Better Living

Good Morning!! I remember several years ago when I was teaching my kids how to drive. Talk about nerve-racking! Sitting in the passenger seat, I felt absolutely helpless. All I could do was give them guidance and allow them to follow it. And when they first began driving on their own, I don’t think I slept for days! Now when it comes to teaching kids how to drive, you can do it one of two ways. You can start by showing them the first aid kit, the map, the insurance card, and where to put their Starbucks while the car is moving. Or (the best way), you can let them start driving,...and show them what to do along the way.

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.—Galatians 5:16 -18 (NIV)

 

God wants us to know how to steer through life. One way He could’ve taught us that is by telling us exactly how to respond to any and every situation that might arise. All we’d have to do is memorize His instructions, and we’d be good to go. But like driving, God knows the best way for us to learn is to get out and experience life for ourselves, walking by the Spirit and listening to Him as we go. So if you want to get the most out of life, live teachable.

Start allowing the Holy Spirit to guide your steps,...and you'll learn how to excel in every aspect of life!

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Sweet Spirit of God, lead us, teach us, help us,...but first, You need to make us lead-able, teach-able, and open to help. In Jesus' name. Amen.

"The liberating truth of Christianity is that God meets us where we are, takes us as we are,...and loves us too much to leave us there."

Be A Better Church

Good Morning!! There are a lot of churches today that, frankly, are very difficult to join. You have to go through a bunch of classes, pass a theology exam, and be interviewed by ten committees before they’ll consider you a member! Now I understand the motive behind much of this is to ensure their congregation has good doctrine. But as I look at the New Testament pattern for being received into fellowship, I find that people were accepted regardless of their spiritual status, even if they scarcely believed!
So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?" "From childhood," he answered.  "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for one who believes." Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"—Mark 9:20-24 (NIV)

 

When Jesus encountered the man in today’s passage whose son was demonized, he didn’t require the man to have his theology all worked out. Jesus used that scintilla of faith to heal the boy. A little bit of faith was enough, even when some unbelief was still present! The church of Jesus Christ is to minister to people at the point of their need. It’s not a sacred society for snubbing sinners. It exists to help the hurting and aid the broken.

 

Be the church God intends,...by inviting all people to know Christ, and receiving them into fellowship when they express even the desire for faith!

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Father, it only by Your grace that any of us have come to faith. Let us now not withhold that same grace from others. If we can't find acceptance from the church,...then where? Amen.

"The liberating truth of Christianity is that God meets us where we are, takes us as we are,...and loves us too much to leave us there."

Walking In The Light

Good Morning!! Sudden, or big changes in our life, can often trigger bouts of depression. Avoiding, or climbing out of that depression is a process,...and it requires perseverance. We must persist in believing God's truth instead of listening to our feelings. We may have thoughts like "Woe is me. Nothing ever works out, the way I planned. I never thought I'd be here,...or What's the use?" Instead of focusing on these negative feelings, we need to intentionally refocus on truths from the Bible: "I am special to God. God made me for a purpose. God loves me. He will never leave me. With God, there is always hope. I can do all things through Christ. ,...and my favorite; Ever new day is another chance to get it right." Although it takes time, as we persistently choose to believe God's truths instead of our feelings,...those truths will become a part of us. Our thinking about ourselves will begin to change, for the better. Our relationship with God will grow stronger. And we will find it easier to build new healthy relationships.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.—Romans 12:2 (NIV)

 

Just don't give up, even if you slip into depression. You can still climb out of depression. As you persist in trusting God, He will show you the way, step by step. And He will give you strength for the climb,...you can, and will bask in His light again. You will love, and feel love again. With Christ, all things are possible. (Philippians 4:13)

 

God gives us help for fighting depression: the truths of the Bible … the Holy Spirit to remind us of those truths … and the people of God to encourage us. We must persistently open our hearts and minds to all these wellsprings of help.

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Father, it takes time to sink into depression, and I know climbing out of it will take time as well. Help us not to give up. Help us to focus on the truths of Your Holy Word. Please transform us into new people by changing the way we see and think. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

"The liberating truth of Christianity is that God meets us where we are, takes us as we are,...and loves us too much to leave us there."

By His Blood, We Have Moved From The Darkness

Good Morning!! As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, you and I have moved from darkness to light. Jesus has brought us into the light and out of the darkness! That’s how you know that you are saved, because you’ve moved from darkness,...and the consequences of that darkness into the love and into the light of Jesus Christ. Because Jesus is that light! Jesus is that love!...and He came to this earth, perfectly God and perfectly man, in order to redeem us.

...to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’—Acts 26:18 (NIV)

 

That is, He has taken away our sin. By His blood we have been forgiven, and we’ve moved from the darkness to the beautiful light of Christ. Though He faced sin’s temptation, He never sinned. He identified with us, and the Word of God was invested in us. Jesus ultimately died for us, substituting for us on the cross. Second Corinthians 5:21 says, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

 

God became one with us, in order that we might become one with Him.

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Lord, You came into the darkness, shinning You Light and Love,...that we might fine our way out. And we we thank You, Jesus. Amen.

"The liberating truth of Christianity is that God meets us where we are, takes us as we are,...and loves us too much to leave us there."

Be Not Dismayed, The Father Is There

Good Morning!! Tragedy and violence can happen anywhere, for any of us, at any time. Christians are not some how immune to them. Real security cannot be found behind walls or fences,...real security comes only from having a relationship with God, the source of all life.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow and death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;—Psalm 23:4a,b (KJV)

The psalmist reminds us that we need not fear, or be overwhelmed, because God is present with us at all times,...and in all places and situations. God sees us through. Indeed, the foundation and content of our hope is the promise that nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of our God.

When the ground under our feet, begins to get shaky, remember God has promised that He will never leave or forsake us.

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When you walk with God, you'll never walk alone,...if you didn't know,...now you know!

"Before giving or serving in church, pause to consider why and how you're doing it,...let thanksgiving, true worship, and love be our only motivations."

Thanking God, For The Highs And The Lows

Good Morning, Worship Should Always Include Thanks!! Another one of God's many gifts to us is this: When we look for a reason to give thanks, we find it. We're able to see old things in new ways. Paul reminds us that living under God's love means giving God thanks in all that life brings,...even in what may be viewed as hard times.

always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.—Ephesians 5:20 (NIV)

Everything we do, we should be doing as though it was for God,...don't let people or situations change that. Instead of approaching adverse work situations and difficult people as a cross to be endured, We can and should look at them as opportunities to learn patience and compassion.

Old problems and long-held grievances yield to the power of thankful living.

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Thanks be to God!,... Always, in all things!!

"Before giving or serving in church, pause to consider why and how you're doing it,...let thanksgiving, true worship, and love be our only motivations."

You Can't Go Wrong Following Christ

Good Morning My Friend, It's the Making of Another Great Week!! In each of our lives, somebody,...a friend, a family member, a co-work, or someone we may not even know, is being influenced by our actions or words. How we live is an example for others to mirror,...good or bad. By following the example of Jesus, we'll lead those who imitate us, to the light. Think about what your behavior or deeds are teaching others.

Set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.—1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV)
Jesus models for us, how to live life fearlessly and authentically. He trusted in God all the way to the cross. At first, his death seemed like the final failure, and yet this greatest tragedy turned into the ultimate victory. Two thousand years later, and Jesus is still changing lives!

No one was ever lead astray, by following Jesus.

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" We can have an impact on our generation, and an incredible impact on succeeding ones, through our prayers, our walk, and our use of resources,...it all depends on how available we are to God."

"Before giving or serving in church, pause to consider why and how you're doing it,...let thanksgiving, true worship, and love be our only motivations."