Unclear
7 Even inanimate things that produce sounds—whether flute or harp—if they don’t make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized? 8 In fact, if the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle? 9 In the same way, unless you use your tongue for intelligible speech, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air. 1 Corinthians 14:7-9
Do you see something or hear something and it feels like it is unclear? Do you find too many distractions around you that cause you not to hear what is going on? How do you communicate your feelings and actions to others? Many times the world around us can have noise that we can't communicate with others effectively, and sometimes we just don't know what to say. I know that I have to many times make sure people are listening before I speak, and I have to take my time so that people understand me as I can rattle and not be clear. I know some people who mumble and things definitely are unclear. We all need to take the time when speaking with others about the Gospel or anything else to be clear and concise, and then give people a chance to ask questions so that our words don't just fall into thin air.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, November 29, 2019
Friday, November 22, 2019
Fantastic Friday #708 - Speech
Speech
24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,
but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
25 Though their speech is charming, do not believe them,
for seven abominations fill their hearts.
26 Their malice may be concealed by deception,
but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. Proverbs 26:24-26
Do you find yourself running across people who are speaking eloquently but their speech doesn't sound quite right? A lot of times there are people of "faith" who talk a good talk, but aren't biblical with their teaching. There are people who talk about being good to each other and to live a righteous life and you will prosper, but the prosperity they are teaching is not what God teaches. We hear about false prophets in the Bible and the world is full of them. We have to remember that God will teach us through His word and not someone else's own thoughts. I heard someone say this week that we shouldn't take the Bible literally, and that is a big mistake if we begin to think this way. Don't let the enemy make you think that what the Bible teaches is only a suggestion, God uses the Bible to guide us and command us so that we can be with Him again. Don't listen to speech that drives you away from His word.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,
but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
25 Though their speech is charming, do not believe them,
for seven abominations fill their hearts.
26 Their malice may be concealed by deception,
but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. Proverbs 26:24-26
Do you find yourself running across people who are speaking eloquently but their speech doesn't sound quite right? A lot of times there are people of "faith" who talk a good talk, but aren't biblical with their teaching. There are people who talk about being good to each other and to live a righteous life and you will prosper, but the prosperity they are teaching is not what God teaches. We hear about false prophets in the Bible and the world is full of them. We have to remember that God will teach us through His word and not someone else's own thoughts. I heard someone say this week that we shouldn't take the Bible literally, and that is a big mistake if we begin to think this way. Don't let the enemy make you think that what the Bible teaches is only a suggestion, God uses the Bible to guide us and command us so that we can be with Him again. Don't listen to speech that drives you away from His word.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, November 15, 2019
Fantastic Friday #707 - Stand
Solid
19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, having this inscription:
The Lord knows those who are His, and
Everyone who names the name of the Lord
must turn away from unrighteousness. 2 Timothy 2:19
Have you been in a situation where you were standing or walking and you lost your footing because there was no solid foundation below you? I was in a situation this week where I was walking in sand and all of the sudden the solid sand foundation I had disappeared, and I sunk into a deep-filled hole of mushy sand where I began to lose my balance. I think our Christian walk can be the same way sometimes when we don't pay close enough attention to the things around us. A lot of times we might be having the best day ever, then the enemy throws something up in our path that causes us to stumble, lose balance and sometimes fall. The great thing about stumbling and falling is that we can get back up again, and with God’s help we can stand on His firm foundation. Keep in mind that we always have that firm foundation to walk on, we just need to stay on the right path.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, having this inscription:
The Lord knows those who are His, and
Everyone who names the name of the Lord
must turn away from unrighteousness. 2 Timothy 2:19
Have you been in a situation where you were standing or walking and you lost your footing because there was no solid foundation below you? I was in a situation this week where I was walking in sand and all of the sudden the solid sand foundation I had disappeared, and I sunk into a deep-filled hole of mushy sand where I began to lose my balance. I think our Christian walk can be the same way sometimes when we don't pay close enough attention to the things around us. A lot of times we might be having the best day ever, then the enemy throws something up in our path that causes us to stumble, lose balance and sometimes fall. The great thing about stumbling and falling is that we can get back up again, and with God’s help we can stand on His firm foundation. Keep in mind that we always have that firm foundation to walk on, we just need to stay on the right path.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, November 8, 2019
Fantastic Friday #706 - Remember
Remember
1 May Yahweh answer you in a day of trouble;
may the name of Jacob’s God protect you.
2 May He send you help from the sanctuary
and sustain you from Zion.
3 May He remember all your offerings
and accept your burnt offering. Selah
4 May He give you what your heart desires
and fulfill your whole purpose.
5 Let us shout for joy at your victory
and lift the banner in the name of our God.
May Yahweh fulfill all your requests. Psalm 20:1-5
How do you remember things? Is it by writing them down, putting them in your phone, or do you have the memory like an elephant? A lot of times we tend to remember things that are bad before the good things that happened to us. We focus too much on what the enemy tries to do to us rather than think about what the Lord does for us. Our memories are short for the Lord, and that has a lot to do with our faith. If we can focus on the faith we have in the Lord's accomplishments for us, then the enemy's attacks on us will have very little impact and we won't remember what the enemy is trying to do. So remember the good and don't focus on the on the bad, God is there for us through all of it and will fulfill our needs and requests.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
1 May Yahweh answer you in a day of trouble;
may the name of Jacob’s God protect you.
2 May He send you help from the sanctuary
and sustain you from Zion.
3 May He remember all your offerings
and accept your burnt offering. Selah
4 May He give you what your heart desires
and fulfill your whole purpose.
5 Let us shout for joy at your victory
and lift the banner in the name of our God.
May Yahweh fulfill all your requests. Psalm 20:1-5
How do you remember things? Is it by writing them down, putting them in your phone, or do you have the memory like an elephant? A lot of times we tend to remember things that are bad before the good things that happened to us. We focus too much on what the enemy tries to do to us rather than think about what the Lord does for us. Our memories are short for the Lord, and that has a lot to do with our faith. If we can focus on the faith we have in the Lord's accomplishments for us, then the enemy's attacks on us will have very little impact and we won't remember what the enemy is trying to do. So remember the good and don't focus on the on the bad, God is there for us through all of it and will fulfill our needs and requests.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, November 1, 2019
Fantastic Friday #705 - Argument
Argument
8 Therefore, I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument. 1 Timothy 2:8
How many of you think our world has become a place where all we do is argue with each other. People in politics are always arguing, people are using social media to argue their point, the people on the news are arguing back and forth, and sometimes this arguing can permeate places we don't want it to, like our homes. This scripture is very specific in how we should pray, and if you notice it is stated that we should lift up our hands without anger or argument, now I wonder why that is stated. When you find yourself arguing a point or with someone, what happens to your heart rate? It goes up and I assume you get a little tense and worked up. When you get angry or argue, sometimes your thoughts are probably not in order and you probably aren't very concise with your speech. If God tells us to pray without anger and argument, that probably means that He wants us calm and thoughtful and humble when we approach him. God doesn't want us to do anything with anger in our heart, so why do we argue with other people? It sure doesn't feel good. Think about how God wants us to approach Him the next time you think about getting in an argument.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
8 Therefore, I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument. 1 Timothy 2:8
How many of you think our world has become a place where all we do is argue with each other. People in politics are always arguing, people are using social media to argue their point, the people on the news are arguing back and forth, and sometimes this arguing can permeate places we don't want it to, like our homes. This scripture is very specific in how we should pray, and if you notice it is stated that we should lift up our hands without anger or argument, now I wonder why that is stated. When you find yourself arguing a point or with someone, what happens to your heart rate? It goes up and I assume you get a little tense and worked up. When you get angry or argue, sometimes your thoughts are probably not in order and you probably aren't very concise with your speech. If God tells us to pray without anger and argument, that probably means that He wants us calm and thoughtful and humble when we approach him. God doesn't want us to do anything with anger in our heart, so why do we argue with other people? It sure doesn't feel good. Think about how God wants us to approach Him the next time you think about getting in an argument.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, October 25, 2019
Fantastic Friday #704 - Answers
Answers
I am a laughingstock to my friends,
by calling on God, who answers me. Job 12:4
What kind of answers do you expect from God when you pray and how fast do you want the answers? I know that all have heard that God answers in His own time, but the answer is what I would like to focus on. I don't think we look closely enough at the answers He gives in the moment. We all know the answers we want, but how many times have you received exactly the answer you were looking for? God knows every aspect of our life and really knows the next steps down the road, so when we get an answer we didn't expect, why do we turn on God and try to develop our own answer or manipulate His? Just like my prayers for healing, while I know He hears those prayers, I know that the healing will be done in His will. I turn to the doctors and forget to realize that God is giving them the tools to heal as well as the guidance to treat. While we work through difficulties in our lives, we need to not stop praying, but continue to pray for the answers that God wants to give us. So, the next time you pray, trust that God has an answer in store and pray with a humbleness that releases all anxiety. Do not try an manipulate Him into the answer you want to receive, because it just isn't going to work.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
I am a laughingstock to my friends,
by calling on God, who answers me. Job 12:4
What kind of answers do you expect from God when you pray and how fast do you want the answers? I know that all have heard that God answers in His own time, but the answer is what I would like to focus on. I don't think we look closely enough at the answers He gives in the moment. We all know the answers we want, but how many times have you received exactly the answer you were looking for? God knows every aspect of our life and really knows the next steps down the road, so when we get an answer we didn't expect, why do we turn on God and try to develop our own answer or manipulate His? Just like my prayers for healing, while I know He hears those prayers, I know that the healing will be done in His will. I turn to the doctors and forget to realize that God is giving them the tools to heal as well as the guidance to treat. While we work through difficulties in our lives, we need to not stop praying, but continue to pray for the answers that God wants to give us. So, the next time you pray, trust that God has an answer in store and pray with a humbleness that releases all anxiety. Do not try an manipulate Him into the answer you want to receive, because it just isn't going to work.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, October 18, 2019
Fantastic Friday #703 - Extinguish
Extinguish
45 The word of the Lord came to me: 46 “Son of man, face the south and preach against it. Prophesy against the forest land in the Negev, 47 and say to the forest there: Hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Lord God says: I am about to ignite a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree and every dry tree in you. The blazing flame will not be extinguished, and every face from the south to the north will be scorched by it. 48 Then all people will see that I, Yahweh, have kindled it. It will not be extinguished.” Ezekiel 20:45-48
To put out a fire, to wipe out from existence, to annihilate are all definitions of the word extinguish. Is there something in your life that you wish to extinguish? We all have fires burning inside us, some of them good and decent, and some are filled with passion. There are other fires that are not so good and they have the enemy pouring an accelerant on them to keep that fire burning stronger and wood is placed on them to keep the fire burning longer in us to hopefully make us fall away from the Lord. There is only one individual that can extinguish these fires within us, and it isn't us. We need the help of our Lord and Savior to extinguish the enemy's flames. The problem we have is that we tend to like the warmth of the flames sometimes, and we don't think of the burning that is taking place is impacting anyone. The fires that should be burning inside us, are those that we should help fan with the power of righteousness. When we fan those flames, they can overtake the flames of the enemy that tend to burn and not heal. The flames of righteousness can hold a barrier between you and the enemy's flames, and maybe those are the fires we should be focused on. I don't know about you, but I would rather see the fire that cannot be extinguished which protects us than a fire that consumes us.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
45 The word of the Lord came to me: 46 “Son of man, face the south and preach against it. Prophesy against the forest land in the Negev, 47 and say to the forest there: Hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Lord God says: I am about to ignite a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree and every dry tree in you. The blazing flame will not be extinguished, and every face from the south to the north will be scorched by it. 48 Then all people will see that I, Yahweh, have kindled it. It will not be extinguished.” Ezekiel 20:45-48
To put out a fire, to wipe out from existence, to annihilate are all definitions of the word extinguish. Is there something in your life that you wish to extinguish? We all have fires burning inside us, some of them good and decent, and some are filled with passion. There are other fires that are not so good and they have the enemy pouring an accelerant on them to keep that fire burning stronger and wood is placed on them to keep the fire burning longer in us to hopefully make us fall away from the Lord. There is only one individual that can extinguish these fires within us, and it isn't us. We need the help of our Lord and Savior to extinguish the enemy's flames. The problem we have is that we tend to like the warmth of the flames sometimes, and we don't think of the burning that is taking place is impacting anyone. The fires that should be burning inside us, are those that we should help fan with the power of righteousness. When we fan those flames, they can overtake the flames of the enemy that tend to burn and not heal. The flames of righteousness can hold a barrier between you and the enemy's flames, and maybe those are the fires we should be focused on. I don't know about you, but I would rather see the fire that cannot be extinguished which protects us than a fire that consumes us.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
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