Fantastic Friday #616 - Front

Front

Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Proverbs 4:25

Do you find it easier to look back at something than forward at what's before you? I have this tendency when I am about to attempt something new or outside my comfort zone. I have attempted two things in front of people this week, where I looked back at previous presentations and found myself balled up into physical stress. This week I heard a presentation on conquering fears, and while it wasn't spiritual in nature, it certainly made an impact on me. I found that I had to stop looking back and seeing how I was and start looking forward and seeing how I need to be in life. We all need to do that, and this Proverb is an excellent example of looking in front. We can't focus on what is behind us to improve who we are, but need to look out front and keep that gaze forward.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #615 - Gangrene

Gangrene

15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.16 But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 2 Timothy 2:15-17

There are two main definitions for Gangrene:
1. necrosis or death of soft tissue due to obstructed circulation, usually followed by decomposition and putrefaction.
Then there is:
2. moral or spiritual corruption and decadence that pervades an individual or group.

It is very interesting to me how graphic the first definition is and how the second definition really gives it a second punch to the gut. When we are out there in the world and we are talking about people or gossiping about the latest news that we heard, we are not only sinning, but we are encouraging other people to sin. This type of sin spreads like death according to the scripture, but as you can see it doesn't stop there. This type of sin leads to further ungodliness and can have a significant impact on others. If you stop and think, everything that you say or do comes from your heart. If your heart isn't right, then things said or done can typically tear people down or lead to empty chatter. However, if you begin to look internally at your heart, the outflow will something very different and won't lead to Gangrene. My hope is to keep from dying each day, and be more of someone who is living each day for myself and others. The world is hurting and I cannot continue to contribute to that hurting if all I am doing is engaging in the empty chatter.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #614 - Pass

Pass

32 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. Matthew 24:32-35

Do you pay attention to all of the words that come at you throughout the day? If you are like me, the world and things can distract you from the most important people in your life. I can be carrying on a conversation with my daughter, and she can recognize it and say "Dad, pay attention, I am talking to you." The problem is not all of us have my daughter around or don't have someone saying "pay attention to me." This week I met with some of the young professionals who work in my reporting line, and the interesting thing is that it was very easy to listen to them and not let their words pass away. I believe the people you are more familiar with are the most difficult group of people to listen to their words. For those of us who know Jesus, it is very easy for us to ignore His words and let the phrases pass through one ear and out the other. We have to make sure we are not like the fig tree who withers, but pay attention to all words so you can distinguish between the truth and the lies. Don't let God's Word pass away.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #613 - Belief

Belief

14 And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”

17 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”

20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” Matthew 17: 14-21

How strong is your belief? I see people every day who will state that they believe, and other days they are singing "we believe". I sit back and wonder what they actually believe in. I can sometimes realize that I give too much credit to myself for my circumstances and not realize that God is actually in charge and can bring me out of whatever trial or suffering I am experiencing. This is directly related to the strength of our faith. I love how this passage reads and almost seems if Jesus is a bit sarcastic with his disciples, but I know what comes through as sarcasm is laced with a love for them. Don't get me wrong, there are some days that I question what I believe in myself, but I am always reminded of my belief that God can do anything. I just have to look past my own circumstances sometimes to see and have the faith that he discusses in this passage.

Have a great weekend.

Matt