MERRY CHRISTMAS!
We would like to thank Pastor Rick for authoring The Daily Compass this week.
Monday December 20, 2010
Remember The Food
Read John 4; Isaiah 55:1-2; Matthew 5:6
We hope you enjoyed the Christmas play Sunday. We wanted to make it fun for the family but like Uncle Rick I hope you thought about the things that make Christmas special to you. I think it was perfect that the play took place at a diner having a Christmas meal. When I think about Christmas one of the things I think about is food, of course I think about food on any occasion. Jesus was into food too. We have recorded in the bible the wedding feast in Canaan of Galilee, the feeding of the 4,000, the 5,000, eating at Zacchaeus’ house, the banquet at Matthew’s house, Jesus eating at the Pharisees house, and of course the Lord’s Supper. I think it is interesting that Jesus was born in Bethlehem which means the house of bread. He said He was the bread that came down from heaven. We have all been created to hunger after certain things but God wants to satisfy that hunger with something more than food. God wants to fill that emptiness in us with His Word, His Spirit and His purpose for our lives. He wants us to be satisfied with more than good food but a satisfied soul. I pray that this Christmas God would give you a hunger for God and the good things He gives to satisfy your hunger. May you enjoy the things that really satisfy. Like the woman at the well ask Jesus to give you that gift that will satisfy what you hunger and thirst for. We serve the Word of God every Sunday. Come and join us this next year and find satisfaction for your hungry soul.
Tuesday December 21, 2010
Remember the Gifts
Read Luke 11:11-13; James 1:17; Romans 8:32
Like Uncle Rick we are reminded about giving and receiving gifts. All of us like Uncle Rick can remember that special gift that we wanted. God has created inside of each of us a desire to receive reward, to receive gifts. We have a God given desire for things in our lives but most of the time we desire gifts that only give us temporary pleasure. God has given us a gift that will keep on giving every day of our lives. This gift has the ability to give us every other good gift we could ever really want. This gift is his Spirit, the presence of God who is the great giver. Like we love to see our children get those special gifts that give them pleasure, God wants to give us gifts that please us. He knows exactly what we are searching for and what it takes to satisfy us. We not only have a need to receive gifts but a desire to please others by giving. There is nothing that satisfies our heart like giving a child that special gift they are longing for. This Christmas remember to receive God’s gift and be a cheerful giver to others. Enjoy the gifts.
Wednesday December 22, 2010
Remember Christmas is about Family
Read Luke 15:11-32; Hebrews 10:22-25
Uncle Rick said the most important thing to him was love, family and being together on Christmas. All of us have a desire to be with others because our creator made us that way. Christmas is a time when family and friends gather to gather to share and celebrate. Christmas is about families and family gatherings. God’s purpose for creating us was to make us a part of His Family. It’s so sad to see people who spend Christmas alone. God wants His family to come together often to celebrate and enjoy the pleasure of being home with their father and His children. Christmas is a time to remember to gather with your family and to come and be a part of the gathering of the family of God. Is there someone in your family that needs to be restored invite them back to be a part of the family again? Do you know someone that will spend Christmas alone? Invite them to spend Christmas with you. We invite you to be a part of our church family. We gather and celebrate every week. Come join us. It will not be Christmas without you.
Thursday December 23, 2010
Remember Christmas is about the birth of a Child
Read Luke 2:1-20; John 3:1-18
Uncle Rick remembered the re-enactment of the nativity scene. Christmas is really about children. It is the story of the birth of a child. Jesus said you have to become as a little child to enter the Kingdom of God. A child is helpless, trusting, loving and exploring and discovering life. They are in wonder over the world around them. They are having fun and enjoying life and trusting those around them to take care of them and provide for them. We need to become childlike again and trust God to provide and take care of us as we enjoy life. Christmas is about the birth of the Christ Child. God came as a child to people just like us. We need to become like a child and have faith in God to bring a new birth in us that will give us the joy and wonder of Christmas in our hearts. Invite this child into your heart this Christmas. Enjoy this Christmas with a child.
Friday December 24, 2010
Remember Christmas is about Singing
Read Luke 1:46-55; Luke 1:67-69; Luke 2:13-14; Luke 2:29-31
Uncle Rick wanted to hear caroling. Christmas is all about sights and sounds. There is something about a song that opens up our heart and changes our mood. We are created with the ability to hear and verbalize our feelings. The Song carries the message we are hearing to our hearts. Maybe that’s why we have Songs in the Christmas story. God wants the joy of his message to get to our heart so we can celebrate it with Him and it becomes a part of us. Luke records four Christmas songs in the first 2 chapters of his book. Read them and as you do let the message God was saying get in your heart. Luke 1:46-55 – Mary’s Song; Luke 1:67-69 -- Zechariah’s song; Luke 2:13-14 – The Angel’s song; Luke 2:29-31 – Simeon’s song. Let’s take time to sing this Christmas.
Weekender December 25, 2010
Remember Christmas is about Joy
Read Luke 1:14, 44, And 58, 2:10: John 15:9-13
Like Uncle Rick, we get so busy at Christmas we forget to enjoy it. The one who started Christmas wants us to take time and enjoy it. Don’t be so busy preparing the food that you forget to enjoy it. Don’t get so carried away with the gifts that you forget to enjoy the giver. Don’t worry over the details of Christmas so much that you forget to laugh, have fun and enjoy Christmas like a child again. Don’t get gloomy but be joyful and help other’s enjoy this season that is all about joy. Nehemiah’s words to God’s people are still true for us at Christmas today.
Nehemiah 8:10
And Nehemiah continued, "Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don't be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
December 20, 2010
December 13, 2010
December 13 - 18, 2010
Monday December 13, 2010
From The Beginning
Read John 1:1-5
John does not start "the story of Jesus" in the usual way. He says nothing about the way Jesus was born. Rather, he takes us back in time to "the beginning." In the beginning, he says, was "the Word." Modern readers may not know at first what this "Word" is, but it becomes clear in verse 14: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." The Word became a human being, a Jewish man named Jesus. When John talks about "the Word," he is talking about a Person who existed in the beginning with God, and he was God. He was not a created being; rather, it is through him that all created things were made. The question that I’d like to comment on now is, Why does John tell us this? Why do we need to know that Jesus was originally a Person who was not only with God, but he was also God?
By using the word Word, John was using a term that had rich meaning to Greek and Jewish philosophers. They also believed that God had created everything through his word, or his wisdom. Since God was a rational being, he always had a word with him. The "word" was his power to think—his rationality, his creativity. John takes this idea and gives it a radical twist: The Word became flesh. Something in the realm of the perfect and the eternal became part of the imperfect and decaying world. That was a ridiculous idea, people might have said. That did not fit their idea of what God was. John may have agreed with them: This was quite unexpected. God did not act the way we thought he would. Indeed, as we read John’s Gospel we will find that Jesus frequently did the unexpected. He was not acting the way that people expected a man of God to act—and that is part of the reason that he came, and part of the reason that John tells the story. We had wrong ideas about God, and Jesus came to set us straight. Jesus did not just bring a message about God—he himself was the message. He showed us in the flesh what God is like. Shortly before Jesus was killed, Philip asked him, "Lord, show us the Father" (14:8). And Jesus answered: "Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you for such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father"
If you want to know what God is like, then study Jesus. Jesus shows us the love that God has for us; he freely gave his life to save others. When the Word humbled himself to become a flesh-and-blood human, it was a change—something God had never done before—but it was not a change in God’s nature. Rather, it was a demonstration of his unchanging nature—his unchanging faithfulness to us. It showed us the love that God has for us all the time.
Tuesday December 14, 2010
The Word Brings Relationship
Read Mark 4: 1-20
The Word has relationship with God because the Word is God. Nothing was made without the Word being spoken. The Word gives life and the Word gives light. The Word revealed gives life. Jesus was the Word of God made flesh that which was written and spoken now comes to life as a person. God is calling us to release the Word and that will change the world we live in. Jesus said what I have said to you in secret proclaim from the rooftops. You have to hear it before you can proclaim it and you have to proclaim it before it can be manifested. The book of John is the book of the Spirit. In John the Spirit and the Word are connected. You can’t have the Word without the Spirit and the Word can’t be manifested without the Spirit. The Word and the Spirit are in relationship together. We are talking about the Spirit and Word having relationship to produce. Relationships take time to produce.
Relationships like everything in the Kingdom take time to cultivate. We are an instant society and want everything yesterday if not sooner but with God there is seedtime and harvest and seasons in our life. In the 4th chapter of Mark, Jesus gives parables about the production of the Word of God in our lives. You have to sow the word – get it in your heart, You have to have the right soil, You can’t hide the word forever one day it will be seen in your life. Whatever measure of the word you put in your heart is the measure you get out.
Wednesday December 15, 2010
Spending Time In The Word
Read John 5:46; Matthew 4; Acts 6:2; Romans 3:2
Many Christians rightly believe that they need to read the Bible. Such Christians have reading plans and study the Bible themselves. Many other Christians though, tend to focus on reading the Word of God without application. Finally, many Christians read the Bible more like it’s a book of stories than the inspired Word of God. Understanding how to hear the Word of God, read the Word of God and study the Word of God is vital. One Tuesday night at prayer as Ms. Cecilia was sharing the word we noticed that she had marked in and written throughout her Bible, what this represented was the relationship that she has with God, what she had marked represented how God has spoken to her, words that changed her life and it also represents how she honors and reveres the words that God has spoken to her.
If you don’t know the recorded word of God then you will walk away from the living Word of God – That’s what Eve did. In the Old Testament Every time the Word of God was found and honored in the nation there was revival. Jesus did not defeat the devil by using his relationship with God, ritual, or tradition but the scriptures to overcome the temptations of the devil. The Apostles put the ministry of the Word and Prayer above the ministry of the daily needs of people. The most important ministry of leadership is the Word of God. Paul reminds us that Israel has a very special place because they were entrusted with the very words of God. You must realize you have a special place with God because He is revealing His Word in your life. To be a voice for God we have to spend time in the written Word of God.
Thursday December 16, 2010
Jesus: The Living Word
Read John 17:6-9; John 16:12-15; 1 Corinthians 2:9-15
The Word is with God and is God. Jesus the living Word spent time with the Father listening to his words. If we don’t spend time in relationship with the living Word we will not experience the revelation of the Written Word. Revelation is never just to give us knowledge but to lead us into an experience with God. Revelation without experience just makes us religious.
Jesus said The Father who sent me has instructed me as to what I should tell you. I know that his words lead to everlasting life; so whatever he tells me to say, I say. These words that I speak are not my own, but come from the Father who has sent me. They that hear the words that I speak, and believe in Him, who has sent me, will have everlasting life. They will not be condemned but will pass from death to life. God reveals His secrets to us as we spend time with Him building our relationship with Him. You don’t tell your secrets to strangers but to intimate friends. It’s called Revelation of the Spirit. You must spend time with God to have the same spirit. You can’t have what you don’t know and you can’t have what you don’t know without spending time with the one who knows.
Are you spending time with the one who knows?
Friday December 17, 2010
Speak THE WORD!
Read John 15:3-4; Ephesians 5:26; Matthew 17:20; Isa 6:5-7
Father God spoke the earth and all its contents into being, not by his hands, nor by a magic wand, but by speaking them into existence. Speech looses angels to work or binds angels from working. What we say is, in fact, what we get, blessings or curses, our choice. Constantly repeating or retelling, injuries or injustices of the past only strengthen the harm. Critical and/or victimization evil spirits and their relatives need that divisive venom for food; they get fat and powerful on our unauthorized speech. Remember, the Holy Spirit says and does what He sees and hears The Father saying or doing. A child of God needs to filter, like water, everything entering his mind and leaving his mouth. Otherwise, we are polluting not only the atmosphere, but also our lives with bad breath! Spirits ride on our breath and speech. Let us be in praise and worship. Let us repeat what God says in scripture. If we are repeating what the enemy or bad circumstances are presenting to us, then they can reproduce, thanks to our unchecked words. Instead, copy Jesus' example.
The Spoken word cleanses us. The Spoken words bath us. The Spoken Word moves the Mountains in our Lives. God wants to touch our lips so we can speak what He is speaking. When we say what God is saying we see results. Your mouth is taking you were you are going. We must keep speaking what God is saying till we see it come to pass.
The Weekender December 18, 2010
Doers Of The Word
Read Matthew 7:27-29; John 2:5; Hebrews 5:11-14
When Jesus was on the earth as the Son of man, He was a doer of the Word. He always listened to the Father and obeyed what the Father told Him. Jesus always wanted to do what was pleasing to the Father. He never reasoned, he never made excuses, because He wanted to do the Father’s will not his, so He did it. Jesus knew the danger of just being a hearer. 23For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his [own] natural face in a mirror; 24For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like.
Jesus knew who he was, he did not have to keep trying to know who He was, He was confident in being a doer of the Word. He also new what manner of man He was. The disciples asked this question. Mark 4:41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? They did not have a clue, but Jesus knew.
The Word says that Signs and wonders follow those who believed. Jesus believed and signs and wonders followed him. Jesus went about everywhere doing the Word. He cast out demons, He healed the sick, and He raised people from the dead. He gave sight to the blind, and healed the broken hearted. He took 2 fish and couple of loaves of bread and multiplied them to feed 5,000 men. He spoke to the storm and told the wind to be still and guess what? It stood still. Jesus also turned water into wine. Those are just a few things that He did. Wouldn’t you say He was doing the Word? He was not sitting back hearing the word about casting out demons and saying to himself, “ I do not know if I can do that, I sure hope I can do that someday. Jesus just did it.
Practice makes perfect. With anything in life wither natural or spiritual you have to do it for it to work. We can’t just be talkers we have to be doers. The advice of Mary is still good for us today. “Just do what He says”(John 2:5). We are trained by practice in the use of the word.
You believe what you practice (do) and you practice (do) what you believe. Revelation without practice only makes you religious and religion only makes you angry and mean. Revelation with practice gives you experience and experience causes love and joy. Jesus didn’t teach the word like the scribes and Pharisees, but with the authority of the Spirit that changed the lives of the hearers. Let us be leaders of the Word and Spirit.
From The Beginning
Read John 1:1-5
John does not start "the story of Jesus" in the usual way. He says nothing about the way Jesus was born. Rather, he takes us back in time to "the beginning." In the beginning, he says, was "the Word." Modern readers may not know at first what this "Word" is, but it becomes clear in verse 14: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." The Word became a human being, a Jewish man named Jesus. When John talks about "the Word," he is talking about a Person who existed in the beginning with God, and he was God. He was not a created being; rather, it is through him that all created things were made. The question that I’d like to comment on now is, Why does John tell us this? Why do we need to know that Jesus was originally a Person who was not only with God, but he was also God?
By using the word Word, John was using a term that had rich meaning to Greek and Jewish philosophers. They also believed that God had created everything through his word, or his wisdom. Since God was a rational being, he always had a word with him. The "word" was his power to think—his rationality, his creativity. John takes this idea and gives it a radical twist: The Word became flesh. Something in the realm of the perfect and the eternal became part of the imperfect and decaying world. That was a ridiculous idea, people might have said. That did not fit their idea of what God was. John may have agreed with them: This was quite unexpected. God did not act the way we thought he would. Indeed, as we read John’s Gospel we will find that Jesus frequently did the unexpected. He was not acting the way that people expected a man of God to act—and that is part of the reason that he came, and part of the reason that John tells the story. We had wrong ideas about God, and Jesus came to set us straight. Jesus did not just bring a message about God—he himself was the message. He showed us in the flesh what God is like. Shortly before Jesus was killed, Philip asked him, "Lord, show us the Father" (14:8). And Jesus answered: "Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you for such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father"
If you want to know what God is like, then study Jesus. Jesus shows us the love that God has for us; he freely gave his life to save others. When the Word humbled himself to become a flesh-and-blood human, it was a change—something God had never done before—but it was not a change in God’s nature. Rather, it was a demonstration of his unchanging nature—his unchanging faithfulness to us. It showed us the love that God has for us all the time.
Tuesday December 14, 2010
The Word Brings Relationship
Read Mark 4: 1-20
The Word has relationship with God because the Word is God. Nothing was made without the Word being spoken. The Word gives life and the Word gives light. The Word revealed gives life. Jesus was the Word of God made flesh that which was written and spoken now comes to life as a person. God is calling us to release the Word and that will change the world we live in. Jesus said what I have said to you in secret proclaim from the rooftops. You have to hear it before you can proclaim it and you have to proclaim it before it can be manifested. The book of John is the book of the Spirit. In John the Spirit and the Word are connected. You can’t have the Word without the Spirit and the Word can’t be manifested without the Spirit. The Word and the Spirit are in relationship together. We are talking about the Spirit and Word having relationship to produce. Relationships take time to produce.
Relationships like everything in the Kingdom take time to cultivate. We are an instant society and want everything yesterday if not sooner but with God there is seedtime and harvest and seasons in our life. In the 4th chapter of Mark, Jesus gives parables about the production of the Word of God in our lives. You have to sow the word – get it in your heart, You have to have the right soil, You can’t hide the word forever one day it will be seen in your life. Whatever measure of the word you put in your heart is the measure you get out.
Wednesday December 15, 2010
Spending Time In The Word
Read John 5:46; Matthew 4; Acts 6:2; Romans 3:2
Many Christians rightly believe that they need to read the Bible. Such Christians have reading plans and study the Bible themselves. Many other Christians though, tend to focus on reading the Word of God without application. Finally, many Christians read the Bible more like it’s a book of stories than the inspired Word of God. Understanding how to hear the Word of God, read the Word of God and study the Word of God is vital. One Tuesday night at prayer as Ms. Cecilia was sharing the word we noticed that she had marked in and written throughout her Bible, what this represented was the relationship that she has with God, what she had marked represented how God has spoken to her, words that changed her life and it also represents how she honors and reveres the words that God has spoken to her.
If you don’t know the recorded word of God then you will walk away from the living Word of God – That’s what Eve did. In the Old Testament Every time the Word of God was found and honored in the nation there was revival. Jesus did not defeat the devil by using his relationship with God, ritual, or tradition but the scriptures to overcome the temptations of the devil. The Apostles put the ministry of the Word and Prayer above the ministry of the daily needs of people. The most important ministry of leadership is the Word of God. Paul reminds us that Israel has a very special place because they were entrusted with the very words of God. You must realize you have a special place with God because He is revealing His Word in your life. To be a voice for God we have to spend time in the written Word of God.
Thursday December 16, 2010
Jesus: The Living Word
Read John 17:6-9; John 16:12-15; 1 Corinthians 2:9-15
The Word is with God and is God. Jesus the living Word spent time with the Father listening to his words. If we don’t spend time in relationship with the living Word we will not experience the revelation of the Written Word. Revelation is never just to give us knowledge but to lead us into an experience with God. Revelation without experience just makes us religious.
Jesus said The Father who sent me has instructed me as to what I should tell you. I know that his words lead to everlasting life; so whatever he tells me to say, I say. These words that I speak are not my own, but come from the Father who has sent me. They that hear the words that I speak, and believe in Him, who has sent me, will have everlasting life. They will not be condemned but will pass from death to life. God reveals His secrets to us as we spend time with Him building our relationship with Him. You don’t tell your secrets to strangers but to intimate friends. It’s called Revelation of the Spirit. You must spend time with God to have the same spirit. You can’t have what you don’t know and you can’t have what you don’t know without spending time with the one who knows.
Are you spending time with the one who knows?
Friday December 17, 2010
Speak THE WORD!
Read John 15:3-4; Ephesians 5:26; Matthew 17:20; Isa 6:5-7
Father God spoke the earth and all its contents into being, not by his hands, nor by a magic wand, but by speaking them into existence. Speech looses angels to work or binds angels from working. What we say is, in fact, what we get, blessings or curses, our choice. Constantly repeating or retelling, injuries or injustices of the past only strengthen the harm. Critical and/or victimization evil spirits and their relatives need that divisive venom for food; they get fat and powerful on our unauthorized speech. Remember, the Holy Spirit says and does what He sees and hears The Father saying or doing. A child of God needs to filter, like water, everything entering his mind and leaving his mouth. Otherwise, we are polluting not only the atmosphere, but also our lives with bad breath! Spirits ride on our breath and speech. Let us be in praise and worship. Let us repeat what God says in scripture. If we are repeating what the enemy or bad circumstances are presenting to us, then they can reproduce, thanks to our unchecked words. Instead, copy Jesus' example.
The Spoken word cleanses us. The Spoken words bath us. The Spoken Word moves the Mountains in our Lives. God wants to touch our lips so we can speak what He is speaking. When we say what God is saying we see results. Your mouth is taking you were you are going. We must keep speaking what God is saying till we see it come to pass.
The Weekender December 18, 2010
Doers Of The Word
Read Matthew 7:27-29; John 2:5; Hebrews 5:11-14
When Jesus was on the earth as the Son of man, He was a doer of the Word. He always listened to the Father and obeyed what the Father told Him. Jesus always wanted to do what was pleasing to the Father. He never reasoned, he never made excuses, because He wanted to do the Father’s will not his, so He did it. Jesus knew the danger of just being a hearer. 23For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his [own] natural face in a mirror; 24For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like.
Jesus knew who he was, he did not have to keep trying to know who He was, He was confident in being a doer of the Word. He also new what manner of man He was. The disciples asked this question. Mark 4:41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? They did not have a clue, but Jesus knew.
The Word says that Signs and wonders follow those who believed. Jesus believed and signs and wonders followed him. Jesus went about everywhere doing the Word. He cast out demons, He healed the sick, and He raised people from the dead. He gave sight to the blind, and healed the broken hearted. He took 2 fish and couple of loaves of bread and multiplied them to feed 5,000 men. He spoke to the storm and told the wind to be still and guess what? It stood still. Jesus also turned water into wine. Those are just a few things that He did. Wouldn’t you say He was doing the Word? He was not sitting back hearing the word about casting out demons and saying to himself, “ I do not know if I can do that, I sure hope I can do that someday. Jesus just did it.
Practice makes perfect. With anything in life wither natural or spiritual you have to do it for it to work. We can’t just be talkers we have to be doers. The advice of Mary is still good for us today. “Just do what He says”(John 2:5). We are trained by practice in the use of the word.
You believe what you practice (do) and you practice (do) what you believe. Revelation without practice only makes you religious and religion only makes you angry and mean. Revelation with practice gives you experience and experience causes love and joy. Jesus didn’t teach the word like the scribes and Pharisees, but with the authority of the Spirit that changed the lives of the hearers. Let us be leaders of the Word and Spirit.
December 6, 2010
December 06 - 11, 2010
Monday December 06, 2010
The Image of God is Corporate
Read Acts 2: 1-21; Genesis 5:1-2; Galatians 3;26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:11
What is the image we are made in look like? It is corporate. It does not say look at me but look it says at we. It takes all of us to make up the image of god. The language of creation gives us the picture of what that image is like. God said “let us” and then “let them”. We together make up the image of God. In all our diversity there is found the strength and beauty of God. God sees unity in diversity. We see division but God sees completion. We need each other for completion. None of us is as good as all of us. When we are along something is missing but when we are unified by the same Spirit there is completeness. The completing factor is the Spirit of God that makes all of us one.
One of the most frustrating parts of decorating the Christmas Tree is trying to put the lights on finding that one of the bulbs is missing, therefore preventing the lights from shining. Like the bulbs of the Christmas lights we can’t shine if one of the bulbs is missing. We are not really together til we are all together. Now if God gets frustrated I can imagine that this would be one thing that would frustrate Him, He has repeatedly given us the keys to a better life and existence and we continually try to do it alone.
Cain where is your brother. Cain did not see that he needed his brother. Do we see we need our brothers and sisters? We shine our brightest when we shine together. (Matthew 5:14-16) It takes all of us to make up the image of God. The hand can’t say I have no need of you. (1 Corinthians 12:21) Like putting a puzzle together we can’t know our place till we put others in their place.
How do you see others in the Body of Christ? Hindrances, Nuisances or Necessities.
Tuesday December 07, 2010
The Image of God Is Male and Female
Read Galatians 3:26-29; Genesis 1:26-27
Everyone agrees: whatever being created in the image of God means, it is very, very significant! Clearly, in Genesis chapter one, the progression of creation builds throughout the six days, culminating in the final creative act, in the second part of the sixth day, to create man as male and female in the image of God. Some key internal indicators signal the special significance of man's creation: are as follows, as just noted, man is the pinnacle of God's creative work, only after which God then says of all he has made that it is "very good". The creation of man is introduced differently than all others, with the personal and deliberative expression, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness." The one God who creates man as male and female deliberately uses plural references of himself (e.g., "Let Us," "Our image," "Our likeness") as the creator of singular "man" who is plural "male and female." The "image of God" is stated three times in 1:26-27 in relation to man as male and female but never in relation to any other part of creation. The special term for God's unique creative action, is used three times in 1:27 for the creation of man in his image as male and female. Man is given a place of rulership over all other created beings on the earth, thus indicating the higher authority and priority of man in God's created design.
God is gender friendly. We struggle with the role of men and women because we don’t see them as God sees them, He sees them as one (Galatians 3:26-29). Where would we be without the woman and where would women be without the man. We see in God’s original design male and female ruling and reigning together, they are not competing but completing. Jesus prays for our oneness. Father, I pray that they may be one as we are one. I in you and you in me – (John 17:22-23) marriage is the perfect picture of this. I know at least in my marriage and I would guess in most that where we are deficient in an area our mate makes up for it, this is a prime example of how we need each other to be complete. Just as Jesus prayed for oneness let us seek oneness.
Wednesday December 08, 2010
We Not Me
Acts 2:1-4; Matthew 18:20
There is a popular video gaming system called a wii. It has been all the craze for the past couple of years. In order to play the game it is necessary to create a character or avatar called a mii (pronounced me). We see in today’s society that we can be self-centered and driven by a me mentality. In the game of Wii it is our Mii’s goal to succeed and win the game, to face an unknown opponent with no prior knowledge of who you are facing. That can be a daunting challenge, the same can be said for life we face multiple challenges and often we do not know much about our opponents or how to win. The thing is we were created to have individual personalities and gifts and yes God created us as unique individuals, but he also created us to compliment and complete each other.
Ezekiel 37 tells us we are dried up without being brought together and being filled with the Spirit. That was the power of Pentecost they were together in one place and the Spirit came. It took together, in one place and the Spirit to manifest God’s power (Acts 2:1-4) Where two or three are gathered their am I (Matthew 18:20). When we come together there is a corporate manifestation of the power and presence of God. The truth is we are better together. Any job becomes easier and more enjoyable when we have more people do it. We need to lose the me mentality and gain the we mentality. God does nothing alone why would we?
Thursday December 09, 2010
In Our Weakness He Is Strong
Read 2 Corinthians 12:8-10; Romans 15;1-4
We all have weaknesses in certain areas and we need each other so one can be strong where another is weak. We need each other to make up the differences or deficiencies that we have. God wants us to make up for the weaknesses of others. The enemy attacks through our weaknesses but God works in our weaknesses to show His Strength (2 Corinthians 12:8-10). If we let Him God will be strong for us when we are weak. God makes up for our weaknesses. We all have weaknesses in some area and that is why When we look at the weaknesses of the parts of the Body of Christ we miss the opportunity to see the power of God’s grace to overcome weaknesses of their leaders or members of the body of Christ but just because we have weaknesses does not mean we can’t be used to manifest God’s strengths and Glory.
There is no shame in being weak; because the power of God’s grace overcomes our weakness and allows us to show off His strength in us. This lets others see how God’s image in us overcomes any weakness in us. The bible tells us that in our weakness He is strong!
Friday December 10, 2010
Strength & Beauty
Read John 1:18; 1 Peter 4:10
When God made Adam male and female he joined Strength and beauty together to manifest the image of God. When we see them we see the power of God and the love of God manifested in covenant relationship and it gives us the picture of God. It takes opposites to produce. The man was to reveal the woman and the woman was to be his helper making him known. It is called intimate relationship and when that happens it reveals the one you are connected too. (John 1:18) Only the one that is at your side can make you known. The man knows the woman and the woman makes known the man. The truth is that it takes male and female in the ministry of God to administer the grace of God in all its various forms. (1 Peter 4:10) God loves to show Himself off in diversity working in unity.
The Weekender December 11, 2010
We, We, We All the Way Home
Read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 1 Corinthians 11:29; Matthew
It's better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth. And if one falls down, the other helps, But if there's no one to help, tough! Two in a bed warm each other.
Alone, you shiver all night. By yourself you're unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn't easily snapped. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12(The Message)
The image of God is found in being a part of one another. When we don’t give recognition to the parts of the Body of Christ we lose the blessing and we fall under the curse. (1 Corinthians 11:29) When we don’t recognize and give proper honor to the other parts of the body we lose the benefits of that part of the Body. If we don’t recognize the gifts around us we lose their benefit to us. We can only receive from what we recognize. (Matthew 10:41) For example if we don’t receive a medical doctor in the name of a medical doctor we lose the advantage of his contribution to our health. We need each other and it is vital that we receive the other parts of the Body of Christ for who and what they are. The reality is that we can do life best when we do it with others.
As I was talking to Pastor this week prior to sitting down and writing the Daily Compass, we were sharing with each other our take on the notes he had given me on this week’s message, my thoughts jumped to the video game “Wii” as I mentioned in one of the topics earlier this week, but Pastor’s thoughts were with a nursery rhyme and game that is often played with babies which most of us or familiar with “This Little Piggy”. In the last scenario the last little piggy cried wee, wee, wee all the way home. Whether it is Wii or Wee, Wee, Wee, WE all need each other and we all need each other all the way home!
The Image of God is Corporate
Read Acts 2: 1-21; Genesis 5:1-2; Galatians 3;26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:11
What is the image we are made in look like? It is corporate. It does not say look at me but look it says at we. It takes all of us to make up the image of god. The language of creation gives us the picture of what that image is like. God said “let us” and then “let them”. We together make up the image of God. In all our diversity there is found the strength and beauty of God. God sees unity in diversity. We see division but God sees completion. We need each other for completion. None of us is as good as all of us. When we are along something is missing but when we are unified by the same Spirit there is completeness. The completing factor is the Spirit of God that makes all of us one.
One of the most frustrating parts of decorating the Christmas Tree is trying to put the lights on finding that one of the bulbs is missing, therefore preventing the lights from shining. Like the bulbs of the Christmas lights we can’t shine if one of the bulbs is missing. We are not really together til we are all together. Now if God gets frustrated I can imagine that this would be one thing that would frustrate Him, He has repeatedly given us the keys to a better life and existence and we continually try to do it alone.
Cain where is your brother. Cain did not see that he needed his brother. Do we see we need our brothers and sisters? We shine our brightest when we shine together. (Matthew 5:14-16) It takes all of us to make up the image of God. The hand can’t say I have no need of you. (1 Corinthians 12:21) Like putting a puzzle together we can’t know our place till we put others in their place.
How do you see others in the Body of Christ? Hindrances, Nuisances or Necessities.
Tuesday December 07, 2010
The Image of God Is Male and Female
Read Galatians 3:26-29; Genesis 1:26-27
Everyone agrees: whatever being created in the image of God means, it is very, very significant! Clearly, in Genesis chapter one, the progression of creation builds throughout the six days, culminating in the final creative act, in the second part of the sixth day, to create man as male and female in the image of God. Some key internal indicators signal the special significance of man's creation: are as follows, as just noted, man is the pinnacle of God's creative work, only after which God then says of all he has made that it is "very good". The creation of man is introduced differently than all others, with the personal and deliberative expression, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness." The one God who creates man as male and female deliberately uses plural references of himself (e.g., "Let Us," "Our image," "Our likeness") as the creator of singular "man" who is plural "male and female." The "image of God" is stated three times in 1:26-27 in relation to man as male and female but never in relation to any other part of creation. The special term for God's unique creative action, is used three times in 1:27 for the creation of man in his image as male and female. Man is given a place of rulership over all other created beings on the earth, thus indicating the higher authority and priority of man in God's created design.
God is gender friendly. We struggle with the role of men and women because we don’t see them as God sees them, He sees them as one (Galatians 3:26-29). Where would we be without the woman and where would women be without the man. We see in God’s original design male and female ruling and reigning together, they are not competing but completing. Jesus prays for our oneness. Father, I pray that they may be one as we are one. I in you and you in me – (John 17:22-23) marriage is the perfect picture of this. I know at least in my marriage and I would guess in most that where we are deficient in an area our mate makes up for it, this is a prime example of how we need each other to be complete. Just as Jesus prayed for oneness let us seek oneness.
Wednesday December 08, 2010
We Not Me
Acts 2:1-4; Matthew 18:20
There is a popular video gaming system called a wii. It has been all the craze for the past couple of years. In order to play the game it is necessary to create a character or avatar called a mii (pronounced me). We see in today’s society that we can be self-centered and driven by a me mentality. In the game of Wii it is our Mii’s goal to succeed and win the game, to face an unknown opponent with no prior knowledge of who you are facing. That can be a daunting challenge, the same can be said for life we face multiple challenges and often we do not know much about our opponents or how to win. The thing is we were created to have individual personalities and gifts and yes God created us as unique individuals, but he also created us to compliment and complete each other.
Ezekiel 37 tells us we are dried up without being brought together and being filled with the Spirit. That was the power of Pentecost they were together in one place and the Spirit came. It took together, in one place and the Spirit to manifest God’s power (Acts 2:1-4) Where two or three are gathered their am I (Matthew 18:20). When we come together there is a corporate manifestation of the power and presence of God. The truth is we are better together. Any job becomes easier and more enjoyable when we have more people do it. We need to lose the me mentality and gain the we mentality. God does nothing alone why would we?
Thursday December 09, 2010
In Our Weakness He Is Strong
Read 2 Corinthians 12:8-10; Romans 15;1-4
We all have weaknesses in certain areas and we need each other so one can be strong where another is weak. We need each other to make up the differences or deficiencies that we have. God wants us to make up for the weaknesses of others. The enemy attacks through our weaknesses but God works in our weaknesses to show His Strength (2 Corinthians 12:8-10). If we let Him God will be strong for us when we are weak. God makes up for our weaknesses. We all have weaknesses in some area and that is why When we look at the weaknesses of the parts of the Body of Christ we miss the opportunity to see the power of God’s grace to overcome weaknesses of their leaders or members of the body of Christ but just because we have weaknesses does not mean we can’t be used to manifest God’s strengths and Glory.
There is no shame in being weak; because the power of God’s grace overcomes our weakness and allows us to show off His strength in us. This lets others see how God’s image in us overcomes any weakness in us. The bible tells us that in our weakness He is strong!
Friday December 10, 2010
Strength & Beauty
Read John 1:18; 1 Peter 4:10
When God made Adam male and female he joined Strength and beauty together to manifest the image of God. When we see them we see the power of God and the love of God manifested in covenant relationship and it gives us the picture of God. It takes opposites to produce. The man was to reveal the woman and the woman was to be his helper making him known. It is called intimate relationship and when that happens it reveals the one you are connected too. (John 1:18) Only the one that is at your side can make you known. The man knows the woman and the woman makes known the man. The truth is that it takes male and female in the ministry of God to administer the grace of God in all its various forms. (1 Peter 4:10) God loves to show Himself off in diversity working in unity.
The Weekender December 11, 2010
We, We, We All the Way Home
Read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 1 Corinthians 11:29; Matthew
It's better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth. And if one falls down, the other helps, But if there's no one to help, tough! Two in a bed warm each other.
Alone, you shiver all night. By yourself you're unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn't easily snapped. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12(The Message)
The image of God is found in being a part of one another. When we don’t give recognition to the parts of the Body of Christ we lose the blessing and we fall under the curse. (1 Corinthians 11:29) When we don’t recognize and give proper honor to the other parts of the body we lose the benefits of that part of the Body. If we don’t recognize the gifts around us we lose their benefit to us. We can only receive from what we recognize. (Matthew 10:41) For example if we don’t receive a medical doctor in the name of a medical doctor we lose the advantage of his contribution to our health. We need each other and it is vital that we receive the other parts of the Body of Christ for who and what they are. The reality is that we can do life best when we do it with others.
As I was talking to Pastor this week prior to sitting down and writing the Daily Compass, we were sharing with each other our take on the notes he had given me on this week’s message, my thoughts jumped to the video game “Wii” as I mentioned in one of the topics earlier this week, but Pastor’s thoughts were with a nursery rhyme and game that is often played with babies which most of us or familiar with “This Little Piggy”. In the last scenario the last little piggy cried wee, wee, wee all the way home. Whether it is Wii or Wee, Wee, Wee, WE all need each other and we all need each other all the way home!
November 29, 2010
November 29 - December 04, 2010
Monday November 29, 2010
Do Not Deny His Image
Read Galatians 4:1; Genesis 1:26-28; I Corinthians 15:49
A man or a woman will never rise above their self-image. The image that you have of yourself will cause you to succeed or fail in life. The image you have of yourself will carry you to the height of success or plunge you into the depths of defeat. It’s not who you are, it’s who you believe you are.
As Christians, it is vital that we see ourselves as God sees us. Some believers struggle with their own image, and fail, for they do not see themselves as God sees them. The Bible says that even though a man is an heir, he is no different than a servant as long as he remains a child and doesn’t recognize who he is. We must grow up spiritually and recognize who we are, and who is our Father. Many believers have a wrong image of themselves. They are living in the past, bound by some negative things others have said about them. Perhaps there have been difficulties in their life that have scarred them emotionally. Because of this, they have not realized who they are in God.
In Genesis 1: 26-28, we read how God created man in His own image and likeness. The word “likeness” refers to God’s nature - in essence, all that He is. When Adam sinned, spiritual death crushed the glory God had originally deposited. For years it lay dormant until Jesus came to provide the way for spiritual rebirth so that the image of God could once again be revealed. Your restoration into God’s image begins at salvation- that’s where the process starts. The Bible declares in I CORINTHIANS 15: 49 - “And as we have born the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.”
The image of Adam was in you because of sin. But after salvation, God began to restore His image and likeness in you. And all you must do is cooperate with God and believe what His Word says about you.
Tuesday November 30, 2010
No Denying
Read Ephesians 1:11-14
We can’t be what we deny. God says that we were saved to be conformed to the image of His Son. God wants us to have our image back and that image is found in a person. If God says we are the image of his Son Jesus and we are being conformed to that likeness then why does the religious world teach us that no one can every be like Him? When we were born again God placed the seal of the Holy Spirit on us to approve of what was and is being done in us. If God says we are conformed to that image let’s believe what He has said.
Chris Vallotton in his book “The Supernatural Ways of Royalty” said in his book when people complement you on your Godliness. They are like someone who compliments a great painting they are complementing the artist and the model. We look at Jesus and we see the perfect image of who we are. If people complement us they are complementing the artist and the model. When people complement us they are giving glory to God and the model Jesus Christ. They are saying you look like Him. God intended us to look like Him. When will we believe that what He says He will do?
The Holy Spirit causes us to look like Him. The Spirit cries out daddy in us. He tells us who we are and who we belong too. He causes us to see the likeness of who we are. We are the Sons of God. The Holy Spirit restores our identity (image).
Wednesday December 01, 2010
Seeing Who You Are
Read Romans 8:14-17; 2 Corinthians 3:18
When we walk like Adam as He did in the garden with God we take on his image. His image in us reflects His likeness to the world around us. We look more like Him as we continue to walk with Him. The Holy Spirit seals the Spirit of the Son in us. When Paul found believers in the city of Ephesus and they did not look like Jesus, His first question was have you received the Holy Spirit sense you believed. If people can’t see His Spirit in you maybe we need to ask for that Spirit. We have been given His Spirit so we can see His likeness. The Holy Spirit reveals Him to us and then reveals Him through us.
The Holy Spirit reveals who you are through the Word of God: In Old Testament times, God commanded that a basin called a “Laver” be placed outside the door to the Tabernacle. The laver was made of reflective material so that each time someone washed in it they saw themselves. The laver is symbolic of the Word of God. As we look into God’s Word and let it cleanse us, we are changed so that the image of God can be reflected through our lives. 2 Corinthians 3: 18 - “But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Each time you read the Bible, it becomes a spiritual looking glass where God reveals Himself to you as well as revealing your own spiritual condition. As you act upon the Word, you are progressively changing into that same image.
Thursday December 02, 2010
Who Do You Look Like?
Read John 1:10-13
Baptism is the picture and sign of who God says you are and what He has created you to look like. It speaks to the church and the world of a new image in Christ.
The gospel writers tell us that identity was confirmed from heaven when Jesus was baptized. The only other time that we hear the words “behold my son” is in. This is when the disciples wanted to put Holy men in the same category as the Son of God. We are not to look to men for our image but to Jesus. No matter who the men are they are not the perfect image of God. We are not to be made in the image of men but the image of God. When we set men as those we identify with we deny His image in us. We are created to be like Him and no one else.
Baptism is our identification with Him not to a church, denomination, man or movement. We
are to get our image from Him. God pre-determined before time – begin that we would take on
His Image. As He is in this world so are we.
Friday December 03, 2010
Our Reflection Revealed
Read Colossians 3:10; 2 Peter 1:3
We are revealed by the knowledge of God: Colossians 3: 10 tells us that we are renewed in knowledge after God. Your spirit man is continually renewed as you gain more knowledge about God. In 2 Peter 1: 3 “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.” Here we learn that everything you need in this life comes through knowing God. He is the source. He is the focus. As you come to know Him, you will realize that His image and likeness dwell within you - the essence of His divine nature.
We are revealed by confessing the Word of God: Confession works only if the Word of God is bubbling out of your soul. Many people have a problem with confession because they are trying to confess from the outside in But even when spiritual babies have God’s Word bubbling in them, that Word halts the enemy in his track: PSALM 8: 1 -2 declares: “O LORD our Lord, haw excellent is Your Name in all the earth! Who has set Your glory above the heavens.
The Weekender December 04, 2010
A Message from Father God
“When I was hungry you gave me meat, when you did my image reflected in you. When I was thirsty you gave me a drink. My image reflected in you. When I was a stranger, you took me in. My image reflected in you. When I was naked, you clothed me. My image reflected in you. When I was sick, you visited me, encouraged me, prayed for my healing and gave me hope. My image reflected in you. When I was in prison you came to me sharing God’s love with me. My image was reflected in you. When I fell by the wayside and didn’t want to live, you told me of God’s great love for me and about His forgiveness and I forgave myself. God’s image reflected in you. Many times I came to you in different colors and sizes. When you walked in love toward the least of these you walked in love toward me. My image reflected in you. When my children are fearful, share faith with them. Shed my light and love on them. Give a smile, give a hug, and give a loving word of encouragement. When discouragement has overcome one of my children, give him the light of hope and the promise of my love and a better tomorrow, for my image reflects in you.
Take care of my little ones as I care for you. See them through my eyes as my image reflects in you. Love doesn’t even know when it has been done wrong when my image reflects in you. Give a cup of cold water in my name, as my image reflects in you. Speak peace to storms and chaos as it reflects in you. Be of good cheer and pass it on. Let the world see my reflection in you. Don’t be weary in doing well for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Be courageous and bold in overcoming for I have overcome the world. Rejoice in the Lord and greet each new day letting my image reflect in you. Do everything as unto the Lord and keep a grateful heart. My image will continually radiate from you.”
Do Not Deny His Image
Read Galatians 4:1; Genesis 1:26-28; I Corinthians 15:49
A man or a woman will never rise above their self-image. The image that you have of yourself will cause you to succeed or fail in life. The image you have of yourself will carry you to the height of success or plunge you into the depths of defeat. It’s not who you are, it’s who you believe you are.
As Christians, it is vital that we see ourselves as God sees us. Some believers struggle with their own image, and fail, for they do not see themselves as God sees them. The Bible says that even though a man is an heir, he is no different than a servant as long as he remains a child and doesn’t recognize who he is. We must grow up spiritually and recognize who we are, and who is our Father. Many believers have a wrong image of themselves. They are living in the past, bound by some negative things others have said about them. Perhaps there have been difficulties in their life that have scarred them emotionally. Because of this, they have not realized who they are in God.
In Genesis 1: 26-28, we read how God created man in His own image and likeness. The word “likeness” refers to God’s nature - in essence, all that He is. When Adam sinned, spiritual death crushed the glory God had originally deposited. For years it lay dormant until Jesus came to provide the way for spiritual rebirth so that the image of God could once again be revealed. Your restoration into God’s image begins at salvation- that’s where the process starts. The Bible declares in I CORINTHIANS 15: 49 - “And as we have born the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.”
The image of Adam was in you because of sin. But after salvation, God began to restore His image and likeness in you. And all you must do is cooperate with God and believe what His Word says about you.
Tuesday November 30, 2010
No Denying
Read Ephesians 1:11-14
We can’t be what we deny. God says that we were saved to be conformed to the image of His Son. God wants us to have our image back and that image is found in a person. If God says we are the image of his Son Jesus and we are being conformed to that likeness then why does the religious world teach us that no one can every be like Him? When we were born again God placed the seal of the Holy Spirit on us to approve of what was and is being done in us. If God says we are conformed to that image let’s believe what He has said.
Chris Vallotton in his book “The Supernatural Ways of Royalty” said in his book when people complement you on your Godliness. They are like someone who compliments a great painting they are complementing the artist and the model. We look at Jesus and we see the perfect image of who we are. If people complement us they are complementing the artist and the model. When people complement us they are giving glory to God and the model Jesus Christ. They are saying you look like Him. God intended us to look like Him. When will we believe that what He says He will do?
The Holy Spirit causes us to look like Him. The Spirit cries out daddy in us. He tells us who we are and who we belong too. He causes us to see the likeness of who we are. We are the Sons of God. The Holy Spirit restores our identity (image).
Wednesday December 01, 2010
Seeing Who You Are
Read Romans 8:14-17; 2 Corinthians 3:18
When we walk like Adam as He did in the garden with God we take on his image. His image in us reflects His likeness to the world around us. We look more like Him as we continue to walk with Him. The Holy Spirit seals the Spirit of the Son in us. When Paul found believers in the city of Ephesus and they did not look like Jesus, His first question was have you received the Holy Spirit sense you believed. If people can’t see His Spirit in you maybe we need to ask for that Spirit. We have been given His Spirit so we can see His likeness. The Holy Spirit reveals Him to us and then reveals Him through us.
The Holy Spirit reveals who you are through the Word of God: In Old Testament times, God commanded that a basin called a “Laver” be placed outside the door to the Tabernacle. The laver was made of reflective material so that each time someone washed in it they saw themselves. The laver is symbolic of the Word of God. As we look into God’s Word and let it cleanse us, we are changed so that the image of God can be reflected through our lives. 2 Corinthians 3: 18 - “But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Each time you read the Bible, it becomes a spiritual looking glass where God reveals Himself to you as well as revealing your own spiritual condition. As you act upon the Word, you are progressively changing into that same image.
Thursday December 02, 2010
Who Do You Look Like?
Read John 1:10-13
Baptism is the picture and sign of who God says you are and what He has created you to look like. It speaks to the church and the world of a new image in Christ.
The gospel writers tell us that identity was confirmed from heaven when Jesus was baptized. The only other time that we hear the words “behold my son” is in. This is when the disciples wanted to put Holy men in the same category as the Son of God. We are not to look to men for our image but to Jesus. No matter who the men are they are not the perfect image of God. We are not to be made in the image of men but the image of God. When we set men as those we identify with we deny His image in us. We are created to be like Him and no one else.
Baptism is our identification with Him not to a church, denomination, man or movement. We
are to get our image from Him. God pre-determined before time – begin that we would take on
His Image. As He is in this world so are we.
Friday December 03, 2010
Our Reflection Revealed
Read Colossians 3:10; 2 Peter 1:3
We are revealed by the knowledge of God: Colossians 3: 10 tells us that we are renewed in knowledge after God. Your spirit man is continually renewed as you gain more knowledge about God. In 2 Peter 1: 3 “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.” Here we learn that everything you need in this life comes through knowing God. He is the source. He is the focus. As you come to know Him, you will realize that His image and likeness dwell within you - the essence of His divine nature.
We are revealed by confessing the Word of God: Confession works only if the Word of God is bubbling out of your soul. Many people have a problem with confession because they are trying to confess from the outside in But even when spiritual babies have God’s Word bubbling in them, that Word halts the enemy in his track: PSALM 8: 1 -2 declares: “O LORD our Lord, haw excellent is Your Name in all the earth! Who has set Your glory above the heavens.
The Weekender December 04, 2010
A Message from Father God
“When I was hungry you gave me meat, when you did my image reflected in you. When I was thirsty you gave me a drink. My image reflected in you. When I was a stranger, you took me in. My image reflected in you. When I was naked, you clothed me. My image reflected in you. When I was sick, you visited me, encouraged me, prayed for my healing and gave me hope. My image reflected in you. When I was in prison you came to me sharing God’s love with me. My image was reflected in you. When I fell by the wayside and didn’t want to live, you told me of God’s great love for me and about His forgiveness and I forgave myself. God’s image reflected in you. Many times I came to you in different colors and sizes. When you walked in love toward the least of these you walked in love toward me. My image reflected in you. When my children are fearful, share faith with them. Shed my light and love on them. Give a smile, give a hug, and give a loving word of encouragement. When discouragement has overcome one of my children, give him the light of hope and the promise of my love and a better tomorrow, for my image reflects in you.
Take care of my little ones as I care for you. See them through my eyes as my image reflects in you. Love doesn’t even know when it has been done wrong when my image reflects in you. Give a cup of cold water in my name, as my image reflects in you. Speak peace to storms and chaos as it reflects in you. Be of good cheer and pass it on. Let the world see my reflection in you. Don’t be weary in doing well for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Be courageous and bold in overcoming for I have overcome the world. Rejoice in the Lord and greet each new day letting my image reflect in you. Do everything as unto the Lord and keep a grateful heart. My image will continually radiate from you.”
November 23, 2010
November 22 - 27, 2010
Monday November 22, 2010
Identity Theft
Read Mark 4:15
We hear a lot today about identity theft. Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personally identifying information, like your name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. The FTC estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. In fact, you or someone you know may have experienced some form of identity theft. The crime takes many forms. Identity thieves may rent an apartment, obtain a credit card, or establish a telephone account in your name. You may not find out about the theft until you review your credit report or a credit card statement and notice charges you didn’t make—or until you’re contacted by a debt collector. Identity theft is serious. While some identity theft victims can resolve their problems quickly, others spend hundreds of dollars and many days repairing damage to their good name and credit record. Some consumers victimized by identity theft may lose out on job opportunities, or be denied loans for education, housing or cars because of negative information on their credit reports. In rare cases, they may even be arrested for crimes they did not commit. We are asked to be careful and we are asked to by plans that will protect our identity. Why? Because our identity is who we are and it is all that we have.
We find that it is the same in Spirit, as soon as God plants His word in us of who He is and who we are in Him, that the devil comes to steal our identity. Without your identity you are unable to function in the world. Without you knowing your true identity you are lost. One of the ways that the devil steals from us is through tempting us. By tempting and trying to confuse us about our identity he would have us to think that it is God is trying to cause us to fall; but in James 1:14-15 he tells us who the real culprit is (I like Peterson’s translation), Don't let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, "God is trying to trip me up." God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one's way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer (The Message). The devil will make us question God and who and what He is, His Word and who we are in Him. That is why it is imperative that we learn to hear God and recognize His voice when He is calling or speaking to us. When we open ourselves up to relationship with the Father and pursue a relationship with Him that we actually have true protection against IDENTITY THEFT.
Tuesday November 23, 2010
Are You Really Who You Say You Are?
Read John 5:19, 30; 15:5
Eve Just like Jesus was tempted in the area of her identity. The devil’s strategy has never changed. He tempted Jesus with the same thing. The two greatest challenges the devil has ever had are recorded in Genesis 3 and Matthew 4. They involved the temptation of Adam and Eve and of Jesus, the sinless Son of God. In both cases, the rewards of success would be great for the devil, having far reaching consequences. Hence, Satan employed every possible means available in both cases. He appealed to the woman alone; he often seeks to isolate us. He persuaded Eve to sin through the lust of the flesh, eyes, and pride of life. The consequences of Eve's sin were great and gained a definite victory for Satan. The devil also approached Jesus by means of the same three avenues of temptation. However, in Jesus' case, the devil failed. As a result of the devil's failure, there are many advantageous spiritual consequences that potentially and in reality affect all men.
The thing is we must be like Jesus when the devil comes with his temptation, we must know who we are in Christ and we must know The Word. Jesus knew the Word, because He is the Word and when the devil tempted He spoke the Word. He let the devil know where his place was and He let the devil know Who He Was.
Wednesday November 24, 2010
Prove It!
Read Philippians 4:13
The devil says, who is God and did he really say you are the Son of God. The devil tempted Jesus to fulfill a desire by exercising His own personal authority and power independently of God. As we, when we become believers the devil attacks us in very much the same way, the tries to get us to things apart from God. He tells us that we do not need God that we can do things on our own. He is tempting us to be God.
Jesus our example responded in this way when the devil tempted Him; Jesus knew what God was saying to Him in the scriptures and what He has said to me. Jesus used the Word of God to defeat the devil not His own personal authority but they authority of what God has said and is saying. Jesus tells us that He did nothing apart from God and we cannot either.
Thursday November 25, 2010
A Question Of Our Identity
Read 1 John 2:15-17
Satan tried to get Jesus to question God about who He had told Him he was. Satan wants to take our identity. He will try to make us doubt God’s love for us, His Word and who God says we are. The nature of temptation is always the same. The enemy always uses our natural cravings to take our focus away from God and put our focus on ourselves. He always wants us to question our identity. Our Image.
Friday November 26, 2010
What Were You Thinking Eve?
Have you ever thought that Eve being tempted was how she envisioned herself? This all started over an identity “image” crisis. Eve looked at herself and took her focus off the image God gave her. Could Eve have seen herself as second to Adam in God’s eye or that she was somehow inferior because of the position that God had given her? Or did she start seeing herself as second best, different and inferior than Adam? Inferiority destroys us by giving us a false reality of who we really are and how others see us. The reality is that God does not make inferior stuff. Because of feelings of inferiority and low self worth, Eve looked for position and supremacy so she could boast of who she was and what she had. She wanted to feel better about herself and feel accepted. She wanted her own place, not just being a part of a relationship. This is the nature of temptation. Any time we want to separate ourselves from God and each other we get separated from our true identity. Our true identity is found in Christ and in the Body of Christ. Your identity can only be found in him and in those that are connected to Him. God made man in His image and placed him in a place He prepared for him to grow, serve and find significance.
The Weekender November 27, 2010
The Security Of Our Identity
Read Galatians 5:26; Philippians 2:1-4: Luke 14:10-11
Have you ever been insecure? At first I wanted to resist the idea that I was feeling insecure because I knew a lot about my identity in Christ. I knew that I was a child of God, a friend of God and He had placed an awesome responsibility on my life. With that kind of identity, how could I possibly feel insecure? But I did. The truth was, I had hit a humdrum point in my faith walk with God and it triggered insecurity. The longer I sat in front of my computer considering my identity in Christ, the more I began to wonder where my security in Christ fit in, and if there was a difference.
I looked up both words in the dictionary and had to face that my answer was staring back at me. Identity refers to “The condition of being the same as a person or thing described” while security refers to, “The state of being or feeling free from fear, anxiety or doubt.” Well the light bulb came on - that was it. While I understood my identity in Christ, I needed to understand my security in Christ in order to be free from fear and doubt and move to the next level in my faith walk with God. I said a quick prayer asking God to give me something that would help me grow in my security. No sooner had I finished the prayer then a thought popped into my head “Being secure is knowing in my heart and soul who God is, who Jesus is, who I am and being able to put this knowledge to work in His Kingdom and using it to set me free. This thought lead me to discover that I believed in false securities and I had never recognized these as lies from the devil which pulled me away from God.
You know that as we discover, through a deeper revelation of God’s character and unconditional love, that being secure in heart is our rightful position as believers. The key however, is being willing to engage in the battle necessary to maintain our security. Security in heart is our most precious gift from God. But this gift must be battled for and protected because the enemy wants to take it from us. Having a deeper revelation of who God is, and also understanding who we are in God, equips us for the battle. And when we apply the truth of God’s Word daily, we are truly able to fight, win and stand strong in our security.
In a world that often will work to undercut your sense of worth, claim your identity and your destiny from Jesus: you are God’s Beloved.
Identity Theft
Read Mark 4:15
We hear a lot today about identity theft. Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personally identifying information, like your name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. The FTC estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. In fact, you or someone you know may have experienced some form of identity theft. The crime takes many forms. Identity thieves may rent an apartment, obtain a credit card, or establish a telephone account in your name. You may not find out about the theft until you review your credit report or a credit card statement and notice charges you didn’t make—or until you’re contacted by a debt collector. Identity theft is serious. While some identity theft victims can resolve their problems quickly, others spend hundreds of dollars and many days repairing damage to their good name and credit record. Some consumers victimized by identity theft may lose out on job opportunities, or be denied loans for education, housing or cars because of negative information on their credit reports. In rare cases, they may even be arrested for crimes they did not commit. We are asked to be careful and we are asked to by plans that will protect our identity. Why? Because our identity is who we are and it is all that we have.
We find that it is the same in Spirit, as soon as God plants His word in us of who He is and who we are in Him, that the devil comes to steal our identity. Without your identity you are unable to function in the world. Without you knowing your true identity you are lost. One of the ways that the devil steals from us is through tempting us. By tempting and trying to confuse us about our identity he would have us to think that it is God is trying to cause us to fall; but in James 1:14-15 he tells us who the real culprit is (I like Peterson’s translation), Don't let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, "God is trying to trip me up." God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one's way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer (The Message). The devil will make us question God and who and what He is, His Word and who we are in Him. That is why it is imperative that we learn to hear God and recognize His voice when He is calling or speaking to us. When we open ourselves up to relationship with the Father and pursue a relationship with Him that we actually have true protection against IDENTITY THEFT.
Tuesday November 23, 2010
Are You Really Who You Say You Are?
Read John 5:19, 30; 15:5
Eve Just like Jesus was tempted in the area of her identity. The devil’s strategy has never changed. He tempted Jesus with the same thing. The two greatest challenges the devil has ever had are recorded in Genesis 3 and Matthew 4. They involved the temptation of Adam and Eve and of Jesus, the sinless Son of God. In both cases, the rewards of success would be great for the devil, having far reaching consequences. Hence, Satan employed every possible means available in both cases. He appealed to the woman alone; he often seeks to isolate us. He persuaded Eve to sin through the lust of the flesh, eyes, and pride of life. The consequences of Eve's sin were great and gained a definite victory for Satan. The devil also approached Jesus by means of the same three avenues of temptation. However, in Jesus' case, the devil failed. As a result of the devil's failure, there are many advantageous spiritual consequences that potentially and in reality affect all men.
The thing is we must be like Jesus when the devil comes with his temptation, we must know who we are in Christ and we must know The Word. Jesus knew the Word, because He is the Word and when the devil tempted He spoke the Word. He let the devil know where his place was and He let the devil know Who He Was.
Wednesday November 24, 2010
Prove It!
Read Philippians 4:13
The devil says, who is God and did he really say you are the Son of God. The devil tempted Jesus to fulfill a desire by exercising His own personal authority and power independently of God. As we, when we become believers the devil attacks us in very much the same way, the tries to get us to things apart from God. He tells us that we do not need God that we can do things on our own. He is tempting us to be God.
Jesus our example responded in this way when the devil tempted Him; Jesus knew what God was saying to Him in the scriptures and what He has said to me. Jesus used the Word of God to defeat the devil not His own personal authority but they authority of what God has said and is saying. Jesus tells us that He did nothing apart from God and we cannot either.
Thursday November 25, 2010
A Question Of Our Identity
Read 1 John 2:15-17
Satan tried to get Jesus to question God about who He had told Him he was. Satan wants to take our identity. He will try to make us doubt God’s love for us, His Word and who God says we are. The nature of temptation is always the same. The enemy always uses our natural cravings to take our focus away from God and put our focus on ourselves. He always wants us to question our identity. Our Image.
Friday November 26, 2010
What Were You Thinking Eve?
Have you ever thought that Eve being tempted was how she envisioned herself? This all started over an identity “image” crisis. Eve looked at herself and took her focus off the image God gave her. Could Eve have seen herself as second to Adam in God’s eye or that she was somehow inferior because of the position that God had given her? Or did she start seeing herself as second best, different and inferior than Adam? Inferiority destroys us by giving us a false reality of who we really are and how others see us. The reality is that God does not make inferior stuff. Because of feelings of inferiority and low self worth, Eve looked for position and supremacy so she could boast of who she was and what she had. She wanted to feel better about herself and feel accepted. She wanted her own place, not just being a part of a relationship. This is the nature of temptation. Any time we want to separate ourselves from God and each other we get separated from our true identity. Our true identity is found in Christ and in the Body of Christ. Your identity can only be found in him and in those that are connected to Him. God made man in His image and placed him in a place He prepared for him to grow, serve and find significance.
The Weekender November 27, 2010
The Security Of Our Identity
Read Galatians 5:26; Philippians 2:1-4: Luke 14:10-11
Have you ever been insecure? At first I wanted to resist the idea that I was feeling insecure because I knew a lot about my identity in Christ. I knew that I was a child of God, a friend of God and He had placed an awesome responsibility on my life. With that kind of identity, how could I possibly feel insecure? But I did. The truth was, I had hit a humdrum point in my faith walk with God and it triggered insecurity. The longer I sat in front of my computer considering my identity in Christ, the more I began to wonder where my security in Christ fit in, and if there was a difference.
I looked up both words in the dictionary and had to face that my answer was staring back at me. Identity refers to “The condition of being the same as a person or thing described” while security refers to, “The state of being or feeling free from fear, anxiety or doubt.” Well the light bulb came on - that was it. While I understood my identity in Christ, I needed to understand my security in Christ in order to be free from fear and doubt and move to the next level in my faith walk with God. I said a quick prayer asking God to give me something that would help me grow in my security. No sooner had I finished the prayer then a thought popped into my head “Being secure is knowing in my heart and soul who God is, who Jesus is, who I am and being able to put this knowledge to work in His Kingdom and using it to set me free. This thought lead me to discover that I believed in false securities and I had never recognized these as lies from the devil which pulled me away from God.
You know that as we discover, through a deeper revelation of God’s character and unconditional love, that being secure in heart is our rightful position as believers. The key however, is being willing to engage in the battle necessary to maintain our security. Security in heart is our most precious gift from God. But this gift must be battled for and protected because the enemy wants to take it from us. Having a deeper revelation of who God is, and also understanding who we are in God, equips us for the battle. And when we apply the truth of God’s Word daily, we are truly able to fight, win and stand strong in our security.
In a world that often will work to undercut your sense of worth, claim your identity and your destiny from Jesus: you are God’s Beloved.
November 15, 2010
November 15 - 20, 2010
Monday November 15, 2010
The Perfect Image Of God
Read Colossians 3:9-10
When we look at Jesus, we see the absolute, beneficial, and relational aspects of the image of God in humanity. First, the absolute aspect is revealed through the way Jesus reflects God’s attributes. He shows us the love of the Father. He shows us God’s mercy. He shows us God’s wrath. He shows us God’s holy anger at injustice. He shows us God’s grace to the sinner. He shows us God’s hatred of hypocrisy. He shows us God’s goodness and His care. Jesus reflected these attributes perfectly. Jesus is the true mirror image of God, since He is both God and man. But even in our fallen state, we can see reflections of God’s character and attributes.
Secondly, the beneficial aspect of the image of God in humanity is seen through Jesus’ actions. Jesus reflects God, not only by who He is, but by what He does. When He calmed the storm, He showed His power over nature and His dominion over the earth (which, was part of the mandate given to Adam). Jesus sought out the lost. He freed those who were held captive to demon possession. He suffered in the place of sinners. He fed thousands on the mountaintop, revealing God’s provision. Jesus perfectly reflected God’s image by what He did. Fallen humanity also reflects God’s image functionally, even though differently than Jesus. Whenever we create something, whether a piece of art or music or a sculpture, we are mirroring the God who created the world out of nothing. When we rule wisely over creation, using its resources with care and avoiding waste, our rule of the earth mirrors the God who is Lord of the universe. When we choose to suffer that others may have comfort, we are imaging the Savior who died, that others may live.
Thirdly, Jesus reflects God relationally. In His relationship to the Father, He is showing us what God is like. In His relationship with the disciples, He is mirroring the patience, love that God has for His children. The way Jesus relates to the Father, to the disciples, and to others shows us a perfect picture of God. We reflect God when we worship Him as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We reflect God when we love the people He made in His image. God wants us to know about the image He placed in us. Jesus the perfect image of God came to reveal God so that we could see our image.
Tuesday November 16, 2010
Re-Imaged By Jesus
Read Colossians 1:15
The Bible teaches no one has seen God. It also teaches Jesus is the image of Him who is invisible. Why, even Jesus Himself said to His disciples “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father”. God Almighty is too magnificent for mere humans to see and comprehend. So when Jesus Christ was here on earth in human form, he was the representation of God Himself, in a physical way we humans would be able to understand. Jesus was a picture of God’s character. His life was a model for us to follow. Jesus is the perfect image of the father and when we identify with the Lord we take on His image.
Likewise, we Christians are to be representatives of God to the unbelieving world. By choosing to live God’s way instead of our way, we let God’s glory shine out from within. We are not our own, we were purchased by the precious blood of Christ. Now, let our bodies become tools of righteousness used by God for His glory.
When people see you what do they see a representation of God?
Wednesday November 17, 2010
Re-Imaged By The Word
Read Hebrews 10:7; John 1:1-4
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. (John 1:1-4)
Everything begins with the word. The Word is the God and the Word brings God’s presence. His presence is in His Word or His Word is in His presence. The Word and God are one. All things are created through the Word. Nothing is made without it. The Word creates faith and faith causes us to proclaim it. We are created in the image of the Word. We are changed into His image as we behold that word and have faith. In the volume of the book it is written of me (Hebrews 10:7) Jesus saw Himself in the scriptures. We can’t know who we are without reading about who Jesus is and what He has said.
The Word of God builds the image of God because it builds faith in us. We should be reading the Word to see what God is saying and doing and what ever God is saying and doing is what we are to say and do. The Word mixed with faith creates in us the image of who God is and who He says we are.
Thursday November 18, 2010
The Holy Spirit Re-Images Us
Read John 6:44; Matthew 16:17; 1 Corinthians 2:10
The Holy Spirit is at work, showing us what Christ has done, and how that makes a difference in what's going on around us. The Spirit's witness to Christ doesn't function like a hypertext link. One doesn't click one's mouse on the Spirit's doings and get taken to the front page of Jesus' Cyber-salvation Web Site. First of all, your mouse-clicking takes more initiative than you can take in restoring your relationship with God (or, in church-talk, it's God's grace in Christ's work on the cross that saves you, not anything you do). Second, the Spirit leads us into Christ's presence and Christ's character, two things that don't pop up on a screen and say 'I'm here'. Then, the Spirit works to get our own Web Site to take on the character that others would recognize as Christ's, for instance, by removing the annoying banner ads for the causes and ideas we're stuck on, or the irritating pop-up windows with our excuses, or the sneaky spy cookies that gather the information we might want to use against others. The Spirit is trying to push this Body of the Scared past their fears into full contact with the rest of reality, especially with other people who are not aware of Christ, or who hear the Name and yawn.
The Holy Spirit works in us to make clear to us what purpose God has in mind for us. The Spirit guides us: through Scripture, through circumstances, through other believers, and through prayer. The Holy Spirit reveals who we really are; He draws us to God, as we come into His presence the Spirit in us draws from the image of God inside us. When this happens our true image can be restored or I should say re-imaged!
Friday November 19, 2010
Re-Imaged By A Covenant Connection
Read Ephesians 4:15-16
We are Re-imaged as we have Covenant Connection with Him and His Body. We can’t grown up into Him without being connected. The same Spirit that draws us to God draws us to each other. God connects us like a magnet connects everything that is magnetized to itself. Plastic Christians will not stick because they are not in covenant with God and want stay with God’s people. We need each other to grow into the image of God. Who are you drawn to and who is drawn to you. We need each other. We can’t have the image and life of God without God flowing through us. The enemy can’t hold on to us just as it could not hold on to Jesus because Jesus had none of the image of the devil in Him. Don’t be a plastic Christian but a magnetic Christian that draws all men to Him.
Are we bringing out the best in those who are around us? Are they bringing out the best in us? We grow as we supply what is needed. How do we make them better by our words, our sacrifice, our gifts and callings our love and acceptance and our covenant connection.
The Weekender November 20, 2010
Re-imaged – Our Identity Found
Read 2 Corinthians 3:18
If you were asked to identify yourself you would probably get out some form of ID. There is bound to be something you carry that describes you –your physical description and probably your relationship to other people or an organization. You might have a driver's license; an employee badge; a debit or credit card; a library card; a union card; military dog tags or a law enforcement officer's badge. Those are but a few of the many types of IDs we take with us almost everywhere we go. My main two are a driver's license and a badge to get into and around the buildings where I work.
One of the greatest fears we people have is that of losing our identity. Identity theft is a common topic in the news these days. It even shows up as an attention getting headline on credit card advertisements. When someone uses our name, account numbers and passwords, they can take everything we own and make life miserable. I don't know how many times I've gone looking for a misplaced purse or billfold after leaving them behind at a restaurant or store. The whole time my stomach was filled with anxiety about what could happen if it was picked up by the "wrong person." On TV and in print, there are advertisements about safeguarding against this kind of theft. Those ads are for services to monitor credit reports –to detect fraud– and for insurance plans –to pay for credit card misuse.
We are Re-imaged as we Do the Work the Father has created us to do. Our identify is found in our work – the world identifies us by our occupation – God reveals his image to us and then reveals it through us by the work He has given us to do. We come into the knowledge of His image as we come into the knowledge of the work; He has given us to do. To come into His image we must have: information, revelation, response (did our hearts not burn within us as He spoke) and transformation. God is looking for His Image. Are you being Re-imaged so God is able to see His image in you? The real you is made in His image.
The Perfect Image Of God
Read Colossians 3:9-10
When we look at Jesus, we see the absolute, beneficial, and relational aspects of the image of God in humanity. First, the absolute aspect is revealed through the way Jesus reflects God’s attributes. He shows us the love of the Father. He shows us God’s mercy. He shows us God’s wrath. He shows us God’s holy anger at injustice. He shows us God’s grace to the sinner. He shows us God’s hatred of hypocrisy. He shows us God’s goodness and His care. Jesus reflected these attributes perfectly. Jesus is the true mirror image of God, since He is both God and man. But even in our fallen state, we can see reflections of God’s character and attributes.
Secondly, the beneficial aspect of the image of God in humanity is seen through Jesus’ actions. Jesus reflects God, not only by who He is, but by what He does. When He calmed the storm, He showed His power over nature and His dominion over the earth (which, was part of the mandate given to Adam). Jesus sought out the lost. He freed those who were held captive to demon possession. He suffered in the place of sinners. He fed thousands on the mountaintop, revealing God’s provision. Jesus perfectly reflected God’s image by what He did. Fallen humanity also reflects God’s image functionally, even though differently than Jesus. Whenever we create something, whether a piece of art or music or a sculpture, we are mirroring the God who created the world out of nothing. When we rule wisely over creation, using its resources with care and avoiding waste, our rule of the earth mirrors the God who is Lord of the universe. When we choose to suffer that others may have comfort, we are imaging the Savior who died, that others may live.
Thirdly, Jesus reflects God relationally. In His relationship to the Father, He is showing us what God is like. In His relationship with the disciples, He is mirroring the patience, love that God has for His children. The way Jesus relates to the Father, to the disciples, and to others shows us a perfect picture of God. We reflect God when we worship Him as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We reflect God when we love the people He made in His image. God wants us to know about the image He placed in us. Jesus the perfect image of God came to reveal God so that we could see our image.
Tuesday November 16, 2010
Re-Imaged By Jesus
Read Colossians 1:15
The Bible teaches no one has seen God. It also teaches Jesus is the image of Him who is invisible. Why, even Jesus Himself said to His disciples “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father”. God Almighty is too magnificent for mere humans to see and comprehend. So when Jesus Christ was here on earth in human form, he was the representation of God Himself, in a physical way we humans would be able to understand. Jesus was a picture of God’s character. His life was a model for us to follow. Jesus is the perfect image of the father and when we identify with the Lord we take on His image.
Likewise, we Christians are to be representatives of God to the unbelieving world. By choosing to live God’s way instead of our way, we let God’s glory shine out from within. We are not our own, we were purchased by the precious blood of Christ. Now, let our bodies become tools of righteousness used by God for His glory.
When people see you what do they see a representation of God?
Wednesday November 17, 2010
Re-Imaged By The Word
Read Hebrews 10:7; John 1:1-4
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. (John 1:1-4)
Everything begins with the word. The Word is the God and the Word brings God’s presence. His presence is in His Word or His Word is in His presence. The Word and God are one. All things are created through the Word. Nothing is made without it. The Word creates faith and faith causes us to proclaim it. We are created in the image of the Word. We are changed into His image as we behold that word and have faith. In the volume of the book it is written of me (Hebrews 10:7) Jesus saw Himself in the scriptures. We can’t know who we are without reading about who Jesus is and what He has said.
The Word of God builds the image of God because it builds faith in us. We should be reading the Word to see what God is saying and doing and what ever God is saying and doing is what we are to say and do. The Word mixed with faith creates in us the image of who God is and who He says we are.
Thursday November 18, 2010
The Holy Spirit Re-Images Us
Read John 6:44; Matthew 16:17; 1 Corinthians 2:10
The Holy Spirit is at work, showing us what Christ has done, and how that makes a difference in what's going on around us. The Spirit's witness to Christ doesn't function like a hypertext link. One doesn't click one's mouse on the Spirit's doings and get taken to the front page of Jesus' Cyber-salvation Web Site. First of all, your mouse-clicking takes more initiative than you can take in restoring your relationship with God (or, in church-talk, it's God's grace in Christ's work on the cross that saves you, not anything you do). Second, the Spirit leads us into Christ's presence and Christ's character, two things that don't pop up on a screen and say 'I'm here'. Then, the Spirit works to get our own Web Site to take on the character that others would recognize as Christ's, for instance, by removing the annoying banner ads for the causes and ideas we're stuck on, or the irritating pop-up windows with our excuses, or the sneaky spy cookies that gather the information we might want to use against others. The Spirit is trying to push this Body of the Scared past their fears into full contact with the rest of reality, especially with other people who are not aware of Christ, or who hear the Name and yawn.
The Holy Spirit works in us to make clear to us what purpose God has in mind for us. The Spirit guides us: through Scripture, through circumstances, through other believers, and through prayer. The Holy Spirit reveals who we really are; He draws us to God, as we come into His presence the Spirit in us draws from the image of God inside us. When this happens our true image can be restored or I should say re-imaged!
Friday November 19, 2010
Re-Imaged By A Covenant Connection
Read Ephesians 4:15-16
We are Re-imaged as we have Covenant Connection with Him and His Body. We can’t grown up into Him without being connected. The same Spirit that draws us to God draws us to each other. God connects us like a magnet connects everything that is magnetized to itself. Plastic Christians will not stick because they are not in covenant with God and want stay with God’s people. We need each other to grow into the image of God. Who are you drawn to and who is drawn to you. We need each other. We can’t have the image and life of God without God flowing through us. The enemy can’t hold on to us just as it could not hold on to Jesus because Jesus had none of the image of the devil in Him. Don’t be a plastic Christian but a magnetic Christian that draws all men to Him.
Are we bringing out the best in those who are around us? Are they bringing out the best in us? We grow as we supply what is needed. How do we make them better by our words, our sacrifice, our gifts and callings our love and acceptance and our covenant connection.
The Weekender November 20, 2010
Re-imaged – Our Identity Found
Read 2 Corinthians 3:18
If you were asked to identify yourself you would probably get out some form of ID. There is bound to be something you carry that describes you –your physical description and probably your relationship to other people or an organization. You might have a driver's license; an employee badge; a debit or credit card; a library card; a union card; military dog tags or a law enforcement officer's badge. Those are but a few of the many types of IDs we take with us almost everywhere we go. My main two are a driver's license and a badge to get into and around the buildings where I work.
One of the greatest fears we people have is that of losing our identity. Identity theft is a common topic in the news these days. It even shows up as an attention getting headline on credit card advertisements. When someone uses our name, account numbers and passwords, they can take everything we own and make life miserable. I don't know how many times I've gone looking for a misplaced purse or billfold after leaving them behind at a restaurant or store. The whole time my stomach was filled with anxiety about what could happen if it was picked up by the "wrong person." On TV and in print, there are advertisements about safeguarding against this kind of theft. Those ads are for services to monitor credit reports –to detect fraud– and for insurance plans –to pay for credit card misuse.
We are Re-imaged as we Do the Work the Father has created us to do. Our identify is found in our work – the world identifies us by our occupation – God reveals his image to us and then reveals it through us by the work He has given us to do. We come into the knowledge of His image as we come into the knowledge of the work; He has given us to do. To come into His image we must have: information, revelation, response (did our hearts not burn within us as He spoke) and transformation. God is looking for His Image. Are you being Re-imaged so God is able to see His image in you? The real you is made in His image.
November 8, 2010
November 08 - 13, 2010
Monday November 08, 2010
Searching For The Image Of God
Read 2 Corinthians 4:3-6
If our Message is obscure to anyone, it's not because we're holding back in any way. No, it's because these other people are looking or going the wrong way and refuse to give it serious attention. All they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness. They think he can give them what they want, and that they won't have to bother believing a Truth they can't see. They're stone-blind to the dayspring brightness of the Message that shines with Christ, who gives us the best picture of God we'll ever get. Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we're proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, "Light up the darkness!" and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful. (The Message)
The disciples of Jesus saw His glory. They gazed into His character, which is the character of God. “The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). When we see Jesus we see the Father. Jesus possessed the fullness of God’s attributes and character in the inward sense. Moreover, He also possessed the fullness of God’s outward, visible glory. When the disciples looked into the face of Jesus they saw the heavenly Father. In His Incarnation Jesus laid the manifestation of His deity aside; for, if He had not, the disciples would not have been able to approach Him. However, Jesus did retain the fullness of God’s glory in the inward sense and disclosed it to His disciples.
Have you looked into the face of Jesus and seen the face of God? It is there we see the glory of God. Are you going through a fiery ordeal? It is here you find your strength not only to endure, but also to triumph to the praise of His glory. Jesus also prayed that we too, would share in Christ’s glory that the Father will be glorified. To some extent we already share in it as we embody the likeness of Jesus Christ. When we embody His character and fruit of the Spirit we possess His glory. Jesus is glorified through us. There is only one way to accomplish that and God gets all the glory. God alone is responsible for the results. As we gaze into the face of Jesus by faith we are being gradually transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. Today, we glorify Jesus Christ as we show forth His character in our daily lives.
Tuesday November 09, 2010
Distorting The Image Of God
Read Genesis 1:26-27; Revelation 13:14, 15
Imagine you are asked to do something for someone you did not know well. What if a stranger asked you for a ride into town?, or to take a package on a plane? What if you knew the person intimately for many years? You knew their character, their morals, and their motivations? What if the person was your father, mother, wife or husband? We need to trust someone before we can carry out their request. We will only submit when we trust. We only can only trust someone who has our best interest at heart. But many of us have a distorted view of God. The muddy view comes from the same lies as in the Garden of Eden where Satan inferred God had ulterior motives to keep knowledge from man. Satan does not want us to understand how much God loves us. He distorts our view with shame whispering to us the “I am not ___ ” lies–fill in the blank. Adam and Eve believed these lies the Glory of God was removed and they saw their nakedness then ran into the bushes and hid in guilt and shame and rejected God.
When satan whispers the “I am not” lies we should remind him that God is the opposite of “I am not” He is the “I Am.” God loves us so much He made arrangements with His Son and Spirit to provide the way for us. He loves us while we are sinners!
Because of the lies that satan has told us we are searching for an image, unfortunately we are searching for the wrong image. It is time to stop searching for the wrong image. God’s word tells us that if we seek we will find. When Jesus went to the cross the work he completed restored our image, we just have to see ourselves for who we are, sons and daughters created in the image of God.
Wednesday November 10, 2010
Focus On Your True Image
Read Luke 11:9; Revelation 3:21
Stop looking for the wrong image. Our focus is to be on the image of God. Whatever you are looking for you will see. Whatever you are searching for you will find. Whatever you keep going to will open to you. Let’s start searching and looking for the image of God. Seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened, ask and you will receive. (Luke 11:9; Revelation 3:2) What and whoever we seek we will find. Whatever door we are knocking on it will be opened to us and who ever we call out to and ask for we will receive from? (Romans 10:12, 14: Acts 9:21).
Whoever’s name you call will come. (Stop calling Jezebel’s name) We respond to our names when we hear them. The devil will respond if you keep mentioning his name. Let’s call on the name of the Lord. Let’s look for Him. Let’s talk about Him and He will show up. Let’s not be on a sin hunt but a God hunt. I’m looking for God in everyone and everything and everywhere. We should be on the offense not defense. (We have the ball let’s move).
Are you on the offense or the defense?
Thursday November 11, 2010
The Right Image…….Jesus!
Read Colossians 1:15-20
We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body. He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he's there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross. (The Message)
Are you looking at the Son to see The Father?
Friday November 12, 2010
Are You Blinded?
Read 2 Corinthians 4:4-5
We can’t know who we are and what we have been called to do till we get the right image. We can’t be what we can’t see. We are here to help with the work of the Holy Spirit to let people see what their true image is. (The Father shows his son what his real image is – Luke 15) we are here to show people that their true image has been restored through the person and the work of Jesus Christ. We are here as a restoration team to help people see that their image has already been restored by the one and only Son of God who is the spitting image of the Father. We are like Him. It is time to show people the proper image. Let’s keep looking into the right image.
Are you blinded? Can you see Jesus?
The Weekender November 13, 2010
Look For Him
Read John 14:8-11
Whatever you are searching for you will find. Let’s look for what God is looking for. He has not changed the search He is looking for His image, Adam where are you? Son I’m looking for my image. Jesus is the perfect image of God. This is my son in whom I am well pleased. Image is everything. People are trying to improve their image. Why? Because they will not be satisfied till they see the image of God. Don’t bow down to a false image. Even if you make it after the pattern in your own mind (like Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel 2:3) it will be a false image. Abraham was willing to give up, his God dream for the one he worshiped. Remember what we worship we become like. When God looks at you does He see a reflection of Himself or does He see the world?
We are not looking for flesh but the Christ the new creation. We usually find what we are looking for. What are you looking for the flesh or the Christ?
Searching For The Image Of God
Read 2 Corinthians 4:3-6
If our Message is obscure to anyone, it's not because we're holding back in any way. No, it's because these other people are looking or going the wrong way and refuse to give it serious attention. All they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness. They think he can give them what they want, and that they won't have to bother believing a Truth they can't see. They're stone-blind to the dayspring brightness of the Message that shines with Christ, who gives us the best picture of God we'll ever get. Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we're proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, "Light up the darkness!" and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful. (The Message)
The disciples of Jesus saw His glory. They gazed into His character, which is the character of God. “The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). When we see Jesus we see the Father. Jesus possessed the fullness of God’s attributes and character in the inward sense. Moreover, He also possessed the fullness of God’s outward, visible glory. When the disciples looked into the face of Jesus they saw the heavenly Father. In His Incarnation Jesus laid the manifestation of His deity aside; for, if He had not, the disciples would not have been able to approach Him. However, Jesus did retain the fullness of God’s glory in the inward sense and disclosed it to His disciples.
Have you looked into the face of Jesus and seen the face of God? It is there we see the glory of God. Are you going through a fiery ordeal? It is here you find your strength not only to endure, but also to triumph to the praise of His glory. Jesus also prayed that we too, would share in Christ’s glory that the Father will be glorified. To some extent we already share in it as we embody the likeness of Jesus Christ. When we embody His character and fruit of the Spirit we possess His glory. Jesus is glorified through us. There is only one way to accomplish that and God gets all the glory. God alone is responsible for the results. As we gaze into the face of Jesus by faith we are being gradually transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. Today, we glorify Jesus Christ as we show forth His character in our daily lives.
Tuesday November 09, 2010
Distorting The Image Of God
Read Genesis 1:26-27; Revelation 13:14, 15
Imagine you are asked to do something for someone you did not know well. What if a stranger asked you for a ride into town?, or to take a package on a plane? What if you knew the person intimately for many years? You knew their character, their morals, and their motivations? What if the person was your father, mother, wife or husband? We need to trust someone before we can carry out their request. We will only submit when we trust. We only can only trust someone who has our best interest at heart. But many of us have a distorted view of God. The muddy view comes from the same lies as in the Garden of Eden where Satan inferred God had ulterior motives to keep knowledge from man. Satan does not want us to understand how much God loves us. He distorts our view with shame whispering to us the “I am not ___ ” lies–fill in the blank. Adam and Eve believed these lies the Glory of God was removed and they saw their nakedness then ran into the bushes and hid in guilt and shame and rejected God.
When satan whispers the “I am not” lies we should remind him that God is the opposite of “I am not” He is the “I Am.” God loves us so much He made arrangements with His Son and Spirit to provide the way for us. He loves us while we are sinners!
Because of the lies that satan has told us we are searching for an image, unfortunately we are searching for the wrong image. It is time to stop searching for the wrong image. God’s word tells us that if we seek we will find. When Jesus went to the cross the work he completed restored our image, we just have to see ourselves for who we are, sons and daughters created in the image of God.
Wednesday November 10, 2010
Focus On Your True Image
Read Luke 11:9; Revelation 3:21
Stop looking for the wrong image. Our focus is to be on the image of God. Whatever you are looking for you will see. Whatever you are searching for you will find. Whatever you keep going to will open to you. Let’s start searching and looking for the image of God. Seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened, ask and you will receive. (Luke 11:9; Revelation 3:2) What and whoever we seek we will find. Whatever door we are knocking on it will be opened to us and who ever we call out to and ask for we will receive from? (Romans 10:12, 14: Acts 9:21).
Whoever’s name you call will come. (Stop calling Jezebel’s name) We respond to our names when we hear them. The devil will respond if you keep mentioning his name. Let’s call on the name of the Lord. Let’s look for Him. Let’s talk about Him and He will show up. Let’s not be on a sin hunt but a God hunt. I’m looking for God in everyone and everything and everywhere. We should be on the offense not defense. (We have the ball let’s move).
Are you on the offense or the defense?
Thursday November 11, 2010
The Right Image…….Jesus!
Read Colossians 1:15-20
We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body. He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he's there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross. (The Message)
Are you looking at the Son to see The Father?
Friday November 12, 2010
Are You Blinded?
Read 2 Corinthians 4:4-5
We can’t know who we are and what we have been called to do till we get the right image. We can’t be what we can’t see. We are here to help with the work of the Holy Spirit to let people see what their true image is. (The Father shows his son what his real image is – Luke 15) we are here to show people that their true image has been restored through the person and the work of Jesus Christ. We are here as a restoration team to help people see that their image has already been restored by the one and only Son of God who is the spitting image of the Father. We are like Him. It is time to show people the proper image. Let’s keep looking into the right image.
Are you blinded? Can you see Jesus?
The Weekender November 13, 2010
Look For Him
Read John 14:8-11
Whatever you are searching for you will find. Let’s look for what God is looking for. He has not changed the search He is looking for His image, Adam where are you? Son I’m looking for my image. Jesus is the perfect image of God. This is my son in whom I am well pleased. Image is everything. People are trying to improve their image. Why? Because they will not be satisfied till they see the image of God. Don’t bow down to a false image. Even if you make it after the pattern in your own mind (like Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel 2:3) it will be a false image. Abraham was willing to give up, his God dream for the one he worshiped. Remember what we worship we become like. When God looks at you does He see a reflection of Himself or does He see the world?
We are not looking for flesh but the Christ the new creation. We usually find what we are looking for. What are you looking for the flesh or the Christ?
November 1, 2010
November 01 - 06, 2010
Monday November 01, 2010
Look for the plank
Read Matthew 7:2-5
“First cast out the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to cast out the splinter from your brother’s eye.” In the end, we are supposed to help our brother remove the splinter from his eye. In fact, that is the purpose of removing the plank from our own eye. There are three parts to this illustration of judging. First, the Lord calls us to notice when we are looking at a splinter in our brother’s eye despite the plank in our own eye. Second, He tells us to cast that plank out of our own eye. And third, He encourages us to use our new clear sight to cast the splinter out of our brother’s eye.
We all have a tendency to focus on the faults of others. And sometimes we see the most faults in the people closest to us – we see the splinters in our brother’s eye. If we know someone very well, we come to see their shortcomings; and because we see these so closely and so often, we can make them out to be larger than they are. We pay inordinate attention to the minor faults – the splinters – in the way our friends and our neighbors see the world, the way they act. Maybe they have a tendency to gossip. Maybe they complain too much about other people. Maybe they don’t seem to take religion seriously.
When we are looking at others from a judgmental place, we are looking at a minor fault from a “huge evil of falsity” in ourselves. There are many kinds of evil intentions and false thoughts that go along with the attitude of judging another person. If we look at another person with contempt, we are in evil from falsity. We are in evil – in contempt, or hatred, or derision, or self-righteousness – from falsity. This is the kind of judging we are forbidden to do. While we can judge a person’s actions to be good or bad, we can’t judge someone else’s motivations – we can’t judge what he is like in his hearts.
We are not supposed to judge – therefore, we shouldn’t acknowledge that anyone else has a splinter in his or her eye. But that’s not what the Lord says. The Lord says, “First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.” We are told that we should try to remove the splinter from our brother’s eye – but first we have to remove the plank from our own. Remove the plank from your own eye. How do you do this? It’s easier said than done, and it can’t be done in an instant. It is a lifelong process. The Lord is talking about the process of self-examination and repentance. If you want to help others remove splinters from their eyes, you have to dig those planks out of your own eye.
Only then can we remove the splinter from our brother’s eye. And we should seek to remove that splinter. Remember, the Lord said, “Judge righteous judgment.” We need to acknowledge that certain things really are harmful – both to society and to the person himself who is doing those harmful things. This is why we lock up criminals: not because we want revenge on them or believe that they are going to hell, but to keep them from harming society, and so they do not hurt their spiritual lives by continuing to act in evil. And if your brother has a splinter in his eye, that splinter is hurting him. If you have shunned the evil of arrogance and contempt, you can see clearly to help him remove that splinter.
Tuesday November 02, 2010
Hurt No One
Read John 12:47-50
If anyone hears what I am saying and doesn't take it seriously, I don't reject him. I didn't come to reject the world; I came to save the world. But you need to know that whoever puts me off, refusing to take in what I'm saying is willfully choosing rejection. The Word, the Word-made-flesh that I have spoken and that I am, that Word and no other is the last word. I'm not making any of this up on my own. The Father who sent me gave me orders, told me what to say and how to say it. And I know exactly what his command produces: real and eternal life. That's all I have to say. What the Father told me, I tell you." John 12:47-50 (The Message)
The purpose of Jesus’ first mission on earth was not to judge people, but to show them the way to salvation and eternal life. Scripture tells us it is not our place to judge others, but to show them the way. Often we are so quick to jump at the opportunity to judge, the opportunity that we should take is the one that shows our brothers and sisters The Light!
Wednesday November 03, 2010
Overwhelm With Love
Read Philippians 2:1-14
If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.
Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.
What I'm getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you've done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I'm separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.
Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering. (Philippians 2:1-14, The Message)
Thursday November 04, 2010
Focus On The Positive (pt 1)
Philippians 4:1-9
Beliefs are causes. Stop believing what causes worry. Instead, believe that everything contributes to your success and use every experience as a learning experience. Affirm daily that you are a positive and worthwhile person. What you focus on you get. Create your own positive affirmation and use it throughout the day. An example of a positive affirmation is:"I am one with God.
"Take steps to make sure positive changes happen. Select a goal and "act as if it was so". Read your Bible more and strive to develop your relationship with the Holy Spirit. Focus on the positive aspects of your daily life. At the end of each hour or day, review all the things that happened and be thankful for them. Thank God for your blessings. Be happy and supportive for those people you are around. Give honest compliments. Be happy for another's success. Listen to a friend who needs to talk without judging the friend.
Friday November 05, 2010
Focus On The Positive (pt 2)
Read Colossians 3:12-17
Do not use destructive criticism on anybody, including yourself. Focus on solutions, not problems. Remember that everybody wants to be successful. If they knew another way to act, they would do it. Show them, rather than tell them, a better way to do things. Believe that you truly have the power to change for the better; the Holy Spirit lives in you. Change is an ongoing process.
Your day (your life) will be built on your ability to like yourself and to like others. Help yourself by helping others. Remind yourself who you are in Christ. Do something nice for another person without expecting to receive anything in return. Show your love for others just as Jesus did. Follow your heart. Trust the Holy Spirit. He will guide you towards your heart's desire. When in doubt pray for guidance. Be grateful for your success. Keep a journal so in times of doubt you can look back and see the successes and how God has moved in your life on you
The Weekender November 06, 2010
Living Harmoniously
Read Galatians 2:16, 19-21
Paul was a Jewish theologian. Naturally, he thought about Jesus and his life from that background. And, as you might expect, his ways of looking at things is not always obvious to us. The term justify that he uses in writing to the Galatians may leave us scratching our heads.
A good way to understand the word justify is to see it as harmonize. Our faith in Jesus brings us into harmony with God. Accepting Jesus’ vision of life, what it can be and how we should live it, aligns our will with God’s will. As a result of this harmony we work for the same goal that God works for. The insight of justifying or harmonizing is that having faith is not primarily a state of being. It’s a way of acting. When you first become a Christian is like being chosen for a team or landing a new job that we really want. It’s a neat thing and we can revel in it for a bit. Then we have to focus on the task. We weren’t chosen to boost our egos or to move us into a higher tax bracket. We were chosen because there’s work to be done and we can help accomplish it. What’s the work, we might ask. What God is doing, is the answer. Jesus taught that God is saving the world. And that’s what we’re given faith for: to save the world: to help pull it out of its very real pain and loneliness.
If that sounds both overwhelming and presumptuous, it will help to remember that each of us is just one cog in a very large, divine wheel. But that’s why we’ve been given faith and that’s the task to which we’ve been asked to contribute. What a great idea: let’s live harmoniously!
Look for the plank
Read Matthew 7:2-5
“First cast out the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to cast out the splinter from your brother’s eye.” In the end, we are supposed to help our brother remove the splinter from his eye. In fact, that is the purpose of removing the plank from our own eye. There are three parts to this illustration of judging. First, the Lord calls us to notice when we are looking at a splinter in our brother’s eye despite the plank in our own eye. Second, He tells us to cast that plank out of our own eye. And third, He encourages us to use our new clear sight to cast the splinter out of our brother’s eye.
We all have a tendency to focus on the faults of others. And sometimes we see the most faults in the people closest to us – we see the splinters in our brother’s eye. If we know someone very well, we come to see their shortcomings; and because we see these so closely and so often, we can make them out to be larger than they are. We pay inordinate attention to the minor faults – the splinters – in the way our friends and our neighbors see the world, the way they act. Maybe they have a tendency to gossip. Maybe they complain too much about other people. Maybe they don’t seem to take religion seriously.
When we are looking at others from a judgmental place, we are looking at a minor fault from a “huge evil of falsity” in ourselves. There are many kinds of evil intentions and false thoughts that go along with the attitude of judging another person. If we look at another person with contempt, we are in evil from falsity. We are in evil – in contempt, or hatred, or derision, or self-righteousness – from falsity. This is the kind of judging we are forbidden to do. While we can judge a person’s actions to be good or bad, we can’t judge someone else’s motivations – we can’t judge what he is like in his hearts.
We are not supposed to judge – therefore, we shouldn’t acknowledge that anyone else has a splinter in his or her eye. But that’s not what the Lord says. The Lord says, “First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.” We are told that we should try to remove the splinter from our brother’s eye – but first we have to remove the plank from our own. Remove the plank from your own eye. How do you do this? It’s easier said than done, and it can’t be done in an instant. It is a lifelong process. The Lord is talking about the process of self-examination and repentance. If you want to help others remove splinters from their eyes, you have to dig those planks out of your own eye.
Only then can we remove the splinter from our brother’s eye. And we should seek to remove that splinter. Remember, the Lord said, “Judge righteous judgment.” We need to acknowledge that certain things really are harmful – both to society and to the person himself who is doing those harmful things. This is why we lock up criminals: not because we want revenge on them or believe that they are going to hell, but to keep them from harming society, and so they do not hurt their spiritual lives by continuing to act in evil. And if your brother has a splinter in his eye, that splinter is hurting him. If you have shunned the evil of arrogance and contempt, you can see clearly to help him remove that splinter.
Tuesday November 02, 2010
Hurt No One
Read John 12:47-50
If anyone hears what I am saying and doesn't take it seriously, I don't reject him. I didn't come to reject the world; I came to save the world. But you need to know that whoever puts me off, refusing to take in what I'm saying is willfully choosing rejection. The Word, the Word-made-flesh that I have spoken and that I am, that Word and no other is the last word. I'm not making any of this up on my own. The Father who sent me gave me orders, told me what to say and how to say it. And I know exactly what his command produces: real and eternal life. That's all I have to say. What the Father told me, I tell you." John 12:47-50 (The Message)
The purpose of Jesus’ first mission on earth was not to judge people, but to show them the way to salvation and eternal life. Scripture tells us it is not our place to judge others, but to show them the way. Often we are so quick to jump at the opportunity to judge, the opportunity that we should take is the one that shows our brothers and sisters The Light!
Wednesday November 03, 2010
Overwhelm With Love
Read Philippians 2:1-14
If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.
Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.
What I'm getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you've done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I'm separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.
Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering. (Philippians 2:1-14, The Message)
Thursday November 04, 2010
Focus On The Positive (pt 1)
Philippians 4:1-9
Beliefs are causes. Stop believing what causes worry. Instead, believe that everything contributes to your success and use every experience as a learning experience. Affirm daily that you are a positive and worthwhile person. What you focus on you get. Create your own positive affirmation and use it throughout the day. An example of a positive affirmation is:"I am one with God.
"Take steps to make sure positive changes happen. Select a goal and "act as if it was so". Read your Bible more and strive to develop your relationship with the Holy Spirit. Focus on the positive aspects of your daily life. At the end of each hour or day, review all the things that happened and be thankful for them. Thank God for your blessings. Be happy and supportive for those people you are around. Give honest compliments. Be happy for another's success. Listen to a friend who needs to talk without judging the friend.
Friday November 05, 2010
Focus On The Positive (pt 2)
Read Colossians 3:12-17
Do not use destructive criticism on anybody, including yourself. Focus on solutions, not problems. Remember that everybody wants to be successful. If they knew another way to act, they would do it. Show them, rather than tell them, a better way to do things. Believe that you truly have the power to change for the better; the Holy Spirit lives in you. Change is an ongoing process.
Your day (your life) will be built on your ability to like yourself and to like others. Help yourself by helping others. Remind yourself who you are in Christ. Do something nice for another person without expecting to receive anything in return. Show your love for others just as Jesus did. Follow your heart. Trust the Holy Spirit. He will guide you towards your heart's desire. When in doubt pray for guidance. Be grateful for your success. Keep a journal so in times of doubt you can look back and see the successes and how God has moved in your life on you
The Weekender November 06, 2010
Living Harmoniously
Read Galatians 2:16, 19-21
Paul was a Jewish theologian. Naturally, he thought about Jesus and his life from that background. And, as you might expect, his ways of looking at things is not always obvious to us. The term justify that he uses in writing to the Galatians may leave us scratching our heads.
A good way to understand the word justify is to see it as harmonize. Our faith in Jesus brings us into harmony with God. Accepting Jesus’ vision of life, what it can be and how we should live it, aligns our will with God’s will. As a result of this harmony we work for the same goal that God works for. The insight of justifying or harmonizing is that having faith is not primarily a state of being. It’s a way of acting. When you first become a Christian is like being chosen for a team or landing a new job that we really want. It’s a neat thing and we can revel in it for a bit. Then we have to focus on the task. We weren’t chosen to boost our egos or to move us into a higher tax bracket. We were chosen because there’s work to be done and we can help accomplish it. What’s the work, we might ask. What God is doing, is the answer. Jesus taught that God is saving the world. And that’s what we’re given faith for: to save the world: to help pull it out of its very real pain and loneliness.
If that sounds both overwhelming and presumptuous, it will help to remember that each of us is just one cog in a very large, divine wheel. But that’s why we’ve been given faith and that’s the task to which we’ve been asked to contribute. What a great idea: let’s live harmoniously!
October 25, 2010
October 25-30, 2010
Monday October 25, 2010
“Overcoming a Critical Spirit”
Read James 4:1-12
Grandma used to say, “If you can’t say something good about somebody, don’t say anything at all.” How many have heard that saying? Yet, why do we find it so hard to live up to that old saying? James had his own ideas on the cause of a critical spirit. When he talked to a group of believers who were bickering, fighting and quarreling among themselves and being critical with one another, he said that it was a philosophy of life that is characteristic of the unregenerate mind and that it is a major ingredient of worldliness. Instead of a climate of peace necessary for the production of righteousness, James’ readers were living in an atmosphere that was anything but peaceful. And he boldly comes out and tells them, “I want you to stop it.” He was trying to jar them loose from their selfish way of life that was causing them to find something wrong with everybody and everything.
1. The Problem of a Critical Spirit: Most of the time we don’t even see the seriousness of a critical spirit until it has taken a toll on our spiritual lives and robbed us of our peace. We begin to realize that something is completely out of whack in our lives, but we can’t always put a finger on what it is. Different things may lead to a critical spirit. It may be caused by external things around us or it may come from internal thoughts and motives. James’ readers had fallen into the habit of criticizing one another and in verse 11 James says, “Stop speaking against one another.” He crushes any right his readers may have claimed to sit in judgment over others. He rules out the harsh, unkind critical spirit that continually finds fault with others.
A bishop was invited to dinner. During the meal he was astonished to hear the younger daughter state that a person must be very brave to go to church these days. “Why do you say that?” asked the bishop.
“Because,” she answered, “I heard Dad tell Mom last Sunday that there was a big shot in the pulpit, the canon was in the vestry, the choir murdered the anthem, and the organist drowned everybody!”
Not only does James speak of the destructiveness of a critical spirit but in Matthew 7:1-5 Jesus said to avoid it. Luke 6:37 says, “do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. verse 38 says for “with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Tuesday October 26, 2010
Why We Criticize
Read Rom. 2:1; Heb. 12:15; Rom. 12:2
Negativeness - A bad attitude and a negative view of life. A person may have unconfessed sin in their life or may harbor unforgiveness or bitterness toward someone who may have offended them.
Insecurity - Criticism is often a subconscious means to “elevate one’s own self image.” By putting others down, they are inwardly trying to feel more important or that “they know more.” Jealousy toward the spiritual victories of others is often the cause of criticism and belittling comments. Popular ministers of the Gospel are often the target of such tactics.
The Devil - As we may realize, the Devil specializes in influencing obsessive behavior. He may use any or all of the above channels, or other techniques, to influence a complaining or critical attitude to stir up turmoil and strife within the body of Christ . We must be on guard that none of us would be used as a tool of the Devil to bring harassment or discouragement upon our brothers or sisters through continual criticism, as the Bible warns us not to “give place” to the Devil. Remember that Satan is specifically called “the accuser of the brethren”. Are you an accuser of the brethren?
The Bible says that the reason that we are to come together as a church is, not to criticize, but to “exhort” (encourage) one another. “Cursing the darkness” won’t change anything, but we must light a candle and “expose the light” of God’s Word. By sharing the truth of God’s Word, and encouraging people to live in its truth, people will change. Love and encouragement is a “motivational force.”
Wednesday October 27, 2010
Judge Not……..
Read Matthew 7:1,2; James 2:13; John 8:7
Finding fault and being critical are some of the easiest things to do. They seem to come naturally to us. But Jesus told us not to judge "lest you be judged" (Matt. 7:1, NASB). We should obey His command.
Jesus then explained why a judgmental attitude is so dangerous: "God will be as hard on you as you are on others! He will treat you exactly as you treat them" (v.2).
When we judge, we invite judgment upon ourselves. The Bible says that "judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy" (James 2:13).
By judging others, we hide our own hypocrisy. For example, when the religious leaders brought a woman to Jesus who had been caught in sexual sin, they wanted to kill her. But Jesus responded, "If any of you have never sinned, then go ahead and throw the first stone at her". Nobody threw one.
God alone reserves the right to judge each person. As the Apostle Paul said, "Dear friends, don't try to get even. Let God take revenge. In the Scriptures the Lord says, `I am the one to take revenge and pay them back'".
Thursday October 28, 2010
Give Grace
Read Acts 3:19; Romans 10:9,10; Matthew 10:8
Have you learned to receive God's grace and mercy? This is the first step to overcoming a critical spirit. If you have never thanked Jesus for paying the penalty you deserve, do so now. Simply repent of your sins and turn your life over to Him. If you know Jesus as your Savior, thank Him for His grace and mercy. Thank Him for forgiving you of your sins. Thank Him for giving you a second chance at life. Now, offer grace and mercy to others, Jesus said, "Freely you received, freely give" . Instead of judgment, extend God's love to those around you, beginning with your family, your friends and your co-workers. Often those closest to us feel the harshest effects of our judgmental attitudes.
From now on when you feel the temptation to become critical, follow Jesus' clear instruction to take a close look at your own life first. Ask God to forgive you for your sins. You may even discover why you are so critical of others. Remember, it's easy to be critical. The faults of others are often very obvious to us. During these times we need to make sure we give grace instead. Thank God for those people and ask the Lord to bless them and reveal His will to them. It's really quite simple: God has granted you mercy. He has paid the debt for your sins. Now, the only debt you owe is to offer His love and mercy to others, for "mercy triumphs over judgment". Finally, be sure to spend time with God in prayer and study the Bible. As you read the Scriptures, ask God to help you to be patient with those around you. In time, you will change from a fault-finder to a grace-giver as you learn to live like Jesus lived.
Friday October 29, 2010
Overcoming A Critical Spirit (Part 1)
Read Proverbs 3:34
A husband and wife were leaving the office of a marriage counselor. The husband turned to his wife as they walked to the car: “Well, did what the counselor say about being considerate and not criticizing me finally get through your thick skull?” I don’t think that it did!!!
Overcoming a Critical Spirit: James gives us a way out when we find that a critical sprit has crept into our lives. It is not so important to analyze the cause but to come up with the solution. James is a book that is very practical. He says first of all that a critical spirit originates out of our own selfishness--wanting to have our own way so much that we will fight to get it. He tells his readers, “This is the way the world thinks--not the way God thinks.” His first point in overcoming a critical spirit is: Submitting to what God’s will was for them was the first step toward resolving the problem. It was the first step toward receiving the grace they needed to overcome the problem. Through saying “OK, God, I will go your way, it brought about the grace or unmerited favor of God that they could quit insisting on their own way and begin to see things in an entirely different light. The Message Bible says, “So let God work His will in you.” By submitting to God--saying OK to what He wants for you, you will be able to see an atmosphere of peace being restored through His grace operating in your life. Proverbs 3:34 says, “he gives grace to the humble”--the quality that helps to overcome the things that pull us down. Submission to God’s will leads to OBEDIENCE. It is not obedience but LEADS TO IT.
Submission to God is what the devil tries to hinder. He would prefer that we justify our critical actions and statements toward others by saying, “I had A RIGHT to say that.” Matthew Henry says, “Resolution shuts and bolts the door against temptation to be critical.” I RESOLVE to resist the devil and his suggestions. How do you do this? The Message Bible clarifies this by saying, “Yell a loud NO to the devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet YES to God and he’ll be there in no time.”
The Weekender October 30, 2010
Overcoming A Critical Spirit (Part 2)
Read Luke 15:20; Psalms 24:4;
The third way out of a critical spirit was another invitation to draw near to God. It was a response to what God had already done for them. The first step in man’s salvation was taken by God. To DRAW NEAR to God is itself a response to that prior call. Setting their hearts on having their own way, James’ readers have drifted away from God. Have you drifted away little by little this summer making other priorities more important? Come near to God and He will come near to you. In Luke 15:20 the prodigal son “got up and went to his father.” Just the same, God is waiting on our response. The heart that was distant must now become re-acquainted with Him.
Wash your hands you sinners. Purify your hearts....These two are a call for repentance--a change of direction. He calls them SINNERS because of the extent of their involvement in worldly attitudes and actions. They were making SIN A HABIT rather than it being an exception to the rule. Washing your hands symbolizes the OUTWARD actions. He is saying, “Clean up your act.” The Message Bible says, “Quit Dabbling in Sin.” If you are still doing these things, then quit. Change directions. Clean up your conduct. Along with that he is saying and clean up your INNER thoughts and motives toward others. Purify your hearts as well.
The next four are an emphasis on the SERIOUSNESS OF INTENT: Grieve: repent in misery--be truly sorry for your sins. Mourn: is a passionate grief that cannot be hidden. People will know that you really mean business. Wail: change the laughter into a wail. Gloom: joy to gloom. These all indicate the stages of all -out-repentance.
The Message Bible clarifies this a little more by saying, Hit bottom and cry your eyes out The fun and games are over Get serious, really serious Get down on your knees before the Master. It is the only way you’ll get on your feet.
James’ instructions brings with it a promise of successfully overcoming a critical spirit. Humble yourself before the Lord and he will lift you up. This process will get you back on your feet again. It will restore peace to your life once again. Getting over a habit of being critical is not an overnight happening. It is usually a process that takes time and a serious change of attitude.
Do you build people up or tear people down? When you are ready to criticize someone remember God’s law of love and say something good instead.
“Overcoming a Critical Spirit”
Read James 4:1-12
Grandma used to say, “If you can’t say something good about somebody, don’t say anything at all.” How many have heard that saying? Yet, why do we find it so hard to live up to that old saying? James had his own ideas on the cause of a critical spirit. When he talked to a group of believers who were bickering, fighting and quarreling among themselves and being critical with one another, he said that it was a philosophy of life that is characteristic of the unregenerate mind and that it is a major ingredient of worldliness. Instead of a climate of peace necessary for the production of righteousness, James’ readers were living in an atmosphere that was anything but peaceful. And he boldly comes out and tells them, “I want you to stop it.” He was trying to jar them loose from their selfish way of life that was causing them to find something wrong with everybody and everything.
1. The Problem of a Critical Spirit: Most of the time we don’t even see the seriousness of a critical spirit until it has taken a toll on our spiritual lives and robbed us of our peace. We begin to realize that something is completely out of whack in our lives, but we can’t always put a finger on what it is. Different things may lead to a critical spirit. It may be caused by external things around us or it may come from internal thoughts and motives. James’ readers had fallen into the habit of criticizing one another and in verse 11 James says, “Stop speaking against one another.” He crushes any right his readers may have claimed to sit in judgment over others. He rules out the harsh, unkind critical spirit that continually finds fault with others.
A bishop was invited to dinner. During the meal he was astonished to hear the younger daughter state that a person must be very brave to go to church these days. “Why do you say that?” asked the bishop.
“Because,” she answered, “I heard Dad tell Mom last Sunday that there was a big shot in the pulpit, the canon was in the vestry, the choir murdered the anthem, and the organist drowned everybody!”
Not only does James speak of the destructiveness of a critical spirit but in Matthew 7:1-5 Jesus said to avoid it. Luke 6:37 says, “do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. verse 38 says for “with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Tuesday October 26, 2010
Why We Criticize
Read Rom. 2:1; Heb. 12:15; Rom. 12:2
Negativeness - A bad attitude and a negative view of life. A person may have unconfessed sin in their life or may harbor unforgiveness or bitterness toward someone who may have offended them.
Insecurity - Criticism is often a subconscious means to “elevate one’s own self image.” By putting others down, they are inwardly trying to feel more important or that “they know more.” Jealousy toward the spiritual victories of others is often the cause of criticism and belittling comments. Popular ministers of the Gospel are often the target of such tactics.
The Devil - As we may realize, the Devil specializes in influencing obsessive behavior. He may use any or all of the above channels, or other techniques, to influence a complaining or critical attitude to stir up turmoil and strife within the body of Christ . We must be on guard that none of us would be used as a tool of the Devil to bring harassment or discouragement upon our brothers or sisters through continual criticism, as the Bible warns us not to “give place” to the Devil. Remember that Satan is specifically called “the accuser of the brethren”. Are you an accuser of the brethren?
The Bible says that the reason that we are to come together as a church is, not to criticize, but to “exhort” (encourage) one another. “Cursing the darkness” won’t change anything, but we must light a candle and “expose the light” of God’s Word. By sharing the truth of God’s Word, and encouraging people to live in its truth, people will change. Love and encouragement is a “motivational force.”
Wednesday October 27, 2010
Judge Not……..
Read Matthew 7:1,2; James 2:13; John 8:7
Finding fault and being critical are some of the easiest things to do. They seem to come naturally to us. But Jesus told us not to judge "lest you be judged" (Matt. 7:1, NASB). We should obey His command.
Jesus then explained why a judgmental attitude is so dangerous: "God will be as hard on you as you are on others! He will treat you exactly as you treat them" (v.2).
When we judge, we invite judgment upon ourselves. The Bible says that "judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy" (James 2:13).
By judging others, we hide our own hypocrisy. For example, when the religious leaders brought a woman to Jesus who had been caught in sexual sin, they wanted to kill her. But Jesus responded, "If any of you have never sinned, then go ahead and throw the first stone at her". Nobody threw one.
God alone reserves the right to judge each person. As the Apostle Paul said, "Dear friends, don't try to get even. Let God take revenge. In the Scriptures the Lord says, `I am the one to take revenge and pay them back'".
Thursday October 28, 2010
Give Grace
Read Acts 3:19; Romans 10:9,10; Matthew 10:8
Have you learned to receive God's grace and mercy? This is the first step to overcoming a critical spirit. If you have never thanked Jesus for paying the penalty you deserve, do so now. Simply repent of your sins and turn your life over to Him. If you know Jesus as your Savior, thank Him for His grace and mercy. Thank Him for forgiving you of your sins. Thank Him for giving you a second chance at life. Now, offer grace and mercy to others, Jesus said, "Freely you received, freely give" . Instead of judgment, extend God's love to those around you, beginning with your family, your friends and your co-workers. Often those closest to us feel the harshest effects of our judgmental attitudes.
From now on when you feel the temptation to become critical, follow Jesus' clear instruction to take a close look at your own life first. Ask God to forgive you for your sins. You may even discover why you are so critical of others. Remember, it's easy to be critical. The faults of others are often very obvious to us. During these times we need to make sure we give grace instead. Thank God for those people and ask the Lord to bless them and reveal His will to them. It's really quite simple: God has granted you mercy. He has paid the debt for your sins. Now, the only debt you owe is to offer His love and mercy to others, for "mercy triumphs over judgment". Finally, be sure to spend time with God in prayer and study the Bible. As you read the Scriptures, ask God to help you to be patient with those around you. In time, you will change from a fault-finder to a grace-giver as you learn to live like Jesus lived.
Friday October 29, 2010
Overcoming A Critical Spirit (Part 1)
Read Proverbs 3:34
A husband and wife were leaving the office of a marriage counselor. The husband turned to his wife as they walked to the car: “Well, did what the counselor say about being considerate and not criticizing me finally get through your thick skull?” I don’t think that it did!!!
Overcoming a Critical Spirit: James gives us a way out when we find that a critical sprit has crept into our lives. It is not so important to analyze the cause but to come up with the solution. James is a book that is very practical. He says first of all that a critical spirit originates out of our own selfishness--wanting to have our own way so much that we will fight to get it. He tells his readers, “This is the way the world thinks--not the way God thinks.” His first point in overcoming a critical spirit is: Submitting to what God’s will was for them was the first step toward resolving the problem. It was the first step toward receiving the grace they needed to overcome the problem. Through saying “OK, God, I will go your way, it brought about the grace or unmerited favor of God that they could quit insisting on their own way and begin to see things in an entirely different light. The Message Bible says, “So let God work His will in you.” By submitting to God--saying OK to what He wants for you, you will be able to see an atmosphere of peace being restored through His grace operating in your life. Proverbs 3:34 says, “he gives grace to the humble”--the quality that helps to overcome the things that pull us down. Submission to God’s will leads to OBEDIENCE. It is not obedience but LEADS TO IT.
Submission to God is what the devil tries to hinder. He would prefer that we justify our critical actions and statements toward others by saying, “I had A RIGHT to say that.” Matthew Henry says, “Resolution shuts and bolts the door against temptation to be critical.” I RESOLVE to resist the devil and his suggestions. How do you do this? The Message Bible clarifies this by saying, “Yell a loud NO to the devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet YES to God and he’ll be there in no time.”
The Weekender October 30, 2010
Overcoming A Critical Spirit (Part 2)
Read Luke 15:20; Psalms 24:4;
The third way out of a critical spirit was another invitation to draw near to God. It was a response to what God had already done for them. The first step in man’s salvation was taken by God. To DRAW NEAR to God is itself a response to that prior call. Setting their hearts on having their own way, James’ readers have drifted away from God. Have you drifted away little by little this summer making other priorities more important? Come near to God and He will come near to you. In Luke 15:20 the prodigal son “got up and went to his father.” Just the same, God is waiting on our response. The heart that was distant must now become re-acquainted with Him.
Wash your hands you sinners. Purify your hearts....These two are a call for repentance--a change of direction. He calls them SINNERS because of the extent of their involvement in worldly attitudes and actions. They were making SIN A HABIT rather than it being an exception to the rule. Washing your hands symbolizes the OUTWARD actions. He is saying, “Clean up your act.” The Message Bible says, “Quit Dabbling in Sin.” If you are still doing these things, then quit. Change directions. Clean up your conduct. Along with that he is saying and clean up your INNER thoughts and motives toward others. Purify your hearts as well.
The next four are an emphasis on the SERIOUSNESS OF INTENT: Grieve: repent in misery--be truly sorry for your sins. Mourn: is a passionate grief that cannot be hidden. People will know that you really mean business. Wail: change the laughter into a wail. Gloom: joy to gloom. These all indicate the stages of all -out-repentance.
The Message Bible clarifies this a little more by saying, Hit bottom and cry your eyes out The fun and games are over Get serious, really serious Get down on your knees before the Master. It is the only way you’ll get on your feet.
James’ instructions brings with it a promise of successfully overcoming a critical spirit. Humble yourself before the Lord and he will lift you up. This process will get you back on your feet again. It will restore peace to your life once again. Getting over a habit of being critical is not an overnight happening. It is usually a process that takes time and a serious change of attitude.
Do you build people up or tear people down? When you are ready to criticize someone remember God’s law of love and say something good instead.
October 18, 2010
October 18-23, 2010
Monday October 18, 2010
Do You Still Retain Integrity?
Read Job 2:9;
“Do you still retain your integrity?” This is what Job’s wife said to him. In this process it is very important to note what she was saying to her husband. The term used by her was “tummah.” It comes from the word tom, meaning completion or perfection. She was saying that his completion was God and his faith was in God. She was challenging him to curse or forsake his faith in God and therefore die. He even in the hard places retained his identity with his Heavenly Father.
A statement that I give to people is: “If you lose integrity to your process you will destroy value to your product!” Only God can lead you through this process. This path is called the “Way of Peace.” However you must understand that God has gifts within the Body of Christ and that many times especially in the places where we are so messed up emotionally we need to hear from and through other people.
If we understood that God desires so much to lead us to the path that is the right way for us. Too many of us are in the spot where we are thinking that He doesn’t desire to help us in any way. However we must realize that He has an unending passion to be in our lives and this is proven by the death on the cross by His son Jesus.
Tuesday October 19, 2010
Remain In The Spirit Of Faith
Read 1 Corinthians 12:25
There are two relevant truths to this statement. Number 1 is that it is impossible to get up from your circumstances in life without God. The number two aspect is that it is impossible to please God without Faith. The evidence of faith occurs in two ways. First is what we are doing and second in what we are saying. James says show me your faith without your works.
You have to grow this faith you do this by “Hearing the Word of the Lord.” Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” He was quoting scripture when he said this, Deuteronomy 6:4. This was the time of His testing in the wilderness. Jesus was ministered to and cared for by the Angels at his testing and trying. We are members of the Body of Christ and by God’s design should be cared for by others within the Body.
Wednesday October 20, 2010
God’s Sovereignty
Read Psalms 48:1; 95:3,6;
The sovereignty of God may be defined as the exercise of His supremacy, His infinite rule, His authority and power. Being infinitely elevated above the highest creature in authority, nature, and being, He is the Most High Lord of heaven and earth and all creation whether angels or the heavenly hosts.
Basically, God’s sovereignty means that He is the Supreme Ruler who immanently and personally rules over all the affairs of the universe—and this includes our personal lives both as individuals and as a local body of believers. God’s sovereignty is a place of rest for the child of God, as well as a cause of worship
.
One particular place of rest and application in relation to God’s sovereignty and rule is His guidance and work to accomplish His purposes for our lives individually and corporately. Paul has this in mind, at least in part, in Philippians 1:6 when he says: “I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Realizing and acknowledging God is sovereign keeps on the path to peace.
Thursday October 21, 2010
Forgiveness…..Is A Choice!
Read Colossians 3:13
It is not uncommon for Christians to have questions about forgiveness. Forgiveness does not come easy for most of us. Our natural instinct is to recoil in self-protection when we've been injured. We don't naturally overflow with mercy, grace and forgiveness when we've been wronged. Is forgiveness a conscious choice, a physical act involving the will, or is it a feeling, an emotional state of being?
I believe forgiveness is a choice we make through a decision of our will, motivated by obedience to God and his command to forgive. The Bible instructs us to forgive as the Lord forgave us.
How do we forgive when we don't feel like it? How do we translate the decision to forgive into a change of heart? We forgive by faith, out of obedience. Since forgiveness goes against our nature, we must forgive by faith, whether we feel like it or not. We must trust God to do the work in us that needs to be done so that the forgiveness will be complete. I believe God honors our commitment to obey Him and our desire to please him when we choose to forgive. He completes the work in his time. As we walk in obedience to God, we walk on the pathway to peace.
Friday October 22, 2010
Walking In The Atmosphere God Is Releasing
Read James 4:8; 2 Chronicles 15:2; Genesis 32:24,25; Psalm 51:17
We are in a season when God is releasing more and more revelation, and He is opening up the heavens over us. We are discovering that nothing is impossible with God! He is releasing great favor and great blessing on us as we learn to live out of a place of rest. It’s easier for Holy Spirit to come when we are resting and at peace. His goodness and glory will come and our hearts of thanksgiving will change spiritual atmospheres. Do you change atmospheres? The presence of God extinguishes the darkness, if we carry Him into the situations we go into. Praise Him in all circumstances and God will bring breakthrough and blessing!
SPEAKING LIFE! “Eat from the tree of life and speak positively! Show mercy, show love, show kindness. Make sure the words you speak have life in them!” Sue prayed for several people to be healed at the end of the session and Rob came up to give testimony that instead of talking about having high blood pressure God had told him to talk about having blood peace – speaking life starts with the word we speak over ourselves!
The Weekender October 23, 2010
What Path Are You On?
Read 1 Kings 8:56
"Blessed be God, who has given peace to his people Israel just as he said he'd do. Not one of all those good and wonderful words that he spoke through Moses has misfired. May God, our very own God, continue to be with us just as he was with our ancestors—may he never give up and walk out on us. May he keep us centered and devoted to him, following the life path he has cleared, watching the signposts, walking at the pace and rhythms he laid down for our ancestors. 1 Kings 8:56.
Take today and reflect on the path you are on and then asked God to speak to you and show you if you are on the right path. Journal in the space below.
Do You Still Retain Integrity?
Read Job 2:9;
“Do you still retain your integrity?” This is what Job’s wife said to him. In this process it is very important to note what she was saying to her husband. The term used by her was “tummah.” It comes from the word tom, meaning completion or perfection. She was saying that his completion was God and his faith was in God. She was challenging him to curse or forsake his faith in God and therefore die. He even in the hard places retained his identity with his Heavenly Father.
A statement that I give to people is: “If you lose integrity to your process you will destroy value to your product!” Only God can lead you through this process. This path is called the “Way of Peace.” However you must understand that God has gifts within the Body of Christ and that many times especially in the places where we are so messed up emotionally we need to hear from and through other people.
If we understood that God desires so much to lead us to the path that is the right way for us. Too many of us are in the spot where we are thinking that He doesn’t desire to help us in any way. However we must realize that He has an unending passion to be in our lives and this is proven by the death on the cross by His son Jesus.
Tuesday October 19, 2010
Remain In The Spirit Of Faith
Read 1 Corinthians 12:25
There are two relevant truths to this statement. Number 1 is that it is impossible to get up from your circumstances in life without God. The number two aspect is that it is impossible to please God without Faith. The evidence of faith occurs in two ways. First is what we are doing and second in what we are saying. James says show me your faith without your works.
You have to grow this faith you do this by “Hearing the Word of the Lord.” Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” He was quoting scripture when he said this, Deuteronomy 6:4. This was the time of His testing in the wilderness. Jesus was ministered to and cared for by the Angels at his testing and trying. We are members of the Body of Christ and by God’s design should be cared for by others within the Body.
Wednesday October 20, 2010
God’s Sovereignty
Read Psalms 48:1; 95:3,6;
The sovereignty of God may be defined as the exercise of His supremacy, His infinite rule, His authority and power. Being infinitely elevated above the highest creature in authority, nature, and being, He is the Most High Lord of heaven and earth and all creation whether angels or the heavenly hosts.
Basically, God’s sovereignty means that He is the Supreme Ruler who immanently and personally rules over all the affairs of the universe—and this includes our personal lives both as individuals and as a local body of believers. God’s sovereignty is a place of rest for the child of God, as well as a cause of worship
.
One particular place of rest and application in relation to God’s sovereignty and rule is His guidance and work to accomplish His purposes for our lives individually and corporately. Paul has this in mind, at least in part, in Philippians 1:6 when he says: “I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Realizing and acknowledging God is sovereign keeps on the path to peace.
Thursday October 21, 2010
Forgiveness…..Is A Choice!
Read Colossians 3:13
It is not uncommon for Christians to have questions about forgiveness. Forgiveness does not come easy for most of us. Our natural instinct is to recoil in self-protection when we've been injured. We don't naturally overflow with mercy, grace and forgiveness when we've been wronged. Is forgiveness a conscious choice, a physical act involving the will, or is it a feeling, an emotional state of being?
I believe forgiveness is a choice we make through a decision of our will, motivated by obedience to God and his command to forgive. The Bible instructs us to forgive as the Lord forgave us.
How do we forgive when we don't feel like it? How do we translate the decision to forgive into a change of heart? We forgive by faith, out of obedience. Since forgiveness goes against our nature, we must forgive by faith, whether we feel like it or not. We must trust God to do the work in us that needs to be done so that the forgiveness will be complete. I believe God honors our commitment to obey Him and our desire to please him when we choose to forgive. He completes the work in his time. As we walk in obedience to God, we walk on the pathway to peace.
Friday October 22, 2010
Walking In The Atmosphere God Is Releasing
Read James 4:8; 2 Chronicles 15:2; Genesis 32:24,25; Psalm 51:17
We are in a season when God is releasing more and more revelation, and He is opening up the heavens over us. We are discovering that nothing is impossible with God! He is releasing great favor and great blessing on us as we learn to live out of a place of rest. It’s easier for Holy Spirit to come when we are resting and at peace. His goodness and glory will come and our hearts of thanksgiving will change spiritual atmospheres. Do you change atmospheres? The presence of God extinguishes the darkness, if we carry Him into the situations we go into. Praise Him in all circumstances and God will bring breakthrough and blessing!
SPEAKING LIFE! “Eat from the tree of life and speak positively! Show mercy, show love, show kindness. Make sure the words you speak have life in them!” Sue prayed for several people to be healed at the end of the session and Rob came up to give testimony that instead of talking about having high blood pressure God had told him to talk about having blood peace – speaking life starts with the word we speak over ourselves!
The Weekender October 23, 2010
What Path Are You On?
Read 1 Kings 8:56
"Blessed be God, who has given peace to his people Israel just as he said he'd do. Not one of all those good and wonderful words that he spoke through Moses has misfired. May God, our very own God, continue to be with us just as he was with our ancestors—may he never give up and walk out on us. May he keep us centered and devoted to him, following the life path he has cleared, watching the signposts, walking at the pace and rhythms he laid down for our ancestors. 1 Kings 8:56.
Take today and reflect on the path you are on and then asked God to speak to you and show you if you are on the right path. Journal in the space below.
October 10, 2010
October 11- 16, 2010
Monday October 11, 2010
Mirror, Mirror
Read Romans 8:9-11
Who would not like to be called the fairest or the bravest or the strongest or the kindest or the wisest of them all? Who would not like to wake up every morning and have the mirror give compliments? Too bad that only happens in fairy tales.
In real life mirrors do not praise us; they reveal the truth about us. They do not flatter us, they unveil us. There’s nothing like looking into the mirror to shock us back to reality. In fact have you ever really looked at yourself in the mirror? Several years ago God ask me to look in the mirror. Then He asked “what do you see?” I said okay God. Well I guess I see and okay guy! Then God said to me” pull off the mask you are wearing!” This startled me for a moment and I was frozen standing there at the mirror. Then He spoke again and told me to “pull off the mask you are wearing!”
Imagine what life would be like if we could stop stepping on stage all the time. Imagine if we could simply be real with God, honest with others and up front about the things that are really important to us. What if we could just be ourselves? Simply me! Simply you! Honest about our shortcomings. Genuine with our love. Transparent about our motives. What if we could remove all masks and just be who we are?
Tuesday October 12, 2010
Examine Your Motives
Matthew 7:1-5
Why do we criticize? There is usually some type of insecurity or character flaw in us that we are trying to keep from coming to the surface. There are two types of criticism, there is good and bad. Good (criticism which we rarely use) is insightful and is meant to bring well being. Bad criticism targets a person in the spirit of anger, frustration, impatience and irritation. Why do we criticize negatively? Bad criticism never is to change another. When we criticize we often find that the root is rage and anger and we use it to conceal a flaw or wrong in ourselves.
Criticism causes the person being criticized to feel resentment. When you criticize another's actions or behaviors, especially in a negative way, it arouses feelings of anger and resentment in most people. Criticism causes the person being criticized to justify his or her actions. It is a natural response for one to become defensive when being criticized. The most common form of defense is justification. When one justifies one's actions, they are convincing themselves even more that they are right. This brings the parties further from resolution.
There will be times when you feel that criticisms and complaints are necessary. Ask yourself first, what do I plan on accomplishing by criticizing? Very often the real answer will be "so I can feel better", in which case, the criticism or complaint is not necessary. If you wish to bring about a change in another's behavior, then you must practice the art of changing people without giving offense or arousing resentment. Criticisms and complaints lead to resentment and ill feelings that rarely bring about positive, lasting changes. Learn to control your emotions by practicing understanding and having empathy. By avoiding criticizing and complaining, you will be better respected in both your personal and professional relationships.
Wednesday October 13, 2010
Jealousy Is Not Reasonable
Read John 3:26-30
Though it is often said that jealousy or envy is the greatest form of flattery, when we are jealous/envious, interaction becomes quite tense. Someone who is truly experiencing these emotions is not thinking clearly. They are distracted by these negative feelings and are unable to openly communicate. Suddenly being jealous or envious of someone becomes an obstacle.
People who are jealous are not being reasonable. Whether you are the jealous one or the object of the jealousy, it's an unpleasant emotion that we perpetuate ourselves. It usually stems from a sense of low self-esteem and the misguided notion that we won't be able to achieve all the things we want. Feeling jealous or envious only makes us feel worse than we already do. When we move through the emotions of jealousy or envy we can become angry and rage can be projected towards the person we are envious of. Make an effort to shift your perspective away from what someone else has done and more towards God and what He has planned for your life.
Thursday October 14, 2010
Watch Your Words
Read Philippians 2:14; Proverbs 4:23; 18:21
Complaining is dangerous business. It can damage or even destroy your relationship with God, your relationships with other people, and even with your relationship with yourself.
It’s easy to complain. We likely don’t realize how much we do it. I believe it’s one of the most challenging things to overcome. Philippians 2:14 says, “Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining…” (The Amplified Bible). That’s a pretty clear command. And not something anyone can do in their own strength.
Are you speaking life or death? Remember that every word you speak has some kind of effect. Proverbs 18:21 says that our words have the power of life or death in them – the way we speak really does matter. So it makes sense that we should avoid complaining at all cost.
I think of complaining as the enemy’s language. When we do it, we open the door for him to come into a situation and cause trouble. On the other hand, praise and thanksgiving is God’s language. Through thanksgiving and praise we can find freedom.
It’s a difficult process getting to the point of having real freedom. But it’s worth it! We just need to accept that gaining spiritual maturity is going to hurt. Growing up in God is not comfortable. There are times of sacrifice involved. And there will be times when God will ask you to do things and you’ll feel that you can’t stand it – but He’ll give you the grace to do it. Something else that helps me is meditating on scriptures about watching the words of my mouth. Make it your goal to have a constant attitude of gratitude. Resist the temptation to complain and instead praise and thank God for who He is and all He’s done for you. By God’s grace and through His strength, you can overcome complaining and live each day with a thankful heart!
Friday October 15, 2010
Does Gossip Hurt Anyone?
Read Ephesians 4:29, 31-32
Joan the perfect little churchgoer wouldn't be caught dead with the National Enquirer on her coffee table. She doesn't need it. She has her own sources for the "inside scoop" about more local celebrities -- the pastor’s obnoxious wife, the five foot five wavy-haired newcomer whom Juanita brought to church last week, and the latest failing of the pastor she doesn't like.
What's wrong with that? We all talk about what's going on. After all, it's only harmless gossip.
Gossip seldom slows down, it suffers distortion as it passes from mouth to ear. We've all played the party game where the piece of news is whispered at the front of the line bears hardly no resemblance to the initial story by the time it is over with. Further, gossip is nearly always one-sided. It tries a case on the basis of the prosecution's evidence alone. And then, rumors get out of control and the damage cannot be undone. Even though we bear no grudge, we must be on the lookout lest we be sucked into passing the gossip along. Instant recognition of gossip is vital. We should stop the tale-bearer in mid-sentence, if necessary. We ought to challenge our Christian brothers, "Have you confronted the person with this?" To give ear to a nasty tale will not only injure our spirit but encourage gossipers to continue their destruction. We will either be part of the problem or part of the solution.
The Weekender October 16, 2010
God Is Always With You
Judges 6 and 7
Low self esteem comes from a poor self image and means you have no confidence in yourself. Yourself image is based on how you see yourself. Do you think you are a good, reliable, hardworking, honest or friendly person? Do you like what you see when you look in the mirror or do you believe others look better and dress better than you? Low self esteem feeds your negative thinking and causes you to believe the criticism others make of you. Do you take what others say and not speak up? This can cause you to lose confidence so it is vital to end negative thoughts if you want to build your self esteem. We mistakenly compare how we feel with how others behave. Inevitably, most others will behave more happily than we feel. So we conclude that no one else could feel as bad as we do. This creates a vicious circle and our self esteem drops further. Dwelling on the negative is like cancer. It grows and gets worse. It's pretty hard to force yourself just to think differently when you feel so negative.
In Judges 6 & 7, we learn how Gideon was found, cowering in fear and self doubt. He’s hardly a picture of confidence! Gideon, like most who lack confidence withdraws from the world, hiding away from the world. He is a picture of hopelessness in today’s terms; he’s a loser with seriously low self-esteem. An Angel of the Lord finds Gideon hiding like a chicken and calls him a mighty man of valor! The Angel tells Gideon to save Israel,” to go in the strength you have! “I could just imagine what Gideon was thinking. Go in the strength I have, can’t you see I am hiding. God tells Gideon He will always be with him and they would when the battle together.
The great lesson we learn from Gideon is that low self esteem is a hindrance and with God’s help and his belief in all of us we can step up to the plate and accept God-esteem. God’s grace allows you to do the impossible, when it is in his will! If you have a big challenge you need God confidence not self confidence. Most self-confidence evaporates like mist under testing and pressure. But you only need God to believe in you!
Mirror, Mirror
Read Romans 8:9-11
Who would not like to be called the fairest or the bravest or the strongest or the kindest or the wisest of them all? Who would not like to wake up every morning and have the mirror give compliments? Too bad that only happens in fairy tales.
In real life mirrors do not praise us; they reveal the truth about us. They do not flatter us, they unveil us. There’s nothing like looking into the mirror to shock us back to reality. In fact have you ever really looked at yourself in the mirror? Several years ago God ask me to look in the mirror. Then He asked “what do you see?” I said okay God. Well I guess I see and okay guy! Then God said to me” pull off the mask you are wearing!” This startled me for a moment and I was frozen standing there at the mirror. Then He spoke again and told me to “pull off the mask you are wearing!”
Imagine what life would be like if we could stop stepping on stage all the time. Imagine if we could simply be real with God, honest with others and up front about the things that are really important to us. What if we could just be ourselves? Simply me! Simply you! Honest about our shortcomings. Genuine with our love. Transparent about our motives. What if we could remove all masks and just be who we are?
Tuesday October 12, 2010
Examine Your Motives
Matthew 7:1-5
Why do we criticize? There is usually some type of insecurity or character flaw in us that we are trying to keep from coming to the surface. There are two types of criticism, there is good and bad. Good (criticism which we rarely use) is insightful and is meant to bring well being. Bad criticism targets a person in the spirit of anger, frustration, impatience and irritation. Why do we criticize negatively? Bad criticism never is to change another. When we criticize we often find that the root is rage and anger and we use it to conceal a flaw or wrong in ourselves.
Criticism causes the person being criticized to feel resentment. When you criticize another's actions or behaviors, especially in a negative way, it arouses feelings of anger and resentment in most people. Criticism causes the person being criticized to justify his or her actions. It is a natural response for one to become defensive when being criticized. The most common form of defense is justification. When one justifies one's actions, they are convincing themselves even more that they are right. This brings the parties further from resolution.
There will be times when you feel that criticisms and complaints are necessary. Ask yourself first, what do I plan on accomplishing by criticizing? Very often the real answer will be "so I can feel better", in which case, the criticism or complaint is not necessary. If you wish to bring about a change in another's behavior, then you must practice the art of changing people without giving offense or arousing resentment. Criticisms and complaints lead to resentment and ill feelings that rarely bring about positive, lasting changes. Learn to control your emotions by practicing understanding and having empathy. By avoiding criticizing and complaining, you will be better respected in both your personal and professional relationships.
Wednesday October 13, 2010
Jealousy Is Not Reasonable
Read John 3:26-30
Though it is often said that jealousy or envy is the greatest form of flattery, when we are jealous/envious, interaction becomes quite tense. Someone who is truly experiencing these emotions is not thinking clearly. They are distracted by these negative feelings and are unable to openly communicate. Suddenly being jealous or envious of someone becomes an obstacle.
People who are jealous are not being reasonable. Whether you are the jealous one or the object of the jealousy, it's an unpleasant emotion that we perpetuate ourselves. It usually stems from a sense of low self-esteem and the misguided notion that we won't be able to achieve all the things we want. Feeling jealous or envious only makes us feel worse than we already do. When we move through the emotions of jealousy or envy we can become angry and rage can be projected towards the person we are envious of. Make an effort to shift your perspective away from what someone else has done and more towards God and what He has planned for your life.
Thursday October 14, 2010
Watch Your Words
Read Philippians 2:14; Proverbs 4:23; 18:21
Complaining is dangerous business. It can damage or even destroy your relationship with God, your relationships with other people, and even with your relationship with yourself.
It’s easy to complain. We likely don’t realize how much we do it. I believe it’s one of the most challenging things to overcome. Philippians 2:14 says, “Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining…” (The Amplified Bible). That’s a pretty clear command. And not something anyone can do in their own strength.
Are you speaking life or death? Remember that every word you speak has some kind of effect. Proverbs 18:21 says that our words have the power of life or death in them – the way we speak really does matter. So it makes sense that we should avoid complaining at all cost.
I think of complaining as the enemy’s language. When we do it, we open the door for him to come into a situation and cause trouble. On the other hand, praise and thanksgiving is God’s language. Through thanksgiving and praise we can find freedom.
It’s a difficult process getting to the point of having real freedom. But it’s worth it! We just need to accept that gaining spiritual maturity is going to hurt. Growing up in God is not comfortable. There are times of sacrifice involved. And there will be times when God will ask you to do things and you’ll feel that you can’t stand it – but He’ll give you the grace to do it. Something else that helps me is meditating on scriptures about watching the words of my mouth. Make it your goal to have a constant attitude of gratitude. Resist the temptation to complain and instead praise and thank God for who He is and all He’s done for you. By God’s grace and through His strength, you can overcome complaining and live each day with a thankful heart!
Friday October 15, 2010
Does Gossip Hurt Anyone?
Read Ephesians 4:29, 31-32
Joan the perfect little churchgoer wouldn't be caught dead with the National Enquirer on her coffee table. She doesn't need it. She has her own sources for the "inside scoop" about more local celebrities -- the pastor’s obnoxious wife, the five foot five wavy-haired newcomer whom Juanita brought to church last week, and the latest failing of the pastor she doesn't like.
What's wrong with that? We all talk about what's going on. After all, it's only harmless gossip.
Gossip seldom slows down, it suffers distortion as it passes from mouth to ear. We've all played the party game where the piece of news is whispered at the front of the line bears hardly no resemblance to the initial story by the time it is over with. Further, gossip is nearly always one-sided. It tries a case on the basis of the prosecution's evidence alone. And then, rumors get out of control and the damage cannot be undone. Even though we bear no grudge, we must be on the lookout lest we be sucked into passing the gossip along. Instant recognition of gossip is vital. We should stop the tale-bearer in mid-sentence, if necessary. We ought to challenge our Christian brothers, "Have you confronted the person with this?" To give ear to a nasty tale will not only injure our spirit but encourage gossipers to continue their destruction. We will either be part of the problem or part of the solution.
The Weekender October 16, 2010
God Is Always With You
Judges 6 and 7
Low self esteem comes from a poor self image and means you have no confidence in yourself. Yourself image is based on how you see yourself. Do you think you are a good, reliable, hardworking, honest or friendly person? Do you like what you see when you look in the mirror or do you believe others look better and dress better than you? Low self esteem feeds your negative thinking and causes you to believe the criticism others make of you. Do you take what others say and not speak up? This can cause you to lose confidence so it is vital to end negative thoughts if you want to build your self esteem. We mistakenly compare how we feel with how others behave. Inevitably, most others will behave more happily than we feel. So we conclude that no one else could feel as bad as we do. This creates a vicious circle and our self esteem drops further. Dwelling on the negative is like cancer. It grows and gets worse. It's pretty hard to force yourself just to think differently when you feel so negative.
In Judges 6 & 7, we learn how Gideon was found, cowering in fear and self doubt. He’s hardly a picture of confidence! Gideon, like most who lack confidence withdraws from the world, hiding away from the world. He is a picture of hopelessness in today’s terms; he’s a loser with seriously low self-esteem. An Angel of the Lord finds Gideon hiding like a chicken and calls him a mighty man of valor! The Angel tells Gideon to save Israel,” to go in the strength you have! “I could just imagine what Gideon was thinking. Go in the strength I have, can’t you see I am hiding. God tells Gideon He will always be with him and they would when the battle together.
The great lesson we learn from Gideon is that low self esteem is a hindrance and with God’s help and his belief in all of us we can step up to the plate and accept God-esteem. God’s grace allows you to do the impossible, when it is in his will! If you have a big challenge you need God confidence not self confidence. Most self-confidence evaporates like mist under testing and pressure. But you only need God to believe in you!
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