John 14: 27 - "I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid."
This blog is a summary of a chapter in Max Lucado's Book : Fearless.
Life comes with surprises; Modification, Transitions, Alterations. Everything seems great, then one day the unexpected happens. We just don't know what tomorrow has in store for us. Fear of what tomorrow holds can rob us of our focus of today.
The disciples are resting, feasting the might of the Passover Celebration in the Upper Room and Jesus says, "I am going away" (John 14:28). Can you imagine the shock they must have felt hearing Jesus say those words.
Think about it, Jesus popularity was soaring, the crowds lifted Jesus to their shoulders. they put all their hope in him.
No one passes through life surprised free. Remember Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 "For everything there is a season." Max said he counted twenty eight different seasons.
Earthly seasons we understand, but not lives season. When life gets crazy we need someone to stabilize us. Jesus promised the disciples an Advocate who would represent him - The Holy Spirit. Jesus told them I am going away and you will enter a new season. You will enjoy the presence of another Counselor.
Counselor means - helper; intercessor; advocate, strengthener, standby
Parakletos - para - alongside of
kletos - to be called out, designated, assigned, appointed
The Holy Spirit is designated to come alongside of us. He is the presence of Jesus.
Changes equip us for living life with purpose. So embrace change, accept it, don't resist it.
As Paul wrote, "These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing" (2 Cor. 4: 17)
Thanks Max! A very meaningful chapter.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Our Thoughts
Proverbs 23:7 - "As he thinks in his heart, so is he."
Have you ever wondered why people ask for, forgiveness of thoughts, words and deeds. Sometimes you may think no one knows what you are, thinking. WRONG! God knows!
You may say to yourself: don't talk to me, I am in a bad mood. a mood is not a place we are assigned. It is an emotion we permit. You may think, I am not going to mess with her/him, they have a bad disposition. A bad disposition is not like a cold or the flu.
2 Cor. 10: 5 - "We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ." This sounds like we are on a battle field: we are the soldiers and our thoughts are our enemies. Our assignment is to protect the boat (our hearts) and refuse entrance of trashy thoughts. The minute they appear, we need to go into action. We need to say; "This heart belongs to God," and you are not getting on board.
My prayer for you is to have great thoughts, and remember when some slip through God forgives. Nothing can separate you from God's love.
Have you ever wondered why people ask for, forgiveness of thoughts, words and deeds. Sometimes you may think no one knows what you are, thinking. WRONG! God knows!
You may say to yourself: don't talk to me, I am in a bad mood. a mood is not a place we are assigned. It is an emotion we permit. You may think, I am not going to mess with her/him, they have a bad disposition. A bad disposition is not like a cold or the flu.
2 Cor. 10: 5 - "We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ." This sounds like we are on a battle field: we are the soldiers and our thoughts are our enemies. Our assignment is to protect the boat (our hearts) and refuse entrance of trashy thoughts. The minute they appear, we need to go into action. We need to say; "This heart belongs to God," and you are not getting on board.
My prayer for you is to have great thoughts, and remember when some slip through God forgives. Nothing can separate you from God's love.
Our Thoughts
Proverbs 23:7 - "As he thinks in his heart, so is he."
Have you ever wondered why people ask for forgiveness of thoughts, words and deeds. sometimes you may think no one knows what you are, thinking. WRONG! God knows!
You may say to yourself: don't talk to me, I am in a bad mood. a mood is not a place we are assigned. It is an emotion we permit. You may think, I am not going to mess with her/him, they have a bad disposition. a bad disposition is not like a cold or the flu.
2 Cor. 10:5 - "We capture every though and make it give up and obey Christ." This sounds like we are on a battle field: we are the soloders and our thoughts are our enemies. Our assigment is to protect the boat (our heart) and refuse entrance of trashy thoughts. The minute they appear, we need to go into action. We need to say, "This heart belongs to God," and you are not getting on board.
My prayer for is to have great thoughts, and remember that when you fall into bad thoughts, you can be forgiven as nothing can separate you from the love of God.
Have you ever wondered why people ask for forgiveness of thoughts, words and deeds. sometimes you may think no one knows what you are, thinking. WRONG! God knows!
You may say to yourself: don't talk to me, I am in a bad mood. a mood is not a place we are assigned. It is an emotion we permit. You may think, I am not going to mess with her/him, they have a bad disposition. a bad disposition is not like a cold or the flu.
2 Cor. 10:5 - "We capture every though and make it give up and obey Christ." This sounds like we are on a battle field: we are the soloders and our thoughts are our enemies. Our assigment is to protect the boat (our heart) and refuse entrance of trashy thoughts. The minute they appear, we need to go into action. We need to say, "This heart belongs to God," and you are not getting on board.
My prayer for is to have great thoughts, and remember that when you fall into bad thoughts, you can be forgiven as nothing can separate you from the love of God.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Happiness
Matthew 25:23 - "Well done, good and faithful servant? You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and serve your master's happiness.
What is happiness? it is the quality or state of being happy. (good fortune, pleasure, contentment, joy, high spirits, satisfaction)
I found 49 synonyms and 8 antonyms for the word happy.
As a first grade teacher I taught my students that we use more facial muscles to frown than to smile and laugh. Laughter is a synonym for happiness. If we use less facial muscles to smile, then we were created to smile and laugh.
Since we have free will we can choose to be happy or sad. Since there are 49 synonyms and only 8 antonyms then surely it is God's will to be happy,and not sad.
My point is we have a choice whether we want to be happy or sad. We make our own happiness and when others are a part of that happiness they are gifts from God.
My prayer for you is be happy and let God fill your life with many wonderful blessings.
What is happiness? it is the quality or state of being happy. (good fortune, pleasure, contentment, joy, high spirits, satisfaction)
I found 49 synonyms and 8 antonyms for the word happy.
As a first grade teacher I taught my students that we use more facial muscles to frown than to smile and laugh. Laughter is a synonym for happiness. If we use less facial muscles to smile, then we were created to smile and laugh.
Since we have free will we can choose to be happy or sad. Since there are 49 synonyms and only 8 antonyms then surely it is God's will to be happy,and not sad.
My point is we have a choice whether we want to be happy or sad. We make our own happiness and when others are a part of that happiness they are gifts from God.
My prayer for you is be happy and let God fill your life with many wonderful blessings.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Knowing God
Joshua 1:5 - I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Matthew 28:20 - Jesus said, "Surly I am with you always to the very end of the age."
My husband's occupation was Forestry. We lived on Forests Units far away from towns and our neighbors. We had three small children. There were many forest animals and many poisonous snakes.
I was raised in a small town, but still there were people all around all the time. I felt very isolated and alone. Our 3-way party line was out of order most the time so I couldn't talk with anyone.
I came to realize that the only one I could depend on was God. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They were always present. When I would cry out to God suddenly a beautiful bird might appear, or a squirrel would chatter in the trees, or a deer might come close to the house.
God used our dog - a collie - to protect us from the copperhead snakes. He would circle around them letting me know one had crawled into the yard.
God was always near. Sometimes I would walk out on the porch feeling lonely and suddenly I could hear the wind in the distance blowing the tree's leaves, rushing toward me until It finally reached me blowing my hair. It was an awesome sound letting me know God was near and on his way.
Today I can reflect on those memories of peace,quiet,God's beautiful creation and how God kept his promise to always be with me.
In the hustle, bustle of today's living, take time to stop, listen, observe and you will experience God's presence.
Matthew 28:20 - Jesus said, "Surly I am with you always to the very end of the age."
My husband's occupation was Forestry. We lived on Forests Units far away from towns and our neighbors. We had three small children. There were many forest animals and many poisonous snakes.
I was raised in a small town, but still there were people all around all the time. I felt very isolated and alone. Our 3-way party line was out of order most the time so I couldn't talk with anyone.
I came to realize that the only one I could depend on was God. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They were always present. When I would cry out to God suddenly a beautiful bird might appear, or a squirrel would chatter in the trees, or a deer might come close to the house.
God used our dog - a collie - to protect us from the copperhead snakes. He would circle around them letting me know one had crawled into the yard.
God was always near. Sometimes I would walk out on the porch feeling lonely and suddenly I could hear the wind in the distance blowing the tree's leaves, rushing toward me until It finally reached me blowing my hair. It was an awesome sound letting me know God was near and on his way.
Today I can reflect on those memories of peace,quiet,God's beautiful creation and how God kept his promise to always be with me.
In the hustle, bustle of today's living, take time to stop, listen, observe and you will experience God's presence.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Come Follow Me
Matthew 4: 19 - "Come, follow me," Jesus said.
Jesus invited the disciples to stop what they were doing and follow Him. They dropped everything and did just that.
What does that mean for us today? Do you want to follow Jesus? Where is HE? Do you see Him on your busy streets or in your towns?
Guess what? We have the Holy Spirit to help us listen and hear Jesus' voice.
We are called to serve God in many different places: a foreign land, classroom at school, business world, a stay at home mom, fire fighter, police officer, doctor, nurse, and even a public office. Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few." Luke 10:2. This field is all around us: globally, next door, at work, on the playground where our children play.
In all these places we can share Jesus' love with others so they can respond to Jesus' voice and follow Him too.
Jesus said, "Follow me." That we can do, right now, this very moment.
I pray that you and I will submit our desires, plans, lives to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and Follow Him.
Jesus invited the disciples to stop what they were doing and follow Him. They dropped everything and did just that.
What does that mean for us today? Do you want to follow Jesus? Where is HE? Do you see Him on your busy streets or in your towns?
Guess what? We have the Holy Spirit to help us listen and hear Jesus' voice.
We are called to serve God in many different places: a foreign land, classroom at school, business world, a stay at home mom, fire fighter, police officer, doctor, nurse, and even a public office. Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few." Luke 10:2. This field is all around us: globally, next door, at work, on the playground where our children play.
In all these places we can share Jesus' love with others so they can respond to Jesus' voice and follow Him too.
Jesus said, "Follow me." That we can do, right now, this very moment.
I pray that you and I will submit our desires, plans, lives to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and Follow Him.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Answered Prayers
Isaiah 55:8 - "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord.
Because I belong to an intercessory prayer group, I keep a prayer journal. From time to time I go back over my journal and check off prayer request that have been answered. Sometimes they are answered with a yes or no, or no not now.
Have you ever gone back over your prayer request and found one that was answered long after the request was made? Many times we want instant answers to our prayers but it doesn't happen. Have you thought about how waiting for God to act can refine your faith, teach you and prepare you for future responsibilities God has for you?
God has the bigger picture and He knows things we don't. I find comfort in knowing that He knows best, doesn't make mistakes and that He is always present watching over me.
"God answers some prayers immediately, some eventually and some only in eternity" - Upper Room
Because I belong to an intercessory prayer group, I keep a prayer journal. From time to time I go back over my journal and check off prayer request that have been answered. Sometimes they are answered with a yes or no, or no not now.
Have you ever gone back over your prayer request and found one that was answered long after the request was made? Many times we want instant answers to our prayers but it doesn't happen. Have you thought about how waiting for God to act can refine your faith, teach you and prepare you for future responsibilities God has for you?
God has the bigger picture and He knows things we don't. I find comfort in knowing that He knows best, doesn't make mistakes and that He is always present watching over me.
"God answers some prayers immediately, some eventually and some only in eternity" - Upper Room
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