Sunday, September 18, 2011
Luke 17:10
This morning I got a little bit earlier to pray and read my Bible. As I went for the walk, I am not kidding, I had a little bit of a mind set of "I am sacrificing sleep to be here God has to show up." Matthew 23:37 "And he said to them you love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your strength." Lord fix my heart and as I wake up tomorrow to go for a walk remind me that I am doing it to search after you and that I am an unworthy servant.
Luke 17:9
Luke 17:9
does he thank the servant because he did what he was commanded?
"I am sorry" and "thank you" are two words that mean a lot to me. I am not sure why but it seems that it is important to be noticed especially when you are doing something nice or good. However does a master thank his servant for the things that he is supposed to do? The answer is obviously no. So what will Christ, my master, say to me when I die? Hopefully He will say well done good and faithful servant. So how does this apply to today? Well if Jesus can look at me and acknowledge my life by saying good job then I can say thank you when people serve me, because I all to often just think of it as something that should be done.
does he thank the servant because he did what he was commanded?
"I am sorry" and "thank you" are two words that mean a lot to me. I am not sure why but it seems that it is important to be noticed especially when you are doing something nice or good. However does a master thank his servant for the things that he is supposed to do? The answer is obviously no. So what will Christ, my master, say to me when I die? Hopefully He will say well done good and faithful servant. So how does this apply to today? Well if Jesus can look at me and acknowledge my life by saying good job then I can say thank you when people serve me, because I all to often just think of it as something that should be done.
Luke 17:8
8: Will he rather say to him; prepare supper for me, and dress properly and serve e while I eat and drink?
Here I see a servant after a work day not getting an opportunity to eat but instead to work more. It would seem that the term bond servant has been on my mind the last couple days because what I see in this verse is the fact that he would not have a choice. There are many times that I do not want to serve people and that usually happens in the little things. The application from this is to serve in the little things even if I don't want to or think that it is meaningless.
Here I see a servant after a work day not getting an opportunity to eat but instead to work more. It would seem that the term bond servant has been on my mind the last couple days because what I see in this verse is the fact that he would not have a choice. There are many times that I do not want to serve people and that usually happens in the little things. The application from this is to serve in the little things even if I don't want to or think that it is meaningless.
Luke 17:7
Today is just one of those days that it seems like everything has gone wrong. The word in this verse that has stuck out to me the most is the word servant. I know that I am a willing bond servant but all day today I can feel myself fighting this. However I do know that His way is better. Although I can feel my fleshly desires fighting even more today I will continue to strive towards Christ.
Application: Today it is more important to follow Ephesians and to not give any opportunity to the devil. This realistically looks like me praising God remembering that I am growing.
Application: Today it is more important to follow Ephesians and to not give any opportunity to the devil. This realistically looks like me praising God remembering that I am growing.
luke 17:6
Luke 17:6
And the Lord said, "if you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you."
As we are now only weeks away from being on the mission field this verse really speaks to me. Since we are so close to leaving, whenever I talk to people back home the questions that I get the most are about the trip, these incude whether I have enough money or I am just mentally prepared. I don't have a problem with these questions, in fact I like talking about the things that are going on in my life. However these questions do get to me in some ways. As I start to think about it I realize that I am not as prepared as I could be mostly because I can not prepare everything. However this verse shows me how much simply having faith in Jesus Christ can do. My application for today is to not let a single thought about the trip stress me out but to have faith that he is preparing me as much as is needed.
And the Lord said, "if you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you."
As we are now only weeks away from being on the mission field this verse really speaks to me. Since we are so close to leaving, whenever I talk to people back home the questions that I get the most are about the trip, these incude whether I have enough money or I am just mentally prepared. I don't have a problem with these questions, in fact I like talking about the things that are going on in my life. However these questions do get to me in some ways. As I start to think about it I realize that I am not as prepared as I could be mostly because I can not prepare everything. However this verse shows me how much simply having faith in Jesus Christ can do. My application for today is to not let a single thought about the trip stress me out but to have faith that he is preparing me as much as is needed.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Ephesians 4:31
31Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slandor be put away from you, along with malice.
Here Paul is explaining just about every way of having a problem with someone. I have mentioned in past blogs that I have a problem with holding onto and thinking about these things. So now I come to a part of scripture where Paul is describing how serious this is by repeating himself over and over again. In the past when I was convicted of this I just prayed about it and asked God to take it away. This time however is a different story, prayer is neccesary but there is also a part that I must act in. Today when these problems come up I will pray about it first but then start working for the family that we all want.
Here Paul is explaining just about every way of having a problem with someone. I have mentioned in past blogs that I have a problem with holding onto and thinking about these things. So now I come to a part of scripture where Paul is describing how serious this is by repeating himself over and over again. In the past when I was convicted of this I just prayed about it and asked God to take it away. This time however is a different story, prayer is neccesary but there is also a part that I must act in. Today when these problems come up I will pray about it first but then start working for the family that we all want.
Ephesians 4:30
30:And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
When I was first reading this verse I could not think about what to write. Although as I started to think about applying it to my life it started to make sense. The point of this verse for me is to realize that not everything I do is going to have an eternal effect. My application for today is to remember that I am sealed by the Holy Spirit which means that not every little thing is a big deal but that I am in fact saved and guided through each day.
When I was first reading this verse I could not think about what to write. Although as I started to think about applying it to my life it started to make sense. The point of this verse for me is to realize that not everything I do is going to have an eternal effect. My application for today is to remember that I am sealed by the Holy Spirit which means that not every little thing is a big deal but that I am in fact saved and guided through each day.
Ephesians 4:29
29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
All talk that comes out of our mouths should lift each other up. This is not some or even just when we want to but whenever we talk to other people. From a distant look on life this seems easy but once you get into those moments where you get frustrated with someone it is a lot harder. This has happened to me many times where I have gotten frustrated with people and my reaction is to openly say things against them. This does not build up people or do anything constructive. Today and from now on I will shut my mouth when anything destructive is about to come out.
All talk that comes out of our mouths should lift each other up. This is not some or even just when we want to but whenever we talk to other people. From a distant look on life this seems easy but once you get into those moments where you get frustrated with someone it is a lot harder. This has happened to me many times where I have gotten frustrated with people and my reaction is to openly say things against them. This does not build up people or do anything constructive. Today and from now on I will shut my mouth when anything destructive is about to come out.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Ephesians 4:28
Ephesians 4:28
28: Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need
When I first read this verse I think of the times back when I had a job. My immediate reaction is to think about how I was making a good amount of money and was not even tithing non the less sharing with those in need. However this does not apply to today. As for today and this next year I can not give money but I can share time and energy.
Application: To use my time wisely because that is what I have to share and give.
28: Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need
When I first read this verse I think of the times back when I had a job. My immediate reaction is to think about how I was making a good amount of money and was not even tithing non the less sharing with those in need. However this does not apply to today. As for today and this next year I can not give money but I can share time and energy.
Application: To use my time wisely because that is what I have to share and give.
Ephesians 4:27
27:and give no oppurtunity to the devil.
This verse is the verse that is immediately following the verse that talks about not letting the sun go down on your anger. Now it is saying to not give any oppurtunity to the devil which shows the ergency of getting rid of your anger. This is now saying that this is something that is not supposed to be taken lightly but to be done immediately. Giving no oppurtunity shows that we should leave nothing open. In the last verse I talked about not sleeping on my problems but this verse takes it a step farther. Today I will give no oppurtunity to problems growing between me and other people.
This verse is the verse that is immediately following the verse that talks about not letting the sun go down on your anger. Now it is saying to not give any oppurtunity to the devil which shows the ergency of getting rid of your anger. This is now saying that this is something that is not supposed to be taken lightly but to be done immediately. Giving no oppurtunity shows that we should leave nothing open. In the last verse I talked about not sleeping on my problems but this verse takes it a step farther. Today I will give no oppurtunity to problems growing between me and other people.
Ephesians 4:26
Ephesians 4:26
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.
"Just sleep on it." This is a phrase that I often used when people are angry. I myself have gotten into the habbit of doing this, any time a prblem comes up I go to bed and I usually wake up great. So when I come to this verse I realize that from past experiences this has been great for me. Then I realize that God knows more then I do therefore I am wrong with thus said thought process. I have come to realize that sleeping on a problem or anger does not fix them but simply masks them, and this masking can be a short fix but will end up blowing up at one point or another.
Application: Dealing with anger is something that the Bible tells us to do but is also a smart thing. From now on I will deal with my problems as they come up, instead of storing them up.
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.
"Just sleep on it." This is a phrase that I often used when people are angry. I myself have gotten into the habbit of doing this, any time a prblem comes up I go to bed and I usually wake up great. So when I come to this verse I realize that from past experiences this has been great for me. Then I realize that God knows more then I do therefore I am wrong with thus said thought process. I have come to realize that sleeping on a problem or anger does not fix them but simply masks them, and this masking can be a short fix but will end up blowing up at one point or another.
Application: Dealing with anger is something that the Bible tells us to do but is also a smart thing. From now on I will deal with my problems as they come up, instead of storing them up.
Ephesians 4:25
Ephesians 4:25
Therefore having put away falsehood let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.
The truth is not always a fun thing to tell someone When you see a problem that needs to be fixed, I do not always want to say something about it. So because of this I usually say "oh that will just work itself out, I don't need to say anything." This is just a cop out, or a lie to get myself out of the situation.
Application: To cowboy up and say what needs to be said
Therefore having put away falsehood let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.
The truth is not always a fun thing to tell someone When you see a problem that needs to be fixed, I do not always want to say something about it. So because of this I usually say "oh that will just work itself out, I don't need to say anything." This is just a cop out, or a lie to get myself out of the situation.
Application: To cowboy up and say what needs to be said
Ephesians 4:24
Ephesians 4:24
to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
When I read this passage I think about one thing and that is how often I have to put on this new self. This is not only a day to day thing but a moment to moment thing. I must constantly be in fellowship with Jesus to have this new self put on. The way I do this is through reading the Word and praying.
Application: To not only start off the day by reading but to constatly chew on what He is teaching me.
to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
When I read this passage I think about one thing and that is how often I have to put on this new self. This is not only a day to day thing but a moment to moment thing. I must constantly be in fellowship with Jesus to have this new self put on. The way I do this is through reading the Word and praying.
Application: To not only start off the day by reading but to constatly chew on what He is teaching me.
Ephesians 4:23
23:and to be in the spirit of your minds.
This is something that has been hitting hard this week. I know that I am a knew creation in Christ but I often have trouble actually believing that because I carry around the weight of my past sins and problems. I say that I want to be well, that I want all these problems to go away but the fact is that they have already been covered and thrown away. This verse to me is just more confirmation that I need a renewed mind that stops holding onto everything but simply says thank you to Jesus for all that he has and is doing.
This is something that has been hitting hard this week. I know that I am a knew creation in Christ but I often have trouble actually believing that because I carry around the weight of my past sins and problems. I say that I want to be well, that I want all these problems to go away but the fact is that they have already been covered and thrown away. This verse to me is just more confirmation that I need a renewed mind that stops holding onto everything but simply says thank you to Jesus for all that he has and is doing.
Ephesians 4:22
22: to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires
Compared to my "former self" I have grown a lot and given up a lot of my "deceitful" since I have been at Potters Field. The only problem with this is I can not compare myself with myself. I should be comparing myself with Jesus. I understand that it is good to see how much you have grown but I tend to use that as a place to be content with how much work has been done already.
Application: To not be content with the amount of progress that has been made but to keep searching to for more.
Compared to my "former self" I have grown a lot and given up a lot of my "deceitful" since I have been at Potters Field. The only problem with this is I can not compare myself with myself. I should be comparing myself with Jesus. I understand that it is good to see how much you have grown but I tend to use that as a place to be content with how much work has been done already.
Application: To not be content with the amount of progress that has been made but to keep searching to for more.
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