Fantastic Friday #525 - Atone

Atone

25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Romans 3:25-26

Do you ever think about Christ's atonement? Not really the physical act, but what the atonement represents. That sacrifice is an amazing gift and even more wonderful when you think of it being not just for those who need to repent for sins, but for also those who need to forgive others. What a perfect picture of forgiveness and model that we should all follow. If we didn't have that forgiveness, we wouldn't have that faith in Christ to do great things for us. I think we all need to remember that repentance and forgiveness can go both ways.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #524 - Flourish

Flourish

7 “Here now is the man
who did not make God his stronghold
but trusted in his great wealth
and grew strong by destroying others!”

8 But I am like an olive tree
flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in God’s unfailing love
for ever and ever.

9 For what you have done I will always praise you
in the presence of your faithful people.
And I will hope in your name,
for your name is good. Psalm 52:7-9

Do you ever think of being in the prime of your life? What does that really mean? Maybe you are thriving in your life for whatever reason. Maybe it is your job, your family, or it could be your walk with Christ. However, do you think about not being in that prime? Maybe the enemy is causing you to question your faith or question your role in this world. Remember your identity in Christ and it is important not to forget this. Just like verse 8 describes an olive tree flourishing in the house of God, so also we are like that olive tree if we allow our faith to strengthen our hope in God and allow us to flourish.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #523 - Wait

Wait

14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14

If you are like me you always want to hurry things, or expect an answer right away. With the way the world works with immediate gratification, there isn't much patience for things any longer. I assume that there are things in everyone's life that they want an answer to right away, but we need to take the advice of this scripture and wait for the Lord. It is He who is in control and only He will give us our answers and direction when He is ready and when He feels we are ready. Be patient and wait for God's blessings, because they are bountiful.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #522 - Whole

Whole

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word,love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. 1 John 2: 1-6

Do you ever think about things that are whole or in pieces? Things that are whole are complete and put together and typically strong. Those things that are in pieces are typically separated, not together, very weak and isolated. When I think of God and where He has put me, He has made me partially complete, because He wants me to rely on Him and accept Him. God just isn't support for the bits and pieces of a few people but for the whole world. He is what makes us complete and did this through the sacrifice of His son. We need to remember that in order to be whole and not in pieces that we need to commit to Him daily and His teachings. We should not fall into the traps of this world and expect to be complete, we must obey the word of the Lord who makes us complete and whole. Take a moment to become stronger and be made whole through our Lord and Savior.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #521 - Better

Better

17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. Ephesians 1:17-19

Do you tell yourself that you want to be better, or do better? I think there is a little something in each of us that drives us to being a better individual. The challenge we face is the enemy pokes and prods us with these thoughts that we can't be better, that we are who we are and there is no use in growing. God wants us to be better in everything we do and that is very clear. How do reach these goals? One thing is to know our Father in Heaven better. The other day I woke up to find my youngest son up early and had a Bible next to him. I asked him what he was reading about, and he said stories. Then he proceeded to tell me that I should read my Bible as well to know God better. Its funny how God can speak through the young so we can know Him better. Be better and expect that you can be better.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #520 - Remember

Remember

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10

I remember April 2006 like it was yesterday. I remember Kevin telling me to go forth and use my gifts. I remember writing my first Fantastic Friday. I remember the notes I got from Kevin that were always encouraging to me and one time he told me to keep compiling the thoughts that Christ is showing me, that it was a Timothy 2:2 thing.

2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. Timothy 2:2

So what do you remember when you sit and think. Do you remember your past things that the enemy wants you to focus on, or do you remember what Christ did for your past, present and future. I want to remember Him so that I can never forget the blessing that Christ is in my life and for others. Take a moment to Remember our Father in Heaven, and Remember what He has done, and Remember always that you have been saved by faith.

I can't help but think that Kevin is in heaven worshipping and encouraging me still today.

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Friday #519 - Burden

Burden

3 Stone is heavy and sand a burden,
but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

Proverbs 27:3
What do you carry as a burden? Is it that feeling that you aren't good enough, or that you are not the person you need to be? Do you sometimes feel like you weigh someone else down with your problems and they would be better off without you around? The problem with this train of thought is that it is all self-imposed when you lay your burdens on yourself. I read something this week that God is shaping you to bear whatever burden comes upon you. These are good words, and think about this verse as stone and sand can be burdens, but what is worse is when you provoke yourself to make a burden heavier. Remember God is there to help us carry our burden, while he might not fully carry it for us, he prepares us to carry that burden that we think weighs us down.

Have a great weekend.