We humans seem to always look to the past or the future for happiness. Some think the past was the best time of our lives. Hopefully we all have had wonderful experiences from the past. I have wonderful memories with friends and family that I wouldn't change for anything. But some glorify the past. I agree with Billy Joel in his song Keeping The Faith when he said," The good old days weren't always good, and tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems."
Some glorify the future. They are always thinking that somewhere in the future is when they are finally going to be happy. We all need to set goals for our futures. We all need to keep living for the future. But we can't glorify it.
The time we forget about most often is the present. We often forget to be happy for today. The Bible says," This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24).
If we would think about it, we all have countless reasons to rejoice for this day. This day is a day we have never experienced before. Who knows what good can come our way today.Yes there are days when the demands of life threaten to overwhelm us. When those times come we may not feel like rejoicing. Instead of rejoicing, we may feel frustrated by the demands of the day and worried about the uncertainties of tomorrow. When we experience days like that it is time to count our blessings. No, it isn't always easy. I confess I often forget to count my blessings when I am in that kind of mood. But, it is the right thing to do.
This is the day that the Lord has made so let's begin it and end it partnering with God throughout. Let's cherish the past, look foward to the future, but let's learn how to enjoy this day.
Troy
Friday, July 16, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Encouragement From The Psalms
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 1:1-2 NASB
I believe that deep down all of us want a blessed life. Nobody desires a life that falls apart. As author James Bryan Smith states," I have never met a person whose goal was to ruin his or her life." Yet, we have all had times in our lives where we have made choices where life began to fall apart from that choice or choices. Hopefully we learn from our mistakes. Hopefully instead of experiencing a life as a result of wrong choices we can experience a blessed life.
The word blessed means more than just being happy. Happiness so often has to do with our circumstances. If our circumstances are favorable we are happy. When they are not, we aren't happy. The word blessed can sound very religious,or even pious. Some translations may even say happy. But as I stated earlier happy refers to a temporary condition based on external conditions. I like the phrase "well off."Bryan James Smith uses this phrase when talking about the beatitudes. So Psalm 1 could start off, "How well off is the man..."
I like the phrase "well off" because it doesn't imply a life of no troubles. Some people think that if you follow Jesus with your life you won't have any problems. No, you still have problems even when you are obeying Jesus. There is no such life as a life with no problems. But while you are obeying Jesus with your life you are still "blessed" or "well off" even in the midst of troubles.
The Psalms have many references to someone being blessed, or how to be blessed, or living blessed. The first verse of the Book of Psalms starts off in the negative by telling us what not to do so that we can experience a blessed life.
1. Does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
2. Nor stand in the path of sinners
3. Nor sit in the seat of scoffers
The first directive seems simple enough. The ways of the world often stand in contrast to the "kingdom". It hard enough at times to follow the kingdom ways when you are a follower of Jesus, but downright impossible when you are not. So the writer of this Psalm is telling us not to get counsel from anyone who is not following Jesus. Now obviously this does not mean in every area of life. There are wise doctors, lawyers and other people who do not follow Jesus with their lives but they still can advise well in their areas of expertise. But when it comes to making "kingdom " decisions you will need the counsel of others who are in the kingdom. One example would be that if someone does you wrong, someone may tell you to retaliate back. But this does not follow kingdom principles. So listening to that advice will hurt you in the long run. So be careful who you get your advice from when it comes to living for God.
The other two directives have more to do with who it is you are hanging out with. Now, we don't stop hanging out with people just because they don't follow Jesus. But the advice the writer is giving has more to do with the fact that we begin to act like the people we hang out with all the time. If we aren't careful their action will begin to rub off on us. If we hang out with people who mock others all the time, we will probably begin to mock others all the time.
So the writer of this Psalm is telling us that if we hang out with the right people we are blessed. If we don't follow the counsel of those who tell us not to follow God's ways, we are blessed.
Now this Psalm tells us that what we are to do, is to delight in God's Word. We are also to meditate on it. This does not mean that we do like the eastern religions when it comes to meditating. It means we dwell on what we have read, we think about it throughout the day. You can write a verse down on a notecard and keep it with you and look at it at different times in the day when you have a chance. You can store it in your phone. There are many ways you can dwell on God's word throughout the day.
As we read the Bible and then dwell on it we will begin to live it out when the right situation comes along. That is what the Psalmist is telling us. That is why it is so important to read, and then dwell on God's word. Because it will lead into action. As we begin to do what God says we will begin to experience a blessed life.
Troy
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 1:1-2 NASB
I believe that deep down all of us want a blessed life. Nobody desires a life that falls apart. As author James Bryan Smith states," I have never met a person whose goal was to ruin his or her life." Yet, we have all had times in our lives where we have made choices where life began to fall apart from that choice or choices. Hopefully we learn from our mistakes. Hopefully instead of experiencing a life as a result of wrong choices we can experience a blessed life.
The word blessed means more than just being happy. Happiness so often has to do with our circumstances. If our circumstances are favorable we are happy. When they are not, we aren't happy. The word blessed can sound very religious,or even pious. Some translations may even say happy. But as I stated earlier happy refers to a temporary condition based on external conditions. I like the phrase "well off."Bryan James Smith uses this phrase when talking about the beatitudes. So Psalm 1 could start off, "How well off is the man..."
I like the phrase "well off" because it doesn't imply a life of no troubles. Some people think that if you follow Jesus with your life you won't have any problems. No, you still have problems even when you are obeying Jesus. There is no such life as a life with no problems. But while you are obeying Jesus with your life you are still "blessed" or "well off" even in the midst of troubles.
The Psalms have many references to someone being blessed, or how to be blessed, or living blessed. The first verse of the Book of Psalms starts off in the negative by telling us what not to do so that we can experience a blessed life.
1. Does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
2. Nor stand in the path of sinners
3. Nor sit in the seat of scoffers
The first directive seems simple enough. The ways of the world often stand in contrast to the "kingdom". It hard enough at times to follow the kingdom ways when you are a follower of Jesus, but downright impossible when you are not. So the writer of this Psalm is telling us not to get counsel from anyone who is not following Jesus. Now obviously this does not mean in every area of life. There are wise doctors, lawyers and other people who do not follow Jesus with their lives but they still can advise well in their areas of expertise. But when it comes to making "kingdom " decisions you will need the counsel of others who are in the kingdom. One example would be that if someone does you wrong, someone may tell you to retaliate back. But this does not follow kingdom principles. So listening to that advice will hurt you in the long run. So be careful who you get your advice from when it comes to living for God.
The other two directives have more to do with who it is you are hanging out with. Now, we don't stop hanging out with people just because they don't follow Jesus. But the advice the writer is giving has more to do with the fact that we begin to act like the people we hang out with all the time. If we aren't careful their action will begin to rub off on us. If we hang out with people who mock others all the time, we will probably begin to mock others all the time.
So the writer of this Psalm is telling us that if we hang out with the right people we are blessed. If we don't follow the counsel of those who tell us not to follow God's ways, we are blessed.
Now this Psalm tells us that what we are to do, is to delight in God's Word. We are also to meditate on it. This does not mean that we do like the eastern religions when it comes to meditating. It means we dwell on what we have read, we think about it throughout the day. You can write a verse down on a notecard and keep it with you and look at it at different times in the day when you have a chance. You can store it in your phone. There are many ways you can dwell on God's word throughout the day.
As we read the Bible and then dwell on it we will begin to live it out when the right situation comes along. That is what the Psalmist is telling us. That is why it is so important to read, and then dwell on God's word. Because it will lead into action. As we begin to do what God says we will begin to experience a blessed life.
Troy
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Listen To Your Conscience
One of the keys to enjoying life is listening to your conscience. God gave us a conscience for a very good reason: to use it. When we are not sure of a certain action our conscience will let us know if we are on the right path. If we believe one thing but do something else, our conscience will not allow us to have peace and contentment.
We need to respond to our conscience while it is still tender and not hardened. You see, over time if you and I don't listen to our conscience it will get harder to respond to it because we are so used to just doing what we want and not listening to our conscience. Can you remember a time in your life when you did something that you knew you shouldn't? How did you feel? You probably didn't have much peace or contentment. But as you kept on doing the action did you notice that you didn't feel bad anymore? The action became easier to do because your conscience became hardened probably to the point of justifying the action. An old illustration talks about how a horse will go wild when it hears a gun shot. But if it is continually around gun shots it doesn't respond as wild anymore. That is a great illustration of how God will try to get our attention through our conscience, and we feel bad, but if we keep on doing the wrong action we don't even notice our conscience trying to tell us the action is wrong.
Billy Graham says, "Most of us follow our conscience as we follow a wheelbarrow. We push it in front of us in the direction we want to go." This is a big mistake. Yet all of us, on occasion, have failed to listen to the voice that God has planted in our hearts. What happened when we did this? We had to suffer the consequences. As I think back over my life I wish I had listened to my conscience more than I did. Oh the trouble I could have spared myself and others. Maybe you can relate. I thank God that even though there were times I had to suffer the consequences for not listening to my conscience, He still has been full of grace and mercy.
Even though there are still times that I don't listen, and mess up and do what I want to do. I would rather go through life listening to God and doing what He wants me to. When I realize I have messed up, I confess to Him and ask His forgiveness and try to respond in obedience. Because I want to have a tender conscience.
So today let's make certain that our actions are guided by God's Word and by the conscience that He has placed in our heart. Josh Billings says," Reason often makes mistakes, but conscience never does." Another thing for us to remember is to not treat our faith as if it were separate from everyday life. God doesn't just speak or guide us at church. He is constantly trying to help us into the right decisions. Let us respond to God's voice. Charles Stanley says, "Your conscience is your alarm system. It's your protection."
Blessed are those who have a tender conscience, but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble.
Proverbs 28:14 NLT
Troy
We need to respond to our conscience while it is still tender and not hardened. You see, over time if you and I don't listen to our conscience it will get harder to respond to it because we are so used to just doing what we want and not listening to our conscience. Can you remember a time in your life when you did something that you knew you shouldn't? How did you feel? You probably didn't have much peace or contentment. But as you kept on doing the action did you notice that you didn't feel bad anymore? The action became easier to do because your conscience became hardened probably to the point of justifying the action. An old illustration talks about how a horse will go wild when it hears a gun shot. But if it is continually around gun shots it doesn't respond as wild anymore. That is a great illustration of how God will try to get our attention through our conscience, and we feel bad, but if we keep on doing the wrong action we don't even notice our conscience trying to tell us the action is wrong.
Billy Graham says, "Most of us follow our conscience as we follow a wheelbarrow. We push it in front of us in the direction we want to go." This is a big mistake. Yet all of us, on occasion, have failed to listen to the voice that God has planted in our hearts. What happened when we did this? We had to suffer the consequences. As I think back over my life I wish I had listened to my conscience more than I did. Oh the trouble I could have spared myself and others. Maybe you can relate. I thank God that even though there were times I had to suffer the consequences for not listening to my conscience, He still has been full of grace and mercy.
Even though there are still times that I don't listen, and mess up and do what I want to do. I would rather go through life listening to God and doing what He wants me to. When I realize I have messed up, I confess to Him and ask His forgiveness and try to respond in obedience. Because I want to have a tender conscience.
So today let's make certain that our actions are guided by God's Word and by the conscience that He has placed in our heart. Josh Billings says," Reason often makes mistakes, but conscience never does." Another thing for us to remember is to not treat our faith as if it were separate from everyday life. God doesn't just speak or guide us at church. He is constantly trying to help us into the right decisions. Let us respond to God's voice. Charles Stanley says, "Your conscience is your alarm system. It's your protection."
Blessed are those who have a tender conscience, but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble.
Proverbs 28:14 NLT
Troy
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
OPINIONS
There are many opinions being expressed today. All you have to do is watch a news channel such as CNN or Fox News to hear people giving their opinions.
Well, there are also opinions about us out there. Some are our opinions of ourselves, and some are opinions that others have of us. One of the keys of life is to decide whose opinion are we going to listen to about ourselves. Sometimes we can be too critical or too lenient in our opinion of ourselves. The same can be true of others opinions about us. So where do we go to get the correct opinion? I have found the Bible to be the truth of life.
We all need to learn to see ourselves from God's point of view. People will always have opinions. That is just how we are. But A. R. Bernard says that the most important thing for us in the context of opinions, is God's opinion of us.
God's love for us is more than we can imagine. In fact, it is too big to comprehend. We do know however that He loves us so much that He was willing to die for us. We also know that when we accept Jesus into our hearts, that He comes and lives inside of us. We also know that He loves us so much that He offers us eternal life with Him.
Even in our challenging times, even though it can be hard to see, God is working in our lives.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28 KJV
God also sees the potential that is inside of us. He sees what we can become because He is the One who created us. Since He sees our potential He never gives up on us. Even when others or maybe even we ourselves have given up on us, He hasn't.
There is a time in the Bible when the nation of Israel, God's chosen people had disobeyed Him and were suffering the consequences of their sin when God spoke these words to them," I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness." (Jeremiah 31:3)
I am pretty sure at that time that Israel was probably thinking that God did not love them. That He had a bad opinion of them. In fact, isn't that how we feel at times when we have blown it with God? We think that He has probably stopped loving us, or has given up on us. But He hadn't stopped loving them, nor has He stopped loving us in those times. Yes, Israel had to live with the consequences of their actions, just as we do. But God had not stopped loving them.
That story from the Bible is an example of why it is so important to read our Bibles. If we don't read the Bible, all we will receive is the world's point of view about us. Nearly everything that is going on around us is telling us that we don't measure up, that were not good enough or that we can't be happy without a certain product. This is why we need to continue to read the Bible and get God's opinion of us.
Now, since God has loved us with an everlasting love, what will we do in response to that love? Will we ignore it or embrace it? The decision, is ours and ours alone to make.
When we embrace God's love, we are forever changed. We begin to feel differently about others and ourselves. When we embrace His love we begin to sense His love for us. Then, when those difficult times come we can hopefully remember to think of God's opinion of us and not others or even our own negative opinions of ourselves.
Troy
Well, there are also opinions about us out there. Some are our opinions of ourselves, and some are opinions that others have of us. One of the keys of life is to decide whose opinion are we going to listen to about ourselves. Sometimes we can be too critical or too lenient in our opinion of ourselves. The same can be true of others opinions about us. So where do we go to get the correct opinion? I have found the Bible to be the truth of life.
We all need to learn to see ourselves from God's point of view. People will always have opinions. That is just how we are. But A. R. Bernard says that the most important thing for us in the context of opinions, is God's opinion of us.
God's love for us is more than we can imagine. In fact, it is too big to comprehend. We do know however that He loves us so much that He was willing to die for us. We also know that when we accept Jesus into our hearts, that He comes and lives inside of us. We also know that He loves us so much that He offers us eternal life with Him.
Even in our challenging times, even though it can be hard to see, God is working in our lives.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28 KJV
God also sees the potential that is inside of us. He sees what we can become because He is the One who created us. Since He sees our potential He never gives up on us. Even when others or maybe even we ourselves have given up on us, He hasn't.
There is a time in the Bible when the nation of Israel, God's chosen people had disobeyed Him and were suffering the consequences of their sin when God spoke these words to them," I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness." (Jeremiah 31:3)
I am pretty sure at that time that Israel was probably thinking that God did not love them. That He had a bad opinion of them. In fact, isn't that how we feel at times when we have blown it with God? We think that He has probably stopped loving us, or has given up on us. But He hadn't stopped loving them, nor has He stopped loving us in those times. Yes, Israel had to live with the consequences of their actions, just as we do. But God had not stopped loving them.
That story from the Bible is an example of why it is so important to read our Bibles. If we don't read the Bible, all we will receive is the world's point of view about us. Nearly everything that is going on around us is telling us that we don't measure up, that were not good enough or that we can't be happy without a certain product. This is why we need to continue to read the Bible and get God's opinion of us.
Now, since God has loved us with an everlasting love, what will we do in response to that love? Will we ignore it or embrace it? The decision, is ours and ours alone to make.
When we embrace God's love, we are forever changed. We begin to feel differently about others and ourselves. When we embrace His love we begin to sense His love for us. Then, when those difficult times come we can hopefully remember to think of God's opinion of us and not others or even our own negative opinions of ourselves.
Troy
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
The True and False Beliefs of "Evil Ways" by Santana
You've got to change you evil ways...
baby
Before I stop lovin you.
You've got to change...
baby
And every word that I say is true.
You got me runnin
And hidin
All over town
You've got me sneakin
And a peepin
And runnin around
This can't go on
Lord knows you got to change
I was driving in the car one day and I heard those lyrics as I was thumbing through different radio stations. Those lyrics are from a song called "Evil Ways" made popular by the band Santana. The basic premise of this song is as follows....relationship, someone in the relationship is not treating the other person right. If the person doing the wrong doing does not change, the other person is going to stop loving them.
I like to try to figure out what the songwriters are saying. What is their view on different topics. What I found interesting about this song is how there are some biblical views in the song. I am also pretty sure the songwriter was not thinking of those views when he wrote the song.
1. There is right and wrong.
The songwriter speaks of "evil ways". So the songwriter believes that there are good and evil ways. What I find interesting about right and wrong or good and bad actions, is that most of the time we know when we are doing wrong or bad actions but we don't always like to admit it.Another thing is, we may not always agree on what is good or bad, but we do know when we have been treated wrongly. Isn't it funny, that those who believe that God shouldn't be a God of judgment want some type of judgment done against the person who has wronged them or someone they are close to.
We also know when someone has been good to us. We may not see it all the time but we do know when someone has been good to us, or to someone else.
The Bible speaks of there being good and evil, and all of our actions being judged:
For God will bring every act to judgment,
everything which is hidden, whether it is
good or evil.
Ecclesiastes 12:14(NASB)
2. The person in the song wants the person to change their actions, and believes they can change.
When we change from bad actions to good actions this is called repentance. The only way we are able to repent of our actions is through the power of God. How many of us have known that we need to stop an action in our life but have not been able to. Many times the reason for that is because we are using our own strength to try and quit instead of relying on God's strength to help us.
Repentance is not just feeling bad for our actions, but it is changing our actions. Many times our actions can bring sorrow upon us, as we regret what we have done, but it doesn't lead to change. God desires to bring us to that point where we go further than just feeling bad, but come to that point where we begin to change.
The Apostle Paul describes a situation like that to some people he wrote to who were involved in some actions that they should not have been:
I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.
For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but sorrow of the world produces death.
2 Corinthians 7:9-10 (NASB)
3. God doesn't stop loving us.
In this song the person doing the wrong needs to change or else the other person is going to stop loving them. This is a natural human reaction, but I am so thankful that God's love isn't limited like us humans. God has always and always will love us. That doesn't mean that we are always in a right relationship with Him, but He doesn't stop loving us. The lie that many of us believe though, is that because we have done wrong, God has stopped loving us. When we have been disobedient to Him, we need to get back into a right relationship with Him by confessing, and asking His forgiveness, and hopefully turning away from the wrong action. Just as our human relationships can be strained when we treat the other person wrong, so it is in our relationship with God. The big difference though, is that sometimes in our human relationships the other person may stop loving us, but God doesn't. In fact, even when someone has to go to hell for eternity God hasn't stopped loving them, He has simply given them what they wanted, which was an eternity away from God. They have shown by constantly rejecting God in this life, that they wouldn't want to be with God for eternity.
For those of us who want to obey God, but struggle to do the right thing all the time, let us be encouraged that God has not stopped loving us.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39 (NASB)
So the next time "Evil Ways" comes on the radio or on your cd player, remember the truths that are mentioned in the song.
Troy
baby
Before I stop lovin you.
You've got to change...
baby
And every word that I say is true.
You got me runnin
And hidin
All over town
You've got me sneakin
And a peepin
And runnin around
This can't go on
Lord knows you got to change
I was driving in the car one day and I heard those lyrics as I was thumbing through different radio stations. Those lyrics are from a song called "Evil Ways" made popular by the band Santana. The basic premise of this song is as follows....relationship, someone in the relationship is not treating the other person right. If the person doing the wrong doing does not change, the other person is going to stop loving them.
I like to try to figure out what the songwriters are saying. What is their view on different topics. What I found interesting about this song is how there are some biblical views in the song. I am also pretty sure the songwriter was not thinking of those views when he wrote the song.
1. There is right and wrong.
The songwriter speaks of "evil ways". So the songwriter believes that there are good and evil ways. What I find interesting about right and wrong or good and bad actions, is that most of the time we know when we are doing wrong or bad actions but we don't always like to admit it.Another thing is, we may not always agree on what is good or bad, but we do know when we have been treated wrongly. Isn't it funny, that those who believe that God shouldn't be a God of judgment want some type of judgment done against the person who has wronged them or someone they are close to.
We also know when someone has been good to us. We may not see it all the time but we do know when someone has been good to us, or to someone else.
The Bible speaks of there being good and evil, and all of our actions being judged:
For God will bring every act to judgment,
everything which is hidden, whether it is
good or evil.
Ecclesiastes 12:14(NASB)
2. The person in the song wants the person to change their actions, and believes they can change.
When we change from bad actions to good actions this is called repentance. The only way we are able to repent of our actions is through the power of God. How many of us have known that we need to stop an action in our life but have not been able to. Many times the reason for that is because we are using our own strength to try and quit instead of relying on God's strength to help us.
Repentance is not just feeling bad for our actions, but it is changing our actions. Many times our actions can bring sorrow upon us, as we regret what we have done, but it doesn't lead to change. God desires to bring us to that point where we go further than just feeling bad, but come to that point where we begin to change.
The Apostle Paul describes a situation like that to some people he wrote to who were involved in some actions that they should not have been:
I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.
For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but sorrow of the world produces death.
2 Corinthians 7:9-10 (NASB)
3. God doesn't stop loving us.
In this song the person doing the wrong needs to change or else the other person is going to stop loving them. This is a natural human reaction, but I am so thankful that God's love isn't limited like us humans. God has always and always will love us. That doesn't mean that we are always in a right relationship with Him, but He doesn't stop loving us. The lie that many of us believe though, is that because we have done wrong, God has stopped loving us. When we have been disobedient to Him, we need to get back into a right relationship with Him by confessing, and asking His forgiveness, and hopefully turning away from the wrong action. Just as our human relationships can be strained when we treat the other person wrong, so it is in our relationship with God. The big difference though, is that sometimes in our human relationships the other person may stop loving us, but God doesn't. In fact, even when someone has to go to hell for eternity God hasn't stopped loving them, He has simply given them what they wanted, which was an eternity away from God. They have shown by constantly rejecting God in this life, that they wouldn't want to be with God for eternity.
For those of us who want to obey God, but struggle to do the right thing all the time, let us be encouraged that God has not stopped loving us.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39 (NASB)
So the next time "Evil Ways" comes on the radio or on your cd player, remember the truths that are mentioned in the song.
Troy
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
CH- CH- CH- CHANGES
One of the challenges of life is learning how to deal with change. Most of us don't like change. We like to stay in our comfort zones. But our world is in a constant state of change. Think back over your own life at how much has changed in the world since you've been alive. Think of how many things have changed in your own personal life since ten years ago. Well, even though life and the world and we are in a constant state of change, God isn't. The Bible says, "I am the Lord, I do not change" (Malachi 3:6 NKJV).
When we are facing change, we need to remember that God is far bigger than any difficult change we may be facing. So in those times we need to put our faith in the One who does not change.
We can not stop the changes that come our way. We may try to avert some, but change is always happening around us. Eric Hoffer said,"In a time of drastic change, it is the learners who inherit the future".
Even though change can be scary at times we have to remember that God will allow times of change in our lives so that our trust and faith will be in Him and not in ourselves. Change also helps us to grow as human beings as well as in our relationship with God.
When change comes into our lives let's remember that the Bible says,"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV). Let's also find comfort in the truth that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8 NKJV).
Troy
When we are facing change, we need to remember that God is far bigger than any difficult change we may be facing. So in those times we need to put our faith in the One who does not change.
We can not stop the changes that come our way. We may try to avert some, but change is always happening around us. Eric Hoffer said,"In a time of drastic change, it is the learners who inherit the future".
Even though change can be scary at times we have to remember that God will allow times of change in our lives so that our trust and faith will be in Him and not in ourselves. Change also helps us to grow as human beings as well as in our relationship with God.
When change comes into our lives let's remember that the Bible says,"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV). Let's also find comfort in the truth that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8 NKJV).
Troy
Monday, April 5, 2010
Forgiving Others
One of the challenges of life is forgiving others. Since we are not perfect, most of us are quick to anger, quick to blame, slow to forgive, and even slower to forget. Yet as Christians, we are commanded to forgive others, just as we,too, have been forgiven.
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:31,32 NASB
No, it is not always easy to forgive. Sometimes people do some really hurtful actions against us. But still, we are commanded to forgive. Forgiveness is not easy, if it were, everybody would be doing it.
One reason we need to learn to forgive is because unforgiveness keeps us tied to that offense all of our lives. The other person who wronged you may have moved on with life, but you and I can keep hanging on to that moment as long as we have unforgiveness.
Another reason we need to learn to forgive is because God commands it. Remember, God doesn't gives us commands just because He feels like it. He gives us commands because He knows that they are what are best for us. Since He has given us a command to forgive, He must know the bad results that can come into our lives by having unforgiveness.
Finally, we need to forgive because Jesus forgave us of the wrongs we did to Him. When we look at the issue without using emotion, we see that forgiveness is always the answer. If Christ can forgive all of the horrible things we have done to Him, how can we hold on to unforgiveness against someone else?
If you are having trouble forgiving someone, pray about it... and keep praying about it... until God helps you do the right action. Corrie Ten Boom, who was a survivor of the holocaust said, " Forgiveness is not an emotion. Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart."
Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
Colossians 3:13,14 MSG
Troy
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:31,32 NASB
No, it is not always easy to forgive. Sometimes people do some really hurtful actions against us. But still, we are commanded to forgive. Forgiveness is not easy, if it were, everybody would be doing it.
One reason we need to learn to forgive is because unforgiveness keeps us tied to that offense all of our lives. The other person who wronged you may have moved on with life, but you and I can keep hanging on to that moment as long as we have unforgiveness.
Another reason we need to learn to forgive is because God commands it. Remember, God doesn't gives us commands just because He feels like it. He gives us commands because He knows that they are what are best for us. Since He has given us a command to forgive, He must know the bad results that can come into our lives by having unforgiveness.
Finally, we need to forgive because Jesus forgave us of the wrongs we did to Him. When we look at the issue without using emotion, we see that forgiveness is always the answer. If Christ can forgive all of the horrible things we have done to Him, how can we hold on to unforgiveness against someone else?
If you are having trouble forgiving someone, pray about it... and keep praying about it... until God helps you do the right action. Corrie Ten Boom, who was a survivor of the holocaust said, " Forgiveness is not an emotion. Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart."
Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
Colossians 3:13,14 MSG
Troy
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