God is calling us

As I have been reading over my passage for this coming week, I have been praying and reading a lot about God calling His children to certain actions and lifestyle. I find 7 different callings or summons by God from the New Testament that He is desiring people, and more importantly His children, to hear and live by. Here is the list of the 7 callings that God is giving each of us. Read over the list, than read through the passages of the Bible that states the calling of God. The first 2 callings from God I have no problems with and are a great comfort and support to me but it is the last 5 that give me headaches and really challenge me to live a different lifestyle for God. I pray as you read over this list that God will challenge you like He has challenged me just discovering this list.

•     the call to salvation ( Rom. 8:30)

•     the call to sonship ( 1 John 3:1)

•     the call to sanctification ( 1 Thess. 5:23–24)

•     the call to service ( Mark 10:43–44)

•     the call to separation ( 2 Cor. 6:17–18)

•     the call to subjection:

—     children to parents ( Eph. 6:1)

—     wives to husbands ( Eph. 5:22)

—     employees to employers (1 Peter 2:18)

—     citizens to government (1 Peter 2:13–14)

—     all believers to God ( Rom. 12:1–2)

•     the call to suffering (1 Peter 2:21; see Phil. 1:29)

Is Homosexuality a different issue?

With everything going on this week with World Vision and their policy change first about hiring those in a homosexual lifestyle and than later in the week reversal of the policy issue, it has brought up many questions about the issue. The best article I read this week was a discussion about the fact the issue of homosexuality in the church is a different animal to wrestle with than most other issues. First, I believe that homosexuality is a sin, a wrong and horrible lifestyle, and an abomination to God. But I also believe that people can have temptation and tendency and not give into the temptation just like any other sin in a persons' life. But I also believe as the article linked below states, homosexuality is a very different problem and controversy in the church and it must be dealt with differently, carefully, and prayerfully than most other issues. I pray as you read the article you will look at this issue with a different view point and when you have questions, go back to the entire Bible and read what God says.

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2014/03/27/why-is-this-issue-different/

Trust in one another

I had someone give me a great analogy recently and I wanted to share it with all.

Trust is like a savings account. In order to receive trust from others we must slowly and continually make a deposit in the trust account. After making many deposits the trust level that others have in us will build up. But it will only take one action we do and others will lose all that trust we had build up. 1 mistake or action in destroying the trust others have in us will take away years of many small deposits we put in the account.

Remembering this today made me stop and think about how many times I have done things that have depleted my trust account and how I should be continually making deposits in others lives because I am not perfect and will make that mistake again and deplete my account.

Quotable Friday

Tonight I wanted to share one of my favorite quotes from a Puritan Pastor. I think this quote is still relevant and very important for today and the culture we live in.

That which is most pleasant is not always useful and necessary~John Flavel

Thursday uplift

In the middle of a buys week, it is good to remember this important truth.

How do you pray???

I would like to start a weekly post on the topic of prayer. Over the next few months, every Wednesday I would like to take a look at what the Bible and Jesus have to teach us about prayer and show us as examples of good God honoring prayer. Remember that prayer is simply a conversation between you and God, simply put you are talking to God and then listening to Him talk back. Jesus in His life gives us the greatest and wisest examples and teaching about prayer. Here is a list of the many things that Jesus shows us about prayer by His example.

He prayed early in the morning.
He prayed in a quiet solitary place away from any distractions.
He prayed all night long, like 12 hours of solid prayer.
He prayed before any major decisions that He had to make, like choosing the 12 disciples.
He prayed about His needs.
He prayed about His wants and desires.
He prayed for God's will to be done.
He prayed to His daddy.
He prayed while weeping.
He prayed while filled with joy and excitement.
He prayed while in anguish of the future.
He prayed for others.
He prayed humbly yet confidently.
He prayed and fasted.
He prayed and listened to His Fathers voice.
He prayed continually.

How many of these examples of Jesus prayer life do we practice in ours? It is a great place to start when we think about prayer and having a conversation with God our Father.

Need a Holy Laugh?

I needed a good laugh in the middle of a crazy busy week. So do you.