Relax!

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

—Psalm 37:6-7

Oh look, another verse about patience!

You would think that I would figure it out eventually.

I am not a patient person.

"Chill out!"

“Relax!”

These are words I hear a lot. . .  and look, it’s even in the Bible!

I need to come into God's presence with dependent, yet confident, patience.

But how is that possible?

We know God will do what is right for us over the passage of time.

The Bible is God's story (HIS-story); it is the great testimony that He is always faithful to His promises.

He is gracious in His power to redeem, and generous with His love shared with His children.

Note to self:  come into His presence and be willing to be still... and patient... and trusting… and hopeful!

Have a blessed day! 

Please don't hide

So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me His prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.

– 2 Timothy 1:8

In the time that the Bible was written, you could go to jail or worse for sharing the word of God.

Sadly, it is still true today, in some countries you can be tortured and even killed for your beliefs.  

Just as Paul encourages Timothy to not hide or become timid by playing it safe and politically correct all the time, we are encouraged to go forward and share what we have been given.

If you’re a Christ follower, be a Christ follower.

Shout it from the roof tops! 

Being quiet is the convenient route, but it is also the most powerless.

Do not disassociate yourself from the family of God, but allow the power of God to help you to be an active participant in sharing His good news.

Have a blessed day! 

What past?

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

– Philippians 3:13-14

Here is something new: a movie quote!

Oh yes, the past can hurt.

But the way I see it you can either run from it or learn from it.

~ Rafiki The Lion King

Though you have been shaped by your past, something else can shape your future.

We can let what happened turn us into hateful, withdrawn or downright evil people.

Or

We can take what we have experienced and use it to make us better and to help others.

Don’t let your past mistakes hinder you from pressing forward.

The heavenward call in Christ Jesus urges you to let go of what is behind you to embrace what is in front of you.

Have a blessed day! 

Can't buy me love

You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

– Revelation 3:17-18

Say you don't need no diamond ring and I'll be satisfied
Tell me that you want the kind of thing that money just can't buy
I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love

Yeah, that was a Beatles song reference, sorry / not sorry.

Are you a lukewarm Christian?

In the Bible, the apostle John calls the church lukewarm because they trusted in their wealth.

They thought that money brings security, but it does not.

We are advised to purchase things that money can’t buy; the fire of refinement, the white clothing of righteousness, and vision that only God can provide.

We are not to confuse what the world calls wealth with what God calls wealth.

What major purchase are you making?

Have a blessed day! 

Are you leaving a legacy?

The memory of the righteous will be a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.

—Proverbs 10:7

You know it is coming . . . . song reference!

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically 
And leave that kind of legacy

The wisdom of God is short, succinct, and sweet for those who seek to do His will.

I want my children and future grandchildren to remember me with sweet thoughts because I sought to be righteous and love the Lord with all my heart.

I refuse to live the kind of life that poisons the lives of those I touch.

I do not want to leave garbage for my descendants.

I want to leave a legacy of love and mercy, wisdom and grace.

What is your legacy?

Have a blessed day! 

what arguments can you win?

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

—2 Corinthians 10:5

There are many weapons that Satan uses against the people of God - one of them is to sway us from Christ with well thought through arguments.

This battle is not won with ignorance, but rather the ability to capture those thoughts and submit them to God’s word.

That means that we need to know the thoughts of Christ.  (remember the comments last week about knowing the Bible and knowing God?)

Learning the Scripture is more than a Sunday School activity — it is renewing your mind to God’s reality.

His promises are what give us the ability to rise above the pronouncements with which Satan fills our minds.

What thought needs to be taken captive today?

Have a blessed day! 

Five things

You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek You; I thirst for You, my whole being longs for You, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and Your glory. Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise You. On my bed I remember You; I think of You through the watches of the night. Because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of Your wings. I cling to You; Your right hand upholds me.

- Psalm 63:1-8

This one wraps up a few points:

Seek Him  - He has the answers.

Praise Him – He loves to hear your voice.

Thank Him – share with Him that you are thankful for His blessings.

Meditate on Him and His word – the Bible says pray without ceasing!

Acknowledge Him – after all, it is because of Him that you are given each day.

Have a blessed day!