Saturday, January 22, 2011

Colossians 3:12-13

"Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others."

Is there anyone in your life you need to forgive and show mercy? If you find it difficult, Paul suggests you focus on how much God has forgiven you. This can change your whole perspective. Other people have faults, just as you do. Other people fail you, just as you fail God. He forgives you ... you can forgive others in the same way.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Jeremiah 9:23–24

"This is what the LORD says:
'Don't let the wise boast in their wisdom,
or the powerful boast in their power,
or the rich boast in their riches.
But those who wish to boast
should boast in this alone:
that they truly know me and understand that I am the LORD
who demonstrates unfailing love
and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth,
and that I delight in these things.
I, the LORD, have spoken!'"

What we "boast" of reveals where we stake our identity. Most people stake their identity on what they do best or on what they possess (verse 23). God says to base our identity on knowing him and understanding what he is like. What is he like? He's a God who demonstrates unfailing love, and brings justice and righteousness to the earth. Not only that, God delights in these things. It gives him pleasure. As we know him, we share in his nature. We too gain pleasure from love, justice, and righteousness. Our identity is rooted in his nature, in his delight.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Colossians 3:10

"Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him."

We have this new nature, but it is continually being renewed by learning more about God—specifically here, God as Creator. What are you doing today to help you know more about God? As you read the Word and listen for his voice, also look around for what God is already creating and might want to create in and through you. He is creating a new heart in you, and he is creating new things in the world. We get to participate in his creations! How wonderful is that?

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Colossians 3:5

"So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world."

What "sinful, earthly things lurking within you" might you need to put to death now? Paul mentions some here. Notice that he elaborates on greed, something that we don't tend to consider as sinful as the other things listed. Yet greed may be the worst sin. Paul says it's idolatry, and idolatry was the main sin God judged in the Old Testament. It may be the sin that's most difficult to discern in ourselves. There's a fine line between simply desiring the things of this world and being greedy. The key is whether our focus shifts from God to things.

Do You Hear Their Souls?

Today we begin again to update this blog site. Life has been taking time from me which is why I am posting today. Time cannot take you away if you schedule your daily schedule accordingly. It does take a bit of self-discipline and I am making a vow to begin today to accomplish my daily schedule. Do you ever find that you are a bit lost if you miss a day not being with God? For myself, I do because I feel that emptiness of non-connectivity.

I finished reading a really good book that inspired me and also made me stop and think. Do you hear what God hears in regards to the lost souls on this Earth today? Some may actually hear him while others do not. Either way, you CAN hear what God hears. Since reading the book, 'The Listener' by Terri Blackstock, I sometimes sit back and watch people (even though I am already a people watcher) and wonder what their story is; how are they really and what do their souls want. We may never know their story or how they are but we do know what their souls want. Every soul needs to be led to Jesus Christ. We all have experienced some fulfillment that he has done for us. If you are saying right now, "No He has not." You are wrong. Something good and joyful has happened in your life, and if you are not the same person you were in your past; God has helped to mold you into a better person. Maybe you are more giving, kinder, considerate or know when to keep your mouth closed.

If you still feel you have not been led, find a Christian friend who truly believe in Jesus Christ and let them tell their story. Go to Church and learn to truly believe.

This life that is ruled by Satan but controlled by God is coming near an end. When, nobody knows; only God does. But if you watch what is going on around you; there are more mother nature disasters, even in places that have never experience them. There are more wars going on all over, not to count the wars that we inflict ourselves onto others. We are not perfect right now, but one day we will be.

There have been so many predictions on when this World will end and I listen, but shake my head. Why would you want to try and predict it? Are you procrastinating till the last minute to turn to Jesus? Won't work. You must begin today and save your soul. Ask for forgiveness - repent. Sure, your past mistakes will be in the 'Book of Life' and you will have to answer to it, but if you really believe that Jesus died for our sins and sacrificed Himself for us, you do not have much to worry about.

Some of you ask, and I read about this all the time: I pray and nothing happens, so why pray? Praying is continual - nonstop. Do you believe? Do you have faith? Not all prayers are answered right away. Some may take years to produce, but you must have faith. God puts you in situations for a reason. Maybe you are there to help someone else and don't even know it. Maybe you are in a situation to mold you better. The key is that it begins with YOU. You and God are the only ones who can change situations. I was one of those that prayed only when I wanted something from God through Jesus Christ and never got it. But a Deacon told me what I just mentioned; you must pray continually and spend time with God. Showing God that I wanted to change and praying that first led me down the correct path. Do you want to take the wide or narrow path to Christ?

Back to the book, 'The Listener.' You do not need to hear audio from God. You have the power to save souls and please God at the same time. Have you ever gone to the park and seen the same person there sitting there by themselves staring off into space? Have you been to a restaurant and see a single mom struggling with her children and getting impatient? Those people need to be led to Jesus Christ. Show your kindness, consideration, joy and confidence. Not everyone will want to hear your story that will lead them, but the odds are, you will get more that listen than don't. Once you lead one person to Christ, they will lead someone and that person will lead someone, and it goes on and on. This would please God. Also, watch now what will happen in your life now by leading people to God. Your life will never be the same.

May God Bless each and every one of you.

Don't forget to use your Spiritual Gifts every day.