Peace, it is one of those words that is tossed around during the
Christmas season. "We need to find our peace and discover it during this
time of rapid activity", is what some would say. Others will state
"that it is overrated and will never be had during this busy time". Some
will shout "how can we have peace when there is war, famine, and world
wide poverty that is killing millions each week". Peace, it is the
controversial word that always comes up during the advent season. But
for me I always go back and start first at what the Word of God says
about something so lets take a look at a verse that talks about peace.
1 Timothy 2:1-2
"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercessions, and
thanksgiving be made for everyone...that we may live peaceful and quiet
lives in all godliness and holiness"
So Paul is urging us to live peaceful lives. So I would say then that a
life full of peace should be found and chased after. We as lovers of
Jesus know that this side of eternity true peace will not be found
completely. There will always be wars, famine, poverty, and strife that
stops peace because we live in a broken world full of sin, evil, and the
work of Satan. But that should not stop us from living lives full of
peace which is connected to godliness and holiness. OK so there is the
ground work and starting point, we need to live lives of peace.
I will be the first person to tell you living a life of peace is a
battle. Peace just like joy, love, and generosity are states of being
that must be fought for and battled to keep in our lives. Peace does not
come easy. Look at all the distractions, evils, and temptations that
will keep us from experiencing true peace. But that is why we need to
contend for peace and keeping it in our lives. The media, culture,
world, others, and even ourselves will continually be telling us peace
in our lives cannot be grasped. But the Bible says it differently. Peace
can be attained and even kept in our lives but not without a fight. The
battle for peace is a battle that takes place each day. It is a war
that is fought hour by hour and even minute by minute but it is a fight
that we need to contend as lovers of Jesus.
And look at this one verse from Timothy. Peace in our lives leads to
godliness and holiness. These are 2 amazing things to have in our lives
and descriptions to have of our character. Godliness and holiness are
the most sought after and desired traits to have in one's life who truly
loves Jesus. Peace in our lives will truly have amazing results. As I
have been pondering the idea of peace I started to think of a few people
I know that seem to keep winning the battle for peace. Peace in our
lives will show to others. Others will know we keep winning the war for
peace and then desire it in there lives also. Contend for peace, win the
battle, keep it in life because it will have far reaching affects for
the kingdom.
So winning the battle for peace is essential but again I will tell you,
along with I think my wife, that I loose the battle for a peaceful
spirit a,lot in my life. But here are a few things that I think will
help in the contention for peace in our lives and Paul lays it right out
for us in the verse above. First, a prayer life that's connected to God
will grow and in effect bring peace in our lives. When we are
continually taking what we are experiencing back to God and laying it at
His feet to deal with, peace from that will come to replace some of the
anxiety. A life of thanksgiving is the second step in the contention
for peace. When we are thankful to God for what He gives us we will
forget the current struggle and distraction in our lives. When we are
thankful for the blessings God graciously gives in Jesus everything else
pales. And I think a third step in battling for peace is, in saturate
yourself in the Words of God. When we hear what God is telling us in His
word, it will fill us with peace and draw us closer to His heart where
true peace can be found.
A peaceful spirit and life of peace must be contended for and this time
of year can and will magnify the desires for it but it will also hinder
it and stop it more. We must contend, fight, battle, and even struggle
for the life and spirit of peace because others will know and we will
show what the true reason for the celebration is in Christmas. When we
daily win the war for peace others will desire to be more in love with
Jesus just like we are. I pray that you will experience some of the
peace of God during this time so others will know about the baby and why
He truly came.
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Thanksgiving leftovers
Psalms 118:21 "I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation."
I pray everyone had a blessed thanksgiving and that we were all able to reflect and be thankful for the amazing God who loves us and lets us know He loves us. As I was pondering the holiday and then the fact Christmas is now weeks away I started to think about the correlation between thanksgiving and hope.
I shared a few days ago about what the focus of our thanksgiving should be. I believe that most Jesus lovers are very thankful people. Those of us who love Jesus truly are thankful for the ways He loves us. We are thankful for the blessings and gifts that God gives us, like our friends, family, material blessings, and spiritual blessings. We are truly a thankful people for how God showers acts of grace on us, His children. But has I pointed out in that post, we tend to miss a lot of the time that it is God that we should be thankful for. Yes, be thankful for the things He give us, but it should be focused primarily on who God is. Be thankful for the fact of God as the creator, sustainer, and Being we can have as a Father. To truly be thankful to God we must enjoy and bask in who God is and all that means. Be thankful for the blessings but more importantly be thankful for GOD and JESUS.
As, I was pondering the Christmas season coming up I began to think about hope also I am finding out in my life and the life of other Jesus lovers, we can fall into the trap of hope and the focus of hope the same way as thanksgiving. What should we hope in? I find in my life sometimes I am hoping in what God can do for me. I am hoping in the fact God can provide me with a better financial state, or a position in the ministry, or even little things like a better car. But when I am hoping in what God can do or change for me I miss the point. Yes, when I pray I should hope in what I am praying for and hope in God doing something for me, but I should be hoping in God. When I hope in God I should hope in who God is with all His attributes and qualities. I should hope in God and His love for me, His power to help me grow, His provisions for me, His answers for me. I should be hoping in all that God is and let Him do for me and my prayers what He desires. I find if I hope in what God can do, what happens when He sees it differently and acts differently then my hope? Hope in God so that my hope will never change or be crushed.
I find a connection here between my thanksgiving and my hope. Yes, it is good to be thankful and hope in what God can do, BUT WE NEED TO TRULY JUST BE THANKFUL AND HOPEFUL IN WHO GOD IS FOR US. That is a lesson and reminder that I need to preach to myself daily because then in all that God allows this life to throw at me, I will always be thankful for everything and hopeful in all of life.
I pray as we approach Christmas, our hope in God and in the power of His Son will grow.
I pray everyone had a blessed thanksgiving and that we were all able to reflect and be thankful for the amazing God who loves us and lets us know He loves us. As I was pondering the holiday and then the fact Christmas is now weeks away I started to think about the correlation between thanksgiving and hope.
I shared a few days ago about what the focus of our thanksgiving should be. I believe that most Jesus lovers are very thankful people. Those of us who love Jesus truly are thankful for the ways He loves us. We are thankful for the blessings and gifts that God gives us, like our friends, family, material blessings, and spiritual blessings. We are truly a thankful people for how God showers acts of grace on us, His children. But has I pointed out in that post, we tend to miss a lot of the time that it is God that we should be thankful for. Yes, be thankful for the things He give us, but it should be focused primarily on who God is. Be thankful for the fact of God as the creator, sustainer, and Being we can have as a Father. To truly be thankful to God we must enjoy and bask in who God is and all that means. Be thankful for the blessings but more importantly be thankful for GOD and JESUS.
As, I was pondering the Christmas season coming up I began to think about hope also I am finding out in my life and the life of other Jesus lovers, we can fall into the trap of hope and the focus of hope the same way as thanksgiving. What should we hope in? I find in my life sometimes I am hoping in what God can do for me. I am hoping in the fact God can provide me with a better financial state, or a position in the ministry, or even little things like a better car. But when I am hoping in what God can do or change for me I miss the point. Yes, when I pray I should hope in what I am praying for and hope in God doing something for me, but I should be hoping in God. When I hope in God I should hope in who God is with all His attributes and qualities. I should hope in God and His love for me, His power to help me grow, His provisions for me, His answers for me. I should be hoping in all that God is and let Him do for me and my prayers what He desires. I find if I hope in what God can do, what happens when He sees it differently and acts differently then my hope? Hope in God so that my hope will never change or be crushed.
I find a connection here between my thanksgiving and my hope. Yes, it is good to be thankful and hope in what God can do, BUT WE NEED TO TRULY JUST BE THANKFUL AND HOPEFUL IN WHO GOD IS FOR US. That is a lesson and reminder that I need to preach to myself daily because then in all that God allows this life to throw at me, I will always be thankful for everything and hopeful in all of life.
I pray as we approach Christmas, our hope in God and in the power of His Son will grow.
Friday, November 28, 2014
Quotable Friday
"Sin is unwillingness to trust that what God wants is our deepest happiness"~St. Ignatius
Thursday, November 27, 2014
Thanksgiving Assesment
- Do you find it easier to complain than to give thanks?
- Are you easily irritated and quickly impatient?
- Do mundane hassles get under your skin?
- Would the people who live nearest to you characterize you as a thankful person or a complaining person?
- Do you look at your world and find many reasons to complain because things aren’t going your way?
- Do you look at your world and find yourself blown away at the many reasons you have every day to give thanks?
- Do you view yourself as one who has been constantly short-changed and neglected?
- Do you view yourself as one who has been showered with blessings?
- How often do you grumble “If only I had _____” or “I wish that _____ was different”?
- How often do you whisper thanks to God or communicate thanks to those around you?
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Thanksgiving desert
Colossians 2:6-7 "So then, just as you received Jesus Christ as Lord,
continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in
faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness".
So I have often wondered, in a somewhat sinful way, how can I recognize a thankful person? How do I know if someone is thankful for what they have or not? As I ponder these questions, I think the real question that I am asking is, what is the result of thanksgiving in a person's life?
I think there are many ways a thankful person can reveal himself or herself to others. But I would like to focus on 2 important ways that a lover of Jesus will show others they are thankful in their heart. I want to highlight 2 results of thankfulness.
The first result that thankfulness brings into the life of a person is joy. Someone who is truly thankful for blessings from God, whether it is people or stuff, is the person finding great joy in what they have. If I am truly a joyful person, even if I have very little, I am thankful for it and find joy in every circumstance or gift given. A thankful person realizes that God is the great giver of gifts, starting with His Son, and they will find joy in everything that their Heavenly Father and loving Lord does and gives. Joy in a thankful person will emulate everywhere if they are thankful.
The second result of a person being thankful is generosity flowing from them. A person who truly is thankful for what they do have wants to share those gifts and blessing with others. They want to share with others next to them that might not have as much blessing and gifts A thankful person is also always looking to pour into others around them and shower them with the great blessings and gifts they have been given and ultimately share the thankful spirit with them. The flow of a generous spirit is always started at the fountain of thankfulness.
Both of theses results are also a great way to check the thankfulness level in our hearts. If we are struggling in the joy factor and are not feeling generous to others maybe we should start to be more thankful deep from within and let that thankfulness flow out for others to see in our joy and generosity.
Tomorrow I will have 10 questions for us to ponder on the Holiday! Enjoy and God bless this thanksgiving season.
So I have often wondered, in a somewhat sinful way, how can I recognize a thankful person? How do I know if someone is thankful for what they have or not? As I ponder these questions, I think the real question that I am asking is, what is the result of thanksgiving in a person's life?
I think there are many ways a thankful person can reveal himself or herself to others. But I would like to focus on 2 important ways that a lover of Jesus will show others they are thankful in their heart. I want to highlight 2 results of thankfulness.
The first result that thankfulness brings into the life of a person is joy. Someone who is truly thankful for blessings from God, whether it is people or stuff, is the person finding great joy in what they have. If I am truly a joyful person, even if I have very little, I am thankful for it and find joy in every circumstance or gift given. A thankful person realizes that God is the great giver of gifts, starting with His Son, and they will find joy in everything that their Heavenly Father and loving Lord does and gives. Joy in a thankful person will emulate everywhere if they are thankful.
The second result of a person being thankful is generosity flowing from them. A person who truly is thankful for what they do have wants to share those gifts and blessing with others. They want to share with others next to them that might not have as much blessing and gifts A thankful person is also always looking to pour into others around them and shower them with the great blessings and gifts they have been given and ultimately share the thankful spirit with them. The flow of a generous spirit is always started at the fountain of thankfulness.
Both of theses results are also a great way to check the thankfulness level in our hearts. If we are struggling in the joy factor and are not feeling generous to others maybe we should start to be more thankful deep from within and let that thankfulness flow out for others to see in our joy and generosity.
Tomorrow I will have 10 questions for us to ponder on the Holiday! Enjoy and God bless this thanksgiving season.
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Thanksgiving side dishes
Hebrews 12:28 " Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, "
When we truly stop and think for just a few moments we have a ton of things to be thankful for.
We can be thankful for our health; whether we have come through a trial this year, have not had any health problems this year, or are feeling good right now even as a health struggle is going on.
We can be thankful for the relationships in our lives; like a great friend that encourages and strengthens us, or a child that might bring us great joy, or even a spouse that loves us even in our worst moments.
We can be thankful for the material stuff in our lives; like a warm dry house, or a car that can take us places, or even a refrigerator that keeps the milk cold and the ice cream frozen.
We could be thankful for the job that drives us nuts sometimes.
We could be thankful for the church family the showers blessings on us.
We could be thankful for our freedom and the privilege it is to live in this time and place.
We can even be thankful for the small things in life; like I am thankful for the A I just received on the past essay test I took.
We have a lot to be thankful for and it might only take a few moments of thinking to come up with a dozen or more.
But what should be the true focus of our thanksgiving? God and God alone.
Who gave me the A on that test, or gave me the great friends, wife and kids? Who provided the job and gave me the house and car? Who's money is it that bought the tv or food I just ate? Who ultimately is providing the turkey and deep fryer to cook it in for Thanksgiving? God and God alone. Every blessing I have is given by God and He is the source for all I have. Yes, be thankful for people and things but God should be where the thanksgiving starts, stops, and always be.
So this Thursday as we are thankful for a ton of thinks and people, remember that God should be the focus of all the thanks we give because without Him and more importantly Jesus death, we have no reason to be thankful for anything.
When we truly stop and think for just a few moments we have a ton of things to be thankful for.
We can be thankful for our health; whether we have come through a trial this year, have not had any health problems this year, or are feeling good right now even as a health struggle is going on.
We can be thankful for the relationships in our lives; like a great friend that encourages and strengthens us, or a child that might bring us great joy, or even a spouse that loves us even in our worst moments.
We can be thankful for the material stuff in our lives; like a warm dry house, or a car that can take us places, or even a refrigerator that keeps the milk cold and the ice cream frozen.
We could be thankful for the job that drives us nuts sometimes.
We could be thankful for the church family the showers blessings on us.
We could be thankful for our freedom and the privilege it is to live in this time and place.
We can even be thankful for the small things in life; like I am thankful for the A I just received on the past essay test I took.
We have a lot to be thankful for and it might only take a few moments of thinking to come up with a dozen or more.
But what should be the true focus of our thanksgiving? God and God alone.
Who gave me the A on that test, or gave me the great friends, wife and kids? Who provided the job and gave me the house and car? Who's money is it that bought the tv or food I just ate? Who ultimately is providing the turkey and deep fryer to cook it in for Thanksgiving? God and God alone. Every blessing I have is given by God and He is the source for all I have. Yes, be thankful for people and things but God should be where the thanksgiving starts, stops, and always be.
So this Thursday as we are thankful for a ton of thinks and people, remember that God should be the focus of all the thanks we give because without Him and more importantly Jesus death, we have no reason to be thankful for anything.
Monday, November 24, 2014
Thanksgiving Turkey
Colossians 3:15 "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Being thankful is a command in the Bible so over the next few days leading up to Thursday I want to reflect on a few things about thanksgiving and the spirit of being thankful. Tonight I want to focus on the purpose of thanksgiving and why the reason behind it is so important.
There are many reasons behind the idea of thanksgiving. There are many factors that can contribute to it and a lot of reasons we are commanded to be thankful. Being thankful will create a joyful people, it will stir in our hearts a love for God and others around us. But one of the biggest reasons for the command to be thankful is the perspective it brings.
When we are thankful for life, others, blessings, and the many great things we have, it will keep us in the right perspective. When I am thankful for the blessings from God it keeps me humble to realize what He does for me and what I could never do for myself. When I am thankful for friends and the joy I find in them, it keeps me in the right frame of mind where I cherish them and do not feel arrogant towards them. When I am thankful for family (especially my beautiful beloved) it keeps my mind focused on their needs and my perspective is set on them and not on my own life. When I am thankful for my health and the amazing life I have in this country, it keeps me in awe of the greatness of others in medicine or those who gave me my freedom.
What I believe is the correct perspective for thanksgiving is humility. To truly be thankful first we must be humble, it is a prerequisite. I find this to be true in my life. When I am arrogant, prideful, and focused on my own stuff, I am never thankful. But when I am stripped down and humbled, then and only then am I truly thankful for everything. When I am humbled to the point where I ask, "Why me", I find I can be truly thankful for the blessings that I do have. The less I have the more I seem thankful for what I do have. I have truly discovered that humility leads to truly being thankful.
So the purpose and command for being thankful is to drive us to our knees and be humble. Next time we find it hard to be thankful, first check the level of humility in our lives.
Being thankful is a command in the Bible so over the next few days leading up to Thursday I want to reflect on a few things about thanksgiving and the spirit of being thankful. Tonight I want to focus on the purpose of thanksgiving and why the reason behind it is so important.
There are many reasons behind the idea of thanksgiving. There are many factors that can contribute to it and a lot of reasons we are commanded to be thankful. Being thankful will create a joyful people, it will stir in our hearts a love for God and others around us. But one of the biggest reasons for the command to be thankful is the perspective it brings.
When we are thankful for life, others, blessings, and the many great things we have, it will keep us in the right perspective. When I am thankful for the blessings from God it keeps me humble to realize what He does for me and what I could never do for myself. When I am thankful for friends and the joy I find in them, it keeps me in the right frame of mind where I cherish them and do not feel arrogant towards them. When I am thankful for family (especially my beautiful beloved) it keeps my mind focused on their needs and my perspective is set on them and not on my own life. When I am thankful for my health and the amazing life I have in this country, it keeps me in awe of the greatness of others in medicine or those who gave me my freedom.
What I believe is the correct perspective for thanksgiving is humility. To truly be thankful first we must be humble, it is a prerequisite. I find this to be true in my life. When I am arrogant, prideful, and focused on my own stuff, I am never thankful. But when I am stripped down and humbled, then and only then am I truly thankful for everything. When I am humbled to the point where I ask, "Why me", I find I can be truly thankful for the blessings that I do have. The less I have the more I seem thankful for what I do have. I have truly discovered that humility leads to truly being thankful.
So the purpose and command for being thankful is to drive us to our knees and be humble. Next time we find it hard to be thankful, first check the level of humility in our lives.
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