Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
We plan to take a trip and make all our arrangements. We decide whether to drive or fly. Considering the cost of gasoline we figure out if flying might be cheaper than driving. So we either get the car all checked out and ready for our trip or we make airline reservations early enough to get a good price.
Our life plans are similar. As we are growing up we are taught to plan for our future. What path do we want to take in life? What will our career be? Often our choices are aided by parents and teachers based on what they desire for us or what they believe we are naturally gifted to do. Then off we go to a college to mold us into the person needed to fill the role we have predetermined will be our life path.
All this time God sits and waits for us to come to Him. He waits for us to figure it out; figure out that He has plans for us that will propel us into the person He designed us to be.
But we have to come to know Him. We have to seek a relationship with Him. We have to believe. When we have taken that step in our life to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, Father God sends the Holy Spirit to live in us. Our Spirit man becomes born again and we allow His plans to supersede our previous plans. For His plans are plans for good and not for disaster, to give us a future and a hope.
Monday, October 27, 2014
Monday, October 20, 2014
Get Instruction
Proverbs 19:20-21 NLT
Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life. You can make many plans, but the Lord's purpose will prevail.
We learn from others in this earthly life. Our parents teach us by how they live their life as we grow up. The school system gives us the tools we need to read, write, and do arithmetic and more. Now we want all children to attend a college or other higher level of worldly education; more instruction.
Everyone gives us advice and we usually do not have to ask for it. They give it anyway. And it is our choice to act on the advice or not.
Okay, that is worldly instruction. That has nothing to do with our spiritual needs. We may get religious instruction at the church our parents brought us to every week. And many never get even that. But religion is not about relationship with our Father God. It is more about the rules our religion has us follow to be a good person, to be who they say God wants us to be.
All this instruction allows us to create a path for our life. I remember that old adage that says "If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail." And from a worldly point of view this is true.
But we cannot avoid God. This Proverb is telling me that however well I make my own plans based on the instructions and advice I have been given, God wins. If He has another way for me to go, another purpose for me, I will eventually find it and fulfill it.
"Father God, open my eyes to the plan you have for my life. Enlighten me so my path is your chosen path. It is Your will I want to do. In Jesus name I pray."
Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life. You can make many plans, but the Lord's purpose will prevail.
We learn from others in this earthly life. Our parents teach us by how they live their life as we grow up. The school system gives us the tools we need to read, write, and do arithmetic and more. Now we want all children to attend a college or other higher level of worldly education; more instruction.
Everyone gives us advice and we usually do not have to ask for it. They give it anyway. And it is our choice to act on the advice or not.
Okay, that is worldly instruction. That has nothing to do with our spiritual needs. We may get religious instruction at the church our parents brought us to every week. And many never get even that. But religion is not about relationship with our Father God. It is more about the rules our religion has us follow to be a good person, to be who they say God wants us to be.
All this instruction allows us to create a path for our life. I remember that old adage that says "If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail." And from a worldly point of view this is true.
But we cannot avoid God. This Proverb is telling me that however well I make my own plans based on the instructions and advice I have been given, God wins. If He has another way for me to go, another purpose for me, I will eventually find it and fulfill it.
"Father God, open my eyes to the plan you have for my life. Enlighten me so my path is your chosen path. It is Your will I want to do. In Jesus name I pray."
Monday, October 13, 2014
Live Right
2 Thessalonians 3:6 NIV
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.
We know we are to go into the world and preach the Gospel message to all with ears to listen. Some will be saved. Otherwise we are to be careful about hanging around with unbelievers so we are not tempted to go back to the life we have be freed from.
However this verse is not talking about where we came from. No, it is talking about other believers right in our midst at church activities. Maybe even the ones sitting next to us on Sunday morning. Love them. Encourage them. Pray for them. But live your life as you have been taught.
Many who are in church with you talk the talk pretty well. They attend the functions. But, are they living it? Are they walking the walk?
So let's be aware of those we are around. Are they idle and disruptive? Is their life an example of a Holy Spirit filled, Christ centered life? If not, pray for them and find someone else to walk with.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.
We know we are to go into the world and preach the Gospel message to all with ears to listen. Some will be saved. Otherwise we are to be careful about hanging around with unbelievers so we are not tempted to go back to the life we have be freed from.
However this verse is not talking about where we came from. No, it is talking about other believers right in our midst at church activities. Maybe even the ones sitting next to us on Sunday morning. Love them. Encourage them. Pray for them. But live your life as you have been taught.
Many who are in church with you talk the talk pretty well. They attend the functions. But, are they living it? Are they walking the walk?
So let's be aware of those we are around. Are they idle and disruptive? Is their life an example of a Holy Spirit filled, Christ centered life? If not, pray for them and find someone else to walk with.
Monday, October 06, 2014
Old and Healthy
Psalm 92:14 GW
Even when they are old, they still bear fruit. They are always healthy and fresh.
Other translation say "they will stay fresh and green" NIV, "they will remain vital and green" NLT, "they are ever full of sap and green" ESV, "they shall be fat and flourishing" KJV, and more.
It saddens me when I am with other Christian along in years, some even in their early sixties. They talk about their illnesses as though they own them. The older they are the more they feel that illness is part of this life.
I find nothing that tells me growing old means getting sick. I do see where the Bible talks about our gray hair as a mark of our years.
Proverbs 16:31 NLT
Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life. ESV says " it is gained in a righteous life."
We have to start believing the Word of God and the promises He has made to us regarding our health. Yes, we do age and we do end up with thinning gray hair. But, nowhere do we find a promise of poor health.
3 John 1:2
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
It is time to stand on the Word and not the words of man. Their words may tell us we have some affliction, but God's Word tells us we are healed by His stripes.
1 Peter 2:24 NLT
He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.
We need to start confessing our health and not the illness others say we have to have because we are old! Thank you Jesus!
Even when they are old, they still bear fruit. They are always healthy and fresh.
Other translation say "they will stay fresh and green" NIV, "they will remain vital and green" NLT, "they are ever full of sap and green" ESV, "they shall be fat and flourishing" KJV, and more.
It saddens me when I am with other Christian along in years, some even in their early sixties. They talk about their illnesses as though they own them. The older they are the more they feel that illness is part of this life.
I find nothing that tells me growing old means getting sick. I do see where the Bible talks about our gray hair as a mark of our years.
Proverbs 16:31 NLT
Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life. ESV says " it is gained in a righteous life."
We have to start believing the Word of God and the promises He has made to us regarding our health. Yes, we do age and we do end up with thinning gray hair. But, nowhere do we find a promise of poor health.
3 John 1:2
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
It is time to stand on the Word and not the words of man. Their words may tell us we have some affliction, but God's Word tells us we are healed by His stripes.
1 Peter 2:24 NLT
He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.
We need to start confessing our health and not the illness others say we have to have because we are old! Thank you Jesus!
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