boy was I nearsighted. I only thought of what was in front of me and didn't think of the long-term impact of my actions. As I have aged over the years, my vision seems to have improved and I can say that I can see more clearly the impact of my actions, and while I am not perfect, I can certainly see how the things I do can impact me and those around me. This doesn't always happen to everyone as they age. If you look at the scripture if someone doesn't have goodness, knowledge ,self control,that lead to a multitude of other attributes, then this can impact their sight. With all that is happening in the world these days, I encourage you to not be nearsighted and improve your sight with love and kindness. These attributes are key to having very clear sight.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #548 - Debt

Debt

8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8

Do you have debts? I don't mean financial debts, because everyone has those in one form or another. I am talking about being indebted to others. Do you owe someone because of something they did for you, or do you feel like you owe someone something for what they made for you? Kindness is still out there in the world. I heard some interesting stories this week from someone whose family is struggling with some health issues, and all the things that people are doing for them while they are recovering. Now we all know there is no way they will ever be able to repay all the things that people have done for them, but what they can do is acknowledge the kindness and return the kindness to others that they have received. How much better is our world when debts are paid with kindness. Be kind to one another and love others.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #547 - Acknowledge

Acknowledge

11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you.13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 1 Thessalonians 5:11-13

So, do you acknowledge people daily, I mean consciously acknowledge them? I have this practice, one that my kids used to laugh at me about, which includes specifically acknowledging the person who is helping me. I am very intentional after someone helps me to say "Thank you, (insert name), I appreciate you, and/or have a great day." This practice is performed at Starbucks, Wal-mart, RaceTrac, and many other establishments I frequent. Now, it isn't so much the thank you part or the have a nice day part that really impacts people, it is the part of utilizing their name within the sentence. When you specifically acknowledge that person by name, you are placing value on them as an individual and show them that you really care about them. Certainly there are those times when someone is not wearing a name tag that I can't call them by name, but I make sure that my phrase stays the same of acknowledging their helpfulness and wishing them a great day. I have done this for years, but just now I have noticed how much this impacts people, and I can tell by the smile on their face. My good brother Dewayne does this kind of thing in his own way at the Starbucks I frequent, and boy the days he is not there my day just doesn't start out the same way. I think we need to remember this scripture of encouraging others and acknowledging them in all that they do. Think of a world of people smiling and happy vs. a world of people that are grumpy and frowning. Next time give it a try and see what happens, not because I want you to, but because God is kind of nudging us to do it.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #546 - Observe

Observe

37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
a future awaits those who seek peace.
38 But all sinners will be destroyed;
there will be no future for the wicked. Psalm 37:36-38

Do you actually sit back and observe a situation, or are you the kind of person that has to be up front and in the middle of everything? I spend a lot of time observing things throughout my week, and this week I was able to spend about 2 hours observing a baseball game and what actually goes on when I am not making the decisions. During these 2 hours a lot of things were observed by my friend and I, and not all of them met our expectations. There lies the problem, our expectations. A lot of times we observe others to match up to our beliefs and standards, the problem is no one really lives up to your own standards and expectations. However, it is good to observe regularly because we can actually see things from a different perspective. Also, sometimes it might be good to observe and see where we can improve our own lives and be less judgmental of others and the way they are living. Observe the upright and you might learn something, and observe the sinner and see how they struggle. Consider for a moment that you aren't perfect and what you do might not always be upright, however God knows your heart and will help you with your observations and guide you to develop strength and grow even closer to Him.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #545 - Responsible

Responsible

22 For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. 24 Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them. 1 Corinthians 7:22-24

Do you ever ask yourself how you can be more responsible? Is being responsible a learned trait or something we are inherently born with? I am seeing more and more individuals in my work and outside world that are really irresponsible individuals. This irresponsibility could be anything from not showing up to something on time, to not being prepared for the meeting they are leading, or even not showing up for something they said they would be available for weeks ago. It is such a challenge these days to define what being responsible means, or is it? I heard someone this week say there was one rule out there that everyone should follow and that was respect everyone. Being responsible in our life begins with respect. Just as God has stated that we were bought at a price, we must not just take that for granted. We must be responsible individuals and love God and respect others, for God wants us to lead a righteous life which in my mind includes respecting those around us. I may not be perfect, and God doesn't expect me to be, but I do try to be a responsible human being and respectful to others.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #544 - Ambition

Ambition

16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving,considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:16-17

What ambitions do you have? Is there an earnest desire for something amazing, or do you look for that special distinction? I have a love language of words of affirmation, and through this love language I can get disappointed if I don't hear words often. However, am I supposed to tarry for something, or should I pursue it with all my heart. I have an ambition to make a difference in people's lives through my limited words. Over the past ten years I have briefly given the Word of God, followed by a few words of my own. What has come of this is nothing that I ever anticipated, and I have only now been able to realize my ambition to reach others weekly and how I can make a difference. This ambition was short-sighted in the past looking for acknowledgement, and now I think my ambition has developed into showing me God's Word is better than anything I can put in print. What is your ambition? Is it self motivated or externally motivated? I challenge you to take your wisdom God has given you and impart that wisdom on others in whatever manner He has gifted you. Be ambitious for the Lord.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #543- Grow

Grow


3 When my spirit grows faint within me,
it is you who watch over my way.
In the path where I walk
people have hidden a snare for me. Psalm 142:3

Have you ever watched what happens to a plant when it is outside and is partially shaded throughout the day? If you were able to watch a time lapse of the moment the sun hits the plant to the moment the sun goes down, what you might see is a brightening and growth of the plant. Then when it loses sun, it would not completely wither but would not be as bright and full. You can almost relate this to your spiritual walk. If you allow the Son to be a part of your life all day, every day there is a natural brightening of your spirit and people can see that difference in you. If you tend to only allow the Son to brighten your path occasionally, your spiritual life can be stunted and not as full, and can actually wither like a plant does without nourishment of the sun. It is important for us to rely on God to help strengthen our spirit and become full with His love. We need to continually be fed so that our roots in Him can be strengthened.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #542 - Home

Home

5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him,whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 2 Corinthians 5:5-9

Do you find yourself being a different person at work, around friends or at home? Do you put on a show for everyone around you that is different than who you actually are as an individual? It is interesting that God created and fashioned us for a purpose. He has given those who believe in Him the Holy Spirit to be guided. So what happens to us who ignore the Spirit and the guidance we receive? We all have flesh and can become weak when the enemy constantly tries to tell us who we aren't. If we listen to that voice enough, it can drown out the Spirit that lives within us. That Spirit is always there, but can ignored by us which is a huge issue. God wants us to please Him and live by faith and not by what is directly in front of us. So, if we are living by Faith, then we don't need to be someone we are not, and we need to let the Spirit guide us regularly. Be home in your body and please Him.


Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #541 - Road Map

Road Map

8 As the men started on their way to map out the land, Joshua instructed them, “Go and make a survey of the land and write a description of it.Then return to me, and I will cast lots for you here at Shiloh in the presence of the Lord.” 9 So the men left and went through the land. They wrote its description on a scroll, town by town, in seven parts, and returned to Joshua in the camp at Shiloh. 10 Joshua then cast lots for them in Shiloh in the presence of the Lord, and there he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their tribal divisions. Joshua 18:8-10

Maps give us a number of things to help us in our life. There is nothing like taking a road trip and opening that old map of yours and navigate using one large document. I sometimes wish for those days where you look at a map to find your roadways and the shortest route. Today we have Siri, Cortana and Betty to guide us on our trips to help us find the donut shop, the closest gas station, the next town's distance or the most obscure taco joint. We even have other road maps, like a baseball lineup that will outline several potential innings of positions to create fairness and equality. What happens though when you don't follow the road maps laid out before you? This can lead to chaos, disaster and frustration. It is important to realize that we all have a road map to our Father in Heaven, and we should pick it up daily to help lead us. We also have our own Siri/Cortana/Betty in the Holy Spirit, and how often do we listen to what the Spirit says. Just like a road map to a baseball lineup, the road map to God is only successful if you utilize it and rely on it.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #540 - Message

Message

6 For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.”

7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,

“The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”

8 and,

“A stone that causes people to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. 1 Peter 2:6-8

What message are you receiving? Is it a message of hope and love, or a message of fear and hate. A famous character in a movie once said, "fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering." While this is fictional, there is a lot of truth in this statement, and it all depends on the message we are receiving. If the things we hear are hateful towards others and fill us with anger, then the message we are receiving and sending is wrong. These types of messages will make us stumble and fall. If we focus on the message of hope, it seems that this will lead to love and that will lead us back to our Savior. Maybe the character had it right, that all of this fear can only lead to the dark side. Maybe we should listen to the right message and have this hope lead is to the bright side.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #539 - Embolden

Embolden

1 I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
before the “gods” I will sing your praise.
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple
and will praise your name
for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,
for you have so exalted your solemn decree
that it surpasses your fame.
3 When I called, you answered me;
you greatly emboldened me. Psalm 138:1-3

Embolden is not the nick-name of some football player or famous Olympic medalist. Embolden is a verb which means to encourage, hearten or make bolder. I find it interesting that God uses this word to describe how the writer's feelings are impacted when their prayers are answered. I wonder if we take the time to think about our impact on others when we are asked a question or engaged in conversation. Do we stop what we are doing to listen carefully to what that individual has to say or do we continue on our path or stare off in the distance acting like we are listening? Every day we look for answers to questions or there are people who seek something from us. I believe how we respond to those individuals impacts them and their view of us. If we respond with disinterest or lack of concern, this can have a detrimental impact on the relationship we have and that person's feelings. If we respond with an encouraging answer that will embolden the person, it can only have a positive influence. I challenge everyone to look at how you can embolden someone this week, because when you get an answer to a prayer from God, you can see how it can embolden you.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #538 - Approve

Approve

18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. 2 Corinthians 10:18

What do you want to be approved for? My guess is typically it is very personal like receiving approval from someone else. If you are seeking approval from someone else for how you are living, or if you are seeking approval from a loved one, each one holds its challenges. Typically when we seek approval from someone else, we pump ourselves up and tell ourselves how good we are or we act in a way that will get the attention of the other person. This self-endorsement at times can only lead to embarrassment or even rejection by that other individual. Remember that old saying of just be yourself? Being yourself should be easy, because it is who you are and when you are yourself, you reflect a presence that people can clearly see. Also, we probably shouldn't be so worried about looking for approval from these other people, but we should seek approval from our Lord who has already commended us by placing us here. If we seek approval from God first, and live our lives as a reflection of Christ, then naturally we will see approval from other like-minded individuals. We can't spend our lives trying to be someone we aren't and trying to impress others, but must spend our lives being who we are in Christ.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #537 - No!

No!

3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.

7 Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes. Psalm 37:3-7

How do you react when God says No? My guess is that if you are like me your first reaction is Why, with a whole lot of emotion and a lot more questioning. In fact, I would say most of us try to fix something that God has already said No to. If you aren't like me than maybe you are either extraordinary or not being honest. The scripture doesn't say trust in the Lord and do whatever you want and things will come to you. Scripture also doesn't say Commit to the Lord when you want to or feel like it, and he will help you. As well, scripture doesn't say be boisterous before the Lord and get ahead of the Lord and His plan. Looking at God's Word, it is clear how God wants us to react and that is with continued trust, committing to Him fully and being patient.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #536 - React

React

The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
and with my song I praise him. Psalm 28:7

Our lives are filled with passion, enjoyment, and love but sometimes there are hard times. Many of us ask why we are having this difficulty in our lives and some tend to react to quickly to a situation. When we react quickly instead of stepping back and looking at the whole picture, this can lead to hurt feelings, frustration, and mistakes. Every individual is given challenges in their life and God wants us to step back at times, look at the challenge and see how we can overcome it. If we are thoughtful, we know that we can't overcome these things through our own power, but must rely on God. This very simple short scripture shows how easy it can be to get through these difficult times. God is our strength, God is our Shield. Don't you think if you trust in God with all your heart that He will help you? This is where we begin and don't forget to thank and praise God, because God does great things for all of us.


Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #535 - Hear

Hear


6 I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;

turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.

7 Show me the wonders of your great love,

you who save by your right hand

those who take refuge in you from their foes. Psalm 17:6-7


Hear my prayer. I can't tell you how many times I have said that phrase this and last week. I have said it so many times, I begin to wonder if God is really listening. If I would stop and take a look at my past and the many times I have asked God for something and how many times He has come through with answers, maybe my anxious heart would not be pounding so much. The problem we all have is that our memory is short on the wonders that He has shown, and we tend to forget the times He has saved us physically and spiritually from the battles we face. Battles are going to come and so are major tests. God always wants to see how we are going to react under the stress and pressure of these tests. Now, if we would take a moment to hear what God is saying, I mean truly listen, then our anxiety would be lifted. Look at what He has done and hear what He will do in HIs time.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #534 - Self

Self

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving,considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. James 3:13-18

When you hear a teaching or good reflection on God's Word, do you say, boy James should be here to listen to this message. Or, when you are reading the scriptures, do you say, Samantha really needs to hear this after what I have seen her doing. I can guarantee you that those thoughts are not from God, but the worldly spirits around us that try so hard to pull the focus away from God. It is not really up to us to know what message is right or wrong for someone else, but it is up to us to listen to every message and see how it can apply to our own life. We can get too caught up in verses and messages not to hear God speaking to us. The best way to handle this is to prayerfully prepare your heart for the message or Word and then pray after to ask God to reveal what this message or verse means to you, not to anyone else. I know that if you approach God in Humility, the wisdom you gain will be exponential.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #533 - Voices

Voices

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 1 John 4:1-3

Do you hear voices during your day? That might sound a bit weird and people start wondering about you if you talk about the voices you do hear. We all hear voices if we listen, the problem is not all of these voices are God. How do I know? I know because the voice of God is typically clear and comforting, and the voices of the enemy are usually accusatory, demeaning or they try to make a deal with you. The wonderful thing about God is He is not into making deals. Yes, He wants our faithfulness, but He is not going to tell you He is going to fix something as long as you do something for Him. He is going to provide in many ways in His time and not on our timeline. So, we can't rush Him along in His decisions and we definitely won't hear an arrangement from His voice. Bend your ear through all the mess we have surrounding us and listen to what God actually says, and not what we think He says.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #532 - Pride

Pride

15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh,the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17

Who tells you whether you have value? Do you tell yourself that people around you will see that you have value because you did something special for someone. It is probably not the world who you should be relying upon to tell you what you are worth. We tend to focus on the world to lift us up, and the problem is there are things in this world that lead to pride. As the scripture says, the world and its desires pass away, but God does not and that is who we should be turning to. God values all His children and we shouldn't need other people to tell us we have value, but we should focus on God and what He has for us.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #531 - Shield

Shield

10 My shield is God Most High,
who saves the upright in heart. Psalm 7:10

What are you inundated with daily? Is it the food that is on every street corner telling you to just pick up something quick instead of cooking a family meal, or is it that sweet tea or Dr. Pepper that is so enticing in the 64 oz container instead a nice cold glass of water. Maybe it is some movie or TV show that is for mature audiences only, or maybe it is advertisement in a magazine or the web that is highly inappropriate. We are filled daily with things that are of this world and not really what we should be watching or doing. God provides the shield we need to protect us from these things when the enemy attacks us daily. Make a choice to use that shield, including immersing yourself in God's Word, your family and appropriate things to make you laugh and enjoy life. These are the things God wants for us and not to follow a path that separates us from Him.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #530 - Bumble

Bumble

2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. James 3:2-4

Do you find yourself bumbling and stumbling around during your daily walk? Do you find it sometimes difficult to keep yourself in check? Many times we look to keep ourselves from following the wrong path by telling ourselves that I won't do that, I can't do that to myself, or I won't ever do that. We tend to believe ourselves until we actually do what we are trying to convince ourselves we shouldn't be doing. The problem with all of this is the "I" syndrome, I can't and I won't which typically turns into I will and I can. We have to look at someone else as the pilot and not turn to our own desires of where we think should head, but the true Pilot our Lord and Savior. I hate that bumper sticker that says God is my Co-pilot, because all that means is we rely on Him when we decide we need Him. Don't spend your time bumbling around, how about treating God as your Pilot and let Him steer your ship and guide you daily.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #529 - Transform

Transform

20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Philippians 3:20-21

If you are like me you spend part of your life trying to make changes. Changes in your diet, changes in your workout, changes in how much you read, or a change in your look. With physical changes, it is easy to see how you change and transition into something different, but internally it is much different. How can you tell if what you are doing is really transforming you into something different, whether it is good or bad? Usually your mind his a little switch that activates something physical in your body. For example, if you are doing something you shouldn't be doing, that little switch may activate an agitation in your stomach which could cause other physical health problems. If you are doing something good, maybe that little switch ignites something in your mind that gives your body that extra little pep in your step. Being fully transformed is something we all are going to have to wait for, but you can do things along the way to transform into what God wants you to be. When that little switch clicks to tell you maybe you shouldn't be doing something, maybe you should listen to the Holy Spirit to guide you and direct you. Let the Holy Spirit lead you into transforming yourself into something more better.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #528 - Pain

Pain

19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 1 Peter 2:19-21

Everyone suffers pain, and we don't get a choice of when and how we suffer. I know with tragedy around us daily, there is much quicker availability of information these days, and much more detail. There has always been pain in our history, but in this day and age we are less shielded from it and really over-exposed to it in my mind. How do you deal with the pain with yourself is one thing, but how do you deal with the pain of the world is another, or is it? God allows us to have pain, because the real pain Christ already suffered for us. When we think of pain that we have, I think our endurance of the pain is what God is looking for and we should remember that someone has already suffered and died for us. I know this sounds so simplistic and you are probably saying you don't understand my pain, and I probably don't, but I do understand God's love for me and it is always there. In those times of suffering, live on the strength you have from the Lord.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #527 - Protection

Protection

9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent. Psalm 91:9-13

This week my youngest son got hit in the helmet with a 60 mph fastball. While he is ok and suffering no ill effects this day, the helmet he was wearing I can't say the same. The helmet cracked and broke and now we are stuck with a piece of unsafe protective equipment. If you think about God as being our protection like the helmet, you can really see how he uses all things in his power to cover us. As the scripture says, He commands His angels for protection of us. It is amazing to think that the Lord would cover us with this kind of protection and all we have to do is have faith that He will protect us. Remember to give thanks to God for His protection daily, and intently know that His angels are there to cover you when you are tempted to depart from the Lord's presence.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #526 - Determine

Determine

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11

After sitting all day listening to everything around you, what kind of determination do you make on what you have heard. Do you determine that most of what you hear is just noise, and not worth listening to, or are you drawn in to everything and find yourself questioning all your decisions. Determining who you are shouldn't be that difficult, but really it can be if you focus on the wrong things.If you listen to multiple voices that tell you that you aren't built the right way, instead of listening to the singular Spirit that tells you something completely different, you could find yourself struggling. God has already determined who we are and if we listen to the Spirit instead of all the voices, then maybe we might be able resolve that God is right and all those voices are wrong. Take a stand and determine who you are in Christ and not what the world tells you.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #525 - Atone

Atone

25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Romans 3:25-26

Do you ever think about Christ's atonement? Not really the physical act, but what the atonement represents. That sacrifice is an amazing gift and even more wonderful when you think of it being not just for those who need to repent for sins, but for also those who need to forgive others. What a perfect picture of forgiveness and model that we should all follow. If we didn't have that forgiveness, we wouldn't have that faith in Christ to do great things for us. I think we all need to remember that repentance and forgiveness can go both ways.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #524 - Flourish

Flourish

7 “Here now is the man
who did not make God his stronghold
but trusted in his great wealth
and grew strong by destroying others!”

8 But I am like an olive tree
flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in God’s unfailing love
for ever and ever.

9 For what you have done I will always praise you
in the presence of your faithful people.
And I will hope in your name,
for your name is good. Psalm 52:7-9

Do you ever think of being in the prime of your life? What does that really mean? Maybe you are thriving in your life for whatever reason. Maybe it is your job, your family, or it could be your walk with Christ. However, do you think about not being in that prime? Maybe the enemy is causing you to question your faith or question your role in this world. Remember your identity in Christ and it is important not to forget this. Just like verse 8 describes an olive tree flourishing in the house of God, so also we are like that olive tree if we allow our faith to strengthen our hope in God and allow us to flourish.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #523 - Wait

Wait

14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14

If you are like me you always want to hurry things, or expect an answer right away. With the way the world works with immediate gratification, there isn't much patience for things any longer. I assume that there are things in everyone's life that they want an answer to right away, but we need to take the advice of this scripture and wait for the Lord. It is He who is in control and only He will give us our answers and direction when He is ready and when He feels we are ready. Be patient and wait for God's blessings, because they are bountiful.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #522 - Whole

Whole

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word,love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. 1 John 2: 1-6

Do you ever think about things that are whole or in pieces? Things that are whole are complete and put together and typically strong. Those things that are in pieces are typically separated, not together, very weak and isolated. When I think of God and where He has put me, He has made me partially complete, because He wants me to rely on Him and accept Him. God just isn't support for the bits and pieces of a few people but for the whole world. He is what makes us complete and did this through the sacrifice of His son. We need to remember that in order to be whole and not in pieces that we need to commit to Him daily and His teachings. We should not fall into the traps of this world and expect to be complete, we must obey the word of the Lord who makes us complete and whole. Take a moment to become stronger and be made whole through our Lord and Savior.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #521 - Better

Better

17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. Ephesians 1:17-19

Do you tell yourself that you want to be better, or do better? I think there is a little something in each of us that drives us to being a better individual. The challenge we face is the enemy pokes and prods us with these thoughts that we can't be better, that we are who we are and there is no use in growing. God wants us to be better in everything we do and that is very clear. How do reach these goals? One thing is to know our Father in Heaven better. The other day I woke up to find my youngest son up early and had a Bible next to him. I asked him what he was reading about, and he said stories. Then he proceeded to tell me that I should read my Bible as well to know God better. Its funny how God can speak through the young so we can know Him better. Be better and expect that you can be better.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #520 - Remember

Remember

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10

I remember April 2006 like it was yesterday. I remember Kevin telling me to go forth and use my gifts. I remember writing my first Fantastic Friday. I remember the notes I got from Kevin that were always encouraging to me and one time he told me to keep compiling the thoughts that Christ is showing me, that it was a Timothy 2:2 thing.

2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. Timothy 2:2

So what do you remember when you sit and think. Do you remember your past things that the enemy wants you to focus on, or do you remember what Christ did for your past, present and future. I want to remember Him so that I can never forget the blessing that Christ is in my life and for others. Take a moment to Remember our Father in Heaven, and Remember what He has done, and Remember always that you have been saved by faith.

I can't help but think that Kevin is in heaven worshipping and encouraging me still today.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #519 - Burden

Burden

3 Stone is heavy and sand a burden,
but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

Proverbs 27:3
What do you carry as a burden? Is it that feeling that you aren't good enough, or that you are not the person you need to be? Do you sometimes feel like you weigh someone else down with your problems and they would be better off without you around? The problem with this train of thought is that it is all self-imposed when you lay your burdens on yourself. I read something this week that God is shaping you to bear whatever burden comes upon you. These are good words, and think about this verse as stone and sand can be burdens, but what is worse is when you provoke yourself to make a burden heavier. Remember God is there to help us carry our burden, while he might not fully carry it for us, he prepares us to carry that burden that we think weighs us down.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #518 - Rely

Rely

15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 1 John 4:15-17

When we have difficulty in our life, become irritated with others or we are frustrated with ourselves, what do we turn to to relieve this irritation or difficulty. Do we turn our attention to something that is not good for us but makes us feel better for only a short period of time? Do we turn to things like food, drink, or social media? Many people struggle with life challenges and each one of us deals with these challenges differently. What we need to do is find that presence of the Lord to guide us through these times, because if you look at history and your own life, you can see his imprint on every aspect of our life and others lives. Rely on Him.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #517 - Kindness

Kindness

22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. Romans11:22

I often think about how I can be more kind to others, including the members of my family. I think about the kindness of my parents and also remember the sternness that I would receive from my father at times when I didn't behave. Kindness for some people is easy because they can think about how kind their Heavenly Father is to them and they can reflect that kindness. The further we depart from our Father, the harder it becomes to be kind to others because we can easily forget. I think if we focused more on God and His kindness, then out of our heart would flow our kindness and we would impact others.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #516 - Refraction

Refraction

4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8

Have you ever sat and thought about how light can change directions? Maybe you see the sun in the distance and a cloud or rain passes in front of the sun. When this happens there is not darkness, there is still light as the sun's light is being redirected by the cloud or rain. There is a great deal of physics involved in light changing direction, and it one of God's most amazing creation events. Taking this a step further, if we are children of the light as this scripture says, we can redirect our light to impact the darkness around us. The darkness of sin is able to cover our light at times, but we have the power to redirect our light through the Holy Spirit by rejecting the darkness or redirecting our light on a different path. The same can be said of how we direct our light when sin is not upon us. Using refraction, we can redirect our light to show people the beauty that God has made in us, just like the rainbows we see when the sun passes through water. If we focused on the light more than the darkness, and refracting the light to impact others through our love, our world could be a much better place.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #515 - Fulfilled

Fulfilled

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 1 Timothy 6:6-7

I had an amazing week with my family and friends on a vacation in the mountains of Colorado. I have been to this area many times in my life and each time there are revelations that give me time to ponder, and react when I return home. This time it was a conversation I had with my daughter regarding her enjoyment of the mountain and skiing. Her conversation with me dealt with being content where she was with her abilities, and not worrying whether she pursued more difficult slopes than what she was currently capable of performing. A lot of us look for fulfillment in the wrong places and she knew exactly where she needed to be content. So many of us miss that moment when we are content with ourselves and what we are capable of doing. Too many people push themselves to impress someone else and it could result in negative consequences. God is already impressed with us and he wants us to pursue things that are not of this world, but of spiritual gain. When we start worrying about whatever other people think is when no longer become fulfilled. Become fulfilled with God by your side.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #514 - Stable

Stable

21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,
preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you,
an ornament to grace your neck. Proverbs 3:21-22

Do you often find yourself becoming unstable as you are walking around? Maybe you lose your balance because you are walking on an uneven surface. Would you walk on this uneven surface if you have a flat sidewalk next to the uneven surface? I would think that you would focus on the smoother path since you probably know in your mind it is easier to walk on. A lot of times in our spiritual walk we take the path that could be unstable, even though your wisdom tells you to walk on the smooth path God has set out for us. We need to remember that God has given us the ability to use sound judgement to make ourselves stable, and we need to use the wisdom He provides to keep us on the right path.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #513 - Emit

Emit

5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:5-7

Do you ever sit around and think about what you are emitting? Is it a light that shines, or is there a darkness around you. We often, with our lack of faith, can emit a darkness or a faded light that people can clearly see. Have you ever watched someone who is strong in their faith and how the Lord presents them? Typically there is a brightness around them, and the light they emit is very strong and has a substantial impact on those close to them. If you emit anger, pain and suffering, those can have negative consequences on yourself and those around you. If you emit a light that relies on the Lord who can strengthen that relationship, then I guarantee the darkness is overcome. I would rather be emitting light than darkness, because I tend to be much happier and I encourage you to do the same.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #512 - Change

Change

17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them.This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing.Keeping God’s commands is what counts. 20 Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them. 1 Corinthians 7:17-20

If you are like me, things are typically heading in the direction you want, and then there is a change that takes place that can totally throw you off kilter. The change can be something simple to overcome, or it can be something grand that moves you on a path that takes you a long time to overcome. The funny thing is how many times do we think that this change is something that God has assigned to us? I bet that is not very often, and I bet we think these things are sometimes from the enemy. God places us in these situations to test us in a number of ways, but the biggest test seems to be our Faith. Yep, the Faith that we already know about, and the Faith that we know God is going to get us through this change. However, most of us forget about the Faith in our Lord and Savior and this can impact how long we are in this situation. If we take the perspective each time we experience change as something that God has given us, then we can more easily lean into His faithfulness to move us through the change. Keep this in mind the next time the big change hits you, and remain where you are and remain in Him.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #511 - Loaf

Loaf

15 I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf. 1 Corinthians 10:15-17

What do you see when you look at a loaf of bread? Do you see something that gives you nourishment? What if the loaf of bread has mold on it, do you see the loaf as something disgusting and just toss it away? The symbolic partaking of the bread in this scripture shows how we honor the sacrifice Christ made for us, and according to this scripture when we do this we are part of a larger group because of what we share in Christ. If we are the body then what if someone we know has sin in their life? Do you throw them away like the moldy bread, or do you surround them with love and care. Since we all share one loaf, don't turn your back on those moldy people around you but work to build them up since they all share the same loaf.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #510 - Covenant

Covenant

19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying,“This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. Luke 22:19-20
Pact, arrangement and promise all synonymous with the word Covenant. Have you taken any time this week to think about a promise or deal you have made recently. Did you follow through with that promise, or did your life get too busy to follow through. We all have commitments we make and sometimes we cannot follow through on them which could have a real impact on the relationship we have with others. Take a look at this scripture and notice the covenant God has made with us, one that will not be broken, one that He will not go back on. When we make our promises or deals with people, maybe we should model these after God's covenant and not go back on these. If we followed through like God has with His covenant, maybe our relationships would be stronger. If our relationship with God is stronger in remembering His covenant, our lives would more focused on those promises and less on ourselves.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #509 - Dispute

Dispute

If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? 2 Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? 5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!

7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. 9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? 1 Corinthians 6:1-9

Have you had a dispute in the past that has led to someone filing a lawsuit against you or you filed against someone else? What was the real reason behind the lawsuit? Was the lawsuit valid or was it someone that was out to harm you and your family financially. When things like this occur, it is not just the financial harm that can come to someone, it is also emotionally taxing and people can begin to ask if themselves if they really did something wrong. For people who are going through this, or have gone through these circumstances there are some things to think about. For the people who are going through it, what is the real reason for this challenge you are faced with and are you placing everything at God's feet. For those who have gone through it, can you see how God weaved His plan together and can you see how faithful He is always? In either case of hardship or reflection we need to remember how faithful God is and know that He will take care of those who believe in Him and honor Him.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #508 - Why?

Why?

12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory. Ephesians 3:12-13

I am guilty of asking this question too many times. Do you find that you are wondering why, asking why and feeling a sense of why? It is human nature to ask these questions because we seek knowledge. However, when we go through a difficult time we tend to ask that quickly, typically saying why me and why now? Our memories are short and tend not to remember coming out of those struggles and challenges and who brought us out of them. What we tend to focus on is why God is allowing this. Well this scripture is a good reminder of how we need to approach God, and not get discouraged. It is through our sufferings that make us strong and through our challenges that make us lean into Him even more. Don't ask why, but ask how do you want me to respond Lord.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #507 - Endurance

Endurance

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.

5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:4-6

There are many scriptures that have an impact on people, but this one has a specific meaning to me. Persistence, perseverance and patience are all words that are synonymous with endurance, and what's even more interesting is I used this same scripture exactly one year ago to discuss the world around us and how we should allow God to encourage us. A big question to ask is do I pay enough attention to the scriptures that are written to teach us, or do I pass them off during certain worldly times as just good words. If we just look at them as just words, then we are missing the point, because within the words there is meaning and they can teach and guide. Remember, they are God's words and God's scriptures that are meant to teach and encourage. If we are encouraged by God's words, think about how many others can be encouraged by you through Him.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #506 - Rich

Rich

16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19

How do you perceive being rich? A lot of people focus first on money and belongings. I heard someone say this week that if you aren't happy already, money isn't going to make you happy, but if you are happy, money will make you a lot happier. Truly there's a problem with this statement because the riches of this world are not where true happiness lies. If you focus on this scripture, God's glorious riches are not listed in terms of money or possessions, but His Spirit. Think about how much happier you are when you focus on the indwelling Spirit in you compared to something that won't be here tomorrow. God knows that love is a true richness that we should embrace this love that God provides through His fullness. So when you think about richness, think about these things, because God can make you happy when you aren't and happier when you are.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #505 - Do Good

Do Good

8 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging waragainst the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! Romans 7:8-10

What do we do when we cannot do good? Our lives are constantly filled with doing this thing and that thing in order to accomplish something. Many times we get so caught up in doing whatever we think is important to us that we forget all that is happening around us. This is when the enemy strikes, when our guard is down and we are not focused on what God wants us to do. When sin sneaks in and keeps us from doing good the enemy wins, or at least he thinks he wins. The interesting thing is that even though our sinful nature lives in us, we are rescued by God through Jesus and His death and resurrection. We can rejoice by knowing we have God living in us if we just take the moment to remember that we have Him.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #504 - Shift

Shift

16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. James 1:16-18

I find myself restless at times and find myself shifting around wondering what I am going to do next. I tend to question why certain things happen and why they happen to good people. I wonder whether the challenges we have in our life are really good for me or those impacted. Then moments when I see this scripture remind me how in control God is in our lives. The truth He has outlined in His word is firm and unchanging just like Him. The gifts and rewards we receive are all from Him, including those things that allow us to be challenged so we can realize how important He is in our life. So let us not be restless and let us be firm in our beliefs in these days.

Have a great weekend.