Fantastic Friday #825 - Abide

Abide

3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:3-5

What or who do you find yourself abiding with? Is it a person in need that you are always there for, or a routine that you find yourself not able to release. Many times abiding with someone or something is a good thing, but it can also be something that could be exhausting, unless your commitment is something that is honoring God and His path for you. We have our God who has also asked for us to abide in Him, and He will never leave us. The love and generosity that comes from Him to give to others will never be there unless we continue to abide in Him. Let Him help you grow and share what He has for you.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #824 - War

War

2 Raise a banner on a bare hilltop,
shout to them;
beckon to them
to enter the gates of the nobles.
3 I have commanded those I prepared for battle;
I have summoned my warriors to carry out my wrath—
those who rejoice in my triumph.

4 Listen, a noise on the mountains,
like that of a great multitude!
Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms,
like nations massing together!
The Lord Almighty is mustering
an army for war. Isaiah 13:2-4


We all hear daily the rumors of wars, and of different battles around the world. With these wars come great loss of life, but with many come true freedom for those fighting, but not always. As God prepares us for continued daily war against the enemy, can you see His influence? Most times what we find is the war that you are fighting is with others or you are fighting with yourself. We need to remember that there is only the battle against evil we should be fighting daily. God provides the comfort and support we all need in our daily battles, we need to remember to ask Him for it not just once in a while, or only when we go into battle, we need to ask for it daily. Something as simple as asking for safety, can help us feel strong when the enemy comes to us. A word of thanks for the previous day, acknowledges that it is not us who won the battle but that God has already won the battle and helped you through your challenges. So, raise your banner daily, and prepare to enter the battle knowing that the One who controls all things is on your side.


Have a great weekend.


Matt

Fantastic Friday #823 - Loss

Loss

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.[d] 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. Philippians 1:19-20

I know a lot of people who have experienced loss in the past year, including me and my family. There is an immense sadness that we all experience after a loss, and we hope over time that we can heal from that loss of someone special. This doesn't always happen quickly and can sometimes last for months or years. I know that those we loved that have passed would not want us to bury ourselves in pain and sadness, but they would want us to experience joy for the time we had with them and remember what God teaches us about what is next. We have to sometimes look at Paul and his suffering, and how he continued to find joy in God's provision. He knew the importance of his work, and we have to remember the importance of our work in His plan. We have to also remember that our loved ones are experiencing a joy we cannot even fathom, but I am sure they want us to know that as we mourn, God can also heal the hole left by these wonderful people. Take your loved ones' losses as gains to God as we navigate our own path to our Father in Heaven.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #822 - Reckless

Reckless

17 An honest witness tells the truth,
but a false witness tells lies.

18 The words of the reckless pierce like swords,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

19 Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue lasts only a moment. Proverbs 12:17-19


Do you know anyone who does things without thinking? When you do things without thinking, it never can end in a positive result. There are times where I have spoken without thinking, and it has truly come back to haunt me. How many of us have been in a situation when you have a decision to make, where you can either be reckless or responsible? Being reckless never ends in a way where God wants us to be. He wants us to be thoughtful with our lives, and think about how our actions impact others around us. You see, typically our actions will not just impact us immediately, but will have an influence on many that are around us, including family and friends. I assure you that you will notice a difference in your life once you look at being less reckless.

Have a great weekend.

Matt