Fantastic Friday #748 - Peace

Peace

16 The Lord’s justice will dwell in the desert,
his righteousness live in the fertile field.
17 The fruit of that righteousness will be peace;
its effect will be quietness and confidence forever. Isaiah 32:16-17

Do you ever wonder if there will be peace? Certainly with what we see every day, that hope is a long way off and we may never see the peace that you think of when people talk about it. If you look at history, there has always been war, fighting factions, government disputes, leaders who changed the way people think, and people who change the way governments think. It is pretty clear in scripture that God places people in leadership positions and we must respectfully understand that God has a reason for these leaders to be in power. However, peace does not come from these leaders, peace comes from God, and His peace is everlasting. Maybe that is why people cannot find peace, because they are looking for the wrong kind of peace. Maybe we should be looking for the quiet confident peace that God promises. Find your peace in God, and it will truly make a difference in your life.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #747 - Flesh

Flesh

5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:5-8

After reading this scripture, look at your day-to-day activities, how many of you can say that you fall into setting your mind on what your flesh desires. I would say pretty much everyone. We don't always live with a mind that lives with what the Spirit desires, but we can start on that path by making simple changes. I mentioned this week that I am tired of the hate between people, and I got angry at work because of some information on a project that was withheld from me. When you stop and see the flesh take over, it is not easy in the moment, but afterwards you think to yourself, why did I let my flesh overtake my emotions? When we let our emotions be overcome by the flesh and the enemy, it tears up everything that the Spirit has built within you and you certainly aren't pleasing God with your behavior. Take a moment or several moments each day to remind yourself that the Spirit lives in you and can help you daily, even moment to moment overcome anything that is placed before you. Live in the Spirit.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #746 - Riddles

Riddles

5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance—
6 for understanding proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:5-7


Everyone likes a good riddle right? Some phrases put together to confuse us from finding out the right answer? I mean didn't Jesus speak in riddles so people did not understand him? Maybe riddle isn't the right word, because while the answer cannot be found in a riddle, it can be found in a parable. Riddles are meant to confuse us, but parables are meant to teach. If you work hard enough at a riddle, you can eventually solve it and find that the answer wasn't that hard in the first place. Understanding parables requires something that not everyone has, and that is a fear of the Lord. A humble respect of our Lord can help us understand the many parables shared in the Bible, and much of His word that is not always easily decipherable. We just have to believe and have faith in our Lord and He will guide our hearts to understand His word, whether it be through parables or deep scriptural meaning. The only way to get there is to pray, have faith and study His word regularly. If you don't do these things, then you are just going to be reading riddles where the answer is always right in front of you and you just can't see it.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #745 - Vengeance

Vengeance

12 Lord Almighty, you who examine the righteous
and probe the heart and mind,
let me see your vengeance on them,
for to you I have committed my cause.

13 Sing to the Lord!
Give praise to the Lord!
He rescues the life of the needy
from the hands of the wicked. Jeremiah 20:12-13


Do you ever have a desire for revenge? Maybe someone hurt you or hurt someone you love. Inside your mind you probably tell yourself that God would want me to forgive that person, but we are all sinful people and don't always make the right decisions. I know many of us can sit around and think about the vengeance we can have on someone for being hurt, or maybe just talk a little badly about that person. But honestly, God does not want that anger and vengeance in our life. He wants love and forgiveness, just like He gives us every single day. How can we get rid of these thoughts of revenge? We can turn to the Lord and give praise to Him for everything He gives or has given. We can sing a song, we can ask to be rescued, and we can avoid being sucked into the wicked ways of the enemy. Focus on Love and Forgiveness and God will guide you.

Have a great weekend.

Matt