Friday, June 24, 2016

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.

Friday, June 17, 2016

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.

Friday, June 10, 2016

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.

Friday, June 3, 2016

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.