Repentance
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:8-9
Mistakes, shortcomings, and sins are all performed by individuals daily. It is not uncommon to have days where you let the enemy creep too far in and do something that does not honor God and the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. When we pray for repentance, we might feel that God is not listening or doesn't want to forgive us, but this is not the case. God wants His children to live a life that is close to Him and one that focuses on Him. If our repentance is not genuine, He is not going to forgive, but will wait in His time until we make the decision that we are truly humbled and repentant for our mistake, shortcoming or sin. Remember that God will forgive those who come to Him with a sincere feeling of repentance. God is there and always will be there.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, March 17, 2017
Friday, March 10, 2017
Fantastic Friday #566 - Remind
Good Morning,
Remind
12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body,14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things. 2 Peter 1:12-15
We all set reminders for ourselves and usually have to remember to remind ourselves of our reminders. I know that sounds strange, but how many of us can actually remember to do the things we need to do daily without a reminder. I know I can't, in fact I am not very good at remembering things at my age and I know it is all going to get worse. The same can be said about what Christ did for us, and the Gospel message. While I am sure many of us don't forget what He did, we certainly need reminders, kind of like how I did this week. I need to be reminded regularly of God's faithfulness, because times can be hard and we can easily get swallowed by the enemy and the false beliefs he puts in our head. How many of us think this occasionally, "the world is too big, has too many people, and God isn't going to be concerned about my little problem." This is the enemy and he is wrong. God cares about all of His children and is always there for us to guide us through the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit and His Word reminds us of who we are, and now we just need to take the moment to listen to the right guide. I hope this reminds you to lean in and listen.
Have a great weekend.
Remind
12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body,14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things. 2 Peter 1:12-15
We all set reminders for ourselves and usually have to remember to remind ourselves of our reminders. I know that sounds strange, but how many of us can actually remember to do the things we need to do daily without a reminder. I know I can't, in fact I am not very good at remembering things at my age and I know it is all going to get worse. The same can be said about what Christ did for us, and the Gospel message. While I am sure many of us don't forget what He did, we certainly need reminders, kind of like how I did this week. I need to be reminded regularly of God's faithfulness, because times can be hard and we can easily get swallowed by the enemy and the false beliefs he puts in our head. How many of us think this occasionally, "the world is too big, has too many people, and God isn't going to be concerned about my little problem." This is the enemy and he is wrong. God cares about all of His children and is always there for us to guide us through the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit and His Word reminds us of who we are, and now we just need to take the moment to listen to the right guide. I hope this reminds you to lean in and listen.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, March 3, 2017
Fantastic Friday #565 - Take
Take
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
Do you recognize the choices you make while you are on a certain path? I wonder if many of us look at the path that is most pleasing, takes the least amount of work, and has the least amount of suffering involved. By taking these paths, we are happy, not physically taxed, and certainly less stressed. However, God doesn't always want us taking the path of least resistance. He wants us taking a path that we can learn from, one that we can rely upon Him for His strength and one that can be most rewarding to us. We must take the challenging path so we can learn what God wants to teach us, for without learning anything new our existence is a meaningless straight line of doing the same thing over and over again. Follow God on the path He wants you to travel and I guarantee that your rewards will be much more than you can think of now.
Have a great weekend.
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
Do you recognize the choices you make while you are on a certain path? I wonder if many of us look at the path that is most pleasing, takes the least amount of work, and has the least amount of suffering involved. By taking these paths, we are happy, not physically taxed, and certainly less stressed. However, God doesn't always want us taking the path of least resistance. He wants us taking a path that we can learn from, one that we can rely upon Him for His strength and one that can be most rewarding to us. We must take the challenging path so we can learn what God wants to teach us, for without learning anything new our existence is a meaningless straight line of doing the same thing over and over again. Follow God on the path He wants you to travel and I guarantee that your rewards will be much more than you can think of now.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, February 24, 2017
Fantastic Friday #564 - Astray
Astray
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
Have you ever thought about what going astray actually means? We are all guided by God to remain on a path of righteousness, but many times we take a turn here or there that takes us off the path. How far we stray off that path can be a challenge at times, because God wants on the straight and narrow path. God knows that we can easily stray because the enemy is influential here on Earth, but He also provides a way out for us under that burden of being tested. Just like the scripture says, we have all gone astray, but the plan God made for us with the sacrifice of His Son, also gives us a path to follow. When you find yourself going astray, remember the sacrifice that Christ made for all who believe.
Have a great weekend.
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
Have you ever thought about what going astray actually means? We are all guided by God to remain on a path of righteousness, but many times we take a turn here or there that takes us off the path. How far we stray off that path can be a challenge at times, because God wants on the straight and narrow path. God knows that we can easily stray because the enemy is influential here on Earth, but He also provides a way out for us under that burden of being tested. Just like the scripture says, we have all gone astray, but the plan God made for us with the sacrifice of His Son, also gives us a path to follow. When you find yourself going astray, remember the sacrifice that Christ made for all who believe.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, February 17, 2017
Fantastic Friday #563 - Home
Home
5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 2 Corinthians 5:5-9
What do you think of when you hear the word home? Is it a physical dwelling place that you reside in with four walls, a roof and doors? Is home where your heart is? Or, is home your family and friends and what makes up your life? If you look at your body as your home on earth, it is a dwelling place for the Spirit that lives within you. The spirit guides you and directs you and makes you whole. If you don't have the Spirit or let the Spirit guide you, things can feel empty inside and including being lonely if you ignore how the Spirit leads you. What do you do to take care of your home? Do you treat it well or let the world tell you what you should do? Your body has many parts, physical and mental, spiritual and what we take into our body affects us daily. Take a moment reflect on God leading you through your day with the Spirit, and if the Spirit guides you, shouldn't you take care of the home the Spirit resides in until you eventually go home?
Have a great weekend.
5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 2 Corinthians 5:5-9
What do you think of when you hear the word home? Is it a physical dwelling place that you reside in with four walls, a roof and doors? Is home where your heart is? Or, is home your family and friends and what makes up your life? If you look at your body as your home on earth, it is a dwelling place for the Spirit that lives within you. The spirit guides you and directs you and makes you whole. If you don't have the Spirit or let the Spirit guide you, things can feel empty inside and including being lonely if you ignore how the Spirit leads you. What do you do to take care of your home? Do you treat it well or let the world tell you what you should do? Your body has many parts, physical and mental, spiritual and what we take into our body affects us daily. Take a moment reflect on God leading you through your day with the Spirit, and if the Spirit guides you, shouldn't you take care of the home the Spirit resides in until you eventually go home?
Have a great weekend.
Friday, February 10, 2017
Fantastic Friday #562 - Remarkable
Remarkable
21 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.” Luke 5:21-26
Have you seen anything remarkable this week? I bet if you take a moment to look back, you probably did see something that was miraculous, even if it was something small. Tonight I saw my son get hit by a line drive to the chest while he was pitching. It has to be one of the hardest hits I have ever seen and made me think how blessed we are that the ball wasn't hit a few inches to the right. God has a hand in everything, but many times we are too caught up in ourselves to realize how good God is and what He does for us. Every so often God does something remarkable in our lives to remind us of his power, whether it be healing or protection, God is always there. Take a moment and look at the remarkable things in your life that have happened today.
Have a great weekend.
21 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.” Luke 5:21-26
Have you seen anything remarkable this week? I bet if you take a moment to look back, you probably did see something that was miraculous, even if it was something small. Tonight I saw my son get hit by a line drive to the chest while he was pitching. It has to be one of the hardest hits I have ever seen and made me think how blessed we are that the ball wasn't hit a few inches to the right. God has a hand in everything, but many times we are too caught up in ourselves to realize how good God is and what He does for us. Every so often God does something remarkable in our lives to remind us of his power, whether it be healing or protection, God is always there. Take a moment and look at the remarkable things in your life that have happened today.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, February 3, 2017
Fantastic Friday #561 - Exist
Exist
9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. Hebrews 2:9-11
Do you ever ask yourself why you exist? Do you think about the existence of evil in this world? Do you ever comprehend the existence of God when you see so many things transpiring in the world that just makes no sense? My answer to question number one sounds like this, I exist because God wants me to grow and mature in life. I exist because God wants me to impact others. Evil exists in many forms and at times it can test our faith in our Father-in-Heaven. The enemy wants us to leave God and all that He provides, but tell me how good is something that wants to pull you away from your Father. God allows the evil to exist and while it is horrible, He is the one who makes us perfect through His Grace. Jesus died and suffered so that we could be made clean through His sacrifice. If all of this doesn't show you the existence of God, His love for us, then pray about what you know moves your heart. If you already believe in God, this is a good reminder of who we are in Christ. Someone that calls us brothers and sisters. What an amazing God we have.
Have a great weekend.
9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. Hebrews 2:9-11
Do you ever ask yourself why you exist? Do you think about the existence of evil in this world? Do you ever comprehend the existence of God when you see so many things transpiring in the world that just makes no sense? My answer to question number one sounds like this, I exist because God wants me to grow and mature in life. I exist because God wants me to impact others. Evil exists in many forms and at times it can test our faith in our Father-in-Heaven. The enemy wants us to leave God and all that He provides, but tell me how good is something that wants to pull you away from your Father. God allows the evil to exist and while it is horrible, He is the one who makes us perfect through His Grace. Jesus died and suffered so that we could be made clean through His sacrifice. If all of this doesn't show you the existence of God, His love for us, then pray about what you know moves your heart. If you already believe in God, this is a good reminder of who we are in Christ. Someone that calls us brothers and sisters. What an amazing God we have.
Have a great weekend.
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