Fantastic Friday #903 - Wealth

Wealth

6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.

7 Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil. Psalm 37:6-8


Do you ever look at some people and wonder how they become so successful, or maybe how there are people with so much wealth that they don't know what to do with it all. Then you look at yourself and there you are waiting on the Lord to provide some kind of answer to a prayer or other request that you feel you have been waiting on for some time. First, let's think about truly how wealthy some of those people are, do they really have true wealth in their lives, or are their lives hidden in greed and evil. We need to change our definition of wealth and success in our own lives. What can you come up with in your life that makes you truly wealthy, is it your family or some other success, or can you look at God as making you wealthy. Once we change our view of wealth and success, this can lead to a more patient understanding of God and His timing. I know that each day I need to make time to recognize the wealth that God provides, and strengthen that relationship with our Lord and Savior. Only then will I be able to see my true value in God's eyes. Focus on the wealth that does not involve the collection of things or money.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #902 - Map

Map

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence. Psalm 91:1-3

This last week I had a terrible dream that had all kinds of dark and horrible experiences all tied into one dream. I woke up in a desperate plea for God to surround me with His presence. I eventually was able to sleep again, but when I awoke I still had the remnants of that horrible experience. I remembered to thank God that next morning, because I knew the enemy was sneaking in and trying to tell me I was not good enough to be with God. This is why I love this scripture so much, and mainly due to one word, fortress. If God is our fortress, it is a destination we want in our life, and to reach that destination, we need a map. That map is in God's Word in many locations, and repeated over and over again. We need to remember to not let the enemy tell us lies, and use the map to get to God's fortress of protection. How much better is it to rest in His shadow, than live in the shadows with fear. Fear not.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #901 - Fear

Fear

17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

19 We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:17-19

Do you have periods of time where you go through fear? Do you know what causes your fear? I find at times that I go through a fear of what is next or a fear of something that is not there, and it can impact my mental wellness. Fear comes from the enemy and God allows this fear to enter our lives, because he has allowed the enemy to roam the earth. The enemy is always looking for ways to draw us away from God. When you think of the emotion involved in loving someone or something, what does that do to your body? In mine, it usually fills my body with endorphins that can have a very positive impact on how my mind and body feel. I know that God gives us love as an emotion because of how it makes us feel, and I can begin to see how love can drive out that fear that we can have at times. The next time that fear creeps in, begin to think about how much you love our Father in Heaven, and I know that the feeling of fear will very quickly and easily depart from you. Remember what that feeling is like, and every time you think fear is coming on, you can remember the feeling of God's love.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #900 - Heart

Heart

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”1 Samuel 16:7

What is your first response when you look at someone or are meeting them for the first time? My guess is you do the same thing that I and most do and that is focus on the physical appearance of someone. It is one of the downfalls of our society to focus mainly on the external appearance of someone before truly determining whether or not you will like them enough to engage with them further. Some of the nicest and most heartwarming people I have ever known are people that may not be physically attractive by the world's standard but have so much more they offer society. These people have made a significant difference in my life and those around them with their personality and care they provide to others. God does not look at the outward appearances, so maybe we should focus less on that. Today, many of our kids are challenged to look a certain way by social media, the same way us more seasoned individuals were challenged with magazine covers and the movies. If everyone took time to get to know people's hearts instead of judging them on first looks, then maybe we might have a more accepting society today. Focus on your own heart as well as the hearts of others.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #899 - Opinion

Opinion

1An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends
and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.

2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding
but delight in airing their own opinions. Proverbs 18:1-2


We all have opinions on different topics. One of the things that makes people so interesting is their opinion on some things in particular. I come across people all the time who have a different perspective on things, and sometimes those are the people that I like to listen to for their rationale. What you find today is not much different than in history, people have an opinion on God. What is your opinion on the One who created everything around you and you yourself? There are people who have an opinion on God's influence in our life and they will start discussions that can easily turn into disagreements on what God does for us. Those disagreements can get blown out of proportion if both sides have such strong views. Take a moment to think of the next time you are in a situation where a person who is not so friendly tries to bait you into a discussion about God. If you see that they are a person that likes to air their own opinions, even if they are not Biblical, then you can be respectful and listen but know God does not want you to get into a disagreement with them. If you focus on God's influence in your life, it can make it that much easier to deal with. I think sometimes my opinion on topics should be kept to myself to avoid these major conflicts. I believe it is up to each individual to find what kind of conversation on your opinion is worth getting into a discussion about. You might be surprised if you sit back and listen respectfully to someone else's thoughts, no matter how wrong you think they are in their opinion.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #898 - Refreshed

 Refreshed

24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
   another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

25 A generous person will prosper;
    whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:24-25


In a week where we have had over 100+ degree temperatures on a daily basis, it can be very hard to be refreshed in this heat.  The A/C works hard, but the most refreshing thing have been the glasses of ice water that have cooled down my body.  Now let us talk about being spiritually refreshed.  What does it take to get you to the point where you might have a down day, to where you get refreshed knowing that God loves you and cares about you?  Maybe it is music, scripture, quiet time or talking to God that provides the refreshment.  Maybe it is even like the scripture talks about, refreshing others with help and love. How do you feel when you help others? I guarantee that your own worries go away because your mind is focused on them and what they need.  When you start feeling sorry for yourself, take a moment to think about someone less fortunate than you or someone that needs assistance. I promise that your heart will grow and you will feel more refreshed.  

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #897 - Distressed

Distress

1 I call on the Lord in my distress,
and he answers me.
2 Save me, Lord,
from lying lips
and from deceitful tongues. Psalm 120:1-2

Do you find yourself constantly looking for answers, answers that don't seem to come when you want them to? When we pray to God for answers, He hears us and does want the best for us. However, there are times when God wants us to work through our problems and concerns with His guidance, and not with Him fixing everything for us. Some of you may ask, why doesn't God hear me when I cry out to Him, or in my distress and lowest point. God does hear us and He will answer us in all of our points in life and requests. We can't get caught up in the deceitfulness of the enemy telling us He will never answer us, because that is not in the character of God. Now, the answer may be "wait" or "not yet", but at least we know He is listening and helping us daily. So if you are in distress, at a low point, continue to cry out to God, for He is there and knows your heart. He will provide guidance in all circumstances on His timeline and not yours. So, don't be worried about the answer that comes, but take it and move forward. Move out of your distress into a feeling of joy and wait for the answer to come.

Have a great weekend.

Matt