''For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?'' 1 Corinthians 4:7
Okay, confession time: I have been guilty of this! Since being on my own, I have several times been convicted of an ungrateful attitude concerning the things with which I have been blessed. It's easy to look around and think that I provided myself with the things I have instead of being thankful to the One who actually provided me with them.
This can apply to possessions, status, praise, authority, relationships, and anything else God has given us. We cannot hold on to these things, and we cannot boast ''as if [we] had not received them.'' Instead of taking these blessings for granted today, let's look around and recognize the things God has provided and thank Him for them!
April 27, 2013
April 24, 2013
Thought for Today - Raining Love
'''But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.''' Matthew 5:45
Not everyone likes rain, but I do. Something about the sound of falling rain is very soothing to me, and I love the effects of spring rain as the grass turns green and flowers begin to bloom. God doesn't have to give us rain, but He chooses to let His rain fall on the earth for everyone's benefit.
''Love your enemies'' is much easier said than done. Being kind to those who have been unkind to us can be done by the power of God in us, as it is impossible on our own strength. If we are indeed children of our heavenly Father, let's rain down love and kindness today on everyone around us, whether or not they are kind to us.
Not everyone likes rain, but I do. Something about the sound of falling rain is very soothing to me, and I love the effects of spring rain as the grass turns green and flowers begin to bloom. God doesn't have to give us rain, but He chooses to let His rain fall on the earth for everyone's benefit.
''Love your enemies'' is much easier said than done. Being kind to those who have been unkind to us can be done by the power of God in us, as it is impossible on our own strength. If we are indeed children of our heavenly Father, let's rain down love and kindness today on everyone around us, whether or not they are kind to us.
April 15, 2013
Thought for Today - Encouragement
''Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are fearful-hearted, ''Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance...'' Isaiah 35:3-4a
When I run, the last leg to the finish line is both the hardest and the easiest. It is the hardest because then I am the most fatigued and want most to give up. However, it is also the easiest because I am within sight of my goal and can push it harder knowing that my run is almost over. And if I receive encouragement near the finish line, such as the cheering of those who have already finished, I can push even harder.
Encouragement can mean all the difference in someone's performance or even their life. There are times when we all need a helping hand, a kind word, or a listening ear.
Who can you encourage today? Is there someone you can come alongside and comfort or strengthen?
When I run, the last leg to the finish line is both the hardest and the easiest. It is the hardest because then I am the most fatigued and want most to give up. However, it is also the easiest because I am within sight of my goal and can push it harder knowing that my run is almost over. And if I receive encouragement near the finish line, such as the cheering of those who have already finished, I can push even harder.
Encouragement can mean all the difference in someone's performance or even their life. There are times when we all need a helping hand, a kind word, or a listening ear.
Who can you encourage today? Is there someone you can come alongside and comfort or strengthen?
April 9, 2013
Thought for Today - New Mercies
''Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.'' Lamentations 3:22-23
Great is His faithfulness! We can't even begin to comprehend a fraction of what God sees and does.
His mercies are new every morning. Every morning we wake up, in possession of things only He can give, things He can also choose to take away: life, health, safety, nourishment, shelter, and everything else we have. It's a little cliche, but it's true. When we wake up each morning, we have no idea of what God is doing in the background just so that we can wake up, and can have the same things we did when we went to sleep. God is constantly moving on our behalf and blessing us as He sees fit.
''We are not consumed'' - only by His mercy. If He took His eye off you for a moment, you would not exist. Great indeed is His faithfulness, and His compassion does not fail!
Great is His faithfulness! We can't even begin to comprehend a fraction of what God sees and does.
His mercies are new every morning. Every morning we wake up, in possession of things only He can give, things He can also choose to take away: life, health, safety, nourishment, shelter, and everything else we have. It's a little cliche, but it's true. When we wake up each morning, we have no idea of what God is doing in the background just so that we can wake up, and can have the same things we did when we went to sleep. God is constantly moving on our behalf and blessing us as He sees fit.
''We are not consumed'' - only by His mercy. If He took His eye off you for a moment, you would not exist. Great indeed is His faithfulness, and His compassion does not fail!
April 4, 2013
Thought for Today - Let It Go
'''And if anyone says to you, ''Why are you doing this?'' say, ''The Lord has need of it,'' and immediately he will send it here.''' Mark 11:3
Our Lord was completely sure that the owner of the donkey was willing to give it up for Him. There was no doubt, no question of whether the donkey's owner would try to keep it for himself or deny the Lord use of it.
I wonder if God is sure that each of us will give up the things we hold dear. If He asked for anything I think I own, would I give it up willingly, even gladly, for His service?
Everything we have is given to us by the Lord, and anything can be taken away again. We should never hold too tightly to people, possessions, status, or any other thing we have. If the Lord asks for it, let it go.
Our Lord was completely sure that the owner of the donkey was willing to give it up for Him. There was no doubt, no question of whether the donkey's owner would try to keep it for himself or deny the Lord use of it.
I wonder if God is sure that each of us will give up the things we hold dear. If He asked for anything I think I own, would I give it up willingly, even gladly, for His service?
Everything we have is given to us by the Lord, and anything can be taken away again. We should never hold too tightly to people, possessions, status, or any other thing we have. If the Lord asks for it, let it go.
March 31, 2013
Happy Easter!
'''He is not here, for He is risen, as He said.''' Matthew 28:6a
When the disciples awoke that morning, the events of the last several days must have come rushing to their minds. Their grief at Jesus' loss and fear for their own lives, as well as confusion over what to do next, were all concerns they faced in the days after Jesus' death.
But hope was not lost, for the women who came rushing in that morning had huge news: Jesus' body was gone, they had seen a talking angel, and they had been assured that Jesus was actually alive!
He is risen, as He said! He told His disciples many times about what was going to happen, but it's easy to lose sight of His promises when circumstances seem so negative. But Jesus did what He said, and He rose again as our Lord and triumphant King.
He is risen!
When the disciples awoke that morning, the events of the last several days must have come rushing to their minds. Their grief at Jesus' loss and fear for their own lives, as well as confusion over what to do next, were all concerns they faced in the days after Jesus' death.
But hope was not lost, for the women who came rushing in that morning had huge news: Jesus' body was gone, they had seen a talking angel, and they had been assured that Jesus was actually alive!
He is risen, as He said! He told His disciples many times about what was going to happen, but it's easy to lose sight of His promises when circumstances seem so negative. But Jesus did what He said, and He rose again as our Lord and triumphant King.
He is risen!
March 30, 2013
Thought for Today - It Is Finished
''So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, 'It is finished!' And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.'' John 19:30
Over 30 years earlier, Jesus' humble birth in a stable had been recognized as the Messiah's entrance by only a few. Now, at the consummation of everything He had come to earth to accomplish, Jesus sounds the victory cry: ''It is finished!''
Satan and those deceived by him thought they had won. They thought that Jesus was finished, that God's attempt at redeeming humanity was finished for good. Little did they know...
Salvation, redemption, restoration, propitiation - it was finished. Jesus' purpose on earth had been accomplished, our debt had been paid, and the voluntary sacrifice had purchased our salvation. And it gets better - the sacrifice wasn't going to stay dead! It was finished!
Over 30 years earlier, Jesus' humble birth in a stable had been recognized as the Messiah's entrance by only a few. Now, at the consummation of everything He had come to earth to accomplish, Jesus sounds the victory cry: ''It is finished!''
Satan and those deceived by him thought they had won. They thought that Jesus was finished, that God's attempt at redeeming humanity was finished for good. Little did they know...
Salvation, redemption, restoration, propitiation - it was finished. Jesus' purpose on earth had been accomplished, our debt had been paid, and the voluntary sacrifice had purchased our salvation. And it gets better - the sacrifice wasn't going to stay dead! It was finished!
March 25, 2013
Thought for Today - And Such Were
''And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.'' 1 Corinthians 6:11
Verses 9-10 contain a list of actions that God considers abominable - from sexual immorality to coveting and jealousy - similar to the 10 Commandments and other lists of sins. None of us are exempt, everyone has sinned and broken His laws. Every single one of us deserves punishment for our actions: separation from God, forever in torment.
And such were some of us. The key word there is ''were'' - we are no longer. But - I love when God uses the word ''but'' - but we were washed, sanctified, justified!
I pray that we never lose the wonder of salvation, never stop being amazed at the fact that God would choose to save someone like us, in awe of the miracle of forgiveness. ''Such were'' you - and now you are no longer, now you are forgiven. Praise be to God for His indescribable gift!
Verses 9-10 contain a list of actions that God considers abominable - from sexual immorality to coveting and jealousy - similar to the 10 Commandments and other lists of sins. None of us are exempt, everyone has sinned and broken His laws. Every single one of us deserves punishment for our actions: separation from God, forever in torment.
And such were some of us. The key word there is ''were'' - we are no longer. But - I love when God uses the word ''but'' - but we were washed, sanctified, justified!
I pray that we never lose the wonder of salvation, never stop being amazed at the fact that God would choose to save someone like us, in awe of the miracle of forgiveness. ''Such were'' you - and now you are no longer, now you are forgiven. Praise be to God for His indescribable gift!
March 18, 2013
Thought for Today - Live to the Lord
''For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.'' Romans 14:8-9
Literally nothing about our lives is our own. Whether we live or die, everything we do and everything we are is His. Even when I try to keep something of myself back, in the end it is all His because He already paid for it with His own life.
So how do we live to the Lord? Is everything I do centered around Him and coming from Him?
Since my life is not my own, my decisions and actions are not my own either. Sometimes the Lord may allow me a choice between options consistent with His Word, but I should always seek His direction.
Also, everything I do reflects back on Him. People may judge His character based off my actions in His name. I am accountable to Him for everything I do.
How then do I live to the Lord?
Literally nothing about our lives is our own. Whether we live or die, everything we do and everything we are is His. Even when I try to keep something of myself back, in the end it is all His because He already paid for it with His own life.
So how do we live to the Lord? Is everything I do centered around Him and coming from Him?
Since my life is not my own, my decisions and actions are not my own either. Sometimes the Lord may allow me a choice between options consistent with His Word, but I should always seek His direction.
Also, everything I do reflects back on Him. People may judge His character based off my actions in His name. I am accountable to Him for everything I do.
How then do I live to the Lord?
March 15, 2013
Thought for Today - Live Peacably
''If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.'' Romans 12:18
There's a saying that goes, ''It takes two to tango'' - referring to arguments as well as dancing. Of course, sometimes you will be involved in disagreements that are not your fault. Still, God's point is clear - do your part to make it right.
We're human. We all make mistakes, and we have all been forgiven so much by God. The parable of the forgiven servant in Matthew 18:23-35 is clear that he have no excuse for holding grudges or refusing to forgive others.
If I am the one in the wrong, of course, the Bible is also clear that the burden is on me to make the situation right again. Matthew 5:22-24 tells us that sin against a brother hinders our relationship with God.
There will be times, however, when nothing you say or do can make a situation better. As long as I have done my part to be reconciled and at peace, I am right before God. The other person will answer to Him for their actions.
There's a saying that goes, ''It takes two to tango'' - referring to arguments as well as dancing. Of course, sometimes you will be involved in disagreements that are not your fault. Still, God's point is clear - do your part to make it right.
We're human. We all make mistakes, and we have all been forgiven so much by God. The parable of the forgiven servant in Matthew 18:23-35 is clear that he have no excuse for holding grudges or refusing to forgive others.
If I am the one in the wrong, of course, the Bible is also clear that the burden is on me to make the situation right again. Matthew 5:22-24 tells us that sin against a brother hinders our relationship with God.
There will be times, however, when nothing you say or do can make a situation better. As long as I have done my part to be reconciled and at peace, I am right before God. The other person will answer to Him for their actions.
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