Grace for your spirit
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
None of us will go through life with only good things happening to us. There will be loss, there will be trials, and there will be trouble. How can we balance the bad things that happen with our faith in God? When we love God and are called according to His purpose, the bad things will always work for good. We need to wait on the Lord to balance the bad with the good, for His purpose in our life. If we choose to reject God and His purpose, bad things will surely come, but they won't' work for good. As faithful Christians, when someone remarks about a bad thing that happened to us, our answer is, "how do you know?" Good will come.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Grace for your spirit. June 20, 2012
Grace for your spirit
But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. I Timothy 6:9
The wisdom of God and the experience of age teaches us that no one can have it all. When we decide to put our entire focus on a worldly pursuit, it will cause us to lose sight of everything else. The love of money really is the root of all sorts of evil. The temptation to give up everything for it is sometimes overpowering. People will give up their families, their religion, and their own good sense when they are obsessed by it. These are the foolish and harmful desires that plunge us into ruin. The only thing we can focus on completely and find success in every area of our lives is Jesus Christ. When we focus on Him ,our blessings, our families, our religion, and our own good sense can be a part of our lives.
But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. I Timothy 6:9
The wisdom of God and the experience of age teaches us that no one can have it all. When we decide to put our entire focus on a worldly pursuit, it will cause us to lose sight of everything else. The love of money really is the root of all sorts of evil. The temptation to give up everything for it is sometimes overpowering. People will give up their families, their religion, and their own good sense when they are obsessed by it. These are the foolish and harmful desires that plunge us into ruin. The only thing we can focus on completely and find success in every area of our lives is Jesus Christ. When we focus on Him ,our blessings, our families, our religion, and our own good sense can be a part of our lives.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Grace for your spirit. June 19, 2012
Grace for your spirit
The Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is not one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him to ruin him with cause."
God's word informs all believers that we are at war with the devil. When we choose to keep the commands of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus, the devil declares war against us. It is a serious problem in that so many Christians never realize they are at war, until they are a casualty of war. If you have considered the struggle of Job, that was one of his problems. The devil declared war on him, but it took him a long time to figure out what was happening to him. In the end of it all, he trusted in the Lord and the Lord gave him victory. Let's put on the whole armor of God and prepare for attack. It is the best way to victory.
The Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is not one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him to ruin him with cause."
God's word informs all believers that we are at war with the devil. When we choose to keep the commands of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus, the devil declares war against us. It is a serious problem in that so many Christians never realize they are at war, until they are a casualty of war. If you have considered the struggle of Job, that was one of his problems. The devil declared war on him, but it took him a long time to figure out what was happening to him. In the end of it all, he trusted in the Lord and the Lord gave him victory. Let's put on the whole armor of God and prepare for attack. It is the best way to victory.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Grace for your spirit. June 18, 2012
Grace for your spirit
Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord', will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven will enter. Matthew 7:21
When we used to see someone who did something that was slightly uncoordinated, we would ask if they could "walk and chew gum at the same time." God is searching for the coordinated disciples. Ones who can talk the talk, and walk the walk at the same time. He certainly wants to confess Him as Lord, but not just talk. He encourages us to walk worthy of this heavenly calling. That is the will of our Father. Our Bible study should not just be academic exercises, but on the job training.
Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord', will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven will enter. Matthew 7:21
When we used to see someone who did something that was slightly uncoordinated, we would ask if they could "walk and chew gum at the same time." God is searching for the coordinated disciples. Ones who can talk the talk, and walk the walk at the same time. He certainly wants to confess Him as Lord, but not just talk. He encourages us to walk worthy of this heavenly calling. That is the will of our Father. Our Bible study should not just be academic exercises, but on the job training.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Grace for your spirit. June 15, 2012
Grace for your spirit
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. II Timothy 4:7
Unfortunately, we are conducting way too many funerals these days for who Tom Brokaw called "The Greatest Generation". Those who lived through depression, wars, and loss, may have been the greatest generation for the church as well. Trusting in the Lord, they seemed to express a satisfaction, and optimism that is hard to find today. This poem is how I see the generation that raised me. I hope and pray we can all get there.
DRINKING FROM MY SAUCER
I've never made a fortune and it's probably too late now.
But I don't worry about that much, I'm happy anyhow.
And as I go along life's way, I'm reaping better than I sowed.
I'm drinking from the saucer 'cause my cup has overflowed
I haven't got a lot of riches, and sometimes the going's tough.
But I've got loved ones around me, and that makes me rich enough
I thank God for his blessings, and the mercies, He's bestowed.
I'm drinking from the saucer, cause my cup has overflowed.
I remember times when things went wrong. My faith wore somewhat thin.
But all at once the dark clouds broke, and the sun peeped through again.
So God, help me not to gripe about the tough rows that I've hoed
I'm drinking from the saucer cause my cup has overflowed.
If God gives me strength and courage, when the way grows steep and rough.
I'll not ask for other blessings, I'm already blessed enough.
And may I never be too busy to help others bear their loads.
Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer,
Cause my cup has overflowed
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. II Timothy 4:7
Unfortunately, we are conducting way too many funerals these days for who Tom Brokaw called "The Greatest Generation". Those who lived through depression, wars, and loss, may have been the greatest generation for the church as well. Trusting in the Lord, they seemed to express a satisfaction, and optimism that is hard to find today. This poem is how I see the generation that raised me. I hope and pray we can all get there.
DRINKING FROM MY SAUCER
I've never made a fortune and it's probably too late now.
But I don't worry about that much, I'm happy anyhow.
And as I go along life's way, I'm reaping better than I sowed.
I'm drinking from the saucer 'cause my cup has overflowed
I haven't got a lot of riches, and sometimes the going's tough.
But I've got loved ones around me, and that makes me rich enough
I thank God for his blessings, and the mercies, He's bestowed.
I'm drinking from the saucer, cause my cup has overflowed.
I remember times when things went wrong. My faith wore somewhat thin.
But all at once the dark clouds broke, and the sun peeped through again.
So God, help me not to gripe about the tough rows that I've hoed
I'm drinking from the saucer cause my cup has overflowed.
If God gives me strength and courage, when the way grows steep and rough.
I'll not ask for other blessings, I'm already blessed enough.
And may I never be too busy to help others bear their loads.
Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer,
Cause my cup has overflowed
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Grace for your spirit. June 14, 2012
Grace for your spirit
But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5:44-45
The command from Jesus is clear. Don't be like the ungodly. Love and pray for your enemies and those who persecute you. If we made a list of our enemies and those who persecute us, the list is probably very short, thankfully. What if we made a list of people who we really don't like and don't like us? That list might be quite long. Could it be that the list of those people, could become our enemies and persecute us? What would happen if we went one step beyond His command, and prayed for those we just don't like? Could those prayers help us and them with a little rain and sunshine? Might we be a better son? With prayer, the list of those we just don't like, and don't like us, might be getting shorter, and we will be feeling better. Willing to try?
But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5:44-45
The command from Jesus is clear. Don't be like the ungodly. Love and pray for your enemies and those who persecute you. If we made a list of our enemies and those who persecute us, the list is probably very short, thankfully. What if we made a list of people who we really don't like and don't like us? That list might be quite long. Could it be that the list of those people, could become our enemies and persecute us? What would happen if we went one step beyond His command, and prayed for those we just don't like? Could those prayers help us and them with a little rain and sunshine? Might we be a better son? With prayer, the list of those we just don't like, and don't like us, might be getting shorter, and we will be feeling better. Willing to try?
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Grace for your spirit. June 13, 2012
Grace for your spirit
Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting. He who goes to and fro weeping carrying his bag of seed, shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126:5
God's word teaches us the law of the harvest. We will reap what we sow. If we sow to the flesh, we will reap corruption. If we choose to sow to the Spirit, we shall from the Spirit reap eternal life. It is more difficult to sow to the Spirit, and may even cause weeping at times. God's Word promises us that the sacrifice is worth it. When we sow in tears, we will reap with joy. Too many have sowed to the flesh with joy, and then had the pain of reaping corruption with tears. When we use the Word of God as our guide, we will come before Him rejoicing with a great harvest.
Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting. He who goes to and fro weeping carrying his bag of seed, shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126:5
God's word teaches us the law of the harvest. We will reap what we sow. If we sow to the flesh, we will reap corruption. If we choose to sow to the Spirit, we shall from the Spirit reap eternal life. It is more difficult to sow to the Spirit, and may even cause weeping at times. God's Word promises us that the sacrifice is worth it. When we sow in tears, we will reap with joy. Too many have sowed to the flesh with joy, and then had the pain of reaping corruption with tears. When we use the Word of God as our guide, we will come before Him rejoicing with a great harvest.
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