Behind
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
I know that a lot of us have been with people learning how to drive or new drivers. One of the things new drivers tend to focus on too much is what is going on behind them. If a car is following you too closely or coming up really fast behind you, there isn't much you are going to be able to do about that driver if they decide to rear-end you or just stay really close. The same can be said about our past experiences. If we look back, there isn't anything we can do about what was done, but we can certainly focus on what is in front of us directly and ahead for our future. We can make decisions that will have a positive impact on our future, or a negative effect. Our current decisions will make no difference about our past, because it has already happened. Just like when we are driving, you need to be aware of what happens behind you but not focus on it. Our focus should be in front of us and pressing forward with what God wants us to do. Don't spend time driving by always looking in the rear view mirror at a small area, but focus looking through the windshield that is much larger and shows a bigger picture of what is in front of you.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, August 30, 2019
Friday, August 23, 2019
Fantastic Friday #695 - Gracious
Gracious
4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous. Psalm 112:4
Can you remember the last time your were gracious with someone? It is really easy to look the other way, and pass by someone who is reaching out because we are typically focused on our needs and what we need to get done. What about those people who have wronged you. Maybe someone cut you off on the highway, cut in line, or cut into the conversation you were having. If you look at this previous sentence, the word cut can describe how these people made you feel. Your probably didn't experience a true cut on your body, but maybe you felt a little bit of your heart was cut away. The visual of getting cut shows also an open wound, but there is something that can heal that open wound, and that is giving grace and compassion to those that cut you. God has given us grace for our sins, so why is it so hard to be gracious to others who hurt us? It goes back to our heart, we need to have a strong heart that cannot be cut, and the way to do that is practicing being gracious to others and taking the time for others. I guarantee when you show someone grace, your heart is healed and becomes stronger.
Have a great weekend,
Matt
4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous. Psalm 112:4
Can you remember the last time your were gracious with someone? It is really easy to look the other way, and pass by someone who is reaching out because we are typically focused on our needs and what we need to get done. What about those people who have wronged you. Maybe someone cut you off on the highway, cut in line, or cut into the conversation you were having. If you look at this previous sentence, the word cut can describe how these people made you feel. Your probably didn't experience a true cut on your body, but maybe you felt a little bit of your heart was cut away. The visual of getting cut shows also an open wound, but there is something that can heal that open wound, and that is giving grace and compassion to those that cut you. God has given us grace for our sins, so why is it so hard to be gracious to others who hurt us? It goes back to our heart, we need to have a strong heart that cannot be cut, and the way to do that is practicing being gracious to others and taking the time for others. I guarantee when you show someone grace, your heart is healed and becomes stronger.
Have a great weekend,
Matt
Friday, August 16, 2019
Fantastic Friday #694 - Lesson
Lesson
12 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying: 13 “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go and tell the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, ‘Will you not learn a lesson and obey my words?’ declares the Lord. Jeremiah 35:12-13
How many of us learn a lesson when we do something wrong and then never make the same decision again? I would gather that most of us have made a decision that was probably not the best decision more than once, because we did not learn our lesson the first time. It is a good thing that God has given the power of forgiveness, but even with that we should not continue to sin as a famous set of verses in Romans states. We must however learn our lesson when God pulls us out of whatever situation we are in, and then remember this lesson so we are less likely to make the same mistake twice. We all have daily lessons, we just need to take them to heart and know that God is with us and with that we can learn from each lesson He teaches.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
12 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying: 13 “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go and tell the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, ‘Will you not learn a lesson and obey my words?’ declares the Lord. Jeremiah 35:12-13
How many of us learn a lesson when we do something wrong and then never make the same decision again? I would gather that most of us have made a decision that was probably not the best decision more than once, because we did not learn our lesson the first time. It is a good thing that God has given the power of forgiveness, but even with that we should not continue to sin as a famous set of verses in Romans states. We must however learn our lesson when God pulls us out of whatever situation we are in, and then remember this lesson so we are less likely to make the same mistake twice. We all have daily lessons, we just need to take them to heart and know that God is with us and with that we can learn from each lesson He teaches.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, August 9, 2019
Fantastic Friday #693 - Cover
Cover
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day, Psalm 91:3-5
When the storm comes in your life, where do you go for cover? In today's world you see people attempting to cover themselves thinking that they can do it all themselves. When you pray, do you ever ask our God to Cover you in His presence. Do you ask Him to Cover you with His Angels for protection. We are all fighting the enemy on a daily basis. Whether it be darts that the enemy shoots at us telling us we are not good enough or that we can deviate from the path we are on, the enemy is sneaky. We need cover! Whether it be addictions that we are fighting against, or the enemy pinpointing very specific things in our life, we need cover and the only cover can come from our God. Give God everything that we need protection from and He will provide. All you have to do is ask.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
When the storm comes in your life, where do you go for cover? In today's world you see people attempting to cover themselves thinking that they can do it all themselves. When you pray, do you ever ask our God to Cover you in His presence. Do you ask Him to Cover you with His Angels for protection. We are all fighting the enemy on a daily basis. Whether it be darts that the enemy shoots at us telling us we are not good enough or that we can deviate from the path we are on, the enemy is sneaky. We need cover! Whether it be addictions that we are fighting against, or the enemy pinpointing very specific things in our life, we need cover and the only cover can come from our God. Give God everything that we need protection from and He will provide. All you have to do is ask.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, August 2, 2019
Fantastic Friday #692 - Disaster
Disaster
2 For what is our lot from God above,
our heritage from the Almighty on high?
3 Is it not ruin for the wicked,
disaster for those who do wrong?
4 Does he not see my ways
and count my every step? Job 31:2-4
How many of us think of bad things that happen to us as a disaster? A fire, a flood, a significant illness or even a significant family issue. Disaster is defined as a calamitous event. But are the things listed above truly a calamitous event? When you search the Bible for the word Disaster in the NIV version, Disaster only appears in the Old Testament. I began to wonder why it is only in the OT of the Bible, and I think it must have to do with the Good News that is in the New Testament. God wants us to focus on the Good in our lives and the Good that Jesus brings in our life. Nothing is a disaster if we have Jesus. Something to remember daily.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
2 For what is our lot from God above,
our heritage from the Almighty on high?
3 Is it not ruin for the wicked,
disaster for those who do wrong?
4 Does he not see my ways
and count my every step? Job 31:2-4
How many of us think of bad things that happen to us as a disaster? A fire, a flood, a significant illness or even a significant family issue. Disaster is defined as a calamitous event. But are the things listed above truly a calamitous event? When you search the Bible for the word Disaster in the NIV version, Disaster only appears in the Old Testament. I began to wonder why it is only in the OT of the Bible, and I think it must have to do with the Good News that is in the New Testament. God wants us to focus on the Good in our lives and the Good that Jesus brings in our life. Nothing is a disaster if we have Jesus. Something to remember daily.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
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