Getting Stronger

Getting Stronger

1 Thessalonians 3: ¹¹ May our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus prepare the way for us to come to you! ¹² May the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow more and more and become as great as our love for you. ¹³ In this way he will strengthen you, and you will be perfect and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all who belong to him

 

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“I don’t like that guy” I said to myself. I also said “I don’t like that woman” because she was associated with “that” guy. Each time I saw him or her, I would get distracted at the brazen attacks they did on people. “How am I going to protect myself? I wondered.

 

• I spent hours and hours thinking of ways to protect “my” ideas and career.
• I missed deadlines because I was so concerned with protecting myself that I forgot to do what I was supposed to do.
• I was so distracted making labels for him and her that I had no time to create new ideas.

 

Paul, Silas and Timothy send their best to the people of Thessalonica. They knew the people had faced difficulties that need a solution. The problem stemmed from church leaders and government officials persecuting people because of their belief in JESUS. They needed something to make them stronger, namely love.

 

My Observations

• Love is the strengthening source that GOD wants me to have.
• Love clears up paths that seem to be filled with barriers.
• Love enables me to, one day, become perfect and holy in the presence of GOD and FATHER when our LORD JESUS comes.

 

GOD is love. GOD is power. Love is power. Seems simple, but I don’t always take advantage of this great exercise for my soul. I mean, it is easier for me to hate other people and label him or her “wrong” versus taking the harder route of loving those who seem to hate me.

 

Love takes patience, goodness, kindness faithfulness, joy, peace, gentleness and self-control. When I exercise the fruit of the Spirit, I get stronger, because GOD’s strength is made perfect in my weakness. I diminish and HE grows. I am glad HE gives me a better way, namely love for one another.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the writers wanted to come to the people?
• Have you ever gotten so mad or distracted by someone that you cannot think?
• Will you ask GOD for a portion of HIS love so you will become stronger and able to withstand attacks, so you will also stay on the HIS path today?

Next Level

Next Level

Colossians 3: ¹³ Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else. You must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you.

 

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As we sat at the picnic table, someone knocked over a drink into “my” food. I pouted because I was a child. “Forgive” were the words given to me. After some cooling down time, I was able to let it go. After that incident, other people spilled stuff and I easily forgave. One day a bully punched me in the chest so hard I almost passed out.

 

• I had been attacked so “How am I supposed to forgive?” was my question.
• I could not fight back, but I wanted something “bad” to happen to the bully.
• I remembered the words “forgive” and I had to do it, reluctantly.

 

Paul addresses differences of opinions. One person had a way of doing things and another had an opposing way to do the same thing. This raised complaints. He provided a way to resolve the differences. “Forgive one another.”

 

My Observations

• There seems to be another level of forgiveness GOD wants me to reach.
• As life goes on, I seem to face a variety of situations and people who need me to forgive.
• GOD forgave me and wants me to forgive others, even when my complaint is justified.

 

Someone said “Forgive and forget”, but it is the “forget part that trips me up. I mean, I do remember what happened so did I not forgive? Having a good memory does not seem to be the problem. Holding back GOD’s love from someone who hurt me is the problem. Why forgive in the first place?  Because the LORD has forgiven me.

 

HE wants him or her to be forgiven too. HE knows humans will have differences in approach, values and opinions. HE also knows this will cause quarrels. HIS message still needs to be spread to everyone. The only way to spread the message is to drop my “offenses”, “defenses”  and be ready to forgive those who are hard to forgive. I am glad GOD forgave me and teaches me to forgive, little by little.

 

Challenge

• What complaint does the writer speak about that does not warrant forgiveness?
• Have you ever been stuck on doing things a certain way and have a difference in opinion that you cannot let go of?
• Will you take purpose into your relationships and forgive those who may be difficult to forgive?

Growing Up

 

Growing Up

Romans 6: ¹² Sin must no longer rule in your mortal bodies, so that you obey the desires of your natural self. ¹³ Nor must you surrender any part of yourselves to sin to be used for wicked purposes. Instead, give yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life, and surrender your whole being to him to be used for righteous purposes. ¹⁴ Sin must not be your master; for you do not live under law but under God's grace.

 

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“Oh, grow up!” were the insulting words hurled at me. “How dare she!” I thought. I blew off her statement because she was mean and crabby anyway. I was simply complaining and wanted someone to hear my complaint. After hearing her unexpected reaction, I wanted to complain about that too.

 

• When I was a child I spoke like a child.
• When I was a child I justified my sinful actions.
• When I was a child I had a lot to say about everyone else, and little to say about my flaws.

 

Paul appeals to every reader to give up sin and give the entirety of life to GOD. He then explains, that GOD did an incredible thing for humans so we should acknowledge what HE did and act like HE wants us to.

 

• GOD wants me to examine my sinful self, daily.
• GOD wants me to acknowledge I need HIM to guide me and correct me daily.
• GOD wants me to grow up little by little, making decisions that would please HIM instead of feeding my sin.

 

Growing up means taking responsibility. Blaming GOD for HIS righteousness will not cut it when I stand before HIM. One day I will need to account for my sins. I will have no excuse. The only reply I will have to GOD is “I believe in YOUR SON who took away that sin and that one and that one.” HIS reply will be “Well done MY faithful servant.” I am please to surrender to JESUS.

 

• Are you acting like a child, trying to hold onto a life you think you are in control of?
• Do complaints roll off your lips more than praise?
• Will you examine yourself and ask GOD to help you let go of your sin, little by little so HE can use you for HIS purpose today?

Drinking Age

Mark 10: ³⁵ Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”

³⁶ And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

³⁷ They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.”

³⁸ But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

³⁹ They said to Him, “We are able.”

So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; ⁴⁰ but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.”

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“This will require more work” the person said to me. “I can handle it” was my reply. At first things seemed rather easy, but after a while things got complicated. This was my first time managing a team and things were falling apart. I had to quickly “drink from the fire hose” of issue resolution techniques to get things back on track.

• Sometimes life comes at me too fast.
• Sometimes it feels like one problem compounds into twenty.
• Sometimes it seems like I am drowning because I have so many problems and not enough solutions.

“You will indeed drink the cup that I drink” was said to James and John, the sons of thunder. This was to say, “You will be pursued and persecuted.” Drinking in this instance was accepting the wrath of persecution summoned up by the enemy. James and John had to be strong.

• JESUS wants me to grow up enough to handle the persecution of these days.
• JESUS wants me to mature in HIM so I can face difficult situations and remain in HIM.
• JESUS wants me to graduate to another stage in life where I’m not just mouthing HIS words but living them.

Living in CHRIST means I need to expect the wheels to fall off of my plans at a moment’s notice. HE knows the adversary wants to rob me of joy so I must be prepared by asking JESUS for protection daily.

• Are you growing in CHRIST?
• Are you able to see persecution and ask GOD for strength to go through it?
• Can you ask GOD to open your eyes to how HE is maturing you to handle more of HIS responsibilities HE has for you?

Time to Grow

Isaiah 28: ¹⁶ So this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone,
    a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;
the one who relies on it
    will never be stricken with panic.

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²³ Listen and hear my voice;
    pay attention and hear what I say.
²⁴ When a farmer plows for planting, does he plow continually?
    Does he keep on breaking up and working the soil?
²⁵ When he has leveled the surface,
    does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin?
Does he not plant wheat in its place,
    barley in its plot,
    and spelt in its field?
²⁶ His God instructs him
    and teaches him the right way.

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²⁹ All this also comes from the Lord Almighty,
    whose plan is wonderful,
    whose wisdom is magnificent.

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It didn’t hit me until I was driving and the radio station faded out. The morning sun was shining in my face and I was headed to my new residence with bright aspirations. I finally realized this is not a drill. I was now about to embark on my career journey. Was I ready? Did I know enough? What if I fail?

• There are times when I get nervous.
• There are times when I am stricken with panic.
• There are times when I have fear that causes me to race around lose sleep.

Being unsure of myself has popped in and out of my life numerous times. Sometimes I look at my abilities and shutter. Can I do the thing that I am facing?

• GOD says to me “I have laid a precious tested, cornerstone as your foundation.”
• GOD says to me “I will be your instructor and teach you the right way.”
• GOD says to me “I have a wonderful plan for you.”

I should be unsure of myself because in life I am way in over my head. BUT GOD has “magnificent wisdom” and a “wonderful plan” for me. I must place my trust in HIS strength and let HIM fight my battles. HE is the one who prepares me and HE is the one who tells me when I am ready to grow. HE wants me to turn from preparation and go into planting seeds of encouragement. GOD is truly magnificent!

• Are you nervous about your abilities?
• Are you scared to try something new and more difficult?
• Can you stop relying on your abilities and start relying on GOD’s “precious and tested” foundation?
• Will you believe that HE has a better plan for you than your plan?

Next Level Relationship

Psalm 132: ¹ Lord, remember David
    and all his self-denial.

² He swore an oath to the Lord,
    he made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:
³ “I will not enter my house
    or go to my bed,
⁴ I will allow no sleep to my eyes
    or slumber to my eyelids,
⁵ till I find a place for the Lord,
    a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

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It seems like more problems happened after I said “I believe that JESUS CHRIST died for my sins and is now alive fully as GOD.” I was young and the problems rolled in. Someone outside of my church challenged me to “learn how to pray.”

At one point in my life I didn’t pray at all. I took it to the next level by reciting a memory verse at each meal as dictated by my parents. I then was led by this person to pray for others, for forgiveness of my sins and to praise GOD.

GOD wants me to evaluate every aspect of my life to see if I am growing. HE does not want me to remain a child in my relationship with HIM. David was very driven because the SPIRIT led him to do something tremendous for GOD, something that had never been done before. He was led to build a church. We still mimic this behavior to this very day.

• Instead of working for money GOD wants me to work for HIM.
• Instead of serving people to feel good about myself GOD wants me to serve so people can see HIM.
• Instead of constantly worrying about what will happen to me GOD wants me to see HIS next assignment from HIM.

When I was a child I was frightened and full of fear. Then one day I got tired of being afraid. I realized my life is worthless without GOD and HE wants me to actively seek HIM daily rather than getting caught up in the busy activities of life. Don’t get me wrong, humans should be busy, but taking GOD into my busy lifestyle is most productive.

• Are you actively seeking to grow?
• Do you still fear the world or do you fear not following GOD?
• Are you living your life on your past triumphs or are you letting GOD take you on new adventures?
• Will you allow GOD to do marvelous works in you today?

Growing Up Quietly

Psalm 131: ¹ My heart is not proud, Lord,
    my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
    or things too wonderful for me.
² But I have calmed and quieted myself,
    I am like a weaned child with its mother;
    like a weaned child I am content.

³ Israel, put your hope in the Lord
    both now and forevermore.

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Memories are absolutely amazing, dancing around my head like little videos. My earliest memory is reaching for my bottle and knocking it over only to hear the sound of it shattering on the floor. Yes, it was glass. My weaning period from the bottle was difficult. I took to a famous cartoon character of the time, holding a facsimile of a blanket and sucking my thumb. The entire family tried to steer me from the dreaded thumb. Then one day, I just stopped and grew up.

• When I was a child I thought as a child.
• When I was a child I had to go through a weaning period.
• When I was a child I moved from one stage to the next, not knowing I could not stay at the last stage.

Growing up is sometimes difficult. The array of situations that can arise in life are vast, some great, some not so great. During these life events, I can run around screaming or I can relax and go through it in a different way.

• GOD wants me to get rid of any pride I may have.
• GOD wants my eyes to not desire the material things of this world.
• GOD wants me not to worry about matters HE is taking care of.
• GOD wants me to grow up.

Putting hope in GOD enables me to grow up. The harder the situation, the more I need GOD. I can no longer expect to drink from the bottle of life as a baby. GOD wants me to turn to HIM fully and place my hope in HIM always. GOD handles the matters that are greater than me.

• Are you still a child?
• Do you feel your life is out of control?
• Do you not know where to turn next?
• Can you place your hope in GOD?
• Will you stop concerning yourself with tomorrow and let GOD handle the “things too wonderful” for you?

Asking Shapes Me

2 Chronicles 1: ⁷ That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

⁸ Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. ⁹ Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. ¹⁰ Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

¹¹ God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, ¹² therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”

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GOD knows everything right? Then why does HE ask Solomon to “ask” HIM for something? I mean HE knows what Solomon will ask so why doesn’t HE just give it to him and be done with it? In fact, why doesn’t HE just give me my cushy life with plants that never die in a warm tropical bug-free place with people surrounding me who are praising GOD day and night?

• GOD has given me free will to choose HIM.
• GOD somehow allows me to actually pick my direction.
• GOD enables me to make choices and HE has rewards and consequences attached to them.

GOD doesn’t always just step in and steer things in my life. HE lets me choose my path. Unfortunately if sin and fear get in the way, I won’t choose HIM. That’s why HE had to die for me because I would never choose HIM. When GOD takes me to a very scary place my choices are critical. Choose HIM with faith, trust and obedience or cower away with fear, doubt and disobedience.

• GOD wants me to choose HIS way which shapes me to obey HIM.
• GOD wants me to ask for the items that please HIM which grows my faith in HIM.
• GOD wants me to believe HE has a wonderful plan for me which strengthens my trust in HIM.

Asking actually is like exercise. The more I ask for the things GOD wants me to ask for, the stronger my faith becomes. The reason I will be able to believe larger things will come to fruition is because I would have seen GOD deliver me from the multitude of smaller things.

• Are you ready to grow your faith?
• Can you begin asking GOD for smaller things and watch HIM deliver you?
• Will you begin to put your trust in HIM today?

My controversial “building” view

1 Kings 6: ¹¹ The word of the Lord came to Solomon: ¹² “As for this temple you are building, if you follow my decrees, observe my laws and keep all my commands and obey them, I will fulfill through you the promise I gave to David your father.¹³ And I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people Israel.”

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I recently visited the church of my youth.  The pastor was still the pastor and the building was still the same. By the way, I am a million and a half years old. What I remember is there were two envelopes in pockets in the pew, one for tithing and one for the “building fund.”

I traveled to many churches and many have had this “building fund” or “building expansion project”. Then one day, as I was sitting on a bus in another country, I saw people dressed in white robes sitting in a field. I asked the guide “who are they?” “They are a building-less church who meets out in a field to worship GOD” he responded.  Ever since then I wonder what a building fund is.

• GOD wants us to make sure we gather together to pray for one another.
• GOD wants us to make public declarations of our allegiance to HIM.
• GOD wants us to make it easier for those who cannot do for themselves.

There are many other reasons to gather together and we need buildings to avoid being interrupted from the elements. I agree with having a building, but when the building is the only focus I have a problem with it.

• GOD says “Follow my decrees”, which doesn’t need a building rather it needs my temple.
• GOD says “Observe MY laws”, which doesn’t need a building rather it requires my mind.
• GOD says “Keep all MY commandments and obey them”, which doesn’t need a building rather it needs my determination to follow HIM.

GOD wants me. HE said “What building can contain ME?” HE does however want me to gather regularly with groups of people to pray, rejoice and help others. HE also wants me to receive help when I run out of faith and feel low. My fight is no longer with buildings. My job is to connect with those HE sends to me.

• Are you alone?
• Do you think can walk life by yourself?
• Should you gather together with others for prayer and confession?
• Won’t you focus on GOD rather than on buildings?

Maturity outside of the desert

Joshua 5: ¹¹ The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. ¹² The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan.

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Silver was my choice as I went inside to do the paperwork. I was very excited because this was my first major purchase on my own.  I waited years for my credit to get better because of all of the tickets, debt from college and poor payment habits. It seemed like I would never come out the other side.

I remember taking my credit cards and cutting them up so I would only spend cash. It was very difficult as I reached in the cabinet and only had a can of corn to eat for dinner. “Here are your keys” the dealer said. I don’t know if I thanked GOD or not but I was elated!

When I’m in the desert I grumble about GOD’s support.

When I’m in the desert I complain about GOD’s sustenance.

When I’m in the desert I murmur about how other people who don’t follow GOD seem to have it all and I don’t.

GOD has a time and place for HIS plan to be executed in my life. HE doesn’t want me looking at someone else’s situation and compare it to mine. HE also doesn’t want me complaining about where HE has me. GOD is growing me.

GOD has a purpose for taking me through “desert” times.

GOD grows me by taking me through “desert” times.

GOD matures me to be able to handle more territory by taking me through “desert” times.

The Israelites were not mature enough to enter the promise land so GOD took them through the desert to rid them of the desire of being back in Egypt where they were on a path of totally forgetting HIM. The desert had nothing to sustain life, yet GOD supported them for 40 years without wearing out their clothes.

GOD brings me out of the desert with new eyes, new ears and a new heart. Instead of blaming people for falling in their own holes GOD enables me to see people with grace, like HE does.

Are you coming out of a desert time?

Do you think you will have other desert times?

Can you focus your attention on GOD and give with joy?

Won’t you take this moment to strengthen your faith in HIM so you won’t pout next time?

Time to change my diet

Hebrews 5: ¹³ Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. ¹⁴ But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

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After a night of laughter I went back to my apartment only to arrive with a tremendous pain in my chest. I had never felt a pain like this. The next day I visited the doctor and he said everything was alright. This incident had solidified my thought of going back to church.

It had been a while since I had sat in church and wouldn’t you know I picked up with the same boring old stories about one or two people who did some miraculous thing. Just when I was about to check out someone asked me if I could teach. Me? Teach? Hey wait a minute… “I don’t know the Bible” I thought.

• I stayed away from learning GOD’s messages because I wanted to do what I wanted to do.
• I stayed away from being acquainted with righteous teaching because I wanted to do what I wanted to do.
• I stayed away from heavier learning about GOD because it seemed like the less I knew the more I could get away with.

It’s amazing how critical I was of pastors and teachers. I would sit and listen and if they miss-stepped then I would check back in and criticize. I would then check out and halfway look at GOD here and there, never pondering HIM or asking about HIM, but when I needed something I was right there on my knees asking HIM for stuff.

• GOD wants me to attempt to know HIM better each day.
• GOD wants me to learn of HIM because HIS tie to HIM is easy and HIS burden is light.
• GOD wants me to be acquainted with HIS teaching about righteousness so I can become mature and be able to distinguish good from evil.

It really shouldn’t take a scary incident to get me back in church, nor should it take some drastic situation to get me to learn about GOD. HE wants me to focus on HIM daily and watch HIS miracles unfold.

• Are you avoiding GOD?
• Are you afraid to grow in HIS teaching?
• Won’t you try to learn more about HIM?
• Can’t you reach a little further and try learning some of the “harder to understand” things about GOD?

Do you like the “Me” team?

Hebrews 3: ³ Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. ⁴ For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.

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After many hours of work we finally released our new product.  At the convention, people crowded into our booth clamoring to see it. Some of those people came over to me and pat me on the back. “Yeah I did do a good job” I thought to myself. I mean “I” oops we put a lot of hard work into this!

• When I look for accolades I sometimes point to myself.
• When I build a group I sometimes want those who follow to follow “me.”
• When I am part of a group I usually want that group to be the “winning” group so I can be associated with winners no matter how the group is acting.

Team “Me” is a wonderful team that I try to promote as often as I can.  Either I’m voicing my stance on something to be associated with a group or I’m just dropping subtle hints to make sure people know I’m pretty great. Don’t get me wrong, I treat my people well as long as they like “me.” I wonder if I should be pointing to team “Me.”

• GOD says everything I own is HIS.
• GOD says every group given to me was given by HIM.
• GOD says every leader put in place was placed there by HIM for HIS purposes.

I am not greater than GOD so I need to point all of my accomplishments to HIM.  Every team he has me lead I need to point to HIM and not team “Me.” Every group I am associated with I need to point to GOD and not in a false, selfish way.

GOD needs to receive the accolades for everything accomplished. If HIS SON is falsely followed then HE will know and not respond. I need to point my team to GOD for HE is the builder of everything.

• Are you pointing at yourself?
• Are you trying to push a human into the spotlight without pushing GOD into the spotlight?
• Are you mentioning the sins of others without examining your own sins?
• Can you mention the name “JESUS” with the way you are acting towards “that” person?

HE is building me.

Ephesians 2: ²² And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

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My parents told me I couldn’t go outside that day. “I can’t wait to grow up” I said to myself. My professor said I need to study more in his class. “I can’t wait to be done with college” I said to myself. My boss chose some crazy direction to go in. “I can’t wait to become the boss” I said to myself. After achieving all those things I am still waiting. When will it ever stop?

• Life has difficult moments and sometimes I feel like giving up.
• Life has struggles and sometimes I just want it to be easy.
• Life has pain and problems and sometimes I just want peace.

Why do I have to go “through” problems? I mean can’t GOD just zap my problems away and make everything wonderful? So far, in my life it hasn’t worked that way.

• GOD uses every situation to build me and grow me.
• GOD uses every circumstance to guide me and lead me.
• GOD uses every incident to mold me and shape me.

GOD has a plan specifically for me that includes trials and tribulations, kind of like a personal trainer creates a fitness plan to make a person stronger.  Every bump I face in life makes me stronger and I can proclaim HIS name a little louder each time.

When someone looks at me like I have it all together I can share with them that I am a mess and HE isn’t finished building me yet.

• Are you tired of the struggle?
• Do you think you are being punished or polished?
• Can you accept GOD’s love and realize HE has a great and wonderful plan for you?
• Can you stop thinking you can “arrive” and focus on HIS love for you?

Leave them room to grow

Romans 14: ¹Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. ² One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.

³ The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. ⁴ Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

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Wow what a great dream I was having. As I slept I noticed music playing and people began talking. When I woke up I finally came to my senses. I was in church and had missed the sermon. Well, glad that’s over, now it’s time to have some fun. I jumped in my parents’ car with anticipation of going home.

• From the outside other people look like a mess to me.
• From the outside people aren’t treating GOD like “I” think they should treat HIM.
• From the outside I see some folk’s effort and think to myself “Come on, you have got to be kidding about your service to the LORD.”

I love the statement GOD said directly to me “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?” In other words how can I judge the person HE put in place?  GOD is the one people serve, not me. HE is so gracious that HE looks at the slightest bit of service as if it were a royal coronation.

GOD wants sincere service and when I try to make people serve the way I serve, I take their eyes off of HIM and place them on me. I’m not saying I shouldn’t teach people more so I shouldn’t expect people to follow my every move.

• GOD has enjoys their worship and forgives me for doubting what they do.
• GOD has accepts them and HE even accepts me.
• GOD has made them stand and HE even stands me up.

The key to helping others is to seek GOD myself. I don’t have to look over at what others are doing rather I must serve GOD fully as HE has instructed me.

• Are you judging how someone is or isn’t serving GOD?
• Do you think you have “more faith” than “that” person?
• Are you willing to let GOD work HIS plan for “that” person?
• Can you focus on your own faith to see if it is sincere in GOD’s eyes?

Go back and help.

Acts 15: ³⁶ Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.”

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“This party was going to be great” I thought to myself. I had just purchased a new shirt and that coupled with my new cologne was a winning combination to get the ladies to notice me. One of my fathers asked me “what are you doing with your money?”  What a strange question, but I was quick on my feet. “I don’t know” was my retort.

He showed me how to invest and kept following up with me. Wow, what drove this man? I wish I could do something like that!

• People need me to mentor them even though I may not have much to offer.
• People need me to reach back and show them the path especially when I fall off it.
• People need me to develop them and I need people to develop me.

The HOLY SPIRIT told Paul and Barnabas to preach the great news about CHRIST. They were obedient, preached and went on their way.  GOD said, “that’s not enough.”  Go back and check on them and see how they are doing.

• Mentoring takes time but it’s worth it.
• Developing others to achieve great things is wonderful especially when coupled to CHRIST.
• Growing someone to follow the ways of JESUS is the ultimate action I can take.

GOD wants me to seek mentors and be a mentor to someone. With the love I show for others someone will believe in HIS SON.

• Are you actively seeking a mentor?
• Do you think you are too old for a mentor?
• Do you think you do not have anything to offer someone by being a mentor?
• Are you purposefully seeking ways to grow people in CHRIST?

I think I’m getting stupider!

Luke 2: 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

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The older I get the dumber I think I am. I’m not talking about in men’s eyes, I’m talking about as it relates to GOD. I have followed GOD for a long time and you would think I would be perfect by now. Well, it’s quite the opposite.

• The older I get the more sins I commit.
• The older I get the more grace I need.
• The older I get the more I set GOD up for failure in my eyes.

Fortunately for me GOD forgives me daily. HE knows my weaknesses and looks beyond them because I am something special to HIM.  HE places obstacles in my way to make me stronger in the faith and HE never ever leaves me alone.

• Only GOD can help me grow in wisdom.
• Only GOD can help me grow my faith.
• Only GOD can help me grow favor with HIM and man.

When I focus on my situations and problems I act “stupider and stupider” doubting HIM and worrying about my situations. But when I focus on GOD and HIS mighty power that raises me up from the dust then I am growing in wisdom, faith and favor.

• Do you think you “know it all?”
• Are you deliberately seeking GOD’s wisdom?
• Will you drop “your will” and seek GOD’s will today?

I want to be productive.

2 Peter 1: ⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.

⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Strange requests were tossed at our department that seemed quite uncommon.  We were being asked to do things far outside of our responsibility. When I dug into the matter I found a couple of departments had formed an alliance to bog our department down in hopes that we would not complete our responsibilities. This was a slick way to steal our budget.

We took the high road and accepted the extra work. Not only did we complete the work, but our budget was increased to include a portion of the sneaky malefactors.

Good will always win! GOD wants me to grow up and see circumstances and situations as opportunities to mature in the faith.

• When I have faith to believe in JESUS, HE wants me to be good to others.
• When I am good to others, JESUS wants me to get to know HIM by reading HIS Bible.
• When I learn from HIM, then HE wants me to control my sin as best as I can.
• When I control my sin then I will be tested and tempted so JESUS wants me to persevere.
• When I persevere and not fall back to my old ways, then I model godliness.
• When I understand and practice godliness, then I learn to treat GOD’s people with affection!

It’s amazing it takes “me” being transformed to serve GOD’s people properly.  The more I give of myself, the more I gain from GOD. This is a process that cannot be circumvented.  When I try to serve GOD or live for GOD in my own terms then I fail miserably.

• GOD will more than likely change me before HE changes “that” person.
• GOD will more than likely allow trials in my life to help me persevere and grow my faith.
• GOD will accept my growth and bless me.

It doesn’t matter how small my growth is as long as I am growing. GOD gets excited when I do even the smallest thing for HIM. When I pray a little more or read a little more or reduce my sin a little more GOD is there with wide open arms to congratulate me on my efforts!

• Can you add a little goodness, knowledge, self-control to your walk today?
• Will you persevere through your trial?
• When you learn how GOD works, will you seek people you can serve?

I want to “grow up.”

1 Peter 2:  ¹ Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. ² Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, ³ now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

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“Let me help you with your bags” I said to my parents as they were leaving to go on vacation. This was the first time I was going to be left alone at home. “I wonder if they will leave the car keys” I thought to myself. To ensure my plans for fun would not be thwarted I placed some clutter over the extra keys to the car.

I knew the radiator had some minor problems so I bought fluid, then I bought gas and raced all over town. When I got home I noticed the little gas and antifreeze I put in was now gone and I had to repeat the process all over again. “Wait, this is getting expensive. I hadn’t planned for this” I thought to myself.

• Being sneaky takes more work than following GOD’s ways.
• Being hateful to others brings GOD’s judgment on me.
• Being a hypocrite only impresses me not GOD.
• Being jealous of what others have makes me look like a spoiled brat instead of a follower of GOD.
• Being a person who “slings mud” at others only makes me plant insecurity in my own future.

“Grow UP!” is what GOD says to me. As long as I’m sneaky, hateful, envious and full of poisonous words, I am no use to GOD. My old ways of “getting my way” will not produce the fruit that GOD’s ways will.

• Growing up in my salvation means being honest with myself and others.
• Growing up in my salvation means reading GOD’s Bible for me not doing it for show.
• Growing up in my salvation means craving a pure relationship with GOD the way HE wants it.

My sin nature will one day be removed and I will be given a new body that never gets sick and will never shed a tear of pain and misery. Salvation promises a great life after this life but until then I must take my sin a little at a time and give them to GOD.

• Are you being sneaky with something?
• Do you know GOD knows what you are doing?
• Can you stop doing what you are doing for at least one day?
• Will you try to “grow up” and live for GOD more and more each day?

I want discipline in my life.

Hebrews 12: ⁷ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? ⁸ If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.

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¹¹ No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

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“Slam, click” were the sounds that proceeded our first and probably only argument. My friend and roommate would open his door to put things away. Since we had constant visitors, he would lock his closet during each interval.  I was lazily trying to catch that extra five minutes of sleep when I heard “slam, click.”

“Why don’t you keep your door open” I said from my lazy perspective. “Why don’t you put some of your stuff away” he said to me. I looked around at the piles and thought, maybe he was right.

• I really don’t like a disciplined life.
• I like living wild and free.
• I want to be as lazy as I can be so I desire wealth to have others do my work.

I never considered trials and tribulations a source of training me. I just thought they were irritating circumstances that I wanted to get out of.  When I was younger, it seemed like the circumstances were fewer and further between, now they seem to come regularly.

• GOD uses hard times to get my attention.
• GOD uses hard times to correct my path.
• GOD uses hard times train me in compassion for others.
• GOD uses hard times to show me what JESUS went through.

Hard times are very hard to swallow, but I must recognize that GOD is working on me to become a better servant. It actually takes discipline to be the servant GOD wants me to be.

• I need discipline to serve people when I don’t feel like it.
• I need discipline to love people who I think deserve punishment.
• I need discipline to give when I don’t have anything to give.
• I need discipline to try to learn about GOD instead of constantly seeking entertainment for myself.

Disciplined people tend to achieve their goals and I have always admired their training. GOD puts circumstances in my life that require me to use spiritual “muscles” like love, compassion, empathy and kindness. The longer the trial, the stronger my muscles grow.

• Are you going through a trial?
• Could it be that GOD is training you for something greater?
• Can you accept your trials and seek how GOD is maturing you in faith?