Delight
17 The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
Over six hundred weeks ago, this scripture struck a chord with me, and this week it struck another chord but in a different manner. What delights you, or a better question might be what do you find pleasure in daily? I find that a lot of the pleasure I experience is around friends and family, but there are those unexpected locations that I can find things that I delight in when I look through a different lens. The question is, why should I be looking through a different lens? God looks at us through the same lens all the time, a lens of love and forgiveness. How many times do we look at others through love and forgiveness? We should take delight in others, no matter our circumstances. We should turn to delight when we find ourselves doubting our circumstances, easier said than done of course. I have found over the past week that there are people who delight in me and their presence around me. I just need to remember that those same people that find pleasure in my company, I should also recognize how I can delight in them. Take a moment to reflect this week on how you can delight and know that God delights in you.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, May 17, 2019
Friday, May 10, 2019
Fantastic Friday #680 - Faithfulness
Faithful
But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3
I have seen a lot in the past week. A lot of stress, a lot of angst, and a lot of worry, the funny thing is that I have seen this all in myself. How come those of us with a deep faith in God, still question God's faithfulness in our lives. Every day we miss those little pieces of God in our lives and when the big thing comes down the road, we wonder where He is. The last two weeks have been full of several work and personal issues that have been hanging over my head. They really didn't need to make my heart so heavy, but I allowed them to because I wanted a clear answer right now. God wasn't ready for my answer to come so quickly, but it did come in several ways and to my benefit. Just another reminder of how God is faithful and how we need to remember to be thankful in the small things so that when the big things come down our road it is an easier transition to continually rely on His faithfulness. When we need to change gears, God is always there to put on the breaks until He feels like we are ready to move forward.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3
I have seen a lot in the past week. A lot of stress, a lot of angst, and a lot of worry, the funny thing is that I have seen this all in myself. How come those of us with a deep faith in God, still question God's faithfulness in our lives. Every day we miss those little pieces of God in our lives and when the big thing comes down the road, we wonder where He is. The last two weeks have been full of several work and personal issues that have been hanging over my head. They really didn't need to make my heart so heavy, but I allowed them to because I wanted a clear answer right now. God wasn't ready for my answer to come so quickly, but it did come in several ways and to my benefit. Just another reminder of how God is faithful and how we need to remember to be thankful in the small things so that when the big things come down our road it is an easier transition to continually rely on His faithfulness. When we need to change gears, God is always there to put on the breaks until He feels like we are ready to move forward.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, May 3, 2019
Fantastic Friday #679 - Start
Start
5 In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls,
but those who would preserve their life stay far from them.
6 Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:5-6
When you were young, did your parents start you off in the way you should go? When you were a young adult, did you hear God's voice and teachings start you off in the way you should go? As an older adult, do you listen to God's voice in the way you should go? At one time in our life, whether it be our parents, grandparents, someone in authority or God has taught us the way we should go. Whether we listened to that, this is another story for another time. As I enter my latter years, and I am experiencing my second child graduating from high school, I ask myself have I started my children off in the way they should go, or did I do enough. While it is my responsibility to start them off, they all have personal choices, but they also have God who can guide them long after I have given my guidance. I tend to forget that God is still guiding me at times as well, but know that He is ever faithful and will guide me away from the path of the wicked snares. Did you know doubting God is one of those pitfalls that the enemy puts out there for us, but that if we remember how we were taught in the way we should go, we will be fine. God provides, God protects, and God cares. What a better guide than God and His teachings, we just need to remember what everyone has said along the way and keep God out front.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
5 In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls,
but those who would preserve their life stay far from them.
6 Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:5-6
When you were young, did your parents start you off in the way you should go? When you were a young adult, did you hear God's voice and teachings start you off in the way you should go? As an older adult, do you listen to God's voice in the way you should go? At one time in our life, whether it be our parents, grandparents, someone in authority or God has taught us the way we should go. Whether we listened to that, this is another story for another time. As I enter my latter years, and I am experiencing my second child graduating from high school, I ask myself have I started my children off in the way they should go, or did I do enough. While it is my responsibility to start them off, they all have personal choices, but they also have God who can guide them long after I have given my guidance. I tend to forget that God is still guiding me at times as well, but know that He is ever faithful and will guide me away from the path of the wicked snares. Did you know doubting God is one of those pitfalls that the enemy puts out there for us, but that if we remember how we were taught in the way we should go, we will be fine. God provides, God protects, and God cares. What a better guide than God and His teachings, we just need to remember what everyone has said along the way and keep God out front.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, April 26, 2019
Fantastic Friday #678 - Mind
Mind
4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:4-6
Where is your mind during the day? Does it move from idea to idea, with thoughts that you can make a difference in today's world? Or, does it move from idea to doubt to where the enemy sneaks in and talks to you about how you are not worth it and neither is anyone else. The enemy is strong but scripture is stronger. This set of verses focuses on the endurance that we face through the teaching of the scriptures. This typically ends with hope, and you know that the enemy doesn't do well with hope, because God surrounds those with hope in their life. We need to remember to pick up those around us and give us hope in the path that we have before us. Have endurance and have hope to defeat those thoughts from the enemy.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:4-6
Where is your mind during the day? Does it move from idea to idea, with thoughts that you can make a difference in today's world? Or, does it move from idea to doubt to where the enemy sneaks in and talks to you about how you are not worth it and neither is anyone else. The enemy is strong but scripture is stronger. This set of verses focuses on the endurance that we face through the teaching of the scriptures. This typically ends with hope, and you know that the enemy doesn't do well with hope, because God surrounds those with hope in their life. We need to remember to pick up those around us and give us hope in the path that we have before us. Have endurance and have hope to defeat those thoughts from the enemy.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, April 19, 2019
Fantastic Friday #677 - Easy
Easy
11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you.13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 1 Thessalonians 5:11-13
I am amazed by the number of people I see daily who try and take the easy way out. They do work to a certain level, maybe just enough to get by or they try and find the easy way out by putting in no effort at all. I saw a kid and his dad at the baseball field tonight, one that I have known for a number of years. He was working out with his dad, I am sure just hours after he had worked out with his college team. He is one that doesn't find the easy way out with baseball, but continues to work hard to reach his goal. We all need to look at ourselves to not find the easy way out in life but work hard in coming closer to God and encouraging others. Sometimes it is "easy" to just pass by someone without encouraging them or lifting their spirits, but we should go out of our way to do God's work. We must hold all around us in a higher regard and work hard to spread God's love.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you.13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 1 Thessalonians 5:11-13
I am amazed by the number of people I see daily who try and take the easy way out. They do work to a certain level, maybe just enough to get by or they try and find the easy way out by putting in no effort at all. I saw a kid and his dad at the baseball field tonight, one that I have known for a number of years. He was working out with his dad, I am sure just hours after he had worked out with his college team. He is one that doesn't find the easy way out with baseball, but continues to work hard to reach his goal. We all need to look at ourselves to not find the easy way out in life but work hard in coming closer to God and encouraging others. Sometimes it is "easy" to just pass by someone without encouraging them or lifting their spirits, but we should go out of our way to do God's work. We must hold all around us in a higher regard and work hard to spread God's love.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, April 12, 2019
Fantastic Friday #676 - Liar
Liar
22 Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 1 John 2:22-23
I heard a great man this week make an amazingly simple statement. "If you are not sure you even believe in God, start there." How many times are we listening to other voices when doubt creeps into our mind, and we doubt God is even around to listen? Don't let the enemy creep in and put doubt in your mind, this is the liar who wants to pull us away from God. This man talked about being humble and creating experiences with God. Maybe that is what we are lacking and we need to look for those moments when we can ignore the liar and lean into God for a new experience. I don't want to be an individual that denies the Father and has no place with Him, I want to be one that Glorifies the Lord through my actions and learns from God.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
22 Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 1 John 2:22-23
I heard a great man this week make an amazingly simple statement. "If you are not sure you even believe in God, start there." How many times are we listening to other voices when doubt creeps into our mind, and we doubt God is even around to listen? Don't let the enemy creep in and put doubt in your mind, this is the liar who wants to pull us away from God. This man talked about being humble and creating experiences with God. Maybe that is what we are lacking and we need to look for those moments when we can ignore the liar and lean into God for a new experience. I don't want to be an individual that denies the Father and has no place with Him, I want to be one that Glorifies the Lord through my actions and learns from God.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, April 5, 2019
Fantastic Friday #675 - Foundation
Foundation
9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:9-11
If you have ever watched a foundation to house or building be prepared for a concrete pour, you will notice that there is a lot of leveling of the ground first where the foundation will be laid. You can't pour a foundation on ground that is full of hills, rocky and un-level, because the foundation will crack and heave and not have the ability to have a strong building placed on it. God worked to lay the foundation for His building . We have to be sure to be careful how we build upon that foundation. We cannot ignore any guidance God has given us, and we certainly cannot rely upon ourselves to be the only ones building on it. We must have others with us to support us and help strengthen God's church. We need to set an example for others to follow and not follow the ways of the high-speed world to complete a building too quickly. We don't want that building to crumble, so we must be careful to take God's guidance daily. Have a good plan and make sure you are building on God's foundation and not the enemy's rocky and unstable ground.
Have a great weekend.
9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:9-11
If you have ever watched a foundation to house or building be prepared for a concrete pour, you will notice that there is a lot of leveling of the ground first where the foundation will be laid. You can't pour a foundation on ground that is full of hills, rocky and un-level, because the foundation will crack and heave and not have the ability to have a strong building placed on it. God worked to lay the foundation for His building . We have to be sure to be careful how we build upon that foundation. We cannot ignore any guidance God has given us, and we certainly cannot rely upon ourselves to be the only ones building on it. We must have others with us to support us and help strengthen God's church. We need to set an example for others to follow and not follow the ways of the high-speed world to complete a building too quickly. We don't want that building to crumble, so we must be careful to take God's guidance daily. Have a good plan and make sure you are building on God's foundation and not the enemy's rocky and unstable ground.
Have a great weekend.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)