Love is reflected by our Obedience

In 2 John 1:6 we get an answer to what is love? "And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands.". We all say we Love God, now let's really Walk & Live in obedience! Now obedience is not doing some things part of the time, it is following the path given to us in God's word. Many years ago, we decided to take our dog (dalmatian) at the time, to Obedience school. We were given a choker chain and shown how to use it, not to hurt the dog, but get it's attention. When the course was over, expectation was that they obeyed all the time, if not, pull the choker. So, do we need a little pull from God? Are we being obedient to all of His commands? What are you waiting on? Are you feeling little tugs?

Outcomes vs Disciplines

I was reading this morning in Deuteronomy 7:22 "The LORD your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little...."  As I read that, my mind went directly to patience, expectations, and disciplines.  In our world today, just as when Moses faced many battles and challenges, God has the ability to deliver the end result at any point.  So the question comes to why?  Why doesn't God just fix it?  I am overweight, I am deep in debt, I am , I am, I am....  There is a common theme to so many of these situations.  One is that the focus is on I, and I am in this situation because of something bad. The second thing is that I want it fixed NOW. 

Many advisers would tell you today, the weight, debt, or whatever it is; is not the problem, those things are the result or outcome.  The problem is in the process before that outcome. The problem is discipline.  Yes, you can take another mortgage on your house to pay off your credit cards, but you still have debt.  You can take shots or drops or whatever you want to do, why, to get the quick result.  But at some point the drops and shots go away.  The challenge comes from your lack of discipline.  If you don't change your spending habits, or budgeting techniques, or eating habits, or exercise programs; your outcome will be the same in the future.   But often, the results are even worse.  The scripture tells us this about the quick fix, as the end of that verse goes into saying; "You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you."  Wild Animals?  Credit card companies, offers, deals, new foods, challenges, old habits, all of these will attack.. 

Today, we have to see where our disciplines are and refocus to get a different outcome.  If you want change, create change!  If you desire a stronger walk, then get up and walk more and dig deeper.  We can't experience the mountain tops without going through some major valleys.  Remember, the better the view, the higher the climb, the more challenging it becomes.  See from the Heavens!!

Lottery or Bankruptcy - Fellowship?

1 John 1: 7 "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another,...."  Now to me, the key word here is fellowship.  The Greek origin of that word was Koinos which meant Sharer.  So now we ask ourselves, do we have fellowship?  Are we sharing with one another the successes, the burdens, the word, the obstacles and challenges?  Isn't it always easier to "fellowship" with people as their lives are going well, but then we find excuses to drift away, when they may be having some "trouble".  Many judge them at that time, when they fall, especially if the person that fell was a believer.  Why is it then that when people hit the lottery they have tons of friends reaching out to invest in that relationship?  Now if they file bankruptcy, we need to let them have their time alone to get through this situation.  What are we doing to grow fellowship?  Are we conquering the challenges.  Fellowship - sharing in all times...  What will you do this weekend, to create a stronger fellowship with those around you?

It's not IF, its WHEN!!

In John 21:6, Jesus stands on the shore and calls out to give direction to the fisherman that have been there all night without catching a fish.  He tells them "throw your net to the right side and you will find some."  The interesting part about this, is that the next verse says, "When" they did".  Now God's word is so true and specific.  "When"!!  Now, the other piece is that WHEN they did, they caught 153 fish, more than what they could pull in.  Then they made the statement that it was Jesus on the bank.  I find it interesting that WHEN they decided, HE still delivered.  THEN they came to be with Him on the shore to share and grow.  There is Jesus, knowing what you are trying to do, sitting to the side watching, reaching out to you with direction, and WHEN we decide to follow, He is there..  Is God calling you to cast to the other side of your life, your relationships, your job, your marriage, your finances, or your parenting?  Are you willing to do that?  WHEN?  Knowing that as soon as you do, He will be there with blessings that you will be unable to pull in alone!  What do you think?  What keeps us from casting and waiting until WHEN? 

NO PAIN NO GAIN

Philippians 1:21 "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.".  Paul writes this to remind those that while he is alive he is here for Christ.  To serve Him and to share the gospel about Him.  This to me is the Journey..  Then he states that "TO DIE IS GAIN".  Wow, we spend our lives thinking about eternity, but yet we realize as we selfishly lose those around us to illness, accidents, and struggles; that death hurts our physical and weak human selves.  We were born to die!  Why, because we are here to serve and then to celebrate our lives here as we approach the King of Kings.  Now the challenge comes to planning the journey.  Are we spending too much time looking at our atlas and maps and GPS to figure out how to get there? Or are we using God's word, walking in obedience and following what we are given by Christ, to prepare ourselves for the destination.  The Gain.  He suffered earthly Pain to enable us to have eternal Gain.  Thank you Jesus for Your sacrifice, because without your Pain, we would have no Gain.

Testing my mobile blog!!

Who are YOU Boasting About??

Stone for the day!!  2 Corinthians 10: 17-18 "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."  For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends."   How often are we spending our days to push our self image or to get credit for the little things we do all day?  If we would just look to God's word, it tells us, boast in the Lord.  With all that we are seeing and have seen accomplished through He who designed the Stars, Galaxy, Earth, and created us?  Do we have anything to really boast about?  Today!!!  We should focus our attention on that which brings Him glory!!  Serve and humble ourselves to those around us..