Resting Place
This is what the Lord says:
“Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
Where is the house you will build for me?
Where will my resting place be?
2 Has not my hand made all these things,
and so they came into being?”
declares the Lord.
“These are the ones I look on with favor:
those who are humble and contrite in spirit,
and who tremble at my word. Isaiah 66:1-2
This week my mom went to her final resting place in Heaven. Do you ever think about where your final resting place is going to be? God clearly outlines that those that are humble and contrite in spirit and fear His word are the ones He looks on favorably. I can say without a doubt that I am not always humble and contrite, and I don't always tremble as I should, but God has created a way through His son Jesus Christ for us to be ones that He can look on with favor. Knowing that mom was always a humble caring individual gave me strength this last week where I know that she is in the place she needs to be. She is no longer suffering but rejoicing in the heavenly realms, where God created a place for all of us. Keep God at the forefront of your lives so that your resting place will be with Him.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, February 28, 2020
Friday, February 21, 2020
Fantastic Friday #721- His Will
His Will
14 Now this is the confidence we have before Him: Whenever we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked Him for. 1 John 5:14-15
God has always done things according to His will and not ours. We typically find ourselves wondering why my will is not done, but even when Jesus taught His disciples about praying, He taught them "thy will be done" which is certainly not our will be done. I have been wondering this week why He heals some and not others, why some suffer and others are miraculously healed. I know it is all related to His will. We don't understand these things, and it is because God does not reveal His plan for us clearly, but it will all be made clear some day. We just need to have faith in His will and his plan, and He does hear us, it is just what we are asking for may not be in His plan but we should not give up asking.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
14 Now this is the confidence we have before Him: Whenever we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked Him for. 1 John 5:14-15
God has always done things according to His will and not ours. We typically find ourselves wondering why my will is not done, but even when Jesus taught His disciples about praying, He taught them "thy will be done" which is certainly not our will be done. I have been wondering this week why He heals some and not others, why some suffer and others are miraculously healed. I know it is all related to His will. We don't understand these things, and it is because God does not reveal His plan for us clearly, but it will all be made clear some day. We just need to have faith in His will and his plan, and He does hear us, it is just what we are asking for may not be in His plan but we should not give up asking.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, February 14, 2020
Fantastic Friday #720 - Hope
Hope
3 And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, 4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. 5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:3-5
I don't often enough think of how hope and faith intertwine so seamlessly. Maybe we need to look at how feelings turn into beliefs. When we are going through circumstances, people say have faith and the outcome will be there for you, but a lot of times our faith/belief is not there. This is probably because we haven't focused on the hope/feeling we have about what difficulty can be resolved. We must feel first before we believe in any situation, the reason is because our feelings drive our hearts and belief. If we have negative feelings about the outcome of something, then our belief is not going to even have a chance at starting because we have already squashed it. We must have the hope and positive belief that God will provide answers/solutions/healing in our life and that feeling can turn easily into belief/faith that God will provide. We need the one to have the other, and that is why you always see Faith, Hope and Love together. They all rely deeply on each other. So, use your hope to lead into faith. God will provide.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
3 And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, 4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. 5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:3-5
I don't often enough think of how hope and faith intertwine so seamlessly. Maybe we need to look at how feelings turn into beliefs. When we are going through circumstances, people say have faith and the outcome will be there for you, but a lot of times our faith/belief is not there. This is probably because we haven't focused on the hope/feeling we have about what difficulty can be resolved. We must feel first before we believe in any situation, the reason is because our feelings drive our hearts and belief. If we have negative feelings about the outcome of something, then our belief is not going to even have a chance at starting because we have already squashed it. We must have the hope and positive belief that God will provide answers/solutions/healing in our life and that feeling can turn easily into belief/faith that God will provide. We need the one to have the other, and that is why you always see Faith, Hope and Love together. They all rely deeply on each other. So, use your hope to lead into faith. God will provide.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, February 7, 2020
Fantastic Friday #719 - Deeds
Deeds
23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
24 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
25 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his dwelling place. 1 Chronicles 16:23-27
How do you practice good deeds? Is is something you specifically plan out each day saying I am going to do this and do that and then my good deeds are done for the day. Or, do you think, I am going to do one good deed today and they world gets in the way and when you are in bed you think, man I just forgot to do something good today. Or, do you do the right thing and practice good deeds as a part of your normal daily routine? There is nothing wrong with reminding yourself you need to perform good deeds, but they need to come from the heart and not done to just a check box. Maybe a good start is to recognize the deeds that God performs for us daily and do we ever thank Him for His deeds? If we start with praising God and His deeds, then it is a whole lot easier to perform good deeds for others not for ourselves, but to honor Him. Just remember not to get caught up in the "I must do my good deed" to mark it off my list, but perform your good deeds that should come from your heart and show others the love of Christ.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
24 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
25 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his dwelling place. 1 Chronicles 16:23-27
How do you practice good deeds? Is is something you specifically plan out each day saying I am going to do this and do that and then my good deeds are done for the day. Or, do you think, I am going to do one good deed today and they world gets in the way and when you are in bed you think, man I just forgot to do something good today. Or, do you do the right thing and practice good deeds as a part of your normal daily routine? There is nothing wrong with reminding yourself you need to perform good deeds, but they need to come from the heart and not done to just a check box. Maybe a good start is to recognize the deeds that God performs for us daily and do we ever thank Him for His deeds? If we start with praising God and His deeds, then it is a whole lot easier to perform good deeds for others not for ourselves, but to honor Him. Just remember not to get caught up in the "I must do my good deed" to mark it off my list, but perform your good deeds that should come from your heart and show others the love of Christ.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
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