Wick
18 “Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
the one I love, in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
19 He will not quarrel or cry out;
no one will hear his voice in the streets.
20 A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,
till he has brought justice through to victory.
21 In his name the nations will put their hope.” Matthew 12:18-21
Candle wicks are very interesting if you think about it. The wicks sometimes can take a while to light if you don't have a good strong flame, because a match can quickly flame out. If you watch a wick while it is lit, it really does not burn that fast. In fact, it seems that it takes some time for the tip of the wick to burn down and the wax seems to control it if you look closely. And then when you blow the wick out or snuff it out, it really is still lit and smolders until it finally goes out on it's own. I think of Jesus as my candle that shines a light before me in my Christian walk, and a light that cannot be snuffed out. He is always there burning in my heart, and showing me how I can be a light to someone else. I know we can sometimes let our wick of our Christian Life smolder out on its own, and not shine brightly to others. Keep your wick burning strong and don't let evil allow you to be snuffed out.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
Fantastic Friday #266- Shift
Shift
15 Laziness brings on deep sleep,
and the shiftless go hungry.
15 Laziness brings on deep sleep,
and the shiftless go hungry.
16 Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life,
but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die. Proverbs 19:15-16
For those of you familiar with baseball, you know what a defensive shift is, and what kind of movement takes place. If you drive a car, you know that gears shift to get a car moving. When you are uncomfortable in your seat, you shift your body around to make yourself more comfortable. In your Christian walk, how much do you shift, or do you stand still and don't do anything to grow. There are times in my life that I don't feel the shift, but quickly the Holy Spirit reminds me that if I don't shift to following God's path for my life, I tend to grow hungry to better myself. It is important to shift towards a life God means for us to fulfill and not be a stagnant reed that only moves when the wind blows us to and fro.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Fantastic Friday #265 Fault
Fault
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. James 3:1-2
Today my son threw a baseball to me. I didn't catch it and it hit me in my big toe. As I look at it and see it swell and turn purple, I feel a lot of pain. Now who's fault was it that it hit my big toe. Well, my son thought it was his fault for throwing the ball too low. I thought it was the ball's fault for being hard, or was it really my fault for not getting the glove low enough to catch his throw. At times as Christians, people place us on a pitcher's mound of control and expect us to be perfect. When we do stumble off the mound and walk into sin, people see that loss of control and can judge us. We all know that we need to take a deep breath, reflect and look to the Lord for helping us control our pitches in life. We do not need think that we have all the control with that perfect pitch, because we all have faulty form. Learn to control your body through Christ and pitch that perfect game with His help, and try not to use your so-called perfect pitch because you know you don't have it.
Have a great weekend.
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. James 3:1-2
Today my son threw a baseball to me. I didn't catch it and it hit me in my big toe. As I look at it and see it swell and turn purple, I feel a lot of pain. Now who's fault was it that it hit my big toe. Well, my son thought it was his fault for throwing the ball too low. I thought it was the ball's fault for being hard, or was it really my fault for not getting the glove low enough to catch his throw. At times as Christians, people place us on a pitcher's mound of control and expect us to be perfect. When we do stumble off the mound and walk into sin, people see that loss of control and can judge us. We all know that we need to take a deep breath, reflect and look to the Lord for helping us control our pitches in life. We do not need think that we have all the control with that perfect pitch, because we all have faulty form. Learn to control your body through Christ and pitch that perfect game with His help, and try not to use your so-called perfect pitch because you know you don't have it.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Fantastic Friday #264-Shame
Shame
1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:1-2
Have you ever felt the emotion of shame? I am sure at one time or another you have for something you have done that is probably not right in the sight of God. Now, how do you feel about discussing God with someone else? Do you feel shame? My hope is that you wouldn't because certainly there is nothing to be ashamed of as a follower of Christ. It is amazing what the enemy can convince us of in this world, by his dark ways. He can tell us that God is not all what He is cracked up to be, or he can say God has left you unanswered for this long, so why bother. So, I say this, lift yourself above the shameful ways of this world and shine the light of Jesus to those around you. Discuss with passionate love and respect, and don't feel the despicable shame that the enemy wants you to feel. Rise above the shame and don't let the enemy put you in "The Box of Shame."
Have a great weekend.
1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:1-2
Have you ever felt the emotion of shame? I am sure at one time or another you have for something you have done that is probably not right in the sight of God. Now, how do you feel about discussing God with someone else? Do you feel shame? My hope is that you wouldn't because certainly there is nothing to be ashamed of as a follower of Christ. It is amazing what the enemy can convince us of in this world, by his dark ways. He can tell us that God is not all what He is cracked up to be, or he can say God has left you unanswered for this long, so why bother. So, I say this, lift yourself above the shameful ways of this world and shine the light of Jesus to those around you. Discuss with passionate love and respect, and don't feel the despicable shame that the enemy wants you to feel. Rise above the shame and don't let the enemy put you in "The Box of Shame."
Have a great weekend.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Fantastic Friday #263-Filled
Filled
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.1 Peter 1:8-9
When I get an empty tank in my car, I take that most depressing trip to the gas station these days to fill her up. When she is full, she runs like a dream and I have not a worry in the world, however there is a great deal of pain I feel each time I see the amount of money I have to spend to fill her up. The great thing about having Christ in my life is that when I feel the pain of something in life, all I have to do is turn to Christ and the Holy Spirit who is always there, fills me up. It is an amazing feeling to filled with the Holy Spirit, because I know that I am secure. Remember, when your glass is half empty or half full, depending on if you are a pessimist or an optimist, you are actually completely full with the Lord in your life, because He fills the void in that glass of life, and He doesn't charge anything.
Have a great weekend.
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.1 Peter 1:8-9
When I get an empty tank in my car, I take that most depressing trip to the gas station these days to fill her up. When she is full, she runs like a dream and I have not a worry in the world, however there is a great deal of pain I feel each time I see the amount of money I have to spend to fill her up. The great thing about having Christ in my life is that when I feel the pain of something in life, all I have to do is turn to Christ and the Holy Spirit who is always there, fills me up. It is an amazing feeling to filled with the Holy Spirit, because I know that I am secure. Remember, when your glass is half empty or half full, depending on if you are a pessimist or an optimist, you are actually completely full with the Lord in your life, because He fills the void in that glass of life, and He doesn't charge anything.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Fantastic Friday #262-Nature
Nature
13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
16 Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:13-20
When you hear the word nature what do you think of? The trees, the mountains, the lakes, the oceans, the beauty God created. Or, do you think of your own sinful nature that you have in your life. Why not look at God's nature, it is quite an amazing thing to look at if you take the time. God doesn't lie as the scripture clearly states, so what does that mean to us? We have the hope of eternal life that He has promised to reward those who follow Him and leave their previous lives behind. What else does He promise? He will not forget the work and the love you show to others. Now, the hard question, can you push back against the sinful nature and look to God's promises for a future with Him? I have the Hope and am greatly encouraged and I hope you feel the same.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Fantastic Friday #261- Blessing
Blessing
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Our eyes can often be veiled by our own desires, some of which are not led by the spirit. We look and see what we think we want or what the world tells us we want in our life. We tell ourselves that something seems to be missing, or we turn to things that we think will give us freedom from pain and suffering. In the end these things can end up in sin or drive us away from where the spirit wants to lead us. If we stop and think about where the spirit leads us now, and where our ultimate destination should be; the desires we have can ultimately be ignored by us as just another passing thought that the enemy wants us to believe we should follow. Look closely and carefully at the blessings you already have from God, and don't look at what blessings you think you should have. He has His hand on you and we should all hope to be transformed into His image.
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Our eyes can often be veiled by our own desires, some of which are not led by the spirit. We look and see what we think we want or what the world tells us we want in our life. We tell ourselves that something seems to be missing, or we turn to things that we think will give us freedom from pain and suffering. In the end these things can end up in sin or drive us away from where the spirit wants to lead us. If we stop and think about where the spirit leads us now, and where our ultimate destination should be; the desires we have can ultimately be ignored by us as just another passing thought that the enemy wants us to believe we should follow. Look closely and carefully at the blessings you already have from God, and don't look at what blessings you think you should have. He has His hand on you and we should all hope to be transformed into His image.
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