Continuing on in 1 Peter to the next paragraph in The Message Version... We must live my life with a deep consciousness of GOD... of who HE is, of what HE has done for us, of HIS many blessings, of HIS love, of HIS mercy and of HIS grace.
Today I want to encourage you: if you are living a sloppy life, an "I don't care" kind of life... let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness!
This third part gels with everything else we've been talking about: BE TOTALLY READY! We already talked about two ways to be ready: #1) SO ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES and #2) PUT YOUR MIND IN GEAR... Here's the third way: Don't lazily slip back into your old grooves of evil. We have got to be vigilant and keep our relationship with HIM vibrant. One way I try to keep things fresh is by reading scripture in different translations. Another? By listening to Praise and Worship songs in Spanish. Like "Do It ...
Continuing to break down this powerful section of 1 Peter 1 and focusing on THE MIND. Such a spiritually logistically important area. The Message version tells us to PUT OUR MIND IN GEAR. How? By controlling what we dwell on. If it's not TRUE or HONORABLE or EXCELLENT or COMMENDABLE or PRAISE WORTHY... then WE DON'T THINK ABOUT IT. Read an exert from a great devotion found at https://www.keepbelieving.com/sermon/get-your-mind-in-gear/ by Ray Pritchard. Awesome anthem titled "Surrounded" in which...
Lets hit the ground running... I've been reading and listening to 1 Peter on repeat for a week going on two weeks. (Did you know that on the @Youversion Bible App you can hit the PLAY button and listen to Bible. Great for when you're working out, driving, cleaning, whatever.) So let's break these verses down starting with the first five words: SO ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES! 1 Peter 1.13-16 MSG: So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesu...
Fifth and Final Part of #HopeWeek. You ready to be encouraged? Did you know that when we place our HOPE in GOD we reap the benefits? Unfailing LOVE, full REDEMPTION and renewed STRENGTH. Those three alone are worth it!
Today I want to talk about ANCHORS... Our HOPE is an ANCHOR and first off we have to make sure we have then RIGHT ANCHOR and then that we are anchored to the RIGHT PLACE.
In Part 3 we are talking about PUTTING OUR HOPE IN GOD. there's too many verses in Psalms alone that talk about PUTTING HOPE IN GOD. I read about three of them. But why would we trust our hope in anything or anyone else? Psalms 42:11 so appropriately tells us, "Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my HOPE IN GOD! I will praise HIM again-- my Savior and my GOD!"
In Part 2 on #HopeWeek... Let's talk about how GOD IS OUR HOPE. We can make our hope people, places and things but people are imperfect, places and situations change and things just fade and disappear. So why not make GOD YOUR HOPE? Psalms 71:5 syas, "Lord GOD, you are my HOPE. I have trusted you since I was a young boy."
Man-O-Man! If there is a time I need to find out, seek out, study about HOPE, 'tis NOW! And boy am I glad I've delved into this subject. HOPE is not something that I muster up. It's not collecting little pieces of Jesse inside myself. It's not closing my eyes tight, crossing my fingers and wishing upon a star. No. Hope is from HIM. Hope is in HIM. Hope is actually HIM. Let's jump into #HopeWeek together with finding out that "Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. Those...
Taking The Message Version, what some consider a very unconventional translation, and being stopped in my tracks by a loving God. When I read 1 Corinthians 15:34 and got to the part that says: "Aren't you embarrassed that you've let this kind of thing go on as long as you have?" My sincere answer to HIM was, "Yes." It wasn't a moment of condemnation but an act of loving reproach and caring concern towards me, one of HIS kids. I encourage you today, to stop what ever it is and reassess, redirect ...
Just my thoughts on the day between Jesus' Crucifixion on GOOD FRIDAY and Jesus' Resurrection on Easter Sunday. The day not talked about too much... The Silent Saturday. Encouraging you to hold on. If you are currently living through your own silent Saturday, use it as a time to learn, grow and rest.
In the fifth and final part of the Colossians' Prayer found in Colossians 1:9-11, we learn to pray "that GOD will strength [us] with HIS own great power so that [we] will be patient and not give up when troubles come." Be encouraged today! HIS fullness, HIS power, HIS strength lives in you in our so that you can endure, persevere, to not give up. And in the end, we will be happy and give thanks to our heavenly FATHER.
In PART 4 of the Colossians Prayer found in Colossians 1:9-11, we learn to pray that we will grow in the knowledge of HIM. We are to everyday, every hour, every minute grow in HIM... learning that God is loving, faithful, just powerful, mighty, righteous, compassionate, gracious, forgiving, good, holy, merciful, mighty, fair, HE is our refuge, our help and HE is also with us.
In PART 3 of the Colossians' Prayer (Colossians 1:9-11), we learn to pray "that [our] life will PRODUCE GOOD WORKS of every kind." That means emotional, physical, financial, mental and spiritual good works. And they only way to produce good works is if we abide in HIM and HE abides in us.
Each part of the Colossians' Prayer builds on itself... Part one we talked about getting WISDOM so we can be CONFIDENT IN HIM and now we learn we have this CONFIDENCE will "help you live in a way that brings HONOR to the LORD and PLEASES HIM in every way."
Breaking down the prayer found in Colossians 1:9-11. This first part prays "that God will make you completely sure of what HE wants by giving you all the WISDOM and SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING you need." Be encouraged that HE gives us WISDOM without measure, freely, liberally, without a second thought... why? So then we can be CONFIDENT IN HIM.
God is soooo meticulous. From every hair on our heads being numbered, cataloged, reported, recorded and accounted for to every tear kept in a ledger to every toss and turn we have during our sleepless night. Why? Because HE SEES YOU and HE CARES FOR YOU and HE LOVES YOU!
Been a way for a whole month! But back at it. Amid all the craziness, uncertainty, sickness, lack, confusion and doubt... HE IS STILL GOD! And HIS Word still stands. And Philippians 1:6 says, "that the GOOD WORK God began in you will CONTINUE until HE completes it on the day when Jesus Christ comes again." Be encouraged!
This devotional inspired by a tweet I read... yes, a tweet. A pastor tweeted about the PRODIGAL SON and it gut punched me. I went back to the story in Luke 15:11-20 and re-read it. And I've realized that HE doesn't care what brings you back to him, whatever brought you BACK TO YOUR SENSES, HE stands with arms open wide ready for you to come on back home!
Listen, you can try and do it on your own. Or focus on the job or someone else to be able to get you through whatever it is you need... But inevitably they will fail you. And you will fail yourself. I know I've failed myself many many times. You know who will NEVER fail you? The LORD. So count on HIM. Put all your hope in HIM.
Coming back to Psalms 27:9 but this time focusing on the first part of the verse: You've always been right there. Be encouraged today that no matter how sad, messed up, hard, crazy or confusing it gets... HE IS RIGHT THERE WITH YOU!
Last part of this series. Today I'm reading Day 6 of John Eckhardt's bible study titled "Destroying the Spirit of Rejection" found on the YouVersion Bible App. And keep this question in mind: Why? Why seek freedom from the fear of rejection? The answer is this: Because those around you need you to blaze a trail to freedom so you can lead them there yourself. Point. Blank. Period.
Reading from DAY 5 of John Eckhardt's excellent bible study titled "Destroying the Spirit of Rejection" found in the YouVersion App. Brothers and Sisters, don't you realize YOU HAVE AUTHORITY?!?! Experiencing freedom from the fear of rejection takes hard work, blood, sweat, tears, prayer, energy... it takes us being vigilant and aggressive. But you got this! Be encouraged today... YOU GOT THIS!
Continuing on using the Bible Study by John Eckhardt titled "Destroying the Spirit of Rejection" found in the YouVersion Bible App... You are not alone in this fight for freedom... Psalms 27:9 says, "You've always been right there for me." And that is TRUTH!
Good stuff! Again, reading from "Destroying the Spirit of Rejection" a bible study by John Eckhardt found in the @youversion app. Today I'm reading from Day 3. Be encouraged! HE CHOSE US. So when you feel like the whole world has turned its back on you, the most important person HAS CHOSEN YOU!!!
Guys, this one is hitting home freshly. I will be sharing from the bible study I found through the @youversion app titled "Destroying the Spirit of Rejection" by John Eckhardt. This is GOOD stuff. If you happen to be struggling with rejection or know of someone who does.
Need a mantra to get you through those tough times? 2 Peter 3:9 tells us that, "The Lord is not being slow." And boy has that helped me here recently. Be encouraged, although HE isn't making it happen according to your timeline, HE isn't being slow they way we view slowness. HE is actually being patient. With who? WITH US!
It's a TRAP! Comparing ourselves with the life, the money, the cars, the height, the weight, the build, the family, the parties, the clothes, the vacations, the talent, the skills, the whatever it is... of others. Galatians 6:4 instructs us very clearly "DON'T COMPARE YOURSELF WITH OTHERS." Point. Blank. Period.
Without a doubt, HE is loyal to us. His mercy is unending, his love is forever, his protection knows no end... But the question today is: Are we loyal to him? Proverbs 13:6 says, "A God-Loyal life keeps you on track; sin dumps the wicked in the ditch."
