Blessings
16 Let the message of Christ
dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all
wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God
with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever
you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:16-17
Giving
thanks is something we shouldn't just reserve for that one day out of
the year, although there is nothing wrong with remembering to sit down
with family and give thanks. I also see the one month lists of thanks
permeating social media by many folks and there is good to reflect on
there too. So, what prevents most people from giving thanks on a
regular basis, or even daily? Most of the time, it is everything else
that is going on that interferes in our thoughts of giving thanks. So
how do we counteract that part of our life to give thanks, it is as
simple as looking at the smallest blessings. The one blessing we might
start with is giving God thanks for His Son's sacrifice and then go from
there. It could be as simple as a roof over your head, a job, your
kids, your spouse, water, food, electricity, heat, a/c, transportation,
close-toed shoes, zippers, trees, dirt, people in your life, and the
list of blessings could go on and on. So, when you think things are
tough, thank God for the small blessings in your life and the big things
may not seem like such a big deal. Remember, God can handle
everything.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, November 28, 2014
Friday, November 21, 2014
Fantastic Friday #446 - Topple
Topple
my hope comes from him.
6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. Psalm 62:3-6
I watched my youngest son put together quite the Lego masterpiece this week. It happened to be one of the Star Wars walkers, and if you know anything about Star Wars you know that the smallest grappling hook and wire made one of these beasts fall in the movie. While I was watching my son put together this walker, it toppled a couple of times until he had every piece attached correctly, then it was a sturdy piece to maneuver around the living room. Our lives are much like this walker as we pass through this existence. When we have God in our life, we have a sturdy foundation to keep us from toppling over. However, when we don't have the regular pieces of God in our life, prayer, scripture study and worship then we can tend to lean away from His sturdy foundation and could eventually topple over and crash. The thing about God is that He is a forgiving God and can raise us back up if we lean into Him and His teachings. Don't let the grappling hooks and wire of this world topple you.
Have a great weekend.
3 How long will you assault me?
Would all of you throw me down—
this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
4 Surely they intend to topple me
from my lofty place;
they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
but in their hearts they curse.
5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;Would all of you throw me down—
this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
4 Surely they intend to topple me
from my lofty place;
they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
but in their hearts they curse.
my hope comes from him.
6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. Psalm 62:3-6
I watched my youngest son put together quite the Lego masterpiece this week. It happened to be one of the Star Wars walkers, and if you know anything about Star Wars you know that the smallest grappling hook and wire made one of these beasts fall in the movie. While I was watching my son put together this walker, it toppled a couple of times until he had every piece attached correctly, then it was a sturdy piece to maneuver around the living room. Our lives are much like this walker as we pass through this existence. When we have God in our life, we have a sturdy foundation to keep us from toppling over. However, when we don't have the regular pieces of God in our life, prayer, scripture study and worship then we can tend to lean away from His sturdy foundation and could eventually topple over and crash. The thing about God is that He is a forgiving God and can raise us back up if we lean into Him and His teachings. Don't let the grappling hooks and wire of this world topple you.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, November 14, 2014
Fantastic Friday #445 - Whole Story
Whole Story
4 Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. 6 I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. 7 Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’
8 “I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’
9 “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ 10 This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again. Acts 11:4-10
Do you sometimes only listen to part of something or read small piece of something? When you only receive bits and pieces to something, it can be very hard to follow or understand. I know that sometimes in my life I get information that is not complete so I don't get a true picture of the whole story. I also know that I make mistakes and don't listen like I should or pay attention to the people I love most. This has a very serious negative consequence and one that I must overcome, however I cannot do it on my own. I stopped Peter's story in verse 10 above. Didn't it feel incomplete and don't you feel like you wanted more? God wants us and has given us a whole story that provides a way for us to be back with him. It is up to us to finish the story He has already written for us and allow us to be changed by him. We must remember we need the whole story and not part of it. Now, go back and read the whole story Peter is telling in Acts 11 and I guarantee you will see where you fit into this story.
Have a great weekend.
4 Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. 6 I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. 7 Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’
8 “I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’
9 “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ 10 This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again. Acts 11:4-10
Do you sometimes only listen to part of something or read small piece of something? When you only receive bits and pieces to something, it can be very hard to follow or understand. I know that sometimes in my life I get information that is not complete so I don't get a true picture of the whole story. I also know that I make mistakes and don't listen like I should or pay attention to the people I love most. This has a very serious negative consequence and one that I must overcome, however I cannot do it on my own. I stopped Peter's story in verse 10 above. Didn't it feel incomplete and don't you feel like you wanted more? God wants us and has given us a whole story that provides a way for us to be back with him. It is up to us to finish the story He has already written for us and allow us to be changed by him. We must remember we need the whole story and not part of it. Now, go back and read the whole story Peter is telling in Acts 11 and I guarantee you will see where you fit into this story.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, November 7, 2014
Fantastic Friday #444 - Eager
Eager
11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. Titus 2:11-14
Have a great weekend.
Friday, October 31, 2014
Fantastic Friday #443 - Overwhelm
Overwhelm
1 Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion;
to you our vows will be fulfilled.
How many of you have felt overwhelmed this week? If you break down the word into two parts and look at the word "whelm" it means to submerge and engulf. So when you put the word "over" back with it, most of us think of being overly burdened with something. In this scripture the word overwhelmed by sin can give us a good picture of being submerged and engulfed by sin. So let's think about your week where you were overwhelmed with something and last week's word of being watchful. When we are watchful, the burden might not seem so strong because we are spending time with God in prayer. Now read this verse again, it refers to God as One who answers prayer and forgives our transgressions. How wonderful it is that God has the Love for us to lift our burdens and think about what happens when we whelm ourselves with God in prayer and thought. I assume that when we whelm ourselves in God, He will Overwhelm the burden dragging us down and we won't feel the negative overwhelming feelings but positive ones. Overwhelm yourself in God's love.
Have a great weekend.
1 Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion;
to you our vows will be fulfilled.
2 You who answer prayer,
to you all people will come.
3 When we were overwhelmed by sins,
you forgave our transgressions.
4 Blessed are those you choose
and bring near to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of your house,
of your holy temple. Psalm 65:1-4
to you all people will come.
3 When we were overwhelmed by sins,
you forgave our transgressions.
4 Blessed are those you choose
and bring near to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of your house,
of your holy temple. Psalm 65:1-4
How many of you have felt overwhelmed this week? If you break down the word into two parts and look at the word "whelm" it means to submerge and engulf. So when you put the word "over" back with it, most of us think of being overly burdened with something. In this scripture the word overwhelmed by sin can give us a good picture of being submerged and engulfed by sin. So let's think about your week where you were overwhelmed with something and last week's word of being watchful. When we are watchful, the burden might not seem so strong because we are spending time with God in prayer. Now read this verse again, it refers to God as One who answers prayer and forgives our transgressions. How wonderful it is that God has the Love for us to lift our burdens and think about what happens when we whelm ourselves with God in prayer and thought. I assume that when we whelm ourselves in God, He will Overwhelm the burden dragging us down and we won't feel the negative overwhelming feelings but positive ones. Overwhelm yourself in God's love.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, October 24, 2014
Fantastic Friiday #442 - Watchful
Watchful
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2
What do you watch during your time alone? When we are alone is when we are most vulnerable to what the enemy wants from us. The enemy wants our attention drawn to him and what he wants. The enemy wants our thoughts off the Lord and focused solely on ourselves and our own needs. This is why prayer is so important to be part of our daily lives. With prayer, we are closer to God as we communicate to Him. As we are praying we need to be watchful not to let the enemy sneak in and steal our joy, and we also need to remember to be thankful for all God has provided. Even when we are being attacked daily, it is important to thank God for being there and showing us the way. Be watchful, thankful and prayerful.
Have a great weekend.
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2
What do you watch during your time alone? When we are alone is when we are most vulnerable to what the enemy wants from us. The enemy wants our attention drawn to him and what he wants. The enemy wants our thoughts off the Lord and focused solely on ourselves and our own needs. This is why prayer is so important to be part of our daily lives. With prayer, we are closer to God as we communicate to Him. As we are praying we need to be watchful not to let the enemy sneak in and steal our joy, and we also need to remember to be thankful for all God has provided. Even when we are being attacked daily, it is important to thank God for being there and showing us the way. Be watchful, thankful and prayerful.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, October 17, 2014
Fantastic Friday #441 - Well
Well
11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13
Are you well-fed? Does this make you think of food or can you think of what things other than food you are taking in. I overheard a woman talking about some commercials and shows in the early evening that were pretty bad and she wondered how this could be on TV. It made me stop and think about how much bad there is around us on TV, the Internet, and the world and how much we are taking it in. Are we getting bites of things that make us sometimes want more or are we taking huge gulps and letting ourselves get filled with the wrong things. Think about how quickly we can be filled with the small bites and gulps of the world, and then think of how quickly we can be filled with the small bites and gulps of God's Word and messages. The problem with the things of this world is they don't digest and just sit there and don't make us well-fed. With God, if we are regularly digesting the bites and gulps of His Word, we are filled with nutrition that can make us well-fed. We can be strengthened through Him.
Have a great weekend.
11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13
Are you well-fed? Does this make you think of food or can you think of what things other than food you are taking in. I overheard a woman talking about some commercials and shows in the early evening that were pretty bad and she wondered how this could be on TV. It made me stop and think about how much bad there is around us on TV, the Internet, and the world and how much we are taking it in. Are we getting bites of things that make us sometimes want more or are we taking huge gulps and letting ourselves get filled with the wrong things. Think about how quickly we can be filled with the small bites and gulps of the world, and then think of how quickly we can be filled with the small bites and gulps of God's Word and messages. The problem with the things of this world is they don't digest and just sit there and don't make us well-fed. With God, if we are regularly digesting the bites and gulps of His Word, we are filled with nutrition that can make us well-fed. We can be strengthened through Him.
Have a great weekend.
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