Category: Perspectives

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Let Your Shiny Thing Go!

Today’s Scripture Passage:

Philippians 3:7-16

Key Verse:

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. Philippians 3:8-9a (NLT)

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls is a great story of perseverance and love. It’s about a boy named Billy and his two redbone hunting hounds. Billy works and saves to buy two pups, so he will have his own coon hounds. Billy goes to his grandpa for help when it comes time to train his pups; he needs a fresh coon pelt for giving them the scent.

Grandpa tells Billy to drill a hole in a hollow log and put something shiny inside. The size was very specific and important; the hole needed to be barely big enough for a coon to slip his paw inside. Apparently, racoons cannot resist anything shiny.

The trap worked. Why? The trapped coon refused to release the shiny object, and he couldn’t pull free while clutching his shiny prize. All he had to do was let it go!

The principle of letting go to live free doesn’t only apply to freeing oneself from a hollow log trap.

It’s also a great principle for living in the freedom of truth. Why?

Have you ever struggled to forget a hurt?

Or refused to value a person with a differing point of view?

Have your feelings ever controlled your choices?

Has a past sin haunted you, filled you with shame, or consumed your future with fear?

Do you find yourself thinking “if only _______ hadn’t happened” or “if only I could have or do __________”, I would be happy?

Whatever our shiny thing is, we don’t let go because we consider it both valuable and harmless. We hold on tight because we see it through the eyes of our own understanding.

That’s what Jesus was talking about in John 8:32 when He said, “the truth will set you free.”

Jesus isn’t trying to rob our joy. Just the opposite! Look at what He said in the last part of John 10:10, “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”

Jesus wants all of His followers to have rich and satisfying lives!

Don’t confuse what Jesus gives with the riches of this world. A rich and satisfying life is so much more than money, power, or control over our circumstances.

A rich and satisfying life doesn’t mean having no more troubles. Jesus told us in John 16:33 we will have troubles in this world. But Jesus also said to take heart because He has overcome the world.

King Solomon knew the importance of letting go. That’s what he was talking about in Proverbs 3:5, when he wrote, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on our own understanding.”

We can’t trust our understanding AND trust the LORD at the same time.

We must choose!

We each have a question to answer…

Am I going to trust the LORD, or am I going to trust my own understanding?

Choosing to trust the LORD makes it possible to “let go” of our own understanding and live by faith. That’s where we learn more of Him and His faithfulness to us!

The more we know Jesus, the more we delight in Him. The more we delight in Jesus, the more our desires align with His. How do I know this?

In Psalm 37:4, David writes, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.” Read it again, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.” One more time, “He will give you your heart’s desires.” That’s right!

He will give us our desires! Woot! Woot! What we desire will NOT be shiny things that trap us but truth that sets us free!

In case you’re wondering, the coon never let go, Billy’s pa killed the coon, Billy used the coon’s pelt to train his pups, and both pups became great hunting hounds.

Jesus Journaling:

1 What shiny things trap you? What are your reasons for holding onto them, and why do those reasons make it harder for you to let them go? Ask Jesus to show you the truth behind why He wants you to let them go, and what He wants you to have instead.

2 Do you feel like freedom in Christ is for others but beyond your grasp? Talk to Jesus about it, read His word (the Bible), and expect Him to show you how to fully experience the rich and satisfying life He wants you to have.

3 Is there a step of faith you’ve been hesitating to take? If so, what is causing your hesitation? Talk to Jesus about what has you trapped and unable to take that first step of faith.

Warning…There is someone who wants to trap you. He’s the enemy of every Jesus-follower. Be careful! Don’t allow yourself to blame your enemy for your desires (those shiny things that hold you captive). James 1:14 clearly tells us they are “our own desires.” Our enemy uses our desires against us. He sets his traps with our desires. Jesus calls our enemy a thief whose “purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.” That’s right! Our enemy wants us to hold on tight to our shiny things; he wants us miserable and stuck in the trap of our own desires and understanding.

If you have not yet met Jesus, you can meet Him today. He created you. He loves you. He wants you to be a part of His family. I encourage you to step into the life He created you to live. You will still have the troubles of this world, but you will no longer be facing them alone. I’m praying for you! https://peacewithgod.net/mobile/?utm_source=Microsoft&utm_medium=CPC&utm_term=HowToGoToHeaven&utm_campaign=USPWGMobileSearchMic

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

FYI: There is one truth we must never compromise…Jesus is the only way for us to be saved (John 14:6 & Act 4:12).

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Will You Help a Friend in Need?

Today’s Scripture Passage:

Matthew 7:1-5

Key Verse:

Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. Matthew 7:5 (NLT)

It’s easy to read today’s passage of Scripture and zoom in on the get the log out of your own eye. But look at the end of verse 5 again, “then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”

Jesus did NOT say get the log out of your own eye then leave your friend struggling with the speck in her eye.

We’ve all experienced the irritation of having something in our eye. Our eye waters and becomes painful and distracting. We’re battling a tiny speck we can’t see but know is there. We need help and finally give up and ask someone else to take a look.

The same is true of our spiritual eyes. Sometimes, we just can’t see what’s is causing all the trouble. We know something is there. We feel the irritation and painful effects, but it’s as impossible to see as a speck in our physical eye.

That’s when God’s grace provides a friend to help us. This is a friend who loves us at all times…yes, even when we’re not at our best and struggling with a “speck” of sin. This is a friend who is humble and gentle at heart, loves us enough to draw near, look closely, and do the delicate work of hurting us to help us.

God’s grace comes to us in many ways, but I think fellow believers are some of the most wonderful and miraculous gifts of God’s grace in our lives. Why? It takes a true friend to remove a speck with love and without condemnation; a friend with a genuine desire to help us when we are in pain and our eyes are full of tears.

I’m thankful to have more than one friend willing to speak truth to me. Truth spoken from a place of genuine love. Admittedly, it hurts! And I can struggle with feeling offended or a need to defend myself. It doesn’t matter that I know I had a speck or needed help. It doesn’t even matter that I asked for help. The pain of seeing my “speck” of sin always sends me scurrying away for some serious Jesus time.

It usually starts with a good old-fashioned vent and cry session. After I calm down, Jesus helps me move from godly sorrow to repenting and confessing. That’s when His forgiveness and cleansing come. Oh what joy!

Oh! One other thing I’ve noticed is the clarity of hind sight. Once a speck is removed, I can see how Holy Spirit uses my relationships, circumstances, and God’s word to prepare me to accept the truth of my sin and my need for help.

I’ve learned, no matter how painful the process, the removal of a “speck” of sin brings blessing. The longer a speck is in the eye, the more damage is done and the higher the risk of long-term consequences.

So, next time a friend comes to you, shares a pain, and asks if you see a speck in their eye, don’t talk yourself out of sharing the truth of what you see. Remember you’re the one they’ve come to for help. They trust you to speak truth in love.

Jesus didn’t tell us not to help our friend. He said to be sure our own eyes are free of debris before we help.

Jesus Journaling:

1 When you’re struggling with a speck you can’t see yourself, do you ask someone for help? If yes, who and why did you choose that person? If no, why not?

2 What are some early signs of a speck you’ve come to recognize in your own life?

3 What causes you to doubt yourself when it comes to helping a friend with a speck?

Digging Deeper:

Proverbs 17:17, 2 Corinthians 7:10, Ephesians 4:14-16, 1 John 1:9

If you have not yet met Jesus, you can meet Him today. He created you. He loves you. He wants you to be a part of His family. I encourage you to step into the life He created you to live. You will still have the troubles of this world, but you will no longer be facing them alone. I’m praying for you! https://peacewithgod.net/mobile/?utm_source=Microsoft&utm_medium=CPC&utm_term=HowToGoToHeaven&utm_campaign=USPWGMobileSearchMic

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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We’re Ambassadors Living in A Foreign Land

Today’s Scripture Passage:

2 Corinthians 5:11-6:2

Key Verse:

But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. Philippians 3:20a (NLT)

I too often concern myself with what is of no consequence in the Kingdom of Heaven. I forget an important truth…

Those who belong to Jesus are citizens of Heaven!

Citizens of Heaven are Ambassadors on earth and in the cities where they live.

Ambassador

– an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country.

– a person who acts as a representative or promoter of a specified activity.

Oxford Dictionaries · Bing Translator

I (and you) must remember we’re not meant to live as dual-citizens.

We’re only representatives living in this foreign land.

Who are we here to represent?

Jesus Christ!

What are we here to promote?

Reconciliation!

We are Ministers of Reconciliation for Jesus.

We are Ambassadors for Jesus Christ living in this world and surrounded by people who are dying in their sins apart from Him.

I learned something else about ambassadors during my Bible time yesterday. Isn’t the LORD amazing?!

I discovered ambassadors are also the king’s messengers to other citizens of their home country who are also living in a foreign land. I included those verses from Jeremiah in the Digger Deeper section below, but the message was sent to encourage God’s people.

It was God’s reminder to trust Him, believe His promises to them, to help them understand He put them there for a purpose, and to know He would fulfill His plan for them. His message also admonished them to work for the peace and prosperity of the city where He sent them, and to pray for it (the foreign city) because their welfare was linked to the welfare of the place they were living.

God’s word is very clear, those who are in Christ Jesus are new creatures. We’re no longer citizens of this world but of His Kingdom. While here, we’re to seek His Kingdom, do what is right, and trust Him for all our needs. We’re to encourage one another to live and work and love well. We’re to work for the good of the place He sent us to live. We’re to pray for it, and we’re to pray for one another. May we be found faithful ambassadors!

LORD, we’re so thankful to be citizens of Your Kingdom. Thank You for the privilege of being your representatives here. Help us to grow in our relationship with You, so we will represent You well. Give us compassion and courage, and teach us to love those around us as You love them. We want to love as citizens of Heavens and not citizens of this world!

Digging Deeper:

Jeremiah 29:3-14, Matthew 6:32-33, John 17:14-16, Ephesians 6:18, Hebrews 10:25, 1 Peter 2:10-12 & Revelation 1:5

If you have not yet met Jesus, you can meet Him today. He created you. He loves you. He wants you to be a part of His family. I encourage you to step into the life He created you to live. You will still have the troubles of this world, but you will no longer be facing them alone. I’m praying for you! https://peacewithgod.net/mobile/?utm_source=Microsoft&utm_medium=CPC&utm_term=HowToGoToHeaven&utm_campaign=USPWGMobileSearchMic

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Fun Facts:

I just learned the difference between a citizen and a denizen. They both reside in a particular country but denizens are foreigners. I guess that makes us denizens!

Denizen

– an inhabitant or occupant of a particular place.

– a foreigner allowed certain rights in the adopted country.

Oxford Dictionaries · Bing Translator

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Surrendered and Spirit Strong

Today’s Scripture Passage:

Galatians 5:22-25

Key Verse:

A person without self-control
    is like a city with broken-down walls. Proverbs 25:28 (NLT)

The ability to control another is only a mirage.

mirage noun

something that appears real or possible but is not in fact so.

Oxford Dictionaries · Bing Translator

I have learned but must be reminded…

I cannot control anything but myself!

You cannot control anything but yourself!

control

the power to influence or direct people’s behavior or the course of events.

 Oxford Dictionaries · Bing Translator

I have learned but must be reminded…

I cannot control myself without help!

You cannot control yourself without help!

Will power is not enough!

Imagine you’re driving in a downpour of rain. You grip the steering wheel with white knuckled hands against heavy winds forcing you toward the center line. Sooner or later exhaustion takes over and you’re jerked into oncoming traffic. This is the struggle of will power.

That’s why Jesus gives ALL of His followers a Helper!

Our Helper’s name is Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit teaches, counsels, and reminds us of what we’ve already learned from Jesus about belonging to Him and being His follower.

Holy Spirit is our Helper whenever we do not understand, are unsure of, or forget the way of Jesus.

Holy Spirit helps us control our thoughts, our words, and our actions.

Many will seek to manipulate, deceive, and bully us into doing their will, but…

No matter how limited our choices, the choice is still ours to make.

Even when every choice leads in a way we don’t want to go, the choice is still ours to make.

We’re always free to choose what’s right.

To believe anything else is to be deceived.

Today’s verse reminds us a city without walls is vulnerable to attack from the enemy, and a life lived without self-control makes us vulnerable to attack from our enemy. Our enemy prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Our enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. He’s the enemy of every Jesus-follower. Our accuser who wants us to live in the shame and condemnation of our old identity. Our enemy who wants us to forget our identity is in Jesus!

His name is Satan; and long ago, he refused to surrender his will to the Lordship of Jesus. Now, he wants us to do the same. He wants us separated from Jesus and vulnerable. He wants us to be distracted, discouraged, and defeated. He cannot rob us of our eternity, but he will do everything possible to turn our eyes from Jesus.

I have learned but must be reminded…

Self-control comes from Holy Spirit.

Self-control is only one of Holy Spirit’s nine characteristics; they’re called the fruit of the Spirit.

fruit

what is produced

can be taken from; seized, plucked, to take for oneself

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible – Greek Dictionary

Like fruit on a tree, Holy Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Holy Spirit’s fruit is ours to seize, pluck, take for ourselves.

I have learned but must be reminded…

The only thing I can control is myself, and self-control comes from my Helper, Holy Spirit.

Seizing Spirit self-control gives me (and you) strength to surrender to the way of love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, while living faithful to Jesus and His way.

I have learned but must be reminded…

I am Spirit strong when I am surrendered to the way of Jesus.

LORD, we’re so thankful to be citizens of Your Kingdom. We’re thank You for the privilege of being your representative in the foreign land we live in now. Help us to grow in our relationship with You, so we will represent You well. Give us compassion and courage and teach us to love those around us as You love them. We want to love as citizens of Heavens and not citizens of this world!

Digging Deeper:

John 10:10, John 14:16-17 & 26, Romans 8:1-2, 1 Corinthians 2;15-16, Ephesians 6:10-18, 1 Peter 2:10 & 1 Peter 5:8,

If you have not yet met Jesus, you can meet Him today. He created you. He loves you. He wants you to be a part of His family. I encourage you to step into the life He created you to live. You will still have the troubles of this world, but you will no longer be facing them alone. I’m praying for you! https://peacewithgod.net/mobile/?utm_source=Microsoft&utm_medium=CPC&utm_term=HowToGoToHeaven&utm_campaign=USPWGMobileSearchMic

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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Embracing Your Relationship: Bought to Belong

Today’s Scripture Passage:

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you.”

What? Wearing a yoke doesn’t sound like rest! Nor does it sound refreshing. Jesus said He would give us rest, and now He’s telling us to take His yoke and put it on?

I’ve spent weeks researching yokes. I found plenty of information about yokes, but I still felt like I was missing something. I needed to understand why Jesus used the words “My yoke.”

I got a WOW of an answer.

The people listening to Jesus that day would’ve understood what I didn’t. You see, I always pictured Jesus in the yoke with me (or you) every time I read those word. But Jesus wasn’t inviting us to yoke with Him!

I’ve learned there are three clear steps of progression in the relationship between a farmer and his ox.

Please don’t be offended, but to see the spiritual parallel, we need to picture Jesus as the farmer and ourselves as the ox.

1) the relationship begins when the farmer buys the ox.

2) the relationship develops as trust is built.

3) the relationship matures as yokes are introduced.

Today we’ll focus on how the relationship begins.

You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. 

1 Corinthians 6:19b-20a (NLT)

Jesus paid for us with His blood!

We all sin and we all owe a debt for our sin. Death is the price and Jesus paid that price in full. He died in our place! (You can learn more about this by using the link in green at the bottom of the post.)

So, what’s the relationship between us and Jesus?

We belong to Him!

But belonging is only the beginning. Next week we’ll look at step two in the relationship–Building Trust!

Between Now and Then…

1 Take time this week to consider the high price Jesus paid for you.

2 Tell Jesus how you feel about belonging to Him. Does it fill you with fear, resentment, gratitude, something else?

3 Do something special to celebrate your relationship with Jesus.

LORD, we’re so thankful to be citizens of Your Kingdom. We’re thank You for the privilege of being your representative in the foreign land we live in now. Help us to grow in our relationship with You, so we will represent You well. Give us compassion and courage and teach us to love those around us as You love them. We want to love as citizens of Heavens and not citizens of this world!

Digging Deeper:

John 3: 3-17, Romans 3:23, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 2 Peter 2:2-3

If you have not yet met Jesus, you can meet Him today. He created you. He loves you. He wants you to be a part of His family. I encourage you to step into the life He created you to live. You will still have the troubles of this world, but you will no longer be facing them alone. I’m praying for you! https://peacewithgod.net/mobile/?utm_source=Microsoft&utm_medium=CPC&utm_term=HowToGoToHeaven&utm_campaign=USPWGMobileSearchMic

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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The Promise in The Invitation

Today’s Scripture Passage:

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

This series of posts has been progressive. Why am I using the same Scripture Passage each week. I’m aspiring to do more than know the words of these verses. I want to grow in my understanding of what these words mean and how they apply to me.

I have decided I will no longer settle for receiving only a portion of what my Father has for me. How about you?

Quick recap…

Week 1: Jesus said, “Let Me Teach You.”

Week 2: Jesus said, “Come To Me.”

Week 3: Jesus was speaking to “All Who are Weary and Carry Heavy Burdens.”

This Week: Jesus’ Promise.

Look what Jesus says…“Come to Me, and

I will give you rest.“

Jesus promised to give us REST.

REST

to refresh

Strong’s Concordance and Greek Dictionary of the New Testament

Jesus promised, when we come to Him, we will be REFRESHED.

Did you notice the prefix re in the word refresh?

re- prefix

again : anew

Merriam Webster Online Dictionary

fresh  adjective

having its original qualities unimpaired

Merriam Webster Online Dictionary

This is about Jesus making us fresh again!

This is about Jesus renewing our abilities!

Why?

So we can do all the good works we were created to do in Christ Jesus!

So we will not grow weary and give up!

Next week we’re going to take our first step into the process of receiving the rest Jesus has for us.

Between Now and Then…

1 Take time this week to think about all the areas of your life where you want and/or need rest; places you need Jesus to make you fresh again.

2 Talk to Jesus about those places and your need for Him to refresh you.

3 Ask Jesus to prepare your heart and mind for the process of receiving the rest only He can give.

LORD, we’re so thankful to be citizens of Your Kingdom. We’re thank You for the privilege of being your representative in the foreign land we live in now. Help us to grow in our relationship with You, so we will represent You well. Give us compassion and courage and teach us to love those around us as You love them. We want to love as citizens of Heavens and not citizens of this world!

Digging Deeper:

2 Corinthians 5:17-19, Galatians 6:9, & Ephesians 2:10 & 3:14-20

If you have not yet met Jesus, you can meet Him today. He created you. He loves you. He wants you to be a part of His family. I encourage you to step into the life He created you to live. You will still have the troubles of this world, but you will no longer be facing them alone. I’m praying for you! https://peacewithgod.net/mobile/?utm_source=Microsoft&utm_medium=CPC&utm_term=HowToGoToHeaven&utm_campaign=USPWGMobileSearchMic

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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Weary? Want to Drop It All and Run?

Today’s Scripture Passage:

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

Last week we looked at Jesus’ invitation, but who was He talking to when He said “Come to Me”?

“ALL of you who are weary.”

weary  adjective

1: exhausted in strength, endurance, vigor, or freshness

Miriam Webster online dictionary

Does weary describe you?

If so, Jesus is speaking to you!

“ALL of you who carry heavy burdens.”

carry  verb

1: to support and take from one place to another

Miriam Webter online thesaurus

What are you carrying?

burden  noun

1a: something that is carried : LOAD

b: DUTY, 

RESPONSIBILITY

Miriam Webster online dictionary

Are your burdens heavy?

If so, Jesus is speaking to you!

Next week we’re going to look at Jesus’ promise to all who accept His invitation to come to Him.

Between Now and Then…

1 Take time to make a list of the things you are currently carrying. These should include physical, emotional, and spiritual burdens.

2 Take Jesus up on His invitation. Go to Him. Take your list of burdens with you. Ask Him to show you which things on your list are ones He has given you to carry and which ones He did not.

3 Listen and be alert for His answer.

LORD, we’re so thankful to be citizens of Your Kingdom. We’re thank You for the privilege of being your representative in the foreign land we live in now. Help us to grow in our relationship with You, so we will represent You well. Give us compassion and courage and teach us to love those around us as You love them. We want to love as citizens of Heavens and not citizens of this world!

Digging Deeper:

Psalm 34:1-3 & 1 Peter 5:7

If you have not yet met Jesus, you can meet Him today. He created you. He loves you. He wants you to be a part of His family. I encourage you to step into the life He created you to live. You will still have the troubles of this world, but you will no longer be facing them alone. I’m praying for you! https://peacewithgod.net/mobile/?utm_source=Microsoft&utm_medium=CPC&utm_term=HowToGoToHeaven&utm_campaign=USPWGMobileSearchMic

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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JOY TO THE WORLD…THE LORD HAS COME!!!

Today’s Scripture Passage:

John 1:1-14

Key Verse:

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.  John 3:16-18 (NLT)

I know, it’s Christmas Eve and you have things to do!

Thank you taking the time to spend a few minutes with me.

This is a wonderful season of celebration for all Jesus-followers. Why?

Jesus is THE Christ of Christmas!

He’s the Messiah, the Christ, promised long ago.

The ONE by whom all mankind can be saved.

He saves us from eternal separation from God, our Creator.

Jesus is Immanuel.

He’s God with us in the flesh!

God came to earth as a baby, lived his life without ever committing a sin, willingly died a gruesome death, was buried in a borrowed tomb, and was resurrected to life again on the third day.

He did all of this because He loves us.

FYI: We sin because we’re sinners, and our sin separates us from the Holy God who created us. But He loves us so much, He chose to make the first move toward reconciliation. That just means He made a way for our relationship with Him to be restored.

Jesus is living in heaven right now! He’s preparing a place for everyone who chooses to believe in Him and become Jesus-followers.

It sounds too simple, right?!

Just choose to believe and follow Jesus and your eternity is forever changed.

Or maybe you’re thinking it sounds too hard to give up your own way of living and follow Jesus.

Well, there’s more Good News!

The moment we choose to believe in Jesus, His Holy Spirit comes to live in us. He is our Helper! He helps us understand what we read in our Bibles about who God is and who we are as Jesus-followers. He opens our eyes to the choices we didn’t see we could make before; choices that seemed unavailable before we were Jesus-followers.

How many times have you said, “I didn’t have a choice.”?

Jesus-followers have choices!

It’s one of the many benefits of being a follower.

It’s part of our freedom in Jesus.

We’re freed from living a life of conformity. We’re freed from following our own emotions or the ways of this world when we become Jesus-followers.

Yes, it takes practice to live in freedom. I’m learning it’s best to pause and pray every time I find myself thinking there’s only one choice. In fact, I’m learning I must practice the pause and pray way of living in every circumstance. Why?

Even good things are not always God’s best thing for me to have or do or be.

Wait! We’ll save that truth for another time. For now, I’ll just say…

Merry Christmas!

May your celebration of Christ overflow with all the joy that comes with belonging to Jesus!

Digging Deeper:

Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 10:9-13,

This is a link to a message explaining the chain reaction we experience when we choose to live a life of trusting Jesus. Sunday 9am Service 12/20 Trust Me Week 3 – YouTube

If you have not yet met Jesus, you can meet Him today. He created you. He loves you. He wants you to be a part of His family. I encourage you to step into the life He created you to live. You will still have the troubles of this world, but you will no longer be facing them alone. I’m praying for you! https://peacewithgod.net/mobile/?utm_source=Microsoft&utm_medium=CPC&utm_term=HowToGoToHeaven&utm_campaign=USPWGMobileSearchMic

Here’s a link to Mary Did You Know sung by Pentatonix. It was one of my Daddy’s favorite Christmas songs. Enjoy! pentatonix mary did you know – Bing

Not all members of Pentatonix are Jesus-followers, but they sing a lot of Christmas songs. Would you join me in praying for them to come to know, trust, and follow the Christ of Christmas they sing about in their songs?

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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Love, Lights, Action!

Today’s Scripture Passage:

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)

We’ve all experienced that moment when we first turned off the light and we couldn’t see. That moment when we must give our eyes time to adjust to the darkness. How does that happen? Our pupils expand to allow more light to enter our eyes.

Our pupils are designed to regulate the amount of light entering our eyes.

What happens when we go from darkness to light? Our expanded pupils allow too much light into our eyes and creates a glare. Glare blocks our ability to see clearly.

This is the same thing that happens to us, and others, when the light of Jesus first shines into the dark places of our lives.

Sad truth? The brighter the light of Jesus is in us, the greater the possibility those who don’t know Him will either avoid us or lash out against His light in us.

Even worse, this also happens among those of us who are Jesus-followers. I’m talking about those times when our thought processes lead to words and choices that don’t fully align with what God’s word says is right. I can be offended by the light of Jesus in others when it challenges the way I think, speak, and act. I’ve even caught myself trying to defend those choices!

Moses wore a veil after he spent time in the presence of the LORD. Wearing the veil was for the benefit of the people. Moses didn’t totally cover the LORD’s light; he just exposed them to a gentler dose of light!

Okay, we’re back to where we started. It was Moses’ exposure to the Light of the LORD that caused his countenance to shine so brightly. The same is true for us.

Our continual exposure to the Light of Jesus makes our lives shine brightly.

Walking by Holy Spirit and living our lives according to God’s word exposes the dark places in our lives to His light.

Time spent in God’s word transforms the way we think about God, others, and ourselves, and transforms our choices.

Transformed by the saving love of Jesus and His word, we become lights whose actions help others see and praise our heavenly Father.

LORD, we’re so thankful to be citizens of Your Kingdom. We’re thank You for the privilege of being your representative in the foreign land we live in now. Help us to grow in our relationship with You, so we will represent You well. Give us compassion and courage and teach us to love those around us as You love them. We want to love as citizens of Heavens and not citizens of this world!

Digging Deeper:

Exodus 34:29-35 & Mark 4:21-22

This links you to a wonderful work written by Robert Boyd Munger in 1951. Microsoft Word – 2010-06-22 My Heart Christs Home – Final.doc (usna.edu)

If you have not yet met Jesus, you can meet Him today. He created you. He loves you. He wants you to be a part of His family. I encourage you to step into the life He created you to live. You will still have the troubles of this world, but you will no longer be facing them alone. I’m praying for you! https://peacewithgod.net/mobile/?utm_source=Microsoft&utm_medium=CPC&utm_term=HowToGoToHeaven&utm_campaign=USPWGMobileSearchMic

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Light and dark adaptation in human eye | Fun Science

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The Joy Challenge: Loving Well

Today’s Scripture Passage:

John 14:15-21

Key Verse:

“If you love me, obey my commandments.  John 14:15 (NLT)

And here we are at Step Three: Loving God and loving others.

Let me just say right off the bat, I don’t love well. I want to. It’s a great desire of mine and something I’ve prayed for the ability to do well for the better part of my adult life.

As a child, I found it easy to love the people in my life. They loved me and we lived our lives thinking the same things were right or wrong, etc..

It was only as I grew up and encountered people who thought differently, lived differently, and criticized my choices that I began to realize love is about more than a feeling.

Loving God means living my life choosing to do what He says is right.

I can’t love others apart from God.

I can’t even love God without His help.

God is love. Period. There is no qualifier here. Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:7-8 (NLT)

If we want to love well…

we must grasp the truth that God is love and our ability to love comes from Him.

Jesus told us how to love: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:12-13 (NLT)

Yes, He literally died to save our souls from eternal separation from God, but I don’t think this is the only way to lay down one’s life for another.

The minutes of our days add up to our life. How we spend those minutes reflects who it is we’re living to please.

Now, before you spiral headlong down a rabbit hole of panic, let’s look at Jesus’ life choices to gain a deeper understanding of how to know the way to love others. Not loving them from a formula but as individuals.

Jesus didn’t do for the people what they wanted Him to do.

He did what the Father told Him to do.

Only the Father knows what people really need… When we choose to do what He says is right, we love both God and others well.

Everyone, including the disciples, thought Jesus was there to conquer Rome. Nope! He did something even better. He conquered Sin and Death. Woot! Woot!

So, how do we know what God’s next right thing is for us to do?

He gave us two gifts for that very purpose.

Holy Spirit and the Holy Scriptures.

Jesus living in us and God’s written word.

Holy Spirit helps us understand what we read in God’s word.

Holy Spirit helps us remember what we read so we can choose God’s way for us.

Misunderstanding what we read will cause us to apply God’s word from our own perspective.

Forgetting what we’ve read in God’s word will leave us following our own way instead of God’s.

God’s word transforms the way we think.

God’s word makes it possible for us to know what He wants, and agree what He wants is good, satisfying and able to succeed.

When we truly agree with God, we choose to do what He says is right and good. That’s when we are living each moment of our lives loving well!

LORD, we’re so thankful to be citizens of Your Kingdom. We’re thank You for the privilege of being your representative in the foreign land we live in now. Help us to grow in our relationship with You, so we will represent You well. Give us compassion and courage and teach us to love those around us as You love them. We want to love as citizens of Heavens and not citizens of this world!

Digging Deeper:

John 15:30-16:17, Romans 12:2, Ephesians 4:15 & Hebrews 12:2-4

If you have not yet met Jesus, you can meet Him today. He created you. He loves you. He wants you to be a part of His family. I encourage you to step into the life He created you to live. You will still have the troubles of this world, but you will no longer be facing them alone. I’m praying for you! https://peacewithgod.net/mobile/?utm_source=Microsoft&utm_medium=CPC&utm_term=HowToGoToHeaven&utm_campaign=USPWGMobileSearchMic

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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