Think about this …

 

Today's blog has been contributed by Denise Friedman:

 

I know this week has challenged our thinking and perhaps caused some discomfort as we realized we tend to focus our thoughts on negative things more often than positive things.  Let me assure you, you are not alone in this week’s training sessions!  Hopefully this week helped all of us to re-set our thinking to focus on the positive.  Hopefully we stopped listening to the enemy as he tried to control our thoughts and steal God’s promises from us.  Hopefully we started listening to voice of our Wonderful Counselor, our Encourager, our Strength and repeat His words over and over until we believe HIS TRUTH! 

We will conclude this series with the following scripture – let these words fill you today and everyday!

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. – Philippians 4:8

Father, thank you for giving us the re-set we needed this week to develop our focus.  I pray that everyone who reads these words will keep your scripture in their hearts and live the life you have planned and purposed for them.   I come against any scheme of the enemy to rob or destroy that which you have established this week in every single reader Father.  Thank you for your guidance Holy Spirit, let us listen to your voice and your voice alone.  In the name of your precious son Jesus, AMEN!

Developing Your Mental Focus

Today's blog is contributed by Denise Friedman:

Today we are going to consider developing our mental focus.  What does God want us to focus on?  Because truly, all that matters is what He desires for us.  In order to re-set our mindset, we need to focus on the following:

God’s Power – Nothing (repeat that – nothing) can be accomplished through our own will or work that will even compare to what God has planned for us.  We need to focus on His power and call on that power!

God’s Promises – As we studied yesterday, God can not, will not lie to us.  When we look to Him to direct our path, he will fulfill His promises to us.

God’s Peace – John 16:33 “ I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”  No matter what appears to be in chaos, confusion and disorder around us, we can be confident that God has overcome this already, so we can live in God’s peace.  How reassuring!

God’s Plans – We are reminded in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you ,” declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”  God has plans for YOU!  Do not ever, ever let the enemy steal this scripture from you.  Do not ever, ever let the enemy tell you that you don’t matter or you can’t make a difference. Quote this scripture over and over until it is engrained within your heart.  This is a promise from the Almighty, Sovereign God specifically for YOU!

When you develop your mental focus on these four areas, it is not possible to experience defeat, failure, anxiety, worry, fear, depression, oppression or anything else that is negative.  When you dwell on these four areas, you can only experience God’s power, promises, peace and plans.

Who is in control?

Today's log is contributed by Denise Friedman:

Yesterday we replaced our negative thoughts for one day with the positive outcome we want to see happen in our lives.  The challenge today is to develop mental control.  By this, I mean control for more than just one day.

 

“Set you mind on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth.” Colossians 3:2

Has God made a promise to you?  Ask Him to bring that promise to you right now.  If you have not had a promise from God, take time today to ask Him for a Word or a promise.  He will deliver! Now With that promise in mind, you need to develop mental control to focus on that promise, not on what appears to be going on around you.  It is our human nature to wander to the negative.  We need to redirect our thoughts to the positive promises God has made.  He does not, can not ever lie, so if he has made a promise, we can rest assured that if we seek Him, he will guide our path to complete that promise. 

Compare this to physical training.  If you set a goal to run a marathon, yet you never think about the marathon, or seek training to ensure you can run a marathon, that goal is probably not going to happen.  However, if you control your body to train by following a proper exercise regime and diet, you will probably be successful in completing that marathon.  If you keep that goal of running the marathon in your thoughts, you are very likely to succeed.  You have to take control of your body and prepare for this event. 

It is no different when we have a promise from God. We can seek Him and continually remind ourselves of His promise, reciting scripture to reinforce and encourage us.  Or we can tell ourselves all the reasons why this promise cannot come to pass.   Guess what?  Either way, we will be correct.  So today, start some positive mental training – “lose” the negative thoughts and “increase the repetition” of the positive thoughts filled with God’s promises spoken over you!

 

What’s on your mind?

Today's blog was contributed by Denise Friedman:

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he …” – Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV)

What have you been thinking about recently?  I don’t mean fleeting thoughts, but what thoughts have been occupying your mind?  Take a minute and write this down – this thought should pop onto the page easily.  We all have thoughts that occupy our mind.  For many of us, the thoughts that occupy our mind tend to trend toward the negative.  The “what ifs” take control and often can lead to fear, anxiety and depression if we allow them.  This week, our challenge is going to be to reset our mind and focus on that which brings life, not death, love, not hate, and peace, not angst. 

Let’s revisit the original question posed – what’s on your mind?  Are you thinking about that job you will never be able to get, that financial situation which will never be resolved, that relationship which doesn’t exist or has failed, the child you will never have or the child who will never find his/her way? 

Just for today, let’s reframe our thoughts.  Instead of dwelling on what you don’t want, re-set your mind onto what you do want.  Just for today, think about the job that you are qualified for which you will get.  Just for today, think about those bills which will be paid in full.  Just for today, think about that future spouse who is waiting anxiously to meet you or that seemingly lifeless marriage which will be revitalized.  Just for today, think about the children you will have or the child who will surrender their hearts and lives to Jesus. 

 

 

 

At the end of the day, reflect on the day you have had.  Was it a better day?  Did you feel more optimistic?  Are you in a better frame of mind?  I hope the answer to all of these is YES!  If so, then do this again tomorrow, and all the tomorrows after that. 

 

 

No Strings Attached – Part 2

Today's blog is contributed by David Trotta:

Last week we talked about how important it is to be steadfast in our love for God, regardless of our situation.  We used Job as our model who remained faithful to God in the midst of incredible pain and hardship.

Well, this week I would like to talk about another love that should also have no strings attached – our love for others.

Our love for others is often dependent on how they treat us.  We live in a tit-for-tat world.  You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.  If you love me, I’ll love you.  We yield love as a reward that has to be earned based on performance.  If someone doesn’t live up to our expectations or behave a certain way, we will withhold our love and affection from them.  Oh sure, maybe we will never admit it with our lips, but how often do our actions betray us?  A little silent treatment here, a little cold shoulder there.

Enter Jesus. Romans 5:8 says “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Jesus showed love to us while we were still enemies of the cross.  He demonstrated love first and without receiving anything in return.  He didn’t withhold His love until we met some certain expectations.  Instead, He lavished His love upon us before we thought one good thought towards Him, and He continues to do so on a daily basis regardless of our actions or behavior.

In his book One Way Love, Tullian Tchividjian writes ”The older I get, the more smitten I become by the fact that God’s love for me, His approval and commitment to me, does not ride on my transformation but on Jesus’s substitution.  Jesus is infallibly devoted to us in spite of our inconsistent devotion to him.”

In our performance-based culture, let’s choose to freely love others without expecting to receive anything in return, either before or after.  No strings attached!

When we do that, we are pointing others to greatest act of one-way love ever demonstrated.

A Faith That Worships

“And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord

    and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful

    of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

    for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful

to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

Luke 1:46-55

 

 

Mary visited her cousin Elisabeth.

One might conclude they were not only related but also friends.

It is interesting to note, in light of that relationship, that Mary spoke not of

the ‘awkward’ position (there is an understatement) God had put her in with His ‘favor’ but instead worshipped the Lord.

If we believe that friends confide in each other Mary’s song of praise reveals to us the heart God saw and why He called her highly favored.

With a friend she had an opportunity to ‘let her hair down’ so-to-speak.

She might have complained of her ‘plight’.

But she didn’t!

She might have lamented Joseph’s initial questions.

But she didn’t!

She might have resented God.

But she didn’t!

Mary had a ‘worship faith’ that recognized God was in control.

Even to the ears of a friendly listener.

Worship faith may not have all the answers.

It may not understand how God will do what He has said He will do.

Worship faith declares – nevertheless – I will praise Him!

Even when my faith finds me in a hard place I will not cease to praise Him.

Mary showed us that.

Does your life reveal that?   

 

 

Are You Fully Pursuaded?

“And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”

 Romans 4:21 (KJV)

 

Imagine this conversation taking place between God, Abraham and Sarah –

“Abraham and Sarah can you wait for a child?” asks God.

They reply-

“Of course Lord, 9 months is a small thing to ask considering the joy of that answered prayer”

“No, no, no” God tells them – “You don’t understand – I am asking you to wait 25 years!”

You get the picture.

Of course Sarah and Abraham had no idea of the wait they were in for after they received the promise.

Much would happen in their lives in those 25 years of waiting.

They waited, they stumbled, they waited some more.

Sometimes faith simply requires that you wait!

It is a ‘holding fast’ and ‘trusting’ wait.

It is a ‘wait in confidence’ faith.

It is never a “wait in vain” when a promise from God anchors that wait.

Abraham was fully persuaded that God was able to perform what He had promised.

But we can also take this lesson from Abraham and Sarah’s story –

As you wait, don’t try to take matters into your own hands.

If God directs in a particular way then by all means be obedient to that direction but absent of any additional word from Him, hold fast, trust Him and let Him complete the work He has promised you.  

It’s Not a ‘Tea Party’ Faith!

““…Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled…I was pouring out my soul to the Lord...I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”

 I Samuel 1:15-16 (selected)

 

This week we will examine three ‘types of faith: warfare, waiting and worship faith.

Warfare faith can be seen in the life of Hannah.

But what ‘weapons’ did Hannah use as she sought for a child?

You can read I Samuel chapters 1 and 2 for the entire story.

Hannah used persistent, prolonged prayer as a weapon.

Hers was not a prayer spoken as much as it was a prayer wept.

Her prayers were offered up, not as an attempt to manipulate God, but through much anguish and grief as she poured out her heart.

Like the persistent widow that Jesus spoke of in the New Testament, Hannah had a faith toward God that would not let go until she had received what she sought of Him.

Her prayers were offered in anguish and grief, not with venom or bitterness.

She never accused God, she never pointed a finger of anger at God.

She poured out her heart over and over again to the Lord.

Hers was a prayer to a Lord she trusted, she loved and she believed could and would answer prayer.

Her desire to give her son ‘back to God’ was not a fulfillment of some grand bargain made with God.

Instead it was a recognition that God had indeed heard and answered her prayer.

Her ‘shared’ son became a prophet of God who spoke the Word of the Lord faithfully to a nation which had been in a drought from hearing that declared Word.

Hannah, the persistent widow, the woman with the issue of blood, blind Bartimaeus all demonstrated a ‘warfare faith’ that went after the blessing and favor of God until they received what they sought!

Are you persistent in faith?

Will you come to a hard place and continue in faith or cower in fear?

That’s why it’s called warfare faith and not tea party faith!

 

Hope In God

 

 

“No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame…”

Psalm 25:3

“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Isaiah 40:31

 

And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Romans 5:5

 

“But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior;

my God will hear me.”

Micah 7:7

 

 

“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.”

Psalm 130:5

 

Stock market, bank accounts, the word of man, a job offer…

What are you putting your hope in today?

Maybe, I’ll rephrase that question – Who are you putting your hope in today?

We can confidently trust and continually hope in the Lord.

As the scriptures declare –

“No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame.”

 

No Strings Attached

The Lord recently challenged me to keep my eyes on Him and not His blessings, regardless of the situation.  I don’t know about you, but I can sometimes get caught up in loving the blessings God provides, instead of loving Him just because of who He is.

For example, would we still love Him and remain steadfast in our pursuit of Him if He withheld His blessings from us or allowed us to go through a difficult time?  Before you answer too quickly, let’s measure our response against a well known saint who went through hardships that you and I have difficulty even imagining.

Enter Job of the Old Testament.  He had seven sons and three daughters and was an extremely wealthy man.  Within moments, he lost everything.  His children were killed and all his wealth was either destroyed or stolen.  Listen to what Job said after learning of the tragedies…

At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” (Job 1:20-21)

And then listen to what he said later on in the book of Job after being stricken with a horrific physical affliction….

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” (Job 13:15)

As of late, I have been deeply challenged by Job’s ability to make these declarations in the midst of incredible emotional and physical hardship.  Regardless of the hardships Job was experiencing, he was committed to worshipping and trusting the Lord, even if the Lord took his very life!  He wouldn’t let anything diminish his love for God.

Can you and I do the same?  Or, is our affection for God contingent on His blessings and provision continuing to flow?

Job had come to a place that allowed him to put God’s blessings and provision in their proper perspective. He had apprehended an incredible truth….that regardless of his situation, either in lack or plenty, God was worthy to be praised and trusted.

Is God firmly seated on the throne of your heart where it is far too easy for “things” to become the objects of our desire?  Even though we will never go through what Job went though, let’s make sure that when it comes to loving God, there are no strings attached.

I just can’t wait!!

 

Today's blog was contributed by Denise Friedman:

 

Have you ever been so excited about something that you couldn’t sleep?  Anticipation is defined by Merriam-Webster as a feeling of excitement about something that is going to happen; the act of preparing for something.  Today we are going to focus on the excitement and preparation.

We have learned this week of the importance in raising our expectations when it comes to what God will do in our lives, and that He always reveals his plan to us.  As we move from expectation to anticipation, we will begin to take action in cooperation with the plans God has for our lives.

We should follow the example of Noah.  God asked him to build an ark because he was going to send rain to the earth.  Up until this time, the earth had never seen rain.  It would have been very easy for Noah to disregard God’s request.  It was one hundred years from the time God asked Noah to build the ark until the flood came.  During that time, Noah did not sit idle and wait for the rain.  Instead, he was busy preparing what God had asked.  God provided every detail of the ark Noah was to build.  God told him to bring two of every creature onto the ark.  During that one hundred years, Noah’s anticipation of what God promised was coming led him to take action in accordance with God’s plan.

Has God given you a word for your life?  Are you expecting it to happen, or are you excited with anticipation as you prepare for this great work he has prepared for you?  It is ok if you are a bit overwhelmed, ask God to provide the details of the next step for you.  He will deliver! 

Here’s the plan

Today's blog was contributed by Denise Friedman:

Now that we know indeed God does have a plan for us, what is our next step?  We need to understand that plan and we need to step into what God is calling us to do.

 

“Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing His Plan to His servants the prophets.”

Amos 3:7

The Scripture above states God does nothing without revealing his plan to us.  Isn’t that reassuring?  God will not just drop His plans into our lap and expect it to happen without notice. Once we know the plan, we are responsible for deciding whether or not we want to allow God to use us to carry out that plan.  God is an amazing God who gives us free will.  We can choose to say no, as indicated in Esther 4:14, “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your family will perish.  And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?

Sometimes God’s plan may seem too big for us to accomplish.  But remember, God created these works for you in advance.  Specifically for you.  If you set no limits on your expectation of what God can do, he will do great things in you.  Don’t let the enemies lies win out over God’s plan for you.  God is sovereign.  Don’t allow his plan to arise out of another place because of your fear, instead, let the anticipation grow and become excited about what God WILL use you for!

 

What’s the plan?

Today's blog was contributed by Denise Friedman:

Yesterday we learned that WE can actually limit God because of our expectations.  How do know God wants me to do great things?

God has plans for us which He created for each of us.  “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  Ephesians 2:10.  God cares so much about us (YOU) that he created good works for you to do long before you were born. 

When you stop to think about that, it can become overwhelming.  We don’t plan things in advance which are meaningless.  The birth or adoption of a baby requires a great deal of planning, it isn’t something which is decided today and occurs tomorrow.  We are currently in “graduation season”  - graduation required many years of effort and the celebration of this accomplishment requires a lot of planning as well.  Weddings also require great amounts of planning.  We try to plan many of the details surrounding the important events in our life. 

If God created these works long ago (and he did), these must be important things he wants us to complete.  God assures us in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares The Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”  Reread this scripture and substitute YOUR name everywhere the word “you” appears.  God wants you to know today that he has great plans for YOU! 

Are your expectations high enough?

Today's blog is contributed by Denise Friedman:

This may seem an odd question to ask – so often we become disappointed because we set our expectations too high.  I am referring of course to our expectations of ourselves and those around us.  However, think for a minute about your expectations of God.  How high are your expectations when you consider what God can and will do in your life? Hmmm, if we were to be honest, we don’t set those expectations as high. 

We are not the first to limit God’s ability.  Scripture tells us that even those who lived when Jesus lived set boundaries on what he could do in Mark 1: 1-6:

Jesus left there and when to his hometown,  accompanied by his disciples.  When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.   “Where did this man get these things?” they asked.  “What’s this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles?  Isn’t this the carpenter?  Isn’t this Mary’s son and brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon?  Aren’t his sisters here with us?  And they took offense at him.

Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor.”  He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.  And he was amazed at their lack of faith.

Because they took offense at him, those from his own town limited the miracles Jesus could do.  Starting today, change your mindset and set HIGH expectations for God to allow him to move in your life as He has planned.  You won’t be disappointed . . .

 

 

The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste

Today's blog was contributed by David Trotta:

You’ve probably heard the saying before – “The mind is a terrible thing to waste.”  It was a very effective slogan used over the past few decades to raise awareness and help provide scholarships to young adults who could not afford to go to college.  It is certainly a very true and powerful statement.  Any mind not used to its potential is a tragedy.

Well, that same tragedy is also playing out every day in the body of Christ.  As Christ followers, when we exchanged our old life for our new life in Jesus, we were given a new mind - the mind of Christ!  1 Corinthians 2:16 says “For, Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”  God has empowered us to think differently.

But, tragically, many of us live defeated and unfruitful lives because we don’t choose to think like Jesus, but instead we allow our minds to be conformed to the thought patterns of this world, which are contrary to the will of God and powerless to produce holy living.

When we surrendered our life to Jesus, the power of sin and death was broken (Romans 8:2), but we still have to partner with God by choosing to think like Jesus, and not only on Sunday mornings, but throughout our week.  In order to flow in the mind of Christ, we have to make a conscious effort to consistently substitute our negative, unholy thoughts with positive, Christ-like thoughts from the Word of God.

For example, substitute “I am unlovable” with “God loves me with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3) or “nothing seemed to work out right today” with “God will work all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28) or “Lord, I failed you again today and don’t deserve your forgiveness” with “God has forgiven all my sins in accordance with the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).  You get the idea.

As children of God, we have been given an incredible resource – the mind of Christ!  Let’s determine to fully utilize that which God paid such a high price to provide.  After all, the mind (of Christ) is a terrible thing to waste.

My Minds Made Up

“Test me, Lord, and try me,

    examine my heart and my mind;”

Psalm 26:2

 

 “My minds made up

My heart is fixed

I’m going with Jesus all the way

Well my minds made up and my heart is fixed

And I’m going with Jesus all the way!”

 

So goes a chorus from years ago.

The statement it makes is certainly still relevant today.

So, is your mind made up?

Is your heart fixed?

But wait just a minute…how many times in a week – no let’s make that in an hour – do you change your mind?

Be honest now.

We all make decisions only to change our mind and change our decisions.

So a more apt question might be:

Why do you change your mind?

A few years back there were those plastic bracelets with the abbreviation

WWJD

which stood for “What Would Jesus Do”

I know they became so common as to almost become cliché but wouldn’t it be great if all of our motivations in changing our mind was in response to that question filtering our thoughts?

My mind will dwell on whatever I feed it.

It doesn’t push back if all my thoughts are negative and it doesn’t push back if all my thoughts are positive.

It simply feeds on what I give it.

So how about a filter for my thoughts:

“What would Jesus do?”

Or perhaps more accurately:

What would Jesus think about?”

Think about it!

 

 

Are You Ready for Round 1?

“What I feared has come upon me;

    what I dreaded has happened to me.”

Job 3:25

 

“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

Joshua 1:8

 

 

Picture a boxing ring.

The announcer calls the corners –

“Ladies and Gentlemen – in this corner, the heavyweight champion

of fear and dread – Job 3:25!”

He then goes on to announce the contender -

“And in this corner, the heavyweight champion of meditation on the Word of God - Joshua 1:8!”

Sometimes that is how I picture my thought life.

Like a battle raging between what I should be thinking about in one corner and what I shouldn’t be thinking about in the other corner.

No wonder life seems to deliver so many knock out punches to us.

No wonder we seem to be down on the mat for the ten count.

Our thinking too often focused at the ‘end of the glove’ of fear and dread.

Perhaps without realizing it Job was declaring the law of concentration

which says:

“Whatever you focus on you increase.”

God directs Joshua (and you and me) to the champion in the other corner:

meditation on His Word.

So whose corner do you want to be in today?

For that matter – whose corner do you want to stay in?

If you had to coach one of these champions how would you do it?

May I suggest you coach the one who makes you more Christ like.

May I also suggest your coaching go something like this –

“We’re turning off the TV, we’re shutting down those websites, we are going to eliminate those distractions out of your life and we are going to examine Christ’s life, His response to the enemy, His ‘fight strategy’.

We are making Him our focus above all else.  

His Word will become our 24/7 companion.

We will not entertain fear, worry or dread.”

As we do that, as we make that our practice we will see more and more the opponent on the mat for the ten count while we continue to stand in God’s grace, protection and provision!

Are you ready for Round 1?

Don’t Let The Lipstick Stick!

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart,

be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”

Psalm 19:14

 

 

 

If you are going to think like Jesus Christ then what you need to do is…

Repeatedly eliminate anything unholy from your mindset!

Just curious – in that last statement was there any word that seemed to stand out to you?

Don’t make me repeat it!

I think you get the point.

As we talked about previously – a renewed mind – unlike salvation, is not accomplished in a moment.

It is a process.

And one of the steps in that process is to simply change what you think about.

Change what your mind dwells on.

You sit at your computer and make a decision.

You can read and view those things that edify and build up or you can read and view unholy things. (I’ll leave it at that!)

But don’t be deceived into thinking that the unholy words, images and thoughts will not leave a lasting impression.

I have an older sister who is now the ‘matriarch’ of the family.

The ‘tradition’ of kissing the little ones and leaving the lipstick impression on their cheek has fallen to her.

We can always tell when Amy is around by the ‘impression’ she leaves on the little ones.

So it is with our mind.

It is left with the ‘impressions’ we make by our reading, viewing and thinking habits.

You cannot fill your mind with unholy thoughts and expect holy fruit as a result.

Those thoughts must be eliminated.

Not once, not twice, not a hundred and one times but as often as they are allowed to enter our minds.

Are you starting to understand that this is a process?

Here’s the good news.

You do not need to be alone in this effort.

Earnestly ask the Holy Spirit to point out when the ‘…meditations of your heart’ are not pleasing in His sight.

He is faithful to do that!

When He does – eliminate them.

Don’t give unholy thoughts safe harbor.

Don’t let the lipstick stick!

 

Thinking, For a Change?

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the

renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and

approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Romans 12:2

 

 

“Recidivism”

 Now that’s’ a $10.00 word.

But what does it mean?

The dictionary defines it this way:

“a tendency to relapse into a previous condition or mode of behavior;”

Maybe a word we are more familiar with would help – what if I said “backsliding”?

What causes one who is born again to backslide?

Why do so many Christians seem to struggle with living for God?

What is it that keeps us returning to our old ways and old patterns of living?

Could it be that we are trying to live in a new Kingdom with an old kingdom mindset?

Like the ex-con who returns to the old neighborhood, the same old friends and the behaviors that sent him to prison in the first place we cannot live for God with the devil as our constant meditation.   

It just won’t work!

Jesus astounded His listeners many times by the things He said.

Did He do it just to be controversial?

Was He trying to antagonize them?

No, He just thought differently.

“My thoughts are not your thoughts….”

His thoughts were focused and originated in a different Kingdom than His listeners.

If we don’t want to ‘backslide’ we must change our thinking.

Our minds must be renewed.

Salvation happens in a moment.

Renewing our minds is just a wee bit longer!

Lets’ examine that process – not to swell our brain but to transform our lives!

See you tomorrow…

 

Count it Joy!

Today's blog was contributed by David Trotta:

“Lord, help me to embrace the trials, difficulties, and adversity in my life!”  I know what you might be thinking – “What did he just say?  Shouldn’t we pray to be delivered from adversity?  Has he gone off his rocker?”  Well maybe, but before you pass judgment on me, let me explain.

Listen to what the bible says in James 1:2-4 – “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

The above verse tells us a few things - we will experience difficulties (the verse says “when,” not “if” we encounter various trials), we should receive them with joy, and if we do, they will make us more perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

If you’re like me, difficult times, as painful as they may be, cause me to press harder after God.  When I’m going through a challenging time, I spend more time in His presence, listen more carefully for His voice, and rely more on His provision.

On the contrary, when my life is absent of difficulties, I tend to let up on my pursuit of God.  He fades into the background, only to get my attention on Sunday morning.

I don’t know about you, but when I look back at my life, some of the most challenging times of my life coincide with the seasons of greatest growth and revelation in my relationship with God.

If that is true in your life too, then let me suggest that ease is our enemy, and difficulty and adversity are our friends.

I encourage you to look at the adversities in your life differently.  God might just be using them as an instrument to perfect your faith and cause you to pursue Him with greater intensity.  Instead of allowing them to discourage you, count them as joy!

When you do, you will be in good company with the psalmist who wrote “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes.” (Psalm 119:71)

The Very Best Way to Say Thank You

“Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits”

 

 

Sometimes the very best way to say thank you is just to sing to the Lord in Worship.

Go ahead – sing along.

No one but the Father is watching and He loves your voice…

 

http://youtu.be/DXDGE_lRI0E

 

http://youtu.be/XFRjr_x-yxU

 

http://youtu.be/bLvgqqZvLZk

 

http://youtu.be/9xPzTSpbYmk

 

http://youtu.be/bLvgqqZvLZk

 

Be blessed as you bless His Name!!

Thanksgiving

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition,

with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Philippians 4:6

 

 

 

No, I’m not talking the turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie and football kind of Thanksgiving.

Instead, I mean that thanksgiving that is expressed through a grateful heart.

So how do we do that?

It starts with transforming your thinking.

What are the very first thoughts as you shut off your alarm?

Do you dread the workday; are you overwhelmed by your schedule; will you face something today that you have continually put off because it is not something you look forward to facing?

Why not bring each of those fears to God in prayer?

Why not ask God to show you the blessings each of them carries?

 

“Lord, I know my workday means facing that individual who is disagreeable 50% of the time and grumpy the other 50% but you have shown me before how to extend your grace and for that I am thankful, allow me to minister in that same grace today”

 

“Lord, it seems that I have a hundred hours’ worth of tasks to fit into my 24-hour day. I thank you and am amazed at how you have stretched my time before in order that I may accomplish much. I ask for your favor with my schedule today as well.”

 

“Lord, forgive my procrastination in not confronting the difficult issue that I cannot put off any longer. I am grateful that on the other side of this day I will know your faithfulness in a more intimate way as you walk beside me through this. Thank you Lord!”

Don’t just make every day a day of thanksgiving.

Make every moment a moment of thanksgiving.

Watch how the Holy Spirit uses that to transform your thinking!

Turning the Tables on Our Talk

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing,”

Philippians 2:14

 

 

This week we have had some very hot weather.

We have done what ‘comes natural’ in response.

We have complained.

It is so easy to do sometimes.

Complaining is far more ‘natural’ than expressing gratitude.

But here’s a challenge –

The next time you are tempted to complain about something, instead of acting ‘natural’ try acting supernatural by expressing gratitude out of a heart of thankfulness.

Don’t take what seems like the easy way out.

Begin to look for those opportunities to say “Thank you Lord!”

Let the expressions of gratitude and thanks begin to take hold of your life.

John the Baptist once said, speaking of Jesus:

“He must increase but I must decrease.”

Why not take that approach with your thankfulness (let them increase) and your complaints (let them decrease).

As you do you will notice a shift in your attitude.

You will find it easier to find things to be grateful for and will be less likely to jump at the first opportunity to grouse about something.

But you’ll have to be deliberate about it.

Remember, it’s much easier to complain.  

Oh, and don’t be afraid to ask God to open your eyes to the many blessing you have missed or ignored.

Just stop and think about what blesses you more a whining, complaining child or one who takes the time to say “Thank you!”

Get the picture?