Love? or Lonliness?

1 Timothy 6:6

But godliness with contentment is great gain

Don’t allow comparison to replace contentment!

James 3:14-15 (NIV)

14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

There is peace in Jesus, and Jesus alone – and there is a place of contentment in Him, that nothing on earth can satisfy.

No earthly relationship, no movie, entertainment, sport, or activity will scratch that deeper itch down inside. Jesus alone can do that. Problem is, sometimes we need to slow down to speed up. It takes time to get quiet and alone with him, and allow Him to sooth our savage hearts, and to fill every creak and crevice in the deep places in our soul. From this place of rest, there is direction, purpose, power, and true fulfilment – for He is a wonderful Lord!

Feel like your life is on a treadmill? Running hard but going no where?

Try doing it Jesus way, seeking Him first each day, doing a yearly Bible reading plan, and actually making progress on your God given purpose, dreams and destiny.

Let’s Pray:

“Jesus, I need you, now! Prince of Peace, meet with me, in my passion, frustration, and selfish ambition. May I rest in Your leading, free from the tyranny of my own inner drives, and the expectations of others, rule and overrule me Lord, and bring again to me, your person, presence, intimacy, and peace. Amen”

Love? or Lonliness?

1 Timothy 6:6

But godliness with contentment is great gain

Don’t allow comparison to replace contentment!
James 3:14-15 (NIV)
14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

There is peace in Jesus, and Jesus alone – and there is a place of contentment in Him, that nothing on earth can satisfy.

No earthly relationship, no movie, entertainment, sport, or activity will scratch that deeper itch down inside. Jesus alone can do that. Problem is, sometimes we need to slow down to speed up. It takes time to get quiet and alone with him, and allow Him to sooth our savage hearts, and to fill every creak and crevice in the deep places in our soul. From this place of rest, there is direction, purpose, power, and true fulfilment – for He is a wonderful Lord!

Feel like your life is on a treadmill? Running hard but going no where?

Try doing it Jesus way, seeking Him first each day, doing a yearly Bible reading plan, and actually making progress on your God given purpose, dreams and destiny.

Let’s Pray:
“Jesus, I need you, now! Prince of Peace, meet with me, in my passion, frustration, and selfish ambition. May I rest in Your leading, free from the tyranny of my own inner drives, and the expectations of others, rule and overrule me Lord, and bring again to me, your person, presence, intimacy, and peace. Amen”

They Say?

Proverbs 26:20

Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so wherethere is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

I liked this picture, it made me think about the verse I quoted above. Why? Notice the matchstick? It is unlit.

Seems we can avoid many, many problems and controversies by simply refusing to gossip. Sure, something might be true, but love covers a multitude of sins. If you messed up, would you want your friends broadcasting your mess?

It is better to be quick to pray, and slow to spread rumors or tales of others woe. It doesn’t help them, you, or our communities, nor bring healing, hope, or anything constructive. Prayer, on the other hand, in the mighty name of Jesus, always is heard in heaven, and invokes God’s power to make wrongs right, and to fix the impossible.

Some people struggle with identity crisis – we forget who we are before the throne of God – children of the most High God, ambassadors of heaven, royalty. Instead of letting God’s love permeate our deepest thoughts, and give us that deep inner confidence that can only come from heaven, we find ourselves trying to ‘keep up with the Jones’, more concerned with what ‘They’ think, than what God thinks.

Read this poem that sums it up pretty well:

Have you heard of the terrible family They,
And the dreadful venomous things They say?
Why, half the gossip under the sun,
If you trace it back, you will find begun
In that wretched House of They.

Ellen Wilcox Wheeler

I have heard stories about the life of my friend and pastor, Billy Joe Daugherty about how he handled it when someone approached him with a juicy piece of gossip. He would either grab the persons hand and say: ‘Great! Let’s pray for that person, right now!’

In one instance, his son complained to him about the behavior of one of the staff, and he said: ‘Let’s get them over here right now, so that we can pray together about this!” His son, was like, ‘But Dad, I want you take my side in this! Yet, he refused to do it, determined to walk in love and impartially towards everyone in the church.

If you have not really dug into the Scriptures yet, to discover who you are in God’s sight by looking in the mirror of His Word, please check out this article I wrote entitled ‘Identity Crisis’. In it, I’ve included several articles and confessions that agree with who Gods says we are: https://wordpress.com/post/chrisaomministries.com/8195

I have written a couple articles on the topic of gossip and words over the years you might find helpful:

https://chrisaomministries.com/2016/03/22/hidden-by-god-from-the-hard-words-of-people/

https://chrisaomministries.com/2016/05/15/all-liars-shall-be-silenced/

http://chrisaomministries.com/2016/03/13/backstabbers/

https://chrisaomministries.wordpress.com/2015/08/04/do-you-talk-to-much/

https://chrisaomministries.wordpress.com/2015/05/14/how-to-defeat-gossip/

Words are containers, servants that should be used carefully and wisely.

Like vessels, they contain the spirit in which they were uttered: either words of love, faith, and authority backed up by heaven, or vain, foolish non-productive words that don’t build anything, but only tear down people through insinuation, allegation, accusation, or lies.

Be a builder today, of people, places and things, using your words as tools to create a better piece of the world you occupy.

‘Father, put Your words in my mouth today. Words of life, love, power, and faith that change my world, and the lives of those around me. Set a watch upon my lips, a rein on my tongue, that I might not tear down what You have called me to build. May Your perfect love destroy my deepest insecurities, your peace that passes all understanding, reign in my heart. Let me truly love, and honestly not care what others think about me and mine, but let me walk free from the tyranny of others expectations, manipulations, and control. I ask this, knowing I am heard, for I ask in Your name Lord Jesus, Amen’

 

You’re not in a Church, you are in a bar!

A Critical Spirit

Church Bar in Dublin, Ireland

Tim Hawkins, the comedian, makes the joke that, if you go to a church where others do not judge you, you’re really in a bar, not a church.

So many women will not set foot in a church because they are sure that they will be judged (criticized). Some women are even called to ministry but would rather hide in the woods than take their place because of other women judging.

 

You can go to church and enjoy it, even if you are a pastor’s wife or a pastor yourself. You cannot worry what people think. Not your responsibility. When you see someone, try to think of something positive about them, even if you don’t like the way they dress, make a decision to love and empower them anyway.

Church must be a place of love, acceptance and forgiveness, where wounded people can find wholeness….

Karen

Let’s Pray:

‘Father, please forgive us for our pride, and harsh, judgmental attitudes. Deliver us that we might truly love and see the broken through Your eyes, that they might be healed, empowered, and helped to become more like Jesus. In Your name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen!’