Fantastic Friday #1015 - Willful

Willful

12 But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.

14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:12-14

How many of us think about our willful sins? Probably not often, and when you pray for forgiveness do you lump all those sins into one basket? I never really thought about "willful sins" until I was reading this scripture, and it definitely had an impact on me. We know that the Holy Spirit is with us, but there are many times we don't listen to the prompting and willfully commit sins. I almost think asking for forgiveness of sins needs to be separated from our errors we make and our willful walking away from our Father in Heaven. When we willfully sin, that is exactly what we are doing, walking or attempting to walk away from the path He has given us. One way we can work on stopping our willful sinning is by identifying those sins through our request for forgiveness. When we put a name to a sin, it is much easier to identify how we fall short and need our Father in Heaven. Keep in mind, there is nothing wrong with praying to God to forgive us our shortcomings, but it makes our relationship stronger when we can identify what we need to avoid to make our path closer to God and His teachings. Meditating on Him and His Word is a good place to start.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #1014 - Advice

Advice

20 Listen to advice and accept discipline,
and at the end you will be counted among the wise.

21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:20-21

How do you feel when you have someone giving you advice? Do you think that you don't need the advice, or what do they know about me? How is what they are going to say going to help me move forward? We tend to rely upon ourselves a lot I assume, and tend to think that no one knows what I am dealing with or going through. There are times when I am sure that we run from advice whether it is solicited or unsolicited. The thing about today's society is that there is not a lot of listening that takes place, but there sure is a lot of talking. Just because someone gives advice, doesn't mean we have to take it and apply it to our situation. However, God's Word is unfailing, and the advice given in His book is something we should definitely pay attention to regularly. While there is always someone who thinks they know better, there is always a God that knows your heart and where you stand. If you look for advice from our Savior, He will give it, even if it is something you may have not wanted to hear. Just like this scripture, the Lord's purpose in our life will prevail, so the advice He provides is best taken to heart. Keep in mind that listening for advice from others and our God are very different, but we need to open our minds to the information being offered.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #1013 - Snare

Snare

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.

6 I say to the Lord, “You are my God.”
Hear, Lord, my cry for mercy. Psalm 140:4-6



The enemy is very tricky and lays traps and snares for us all the time. These snares may be something that does not seem like a big deal, but every time someone falls for a snare, then it becomes that much easier for individuals to fall further away from the Lord. A snare could be something as simple as a tv show, movie or book that may not be appropriate, or it could be a temptation to gossip or attack someone online. These traps and snares are the way that the enemy pulls us slowly away from the teachings of Jesus. I heard a news story that estimates that in the world there are 5% of the people who are rude, violent and causing issues, and they are the loudest percentage of the population that gets reported on the news or some other media outlet. What happens when the other 95% live their lives and do not engage in what the other 5% is doing. If we are quiet and keep goodness to ourselves, it gives the enemy a better chance to try and entrap those 95%. Instead, we should be open with our goodness to others, be a leader in our community and fight the good fight that Jesus has set us out to do. Remember who our Father In Heaven is, and let Him intervene on your behalf. Stay close to him and he will help you avoid the snares laid out before you.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #1012 - Reaching

Reaching

13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 4:13-15

Do you feel grace reaching out to you? When I think about the grace that God has given us, I also see the faith that it takes me to really understand His grace. I can honestly say at times in my life, my faith has faltered and I felt like His grace wasn't enough to move me where I needed to be. As I have grown older, had kids and raised them, I can see where God has been faithful in so many ways and His grace has become even more clear. I also am proud of my children and the steps they are taking as adults to walk in the grace our father has provided. I see them reaching out in life to their families and others, and growing their faith in what is to come. Remember to be thankful to our God by reaching and giving thanks for the wonderful gifts He has provided. Not all our answers will be given now, our faith may be tested, but we all know that His grace is enough for all of us.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #1011 - Neighbor

Neighbor

32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Mark 12:32-33

Do you often think of who your neighbor is, and how it relates to God's commandment? Neighbors typically refer to someone who lives nearby, but I believe this can be expanded to someone who you regularly come into contact with in your daily existence. In the scriptures, neighbor can apply to a friend, companion, fellow or another person and in old testament times it related to fellow countrymen. You can see that it almost encompasses everyone you would come in contact with on a daily basis. How easy is it to love your neighbor in today's society? I would assume your answer would be the same as mine, as not being very easy. Let's put it a different way, how many of your neighbors do you think that God loves? If He wants us to love Him first with all our heart, then He wants us to love others as He loves them. He places this above all other things, including the sacrifices and offerings people made back in the day. If God found this to be so important, maybe we need to stop and make it more important in our own lives and give others what He already gives them.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #1010 - Rejoice

Rejoice

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Have you experienced times where you find it really hard to rejoice? I know that there are times in hardship that we focus so much on the negative, that we can't get ourselves to stop and rejoice and give thanks. When circumstances change and we feel like God has left us on an island, put up a huge roadblock, or said 'no' very clearly, we can put our life into a self-deprecating corner and not remember who we really are to God. We need to remember that we are God's children, and every aspect of our life is about God's plan and He wants success and happiness for us. The easiest way to remember who we are is by always rejoicing. Thanking God in prayer for all He has done for you in your life, and giving Him the accolades He deserves for our world and life. God's plan will endure, and even in the worst circumstances, God's plan for us is bigger than anyone can recognize. Rejoice and give thanks, in that order.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #1009 - Guard

Guard


13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. 2 Timothy 1:13-14


Have you ever looked at a security guard and wondered what they are guarding? What is so valuable that a place of business has to have something guarded. Sometimes guards are used to deter people from committing a crime, and in today's world we see a lot of things that people find as valuable to be protected. What do you do to guard and protect yourself from the enemy and his tactics to pull you away from our father. If you look at this scripture, it is quite simple. Listening to proper teaching and keeping the love in Christ are the easiest way to guard your heart. I like the picture that God has placed a deposit in us when we accept Christ in our life, and what a beautiful picture of the Holy Spirit guarding that gift we have received. It is easy to stray from realizing how important God's deposit is to our existence, so we need to just remember how valuable the deposit is to us and others. Guard your heart against the enemy and your reward will be great.


Have a great weekend.


Matt