Well Wishes

Well Wishes

2 Corinthians From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God's will, and from our brother Timothy—

To the church of God in Corinth, and to all God's people throughout Achaia:

² May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

 

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Not looking forward to being around this group of people, I thought of previous encounters that were uncomfortable. I remembered the negativity, so I braced myself, preparing for battle. It really ruined my day.

 

• I do not like confrontation.
• I do not like negative atmospheres.
• I do not like preparing for battles that seem endless.

 

Paul sent another letter to the Corinthians. This time he had help from Timothy as GOD spoke through their relationship. Paul mentions that it was GOD’s will that he became an apostle, not his. He was getting ready to provide further correction but starts off with an unusual method. He wishes “grace and peace.”

 

My Observations

• JESUS died for me so when HE was raised, HE could send the HOLY SPIRIT to give me grace and peace.
• The FATHER agreed to lose HIS one and only SON to save me and give me grace and peace.
• The HOLY SPIRIT agreed to live inside me, despising every moment I sin, yet begs for my forgiveness so I can have grace and peace.

 

A LOT has been given to me already. I mean GOD gave me HIS all. Yet sometimes, that is not enough. I say “Thanks for salvation, but where are my riches and fame?’ I may not say them in those words, but my actions could speak volumes each time I complain  about famous people or worry about finances.

 

GOD is GOD. HE alone is the provider of grace and peace. HE gave a specific way for me to have both, namely to accept HIS gift and believe in JESUS as the Savior. It doesn’t stop there. I also need to surrender the things I “think” I need and be thankful for what GOD provides. I am grateful GOD chose me when I would never choose HIM.

 

Challenge

• What is the tone of the writer?
• Do you think he cared for the people he wrote to?
• When you are ready to combat someone, do you “care” for that person?
• Will you change your mind about “those” people and stop making it easy to dislike someone who GOD wants you to love?

Bring Peace

 

Bring Peace

Romans 16: ¹² My greetings to Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who work in the Lord's service, and to my dear friend Persis, who has done so much work for the Lord. ¹³ I send greetings to Rufus, that outstanding worker in the Lord's service, and to his mother, who has always treated me like a son. ¹⁴ My greetings to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and all the other Christians with them. ¹⁵ Greetings to Philologus and Julia, to Nereus and his sister, to Olympas and to all of God's people who are with them.

¹⁶ Greet one another with the kiss of peace. All the churches of Christ send you their greetings.

 

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Getting cut off in traffic spiked my rage, but I could only sit like everyone else. When I arrived at my destination, I was met with bad news after bad news. Complaints poured in all day. I got back in the car and started my journey. I was cut off in traffic again. “Wasn’t that the same car from this morning!” I wondered.

 

• Some days it seemed like no one had good news.
• Some days it seemed like complaints were in high demand.
• Some days it seemed like people were trying to purposefully get on “my” nerves.

 

Paul completes his greetings to many people with one statement “Greet one another with the kiss of peace.” He knew that life would be hard because he had experienced beatings, a shipwreck and multiple murder attempts on his life.

 

• GOD wants me to bring peace to people.
• GOD wants me to lead people HIM so HE can lead them to still waters.
• GOD wants me to be at peace so I can bring peace.

 

Having peace is something that the world cannot seem to provide. I mean, if I would just have blank, then I would be happy. I found this to never be true. I would get “blank” and be temporarily happy, but life would quickly set in.

 

GOD wants me off the highs and lows of panic to peace. HE wants me to seek HIM daily as my source of peace and allow HIM to lead others to the place HE has provided for them and me. Instead of a complaint or more bad news, GOD wants HIS people to have peace. I am grateful GOD gives an abundance of peace.

 

• Do you always have something negative to say?
• Are you seeking to stir people up so you can look like a hero?
• Will you be at peace with GOD so you can bring peace to others who need it today?

Powerful Words

Powerful Words

John 5:  ⁶ When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”

⁷ The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”

⁸ Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” ⁹ And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.

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When I first learned how to use curse words correctly, it felt liberating. I mean I could now curse someone out and have them fully understand my disdain for the situation while belittling them in the process. It became an art, as a froth of foul language rolled from my tongue.

• Sometimes I want to tell “that” person off.
• Sometimes I want to make sure “that” person is taken down a few notches.
• Sometimes I want to complain about “that” person, slander “that” person and let everyone know “that” person is wrong, wrong, wrong!

“Do you want to be made well?” JESUS asked the man. He did not answer but gave the reason why he was still sick. “No one will help me.” JESUS said “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” HE spoke health into existence.

• JESUS gives me the ability to speak things into existence.
• JESUS gives me the ability to increase HIS kingdom with mere words.
• JESUS gives me the ability to protect, heal and comfort others simply by speaking.

By the measure of faith given to me I can speak things into existence. It takes practice, but it is true. JESUS said “If you have the faith of a mustard seed you can tell the mountain to move and it will.” HE literally means words are extremely powerful, why waste them saying negative things.

GOD enables me to encourage, love, comfort and enjoy HIS creation. If I spend most of my time speaking negative words about what is wrong and who did something bad, I miss out on the power of GOD. Speaking life means I trust GOD to heal and move the mountain for me. I trust GOD to be my source of power.

• What words do you use often?
• Are your words more negative than positive?
• Would GOD be glorified with the words you are using?
• Will you concentrate on speaking what GOD tells you to say to “that” person today?

Strange Confidence

Luke 21: ¹⁰ Then he said to them: ‘Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. ¹¹ There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

¹² ‘But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.¹³ And so you will bear testimony to me. ¹⁴ But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. ¹⁵ For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. ¹⁶ You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. ¹⁷ Everyone will hate you because of me. ¹⁸ But not a hair of your head will perish.¹⁹ Stand firm, and you will win life.

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“Let’s just have a discussion” the newscaster said to me in an effort to calm me down. She may have sensed that I was nervous so she randomly asked me questions before the show began. Fortunately for me, they recorded the practice discussion because I was relaxed. The answers seemed natural.

• Sometimes when I practice what I am going to say, I get nervous.
• Sometimes when I build up my answer in my mind, I get anxious.
• Sometimes when I play things over and over in my mind, I forget to live within the moment.

JESUS stirs many emotions when HE discuss the problems HIS followers would face. HE discusses huge, GOD sized problems that mere humans would face. Then HE says something strange. “Make up your minds not to worry beforehand” were HIS words of affirmation.

• GOD says to me “I will give you words of wisdom.”
• GOD says to me “I will protect you and not a hair on your head will perish.”
• GOD says to me “Stand firm and you will win life.”

“Relax and stop thinking about what you will say to your adversaries” is the gist of what GOD is telling me. HE knows humans are competitive and combative towards one another, especially towards those who believe in JESUS.

GOD wants me to drop my worries about what I will say to defend myself and rely on HIS power to give me the right words at the right time. HE is my sole protector (S O L E) and my soul protector (S O U L).

• Are you worried about something?
• Do you want an outcome to happen but are worried about it?
• Can you give your worries to GOD and allow HIM to give you words of peace rather than practicing what you will say to “that” person?