Friday, April 29, 2016

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.

Friday, April 22, 2016

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.

Friday, April 15, 2016

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.

Friday, April 8, 2016

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.

Friday, April 1, 2016

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.