Respect
17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. 1 Peter 2:17
There is something to said about respecting those around you. This last week, I was involved in an adverse situation where I was able to negotiate a solution to the benefit of some people. The other people were not showing much respect to the individual I was negotiating with, and it really bothered me and made me wonder how those people's actions reflected on me. Well, that question was answered through God when I spoke to the person today I had been negotiating with and they thanked me for my professionalism and how I treated them. Respect is a two-way street, but sometimes is only one-way because of people's choices. I see where God has given us direction in this verse to show proper respect to everyone, without this respect who are we? Take a moment to think before speaking, look before moving forward and breathe before acting. Honor and respect is the way that God wants us to act.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, February 22, 2019
Friday, February 15, 2019
Fantastic Friday #668 - Ahead
Ahead
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14
Are you one of those people who are always looking behind them to see how things were, what you did, or what you wish you would have done? If you are that kind of person, may I remind you that you cannot change the past, unless you are some kind of time traveler and I have not seen evidence of this ability in my time on earth. It is very easy to look back, and we all do it, but we can take the past and press forward to the future in order to make a difference. I am a history buff and look back a lot at our past history in order to see how we compare or have we changed, but I also look back to see if we have gotten better. I think if we could remember the bad past just enough to move ahead to the future, all of our lives might be different, and if we focus on the prize at the end, I certainly believe in a better future. Take the steps to move ahead to what God has called you to. Your life will be impacted, I guarantee it.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14
Are you one of those people who are always looking behind them to see how things were, what you did, or what you wish you would have done? If you are that kind of person, may I remind you that you cannot change the past, unless you are some kind of time traveler and I have not seen evidence of this ability in my time on earth. It is very easy to look back, and we all do it, but we can take the past and press forward to the future in order to make a difference. I am a history buff and look back a lot at our past history in order to see how we compare or have we changed, but I also look back to see if we have gotten better. I think if we could remember the bad past just enough to move ahead to the future, all of our lives might be different, and if we focus on the prize at the end, I certainly believe in a better future. Take the steps to move ahead to what God has called you to. Your life will be impacted, I guarantee it.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, February 8, 2019
Fantastic Friday #667 - Good
Good
10 As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
11 there is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.” Romans 3:10-12
There was a friend of mine who asked this week if people can be considered good without involving religion. I believe that was the question, however it has now been deleted. My first thoughts were that I commented with was that no one is good, which brought the question back to me of why do you say that Matt. I quoted a Romans scripture that was not this particular one above, but was more of the answer to who is good since all have fallen short. I think if you look at the definition of good, then this might be more clear. Good = morally excellent, virtuous, righteous, pious. How many of us can honestly look at this definition of good and say that we are good. I know I can't, but that doesn't mean I cannot strive to be good. The only way we can strive to be good is through a relationship with our father, and through religion we can come closer to our Father because there is an intentional focus with religion on God. So there is truth to both, while you don't have to have religion to have a relationship with God, it sure does make it easier. You just have to make sure that the religion you choose to involve yourself with is closely embedded with the teachings of God and does not primarily focus on a man or a woman, or an earthly inheritance that can bring you nothing but brief happiness. Choose God first and work on that relationship with Him daily.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
10 As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
11 there is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.” Romans 3:10-12
There was a friend of mine who asked this week if people can be considered good without involving religion. I believe that was the question, however it has now been deleted. My first thoughts were that I commented with was that no one is good, which brought the question back to me of why do you say that Matt. I quoted a Romans scripture that was not this particular one above, but was more of the answer to who is good since all have fallen short. I think if you look at the definition of good, then this might be more clear. Good = morally excellent, virtuous, righteous, pious. How many of us can honestly look at this definition of good and say that we are good. I know I can't, but that doesn't mean I cannot strive to be good. The only way we can strive to be good is through a relationship with our father, and through religion we can come closer to our Father because there is an intentional focus with religion on God. So there is truth to both, while you don't have to have religion to have a relationship with God, it sure does make it easier. You just have to make sure that the religion you choose to involve yourself with is closely embedded with the teachings of God and does not primarily focus on a man or a woman, or an earthly inheritance that can bring you nothing but brief happiness. Choose God first and work on that relationship with Him daily.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, February 1, 2019
Fantastic Friday #665 - Self Control
Self Control
You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. Titus 2:1-8
How in control are you of the things that you do? Do you practice self-control? Lately a young man I know has been tossing things around at people, and not thinking clearly about what he is tossing before he does it and what the ultimate impact might be. I also know some people who are not careful with what they are eating and drinking, even though they know that they shouldn't be eating certain foods and drinking certain things, they continue to do it. I also know that I personally struggle with self control on many things throughout the day and find myself wondering why I have negative thoughts about people and their actions, instead of focusing on my own self control and personal actions. God wants us to be in self control and humble ourselves to Him for what He wants for us. Faith comes with that self control and allows us to endure the pain of whatever we are struggling with. So, don't spend time thinking you can't control what you are doing, know that with God you can practice the self-control and the humble obedience He wants from us.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. Titus 2:1-8
How in control are you of the things that you do? Do you practice self-control? Lately a young man I know has been tossing things around at people, and not thinking clearly about what he is tossing before he does it and what the ultimate impact might be. I also know some people who are not careful with what they are eating and drinking, even though they know that they shouldn't be eating certain foods and drinking certain things, they continue to do it. I also know that I personally struggle with self control on many things throughout the day and find myself wondering why I have negative thoughts about people and their actions, instead of focusing on my own self control and personal actions. God wants us to be in self control and humble ourselves to Him for what He wants for us. Faith comes with that self control and allows us to endure the pain of whatever we are struggling with. So, don't spend time thinking you can't control what you are doing, know that with God you can practice the self-control and the humble obedience He wants from us.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
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