Fantastic Friday #990 - Joyful

Joyful

But may the righteous be glad
and rejoice before God;
may they be happy and joyful. Psalm 68:3

Do you ever sit and think about what it means to be joyful or full of joy? There were a couple of times where I was full of joy this week. One was when we had 2/3rds of our kids here for Easter, and the other child we had a great facetime conversation with everyone present. Another time was when I was able to sit and reflect on our Lord and Savior, while sitting on my back porch in beautiful weather and think about all He has done for me. I also felt joy when I got a note from my daughter this week which made me feel like I had done my job right as a father. And then today I felt a joy that God would bless me enough to play golf on a beautiful course with friends. Simple feelings of Joy can lead to a fullness of joy that God wants us to feel at all times. I know at times it can be hard to be joyful, but even in the hard times God wants us to remember that because of what He has done for us, we can live in Joy and have faith and hope in our future. I believe God created certain things in our world to bring us Joy, they may be simple or grand, but He has done it for us. Think about how you can be joyful and see what kind of change it makes in your life.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #989 - Wise

Wise

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” 1 Corinthians 1:18-19

As we enter this season remembering what Christ did on the cross for us, I often sit and think about people who don't see the death of Christ and resurrection as the pathway for us to be saved. The arguments people make against Christ's free gift to us can sometimes be astounding, and others who deny that what happened on the cross means something is completely unfathomable. I think it comes down to people thinking they have the knowledge and understanding of God to get by, and those are the same people that say I am a good person. We all have to remember that none of us are good, and the only way to achieve the reward that God offers is by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and realize His sacrifice for us. As you enter this weekend, I urge all to be reminded how our Lord Jesus Christ impacted our ability to see our Father in Heaven again.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #988 - Calling

Calling

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. Hebrews 3:1

Do you ever think about the calling God has for your life? I don't believe there is any one particular calling that God has for us, in fact, I think there are many callings that God has for us at different stages of our lives. I know that one of my callings was to be a father to my children, and at one time I had a calling to teach children at church about our Lord and Savior. But my callings have changed in my short time on this Earth, and now as a man who has raised three wonderful children, I wonder what my next calling or callings will be. Certainly I look at writing these weekly devotionals as a calling, but how long will this last. I will tell you that our callings last as long as our Father in Heaven wants them to last. We have to be very cognizant of His voice in our lives, and listen intently when He speaks. As I sit and listen to these birds in my backyard, I think of how many times I don't stop and listen to everything God places before me. Some things are beautiful and other things have purpose, and we need to take those purposeful callings and make a difference in our world. I attended a funeral this week of an old friend, and I was reminded of our importance in answering callings. Take a moment to respond to the callings coming your way, as they are a preparation of a higher calling we will have eventually.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #987 - Freedom

Freedom

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

If you live in a Democratic country, do you ever stop to think about the freedoms you have daily? I see news reports of the lack of certain freedoms in many countries around the world, and places where even basic freedoms do not exist. We are very lucky in the U.S. to have freedom, including religious freedom. This type of freedom helps us worship God openly and freely without retribution. However, we are starting to see how people's proclamations of their faith are attacked, and this is something that even in Paul's day was a common occurrence. We need to remember that nothing can take away our freedom that Christ has given us. The battle has already been won, and for those who burden themselves with fear and anxiety, remember the freedom that Christ has given you. Our freedom lies in our God that created us for a good work, and don't let the world tell you any different. Practice your freedom and proclaim your faith proudly.

Have a great weekend.

Matt