Thursday Thoughts 9/9/21

True love’s kiss- the most powerful force in the universe!

I don’t know about you, but I grew up on Disney princesses. Just about every story involved a princess and her savior who would rescue her by “true love’s kiss.” It seems so romantic 🥰😍😘 but totally implausible- even though I took the bait hook, line and sinker as a little girl! 😉

Do you know that we have a True Love?

Do you know that this True Love is where we find true power- the kind of power to be rescued from anything that would capture and hold us, and the power for everything beyond and in between?

Obviously, I’m talking about Jesus and His ultimate love sacrifice. What a kiss that is! What a strong and powerful love that must be! So strong that no curse can stop it! Truly the most powerful force in the universe!

But… do you know that the same love Jesus has lives in you? Because He lives in you? And through His great love for you, He gives you the power to show that same love and receive that same power to triumph in EVERY circumstance?!

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with POWER through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may DWELL in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being ROOTED and ESTABLISHED in LOVE, may have POWER, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this LOVE THAT SURPASSES KNOWLEDGE—that you may be FILLED to the measure of ALL the FULLNESS OF GOD. Now to him who is ABLE to do IMMEASURABLY MORE than all we ask or imagine, according to HIS POWER that is AT WORK WITHIN US, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3:16-21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It’s not how spiritual you are or if you can speak in tongues or how many times you go to church or if you serve or if you yelled at your kid today that gives you the power you need to dominate the life you live. It’s Christ’s extravagant and big love for you living IN and THROUGH you that gives you power.

You are only powerful to live in victory to the degree that you give-in to Love. That is the only measurement with which to measure the power you possess. True, Real, Tangible, Agape, Godly Love.

Will you recognize, accept and acknowledge that Love for and in you today? Will you let Love flow through you to others powerfully today?

Thursday Thoughts 9/2/21

Where is your faith?

Last week I talked about keeping things from God or taking them back from Him. Galatians starts out talking about, “Did you start in the spirit just to try to finish in the flesh?!”

We established that we are gentiles, brought into the family of God by an adoption paid for by Christ. How we actually become a part of that family and get to tap into what we have access to, though, is by faith- by believing God is who He says He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him- those who would call Him Father and Lord, and would trust Him.

So where is your faith?

Is it in Jesus and His sacrifice that literally pays for it ALL and gives you COMPLETE access to ALL that God has to offer (salvation, healing, deliverance, wisdom, provision, clarity of mind, hope, etc)? Or, is it in the flesh? Have you become complacent in your faith? Have you forgotten Whose you are and what family you are a part of? Are you trying to do and get and be and handle all on your own merit and ability?

Consider the following verses today. Ask God for a heart check up today. Choose Him once again today. Choose to remember and don’t forget or get distracted from God’s Spirit in you today.

“Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3:7-11, 13-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Thursday Thoughts 8/26/21

I am a type 6 on the enneagram scale- a Loyal Skeptic.

I think this typing is just about as accurate as could be for me.

I am a control freak.

I really struggle with change and the unknown. The fact that I took the leap to give God a chance is a miracle on its own. Of course once I did, He has more than proven Himself to me.

Yet… I still struggle to trust Him at times. In my heart, I want to be a “Mary.”

I know He is good and is for me and loves me and, and, and. But, I sometimes take the reigns back from Him on accident or on purpose. It’s like I have soul amnesia and forget who He is and Whose I am.

Don’t I suppose that the God who literally laid it all down and paid the highest price possible to buy me back from sin would then take His responsibility for me seriously? Don’t I know He would never lead me astray or not provide for me? Can’t I just take a chill pill knowing I’m adopted into the family of God and made a co-heir with Christ, having access to every good gift and thing I’d ever need to lead the life (my best life) God has set for me? Why must I constantly work like a “Martha”?!

(Luke 10:42, Eph 1:3-8, Heb 13:20-21, 2 Pet 1:3-4, 1 Cor 6:19-20, Is 46:3-4, Prov 31:25)

It’s like subconsciously I somehow think this or that is too much and I don’t put the full trust in Him that He is asking for and that I so want to give Him.

Do you do the same?

Last night I got the opportunity to speak at our church youth group, Refuge. I spoke about Living Chosen, knowing that as an adopted son or daughter of God that we were literally picked out and chosen just as an earthly parent would choose an adopted child. We are SO special to God! After all He has done for us, surely we can trust Him… with it ALL!

Surely, we can know He has the plan and that we don’t need to know it ahead of time ourselves if we just commit to follow and obey it/Him.

What freedom there is in letting go of that control and recklessly abandoning ourselves in trust to Him!

Today I want to encourage you to do just that. Search your heart. Allow Him to search your heart as David did. (Ps 139:23-24) Then give those things to Him that you’ve been holding onto or not giving Him complete access to in order to change or strengthen you concerning them. Trust Him and enjoy the freedom that comes with that trust and relationship. You don’t need to earn it or worry about any of it yourself. You can literally give it to Him and let Him bear the burden of it while you relax and follow. I know for some (myself) this is easier said than done, but it is truly SO worth it! It’s life changing!!!

Yet Praise

Sometimes the Bible just seems like words on a page. Other times it truly comes alive.

When I read this scripture a few moments ago I thought to myself, “Man, that’s how we should all approach depression and intrusive thoughts.” Then, I really began to think about David as a person instead of just his words on the page. I imagined myself in his current shoes as he wrote the words:

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭43:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

You think of all the big things in his life that could cause a downcast soul like running from Saul for a good portion of his life and having to fight for a Kingdom that didn’t even want him at the time, or of having to be brave enough to fight Goliath. You forget to think about the other things, the things we face too, like just dealing with rejection in general or finding out God has a big calling for your life and it feeling impossible, or even just a broken heart from remembering a lost loved one.

He had kids at this point. Maybe on top of the big things he also had strained relationships with kids. Maybe one was strong willed like my Wyatt and made parenting not such a breeze! Maybe he was thinking, too, of how he would provide for these kids and keep them safe.

Anyway, we can think of a million big or little things to be downcast each day no matter where we find ourselves in life, or we can think like David managed to here and choose to put our hope in God and praise Him in spite of our current situation.

Good Enough

Have you ever felt like you were incapable, like you didn’t have what it took, like you weren’t good enough? Have you felt less than- less pretty, less smart, less charismatic, less likable, less talented?

Do you know that no matter what God has called you to, you were BORN having all you’d ever need IN Him?

Do you know that you were born “good enough,” with every talent and ability you’d ever need for anything and anyone God calls you to woven into the very fabric of your being?

The God of the universe made YOU and He made you PERFECT in every way.

The only thing that stands in your way is realizing that.

God saw you and created you and gifted you with exactly the things you’d need inside of you to accomplish all He’d set out for you from the very beginning.

If you need it -whatever “it” is- it is in you already through Him, you only have to tap into it and grow in it.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139:13-14, 16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Thursday Thoughts 8-12-21

“and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27:52-53‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So my husband, Jesse, is a preacher and I am a teacher. I tend to have LOTS of Word in anything I share with someone. So buckle up! 😆

A few things to notice about the above verse:

As we are IN Jesus- in relationship, allowing Him Lordship- we get to be part of what He’s doing. We get taken along for the ride, so to speak. We are never left behind. If He can do it, we can too! After all, He did say we would do even GREATER works than He! 😮(John 14:12)
There is a waiting period. I wonder what those in the tombs did during their waiting period. What are you doing while you wait to get from point A to point B at the direction of the Lord, while you wait for that promise to be fulfilled, for that healing to come, for that answer to prayer? Are we trusting Him and His promise? Do we really believe we are seated WITH Him? (Eph 2:6)

So here’s what I pull from this:

Jesus brought others along with Him.
It wasn’t immediate. They were raised at His crucifixion but didn’t come out of the tombs until His resurrection.

I could go on for days talking about and finding scripture about how we are now ONE with Christ and have supreme access to all He has and has done, that His promises are good and they come right on time. What matters is that we REALIZE that though. Like really realize. Not just in the knowing it in our minds sense, but realizing it in action and in completion.

We must realize the potential we have in Christ- knowing that we have been raised WITH Him and that all the things will come in HIS perfect timing, even if there is a waiting period through which we must stay focused and strong in belief, and remain steadfast in our devotion to Him.


“On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.””‭‭Acts‬ ‭1:4-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬


“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬


“Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”‭‭Romans‬ ‭6:3-4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Living Beyond The Transaction

Some of us lead transactional lives.

This is something that would be my go to. I’m very black and white and no grey. When I’m emailing or texting someone I have to remind myself to include pleasantries and say more than the question or statement needing to be made. My mind tends to be super on point and efficiency centered. I’m a “type one,” a “Martha” when I don’t consciously choose to put my focus and efforts toward the relationship rather than the task at hand.

Business/transactional relationships are easy. There is little expectation of more than the give and take in that moment and those expectations are cut and dry, very clear.

Personal relationships are messy and require so much more effort. They require consideration and thoughtfulness. They require operation of grace with the ebb and flow and each up and down. Suffering and rejoicing with one another is a must.

It’s important to remember that your RELATIONSHIP with Jesus is so much more than a transaction. Yes, in a transaction He traded you your sins for His salvation. He trades/transacts lots of things: ashes for beauty, sickness for health, poverty for prosperity, worry for peace, etc.

But…

There is so much more to Him and the relationship you have available than that! It doesn’t have to be you ask Him for something, receive the thing, thank Him and move on to the next. As a born again, saved and redeemed, renewed Christian you literally get to LIVE in His presence! You get to talk to Him and hear from Him. You GET to serve Him and find purpose and meaning in Him. You get to SHARE in EVERYTHING (sacrifice and reward) with Him as co-heirs.

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” Romans‬ ‭8:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Yes…

There are things like obedience and reverence and consequence. But that can’t be the basis and only side to your relationship with God.

He doesn’t have a big stick to hit you with, He has a big heart to LOVE you with.

When you truly realize that, your relationship will no longer simply be a transaction and then another. It will be a life of such deep love received and given that it leads to obedience and reverence that comes naturally. You will get to experience the fullness of God, the fullness of a real and personal RELATIONSHIP with Him. You can go to Him in times of trouble to receive His ever present help in time of need (Psalm 46:1) instead of feeling like you have to hide from Him for fear of His wrath on a “sinner like me.” Oh the freedom! It won’t feel like a transaction anymore.

It will feel like the most fulfilling relationship you ever put the effort to build in your life!

WARNING‼️ Assembly Required

So your saved, now what?

Pursue Jesus. Love people. Transform the world. That’s what.

Sounds pretty vague, right? A little like it’s so simple that it’s complicated? Maybe so, maybe not.

I asked Jesus to change my life and be Lord of it, to save me at an early age and then I put that commitment on the back burner for some time.

I once again became aware of my commitment to God, His commitment to me and the inevitable life change that would ensue around seventeen years ago. I haven’t turned back once, even though I’ve had plenty of opportunities. I’ve weathered many a storm, some I thought may have been the death of me. Yet, I stayed faithful. I continued to press into Him and His call. I continued to believe Him and trust His ability to see me through. I remained focused on Him and where He was taking me. I got through every one of those storms and am still standing, taller and stronger than ever.

Why?

There are lots of reasons I could cite. I could say that it’s because God is just that good, so good that I couldn’t possibly turn back. He really IS that good, but the enemy of our souls sure has a way of distracting us from God’s goodness at times and duping even the most determined of Christians.

I could say that I never turned back from God because I WAS that most determined Christian, except that I wasn’t. I have had LOTS of doubts over the years. Lots of my prayers have been in the spirit of “Lord, I believe but help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)

I think what has probably helped me stay on track (to not fall away from my faith despite seemingly everything in the world screaming that believing isn’t worth it) has been accountability.

Accountability? Why, you ask?

Those seventeen years ago when my Christian journey really got started, I immediately got involved serving in the church I was attending. I served in as many areas as I was able and as often as I was able.

Being a part of something SO much bigger than myself, knowing that others were counting on me, that I was making a difference (even if only a small one) and that maybe the difference I made could be THE one that changes the course of someone’s life forever kept me accountable. Because I was serving others, I HAD to keep my faith. I had to “report for duty.” I took the part I was playing in other people’s lives seriously and for good reason.

God is sovereign. He can do anything, any way that He desires. Most of the time, though, he chooses to use us. He uses humans to impact humans. He uses one who has sought Him out and pursued Him to love another through action and deed and word and all the areas in between. Then, together, they transform the world one person and one connection at a time.

Why is any of this important? What does it have to do with our individual lives and all of us believers together as the corporate body of Christ? It has everything to do with it! God’s plan to reach the world depends on it!

God is a relational God, right? He isn’t just up there in Heaven sitting around, alone, thinking about how great He is in silence. He created an entire world filled with all sorts of good things (Gen 1:31) the best of these things were human beings who could have a relationship with Him (you know, since they were made in His image) and enjoy the rest of the good things together with Him (Gen 1:27).

He made Adam and Eve to depend on one another and be complimentary – to be a team. He enjoyed relationship with them and they enjoyed relationship with Him and each other. This is how it was always supposed to be.

Everything a Christian does should revolve around this type of relationship. A Christian’s life should first be connected to the Father through Jesus and then connected to others. From those two relationships love should flow at all times. Every thought, action and deed should stem from love. After pursuing Jesus and all that He is (experiencing His love through relationship) a Christian should reach out in love to all those around him or her for the purpose of transforming the world, for the purpose of bringing ALL to the saving knowledge of Christ and bringing ALL into that same kind of relationship.

The first and most important steps on this journey of becoming saved (fire insurance) and working out that salvation, living a saved life (Philippians 2:12) are putting your hands to the plow and CONTINUING to put them to the plow.

“Jesus said, “No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.””

Luke 9:62 MSG

“But Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Luke 9:62 ASV

If you have put your hand to the plow (believed in Jesus as Lord and Savior), then put your hand to that plow, keep it there and put the work in! Don’t look back and don’t stop there. Dig deeper, learn more, grow stronger in your faith and actions.

Secondly, the premise of this entire blog post:

Christians ASSSSEMMBLLLEE AND UNITE! as through a bullhorn

Two are always better than one. In fact, two or more working together with Jesus are unstoppable! (Ecc 4:9-12) Iron sharpens iron (Prov 27:17). The more we get around each other, the sharper we get, the better tools in God’s hand we become. If multiple people gather together in His name, Jesus says He’s in the midst of them. (Matt 18:20) He inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3) We must gather together and continue gathering and growing together in Christ and in unity- as the local and worldwide Church. The strength of our ability to accomplish all that Christ has set for us to do (The Great Commission – to see the world come to know Him) depends on it!

“and let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds, not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more [faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ’s return] approaching.”

HEBREWS 10:24-25 AMP

“I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

John 17:23 NIV

Without assembly, we are just a bunch of parts and pieces that are only minimally useful. It’s only when we allow the Father to assemble us for His purposes that we realize our full potential.

It’s like a desk bought from Ikea. If you just leave it in the box, or even take it out of the box but just leave all the pieces laying on the floor separately, it won’t do you much good. You won’t get the intended use out of those pieces. It’s only when you, the workman, put all the pieces in their proper place, together and dependent on the next piece that the desk comes to life and can actually fulfill its intended purpose.

We must trust that the Father is that Great Workman and knows what He is doing as He is building us up and together and putting us in our proper places in the proper seasons.

“From Him the whole body [the church, in all its various parts], joined and knitted firmly together by what every joint supplies, when each part is working properly, causes the body to grow and mature, building itself up in [unselfish] love.”

EPHESIANS 4:16 AMP

To accomplish the life mission every Christian should have of pursuing Jesus, loving people and transforming the world, you must be a person who shows up willing and ready for whatever the Lord may ask of you. You have to have a “Here I am Lord, send me” attitude and mindset. (Isaiah 6:8) In different seasons you may be called upon to do different things. You may find yourself helping to clean the church toilets or running the pick-up van for youth group. You may find yourself being asked to speak at different events or to counsel another.

And don’t think that because you have a “lesser part,” one that’s not coveted like mopping the floors or recording the service out of any kind of spotlight, that it doesn’t matter or doesn’t deserve highest responsibility and regard. Colossians 3:22-25 in the message version says, “Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work.”

Whatever the call, your answer must be “Here I am! Send me!” And all that we do MUST be done in worship and service to God and not man. If I’m cleaning a toilet for God, that toilet is going to be spic and span and that way well before time for it to be used. If I’m speaking to a group of people about God on His behalf (which if we are claiming our Christianity, everything we do is considered by the world to be on His behalf) what I say will be well thought-out and prayed about and Spirit led.

Everything a Christian does should be with a heart towards God and a heart for God’s people. It should all be to the best of the persons ability and taken seriously and given the utmost respect and care. Every “job” given by God is just that, given by God Himself for His purposes…and it all matters and has great impact.

“But how will people call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher (messenger)? And how will they preach unless they are commissioned and sent [for that purpose]? Just as it is written and forever remains written, “HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!””

ROMANS 10:14-15 AMP

So…

Steps to a successful Christian life, a life that stays the course, grows and helps to bring about God’s will in this earth should include:

Get saved. Believe that you are a sinner in need of saving and that Jesus is your only answer to this very big problem. Confess Him as Lord of your life and begin your new life of following Him. (Romans 10)
Assemble with other believers. That assembly can be in a big corporate church. It can be in a house church. Whatever the format, assembly is required to fulfill God’s intended purpose for the Christian. This is true practically as it pertains to the work of the Gospel as well as relationally as it pertains to quality of life.
Report for duty. Show up. Don’t flake. Let your yes be yes! (James 5:12) Allow God to put you in a position of ministry and take it seriously, even if it’s just cleaning toilets. EVERY part matters. EVERY part is dependent on the other. It’s bigger than just you. It’s about the whole of what God’s doing, not just the part you play. As you are faithful to your position, you will grow and gain rewards and benefits and the Church will grow and lives will be changed. The whole is only as good as the sum of its parts. Don’t be the part that subtracts from the whole. Be the addition that helps the whole to grow!
While you are playing your part, play it in relationship with others. Understand that as part of a whole that only works if all the pieces are together and functioning, you are accountable to one another. Accountability is a good thing! It keeps us all on track and keeps our machine working and well-oiled.

It won’t always be easy and there will be days when it takes more than you have within you to keep the faith and keep your hand on the plow. But, that’s where God comes in! He’s called YOU to be part of something that He’s been planning since the beginning of time… and He will make sure you have what you need to do it, if you’ll trust Him.

Remember our mission: Pursue Jesus, Love People, Transform the Word.

Assembly IS required.

“Spark Joy” In Your Christian Life

The CHOICE of clutter

Do you know that God created our minds so incredibly?! He gave us the ability to think, to compartmentalize, to forget and to remember. He gave us the ability to CHOOSE to do those things, too.

Marie Kondo is all about clearing out the clutter, the things that no longer belong, the things that don’t “spark joy.” This is much the same as how God tells us we should organize our lives and minds in order to “spark the most joy” in our lives and the lives of others.

So often we get bogged down by the “clutter” of worry and stress and anxiety in our lives. We let thoughts flood our minds and run amuck. We let them bury us, much like we do with cluttered things in our homes. Sometimes we even let our thought life get so bad that we feel the task of removing the “clutter” is insurmountable.

We can moan and complain about the state of our lives and our thoughts or we can do something about them! God has given us the choice. He created our minds in such a way that we can have complete control over our thought life… but that control is all wrapped up in choice.

“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” ‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭30:19-20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The CHOICE of obedience

God’s Word tells us that WE are to TAKE every thought CAPTIVE and MAKE it obedient to Christ.

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

If the Word tells us to do it, this means we have a choice to do it or not. It means it’s up to us. The ball is in our court. While decluttering our homes takes forethought, purpose and action, so does decluttering our minds. We must actively TAKE each thought, pluck it out of our minds, compartmentalize it, recognize it for what it is (good or bad, beneficial or detrimental, holy or unholy, healthy or destructive) and MAKE each one obedient to Christ and His Word. If it lines up with what God has to say about our situation through His Word, then we keep that thought and let it roll around in our minds creating and inspiring further thoughts along the same lines. If it doesn’t line up, then we immediately throw it out! We recognize it as the lie that it is and replace it with a truth from God’s Word.

The CHOICE of reset

Our thoughts and our five senses form our beliefs, and those beliefs form our actions, and those actions have the ability to set us up for different seasons and situations in life. Those actions lead us to things that “spark joy” in us and others or spark hurt and harm. What we put our focus towards affects everything about us. We encounter so many things each day. There are situations and experiences that can bring great joy and others that bring great sadness. There are things that can confuse us or make us question or doubt ideals we have or things we thought we knew to be fact. Other circumstances may even leave us feeling burdened. Still, another may put us on top of the world.

Whatever we encounter pulling us this way or that through the day, if we have a “reset” each day (multiple times a day if we’re smart!) by returning that focus to God, His Word, His ways, His plans, His thoughts… then we can make sure we land at thoughts and beliefs and actions that point us in the direction we really want to be going, the direction that God has for us, the direction that impacts the world in a positive and life giving way!

Paul reminds us of this fact when he says, “do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].”

‭‭ROMANS‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭AMP‬‬

The CHOICE of contentment

So we’ve found a biblical model of what to do with this incredible mind God has given us. We see that we have a choice about what we let into our minds (through our senses) and what we are to do with the thoughts that begin to form based on those things that have made their way in. We become selective about our thoughts and perceptions. We choose the right ones and redirect as needed. Paul gives us the perfect example of how to practically do this in the following verses:

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:4, 6, 8, 12-13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The CHOICE is ours

We have the option to choose joy and spread joy in every circumstance. Paul has given us the “secret of being content in any and every circumstance.” That secret is CHOOSING to perceive life through the light and lens of Christ and MAKING our thoughts follow suit, being in control of our thought life!

What will you choose to do with the things you perceive about your life today? How will you let those situations impact your thought life? Will you take control of it? Will you “declutter” and “spark joy” in yourself and others? Will you “reset” when needed, when negative and difficult things come in like a flood? Will you remind yourself of God’s Word and will for your life when your senses tell you something contrary? It’s up to us to choose. Let’s choose life today and all that LIFE entails!

Relationship Means Everything to YOU

Notice two things in the following passage:

1. The first word being “Therefore” meaning, “What I’m getting ready to say is because of and based on what I just said.”

2. What Jesus is actually saying here. “Hear what I have to say. Then, actually do what I say. Lastly, watch the difference in your results when you put into practice my teachings instead of just letting them go in one ear and out the other having no affect in your life.”

““Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.””

Matthew 7:24-27 NIV

So… if we are to take notice of the first word indicating the previously stated words were of great significance, just what were those words and what significance and meaning did those words have?

““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

Matthew 7:21-23 NIV

Jesus’ name carries great power and authority. When His name is put to something that lines up with His will, it happens (prophecy, driving out of demons, miracles, etc) even at the hands of those with no real relationship or right to be using His name.

All that to say… your part in ministry or church or whatever it is that you are doing “in Jesus name” means nothing to YOUR life without the true relationship with Jesus that He is seeking. Jesus says that you can be going through all the right motions and even see many signs and wonders because of those “motions,” but without real and vulnerable and intimate relationship with Him, it does YOU no earthly or heavenly good. You may know of Him by the works you see done in His name, even by your hand, but if He doesn’t know you… well… you better get to know Him! Knowing Him is the will of the Father!