Disheartened,
13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. 1 Thessalonians 5:13-15
Have you found yourself disheartened or disappointed this week? I have seen multiple situations where someone has been hurt or hurting for someone else this week in particular. What causes this feeling of being disappointed can be typically associated with higher expectations than what we should have in regard to others. It can also be related to the enemy trying to disrupt all that is good, and there are times when our patience might be tested because of what the enemy tries to put in our head. As this scripture says, there are those of us who should encourage and not discourage individuals and their efforts. Striving to do what is good, always will outweigh the bad. We should not be disheartened ourselves, and when we find ourselves heading down that path, we should remember that God can brighten this darkness and can turn that into delight.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, October 27, 2017
Friday, October 20, 2017
Fantastic Friday #598 - Refuge
Refuge
11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
12 Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;
you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
Psalm 5:11-12
This week I got an email from a former employee who sent me something she received from her new campus, she works in Hawaii. The email discussed what to do if for some reason North Korea were to send a ballistic missile to Hawaii. The email talked about sheltering in place in a situation like this and gave them directions for different safe places on campus. What do you do when the sin of the world is right outside your door and creeping up on you? Do you go outside and chase it down like the enemy wants you to away from your safe zone, or do you shelter and take refuge in the Lord? It's ironic how this verse describes the protection with a shield, when we tend to drop our defenses to the enemy. If we think of the Lord as a Shield that can protect us wholly from everything, why aren't we taking regular refuge in Him? Take that righteous path, invite the Lord to protect you and let Him bless you.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
12 Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;
you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
Psalm 5:11-12
This week I got an email from a former employee who sent me something she received from her new campus, she works in Hawaii. The email discussed what to do if for some reason North Korea were to send a ballistic missile to Hawaii. The email talked about sheltering in place in a situation like this and gave them directions for different safe places on campus. What do you do when the sin of the world is right outside your door and creeping up on you? Do you go outside and chase it down like the enemy wants you to away from your safe zone, or do you shelter and take refuge in the Lord? It's ironic how this verse describes the protection with a shield, when we tend to drop our defenses to the enemy. If we think of the Lord as a Shield that can protect us wholly from everything, why aren't we taking regular refuge in Him? Take that righteous path, invite the Lord to protect you and let Him bless you.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, October 13, 2017
Fantastic Friday #597 - Gains
Gains
35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? Mark 8:35-37
Did you have some gains this week? You know, like when you lift weights and get gains. This was a term that I was not too familiar with in this form until my kids introduced it to me. The only gain I knew was the powdered detergent from back in the day. But this new way to use this word made me think of how it has been used in the past. The stock market gained some points today, we gained a new addition to the group who really knows what they are doing, or we have gained momentum with our money making venture. All of these gains have one thing in common, they are individually focused gains to get ahead in this world. When we make gains personally or professionally, is our first thought to thank God or to show how much better off we are with these gains. Maybe that is why God wants us to focus on giving up these gains to follow Him. We don't gain anything by chasing things of this world, because we can't say I have the most gains, I win. We all have gains in our life, the question is are we going to focus on gaining more for our benefit or gaining less and receiving God's blessing.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? Mark 8:35-37
Did you have some gains this week? You know, like when you lift weights and get gains. This was a term that I was not too familiar with in this form until my kids introduced it to me. The only gain I knew was the powdered detergent from back in the day. But this new way to use this word made me think of how it has been used in the past. The stock market gained some points today, we gained a new addition to the group who really knows what they are doing, or we have gained momentum with our money making venture. All of these gains have one thing in common, they are individually focused gains to get ahead in this world. When we make gains personally or professionally, is our first thought to thank God or to show how much better off we are with these gains. Maybe that is why God wants us to focus on giving up these gains to follow Him. We don't gain anything by chasing things of this world, because we can't say I have the most gains, I win. We all have gains in our life, the question is are we going to focus on gaining more for our benefit or gaining less and receiving God's blessing.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, October 6, 2017
Fantastic Friday #596 - Follow
Follow
26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. John 10:26-28
What do you find yourself following? Do you follow a famous person on twitter, or do you follow your friends on some other social media? Do you follow the news and talk show people who say anything just to cause a controversy? It is hard these days when there are so many people out there who want others to think and be like them. What do we do when this happens? Maybe we turn back to the guidance we received so long ago and follow the One who is most famous and who has saved us from our sin. It is very simple, we need to listen to the right voice and not the ones that carry us down a different path. Let Him carry you. Come follow me.
Have a great weekend.
26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. John 10:26-28
What do you find yourself following? Do you follow a famous person on twitter, or do you follow your friends on some other social media? Do you follow the news and talk show people who say anything just to cause a controversy? It is hard these days when there are so many people out there who want others to think and be like them. What do we do when this happens? Maybe we turn back to the guidance we received so long ago and follow the One who is most famous and who has saved us from our sin. It is very simple, we need to listen to the right voice and not the ones that carry us down a different path. Let Him carry you. Come follow me.
Have a great weekend.
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