opening the doors

We are opening Sunday and while I am excited about that, there is also a weight that comes with that decision. There are things that need to be done. Changes that will be implemented. It is one more unknown in this uncharted territory I find myself in.

 

Recently, I became aware that the weight was even heavier than I thought. Sometimes we carry around a heavy load that God does not intend for us to carry.

 

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb12:1-2 ESV

 

I want to focus on laying aside every weight. (Certainly if there is sin that you know is standing in between you and God – get rid of it. Acknowledge it to God and ask Him to help you change. He will.)

 

Laying aside every weight — what is weighing you down? What is that heavy burden that is pressing on you?

 

Jesus has the answer.

 

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ” Matt 11:28 NLT

 

Take your burden to Jesus – trusting Him to work it out, to give you wisdom, to provide strength, to shower you with renewed hope.

 

Read the rest of Hebrews 12. It will encourage you!

 

Thank you Jesus for the rest you give. Today I choose to walk in Your unforced rhythms of grace. (Matt 11:28-30 MSG)

til next time

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grace – rest in God’s grace

Sing with us! Go ahead, sing it loud! God’s Amazing Grace!! 

https://youtu.be/FwrDoxH4EDU

 

God’s amazing Grace — None of this has taken Him by surprise. He is with us, for us and making a way when a way seems so uncertain. He is the same today as He was last year when we gave little thought to covid19. (Hebrews 13:8)

 

Seeing this verse play out right before our eyes.

 

Isaiah 43:19

“For I am about to do something new.

    See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?

I will make a pathway through the wilderness.

    I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”

 

A great verse to memorize and meditate on is

Romans 15:13

 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” NIV

This people person is adjusting and determined to thrive, not waste a day in despair (sure there are moments but I know where to go when they hit — the feet of the One who loves me most – Jesus)

 

 

til next time

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closing a door

I am grateful that I can trust God and don’t have to try to make things happen.  His timing! His will! His glory!

 

Today we shut the doors on our church plant.  I have been believing God for a worship team to replace the one that is moving.  It hasn’t happened.  I don’t understand.  Yet, I trust God.  It is ultimately His church.  His timing.  His will.  His way.

 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” NIV

 

God is the God of hope. If you are lacking joy and peace in your life – ask yourself if you are truly trusting Him. Often we can find ourselves casting our cares but then picking them back up again.

 

Trust Him!

 

A product of trusting God is indeed joy and peace. It is more than that though. It is overflowing with hope – again not something we can muster up. It is by the power of the Holy Spirit and it is connected to trusting Him.

 

When things don’t turn out the way you planned, when you don’t understand, when life is best described as a mess — Trust God!

 

When things are going great, when life seems to be smooth sailing, when blessings abound — Trust God!

 

Trust God!

 

til next time

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attitude says it all

How’s your attitude today? It’s Friday!

For some, it’s the end of their work week. For some, it’s the beginning of a weekend of work. For some, today is no different than any other day. For me, today is my Sabbath. Ahhhh, yes!

 

Regardless of the day, our attitude is a determining factor in how our day will go. Crummy attitude pretty much equals a crummy day. Sadly, when we embrace a crummy attitude, we miss so many good things.

 

No matter what is going on around us and no matter what others do that impacts us – we are responsible for our attitude and behavior. Many people tend to forget this.

 

God’s Word has this to say —1 Peter 3:8-9 “Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.” (MSG)

 

Today, I choose joy. (Nehemiah 8:10) The joy of the Lord is my strength. I choose to “be” His hand extended.

 

til next time

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count it all joy – 6

Count it all joy – step 6

 

James talks about counting it all joy when we face all sorts of trials. The testing of our faith produces faith muscles – patience and endurance. (James 1:2-4) How do we count it all joy?

 

 

I believe that we find the answer in James 4:7-8

Step one – Submit to God (11/20/19 post)

Step two – Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (11/21/19 post)

Step three – Draw near to God (11/22/19)

Often people will stop here but there is more.

 

Step four – Cleanse your hands (11/23/19)

Step five – Purify your heart (yesterday’s post)

Step six – do not be double minded

 

I can’t talk about counting it all joy and not address double mindedness. This gets in the way of living the abundant life. (John 10:10) It gets in the way of walking in joy and peace. It creates an internal conflict. It destroys our witness.

 

Double minded – unstable – hypocrite – wavering – insincere – compromising beliefs – keeping all options open – one foot in the world’s camp and one foot in God’s camp — a chameleon – causing a constant internal conflict.

 

Ask God to help you recognize the first signs of a double-minded attitude trying to creep in. Guard against it.

 

Where is your mind set

 

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:5-6 ESV

 

til next time

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count it all joy – 5

Count it all joy – step 5

 

James talks about counting it all joy when we face all sorts of trials. The testing of our faith produces faith muscles – patience and endurance. (James 1:2-4) How do we count it all joy?

 

 

I believe that we find the answer in James 4:7-8

Step one – Submit to God (11/20/19 post)

Step two – Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (11/21/19 post)

Step three – Draw near to God (11/22/19)

Often people will stop here but there is more.

 

Step four – Cleanse your hands (yesterday’s post)

Step five – Purify your heart

 

Purify your heart – this has to do with your inner life. Be sincere. Seek to please God. 1 Peter (1:22) tells us we accomplish this by obedience to God’s truth.

 

 

“Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

Point out anything in me that offends you,

and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Psalm 139:23-24 NLT

 

 

counting it ALL joy,

til next time

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count it all joy – 4

Count it all joy – step 4

 

James talks about counting it all joy when we face all sorts of trials. The testing of our faith produces faith muscles – patience and endurance. (James 1:2-4) How do we count it all joy?

 

 

I believe that we find the answer in James 4:7-8

Step one – Submit to God (11/20/19 post)

Step two – Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (11/21/19 post)

Step three – Draw near to God (yesterday’s post)

Often people will stop here but there is more.

Step four – Cleanse your hands

 

Cleanse your hands — this is an action we take. When Isaiah talks about washing yourself – ceasing to do evil is listed.  In 1 Tim 2:8 Paul tells us to lift up holy hands without wrath and doubting.

 

Make choices that please God.

Are you dabbling in sin? Quit it. Cleanse your hands from things/actions that will zap your joy.

 

counting it ALL joy,

til next time

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count it all joy – 3

Count it all joy – step 3

 

James talks about counting it all joy when we face all sorts of trials. The testing of our faith produces faith muscles – patience and endurance. (James 1:2-4) How do we do that?

 

 

I believe that we find the answer in James 4:7-8

Step one – Submit to God (11/20/19 post)

Step two – Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (yesterday’s post)

Step three – Draw near to God

 

Draw near to God. Simple and yet so often neglected. When life’s problems heat up – kick up your time at His feet. The harder the trial- the hotter the fire – the more time is needed at the feet of Jesus.

 

Sadly too often we waste precious time fretting and fixating on the problem instead of looking to the one who is able to help. (Psalm 46:1) When we look to Jesus, (Hebrews 12:2) for His joy in our strength, (Neh 8:10) there is a shift in our attitude.

 

“You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.” Psalm 4:7 NLT

 

til next time

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count it all joy – 2

Count it all joy – step 2

James talks about counting it all joy when we face all sorts of trials. The testing of our faith produces faith muscles – patience and endurance. (James 1:2-4) How do we do that?

 

 

I believe that we find the answer in James 4:7-8

Step one – Submit to God (yesterday’s post)

Step two – Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)

 

Resist – withstand the action of

 

Jesus tells us in John 10:10 the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. That is the devil’s action. Don’t get in agreement with him by believing his lies. Don’t go there.

 

When we submit to God and resist the devil, he will flee. When we are not entertaining the lies of the devil, we can ‘count it all joy’ because our joy is found in Christ. Jesus is the way, truth and the life. (John 14:6)

 

Tests are the things testimonies are made of.

 

til next time

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count it all joy -1

James talks about counting it all joy when we face all sorts of trials. The testing of our faith produces faith muscles – patience and endurance. (James 1:2-4) How do we do that?

 

 

I believe that we find the answer in James 4:7-8

 

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

 

Today let’s look at submit to God.

 

Don’t get trapped in the small picture. God sees the whole thing. We can trust Him and we display that trust when we submit to Him. Reaffirm your dependence on Him. Offer up a sacrifice of praise.

 

 

“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” Heb 13:15-16 ESV

 

Continually – this is important to counting it all joy. Before the problem arises we should be praising Him. During the trial we continue the sacrifice of praise and on the other side of the trial – praise.

 

(Tomorrow step 2.)

 

Offering up praise,

til next time

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