Refraction
4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8
Have you ever sat and thought about how light can change directions? Maybe you see the sun in the distance and a cloud or rain passes in front of the sun. When this happens there is not darkness, there is still light as the sun's light is being redirected by the cloud or rain. There is a great deal of physics involved in light changing direction, and it one of God's most amazing creation events. Taking this a step further, if we are children of the light as this scripture says, we can redirect our light to impact the darkness around us. The darkness of sin is able to cover our light at times, but we have the power to redirect our light through the Holy Spirit by rejecting the darkness or redirecting our light on a different path. The same can be said of how we direct our light when sin is not upon us. Using refraction, we can redirect our light to show people the beauty that God has made in us, just like the rainbows we see when the sun passes through water. If we focused on the light more than the darkness, and refracting the light to impact others through our love, our world could be a much better place.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, March 25, 2016
Friday, March 18, 2016
Fantastic Friday #515 - Fulfilled
Fulfilled
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 1 Timothy 6:6-7
I had an amazing week with my family and friends on a vacation in the mountains of Colorado. I have been to this area many times in my life and each time there are revelations that give me time to ponder, and react when I return home. This time it was a conversation I had with my daughter regarding her enjoyment of the mountain and skiing. Her conversation with me dealt with being content where she was with her abilities, and not worrying whether she pursued more difficult slopes than what she was currently capable of performing. A lot of us look for fulfillment in the wrong places and she knew exactly where she needed to be content. So many of us miss that moment when we are content with ourselves and what we are capable of doing. Too many people push themselves to impress someone else and it could result in negative consequences. God is already impressed with us and he wants us to pursue things that are not of this world, but of spiritual gain. When we start worrying about whatever other people think is when no longer become fulfilled. Become fulfilled with God by your side.
Have a great weekend.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 1 Timothy 6:6-7
I had an amazing week with my family and friends on a vacation in the mountains of Colorado. I have been to this area many times in my life and each time there are revelations that give me time to ponder, and react when I return home. This time it was a conversation I had with my daughter regarding her enjoyment of the mountain and skiing. Her conversation with me dealt with being content where she was with her abilities, and not worrying whether she pursued more difficult slopes than what she was currently capable of performing. A lot of us look for fulfillment in the wrong places and she knew exactly where she needed to be content. So many of us miss that moment when we are content with ourselves and what we are capable of doing. Too many people push themselves to impress someone else and it could result in negative consequences. God is already impressed with us and he wants us to pursue things that are not of this world, but of spiritual gain. When we start worrying about whatever other people think is when no longer become fulfilled. Become fulfilled with God by your side.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, March 11, 2016
Fantastic Friday #514 - Stable
Stable
21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,
preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you,
an ornament to grace your neck. Proverbs 3:21-22
Do you often find yourself becoming unstable as you are walking around? Maybe you lose your balance because you are walking on an uneven surface. Would you walk on this uneven surface if you have a flat sidewalk next to the uneven surface? I would think that you would focus on the smoother path since you probably know in your mind it is easier to walk on. A lot of times in our spiritual walk we take the path that could be unstable, even though your wisdom tells you to walk on the smooth path God has set out for us. We need to remember that God has given us the ability to use sound judgement to make ourselves stable, and we need to use the wisdom He provides to keep us on the right path.
Have a great weekend.
21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,
preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you,
an ornament to grace your neck. Proverbs 3:21-22
Do you often find yourself becoming unstable as you are walking around? Maybe you lose your balance because you are walking on an uneven surface. Would you walk on this uneven surface if you have a flat sidewalk next to the uneven surface? I would think that you would focus on the smoother path since you probably know in your mind it is easier to walk on. A lot of times in our spiritual walk we take the path that could be unstable, even though your wisdom tells you to walk on the smooth path God has set out for us. We need to remember that God has given us the ability to use sound judgement to make ourselves stable, and we need to use the wisdom He provides to keep us on the right path.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, March 4, 2016
Fantastic Friday #513 - Emit
Emit
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:5-7
Do you ever sit around and think about what you are emitting? Is it a light that shines, or is there a darkness around you. We often, with our lack of faith, can emit a darkness or a faded light that people can clearly see. Have you ever watched someone who is strong in their faith and how the Lord presents them? Typically there is a brightness around them, and the light they emit is very strong and has a substantial impact on those close to them. If you emit anger, pain and suffering, those can have negative consequences on yourself and those around you. If you emit a light that relies on the Lord who can strengthen that relationship, then I guarantee the darkness is overcome. I would rather be emitting light than darkness, because I tend to be much happier and I encourage you to do the same.
Have a great weekend.
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:5-7
Do you ever sit around and think about what you are emitting? Is it a light that shines, or is there a darkness around you. We often, with our lack of faith, can emit a darkness or a faded light that people can clearly see. Have you ever watched someone who is strong in their faith and how the Lord presents them? Typically there is a brightness around them, and the light they emit is very strong and has a substantial impact on those close to them. If you emit anger, pain and suffering, those can have negative consequences on yourself and those around you. If you emit a light that relies on the Lord who can strengthen that relationship, then I guarantee the darkness is overcome. I would rather be emitting light than darkness, because I tend to be much happier and I encourage you to do the same.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, February 26, 2016
Fantastic Friday #512 - Change
Change
17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them.This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing.Keeping God’s commands is what counts. 20 Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them. 1 Corinthians 7:17-20
If you are like me, things are typically heading in the direction you want, and then there is a change that takes place that can totally throw you off kilter. The change can be something simple to overcome, or it can be something grand that moves you on a path that takes you a long time to overcome. The funny thing is how many times do we think that this change is something that God has assigned to us? I bet that is not very often, and I bet we think these things are sometimes from the enemy. God places us in these situations to test us in a number of ways, but the biggest test seems to be our Faith. Yep, the Faith that we already know about, and the Faith that we know God is going to get us through this change. However, most of us forget about the Faith in our Lord and Savior and this can impact how long we are in this situation. If we take the perspective each time we experience change as something that God has given us, then we can more easily lean into His faithfulness to move us through the change. Keep this in mind the next time the big change hits you, and remain where you are and remain in Him.
Have a great weekend.
17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them.This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing.Keeping God’s commands is what counts. 20 Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them. 1 Corinthians 7:17-20
If you are like me, things are typically heading in the direction you want, and then there is a change that takes place that can totally throw you off kilter. The change can be something simple to overcome, or it can be something grand that moves you on a path that takes you a long time to overcome. The funny thing is how many times do we think that this change is something that God has assigned to us? I bet that is not very often, and I bet we think these things are sometimes from the enemy. God places us in these situations to test us in a number of ways, but the biggest test seems to be our Faith. Yep, the Faith that we already know about, and the Faith that we know God is going to get us through this change. However, most of us forget about the Faith in our Lord and Savior and this can impact how long we are in this situation. If we take the perspective each time we experience change as something that God has given us, then we can more easily lean into His faithfulness to move us through the change. Keep this in mind the next time the big change hits you, and remain where you are and remain in Him.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, February 19, 2016
Fantastic Friday #511 - Loaf
Loaf
15 I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf. 1 Corinthians 10:15-17
What do you see when you look at a loaf of bread? Do you see something that gives you nourishment? What if the loaf of bread has mold on it, do you see the loaf as something disgusting and just toss it away? The symbolic partaking of the bread in this scripture shows how we honor the sacrifice Christ made for us, and according to this scripture when we do this we are part of a larger group because of what we share in Christ. If we are the body then what if someone we know has sin in their life? Do you throw them away like the moldy bread, or do you surround them with love and care. Since we all share one loaf, don't turn your back on those moldy people around you but work to build them up since they all share the same loaf.
Have a great weekend.
15 I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf. 1 Corinthians 10:15-17
What do you see when you look at a loaf of bread? Do you see something that gives you nourishment? What if the loaf of bread has mold on it, do you see the loaf as something disgusting and just toss it away? The symbolic partaking of the bread in this scripture shows how we honor the sacrifice Christ made for us, and according to this scripture when we do this we are part of a larger group because of what we share in Christ. If we are the body then what if someone we know has sin in their life? Do you throw them away like the moldy bread, or do you surround them with love and care. Since we all share one loaf, don't turn your back on those moldy people around you but work to build them up since they all share the same loaf.
Have a great weekend.
Friday, February 12, 2016
Fantastic Friday #510 - Covenant
Covenant
19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying,“This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. Luke 22:19-20
Pact, arrangement and promise all synonymous with the word Covenant. Have you taken any time this week to think about a promise or deal you have made recently. Did you follow through with that promise, or did your life get too busy to follow through. We all have commitments we make and sometimes we cannot follow through on them which could have a real impact on the relationship we have with others. Take a look at this scripture and notice the covenant God has made with us, one that will not be broken, one that He will not go back on. When we make our promises or deals with people, maybe we should model these after God's covenant and not go back on these. If we followed through like God has with His covenant, maybe our relationships would be stronger. If our relationship with God is stronger in remembering His covenant, our lives would more focused on those promises and less on ourselves.
Have a great weekend.
19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying,“This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. Luke 22:19-20
Pact, arrangement and promise all synonymous with the word Covenant. Have you taken any time this week to think about a promise or deal you have made recently. Did you follow through with that promise, or did your life get too busy to follow through. We all have commitments we make and sometimes we cannot follow through on them which could have a real impact on the relationship we have with others. Take a look at this scripture and notice the covenant God has made with us, one that will not be broken, one that He will not go back on. When we make our promises or deals with people, maybe we should model these after God's covenant and not go back on these. If we followed through like God has with His covenant, maybe our relationships would be stronger. If our relationship with God is stronger in remembering His covenant, our lives would more focused on those promises and less on ourselves.
Have a great weekend.
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