Post by mommadee48 on Jul 4, 2022 6:49:47 GMT -5
OUR DAILY BREAD; IN THE END (2 TIMOTHY 4:6-8).
I'm often given the privilege of leading spiritual retreats. Getting away for a few days to pray and reflect can be deeply enriching, and during the program I sometimes as participants to do an exercise: "Imagine your life is over and your obituary is published in the paper.
What would you like to say?
Some attendees change their life's priorities as a result, aiming to finish their lives well.
Second Timothy 4 contains the last known written words of the apostle Paul. Though probably only in his sixties, and though having faced death before, he senses his life is nearly over (2 Timothy4:6). There will be no more mission trips now or writing letters to his churches. He looks back over his live and says, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (v. 7).While he hasn't been perfect (1 Timothy 1:15-16), Paul assesses his life on how true he's stayed to God and the gospel. Tradition suggests he was martyred soon after.
Contemplating our final days has a way of clarifying what matters now. Paul 's words can be a good model to follow. fight the good fight. Finish the race. Keep the faith. Because in the end what will matter is we've stayed true to God and His ways as He provides what we need to live, fight life's spiritual battles, and finish well...
OUR DAILY BREAD; TURN UP THE HEAT (REVELATION 3:14-22).
Temperatures where we live in Colorado can change quickly--- sometimes within a few minutes. So, my husband, Dan, was curious about the temperature differences in and around our home. As a fan of gadgets, he was excited to unpack his latest "toy"--- a thermometer showing temperature readings from four "zones" around the house. Joking that it was a "silly" gadget, I was surprised to find myself frequently checking the temperatures too. The differences inside and out fascinated me.
Jesus used temperature to describe the "lukewarm" church in Laodicea, one of the richest of the seven cities cited in the book of Revelation. A bustling banking, clothing, and medical hub, the city was hampered by a poor water supply, so it needed an aqueduct to carry water from a hot spring. By the time the water arrived in Laodicea, however, it was neither hot nor cold.
The church was tepid too. Jesus said, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold or hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm---neither hot nor cold---I am about to spit you out of my mouth" (Revelation 3:15-16). As Christ explained, "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent" (v.19).
Our Savior's plea remains urgent for us too. Are you spiritually neither hot nor cold?
Accept His correction and ask Him to help you live an earnest, fired-up faith.
To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches".
And who are the churches?
JULY 12'2022
NARROW DOOR CAFE; (LUKE 13:22-30).
Croissants, dumplings, pork curry, and all sorts of scrumptious food await those who find and enter the Narrow Door Cafe. Located in the Taiwanese city of Tainan, this cafe is literally a hole in a wall. Its entrance is barely forty centimeters wide (less than sixteen inches) ---just enough for the average person to squeeze his way t5hrough! Yet, despite the challenge, the unique cafe has attracted large crowds.
Will this be true of the door described in Luke 13: 22-30?
Someone asked Jesus, "Are only a few people going to be saved? (v.23).
In reply, Jesus challenged the person to "make every effort to enter through the narrow door" to God's Kingdom (v.24).
He was essentially asking, "Will the saved include you?
Jesus used this analogy to urge the Jews not to be presumptuous. Many of them believed they'd be included in God's Kingdom because they were Abraham's descendants or because they kept the law. But Jesus challenged them to respond to Him before "the owner of the house...closes the door" (v.25).
Neither our family background nor our deeds can make us right with God. Only faith in Jesus can save us from sin and death (EPHESIANS 2:8-9, TITUS 3: 5-7). The door is narrow, but it's wide open to all who will put their faith in Jesus. He's inviting us today to seize the opportunity to enter through the narrow door to His Kingdom.
God is saying, " Only through my Son, Jesus, whoever believes in Him, and are willing to enter through by excepting Christ, will be admitted to the Kingdom of God".
July 2022
From the Pastor's Heart: by Charles Stanley.
Dear friends,
I remember the man who taught me how to fish. We were at a lake in North Carolina. When I got my first catch, I was embarrassed that it was so small and wanted to throw it back. But the man, a deacon in my first church, said, "Don't. It helps if you have something to add to". Well, I've discovered there's wisdom in that. In fact, it applies to many things---including obeying God. If you start with a small matter, it's true. It gets easier.
When it comes to obedience, do you have "Something to add to"?
If your like most Christians, you've struggled with God's will. Maybe you've asked yourself:
How can I know God's will for me? Does He care about this little thing? Why is He telling me "No" in this situation?
There's a lot of confusion about this issue. We want God's will to be reasonable and desirable, and we also want it to be logical and clear.
Well, the fact is that the Lord's ways are often beyond our ability to understand. We won't always be able to comprehend what He's doing in the world and in our lives, but I want to assure you of this: We can trust the ONE who holds us in HIS mighty hand, in small things as well as big ones.
Let's look at an event in Peter's life. This situation began with a slight matter of obedience, but it led to a very important turning point for Peter's entire future (LUKE 5:1-11).
God's will is sometimes inconvenient. Peter was a fisherman by trade and had just finished a long, unsuccessful night of fishing. As he cleaned his nets on the shore, Jesus asked Peter to take HIM out in his boat so HE could continue teaching (vv.1-3). Jesus' request was not unreasonable. It was a small thing and may have seemed unimportant. But Peter did what Jesus asked.
We tend to think that God is only interested in big, important events in our lives, but in reality, His will is lived out one little act of obedience at a time. The HOLY SPIRIT's promptings don't always come when we're well rested and eager to obey. He may ask you to help someone in need when it's uncomfortable for you. Following Jesus requires self-denial in order to fulfill His desires.
There may be times when the Lord's will seems unreasonable. After Jesus finished teaching, He asked Peter to do something illogical to a professional fisherman: "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a Catch" (v.4). Fisherman in Galilee knew that fish were caught at night in shallow water. But Peter already had "something to add to," and he obeyed.
Are you willing to do what God says even when it seems unreasonable?
Throughout my years of ministry, I've watched the Lord sovereignly direct my path in some of the most unexpected ways. It often seemed illogical to me, but every time I obeyed Him, He brought me exactly where I needed to be and equipped me to accomplish what He'd planned.
Trusting the Lord even when obedience seems foolish is essential if you want to live your life according to His will. Common sense is inadequate compared to the omniscience and wisdom of an all-powerful God. If you step out in faith, your perspective of the Lord will increase like Peter's did. Because he obeyed Jesus, he caught such a great quantity of fish that his nets began to tear.
God's will is spiritually life changing. When Peter saw the miraculous catch of fish, he realized he was in the presence of deity and felt the guilt of his own sin, exclaiming, "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!"(v.8). Repentance is a pre-requisite for being used by God. We can never walk in His will as long as we walk in pride, independence, and self-righteousness.
Jesus didn't give Peter all those fish so he could become a more successful fisherman, but so that he would see the greatness of the ONE who was calling him to become a fisher of men and leave it all to follow HIM (V. 10). This moment was orchestrated by God to lead Peter into the role God had planned for him---to become the apostle who would lay a foundation for the church.
The Lord works the same way in your life. You are HIS workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that you would walk in them (EPH. 2:10). His will for you was established long before you were born. Everything He does in your life will be consistence with that plan. Your job is to walk where He guides you. As you add greater acts of obedience to your smaller ones, you'll gain deeper love for your heavenly Father. who cares so much for you. And you'll begin to look forward to the next step on the path He sets before you. God's will reaches far beyond your human plans and expectations. Following it will be one of the many great blessings of belonging to Him.
P.S.
If you want to know God's will, read HIS WORD, ask Him to guide you, and seek godly counsel when you need it.
I'm often given the privilege of leading spiritual retreats. Getting away for a few days to pray and reflect can be deeply enriching, and during the program I sometimes as participants to do an exercise: "Imagine your life is over and your obituary is published in the paper.
What would you like to say?
Some attendees change their life's priorities as a result, aiming to finish their lives well.
Second Timothy 4 contains the last known written words of the apostle Paul. Though probably only in his sixties, and though having faced death before, he senses his life is nearly over (2 Timothy4:6). There will be no more mission trips now or writing letters to his churches. He looks back over his live and says, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (v. 7).While he hasn't been perfect (1 Timothy 1:15-16), Paul assesses his life on how true he's stayed to God and the gospel. Tradition suggests he was martyred soon after.
Contemplating our final days has a way of clarifying what matters now. Paul 's words can be a good model to follow. fight the good fight. Finish the race. Keep the faith. Because in the end what will matter is we've stayed true to God and His ways as He provides what we need to live, fight life's spiritual battles, and finish well...
OUR DAILY BREAD; TURN UP THE HEAT (REVELATION 3:14-22).
Temperatures where we live in Colorado can change quickly--- sometimes within a few minutes. So, my husband, Dan, was curious about the temperature differences in and around our home. As a fan of gadgets, he was excited to unpack his latest "toy"--- a thermometer showing temperature readings from four "zones" around the house. Joking that it was a "silly" gadget, I was surprised to find myself frequently checking the temperatures too. The differences inside and out fascinated me.
Jesus used temperature to describe the "lukewarm" church in Laodicea, one of the richest of the seven cities cited in the book of Revelation. A bustling banking, clothing, and medical hub, the city was hampered by a poor water supply, so it needed an aqueduct to carry water from a hot spring. By the time the water arrived in Laodicea, however, it was neither hot nor cold.
The church was tepid too. Jesus said, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold or hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm---neither hot nor cold---I am about to spit you out of my mouth" (Revelation 3:15-16). As Christ explained, "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent" (v.19).
Our Savior's plea remains urgent for us too. Are you spiritually neither hot nor cold?
Accept His correction and ask Him to help you live an earnest, fired-up faith.
To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches".
And who are the churches?
JULY 12'2022
NARROW DOOR CAFE; (LUKE 13:22-30).
Croissants, dumplings, pork curry, and all sorts of scrumptious food await those who find and enter the Narrow Door Cafe. Located in the Taiwanese city of Tainan, this cafe is literally a hole in a wall. Its entrance is barely forty centimeters wide (less than sixteen inches) ---just enough for the average person to squeeze his way t5hrough! Yet, despite the challenge, the unique cafe has attracted large crowds.
Will this be true of the door described in Luke 13: 22-30?
Someone asked Jesus, "Are only a few people going to be saved? (v.23).
In reply, Jesus challenged the person to "make every effort to enter through the narrow door" to God's Kingdom (v.24).
He was essentially asking, "Will the saved include you?
Jesus used this analogy to urge the Jews not to be presumptuous. Many of them believed they'd be included in God's Kingdom because they were Abraham's descendants or because they kept the law. But Jesus challenged them to respond to Him before "the owner of the house...closes the door" (v.25).
Neither our family background nor our deeds can make us right with God. Only faith in Jesus can save us from sin and death (EPHESIANS 2:8-9, TITUS 3: 5-7). The door is narrow, but it's wide open to all who will put their faith in Jesus. He's inviting us today to seize the opportunity to enter through the narrow door to His Kingdom.
God is saying, " Only through my Son, Jesus, whoever believes in Him, and are willing to enter through by excepting Christ, will be admitted to the Kingdom of God".
July 2022
From the Pastor's Heart: by Charles Stanley.
Dear friends,
I remember the man who taught me how to fish. We were at a lake in North Carolina. When I got my first catch, I was embarrassed that it was so small and wanted to throw it back. But the man, a deacon in my first church, said, "Don't. It helps if you have something to add to". Well, I've discovered there's wisdom in that. In fact, it applies to many things---including obeying God. If you start with a small matter, it's true. It gets easier.
When it comes to obedience, do you have "Something to add to"?
If your like most Christians, you've struggled with God's will. Maybe you've asked yourself:
How can I know God's will for me? Does He care about this little thing? Why is He telling me "No" in this situation?
There's a lot of confusion about this issue. We want God's will to be reasonable and desirable, and we also want it to be logical and clear.
Well, the fact is that the Lord's ways are often beyond our ability to understand. We won't always be able to comprehend what He's doing in the world and in our lives, but I want to assure you of this: We can trust the ONE who holds us in HIS mighty hand, in small things as well as big ones.
Let's look at an event in Peter's life. This situation began with a slight matter of obedience, but it led to a very important turning point for Peter's entire future (LUKE 5:1-11).
God's will is sometimes inconvenient. Peter was a fisherman by trade and had just finished a long, unsuccessful night of fishing. As he cleaned his nets on the shore, Jesus asked Peter to take HIM out in his boat so HE could continue teaching (vv.1-3). Jesus' request was not unreasonable. It was a small thing and may have seemed unimportant. But Peter did what Jesus asked.
We tend to think that God is only interested in big, important events in our lives, but in reality, His will is lived out one little act of obedience at a time. The HOLY SPIRIT's promptings don't always come when we're well rested and eager to obey. He may ask you to help someone in need when it's uncomfortable for you. Following Jesus requires self-denial in order to fulfill His desires.
There may be times when the Lord's will seems unreasonable. After Jesus finished teaching, He asked Peter to do something illogical to a professional fisherman: "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a Catch" (v.4). Fisherman in Galilee knew that fish were caught at night in shallow water. But Peter already had "something to add to," and he obeyed.
Are you willing to do what God says even when it seems unreasonable?
Throughout my years of ministry, I've watched the Lord sovereignly direct my path in some of the most unexpected ways. It often seemed illogical to me, but every time I obeyed Him, He brought me exactly where I needed to be and equipped me to accomplish what He'd planned.
Trusting the Lord even when obedience seems foolish is essential if you want to live your life according to His will. Common sense is inadequate compared to the omniscience and wisdom of an all-powerful God. If you step out in faith, your perspective of the Lord will increase like Peter's did. Because he obeyed Jesus, he caught such a great quantity of fish that his nets began to tear.
God's will is spiritually life changing. When Peter saw the miraculous catch of fish, he realized he was in the presence of deity and felt the guilt of his own sin, exclaiming, "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!"(v.8). Repentance is a pre-requisite for being used by God. We can never walk in His will as long as we walk in pride, independence, and self-righteousness.
Jesus didn't give Peter all those fish so he could become a more successful fisherman, but so that he would see the greatness of the ONE who was calling him to become a fisher of men and leave it all to follow HIM (V. 10). This moment was orchestrated by God to lead Peter into the role God had planned for him---to become the apostle who would lay a foundation for the church.
The Lord works the same way in your life. You are HIS workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that you would walk in them (EPH. 2:10). His will for you was established long before you were born. Everything He does in your life will be consistence with that plan. Your job is to walk where He guides you. As you add greater acts of obedience to your smaller ones, you'll gain deeper love for your heavenly Father. who cares so much for you. And you'll begin to look forward to the next step on the path He sets before you. God's will reaches far beyond your human plans and expectations. Following it will be one of the many great blessings of belonging to Him.
P.S.
If you want to know God's will, read HIS WORD, ask Him to guide you, and seek godly counsel when you need it.