Fantastic Friday #612 - Fruits

Fruits

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Matthew 7:15-20

Have you had someone share something with you that sounds awesome but something just seems to be missing? We hear things all day long from people that sound good, and sometimes too good to be true. A lot of times these people are very charismatic and have a personality that is strong and outgoing. We can find ourselves drawn to these people because maybe they have something that we lack, or maybe they tend to enhance our personality. Now, have you had someone share something with you that sounds "gospel-like" but you know something is just not right? Just like the scripture says, these "false prophets" have fruits that you can recognize, just sometimes it takes us a long time to truly see who they are and what kind of impact they can have on us. However, if we stay engaged with the Lord, His teachings, and have faith in His power, we can be strong and avoid these FP's that focus on the wrong things.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #611 - Stars

Stars

3 He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars
and calls them each by name.
5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit.
6 The Lord sustains the humble
but casts the wicked to the ground. Psalm 147:3-6

I saw something interesting this morning as I walked out to my car in 17 degree weather. I looked down at the ground and the yard was shimmering due to the frozen dew on the grass. What amazed me was the way that each little piece of ice sparkled just like the stars, but depending on what direction or angle I looked, the ice would disappear or reappear. Just like the Stars in the sky, God has determined us and who we are in life by name. However, there are many times that we try to foul up God's plan by not humbling ourselves and using our gifts to help others around us. God loves us so much, he will heal us as the scripture says and he knows each of us. We need to remember as the scripture says, He has no limit, but it is up to us on whether we disappear or shimmer in the light. Focus on your sparkle like the stars in the sky that don't disappear, and if you are the frozen dew on the ground, know that you can reappear and shimmer if you humble yourself.




Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #610 - Miracles

Miracles

11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. Acts 19:11-12

Do you wonder if miracles really happen today? I have been asking myself a lot of questions of "why" this week. If miracles can happen, then why doesn't God protect good people. I know this sounds silly coming from someone who has faith in God and all He does for us, but I still question from time to time. I saw where a former college football player, who was a husband and had 2 small children died this week from an accident while he was on his way to a medical residency interview. My first question was how could God let this happen. My second question then went to one thing that we should all remember and that is God works out things for His Glory and not ours. We can't understand why bad things happen to good people, but we can understand that God provides miracles every day. We just need to stop and look at the miracles that happen every day and not get caught up in our own issues. Rely on God to provide the cloths of miracles and let him give you what you need. Have faith, for your miracle will come.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #609 - Vast

Vast

7 When a man’s ways please the Lord,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

8 Better is a little with righteousness,
Than vast revenues without justice.

9 A man’s heart plans his way,

But the Lord directs his steps.--Proverbs 16:7-9

Have you ever taken a moment to look up at the stars at night and see how vast our universe actually is that God has created. I am reading a western right now that has wonderful descriptions of the sky, but also the vastness of the desert that these people live in that is void of most life and God's natural resources. I wonder when people take a moment to look at these vast areas, if they think about all the things they are chasing in life and if these possessions are worth where they are placing their hearts. We should all step back and view the path to righteousness by focusing on what the Lord wants us to have, and not what we think we need. In this vast world it is easy to get lost, but God will guide our steps if only we have a heart that is pure.


Have a great weekend.

Matt