Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Fruits of The Spirit:

Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and self-control.


These are all the things that set Jesus far above us. He had all these characteristics.

Think of them as a guide when you deal with people everyday, even when people are difficult and mean to you.


Jesus is our example and we need to try to be like Him in everything we do. Even though we can't be perfect like He was, we must strive to follow His example!


Monday, February 23, 2009

Bless Them Who Curse You

As hard as this may sound, be nice to those who hurt you, even if they have it out for you. You can be confident that God will deal with them. I do believe God puts us with certain people for a reason and nothing can get in the way of that reason (not even us!)

People who treat you wrong are accountable for their own actions. There's nothing you can do to change them. Ask God to help you not dwell on it too much, and ask Him to help you to think good thoughts, even about the ones who have hurt you. Your job is to keep yourself right with the Lord no matter what is going on around you, and you can only do that by keeping your thoughts on Him.

I remember one time in particular when someone I knew did something pretty mean to me. It upset me and hurt me so much it tormented me for weeks, and almost had me in a state of depression. Eventually, God showed me that if I had only kept my eyes on Him instead of on this person who had hurt me, I could have saved myself a lot of grief.

God is the one who deals with people who are mean and do bad things, and He dealt with this person who hurt me. All things actually ended up turning out for good. Now whenever I start to feel upset about someone, I pray harder, read my Bible longer, and try to fill my head with good thoughts. I have learned it's hard to be fearful or discouraged when you're in God's presence!

Matthew 5:44
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.


Thursday, February 19, 2009

A Heavenly Affirmation

A Heavenly Affirmation

by Max Lucado

Each of us has a fantasy that our family will be like the Waltons, an expectation that our dearest friends will be our next of kin. Jesus didn't have that expectation. Look how He defined His family: "My true brother and sister and mother are those who do what God wants." (Mark 3:35)

When Jesus’ brothers didn’t share His convictions, He didn’t try to force them. He recognized that His spiritual family could provide what His physical family didn’t. If Jesus Himself couldn’t force His family to share His convictions, what makes you think you can force yours?

We can’t control the way our family responds to us. When it comes to the behavior of others toward us, our hands are tied. We have to move beyond the naive expectation that if we do good, people will treat us right. The fact is they may and they may not—we cannot control how people respond to us.

I can’t assure you that your family will ever give you the blessing you seek, but I know God will. Let God give you what your family doesn’t. If your earthly father doesn’t affirm you, then let your heavenly Father take his place.

God has proven Himself as a faithful father. Now it falls to us to be trusting children. Let God give you what your family doesn’t. Let Him fill the void others have left. Rely upon Him for your affirmation and encouragement. Look at Paul’s words: “You are God’s child, and God will give you the blessing He promised, because you are His child” (Gal. 4:7, emphasis added).

[And] don’t lose heart. God still changes families.


OUR FATHER

(by me)

Not everyone has had the privilage of having a good dad in their lives. I didn't. My kids didn't. But, whether you have a good dad or not, God understands everyone's need for a good father. He can fill that need if you follow Him. Open your heart to your Father in heaven. Allow Him to be your Father!

God is your Father.
He is your refuge.

..."a father of the fatherless...is God in His holy habitation.
God makes a home for the lonely."
Psalm 28:4-6


Tuesday, February 17, 2009

God Is In Control

Sometimes we feel anger at the world. There is so much evil and sometimes people are so smug and brazen about their sin. It's hard to pity people who flaunt evil in our faces! Sometimes there are people in our own families like this and we are subjected to it on a daily basis. I guess the best way to deal with this, is to remember that they really can't help being the way they are when they don't have God in their lives. People without God are surrounded by the misery they've created themselves. They cannot see any further than the small world they live in. We need to try to remember that God is in control. The very fact that evil may seem to be escalating in the world (or in our own families) means that God is at work. He's changing things and causing things to happen.

We need to keep our eyes focused on God and pray for Him to guide our actions as we deal with all these things. We need to trust in Him more. Things are not as chaotic as they may seem when we remember He is in control.

I love this prayer:
God grant me the Serenity
To accept the things I cannot change,
The Courage
To change the things I can,
And the Wisdom
To know the difference.

This is what God can give to us when we trust Him. Serenity, courage and wisdom to act as He would have us act when we go through all these things.

Jesus loves you and He cares about your feelings. Don't ever forget that.

Monday, February 16, 2009

The Quiet Room


In my life I have learned that when things keep going from bad to worse and piling up on us, it's because Satan is trying to pull us away from God. Satan knows just how strong our faith is, and knows he cannot always get to us by ordinary means. So sometimes he attacks us where it hurts the most...within our families; with our loved ones. In a lot of cases, our troubles are so "close to home" there seems to be no escape.

There is an escape. You can go into a quiet room with your Bible and you can meditate on God's Word and pray. When trials become overwhelming that's when you definitely need quiet time alone with God. Try to banish all other thoughts from your mind and think only on what is honest, just, pure, and lovely and only on things of good report. Think of things which have virtue and are worthy of praise! (Try not to think about your problems or on what is going on around you.) Try to do this as often as you can, and the God of peace shall be with you. He gives us this promise in His Word and I believe it with all my heart. (Philippians 4: 8)

Sometimes when you wrestle so hard with your problems and try so hard to fix things yourself, you finally begin to realize you're not getting anywhere; it's beyond your human strength. This is what God is talking about when He says "we wrestle not against the flesh, but against spirits and principalities." There definitely is an evil here which is beyond our human strength and we are helpless without God. Satan will work on you and try to wear you down, but he cannot go into that "room" where you are alone with God. He cannot enter your thoughts when they are fixed on God; he cannot touch you there.

When things get too much to bear, go to that quiet place...go to Father and shut everything else out. You will find that as you do this more and more, things will begin to calm down; they will seem to be straightening out all on their own. You will find you didn't have to try so hard to fix everything yourself after all. Everything, including your problems are in God’s control and He will ultimately work things out (no matter what you try to do). Whatever the outcome, it will be His will and it will be for the good of all involved.

Rest in that assurance. Rest in Him.

Always remember, God is stronger in our weakness. He loves you and is there for you if you need to talk. You are not alone!