November 28th -- Galatians 5:13-26
Please read the passage!
Only because if I start, I will write too much I am intentionally writing only two points to leave with you. Two challenges for you to focus on this coming weekend, if you will.
1. Love everybody - not just those who are easily lovable, but everybody.
2. Stop indulging in sin and instead be obedient - leave those sinful desires on the cross where they were nailed with Jesus.
God bless! Shalom!
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
November 27th
November 27th -- 2 Corinthians 4
Please read the passage!
I'm actually just gonna' direct you to a post on my personal blog... "Cracked, but not Broken"
It reminded me of it because we're all sort of cracked, but not quite broken, because we aren't perfect, but God holds us together.
God bless! Shalom!
Please read the passage!
I'm actually just gonna' direct you to a post on my personal blog... "Cracked, but not Broken"
It reminded me of it because we're all sort of cracked, but not quite broken, because we aren't perfect, but God holds us together.
God bless! Shalom!
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
November 26th
November 26th -- 1 Corinthians 15:42-58
Please read the passage!
I just wanna throw in a quick word on verse 58. Sometimes, I think we feel that God's just holding back on the good stuff because what we're doing now can't possibly be helping His Kingdom, right? Well, this verse makes it quite clear we are wrong. "...for you know that nothing you ever do for the Lord is useless." NOTHING we do for God is useless. Now, it may be useless if you're doing it for yourself, for example, but if you are truly living for God, you will not be doing anything that is "useless".
God bless! Shalom!
Please read the passage!
I just wanna throw in a quick word on verse 58. Sometimes, I think we feel that God's just holding back on the good stuff because what we're doing now can't possibly be helping His Kingdom, right? Well, this verse makes it quite clear we are wrong. "...for you know that nothing you ever do for the Lord is useless." NOTHING we do for God is useless. Now, it may be useless if you're doing it for yourself, for example, but if you are truly living for God, you will not be doing anything that is "useless".
God bless! Shalom!
Monday, November 25, 2013
November 25th
November 25th -- 1 Corinthians 15:1-20
Please read the passage!
I'm not really sure I can add to this passage - it's pretty clear. I guess I'd just say be very careful that what you say does not contradict the truths we know in the Bible. Back then, the peoples' proof was Jesus - we don't have Jesus walking among us so our proof is the Bible. Don't go around preaching it unless you are SURE it doesn't contradict or somehow disprove God. I don't know about you, but I don't wanna' risk doing that. Plus, things like that are one of the biggest points of confusion for non- and new believers. So just be wary - and if you don't know, check it in the Bible!
God bless! Shalom!
Please read the passage!
I'm not really sure I can add to this passage - it's pretty clear. I guess I'd just say be very careful that what you say does not contradict the truths we know in the Bible. Back then, the peoples' proof was Jesus - we don't have Jesus walking among us so our proof is the Bible. Don't go around preaching it unless you are SURE it doesn't contradict or somehow disprove God. I don't know about you, but I don't wanna' risk doing that. Plus, things like that are one of the biggest points of confusion for non- and new believers. So just be wary - and if you don't know, check it in the Bible!
God bless! Shalom!
Sunday, November 24, 2013
November 24th
November 24th -- 1 Corinthians 13
Please read the chapter! It's only short, and very beautiful!
LOVE this passage. (Catch the joke? I know, not funny. I'm sorry... ) It's a beautiful description of love.
Today, I feel, often, love is sex and sex is love. We've been told that sex is proof of love - if they love you, they'll have it with you. That's what we see every time we turn on the TV, pick up a magazine, open up the internet browser, or even walk down the street in town and are barraged by signs advertising such things as strip clubs. We are told they are the same. That love is sex and sex is love. One leads to the other. That's what so many people are brainwashed to believe, meaning so often, when they wake up that next morning to another body beside them in bed, they are left confused as to why nothing has changed. Let me try and show you a few of the differences, from the perspective of a somewhat naïve Christian teenage girl.
Sex is just one night. Or a few.
Love is forever.
Sex is easy and gets easier with practice.
Love is hard and never gets any easier - it just has to overcome more trials.
Sex does not require growth - it can happen anywhere with anyone.
Love needs to be grown - it doesn't just happen overnight (even if we've been told the right night with the right person can make it).
Sex leaves "warm fuzzy feelings" but those fade after a time.
Love leaves scars and bruises but it also leaves an unexplainable warmth that doesn't go away.
Sex is just a field of flowers - no threats, no dangers, no worry, no pain. Just easygoing.
Love is peddling uphill. It's gonna' take a lot to get there, but you'll get there, and when you do, it will be worth it.
Sex is; now, unforgiving, jealous, prideful, boasting, rude. It wants things done its way and will remember when its not. It will walk away at any time, giving up or in, and cannot stand through trials.
Love is; patient, kind, humble, polite. It wants things done for the good of the other, and does not remember if it had been wronged. It will not walk away, never giving up or in, and it can stand through trials.
Sex is about "me".
Love is about "you".
Without love, we are nothing. Not without sex, we are nothing. Without LOVE we are nothing.
So do yourself a favor and remember love is not sex, and sex is not love. It's natural to want to have sex with someone you feel you really love - that's okay, it's how God made us, but, make sure it stays within His boundaries for its creation. Marriage. Save it for the ring, folks. Save it for the person who you can love enough to sacrifice things your whole life for... and for the person who can do the same for you. Don't confuse the two, please... Love is NOT sex... and sex is NOT love.
God bless! Shalom!
Please read the chapter! It's only short, and very beautiful!
LOVE this passage. (Catch the joke? I know, not funny. I'm sorry... ) It's a beautiful description of love.
Today, I feel, often, love is sex and sex is love. We've been told that sex is proof of love - if they love you, they'll have it with you. That's what we see every time we turn on the TV, pick up a magazine, open up the internet browser, or even walk down the street in town and are barraged by signs advertising such things as strip clubs. We are told they are the same. That love is sex and sex is love. One leads to the other. That's what so many people are brainwashed to believe, meaning so often, when they wake up that next morning to another body beside them in bed, they are left confused as to why nothing has changed. Let me try and show you a few of the differences, from the perspective of a somewhat naïve Christian teenage girl.
Sex is just one night. Or a few.
Love is forever.
Sex is easy and gets easier with practice.
Love is hard and never gets any easier - it just has to overcome more trials.
Sex does not require growth - it can happen anywhere with anyone.
Love needs to be grown - it doesn't just happen overnight (even if we've been told the right night with the right person can make it).
Sex leaves "warm fuzzy feelings" but those fade after a time.
Love leaves scars and bruises but it also leaves an unexplainable warmth that doesn't go away.
Sex is just a field of flowers - no threats, no dangers, no worry, no pain. Just easygoing.
Love is peddling uphill. It's gonna' take a lot to get there, but you'll get there, and when you do, it will be worth it.
Sex is; now, unforgiving, jealous, prideful, boasting, rude. It wants things done its way and will remember when its not. It will walk away at any time, giving up or in, and cannot stand through trials.
Love is; patient, kind, humble, polite. It wants things done for the good of the other, and does not remember if it had been wronged. It will not walk away, never giving up or in, and it can stand through trials.
Sex is about "me".
Love is about "you".
Without love, we are nothing. Not without sex, we are nothing. Without LOVE we are nothing.
So do yourself a favor and remember love is not sex, and sex is not love. It's natural to want to have sex with someone you feel you really love - that's okay, it's how God made us, but, make sure it stays within His boundaries for its creation. Marriage. Save it for the ring, folks. Save it for the person who you can love enough to sacrifice things your whole life for... and for the person who can do the same for you. Don't confuse the two, please... Love is NOT sex... and sex is NOT love.
God bless! Shalom!
Saturday, November 23, 2013
November 23rd
November 23rd -- Romans 12
Please read the passage!
So often we hear "I'll follow God when He tells me where to go." Folks, that is NOT how it works. We walk, God directs. It's not God directs, then we walk. We have to take that first step in faith. So, how do we do that, then? Verse 2. "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Basically, start working on your life, before you start trying to impact everyone else's. You have to make sure your relationship with Christ is solid. You can always do more work on your own life. So when you don't know where else to look to start, try the mirror. Once you start working on that, you'll be able to see what God's been trying to show you all along. Then there you go - direction - you may now follow...
God bless! Shalom!
Please read the passage!
So often we hear "I'll follow God when He tells me where to go." Folks, that is NOT how it works. We walk, God directs. It's not God directs, then we walk. We have to take that first step in faith. So, how do we do that, then? Verse 2. "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Basically, start working on your life, before you start trying to impact everyone else's. You have to make sure your relationship with Christ is solid. You can always do more work on your own life. So when you don't know where else to look to start, try the mirror. Once you start working on that, you'll be able to see what God's been trying to show you all along. Then there you go - direction - you may now follow...
God bless! Shalom!
Friday, November 22, 2013
November 22nd
November 22nd -- Romans 8:19-39
Please read the passage!
Nothing can separate us from God's love.
Nothing can separate us from God's love.
Nothing can separate us from God's love.
Nothing can separate us from God's love.
Got it in your head, yet?
Good.
Now, just making sure we all fully get how much God loves us that nothing can separate us from His love, and the fact that literally nothing can separate us from it.
Q: Can being socially outcast separate you from God's love?
A: No.
Q: Can being angry separate you from God's love?
A: No.
Q: Can a tornado ripping your house apart separate you from God's love?
A: No.
Q: Can sin separate you from God's love?
A: Most definitely not. If sin could separate us from God's love, then He would never have sent Jesus to die from us, and we'd all be hell-bound in the most literal of senses.
Folks, sometimes, we feel like we have hit rock-bottom... and then proceeded to fall through it even further. I can promise you, though, that you will never be separated from that love of God. He will always love you. It is not conditional or 'earned' in any way - it is constant and freely given.
You are never without His love. If that is the one thing that gets you through the day, so be it - it is always true, so remember it.
God bless! Shalom!
Please read the passage!
Nothing can separate us from God's love.
Nothing can separate us from God's love.
Nothing can separate us from God's love.
Nothing can separate us from God's love.
Got it in your head, yet?
Good.
Now, just making sure we all fully get how much God loves us that nothing can separate us from His love, and the fact that literally nothing can separate us from it.
Q: Can being socially outcast separate you from God's love?
A: No.
Q: Can being angry separate you from God's love?
A: No.
Q: Can a tornado ripping your house apart separate you from God's love?
A: No.
Q: Can sin separate you from God's love?
A: Most definitely not. If sin could separate us from God's love, then He would never have sent Jesus to die from us, and we'd all be hell-bound in the most literal of senses.
Folks, sometimes, we feel like we have hit rock-bottom... and then proceeded to fall through it even further. I can promise you, though, that you will never be separated from that love of God. He will always love you. It is not conditional or 'earned' in any way - it is constant and freely given.
You are never without His love. If that is the one thing that gets you through the day, so be it - it is always true, so remember it.
God bless! Shalom!
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