Saturday, January 29, 2011

Colossians 4:2, 5–6 Further Instructions

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." (NIV)
 
Here is practical instruction on how to live among unbelievers. First, we're to devote ourselves to prayer, which involves the mind and the heart. The mind is to be alert, the heart thankful. We focus on the good, the positive. We look for opportunities to share our perspective on life. If our minds and hearts are in the right place, our conversation will be "gracious and attractive and right." In this context, prayer is a way of life, an approach that is always on the lookout for opportunity and something to be thankful for. And it will bear fruit!

Clarifying Your Unique Purpose

How can we gain clarity in answering the "Why am I here?" question?
 
From the book "Live Like You Mean It" by T.J. Addington I wanted to share a section of this book with you.
 
First, ask God to reveal to you what His unique assignment is.  He created you to join Him in His work. Start to ask Him regularly to reveal His custom-tailored mission to you.
 
Second, ask those who know you best how they would answer that question for you based on the strengths, interests, and aptitudes they observe in your life. Others often see in us wht we do not see in ourselves. Write down your friends' answers and ponder them with an open heart and mind.
 
Third, reflect on how God has used you in the past and how He is using you now. Are there clues about how God has gifted you?
 
Fourth, think about opportunities you have had to bring a little bit of heaven to someone or to some situation in your cicle of influence. In your journal or a notebook, list some of those times and places where you embraced His call on your life. Identifying the ways you have influenced others will provide clear direction in understanding your God-given assignment.
 
Lastly, based on what you currently know, complete the following sentence: "God has placed me on this earth in order to ..." You may not have a final, conclusive answer, but it's helpful to put into words what you believe God is calling you to do.
 
God created each of us for a special purpose, so the most important thing we can do is prayerfully identify that purpose and begin living it out. The alternative is to focus our lives on the common, temporal indicators of success: status, possessions, recreation, and all that is defined as "the good life." But in the end we miss the most important reason God placed us here. True greatness and satisfaction come as we fulfill our divine mandate.
 
...............  As I was reading this section of the book, I felt I just needed to share this with you ..............
Hope you have a blessed day today!
 
READ and REFLECT:
How do the truths of Ephesians 2:10 influence how you see and live your life? What would you like to do differently?

Friday, January 28, 2011

Colossians 3:23–25 - Work willingly at whatever you do.

"Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites."
 
Whatever we do, we're to do it with an eye not only on this world but on God's kingdom. There will always be some consequence for our actions, sooner or later. This is a spiritual law. This is why God has no favorites; all are subject to the spiritual law that what you sow you will reap. The thing is, the consequences, both good and bad, are not always immediate. We will receive an inheritance, and we will be paid back for wrong. All is future—sooner or later. Consequences are inevitable; make sure you receive the good ones!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

The Pursuit of Excellence

Perhaps you, at one time, find yourself living where you don't want to be.  Many times, we are not where we used to be and not where we want to be.  And many times, we find ourselves holding positions or having responsibilities we did not choose for ourselves.  In times like these, we can forget the past, forgive those who have caused us pain, and focus on the present place and time, expecting our gracious God to work goodness and redemption in the circumstances.  By determining to be the vest we can be wherever we are. each one of us can bloom where we are planted.

So where has God placed you?

Whatever the situation, it is an opportunity to bear fruit for His kingdom.  However, difficult the circumstances, He enables us to accomplish something for Him as long as we are looking to Him and making ourselves available to be used by Him.
 
Have a wonderful TODAY!

Jeremiah 10:23-24 - Is there some sin in your life that you just can't seem to conquer?

"O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing." (KJV)

Is there some sin in your life that you just can't seem to conquer? Those kinds of struggles remind us that "our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course." Too many things control us: our own sin, other people, forces too big for us, such as the weather. We need to acknowledge that we need his help in correcting our sin, but we can depend on God's gentleness. Unlike human parents, this Parent corrects us in gentleness and love, never in anger. Allow him to "correct your course" as you trust his gentleness.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

"True" and "Real" offers

What can you do and what can God do to keep you from torturing yourself with unfounded and therefore probably inaccurate thoughts about what other people are thinking and feeling?

What will you do the next time you find yourself being suspicious, exaggerating, guessing, or making assumptions about someone's behavior?

How would your relationship improve if you accepted people's words at face value?

READ:
Philippians 4:8
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praise worthy - think about such things."

REMEMBER:
1 Cor. 13:4-8a
"Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking.  It is not easily angered.  It keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does nto delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails."

Matthew 18:15
"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you.  If he listens to you, you have won your brother over."

Have a blessed day.

BOOK REVIEW - The Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux

Have you ever wanted to rewrite your past? Three best friends, all with the same birthday, are about to turn forty. They plan to share this momentous occasion together at a summerhouse in Maine, talking up a storm and taking stock of their lives and loves, their wishes and choices. But none of them expect the gift that awaits them at the summerhouse: the chance for eac... more »h of them to turn their "what-might-have-beens" into reality.... Leslie Headrick, Madison Appleby, and Ellie Abbott met nineteen years ago in the most unlikely place: stuck in line at the New York City Department of Motor Vehicles. Not only did they each turn twenty-one on that memorable day, but on that day, they shared with each other their past secrets and their hopes for the future. They were three beautiful and extraordinarily talented young women with the world theirs for the taking. But life doesn't always go according to one's youthful imaginings. Leslie, now a suburban wife and mother, is refusing to listen to what people are saying about her husband and his beautiful assistant. Instead, she follows the career of a boy who pursued her in college: he's now a presidential hopeful. What would her life be like if she had chosen differently? Madison dropped a modeling career to help her high school boyfriend recover from an accident, even though he'd jilted her. Years later, he was on his feet again and Madison had met Thomas, the man who was all she'd ever dreamed of. But by that time Madison knew she had no right to Thomas' love. What if she had said "no" when her old boyfriend had called? Ellie became a famous, bestselling novelist, but when she grew tired of supporting her narcissistic, philandering husband, she divorced him. What was done to her in the divorce court cost her not only all of her earnings from her writing, but also her belief in herself. More that anything, Ellie needed to know why she'd been so brutalized by the "justice" system, and could she prevent its happening the second time around? Now, as Leslie, Madison, and Ellie reunite at the summerhouse, each ?nds a puzzling card from a "Madame Zoya," offering them the chance of a lifetime: to relive any three months from the past. Will the road not taken prove a better path? Each woman will have to decide for herself as she follows the dream that got away...and each must choose the life that will truly satisfy the longings that live deep inside her heart.

My personal notes:  This is a great book for women.  Each of them telling the stories of both their lives is an easy read and interesting also.  Personally I had a hard time putting this book down.  Although there is a supernatural twist to it, which I do not believe in: I looked past that and viewed the reading as an inspiration on how to take another look at my own mindset of thinking to look at things differently.  Our decision is not completely our own, of course, as God helps us through our day if we pray and ask.  We have a set of problems that we face today and we must remember "What Would Jesus Do."

May you be blessed on your journey today.

Jeremiah 10:2–3a, 12, 14, 23 - Our lives are not our own

"This is what the LORD says:
'Do not act like the other nations,
who try to read their future in the stars.
Do not be afraid of their predictions,
even though other nations are terrified by them.
heir ways are futile and foolish.
But God made the earth by his power,
and he preserves it by his wisdom.
With his own understanding
he stretched out the heavens.
The whole human race is foolish and has no knowledge!
The craftsmen are disgraced by the idols they make,
for their carefully shaped works are a fraud.
These idols have no breath or power.'
I know, LORD, that our lives are not our own.
We are not able to plan our own course." (New Living Translation)

Many people read their horoscopes every day, and some take astrology very seriously, looking to the stars to discover their course in life. That is foolishness and emptiness. Nobody but God Almighty has the power of life ("our lives are not our own"). We cannot plan our own course with any help but God's. Only in worship of the God who made the stars can we connect with life. We become like what we worship. Worship lifeless, powerless things, and you become lifeless and powerless. Worship the one true God, and share in his power. Enjoy true life.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Jeremiah 10:23–24 - Is there some sin in your life

"I know, LORD, that our lives are not our own.
We are not able to plan our own course.
So correct me, LORD, but please be gentle.
Do not correct me in anger, for I would die." (New Living Translation)

Is there some sin in your life that you just can't seem to conquer? Those kinds of struggles remind us that "our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course." Too many things control us: our own sin, other people, forces too big for us, such as the weather. We need to acknowledge that we need his help in correcting our sin, but we can depend on God's gentleness. Unlike human parents, this Parent corrects us in gentleness and love, never in anger. Allow him to "correct your course" as you trust his gentleness.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Colossians 3:15-17

"And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father." (New Living Translation)

The idea of thankfulness is repeated three times in these three verses. Thankfulness is to be our basic orientation to life. How do you become more thankful? By taking in the word of God and letting it make you wise. Understanding God's ways leads to joy, peace, and the ability to love others truly.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Colossians 3:14 - What is the most important thing we can do ("over all")?

"And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." (NIV)

What is the most important thing we can do ("over all")? Love. Love is what covers our own faults. Love is the glue that binds, the thing that makes everything work together in perfect unity. Think of voices singing in unity, making beautiful music together. That is the picture of love. It is beautiful, it is supreme, it is what we should "wear." As you dress today, remember to put on the most important thing—love.