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!!!