Judges 17-18 - Part 3
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Judges 17-18
Thursday, February 29, 2024
You can be apart. Believer, you have an important part to play in God's purpose here.
You, with Jesus, got this. Are you sure inside your mind and heart that you have repented and believed.. that you are right with God?
He delights to forgive, help, keep and empower His people. Travel on purpose -- His.
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Our time here is pretty short. Believer, what soul-winning prayer would you voice to God in Jesus' name? For me, with Him...
- GIVE ME EYES TO SEE THE LOST WITH YOUR PERSPECTIVE, GOD.
- GRANT ME A SOFT (NOT HARDENED) COMPASSIONATE HEART THAT REALLY LOVES THE LOST LIKE YOU LOVE US/THEM.
Do you have questions? If you're not sure where you currently stand spiritually.. just come to Jesus.
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Let's make this and every moment count for God's glory. Don't first clean up your life to come to God, just come asking Him to forgive you. Approach Him with honest repentance, humble faith, and a willingness for the Lord to work inside your heart and mind.
“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” Psalms 34:8
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Ego... just let it go.
"When you're older and wiser a lot of the ego has gone out of the window." ~ Billy Ocean
Let it go.. bro. Did you ever need it before? Naw, never did. If we're still taking in air then there's room for godly wisdom. Ask.
"Whenever I climb I am followed by a dog called 'Ego.'" ~ Friedrich Nietzsche
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“Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you’ll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you’re content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty." Matthew 23:11-12 msg
"But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." nlt
"And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." Matthew 23:12 KJV
Me thinks this.. whoever seeks to come off as greater than they are will be made humble, but whoever truly humbles themself will be made great.
Thursday, February 15, 2024
Dream, discover, disciple. Parents go the way of faith and they show the way of faith. Your kids will learn to care and share when they watch you doing that for people of the same, or of a different culture!
Want to win some (like starting at home)? Then live winsome.
Do we win some? Jesus alone saves people.Doin’ our best, we commit the rest (in prayer). We can shine His light and influence. Will all follow Him? No, but we can win some to the Lord just the same. God delights to use people, and parents too. That’s a no-brainer!
I am feelin’ blessed that our sons still choose to come home to see us. Thanks Lord.
Not all sons do that (and I’m not blaming all their parents. How could I know why?). But I am here to encourage Christian parents to be all-in with Jesus. Yes, in Christ and pass It on–their biblical faith to the next generation.
I exhort parents all over to live the life starting at home and then into the places God will lead them as a family to go. Your kids can learn how to pray and care about others as they watch you parents care for others. Whether living her or there is neither here nor there. You know what I mean. For various reasons, the mission fields of the world keep streaming on into our Land and neighborhoods now, Christians. We are hearing new variations of Spanish and even Iranian speak like never before in North Texas now.
Many believers know why it’s being allowed to happen. Many nationalists are doing what they can to stop the crimes committed. Glad. Approximately 17 million have flooded into my Land (the USA).
None of us have to sit home on our blessed assurance doing nothin' or have to agree with the reasons why things happen as they do, but we do need to agree with the Bible and our own respective personal callings in these last days. If you are a real believer, then you have an important calling and the Great Commission didn’t just go away.
Be different than those of this world -- be transformed in your mind! Travel legally and on purpose! Many families do already -- I visit with and hear them often.
The need is great and there are more ways to go tell than ever before. The opportunities and God's love abound!
“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” ― Gustav Flaubert
Let it humble you. In His will, parents need to go the way of faith and (by example with much listening, some speaking and serving) show the way of faith to their kids and to their kid’s friends if possible. You can kindly do that in any Land while in His will.
Caring means eventually sharing, doesn’t it? Sure it does. Tell at home and then go tell It where you can!
To a watching world (I mean those open and willing to listen to His Message of truth (BTW you can tell if they’re open when they actually do listen). It’s important! Let your life and attitude correspond with your words (biblically. You don’t allow your words and body to speak differently, two messages) do you?
Listen, if you can’t personally cross a sea to be a witness, to give witness or teach, then cross a sidewalk to.. or cross a hallway to.. or cross into a different department (like at the right time with the right demeanor and all). Believers are like seeds and God spreads them around. He has since the upper room.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover!” ― Mark Twain
In the Word prayin' you and I can be absolutely sure of all the things we are to do, and not do.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover!” ― Mark Twain
In the Word prayin' you and I can be absolutely sure of all the things we are to do, and not do.
You and I can befriend.
One tiny human (me) with a real big God who hears all.. and with His powerful Message in this unfamiliar city. Countless expressions on foreign faces of this massive nation (Jesus knows the number of hairs on each of their heads)! This place, it's where you've perhaps written to but never visited before. Expect great things! Ask big for them, and for your fam too.
“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” ― Gustav Flaubert
Let it humble you. In His will, parents need to go the way of faith and (by example with much listening, some speaking and serving) show the way of faith to their kids and to their kid’s friends if possible. You can kindly do that in any Land while in His will.
Caring means eventually sharing, doesn’t it? Sure it does. Tell at home and then go tell It where you can!
To a watching world (I mean those open and willing to listen to His Message of truth (BTW you can tell if they’re open when they actually do listen). It’s important! Let your life and attitude correspond with your words (biblically. You don’t allow your words and body to speak differently, two messages) do you?
Me traveling on purpose and making a difference? How does that even start? It starts with a pinch of faith in taking one step after another. (Here are 4 simple steps). Read more....
?As if!?...or or ?????
It is our responsibility to be and give consistent witness as parents – to raise up our children in the wholesome way of the Lord. The Bible says…
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” Prov. 22:6 niv
“Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.” nlt
Can you travel modestly and respectfully? Even towards your kids or grandkids (wherever you go)? Please do.
Man, what a tiny little place (I at any given time) occupy in this huge world.. but am not all alone. Pray and obey.. go big and expect big things -- for a BIG God goes with you, believer! Pray in some miracles even cuz you and your friends or family might need some.
Think about this for a minute.
It’s not the government’s or their school's job to do this. It’s not some overseer-bishop or even Sunday School's duty to do this. It's our job as parents to gently teach these things of God’s Word to our children. Do we take it seriously enough without acting overly serious? Can we have fun in this? YES! What do we do, or not do?
We never take our young children to a department store or to a shoe shop so they can learn how to tie their shoelaces. We never take our children to the dentist so they can learn how to brush and floss their teeth. We never take them to a nutritionist so they can learn how to eat their fruits and vegetables. Nope, but there are certain things that parents are to do, like teach their children with patience. It's the duty of us parents today to pass along our faith. Yes, to do what we can to win some, to train the children up in the way of the Lord and to disciple them.
What if they’ve grown and moved out already? Pray. God might still give you some opportunities to make an impact.. to witness.
We never take our young children to a department store or to a shoe shop so they can learn how to tie their shoelaces. We never take our children to the dentist so they can learn how to brush and floss their teeth. We never take them to a nutritionist so they can learn how to eat their fruits and vegetables. Nope, but there are certain things that parents are to do, like teach their children with patience. It's the duty of us parents today to pass along our faith. Yes, to do what we can to win some, to train the children up in the way of the Lord and to disciple them.
What if they’ve grown and moved out already? Pray. God might still give you some opportunities to make an impact.. to witness.
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Bees Don't Care, Why Should We?
Who Cares What Others Think Of Us?
Does it even matter.. before a watching world?1.) Jesus clearly warned us: "Woe to you when all men speak well of you" (Luke 6:26).
And his own enemies saw in him an indifference to what others thought: "Teacher, we know that you are true, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men but truly teach the way of God" (Mark 12:14).
The Apostle Paul stated that if he tried to please men he would no longer be a servant of Christ: "Am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ" (Gal. 1:10).
The Apostle Paul stated that if he tried to please men he would no longer be a servant of Christ: "Am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ" (Gal. 1:10).
Let's live wise rather than foolish.
"As we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts" (1 Thess. 2:4).
Do too many people.. even believers get all worked up about what others think of them? Yes. Stop that, Sport. Just be yourself, and do your best by His power.
"As we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts" (1 Thess. 2:4).
2.) On the other hand, Proverbs 22:1 challenges us to have a good name. What's your character like? Do you love God and others -- do you humbly serve others like honey bees do? Do you over-promise and under-deliver? Do you keep your word and stay consistent?
God says, "A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, favor is better than silver and gold." And Paul was vigilant that he not be discredited in his handling of money for the poor: "[We are] taking precaution so that no one will discredit us in our administration of this generous gift; for we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men" (See 2 Cor. 8:20-21).
It matters what people think and thought. Paul taught the Roman church, "Now we who are strong ought... not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification" (Romans 15:1-2).
And then he clearly taught that one of the qualifications for elders is that they must be "above reproach" (1 Tim. 3:2), yes, including among unbelievers:
"He must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil" (1 Tim. 3:7).
Remember how Peter challenged believers to care about what outsiders thought of them.. of us too: "Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation" (1 Pet. 2:12).
There's an interesting tension between these two thoughts huh.
Please grasp that our aim as believers during this lifetime is to glorify the Lord and win other people to faith in Him. We can't save people, but we can pray and the Lord can do that. Jesus said He'd make us into fishers of people right? Yep, our aim is for "Christ to be magnified in our bodies whether by life or by death" (Phil. 1:19-20).
Like Paul thought, we are to CARE about what others think of Christ. Doin' our best we commit the rest. Their salvation hangs on what they think of Christ and hearing His gospel. Do you have a story to tell of what He's done in your life? We've been given new life so it's our aim is to live holy. Our aim is to display Christ's truth, His winsome grace, His wise tact in relationships, and His beautiful love.
Remember how Peter challenged believers to care about what outsiders thought of them.. of us too: "Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation" (1 Pet. 2:12).
There's an interesting tension between these two thoughts huh.
Please grasp that our aim as believers during this lifetime is to glorify the Lord and win other people to faith in Him. We can't save people, but we can pray and the Lord can do that. Jesus said He'd make us into fishers of people right? Yep, our aim is for "Christ to be magnified in our bodies whether by life or by death" (Phil. 1:19-20).
Like Paul thought, we are to CARE about what others think of Christ. Doin' our best we commit the rest. Their salvation hangs on what they think of Christ and hearing His gospel. Do you have a story to tell of what He's done in your life? We've been given new life so it's our aim is to live holy. Our aim is to display Christ's truth, His winsome grace, His wise tact in relationships, and His beautiful love.
Do too many people.. even believers get all worked up about what others think of them? Yes. Stop that, Sport. Just be yourself, and do your best by His power.
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It seems like here in the USA most people never want to offend another person at any cost, but they don't give a flip about offending God via sin.
Sure we Westerners never want to come close to triggering anyone not even with the truth spoken in love. Man, let's indeed pray and seek to be a blessing to all others, but let's be far more concerned about offending God okay.
"If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household!" (Matt. 10:25).
Be yourself in the will of God. Jesus Christ lived a no-spiritual-compromise life. Sure He wanted people to like how helpful He and His teachings were in order that they'd come to put their faith and full trust in Him, but he did not change who he was. He'd never do that.
