Refreshes
7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes. Psalm 19:6-8
Certain times of the year can be draining, both physically and spiritually when we sit around and think we have to please everyone or do everything to make sure everyone else is pleased. I know many times we can get caught up in what other people are doing and how they are seemingly in a position that we wish we were in spiritually, but let me remind you that not everything is as it seems. Each person is at different stages in their life, and there are roller coasters even for the most outwardly spiritual. We have to remember that it is not us who make ourselves more spiritual, but it is our perfect Lord in Heaven above who makes us this way. Living with joy in our heart is the most simple way to start and one way that makes our spirituality flow, because God is refreshing and provides that which we need. So when you are not feeling refreshed, lean into God and have Him guide you spiritually, instead of chasing the perfect holiday season that tends to lose our focus on the Lord.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, December 29, 2023
Friday, December 22, 2023
Fantastic Friday #920 - Darkness
Darkness
2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2
Do you find some days are darker than others? We all have moments during the holidays where maybe something tries to remove our focus from the light of our Lord Jesus Christ. God can work in miraculous ways, just like the story in 1914 where British and German soldiers stopped fighting on Christmas Day and crossed trenches to talk, exchange food and gifts and sign carols together. If God can make miracles happen like these with man and many others, then God can bring light to the darkness you might be suffering from time to time. Take a moment to remember how many times God rescued the Jewish people, and know that sending His Son to rescue us is the ultimate love for us from Him. He cares deeply for us and His light shines brighter than any darkness can cover.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2
Do you find some days are darker than others? We all have moments during the holidays where maybe something tries to remove our focus from the light of our Lord Jesus Christ. God can work in miraculous ways, just like the story in 1914 where British and German soldiers stopped fighting on Christmas Day and crossed trenches to talk, exchange food and gifts and sign carols together. If God can make miracles happen like these with man and many others, then God can bring light to the darkness you might be suffering from time to time. Take a moment to remember how many times God rescued the Jewish people, and know that sending His Son to rescue us is the ultimate love for us from Him. He cares deeply for us and His light shines brighter than any darkness can cover.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, December 15, 2023
Fantastic Friday #919 - Stars
Stars
3 He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars
and calls them each by name.
5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit. Psalm 147:3-5
Why do we put limits on what God can do for us? Every day there are people who groan and complain that they don't have what they need, but it probably turns into that they don't have what they want. A simple thought one might share with these people is they have everything they need, if they only placed their faith in God and His plan for their life. Even those of us with faith in God can be truly shortsighted in our hearts and requests to God. I am sure we often forget that our God is mighty and He has no limit, so why try to limit Him in our own mind. As we enter this Christmas season, is there something that you need, that you truly need? I can only assume that if you reflect long enough, you will want more of God and find out that you only truly need Him.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
3 He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars
and calls them each by name.
5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit. Psalm 147:3-5
Why do we put limits on what God can do for us? Every day there are people who groan and complain that they don't have what they need, but it probably turns into that they don't have what they want. A simple thought one might share with these people is they have everything they need, if they only placed their faith in God and His plan for their life. Even those of us with faith in God can be truly shortsighted in our hearts and requests to God. I am sure we often forget that our God is mighty and He has no limit, so why try to limit Him in our own mind. As we enter this Christmas season, is there something that you need, that you truly need? I can only assume that if you reflect long enough, you will want more of God and find out that you only truly need Him.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, December 8, 2023
Fantastic Friday #918 - Grieved
Grieved
21 When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.
23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever. Psalm 73:21-26
I have recently seen a number of people who have passed away, and it made me reflect on my close friends and family who have passed on. I reflected on how I reacted when these individuals passed, and I know that I grieved terribly. In fact, I still grieve at times and ask a lot of questions. I have found in the past few years that the only thing that fills that hole is our Father in Heaven. There are so many things that we deal with on a daily basis that can be challenging and frustrating, but I always have to remind myself that God is the answer. You would think that it would be easy to remember this, but the enemy is lurking around trying to make you think that you need to consistently feel bad or grieve for whatever is missing or lost in your life. We need to remember that there is nothing in this world that we should desire other than our Father. As long as we continually set our eyes on the Lord, our grieving will be limited and we can count on His presence in our life.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
21 When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.
23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever. Psalm 73:21-26
I have recently seen a number of people who have passed away, and it made me reflect on my close friends and family who have passed on. I reflected on how I reacted when these individuals passed, and I know that I grieved terribly. In fact, I still grieve at times and ask a lot of questions. I have found in the past few years that the only thing that fills that hole is our Father in Heaven. There are so many things that we deal with on a daily basis that can be challenging and frustrating, but I always have to remind myself that God is the answer. You would think that it would be easy to remember this, but the enemy is lurking around trying to make you think that you need to consistently feel bad or grieve for whatever is missing or lost in your life. We need to remember that there is nothing in this world that we should desire other than our Father. As long as we continually set our eyes on the Lord, our grieving will be limited and we can count on His presence in our life.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, December 1, 2023
Fantastic Friday #917 - Shepherd
Shepherd
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:1-3
Who do you have in your life that watches over you carefully like a shepherd? It gives me pause to think of who I have, and sometimes I reflect on this scripture that the Lord is my shepherd and shouldn't that be enough. It certainly is enough, but God puts people near us to help us in our daily walk with him. The reason for this is we need each other daily to support each other. These times are hard, and while we can rely on the Lord for guidance, there are others that can help guide us back to God when we stray. Take a moment to see who you can help shepherd and make sure you have someone that can provide the same support to you.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:1-3
Who do you have in your life that watches over you carefully like a shepherd? It gives me pause to think of who I have, and sometimes I reflect on this scripture that the Lord is my shepherd and shouldn't that be enough. It certainly is enough, but God puts people near us to help us in our daily walk with him. The reason for this is we need each other daily to support each other. These times are hard, and while we can rely on the Lord for guidance, there are others that can help guide us back to God when we stray. Take a moment to see who you can help shepherd and make sure you have someone that can provide the same support to you.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, November 24, 2023
Fantastic Friday #916 - Giving
Giving
The precepts of the Lord are right,giving joy to the heart.The commands of the Lord are radiant,giving light to the eyes. Psalm 19:8
In this time of giving, I tend to think about things that we can give to others. It’s not always a physical gift, it could be time, it could be sharing a good word, or it could be something that has benefited us in the past that can benefit someone else. How often do we think of what God is giving us on a daily basis? I find that it is hard sometimes to remember the things that God gives us that can give joy to us. If we take this little reminder that God does this to help our hearts grow and become closer to him, the giving we can provide to others may show people something that they are not familiar with in the relationship with God.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, November 17, 2023
Fantastic Friday #915 - Maximum
Maximum
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 2 Peter 3:11-15
When you complete a task do you give your maximum effort? Or, do you provide just enough effort that will get the job done, I see people every day putting forth a limited effort to get from one place to another, or just enough effort to understand what is being discussed. Our effort we put forth can be seen by others, and if we are only putting forth a partial effort for God and his plan, we could fall short severely. In everything we do we should make every effort to follow the guidelines He has set out for us, and when we do this it will make following God so much easier. Minimal effort brings minimal results, however Maximum effort brings about a multitude of blessings. Make your effort fruitful and maximize the possibilities around you.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 2 Peter 3:11-15
When you complete a task do you give your maximum effort? Or, do you provide just enough effort that will get the job done, I see people every day putting forth a limited effort to get from one place to another, or just enough effort to understand what is being discussed. Our effort we put forth can be seen by others, and if we are only putting forth a partial effort for God and his plan, we could fall short severely. In everything we do we should make every effort to follow the guidelines He has set out for us, and when we do this it will make following God so much easier. Minimal effort brings minimal results, however Maximum effort brings about a multitude of blessings. Make your effort fruitful and maximize the possibilities around you.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, November 10, 2023
Fantastic Friday #914 - Snow
Snow
16 Wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
stop doing wrong.
17 Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.[a]
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow.
18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,”
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool. Isaiah 1:16-18
My sister had her first snow of the season a week or so ago. While it was cold and rainy here where I live, just a few days later it was in the 80s. It is amazing the transition of the seasons and the different places around the world. So are the seasons in our lives, where one day can be a day filled with joy and happiness, come the next day it can be filled with challenges and concern. When we are apart from God, we can have sadness and darkness in our lives. While we will always have challenges and concerns in our lives, I can have confidence that God is always there and can rescue me from whatever is going on. Knowing that our sins can be forgiven, gives me hope to make it through the challenging times. We need to be obedient, and we need to follow what path God has set out for us. God can give us a picture of perfection, and we just need to strive to be those individuals that seek Him out daily. Just like the fresh first fallen snow, our sinful life can be made clean and beautiful.
16 Wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
stop doing wrong.
17 Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.[a]
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow.
18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,”
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool. Isaiah 1:16-18
My sister had her first snow of the season a week or so ago. While it was cold and rainy here where I live, just a few days later it was in the 80s. It is amazing the transition of the seasons and the different places around the world. So are the seasons in our lives, where one day can be a day filled with joy and happiness, come the next day it can be filled with challenges and concern. When we are apart from God, we can have sadness and darkness in our lives. While we will always have challenges and concerns in our lives, I can have confidence that God is always there and can rescue me from whatever is going on. Knowing that our sins can be forgiven, gives me hope to make it through the challenging times. We need to be obedient, and we need to follow what path God has set out for us. God can give us a picture of perfection, and we just need to strive to be those individuals that seek Him out daily. Just like the fresh first fallen snow, our sinful life can be made clean and beautiful.
Friday, November 3, 2023
Fantastic Friday #913 - Discover
Discover
23 All this I tested by wisdom and I said,
“I am determined to be wise”—
but this was beyond me.
24 Whatever exists is far off and most profound—
who can discover it?
25 So I turned my mind to understand,
to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things
and to understand the stupidity of wickedness
and the madness of folly. Ecclesiastes 7:23-25
What have you discovered in the past week when reflecting on your life? We all have a purpose and want to improve ourselves, and I assume we want to pursue wisdom from God. However, our mind can get cluttered and can retreat into some pretty dark places if we aren't careful. The wickedness of people is prevalent and has always been around, but with wisdom we can avoid it, along with discovering what God wants for each one of us. We need to daily turn our mind to learn and understand what God wants, and fend off the enemy with everything we have. Discover what God wants from you and live it. Find the thing that keeps you close to Him and develop that wisdom of life to be able to share with others.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
23 All this I tested by wisdom and I said,
“I am determined to be wise”—
but this was beyond me.
24 Whatever exists is far off and most profound—
who can discover it?
25 So I turned my mind to understand,
to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things
and to understand the stupidity of wickedness
and the madness of folly. Ecclesiastes 7:23-25
What have you discovered in the past week when reflecting on your life? We all have a purpose and want to improve ourselves, and I assume we want to pursue wisdom from God. However, our mind can get cluttered and can retreat into some pretty dark places if we aren't careful. The wickedness of people is prevalent and has always been around, but with wisdom we can avoid it, along with discovering what God wants for each one of us. We need to daily turn our mind to learn and understand what God wants, and fend off the enemy with everything we have. Discover what God wants from you and live it. Find the thing that keeps you close to Him and develop that wisdom of life to be able to share with others.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, October 27, 2023
Fantastic Friday #912 - Yesterday
Yesterday
7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so. Hebrews 13:7-9
Do you remember what you were like yesterday? Were you much different today than you were yesterday? As we go through our walk in life, God wants us to come closer to him and to live a righteous life. If you were the same today as you were yesterday, how can you be better? Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. If we want to aspire to be more like Jesus, then we need to work on being better each day. We are not perfect and that is OK, and while Jesus’ sacrifice atones for our sins that does not mean we keep sinning, but we become better individuals every day. These types of steps to righteousness can be taken in small steps each day. Maybe it's a kind word you share with someone, perhaps it's spending time in God's word, possibly it's strengthening that relationship with God while you are in prayer, or perchance it's making a life change that is necessary because it's impacting you and your family too much in a negative way. We can't change overnight, but we can change what we did yesterday by not following the sinful path. Look back on yesterday and see where you can make a change to be better.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so. Hebrews 13:7-9
Do you remember what you were like yesterday? Were you much different today than you were yesterday? As we go through our walk in life, God wants us to come closer to him and to live a righteous life. If you were the same today as you were yesterday, how can you be better? Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. If we want to aspire to be more like Jesus, then we need to work on being better each day. We are not perfect and that is OK, and while Jesus’ sacrifice atones for our sins that does not mean we keep sinning, but we become better individuals every day. These types of steps to righteousness can be taken in small steps each day. Maybe it's a kind word you share with someone, perhaps it's spending time in God's word, possibly it's strengthening that relationship with God while you are in prayer, or perchance it's making a life change that is necessary because it's impacting you and your family too much in a negative way. We can't change overnight, but we can change what we did yesterday by not following the sinful path. Look back on yesterday and see where you can make a change to be better.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, October 20, 2023
Fantastic Friday #911 - Limitation
Limitation
18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
19 I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. Romans 6:18-20
About two weeks ago I had surgery on my left thumb. The past two weeks has been challenging and has severely limited my ability to do certain things and do more common things with the speed and agility that I normally do. Something as simple as tying my shoes, I cannot do that myself and rely upon assistance. We are all limited in our ability to be perfect because no one is perfect, everyone has sin in their life. However, this scripture perfectly outlines how we are no longer slaves to the sin that can encompass our lives. God's forgiveness is for us if we are truly interested in abandoning our life of sin then freeing us from the limitations that sin places on us. Those limitations include being close to God and I don't want to be a person who is separated from God. So, when you think about the limitations that you have, God can release you from those limitations and free you from the sin that surrounds us every single day.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
19 I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. Romans 6:18-20
About two weeks ago I had surgery on my left thumb. The past two weeks has been challenging and has severely limited my ability to do certain things and do more common things with the speed and agility that I normally do. Something as simple as tying my shoes, I cannot do that myself and rely upon assistance. We are all limited in our ability to be perfect because no one is perfect, everyone has sin in their life. However, this scripture perfectly outlines how we are no longer slaves to the sin that can encompass our lives. God's forgiveness is for us if we are truly interested in abandoning our life of sin then freeing us from the limitations that sin places on us. Those limitations include being close to God and I don't want to be a person who is separated from God. So, when you think about the limitations that you have, God can release you from those limitations and free you from the sin that surrounds us every single day.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, October 13, 2023
Fantastic Friday # 910 - Corrupt
Corrupt
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[c] paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil. Proverbs 4:23-27
The world is full of corrupt people. Even thousands of years ago, before Christ came to the earth, there were corrupt people. Many times, people blame each other for being corrupt, or circumstances they are placed in, put them in the position of being corrupt. I think we all know that there is a deeper reason for the corruption in our society and that is the enemy. The enemy thrives off our weaknesses, and he puts the idea in our head that being just a little bit corrupt is not a big deal. The problem with that philosophy is that a little bit leads to a little bit more and a little bit more until the entire person becomes corrupt. It is good that God has given direction for more than a few millennia on how we can avoid falling into the trap of being corrupt. Keeping our mouth away from perverse talk and looking straight ahead are the easiest ways that we can stay away from living a life that is corrupt and focusing on this life that God wants for us. Be steadfast.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[c] paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil. Proverbs 4:23-27
The world is full of corrupt people. Even thousands of years ago, before Christ came to the earth, there were corrupt people. Many times, people blame each other for being corrupt, or circumstances they are placed in, put them in the position of being corrupt. I think we all know that there is a deeper reason for the corruption in our society and that is the enemy. The enemy thrives off our weaknesses, and he puts the idea in our head that being just a little bit corrupt is not a big deal. The problem with that philosophy is that a little bit leads to a little bit more and a little bit more until the entire person becomes corrupt. It is good that God has given direction for more than a few millennia on how we can avoid falling into the trap of being corrupt. Keeping our mouth away from perverse talk and looking straight ahead are the easiest ways that we can stay away from living a life that is corrupt and focusing on this life that God wants for us. Be steadfast.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, October 6, 2023
Fantastic Friday #909 - Thoughts
Thoughts
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9
Do you ever wonder about God's thoughts? Do you wonder why He blesses some and not others, allows some to die and others to be healed, or is silent when you you think you need Him the most? These are thoughts that have gone through my mind over the years, and I always end up back at what this scripture says. God is on a whole different plane of existence than me, and His plans cannot be fathomed by me because of who He is. As creator and all-knowing, He can see everything and know himself why things are done certain ways. We also have to remember the free agency He has given us that can sometimes drive us away from Him. We may not choose the way we need to go, but God's plans never change, and He wants the best for us. He may allow us to suffer, he may allow some to pass on, and he may be silent, but we need to remember that His thoughts are always there, even if we don't know what they are and their impact on us. Don't waste time thinking about God's thoughts, just focus on Him and your relationship with Him, because the revelation of His thoughts are not of this world but of something greater.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9
Do you ever wonder about God's thoughts? Do you wonder why He blesses some and not others, allows some to die and others to be healed, or is silent when you you think you need Him the most? These are thoughts that have gone through my mind over the years, and I always end up back at what this scripture says. God is on a whole different plane of existence than me, and His plans cannot be fathomed by me because of who He is. As creator and all-knowing, He can see everything and know himself why things are done certain ways. We also have to remember the free agency He has given us that can sometimes drive us away from Him. We may not choose the way we need to go, but God's plans never change, and He wants the best for us. He may allow us to suffer, he may allow some to pass on, and he may be silent, but we need to remember that His thoughts are always there, even if we don't know what they are and their impact on us. Don't waste time thinking about God's thoughts, just focus on Him and your relationship with Him, because the revelation of His thoughts are not of this world but of something greater.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, September 29, 2023
Fantastic Friday #908 - Provoke
Provoke
2 Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;
an outsider, and not your own lips.
3 Stone is heavy and sand a burden,
but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both. Proverbs 27:2-3
How do you deal with a situation where someone is trying to provoke you? This could be a situation where the provocation is subtle and barely noticeable, maybe someone is trying to convince you of something. Other ways can be where someone is intentionally stating something that is controversial to see if you will respond. When people attempted to provoke Jesus, He usually handled it in a calm and soothing manner by speaking truth to the individuals trying to provoke Him. When you gather your thoughts before you speak, that is always a significant deterrent to becoming provoked into saying something that could be taken wrong, or getting into an argument that cannot be won. Remember that God has already won the arguments for us and we just need to remain calm and speak truth. People may try to continue to provoke us, but at least we know with Christ in us we can be responsive and not harsh in our opinion. Avoid being provoked by listening to God and His guide through the Holy Spirit.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
2 Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;
an outsider, and not your own lips.
3 Stone is heavy and sand a burden,
but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both. Proverbs 27:2-3
How do you deal with a situation where someone is trying to provoke you? This could be a situation where the provocation is subtle and barely noticeable, maybe someone is trying to convince you of something. Other ways can be where someone is intentionally stating something that is controversial to see if you will respond. When people attempted to provoke Jesus, He usually handled it in a calm and soothing manner by speaking truth to the individuals trying to provoke Him. When you gather your thoughts before you speak, that is always a significant deterrent to becoming provoked into saying something that could be taken wrong, or getting into an argument that cannot be won. Remember that God has already won the arguments for us and we just need to remain calm and speak truth. People may try to continue to provoke us, but at least we know with Christ in us we can be responsive and not harsh in our opinion. Avoid being provoked by listening to God and His guide through the Holy Spirit.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, September 22, 2023
Fantastic Friday #907 - Kind Word
Kind Word
12 Then the angel of the Lord said, “Lord Almighty, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah, which you have been angry with these seventy years?” 13 So the Lord spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.
14 Then the angel who was speaking to me said, “Proclaim this word: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, Zechariah 1:12-14
For those of you who thrive on words of affirmation like me, you might get this more than those who do not, but everyone should be listening to what I am about to say. Speaking kindness can take you to pleasant places within your mind and spirit, where speaking unkindness can take you to dark places. Think back to the last time you spoke to someone with maybe an unkind thought or deed. How did you feel the rest of that day, week or period of time? My assumption is that unkindness may lead to other things that you shouldn't have said or done, because the enemy can take that one slip of unkindness and turn it into a series of events that we may all end up regretting later. The enemy wants the unkind words to come out of our mouths, so that he can slide into our lives. Looking at how the Lord our God even spoke to the angel, it was with a comforting presence and this is taking place most of the time with us, we just have to listen. I know that having a positive word spoken to me can have an exponential impact on how my day goes. One small negative word to me can send me down a spiral that impacts others in a negative way. So it can work both ways, the negative word you speak can impact you just as much as a negative word spoken to you. The secret is in how God views us and provides us words of affirmation daily about how we can be close to Him. Take a moment to give words of affirmation to people, and be prepared to battle the words spoken to you that are less than positive.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
12 Then the angel of the Lord said, “Lord Almighty, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah, which you have been angry with these seventy years?” 13 So the Lord spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.
14 Then the angel who was speaking to me said, “Proclaim this word: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, Zechariah 1:12-14
For those of you who thrive on words of affirmation like me, you might get this more than those who do not, but everyone should be listening to what I am about to say. Speaking kindness can take you to pleasant places within your mind and spirit, where speaking unkindness can take you to dark places. Think back to the last time you spoke to someone with maybe an unkind thought or deed. How did you feel the rest of that day, week or period of time? My assumption is that unkindness may lead to other things that you shouldn't have said or done, because the enemy can take that one slip of unkindness and turn it into a series of events that we may all end up regretting later. The enemy wants the unkind words to come out of our mouths, so that he can slide into our lives. Looking at how the Lord our God even spoke to the angel, it was with a comforting presence and this is taking place most of the time with us, we just have to listen. I know that having a positive word spoken to me can have an exponential impact on how my day goes. One small negative word to me can send me down a spiral that impacts others in a negative way. So it can work both ways, the negative word you speak can impact you just as much as a negative word spoken to you. The secret is in how God views us and provides us words of affirmation daily about how we can be close to Him. Take a moment to give words of affirmation to people, and be prepared to battle the words spoken to you that are less than positive.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, September 15, 2023
Fantastic Friday # 906
Answer
13 To answer before listening—
that is folly and shame. Proverbs 18:13
Do you find yourself in a conversation where either you or the other person is not fully listening? In these types of conversations, do you find that people or you will answer something before listening to what is said? I know that there are times when I am interrupted in my work environment, and I don't get my full statement out before someone is cutting me off. It can be frustrating and off-putting to have your thoughts not feel heard or understood. There are also times in my own life where I am in such a hurry that I have cut someone off because I didn't either want to hear the whole story or felt like hearing the whole story was going to slow me down. Do you ever find yourself in conversations with God, not listening for what He has to say? Do you ask for something in prayer and just hop up and get going, and not calmly and reverently wait for a guiding word. Not all prayers are answered immediately, but certainly our own answer we give ourselves in our head should not come before God has a chance to respond. We need to stop ourselves from answering our own prayers and reverently wait to hear from God. It may not be in the minutes following our prayer, but it could be throughout the day and we certainly don't need to cut God off from answering something we asked for. Take a moment to remember how it feels to be cut off, and then listen throughout the day, the week, and every moment for the answers you seek.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
13 To answer before listening—
that is folly and shame. Proverbs 18:13
Do you find yourself in a conversation where either you or the other person is not fully listening? In these types of conversations, do you find that people or you will answer something before listening to what is said? I know that there are times when I am interrupted in my work environment, and I don't get my full statement out before someone is cutting me off. It can be frustrating and off-putting to have your thoughts not feel heard or understood. There are also times in my own life where I am in such a hurry that I have cut someone off because I didn't either want to hear the whole story or felt like hearing the whole story was going to slow me down. Do you ever find yourself in conversations with God, not listening for what He has to say? Do you ask for something in prayer and just hop up and get going, and not calmly and reverently wait for a guiding word. Not all prayers are answered immediately, but certainly our own answer we give ourselves in our head should not come before God has a chance to respond. We need to stop ourselves from answering our own prayers and reverently wait to hear from God. It may not be in the minutes following our prayer, but it could be throughout the day and we certainly don't need to cut God off from answering something we asked for. Take a moment to remember how it feels to be cut off, and then listen throughout the day, the week, and every moment for the answers you seek.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, September 8, 2023
Fantastic Friday #905 - Energy
Energy
27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. Colossians 1:27-29
Do you sometimes find that you have a real lack of energy? Maybe you are not eating enough, drinking enough fluids, getting enough sleep, or exercising enough. Our body needs fuel to keep it going, and God created all these things to keep our bodies operating at full capacity. Have you ever thought about when you are sick, was there something lacking in your intake right before you got sick? Our bodies are precious creations that require the things that give us energy to function. The same can be said of our energy we have for Christ and following His plan for our lives. When we depart from His Word, the relationships with other believers, and the instruction that church can provide, this can make our eternal relationship with our Father lack the energy it needs daily. It is important that we provide our minds with the energy of wisdom that comes from God, so we can not only be examples of what positive impact God has had in our life, but we can teach others how to gain this energy and power that He provides. God has given us nutrition, it is up to us to use that nutrition for our energy.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. Colossians 1:27-29
Do you sometimes find that you have a real lack of energy? Maybe you are not eating enough, drinking enough fluids, getting enough sleep, or exercising enough. Our body needs fuel to keep it going, and God created all these things to keep our bodies operating at full capacity. Have you ever thought about when you are sick, was there something lacking in your intake right before you got sick? Our bodies are precious creations that require the things that give us energy to function. The same can be said of our energy we have for Christ and following His plan for our lives. When we depart from His Word, the relationships with other believers, and the instruction that church can provide, this can make our eternal relationship with our Father lack the energy it needs daily. It is important that we provide our minds with the energy of wisdom that comes from God, so we can not only be examples of what positive impact God has had in our life, but we can teach others how to gain this energy and power that He provides. God has given us nutrition, it is up to us to use that nutrition for our energy.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, September 1, 2023
Fantastic Friday #904 - Body
Body
20 My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body. Proverbs 4:20-22
I think a lot about my health these days as I am getting older. While illness can strike anyone at any age, there are things we can all do to fight off the shutting down of our body and its organs. Treating your body as a gift God has given is always a good start. Plenty of sleep, exercise and a healthy nutritious eating plan can always have a significant impact. Do you think of God's Word and the impact on your physical body? When you read about hope in the scriptures, what does that do to your inner soul? Just like the joy of a hug from someone you care deeply about or even a simple touch, that can bring a heart to positive feelings. God's Word can have a powerful effect. Seeing the power of God's love of us and what He can accomplish should all bring us a great amount of comfort. That in turn can improve how our body operates, both mentally and physically. So, do your body a favor, accept those words and your body should feel something.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
20 My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body. Proverbs 4:20-22
I think a lot about my health these days as I am getting older. While illness can strike anyone at any age, there are things we can all do to fight off the shutting down of our body and its organs. Treating your body as a gift God has given is always a good start. Plenty of sleep, exercise and a healthy nutritious eating plan can always have a significant impact. Do you think of God's Word and the impact on your physical body? When you read about hope in the scriptures, what does that do to your inner soul? Just like the joy of a hug from someone you care deeply about or even a simple touch, that can bring a heart to positive feelings. God's Word can have a powerful effect. Seeing the power of God's love of us and what He can accomplish should all bring us a great amount of comfort. That in turn can improve how our body operates, both mentally and physically. So, do your body a favor, accept those words and your body should feel something.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, August 25, 2023
Fantastic Friday #903 - Wealth
Wealth
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil. Psalm 37:6-8
Do you ever look at some people and wonder how they become so successful, or maybe how there are people with so much wealth that they don't know what to do with it all. Then you look at yourself and there you are waiting on the Lord to provide some kind of answer to a prayer or other request that you feel you have been waiting on for some time. First, let's think about truly how wealthy some of those people are, do they really have true wealth in their lives, or are their lives hidden in greed and evil. We need to change our definition of wealth and success in our own lives. What can you come up with in your life that makes you truly wealthy, is it your family or some other success, or can you look at God as making you wealthy. Once we change our view of wealth and success, this can lead to a more patient understanding of God and His timing. I know that each day I need to make time to recognize the wealth that God provides, and strengthen that relationship with our Lord and Savior. Only then will I be able to see my true value in God's eyes. Focus on the wealth that does not involve the collection of things or money.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
your vindication like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil. Psalm 37:6-8
Do you ever look at some people and wonder how they become so successful, or maybe how there are people with so much wealth that they don't know what to do with it all. Then you look at yourself and there you are waiting on the Lord to provide some kind of answer to a prayer or other request that you feel you have been waiting on for some time. First, let's think about truly how wealthy some of those people are, do they really have true wealth in their lives, or are their lives hidden in greed and evil. We need to change our definition of wealth and success in our own lives. What can you come up with in your life that makes you truly wealthy, is it your family or some other success, or can you look at God as making you wealthy. Once we change our view of wealth and success, this can lead to a more patient understanding of God and His timing. I know that each day I need to make time to recognize the wealth that God provides, and strengthen that relationship with our Lord and Savior. Only then will I be able to see my true value in God's eyes. Focus on the wealth that does not involve the collection of things or money.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, August 18, 2023
Fantastic Friday #902 - Map
Map
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence. Psalm 91:1-3
This last week I had a terrible dream that had all kinds of dark and horrible experiences all tied into one dream. I woke up in a desperate plea for God to surround me with His presence. I eventually was able to sleep again, but when I awoke I still had the remnants of that horrible experience. I remembered to thank God that next morning, because I knew the enemy was sneaking in and trying to tell me I was not good enough to be with God. This is why I love this scripture so much, and mainly due to one word, fortress. If God is our fortress, it is a destination we want in our life, and to reach that destination, we need a map. That map is in God's Word in many locations, and repeated over and over again. We need to remember to not let the enemy tell us lies, and use the map to get to God's fortress of protection. How much better is it to rest in His shadow, than live in the shadows with fear. Fear not.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, August 11, 2023
Fantastic Friday #901 - Fear
Fear
17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19 We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:17-19
Do you have periods of time where you go through fear? Do you know what causes your fear? I find at times that I go through a fear of what is next or a fear of something that is not there, and it can impact my mental wellness. Fear comes from the enemy and God allows this fear to enter our lives, because he has allowed the enemy to roam the earth. The enemy is always looking for ways to draw us away from God. When you think of the emotion involved in loving someone or something, what does that do to your body? In mine, it usually fills my body with endorphins that can have a very positive impact on how my mind and body feel. I know that God gives us love as an emotion because of how it makes us feel, and I can begin to see how love can drive out that fear that we can have at times. The next time that fear creeps in, begin to think about how much you love our Father in Heaven, and I know that the feeling of fear will very quickly and easily depart from you. Remember what that feeling is like, and every time you think fear is coming on, you can remember the feeling of God's love.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19 We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:17-19
Do you have periods of time where you go through fear? Do you know what causes your fear? I find at times that I go through a fear of what is next or a fear of something that is not there, and it can impact my mental wellness. Fear comes from the enemy and God allows this fear to enter our lives, because he has allowed the enemy to roam the earth. The enemy is always looking for ways to draw us away from God. When you think of the emotion involved in loving someone or something, what does that do to your body? In mine, it usually fills my body with endorphins that can have a very positive impact on how my mind and body feel. I know that God gives us love as an emotion because of how it makes us feel, and I can begin to see how love can drive out that fear that we can have at times. The next time that fear creeps in, begin to think about how much you love our Father in Heaven, and I know that the feeling of fear will very quickly and easily depart from you. Remember what that feeling is like, and every time you think fear is coming on, you can remember the feeling of God's love.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, August 4, 2023
Fantastic Friday #900 - Heart
Heart
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”1 Samuel 16:7
What is your first response when you look at someone or are meeting them for the first time? My guess is you do the same thing that I and most do and that is focus on the physical appearance of someone. It is one of the downfalls of our society to focus mainly on the external appearance of someone before truly determining whether or not you will like them enough to engage with them further. Some of the nicest and most heartwarming people I have ever known are people that may not be physically attractive by the world's standard but have so much more they offer society. These people have made a significant difference in my life and those around them with their personality and care they provide to others. God does not look at the outward appearances, so maybe we should focus less on that. Today, many of our kids are challenged to look a certain way by social media, the same way us more seasoned individuals were challenged with magazine covers and the movies. If everyone took time to get to know people's hearts instead of judging them on first looks, then maybe we might have a more accepting society today. Focus on your own heart as well as the hearts of others.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”1 Samuel 16:7
What is your first response when you look at someone or are meeting them for the first time? My guess is you do the same thing that I and most do and that is focus on the physical appearance of someone. It is one of the downfalls of our society to focus mainly on the external appearance of someone before truly determining whether or not you will like them enough to engage with them further. Some of the nicest and most heartwarming people I have ever known are people that may not be physically attractive by the world's standard but have so much more they offer society. These people have made a significant difference in my life and those around them with their personality and care they provide to others. God does not look at the outward appearances, so maybe we should focus less on that. Today, many of our kids are challenged to look a certain way by social media, the same way us more seasoned individuals were challenged with magazine covers and the movies. If everyone took time to get to know people's hearts instead of judging them on first looks, then maybe we might have a more accepting society today. Focus on your own heart as well as the hearts of others.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, July 28, 2023
Fantastic Friday #899 - Opinion
Opinion
1An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends
and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.
2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding
but delight in airing their own opinions. Proverbs 18:1-2
We all have opinions on different topics. One of the things that makes people so interesting is their opinion on some things in particular. I come across people all the time who have a different perspective on things, and sometimes those are the people that I like to listen to for their rationale. What you find today is not much different than in history, people have an opinion on God. What is your opinion on the One who created everything around you and you yourself? There are people who have an opinion on God's influence in our life and they will start discussions that can easily turn into disagreements on what God does for us. Those disagreements can get blown out of proportion if both sides have such strong views. Take a moment to think of the next time you are in a situation where a person who is not so friendly tries to bait you into a discussion about God. If you see that they are a person that likes to air their own opinions, even if they are not Biblical, then you can be respectful and listen but know God does not want you to get into a disagreement with them. If you focus on God's influence in your life, it can make it that much easier to deal with. I think sometimes my opinion on topics should be kept to myself to avoid these major conflicts. I believe it is up to each individual to find what kind of conversation on your opinion is worth getting into a discussion about. You might be surprised if you sit back and listen respectfully to someone else's thoughts, no matter how wrong you think they are in their opinion.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.
2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding
but delight in airing their own opinions. Proverbs 18:1-2
We all have opinions on different topics. One of the things that makes people so interesting is their opinion on some things in particular. I come across people all the time who have a different perspective on things, and sometimes those are the people that I like to listen to for their rationale. What you find today is not much different than in history, people have an opinion on God. What is your opinion on the One who created everything around you and you yourself? There are people who have an opinion on God's influence in our life and they will start discussions that can easily turn into disagreements on what God does for us. Those disagreements can get blown out of proportion if both sides have such strong views. Take a moment to think of the next time you are in a situation where a person who is not so friendly tries to bait you into a discussion about God. If you see that they are a person that likes to air their own opinions, even if they are not Biblical, then you can be respectful and listen but know God does not want you to get into a disagreement with them. If you focus on God's influence in your life, it can make it that much easier to deal with. I think sometimes my opinion on topics should be kept to myself to avoid these major conflicts. I believe it is up to each individual to find what kind of conversation on your opinion is worth getting into a discussion about. You might be surprised if you sit back and listen respectfully to someone else's thoughts, no matter how wrong you think they are in their opinion.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, July 21, 2023
Fantastic Friday #898 - Refreshed
Refreshed
24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
25 A generous person will prosper;
whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:24-25
In a week where we have had over 100+ degree temperatures on a daily basis, it can be very hard to be refreshed in this heat. The A/C works hard, but the most refreshing thing have been the glasses of ice water that have cooled down my body. Now let us talk about being spiritually refreshed. What does it take to get you to the point where you might have a down day, to where you get refreshed knowing that God loves you and cares about you? Maybe it is music, scripture, quiet time or talking to God that provides the refreshment. Maybe it is even like the scripture talks about, refreshing others with help and love. How do you feel when you help others? I guarantee that your own worries go away because your mind is focused on them and what they need. When you start feeling sorry for yourself, take a moment to think about someone less fortunate than you or someone that needs assistance. I promise that your heart will grow and you will feel more refreshed.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, July 14, 2023
Fantastic Friday #897 - Distressed
Distress
1 I call on the Lord in my distress,
and he answers me.
2 Save me, Lord,
from lying lips
and from deceitful tongues. Psalm 120:1-2
Do you find yourself constantly looking for answers, answers that don't seem to come when you want them to? When we pray to God for answers, He hears us and does want the best for us. However, there are times when God wants us to work through our problems and concerns with His guidance, and not with Him fixing everything for us. Some of you may ask, why doesn't God hear me when I cry out to Him, or in my distress and lowest point. God does hear us and He will answer us in all of our points in life and requests. We can't get caught up in the deceitfulness of the enemy telling us He will never answer us, because that is not in the character of God. Now, the answer may be "wait" or "not yet", but at least we know He is listening and helping us daily. So if you are in distress, at a low point, continue to cry out to God, for He is there and knows your heart. He will provide guidance in all circumstances on His timeline and not yours. So, don't be worried about the answer that comes, but take it and move forward. Move out of your distress into a feeling of joy and wait for the answer to come.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
1 I call on the Lord in my distress,
and he answers me.
2 Save me, Lord,
from lying lips
and from deceitful tongues. Psalm 120:1-2
Do you find yourself constantly looking for answers, answers that don't seem to come when you want them to? When we pray to God for answers, He hears us and does want the best for us. However, there are times when God wants us to work through our problems and concerns with His guidance, and not with Him fixing everything for us. Some of you may ask, why doesn't God hear me when I cry out to Him, or in my distress and lowest point. God does hear us and He will answer us in all of our points in life and requests. We can't get caught up in the deceitfulness of the enemy telling us He will never answer us, because that is not in the character of God. Now, the answer may be "wait" or "not yet", but at least we know He is listening and helping us daily. So if you are in distress, at a low point, continue to cry out to God, for He is there and knows your heart. He will provide guidance in all circumstances on His timeline and not yours. So, don't be worried about the answer that comes, but take it and move forward. Move out of your distress into a feeling of joy and wait for the answer to come.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, July 7, 2023
Fantastic Friday #896 - Flaws
Flaws
As for God, his way is perfect:
The Lord’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him. Psalm 18:30
In society today, people are very judgmental. They can look for flaws in people’s personality, how they work, and how they present themselves. When people look at religion, instead of looking at the central core of what the religion entails, they look for flaws, many of them are excuses to show that their religion is better. Certainly we all have flaws but there is one who has zero flaws who we should really be focusing on. Important lessons that we can learn from God are that when he looks at us he does not look at a person with a bunch of flaws, but he is looking at a person whom He loves. If we took a moment to look past the flaws of others,we could also see what God sees in us. We are precious in His sight and our flaws can be covered by Him and his love. Take a moment to focus less on flaws of others and more on how God can change us within.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
As for God, his way is perfect:
The Lord’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him. Psalm 18:30
In society today, people are very judgmental. They can look for flaws in people’s personality, how they work, and how they present themselves. When people look at religion, instead of looking at the central core of what the religion entails, they look for flaws, many of them are excuses to show that their religion is better. Certainly we all have flaws but there is one who has zero flaws who we should really be focusing on. Important lessons that we can learn from God are that when he looks at us he does not look at a person with a bunch of flaws, but he is looking at a person whom He loves. If we took a moment to look past the flaws of others,we could also see what God sees in us. We are precious in His sight and our flaws can be covered by Him and his love. Take a moment to focus less on flaws of others and more on how God can change us within.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, June 30, 2023
Fantastic Friday #895 - Abandon
Abandon
6 Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;
though lofty, he sees them from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life.
You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes;
with your right hand you save me.
8 The Lord will vindicate me;
your love, Lord, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands. Psalm 138: 6-8
Over time I have seen many things abandoned on the side of the road, whether it be a car, a couch, or even an old home like I saw on my trip last week. What causes people to abandon things? Is it because their value has depleted, they don't work, or maybe they become unsafe. Maybe it is because they just don't feel like they can do anything with them anymore, so they leave it behind for it to decay or for someone else to find it useful. The wonderful thing about God is that He does not abandon us. While we may stray from Him and his teachings, He is always there for us no matter how much we may feel abandoned by Him. The abandonment we feel when He is not near, is our own abandonment of Him by us. We put that distance between Him and us, not Him. We need to remember that God is always there and he will not abandon His most treasured creation. The next time you think about abandoning something, make sure it is no longer useful in your life, and if you look deep enough, everyone and everything is useful for good. Don't abandon those in need, our Savior doesn't.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
6 Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;
though lofty, he sees them from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life.
You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes;
with your right hand you save me.
8 The Lord will vindicate me;
your love, Lord, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands. Psalm 138: 6-8
Over time I have seen many things abandoned on the side of the road, whether it be a car, a couch, or even an old home like I saw on my trip last week. What causes people to abandon things? Is it because their value has depleted, they don't work, or maybe they become unsafe. Maybe it is because they just don't feel like they can do anything with them anymore, so they leave it behind for it to decay or for someone else to find it useful. The wonderful thing about God is that He does not abandon us. While we may stray from Him and his teachings, He is always there for us no matter how much we may feel abandoned by Him. The abandonment we feel when He is not near, is our own abandonment of Him by us. We put that distance between Him and us, not Him. We need to remember that God is always there and he will not abandon His most treasured creation. The next time you think about abandoning something, make sure it is no longer useful in your life, and if you look deep enough, everyone and everything is useful for good. Don't abandon those in need, our Savior doesn't.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, June 23, 2023
Fantastic Friday #894 - Stream
Stream
4 The words of the mouth are deep waters,
but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream. Proverbs 18:4
I was able recently to spend some time in the mountains and I saw many things, but the most powerful thing I observed was the snow melt causing several waterfalls, and a rushing stream that was full of power that turned into a fast-moving river. It kind of got me thinking as I thought of what the mountain was like during normal periods. It may have a trickle, or it may be a smooth flowing stream year-round. It certainly does not hold the power that I observed this past week all the time. If you can think that God's influence is like this stream, sometimes He is like a slow moving stream and whispering in our ear, and other times He is an all-powerful force rushing through our lives. The key thing we need to remember is that He is always there helping us maneuver down our path to guide us into where we need to be. If you take a moment to realize how much God loves us to give us so much beauty in the world to enjoy, it makes it that much easier to realize how powerful He is in our daily life.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream. Proverbs 18:4
I was able recently to spend some time in the mountains and I saw many things, but the most powerful thing I observed was the snow melt causing several waterfalls, and a rushing stream that was full of power that turned into a fast-moving river. It kind of got me thinking as I thought of what the mountain was like during normal periods. It may have a trickle, or it may be a smooth flowing stream year-round. It certainly does not hold the power that I observed this past week all the time. If you can think that God's influence is like this stream, sometimes He is like a slow moving stream and whispering in our ear, and other times He is an all-powerful force rushing through our lives. The key thing we need to remember is that He is always there helping us maneuver down our path to guide us into where we need to be. If you take a moment to realize how much God loves us to give us so much beauty in the world to enjoy, it makes it that much easier to realize how powerful He is in our daily life.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, June 16, 2023
Fantastic Friday #893 - Strong
Strong
23 Love the Lord, all his faithful people!
The Lord preserves those who are true to him,
but the proud he pays back in full.
24 Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:23-24
I have seen people who think that they are not strong enough, that their weaknesses with things overpower their ability to be strong. Finding our strength can sometimes be challenging because of the world we live in. We have expectations that the world sets that we can never reach, and why would we try to reach the world's expectations? Maybe that is where the problem lies. We know that God has expectations of us, and those are very achievable, but it does require us to be all-in with what God wants for our life. If we choose to deviate from that path that God wants, then it does become harder, but with God on our side, we can be strong and achieve anything. Take heart as the scripture notes, be strong and hope in the Lord because He is our stronghold and can do anything for us as long as we are faithful.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
23 Love the Lord, all his faithful people!
The Lord preserves those who are true to him,
but the proud he pays back in full.
24 Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:23-24
I have seen people who think that they are not strong enough, that their weaknesses with things overpower their ability to be strong. Finding our strength can sometimes be challenging because of the world we live in. We have expectations that the world sets that we can never reach, and why would we try to reach the world's expectations? Maybe that is where the problem lies. We know that God has expectations of us, and those are very achievable, but it does require us to be all-in with what God wants for our life. If we choose to deviate from that path that God wants, then it does become harder, but with God on our side, we can be strong and achieve anything. Take heart as the scripture notes, be strong and hope in the Lord because He is our stronghold and can do anything for us as long as we are faithful.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, June 9, 2023
Fantastic Friday #892 - Wait
Wait
13 I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:13-14
The human nature for patience has always been very thin, if it wasn't then we wouldn't have so many reminders about waiting on the Lord. Waiting is difficult because as we wait, our head swims with the different possibilities of whatever our situation is, and we tend to get impatient and rely less on the Lord. If we wait, we know the Lord is faithful and we tend to forget that part of waiting. We get in such a hurry to want what we think we need, that our patience runs thin. I know that I need to thicken up my patience and wait on the Lord to answer my calls for guidance and help. I don't need to let the enemy sneak in and make me think that God is not going to be there for me. So take a moment and wait this week. Listen to what the Lord says, and take heart and be strong. In the waiting comes the reward.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
13 I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:13-14
The human nature for patience has always been very thin, if it wasn't then we wouldn't have so many reminders about waiting on the Lord. Waiting is difficult because as we wait, our head swims with the different possibilities of whatever our situation is, and we tend to get impatient and rely less on the Lord. If we wait, we know the Lord is faithful and we tend to forget that part of waiting. We get in such a hurry to want what we think we need, that our patience runs thin. I know that I need to thicken up my patience and wait on the Lord to answer my calls for guidance and help. I don't need to let the enemy sneak in and make me think that God is not going to be there for me. So take a moment and wait this week. Listen to what the Lord says, and take heart and be strong. In the waiting comes the reward.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, June 2, 2023
Fantastic Friday #891 - Story
Story
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—
those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
3 those he gathered from the lands,
from east and west, from north and south. Psalm 107:1-3
Everyone has a story, and stories differ from family history, individuals who impacted you and your story to where you are today. Over history before writing and paper, stories were passed down from generation to generation, then people started writing them down. With the invention of the technologies of today we have mixed in historical videos of stories, and recorded audio stories. Sometimes the best stories are the ones told around a table with friends and family sharing food. Everyone is typically attentive, not on a device and paying attention to the person telling the story. So, what is your current story with Christ in your life, or if you don't have Christ in your life, where is your story and how can it be impacted by Christ? Those of us who have Christ in our life tend not to share a great deal about our relationship and how God has helped us grow, but your story can be one of the most powerful things to bring others to the awareness of what Christ has done in your life and how He has changed you. Take a moment to reflect on your story this week and how it can possibly impact those around you, and also by reflecting that may bring you that much closer to God and His teachings. Have a great weekend.
Matt
--
Matthew J. Grief
"There are no statues of pessimists."
mattgrief.blogspot.com
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—
those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
3 those he gathered from the lands,
from east and west, from north and south. Psalm 107:1-3
Everyone has a story, and stories differ from family history, individuals who impacted you and your story to where you are today. Over history before writing and paper, stories were passed down from generation to generation, then people started writing them down. With the invention of the technologies of today we have mixed in historical videos of stories, and recorded audio stories. Sometimes the best stories are the ones told around a table with friends and family sharing food. Everyone is typically attentive, not on a device and paying attention to the person telling the story. So, what is your current story with Christ in your life, or if you don't have Christ in your life, where is your story and how can it be impacted by Christ? Those of us who have Christ in our life tend not to share a great deal about our relationship and how God has helped us grow, but your story can be one of the most powerful things to bring others to the awareness of what Christ has done in your life and how He has changed you. Take a moment to reflect on your story this week and how it can possibly impact those around you, and also by reflecting that may bring you that much closer to God and His teachings. Have a great weekend.
Matt
--
Matthew J. Grief
"There are no statues of pessimists."
mattgrief.blogspot.com
Friday, May 26, 2023
Fantastic Friday #890 - Place
Place
1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
Lord Almighty!
2 My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
Lord Almighty, my King and my God. Psalm 84:1-3
Do you find yourself wondering about your place in life? This week I was sitting on my back porch watching a mother and father bluebird feeding their young in our birdhouse. They would come back regularly with a worm or other insect in their mouth, and it reminded me that God cares enough about His creation of birds to have some way to have a new life fed. Stepping back and thinking if God cares enough to provide food and a place for a bird, think about how much more He cares about us and what He has provided us. Everyone has a place and it is important to recognize that God has given us this place. It is also important to remember to thank God for our place and what He has provided and continue to strengthen that relationship with our Father in Heaven.
Have a great day.
Matt
1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
Lord Almighty!
2 My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
Lord Almighty, my King and my God. Psalm 84:1-3
Do you find yourself wondering about your place in life? This week I was sitting on my back porch watching a mother and father bluebird feeding their young in our birdhouse. They would come back regularly with a worm or other insect in their mouth, and it reminded me that God cares enough about His creation of birds to have some way to have a new life fed. Stepping back and thinking if God cares enough to provide food and a place for a bird, think about how much more He cares about us and what He has provided us. Everyone has a place and it is important to recognize that God has given us this place. It is also important to remember to thank God for our place and what He has provided and continue to strengthen that relationship with our Father in Heaven.
Have a great day.
Matt
Friday, May 19, 2023
Fantastic Friday #889 - Work
Work
10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Hebrews 6:10-12
What do you think of as work? Your job away from home, your job at home, your job at school, or your job of raising a family. All of these are work, but the true work that we probably should take a closer look at is the work of the Lord. What work does He want us to do? He wants us to bring more individuals who are lost to Him, but how? Everyone has their own personal gifts, some of evangelism, some of teaching and others of encouragement. One thing is true and all of these gifts, they all lead a path to the Lord. For the simplest of things of telling or showing about God and His plan for us, we are working. We are working not for our own salvation, but the salvation of others. When we see that we don't have to work for ourselves, but for other's rewards, it makes it seem a little less like work. Take a moment and think how you can do the Lord's work through simple acts that could lead to a huge reward, not for you, but for those you work for daily.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Hebrews 6:10-12
What do you think of as work? Your job away from home, your job at home, your job at school, or your job of raising a family. All of these are work, but the true work that we probably should take a closer look at is the work of the Lord. What work does He want us to do? He wants us to bring more individuals who are lost to Him, but how? Everyone has their own personal gifts, some of evangelism, some of teaching and others of encouragement. One thing is true and all of these gifts, they all lead a path to the Lord. For the simplest of things of telling or showing about God and His plan for us, we are working. We are working not for our own salvation, but the salvation of others. When we see that we don't have to work for ourselves, but for other's rewards, it makes it seem a little less like work. Take a moment and think how you can do the Lord's work through simple acts that could lead to a huge reward, not for you, but for those you work for daily.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, May 12, 2023
Fantastic Friday #888 - Forgive
Forgive
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” Matthew 18: 21-22;35
Do you feel that forgiveness is hard? It might be someone who you regularly have issues with, and they continue to make your life quite difficult. They might be that person that is constantly making your life miserable by doing things that impact your success or your plans. When Jesus was asked how many times to forgive, He was pretty clear how many times we should forgive someone, so how do we balance what Jesus says vs. our personal feelings toward a difficult individual. I think it all boils down to our true forgiveness of that person, and what that can do for our soul. When you truly forgive someone, there is a burden that is lifted and you can see that person as God sees them. The more you pray and forgive that person from your heart, the more the weight that person puts on you is lifted. We need to remember that God has the power to bring relief to you for your challenges, as long as you prayerfully forgive.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” Matthew 18: 21-22;35
Do you feel that forgiveness is hard? It might be someone who you regularly have issues with, and they continue to make your life quite difficult. They might be that person that is constantly making your life miserable by doing things that impact your success or your plans. When Jesus was asked how many times to forgive, He was pretty clear how many times we should forgive someone, so how do we balance what Jesus says vs. our personal feelings toward a difficult individual. I think it all boils down to our true forgiveness of that person, and what that can do for our soul. When you truly forgive someone, there is a burden that is lifted and you can see that person as God sees them. The more you pray and forgive that person from your heart, the more the weight that person puts on you is lifted. We need to remember that God has the power to bring relief to you for your challenges, as long as you prayerfully forgive.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, May 5, 2023
Fantastic Friday #887 - Sliver
Sliver
14 He guided them with the cloud by day
and with light from the fire all night.
15 He split the rocks in the wilderness
and gave them water as abundant as the seas;
16 he brought streams out of a rocky crag
and made water flow down like rivers. Psalm 78:14-16
One morning this week on my drive, the clouds were forming an interesting view of the sun coming up. There was this little sliver in the clouds that the sun was peeking through making an amazing light show for morning sunrise. It reminded me of how God guided the Israelites in their escape from Egypt with His own light show, but what it also reminded me of was God's neverending giving. We can daily look at our work and tasks and think that we have it all under control, then something spins on its head and the next thing you know we are underwater, or it feels like it. Do we stop down when this happens and pray for God to guide us or assist us with our day, or do we think that we can regain control of our day on our own. I guarantee the more we try to do things on our own, the more we are going to be buried. The simple task of turning to God will allow Him to create that sliver that can give us an abundance of courage, passion and guidance to do our jobs and life well. For in reality, is it not doing our life well what we all want? Just like God split the rocks and provided abundance, He can do the same for you through the smallest sliver. All we have to do is ask and focus on the slivers of presence of our Lord and Savior.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, April 28, 2023
Fantastic Friday #886 - Intersect
Intersect
15 Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct?
No, they have no shame at all;
they do not even know how to blush.
So they will fall among the fallen;
they will be brought down when I punish them,”
says the Lord.
16 This is what the Lord says:
“Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
17 I appointed watchmen over you and said,
‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’
But you said, ‘We will not listen.’ Jeremiah 6:15-17
Do you ever sit and think where your life intersects with God? With all the roads we travel in our life, there are times where the road I take is no longer parallel with God and His teachings. It is usually a rough road, not paved and smooth, with lots of obstacles to overcome, and certainly no signs for direction. It can typically travel a further distance away from God, where the path to come back sometimes looks too great. The path to come back to God is never too great, but the path could be bumpy along the way. When we travel parallel with God with a smoother road, fewer obstacles and definite signage, there is a clearer path and often that road will merge with God and what He wants for our lives. The intersection between the road God wants us to travel and what the world wants us to venture down are two different paths, and while I fall short, the road to God is a much better choice for me. Have a great weekend.
Matt
15 Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct?
No, they have no shame at all;
they do not even know how to blush.
So they will fall among the fallen;
they will be brought down when I punish them,”
says the Lord.
16 This is what the Lord says:
“Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
17 I appointed watchmen over you and said,
‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’
But you said, ‘We will not listen.’ Jeremiah 6:15-17
Do you ever sit and think where your life intersects with God? With all the roads we travel in our life, there are times where the road I take is no longer parallel with God and His teachings. It is usually a rough road, not paved and smooth, with lots of obstacles to overcome, and certainly no signs for direction. It can typically travel a further distance away from God, where the path to come back sometimes looks too great. The path to come back to God is never too great, but the path could be bumpy along the way. When we travel parallel with God with a smoother road, fewer obstacles and definite signage, there is a clearer path and often that road will merge with God and what He wants for our lives. The intersection between the road God wants us to travel and what the world wants us to venture down are two different paths, and while I fall short, the road to God is a much better choice for me. Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, April 21, 2023
Fantastic Friday #885 - Enter
Enter
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. John 3:4-6
This week I attended a funeral of a colleague who died suddenly at the age of 38. Way too young for someone. I heard during the service mentioned a few times of him entering the pearly gates, entering Heaven, entering the room to be beside Jesus. It really got me thinking about how people that pass from this life and enter another, but not all who pass from this life will enter Heaven. I wonder what makes people think that they can get into Heaven without truly accepting our Lord and Savior, and why does God want some people so young. I wondered what the non-believers, including many muslims felt at this funeral service where the clear path was laid out by the speaker so eloquently about Jesus' love for us and the only path for eternal life. The enemy works to pull us away from God's promise. What is given to us is God's gift to enter Heaven as long as we accept Jesus as our personal Savior. It is a simple step, but a more challenging step to follow Him throughout our days so that we can Enter the next life with confidence in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Don't enter the space where the lies and doubt the enemy spouts draw us away, but focus on our exit and entry from this world to the next.
Have a great weekend.
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. John 3:4-6
This week I attended a funeral of a colleague who died suddenly at the age of 38. Way too young for someone. I heard during the service mentioned a few times of him entering the pearly gates, entering Heaven, entering the room to be beside Jesus. It really got me thinking about how people that pass from this life and enter another, but not all who pass from this life will enter Heaven. I wonder what makes people think that they can get into Heaven without truly accepting our Lord and Savior, and why does God want some people so young. I wondered what the non-believers, including many muslims felt at this funeral service where the clear path was laid out by the speaker so eloquently about Jesus' love for us and the only path for eternal life. The enemy works to pull us away from God's promise. What is given to us is God's gift to enter Heaven as long as we accept Jesus as our personal Savior. It is a simple step, but a more challenging step to follow Him throughout our days so that we can Enter the next life with confidence in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Don't enter the space where the lies and doubt the enemy spouts draw us away, but focus on our exit and entry from this world to the next.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, April 14, 2023
Fantastic Friday #884 - Freedom
Freedom
16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. 2 Peter 2:16-17
Freedom has an interesting connotation these days. In American culture, we were brought up on the values our country was formed on, including freedom of religion. The people who came to America didn't have this freedom in most cases, to practice what they wished. There are also other freedoms we experience that others around the world do not, including speaking against oppressive governments or ideals that we don't agree with. But, we also as human beings have the freedom of choice, to choose the path we will follow. Choices can be hard at times, because of the pressures of those around us, and what society tells us to choose. Having freedom lets us make the best decision for our personal path, and this freedom should not be taken lightly. We should not use this freedom to choose sinful ways at times and the righteous way at another. We need to remember that God expects us to freely choose in a way that is respectful and loving, and we should not judge others for their freedom of choice. We don't have to like what other people freely choose, but we have to respect that they have that choice. Live freely but choose a path to freedom that is righteous.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. 2 Peter 2:16-17
Freedom has an interesting connotation these days. In American culture, we were brought up on the values our country was formed on, including freedom of religion. The people who came to America didn't have this freedom in most cases, to practice what they wished. There are also other freedoms we experience that others around the world do not, including speaking against oppressive governments or ideals that we don't agree with. But, we also as human beings have the freedom of choice, to choose the path we will follow. Choices can be hard at times, because of the pressures of those around us, and what society tells us to choose. Having freedom lets us make the best decision for our personal path, and this freedom should not be taken lightly. We should not use this freedom to choose sinful ways at times and the righteous way at another. We need to remember that God expects us to freely choose in a way that is respectful and loving, and we should not judge others for their freedom of choice. We don't have to like what other people freely choose, but we have to respect that they have that choice. Live freely but choose a path to freedom that is righteous.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, April 7, 2023
Fantastic Friday #883 - Iniquity
Iniquity
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:4-6
I don't think often enough about the true suffering Christ took on for our sins. Iniquity is used in this scripture and has a very strong intent. Iniquity talks about true wickedness in the definition which in our language is a pretty powerful word. When you look at sin, it talks about a deliberate act, so they are almost interchangeable, and they both sound dreadful. These are acts that drive a separation between us and God. Forgiveness can take place because of what Christ did on the cross for us. I do think that if we spent more time thinking about him being pierced and crushed for our iniquity and sin, we might rethink deliberately turning our hearts away from God. I can't imagine the pain and suffering Christ went through, and to think that He went through this for you and me. Take a moment to think about how His death and resurrection has given you new opportunities to overcome these iniquities and sin, and has given us a way to return to God our Father.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:4-6
I don't think often enough about the true suffering Christ took on for our sins. Iniquity is used in this scripture and has a very strong intent. Iniquity talks about true wickedness in the definition which in our language is a pretty powerful word. When you look at sin, it talks about a deliberate act, so they are almost interchangeable, and they both sound dreadful. These are acts that drive a separation between us and God. Forgiveness can take place because of what Christ did on the cross for us. I do think that if we spent more time thinking about him being pierced and crushed for our iniquity and sin, we might rethink deliberately turning our hearts away from God. I can't imagine the pain and suffering Christ went through, and to think that He went through this for you and me. Take a moment to think about how His death and resurrection has given you new opportunities to overcome these iniquities and sin, and has given us a way to return to God our Father.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, March 31, 2023
Fantastic Friday #882 - Her
Her
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day. Psalm 46:5
I have seen some women struggle recently with various things, whether it be with their appearance, their position of authority, or even their role in the job they have. It can be disheartening to see anyone struggle, and even harder when there is no good reason to struggle when our society can put so much pressure on people to act or look a certain way. The good thing about God is that He sees His children as His beautiful creation and He cares deeply for us. There are ways we can get away from the struggle that we all experience, and by committing to follow God and His teachings, He will always be there for us to catch us when we battle the negative forces. I encourage all those who may be struggling right now with anything, to remember that God is with you. God will always be there to help you and you can find courage in Him. For all those men out there, if you see a woman struggling, lift her up. Without the women in our society, we wouldn't have the wonderful children in the world that grow up into adults to make the world a better place. Our women are strong and beautiful in God's eyes, so they should be strong and beautiful in our eyes as well.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day. Psalm 46:5
I have seen some women struggle recently with various things, whether it be with their appearance, their position of authority, or even their role in the job they have. It can be disheartening to see anyone struggle, and even harder when there is no good reason to struggle when our society can put so much pressure on people to act or look a certain way. The good thing about God is that He sees His children as His beautiful creation and He cares deeply for us. There are ways we can get away from the struggle that we all experience, and by committing to follow God and His teachings, He will always be there for us to catch us when we battle the negative forces. I encourage all those who may be struggling right now with anything, to remember that God is with you. God will always be there to help you and you can find courage in Him. For all those men out there, if you see a woman struggling, lift her up. Without the women in our society, we wouldn't have the wonderful children in the world that grow up into adults to make the world a better place. Our women are strong and beautiful in God's eyes, so they should be strong and beautiful in our eyes as well.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, March 24, 2023
Fantastic Friday #881 - Flip
Flip
4 Keep me safe, Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
protect me from the violent,
who devise ways to trip my feet.
5 The arrogant have hidden a snare for me;
they have spread out the cords of their net
and have set traps for me along my path. Psalm 140:4-5
Have you ever flipped a coin and had it land on its edge? They say the chances are that every 1 in 6000 times a nickel would land on its edge. That's a large chance compared to the 50/50 chance that you can get flipping a coin. Some people flip a coin because there are only two possibilities, but what if it lands on its side? The enemy wants us to flip a coin when we make decisions on our path with the Lord, because he has a 50/50 chance of winning. I feel like God has given us an opportunity to choose our path, because he wants to see us grow. He doesn't want us to flip a coin hoping that His side comes up, or a true reward comes if we flip it on its edge. He wants us to choose the righteous path and not take a chance that could result from deviating from that path. Why not take the sure thing for our future by accepting the Lord and the path He has chosen for us, instead of flipping a coin thinking there is something better out there.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
4 Keep me safe, Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
protect me from the violent,
who devise ways to trip my feet.
5 The arrogant have hidden a snare for me;
they have spread out the cords of their net
and have set traps for me along my path. Psalm 140:4-5
Have you ever flipped a coin and had it land on its edge? They say the chances are that every 1 in 6000 times a nickel would land on its edge. That's a large chance compared to the 50/50 chance that you can get flipping a coin. Some people flip a coin because there are only two possibilities, but what if it lands on its side? The enemy wants us to flip a coin when we make decisions on our path with the Lord, because he has a 50/50 chance of winning. I feel like God has given us an opportunity to choose our path, because he wants to see us grow. He doesn't want us to flip a coin hoping that His side comes up, or a true reward comes if we flip it on its edge. He wants us to choose the righteous path and not take a chance that could result from deviating from that path. Why not take the sure thing for our future by accepting the Lord and the path He has chosen for us, instead of flipping a coin thinking there is something better out there.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, March 17, 2023
Fantastic Friday #880 - Precepts
Precepts
27 Cause me to understand the way of your precepts,
that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.
28 My soul is weary with sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word.
29 Keep me from deceitful ways;
be gracious to me and teach me your law. Psalm 119:27-29
Do we sometimes find that God's precepts are hard to digest or decipher? We can get caught up in our work and life and get distracted from the direction that God wants us to go, and this can have some consequences. I find myself at times questioning the precept that is laid in front of me, and that is my first mistake. We should never question the direction, but should ask a different question. How can I accomplish this direction that you have given me? Usually these precepts cannot be done on your own, they may require other people to hold you accountable, or they may require great introspection of your life and your current path. The enemy will be deceitful with you and tell you that you don't need to follow that path, and there are easier ways. We should all know right now that God creates these directions for us to learn and rely on Him for guidance. Keep the precepts and meditate on what He has done in your life. It will make the direction much smoother if you ask the right question, for help.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
27 Cause me to understand the way of your precepts,
that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.
28 My soul is weary with sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word.
29 Keep me from deceitful ways;
be gracious to me and teach me your law. Psalm 119:27-29
Do we sometimes find that God's precepts are hard to digest or decipher? We can get caught up in our work and life and get distracted from the direction that God wants us to go, and this can have some consequences. I find myself at times questioning the precept that is laid in front of me, and that is my first mistake. We should never question the direction, but should ask a different question. How can I accomplish this direction that you have given me? Usually these precepts cannot be done on your own, they may require other people to hold you accountable, or they may require great introspection of your life and your current path. The enemy will be deceitful with you and tell you that you don't need to follow that path, and there are easier ways. We should all know right now that God creates these directions for us to learn and rely on Him for guidance. Keep the precepts and meditate on what He has done in your life. It will make the direction much smoother if you ask the right question, for help.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, March 10, 2023
Fantastic Friday #879 - Chance
Chance
9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 2 Timothy 1:9-10
I have to admit, I like games of chance and gambling. It is probably not something that I should be proclaiming when I should be encouraging on these Fridays. For some reason there is an excitement and anticipation that comes from playing these games of chance. It got me thinking this week that God has not left our lives to chance. He has given us a hope and purpose for our lives, as long as we take steps to follow him. It was not by chance that he created this earth for us, or that laid down his plans for Christ to die for us. There is no room for chance in our lives when following Christ, we either accept the path God has outlined for us or fall into a life of chance where there is no reward. Don't be confused about faith and hope vs. chance. People who live by faith and hope have Christ's example to relate to and people who live by chance are hoping for a reward for doing nothing but playing a game. God doesn't play games and we should know that when we follow Him, our lives are no longer a game of chance.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 2 Timothy 1:9-10
I have to admit, I like games of chance and gambling. It is probably not something that I should be proclaiming when I should be encouraging on these Fridays. For some reason there is an excitement and anticipation that comes from playing these games of chance. It got me thinking this week that God has not left our lives to chance. He has given us a hope and purpose for our lives, as long as we take steps to follow him. It was not by chance that he created this earth for us, or that laid down his plans for Christ to die for us. There is no room for chance in our lives when following Christ, we either accept the path God has outlined for us or fall into a life of chance where there is no reward. Don't be confused about faith and hope vs. chance. People who live by faith and hope have Christ's example to relate to and people who live by chance are hoping for a reward for doing nothing but playing a game. God doesn't play games and we should know that when we follow Him, our lives are no longer a game of chance.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, March 3, 2023
Fantastic Friday #878 - Steps
Steps
10 But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
11 My feet have closely followed his steps;
I have kept to his way without turning aside. Job 23:10-11
Steps are very important in anything we do, if we miss or forget a step, it could have drastic consequences. When putting together legos, if you miss a step, the lego project might not look as you intended. I often think about the steps I take daily when I go walking in the mornings in the dark, if I take one wrong step then it could be disastrous for me and the dogs. God has made a plan for us with steps for us to follow for us to come closer to Him. Following his commands and direction are some of the ways that we can live out our lives in the manner He wishes for us. If we leave steps out or only follow the directions and commands that we want, that could create multiple issues for us including keeping us distant from Him. God doesn't distance himself from us, we distance ourselves from Him. We need to remember following in His steps can keep us close and we should avoid turning aside.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
10 But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
11 My feet have closely followed his steps;
I have kept to his way without turning aside. Job 23:10-11
Steps are very important in anything we do, if we miss or forget a step, it could have drastic consequences. When putting together legos, if you miss a step, the lego project might not look as you intended. I often think about the steps I take daily when I go walking in the mornings in the dark, if I take one wrong step then it could be disastrous for me and the dogs. God has made a plan for us with steps for us to follow for us to come closer to Him. Following his commands and direction are some of the ways that we can live out our lives in the manner He wishes for us. If we leave steps out or only follow the directions and commands that we want, that could create multiple issues for us including keeping us distant from Him. God doesn't distance himself from us, we distance ourselves from Him. We need to remember following in His steps can keep us close and we should avoid turning aside.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, February 24, 2023
Fantastic Friday #877 - Fervent
Fervent
23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware
are fervent lips with an evil heart.
24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,
but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
25 Though their speech is charming, do not believe them,
for seven abominations fill their hearts. Proverbs 26:23-25
Fervent is a word that can be used in both a positive and a negative manner. The main meaning is having or showing great warmth or intensity of spirit, feeling, enthusiasm. As the scripture notes, the enemy uses people with evil in their heart to disguise who they really are with a passionate intensity that some people cannot ignore. These speech charmers can distract us so much from the message we need to hear, that we can fall into their trap with enthusiasm and excitement. I have seen this work in the past in many individuals who get so passionate about what they think is a path following Christ but they separate themselves from what is right and true. Sometimes the intensity we are feeling is the enemy and his tools that deceive us into thinking their way is the right way. How do you avoid this type of enemy? Well the first step is to pray, not just a conversation with God, but a fervent respectful prayer of protection from these types of people. God knows your heart, but He also wants to hear the words leave your mouth or mind. Knowing that you have a way to escape the fervent lips of evil and enter into the fervent love of God, I know that this kind of prayer works. So, pray fervently, pray carefully, pray with enthusiasm and let the Lord guide your daily walk.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware
are fervent lips with an evil heart.
24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,
but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
25 Though their speech is charming, do not believe them,
for seven abominations fill their hearts. Proverbs 26:23-25
Fervent is a word that can be used in both a positive and a negative manner. The main meaning is having or showing great warmth or intensity of spirit, feeling, enthusiasm. As the scripture notes, the enemy uses people with evil in their heart to disguise who they really are with a passionate intensity that some people cannot ignore. These speech charmers can distract us so much from the message we need to hear, that we can fall into their trap with enthusiasm and excitement. I have seen this work in the past in many individuals who get so passionate about what they think is a path following Christ but they separate themselves from what is right and true. Sometimes the intensity we are feeling is the enemy and his tools that deceive us into thinking their way is the right way. How do you avoid this type of enemy? Well the first step is to pray, not just a conversation with God, but a fervent respectful prayer of protection from these types of people. God knows your heart, but He also wants to hear the words leave your mouth or mind. Knowing that you have a way to escape the fervent lips of evil and enter into the fervent love of God, I know that this kind of prayer works. So, pray fervently, pray carefully, pray with enthusiasm and let the Lord guide your daily walk.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, February 17, 2023
Fantastic Friday #876 - Idols
Idols
22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven: 23 Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold. Exodus 20:22-23
I am sure we have all heard people talk about idols in their lives, maybe possessions that you have that you focus on so much that they can pull you away from the important things, including God being at the top of that list. What is an idol in today's world? Webster defines it as an image or other material object representing a deity to which religious worship is addressed. God defines it differently as you can see in verse 23, and we should pay attention to His use of the word gods. These little gods can easily take our focus off God and His teachings, and they can also drive us down paths where our pursuits are wholly what the world tells us we need. Have you ever thought of time being an idol? I know I like my time, whether it be me sitting in silence or focusing on myself. We need to look at time as not being something we can control overall , but we can be open to letting people have our time. I spent a lot of time this weekend with people I had not seen in several years, and I made every effort to spend those moments with many of those friends and colleagues. It was an enjoyable few days, but it was not my time that I was sharing, it was their time they were sharing with me. My time wasn't important because I did not place my needs above their needs. If we viewed our time as something for someone else, we wouldn't idolize our own time so much and what we want. We all need our time with God and sometimes our alone periods, but relationships are where we grow and learn. Time is valuable and we need to take advantage of it every chance we get.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven: 23 Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold. Exodus 20:22-23
I am sure we have all heard people talk about idols in their lives, maybe possessions that you have that you focus on so much that they can pull you away from the important things, including God being at the top of that list. What is an idol in today's world? Webster defines it as an image or other material object representing a deity to which religious worship is addressed. God defines it differently as you can see in verse 23, and we should pay attention to His use of the word gods. These little gods can easily take our focus off God and His teachings, and they can also drive us down paths where our pursuits are wholly what the world tells us we need. Have you ever thought of time being an idol? I know I like my time, whether it be me sitting in silence or focusing on myself. We need to look at time as not being something we can control overall , but we can be open to letting people have our time. I spent a lot of time this weekend with people I had not seen in several years, and I made every effort to spend those moments with many of those friends and colleagues. It was an enjoyable few days, but it was not my time that I was sharing, it was their time they were sharing with me. My time wasn't important because I did not place my needs above their needs. If we viewed our time as something for someone else, we wouldn't idolize our own time so much and what we want. We all need our time with God and sometimes our alone periods, but relationships are where we grow and learn. Time is valuable and we need to take advantage of it every chance we get.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, February 10, 2023
Fantastic Friday #875 - Gentle
Gentle
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:12-13
In today's society it seems there are an abundance of instances where people are not gentle with each other. They are yelling, not listening, and being rude, and that is just the beginning. Maybe social media has heightened our awareness of some of this, but each day I see where situations could be diffused with a simple gentle conversation. The problem comes when people don't know how to communicate in a calm and respectful way. Each day I write emails to people, and sometimes I really have to think about the words I use so that the email is not taken the wrong way. I hated the times when we worked from home, because I could not read the body language of the person I was speaking to. Now that we are back at work, I am very intentional about meeting with people in person so that the communication is not misinterpreted, and solutions can be worked through gently. Don't get me wrong, there are definitely times that I get fired up and am not gentle, but those are the times when I need to take a moment to pause and speak clearly and intelligently, and when I do, in the end I feel different. I feel like I have made an impact and not just because of what I say, but how I say it. I learned this week that an email I sent two months ago did not sit well with someone, and now I know why at the time. I know the reason because it was so much easier to communicate with them face-to-face in a gentle manner this week. Take a moment to think about how God communicates with you. It isn't with a loud thunderous voice, but one of a gentle, still small voice. If you remember that, you can listen for that and it will help you listen and communicate with others.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:12-13
In today's society it seems there are an abundance of instances where people are not gentle with each other. They are yelling, not listening, and being rude, and that is just the beginning. Maybe social media has heightened our awareness of some of this, but each day I see where situations could be diffused with a simple gentle conversation. The problem comes when people don't know how to communicate in a calm and respectful way. Each day I write emails to people, and sometimes I really have to think about the words I use so that the email is not taken the wrong way. I hated the times when we worked from home, because I could not read the body language of the person I was speaking to. Now that we are back at work, I am very intentional about meeting with people in person so that the communication is not misinterpreted, and solutions can be worked through gently. Don't get me wrong, there are definitely times that I get fired up and am not gentle, but those are the times when I need to take a moment to pause and speak clearly and intelligently, and when I do, in the end I feel different. I feel like I have made an impact and not just because of what I say, but how I say it. I learned this week that an email I sent two months ago did not sit well with someone, and now I know why at the time. I know the reason because it was so much easier to communicate with them face-to-face in a gentle manner this week. Take a moment to think about how God communicates with you. It isn't with a loud thunderous voice, but one of a gentle, still small voice. If you remember that, you can listen for that and it will help you listen and communicate with others.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, February 3, 2023
Fantastic Friday #874 - Deep
Deep
6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written:
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
the things God has prepared for those who love him—
10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:6-10
Do you go into "Deep" thought during your day, week or regularly? My deep thoughts can sometimes leak into the thoughts about the mind of God and creation. I can sometimes get myself so worked up about what is next and what happened before, that I tend to think too much about the unknown deep thoughts of God and His plan. This scripture makes me think of a question, what does it take to really Love Him. Of course I know that I love Him because He is my creator and Father in Heaven, but do I honestly sit down each day and tell Him I truly Love Him? Instead of focusing too much on the deep thoughts of God, I should probably be thanking Him and telling Him how much I love Him and all He has done for me to prepare for my present and future. I should focus on the spirit and not the enemy driving me away from listening to the spirit. I know that deep down inside of me there is something that pulls me into what I need to be focusing on. We need to deeply look and listen for God's influence in our lives and the deep things of God will be revealed at the right time.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written:
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
the things God has prepared for those who love him—
10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:6-10
Do you go into "Deep" thought during your day, week or regularly? My deep thoughts can sometimes leak into the thoughts about the mind of God and creation. I can sometimes get myself so worked up about what is next and what happened before, that I tend to think too much about the unknown deep thoughts of God and His plan. This scripture makes me think of a question, what does it take to really Love Him. Of course I know that I love Him because He is my creator and Father in Heaven, but do I honestly sit down each day and tell Him I truly Love Him? Instead of focusing too much on the deep thoughts of God, I should probably be thanking Him and telling Him how much I love Him and all He has done for me to prepare for my present and future. I should focus on the spirit and not the enemy driving me away from listening to the spirit. I know that deep down inside of me there is something that pulls me into what I need to be focusing on. We need to deeply look and listen for God's influence in our lives and the deep things of God will be revealed at the right time.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, January 27, 2023
Fantastic Friday #873 - Inferior
Inferior
“My eyes have seen all this,
my ears have heard and understood it.
2 What you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.
3 But I desire to speak to the Almighty
and to argue my case with God. Job 13:1-3
Are there times when you feel inferior to someone else? Maybe at your work, a person in authority makes you feel like you don't belong in your position, or possibly you might have experienced in a church setting that someone made you feel like you didn't have the same faith as them and you don't quite belong in their group. The challenge in today's world is there is always going to be the view that there is someone inferior to you. Maybe it is the cultural status, or monetary status where the inferiority is felt the strongest. God created us all as equal individuals, so there is no reason why any one of us should feel inferior to each other. A synonym of inferior is lesser, and when one recognizes that we are all lesser than God, but we can still approach God in humbleness, I have a strong belief that our feelings of inferiority would be lessened. We need to live a life that is full of recognition that we are all equal in the sight of our Lord, and a little humbleness goes a long way.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
“My eyes have seen all this,
my ears have heard and understood it.
2 What you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.
3 But I desire to speak to the Almighty
and to argue my case with God. Job 13:1-3
Are there times when you feel inferior to someone else? Maybe at your work, a person in authority makes you feel like you don't belong in your position, or possibly you might have experienced in a church setting that someone made you feel like you didn't have the same faith as them and you don't quite belong in their group. The challenge in today's world is there is always going to be the view that there is someone inferior to you. Maybe it is the cultural status, or monetary status where the inferiority is felt the strongest. God created us all as equal individuals, so there is no reason why any one of us should feel inferior to each other. A synonym of inferior is lesser, and when one recognizes that we are all lesser than God, but we can still approach God in humbleness, I have a strong belief that our feelings of inferiority would be lessened. We need to live a life that is full of recognition that we are all equal in the sight of our Lord, and a little humbleness goes a long way.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, January 20, 2023
Fantastic Friday #872 - Holding On
Holding On
18 Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, 19 holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith. 1 Timothy 4:7-8
What are you holding on to? Many in our world today are holding on to the wrong things. They are swallowed up by what the world is telling us we need to have or how we need to handle business. I got very upset this week with two people at work and instead of holding on to the spirit when I spoke to them, I spoke out of a place of anger and frustration. I look back on these instances after one of my staff told me how she observed me being dismissive, and how she knew that it was not like me. She knows I am a follower of Christ, and if she can see how it was not like me, I wonder what the other person feels about my reaction. Sometimes we need to hold on to the teachings and example of Christ, while He did get angry, He did always speak out of love and care. I find myself sometimes holding on to too much and not leaning into the spirit to guide me. Don't hold on to what the world says you should do or say, hold on to the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and use His example to handle things in our life.
18 Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, 19 holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith. 1 Timothy 4:7-8
What are you holding on to? Many in our world today are holding on to the wrong things. They are swallowed up by what the world is telling us we need to have or how we need to handle business. I got very upset this week with two people at work and instead of holding on to the spirit when I spoke to them, I spoke out of a place of anger and frustration. I look back on these instances after one of my staff told me how she observed me being dismissive, and how she knew that it was not like me. She knows I am a follower of Christ, and if she can see how it was not like me, I wonder what the other person feels about my reaction. Sometimes we need to hold on to the teachings and example of Christ, while He did get angry, He did always speak out of love and care. I find myself sometimes holding on to too much and not leaning into the spirit to guide me. Don't hold on to what the world says you should do or say, hold on to the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and use His example to handle things in our life.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Matt
Friday, January 13, 2023
Fantastic Friday #871 - Thankful
Thankful
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Colossians 3:15-16
Some days I think our world is getting worse and worse, but then I think maybe it is just that 2% of people who are nasty to each other, aren't thankful, and are hateful are ones that make it into our social media lives. I sat down this week and began thinking about all the things I am thankful for, and those things certainly outweigh any kind of difficulty or strife that I personally have in my life. I was on a conference call later this week and the person on the other end asked me if I was stressed, and I was like no, why do you ask? They said because you are squeezing a stress ball. Funny, I told them that I am trying not to be stressed about anything and start focusing on the blessings in my life and be thankful. It isn't easy, because the enemy sneaks in daily and tries to make me think that I shouldn't be thankful, even for the hard times. I have found that I am a much happier and peaceful person when I am thankful for the family and friends God has given me, even the ones He has taken away. I am a better man, father and husband because of those people that are in my life and were in my life. If we take these small steps to be thankful, we will experience Joy and happiness in our lives.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Colossians 3:15-16
Some days I think our world is getting worse and worse, but then I think maybe it is just that 2% of people who are nasty to each other, aren't thankful, and are hateful are ones that make it into our social media lives. I sat down this week and began thinking about all the things I am thankful for, and those things certainly outweigh any kind of difficulty or strife that I personally have in my life. I was on a conference call later this week and the person on the other end asked me if I was stressed, and I was like no, why do you ask? They said because you are squeezing a stress ball. Funny, I told them that I am trying not to be stressed about anything and start focusing on the blessings in my life and be thankful. It isn't easy, because the enemy sneaks in daily and tries to make me think that I shouldn't be thankful, even for the hard times. I have found that I am a much happier and peaceful person when I am thankful for the family and friends God has given me, even the ones He has taken away. I am a better man, father and husband because of those people that are in my life and were in my life. If we take these small steps to be thankful, we will experience Joy and happiness in our lives.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, January 6, 2023
Fantastic Friday #870 - Love
Love
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:7-12
I did something this week which I never do, I got involved in a discussion online about the interpretation of a scripture. The main gist of the discussion was referencing that part of verse 8 above which states God is Love. Someone stated that God is not identical to Love and that God is Love but love is not God. This statement was made because of someone else's post that stated God and Love are one in the same.
The reason I bring this up is because one individual stated that the more accurate phrase in this verse 8 should be God is loving. I shared that once you change love the noun to a verb loving, it totally changes the meaning of the scripture. He also shared that scholars have been making decisions about word usage all the time. This brings me to my next comment with this scripture.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16
So, if this word is God's word, His intention was it was to be read as written and not change the verbiage which would likely change the meaning. For years people have been developing their own interpretation of scripture and this can create issues when we start changing God's Word. All I know is that if we need to understand something better that God has written, we need to use prayer to our advantage. You can take a moment to do what is stated in Philippians 4:5-7 and God will guard your heart and mind.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:7-12
I did something this week which I never do, I got involved in a discussion online about the interpretation of a scripture. The main gist of the discussion was referencing that part of verse 8 above which states God is Love. Someone stated that God is not identical to Love and that God is Love but love is not God. This statement was made because of someone else's post that stated God and Love are one in the same.
The reason I bring this up is because one individual stated that the more accurate phrase in this verse 8 should be God is loving. I shared that once you change love the noun to a verb loving, it totally changes the meaning of the scripture. He also shared that scholars have been making decisions about word usage all the time. This brings me to my next comment with this scripture.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16
So, if this word is God's word, His intention was it was to be read as written and not change the verbiage which would likely change the meaning. For years people have been developing their own interpretation of scripture and this can create issues when we start changing God's Word. All I know is that if we need to understand something better that God has written, we need to use prayer to our advantage. You can take a moment to do what is stated in Philippians 4:5-7 and God will guard your heart and mind.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)