Gal. 6:14

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Galatians 6:14 NIV)

Deliverance comes from denying self.  No man in his own strength can break the chains that self binds him in.  The cross has done the work for us.  We can't be free of sin if it weren't for his love and sacrifice for us.  

Let's offer a gesture of consent to God this morning lifting our thoughts to God as more powerful than us, offering him our day , our time and our energy.  Give him all that we are and be alert and attentive to his leading!!

   

Philippians 4:11

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. (Philippians 4:11 NIV)

Yesterday our small group studied this scripture.  Paul wrote that he had learned to be content in whatever situation he was in.   We walked through his life a little bit as realized he had some amazingly high highs and really low lows. If he can eat with the rich in their mansions one day and then be beaten and thrown in jail the next - THAT is being content in ever circumstance.  We don't have those kind of extremes, and boy we act pretty entitled when we have "a bad day"!   Let us learn - like Paul- to be content!   It's not about you!!!

Matthew 5

"Blessed are the meek...."

Definition of Meek - quiet, gentle and easily imposed on.   Submissive.  

We have an old book called The Faith we Live that sits on our coffee table in the living room.  It was written by Albert Day in 1940.   It is full of wisdom about living daily life in faith.  

Today we read ..."let go of your little rigidities which cramp God's style, let go of your narrow self which shuts dow the divine, let God suggest, let God advise, let God control, let God make and remake your mind, do and un-do your schedules, create and re-create your very life!!!"

Wow!  That's big and we are in!!!

Blessed are the meek!!!

2 chor. 15:2

He went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. (2 Chronicles 15:2 NIV)

The evil one uses 3 Ds to keep us from being close to our God-

Deception

Distractions

Discouragement

The best defense is to study God's word and seek Him with your whole heart.  Refuse to let the enemy get inside and deceive, distract or discourage!   No way!  Get behind me!!!

We must lift our eyes up and see where our help comes from daily.   Do it!  He will meet you there!!!

John 3:29

The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. (John 3:29 NIV)

Goodness and purity should not draw attention to themselves but rather others only to Christ .  A beautiful, spiritual person may only be a hinderance  if they are not a true representative of Christ, our bridegroom.  Christian work may be only a means of avoiding the true work of the bride of Christ.  Yikes! #!!

Let us be careful to NOT lean into the work and actions that are seen but rather lean into our relationship with Christ alone.  We must be more careful with our relationship with him than any thing else.  

The most delicate mission on earth is to obey Christ and live our faith in Him out in a way that expresses His love for all people.  

1 Corinthians 16:13

"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong."

It's Tim's birthday today.  He's been served breakfast in bed and as tradition would have it we went around the circle this morning before our busy day to love him!!

We love these things about daddy - 

He supports me whatever I'm doing 

Nice to us

Love us 

He's loud and funny

He plays with me (donkey kong)

If we are down you lift us up

You make boring things fun

Playful and wrestle with me

Your conviction for pure heart 

Sensitivity to Holy Spirit 

Bring a lot of life to our family 

Great chinchilla catcher!!!

Phil. 4:8-9

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9 NIV)

Our small group is in a study of Philippians and yesterday we talked about this verse.  It was very challenging to think about our thinking.   A mature person of faith should quickly get to this list of noble, right, pure, lovely , admirable.......    The question is "what's going on in that head of yours?!"    Hum?

We can chase a lie and believe something that is not.  We can decide to accept bad news and trust God or we can worry and fret about it.  It's our choice how we think!!!

2 Corinthians 10:5

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV)

We cannot  trust our human understanding and desires.  Real holiness (set apart) is a willed holiness- while it isHis good work that makes us Holy we must surrender our will to the work.   We must talk less about ourselves and more of Jesus.  A true inner longing to be more and more like Jesus !!!

2 Samuel 22

“As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. (2 Samuel 22:31 NIV)

The fear we feel when we feel alone is real however God shields us when we take refuge in Him.  It's that part that says "when we..."  It is up to us.  

It is wise to choose carefully who you follow.  When you try to face the world alone - you become vulnerable. 

It's up to us to to stay within His wing.  There is no safer place.  

Jonah 1:1-4

The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord. Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. (Jonah 1:1-4 NIV)

Jonah seemed to have everything figured out except for loving people!   What internal or external storm might God be sending our way to let us know something is not right spiritually in our lives.   Sometimes we can be in rebellion or disobedience and feel unsettled and we lose our peace. Miserable!!!  It's in those moments we should consider what's wrong?  What needs to change to calm this storm.  

Psalm 25

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. (Psalm 25:5 NIV)

It is easy to be confident and trusting when things are good.  Not so much when things go sideways. This is when we need to trust God the most.  Hectic moments cause us to forget the subject of our hope. Preparing our hearts everyday to understand He is our savior and our God.  Let us obey Him and trust Him all the way.  

Philippians 3:7-8

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:7-8 NIV)

Imagine the freedom that will come when we are willing to lose the garbage.  

Our Pastor beat the "obedience drum" yesterday - that's where it's at.  Are we willing to trust and obey God.  Toss away the garbage from your past and eliminate any way to go back!!!

If you want God to do something new  - then stop doing the same old thing.  

If you want God to change your life - you have to be willing to get started.    He doesn't make you. 

Phil. 3:13-14 - one thing I do , forgetting what's behind and straining forward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 

John 3:16

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.   

Salvation is deliverece of ourselves.   Of course sin, but we were born in sin - but true salvation , transformation is an abandonment to Him completely. 

Being delivered from ourselves is to be Completely his.  Old is gone, new has come.   Don't get distracted - just live it!

Psalm 13:6

I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me. (Psalm 13:6 NIV)

When singing praises is the last thing you want to do, it's probably exactly what you need to do.  It is the difficulty of your life that transforms you and makes you stronger.   Don't resist the difficulty instead praise God and embrace his sovereign hand no matter what.  It doesn't mean we say "I'm so glad I'm going through this!"  But rather "he is my joy, and strength!"  Resolve to trust Him and learn and grow from him.

Acts 26:19

“.......I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. (Acts 26:19 NIV)

Instead of being in touch with the mission of God we get caught up in the practical work and miss the true vison of God.  This is so sad and yet such a reality.

How can we change ?

Give our very best every second of our lives to abiding in Him always and continue to speak the vison and hear the mission clearly from our mouths.  Let it be. 

We must live in the inspiration of His vision always !!!

  

John 10:7-10

Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:7-10 NIV)

Who do you belong to?  

Gods beloved child.

Forever family. 

Please - Don't let the familiarity of these truths lull you into sleepwalking through your day.

As we stay close to him we become  more and more like him.  This life is an adventurous  journey where our choices significantly impact everyone around us.  Choose well!

Live strong!

We yell at the kids from the side lines of a basketball game "BE BIG!!" And so we say the same to us this morning as we go into a world that wants to drag us down- rob from us, kill us and destroy us - so BE BIG today!!!  

 

1 Cor. 1:9

God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:9 NIV)

How can we insist and teach that Jesus Christ can be our savior without being our Lord?  Believing in Jesus means in the whole.  Father, son, Holy Spirit. It means all that He represents and calls us to. Not part, or half or just what feels good and right to us.  All!!!  How can we call on His name in a time of need without owing Him obedience with the rest of our life?   

Let us humbly acknowledge God's saving grace and honor Him by obeying and serving Him.  

Ephesians 6:16

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. (Ephesians 6:16 NIV)

Sometimes we want to figure everything out and know all the answers.   Being aware of God's presence and knowing that God provides protection for us through our faith will help us trust him.  Even when we don't get to have all the answers.   We need to be still and know He is present always.  We are His children and He will protect us and keep us. 

Acts 20:24

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. (Acts 20:24 NIV)

If I have not been gripped by God, I will count all the wrong things as dear to me!!!   Paul was absolutely indifferent to what happened to him. His resolve was to work unto him. Only!!!  Practical work may become a competitor to God.  Practical work causes you to feel value of yourself - what you think you do well.... we must consider that we are not our own - wherever he puts us - whatever it is - we will resolve to fulfill the ministry he calls us too.  Gospel.  Gospel.  Not about us!!!

Matthew 28:20

....and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20 NIV)

Keep your eyes on CHRIST !!!!!  

Awareness of God's presence is our best protection from being distracted.  He is with us always.  Working hard to be good and right is NOT what this Christian life is about - it's about CHRIST and who He is and what He did.   

There are pitfalls along our way and voices clammoring for our attention, enticing us to go down the road of self pity and despair, pride and self will.  

Taking our eyes off Christ can bring grave danger so let's determine to keep our eyes on Him!!!

 

Psalm 1:2

but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. (Psalm 1:2 NIV)

We are too busy!

We can have as much of God as we want and yet we seem settled with less. 

Yikes.  How can we give ourselves to more time getting acquainted with God ? The answer can't be "I'm too busy"!!

Daddy -steadfast morning devotionals

Devin- start reading a Devo that he gets on the phone - a morning and evening one. 

Livia - devotional book chosen TODAY and start reading tonight before bed. 

Kadin - give up time on video games and get back to reading my action Bible. 

Mom - deeper study once a week , and continue to walk through Lifeplan.

  

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