Do not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way He works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how He works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. ~Matthew 6:31-33
Today's reading discusses possessions and where they hold priority in our lives. A lot of times we see things on TV or in magazines of the latest (and "greatest") and feel we must have. We must have the better house, car, clothes, or whatever it may be. I see it happening with my almost 4 yr old too...Whenever she sees a toy commercial it's, "I want that for my birthday." and of course, it's EVERYTHING she sees that she wants. We adults aren't much different. So and so has the latest outfit trend and we feel we need it too...But God wants to be our number one priority! It isn't WRONG to have things, don't get me wrong...but it is wrong when they POSSESS us! When all we can think about is that certain material that we long for, that is a problem. Here are some references to verses in the Bible of what God has to say about possessions:
Psalm 24:1
Matthew 6:19-21
Matthew 6:24
Luke 12:15
Luke 12:21
Monday, March 21, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
...Communal Thinking...
I'm turning you over to God, our marvelous God whose gracious Word can make you into what He wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need in this community of holy friends. ~Acts 20:32, The Message~
Day 21 of my 90 day reading was a quick read, as was yesterday's. She stresses the importance of spending time with fellow believers. When I read this, I immediately thought of something Paul said back when we first started dating. It was part joke, but the reality is, many people do feel this way. "why go to church when you can see it on TV?" We NEED to go to church for the simple fact that we need to spend time with other believers. We need to communicate with them and have others hold us accountable for our actions as Christians. I LOVE going to church so I can communicate with other believers. It isn't something I get a lot of during the day when at work and I "thirst" for it when it comes time to go!
Day 21 of my 90 day reading was a quick read, as was yesterday's. She stresses the importance of spending time with fellow believers. When I read this, I immediately thought of something Paul said back when we first started dating. It was part joke, but the reality is, many people do feel this way. "why go to church when you can see it on TV?" We NEED to go to church for the simple fact that we need to spend time with other believers. We need to communicate with them and have others hold us accountable for our actions as Christians. I LOVE going to church so I can communicate with other believers. It isn't something I get a lot of during the day when at work and I "thirst" for it when it comes time to go!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
...Thinking Like A Child...
Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with Him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of Himself to us. Love like that.
~Ephesians 5:1-2~
This daily reading has a lot of message packed in few words. Rebecca talks about having faith like a child. Children follow their parent's every move and say what their parents say. God wants us to following His every move, to give to others as He gives, love the things He loves and hate the things He hates. Those breacelets, WWJD, aren't just there for you to wear and "fit in", they are there to remind you to ask yourself, "what would Jesus do?" and then do it! Have faith like a child. Let God not only be your Father, but your daddy!
In the Bible, Jesus affirmed the tremendous value of children. Verses such as Matthew 19:13-14 when He says, "Let the little children come to me" and Matthew 18:3-6 "turn from your sins and become like little children..." show us that God wants us to have faith like a child.
Challenge: Take a look at the children around you and learn from them.
~Ephesians 5:1-2~
This daily reading has a lot of message packed in few words. Rebecca talks about having faith like a child. Children follow their parent's every move and say what their parents say. God wants us to following His every move, to give to others as He gives, love the things He loves and hate the things He hates. Those breacelets, WWJD, aren't just there for you to wear and "fit in", they are there to remind you to ask yourself, "what would Jesus do?" and then do it! Have faith like a child. Let God not only be your Father, but your daddy!
In the Bible, Jesus affirmed the tremendous value of children. Verses such as Matthew 19:13-14 when He says, "Let the little children come to me" and Matthew 18:3-6 "turn from your sins and become like little children..." show us that God wants us to have faith like a child.
Challenge: Take a look at the children around you and learn from them.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
...A Different Way of Thinking...
Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.
~1 John 2:15-17
Rebecca starts today's reading off by saying, "It's so easy for us to buy into the current of the day--whatever it is." (Page 52). God wants us to be pure in our thinking. Just because we have to live in this world, does not mean we should let the various strains of impurity affect our hearts and our minds. God wants us to think different from the rest of the world. When other see God's true love, joy, and peace lived out in practical ways, they will want what we have. When we LIVE out our faith is when we speak LOUDEST to non-Christians. They watch how we live and if it's the same as them, why would they want to change?! I find it a daily struggle for myself not to live as the world lives. I mean, it's all around us! It would be so much easier if the world lived the way God intended it to and then I could feel good about going with the flow! But, as Christians, it's a sad reality that the rest of the world seems to have lower standards than God's standards and we must daily ask God to help us walk the talk...don't just be a Sunday Christian, but be a daily one!
Our daily prayer should be: "God, show me how to live a life that's more pleasing to You." (page 53).
Some verses to challenge your thinking: Titus 2:12-14, James 4:4-6, 1 Peter 1:14-15
**Ask God to empower you to walk a "set-apart" life today.**
~1 John 2:15-17
Rebecca starts today's reading off by saying, "It's so easy for us to buy into the current of the day--whatever it is." (Page 52). God wants us to be pure in our thinking. Just because we have to live in this world, does not mean we should let the various strains of impurity affect our hearts and our minds. God wants us to think different from the rest of the world. When other see God's true love, joy, and peace lived out in practical ways, they will want what we have. When we LIVE out our faith is when we speak LOUDEST to non-Christians. They watch how we live and if it's the same as them, why would they want to change?! I find it a daily struggle for myself not to live as the world lives. I mean, it's all around us! It would be so much easier if the world lived the way God intended it to and then I could feel good about going with the flow! But, as Christians, it's a sad reality that the rest of the world seems to have lower standards than God's standards and we must daily ask God to help us walk the talk...don't just be a Sunday Christian, but be a daily one!
Our daily prayer should be: "God, show me how to live a life that's more pleasing to You." (page 53).
Some verses to challenge your thinking: Titus 2:12-14, James 4:4-6, 1 Peter 1:14-15
**Ask God to empower you to walk a "set-apart" life today.**
Monday, March 14, 2011
...Searching for Truth...
This is God's message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as God: "Call to me and I will answer you. I'll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own." ~Jeremiah 33:2-3 (The Message)
In this daily reading, Rebecca talks about growing up going to church and basically believing what her parent's did because that's what she knew. She says that one day she realized she needed to understand and accept the beliefs for herself. She wanted answers to her questions. She decided to learn more about apologetics (the defense of the authenticity of God's truths & the claims of Christ), so she could defend her faith. I recently learned (before reading this book) what apologetics was/is. I had never head the word before, and when I did, it sounded almost like apologizing for following Christ. Why would I want to apologize for something like that?! I was led to a link by a Facebook friend that had A LOT of titles for further reading when it comes to apologetics and I look forward to learning how to defend my faith! I wanted answers to MY questions!
Even in the Bible, Jesus' twelve apostles had questions for Him and about Him. After Jesus rose from the grave, Thomas said, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe it" A week later he saw Jesus and said, " My Lord and my God!" When we come to God with our questions and He proves Himself to us in a myriad of ways, this is the most appropriate response--to follow His leading and lordship in our lives (page 51).
Question: In your search for truth, are there certain things you believe about Christ that you have blindly accepted?(pg 51). I know I have! I have realized recently that I need to dig deeper into God's Word and find the answers myself. I need to learn more about apologetics and do some readings so I can defend my faith to others and help answer their questions about Christ too!
Go to http://www.alwaysbeready.com/ if you are interested in apologetics and defending your faith! Thanks Leah Biek for sharing this site with me!
In this daily reading, Rebecca talks about growing up going to church and basically believing what her parent's did because that's what she knew. She says that one day she realized she needed to understand and accept the beliefs for herself. She wanted answers to her questions. She decided to learn more about apologetics (the defense of the authenticity of God's truths & the claims of Christ), so she could defend her faith. I recently learned (before reading this book) what apologetics was/is. I had never head the word before, and when I did, it sounded almost like apologizing for following Christ. Why would I want to apologize for something like that?! I was led to a link by a Facebook friend that had A LOT of titles for further reading when it comes to apologetics and I look forward to learning how to defend my faith! I wanted answers to MY questions!
Even in the Bible, Jesus' twelve apostles had questions for Him and about Him. After Jesus rose from the grave, Thomas said, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe it" A week later he saw Jesus and said, " My Lord and my God!" When we come to God with our questions and He proves Himself to us in a myriad of ways, this is the most appropriate response--to follow His leading and lordship in our lives (page 51).
Question: In your search for truth, are there certain things you believe about Christ that you have blindly accepted?(pg 51). I know I have! I have realized recently that I need to dig deeper into God's Word and find the answers myself. I need to learn more about apologetics and do some readings so I can defend my faith to others and help answer their questions about Christ too!
Go to http://www.alwaysbeready.com/ if you are interested in apologetics and defending your faith! Thanks Leah Biek for sharing this site with me!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
...Sweet Surrender...
Don't put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. When they breathe their last, they return to earth, and all their plans die with them. But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God. ~Psalm 146:3-5
Well, it's day seventeen of my devotional "Pure" by Rebecca St. James and she makes mention that in "our quest for purity also begins by surrendering our minds and our wills to our heavenly Father...Our bodies cannot be pure if we have not first given our minds over to God." (page 48). We need to be willing to pray a prayer of surrender to God and ask Him to help us put Him as Central focus in our lives. I know personally, that I have a hard time surrendering my will for God's. I tend to forget, or hide somewhere in my mind, the fact God's ways and thoughts are better and higher than my own!
Rebecca also brings up the fact that many times we find it easier to put our hope in things--such as people, relationships, possessions, money than God (page 48). All of these things will just let us down. God calls us to place ALL our hope in Him.
*Psalm 52:9
*Isaiah 33:2-3
"As we surrender more of ourselves to Him, we will recognize more and more of His goodness in our lives." (page 49).
Challenge: Think of the things you put most of your hope. Where does God end up on the list? I know for me, as sad as it is to admit, it isn't always first...I tend to turn to people and relationships that are right in front of me, that I can SEE. I need to constantly ask God to help me and constantly surrender my life to Him!
Well, it's day seventeen of my devotional "Pure" by Rebecca St. James and she makes mention that in "our quest for purity also begins by surrendering our minds and our wills to our heavenly Father...Our bodies cannot be pure if we have not first given our minds over to God." (page 48). We need to be willing to pray a prayer of surrender to God and ask Him to help us put Him as Central focus in our lives. I know personally, that I have a hard time surrendering my will for God's. I tend to forget, or hide somewhere in my mind, the fact God's ways and thoughts are better and higher than my own!
Rebecca also brings up the fact that many times we find it easier to put our hope in things--such as people, relationships, possessions, money than God (page 48). All of these things will just let us down. God calls us to place ALL our hope in Him.
*Psalm 52:9
*Isaiah 33:2-3
"As we surrender more of ourselves to Him, we will recognize more and more of His goodness in our lives." (page 49).
Challenge: Think of the things you put most of your hope. Where does God end up on the list? I know for me, as sad as it is to admit, it isn't always first...I tend to turn to people and relationships that are right in front of me, that I can SEE. I need to constantly ask God to help me and constantly surrender my life to Him!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
...Mind Motivation...
"Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart. For I am always aware of your unfailing love, and I have lived according to your truth." ~Psalm 26:2-3
Day 16 of my 90 day devotional (Pure by Rebecca St. James) gets to the bottom of what motivates us when it comes to serving God.
Have you been living with the right motivation? Sometimes thinking thoughts like this: Well, if I do this for God, if I go to church and serve Him and do the right things to live a holy life, then God will bless me! (page 45). We become motivated by the desire to be blessed with happiness, peace, and joy--living a life in which everything goes just right. I have found this to be true in my own life more than once over the years. Sometimes I feel like if I go to church every week, God should bless me, as if He OWES it to me! How selfish of a motivation is that?! Rather than having blessings from God be my ultimate goal, GOD should be my ultimate goal! HE is the reason we exist. When God is our mind of motivation, everything else falls into place (page 45).
Some verses to read to keep our minds focused on the right motivation (from Psalm 119):
* verses 15, 20, 27, 59, 97, 131
Question: How does your thinking motivate you?
Day 16 of my 90 day devotional (Pure by Rebecca St. James) gets to the bottom of what motivates us when it comes to serving God.
Have you been living with the right motivation? Sometimes thinking thoughts like this: Well, if I do this for God, if I go to church and serve Him and do the right things to live a holy life, then God will bless me! (page 45). We become motivated by the desire to be blessed with happiness, peace, and joy--living a life in which everything goes just right. I have found this to be true in my own life more than once over the years. Sometimes I feel like if I go to church every week, God should bless me, as if He OWES it to me! How selfish of a motivation is that?! Rather than having blessings from God be my ultimate goal, GOD should be my ultimate goal! HE is the reason we exist. When God is our mind of motivation, everything else falls into place (page 45).
Some verses to read to keep our minds focused on the right motivation (from Psalm 119):
* verses 15, 20, 27, 59, 97, 131
Question: How does your thinking motivate you?
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