| Archive - June 2007 In ConversationPosted Jun-30-07 05:51:16 PDT My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil of that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
James 1:19-21
When we talk too much and listen too little, we communicate to others that we think our ideas are much more important than theirs. James wisely advises us to reverse this process. We need to pay attention regarding our conversations and keep track of how much we are talking and how much we are actually listening. When people talk with you, do they feel that their viewpoints and ideas have value? Or are you most concerned about getting other people to see your point of view and to have them think the way that you do? These verses also speak of anger that erupt when our ego is bruised - "I am hurt;" or "My opinions are not being heard." When injustice and sin occur, we should become angry because others are being hurt. But we should not become angry when we fail to win an argument or when we feel offended or neglected, as difficult as that may be. The truth is, selfish anger never helps anybody. James also advises us to get rid of all that is wrong in our lives and to "humbly except" the salvation message we have received ("the word planted in you"), because it alone can save us.
God Bless you,
J.H. Times of TrialPosted Jun-29-07 06:57:05 PDT As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened, so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
John 9:1-5
The common belief in Jewish culture was that calamity or suffering was the result of some great sin. But Christ used this man's suffering to teach about faith and to glorify God. We live in a fallen world were good behavior is not always rewarded and bad behavior is not always punished. Therefore, innocent people sometimes suffer. If God took suffering away whenever we asked, we would follow him for comfort and convenience, not out of love and devotion. Regardless of the reasons for our suffering, Jesus has the power to help us deal with it. When you suffer from disease, tragedy, or disability, try not to ask, "Why did this happen to me?" Or "What did I do wrong?" Instead, ask God to give you strength for the trial and a clearer perspective on what is happening. He is your comfort and your guide through difficult times.
God bless you,
J.H. Worthy of the CallPosted Jun-27-07 07:04:28 PDT As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:1-3
God has chosen us to be Christ's representatives on earth. In light of this truth, the apostle Paul challenges us to live lives worthy of the calling we have received - the awesome privilege of being called Christ's very own. This includes being humble, gentle, patient, understanding, and peaceful. People are watching your life. Can they see Christ in you? How well are you doing as His representative? As they say, actions speak louder than words. And that is true. Allow your actions to reflect your belief in Christ today and everyday.
God bless you,
J. H. Our IdentityPosted Jun-25-07 07:17:05 PDT When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
Psalm 8:3-5
When we look at the vast expanse of creation, we wonder how God could be concerned for people who constantly disappoint Him. Yet God created us only a little lower than himself and the angels! The next time you question your worth as a person, remember that God considers you highly valuable. We have great worth, because we bear the stamp of the Creator. Because God has already declared how valuable we are to Him, we can be set free from any feelings of worthlessness. It all has to do with our perception of ourselves. We cannot function outside of that perception. We need to understand who we really are. We need to understand from which our identity is acquired. Our identity is based upon who we are and not what we do. Who we are is based upon our birth. Those of us who are born again are now identified with Christ. Once we identify ourselves with Christ and His sufferings for our sake, only then will we be able to truly live.
God bless you,
JH Eternal SecurityPosted Jun-22-07 05:52:44 PDT Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will not drive away. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my will to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up on the last day."
John 6:35,37-38
People eat bread to satisfy physical hunger and to sustain physical life. In the same way, we can satisfy spiritual hunger and sustain spiritual life, but only by a right relationship with Jesus Christ. No wonder he called himself the bread of life. The bread must be eaten to sustain life, and Christ must be invited into a daily walk to sustain spiritual life. Indeed, by inviting Christ into our lives each day, we are inviting the presence of God Himself. You see, Jesus did not work independently of God the Father, but in complete union with him. This gives us complete assurance of being welcomed into God's presence and being protected by Him. Jesus' ultimate purpose was to do the will of God, not to satisfy his own human desires. But when we follow Jesus, we should have the same purpose: to fulfill the will of God in our lives. Jesus also said that he would not lose even one person whom the Father had given him. Thus anyone who makes a sincere commitment to believe in Jesus Christ as savior is secure in God's promise of eternal life. Christ will simply not let his people be overcome by the world and lose their salvation. Praise the Lord!
God Bless you,
J.H. Dawn of HopePosted Jun-21-07 07:57:34 PDT But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.
Malachi 4:2
In the day of the Lord, God's wrath towards the wicked will burn like a furnace. But he will be like the healing warmth of the sun to those who love and obey him. John the Baptist prophesied that with the coming of Jesus, the dawn was about to break with light for those in sin's darkness. In Isaiah 60:20, we learned that no light will be needed in God's holy city, because God himself will be the light. These last verses of the Old Testament are filled with hope. Regardless of how life looks now, God controls the future, and everything will be made right. We who have loved and served God look forward to a joyful celebration. This hope for the future becomes ours when we trust God with our lives.
God bless you,
J.H. PerseverancePosted Jun-20-07 06:14:35 PDT But we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Romans 5:3-5
Four first-century Christians, suffering was the rule rather than the exception. The apostle Paul tells us that in the future we will become, but until then we must overcome. This means we will experience difficulties that help us grow. We rejoice in suffering, not because we like pain or deny its tragedy, but because we know God is using life's difficulties to build our character. The problem that we run into will develop our perseverance - which in turn will strengthen our character, deepen our trust in God, and give us greater confidence about the future. You probably find your patience tested in some way every day. Thank God for those opportunities to grow, and deal with them in His strength, not your own. His strength is all that matters.
God bless you,
J. H. You are Not AlonePosted Jun-19-07 06:01:36 PDT Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30
A yoke is a heavy wooden harness that fits over the shoulders of an ox. It is attached to a piece of equipment the ox is to pull. When Jesus refers to the yoke, he is not talking about eggs, but is speaking of something that weighs us down spiritually and mentally that prevents us from walking completely upright. A person may be carrying heavy burdens of sin, oppression and persecution, weariness in the search for God, or financial insecurity. Jesus frees people from all of these burdens. The rest that Jesus promises is love, healing, and peace with God, not the end of all labor and hard work. A relationship with God changes meaningless, wearisome toil into spiritual productivity and purpose. We are finally able to achieve our destiny in Christ once we realize that we are not supposed to do it all by ourselves.
God bless you,
J.H. Rules and RelationshipPosted Jun-18-07 06:57:08 PDT I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.
Psalm 119:10-11,16
Hiding (keeping) God's Word in our hearts is a deterrent to sin. This alone should inspire us to memorize Scripture. But memorization alone will not keep us from sin; we must also put God's Word to work in our lives, making it a vital guide for everything we do. Most of us chafe under rules, for we think they restrict us from doing what we want. But God's laws were given to free us to be all he wants is to be. They restrict us from doing what might cripple us and keep us from being our best. God's guidelines help us follow his path and avoid paths that lead destruction. We need to remember the reasons behind our motivation. We do what we do not because we have to, but rather, we do what we do because of Who He Is. It is all about relationship. And our response to him is indicative of the strength and closeness of that relationship.
God bless you,
J.H. The Path of the RighteousPosted Jun-16-07 07:16:13 PDT The path of the righteous is level; O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth. Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning, my spirit longs for you.
Isaiah 26:7-9
At times, the "path of the righteous" doesn't seem smooth at all and it isn't easy to do God's will, but we have to remember that we are never alone when we face tough times. God is there to help us through every difficulty, to comfort us, and to lead us through. God does this by giving us a purpose (keeping our mind centered on him) and giving us provisions as we travel along our journey. God provides us with relationships of family, friends, and mentors to aid us with knowledge and discernment. God gives us wisdom to make decisions and faith to trust him. Do not despair; stay on God's path. It is the only path to true joy and peace.
God bless you,
J.H. Be Content in all CircumstancesPosted Jun-15-07 07:30:15 PDT I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:11-13
Are you content in any circumstances you face? The apostle Paul knew how to be content whether he had plenty or whether he was in need. The secret is drawing on Christ's power for strength. Do you have great needs, or are you discontented because you don't have what you want? Learn to rely on God's promises and Christ's power to help you be content. If you always want more, ask God to remove the desire to teach you contentment in every circumstance. He will supply all your needs, but in a way that he knows is best for you. Paul was content because he could see life from God's perspective. He focused on what he was supposed to do, not what he felt he should have. Paul had his priorities straight, he was grateful for everything God had given him. Paul had detached himself from the nonessentials so that he could concentrate on the eternal. Often, the desire for more or better possessions is really a longing to fill an empty place in a person's life. To what are you drawn when you feel empty inside? How can you find true contentment? The answer lies in your perspective, your priorities, and your source of power.
Can we really do everything? The power we receive in union with Christ is sufficient to do his will and to face the challenges that arise from our commitment to doing it. He does not grant a superhuman ability to accomplish anything we can imagine without regard to his interests. As we contend for the faith we will face troubles, pressures, and trials. As they come, ask Christ to strengthen you. He will.
God Bless you,
J.H. The Law of the HarvestPosted Jun-07-07 06:33:20 PDT Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
Proverbs 13:6
Living right is like posting a guard for your life. Every choice for good sets into motion other opportunities for good. Evil choices follow the same pattern, but in the opposite direction. Each decision you make to obey God's Word will bring a greater sense of order to your life, while each decision to disobey will bring confusion and destruction. The right choices you make reflect your integrity. As a parent and teacher, it is easy for us to tell our kids that their actions have consequences, especially when we are the ones who impose many of those consequences. It is a little bit more difficult to put our self in the place of those same kids to whom we give advice and understand that even our actions also have real consequences. God has set forth the law of the harvest. The law of the harvest simply states, "you reap what you sow." If you sow goodness, that you will also reap. What are you sowing today?
God bless you,
J.H. On TruthfulnessPosted Jun-06-07 06:40:51 PDT He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God his savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
Psalm 24:4-6
Swearing by what is false means telling lies under oath. How greatly God values honesty! Dishonesty comes easily, especially when complete truthfulness could cost us something, make us uncomfortable, or put us in an unfavorable light. Above all, dishonest communication hinders relationships. Without honesty, a relationship with God is impossible. If we lie to others, we will begin to deceive ourselves. God cannot hear us or speak to us if we are building a wall of self-deception. Truth is not relative, it is absolute. And being untruthful, especially with yourself, has some very real and serious consequences. It may be time to take a good, long, hard look in the mirror and allow God to reveal some of the more unsightly facets of our personalities. Once they are revealed, they can be removed. Once they are removed, we will become more like Him. By His Grace.
God Bless you,
J.H. Imitators of GodPosted Jun-05-07 06:21:00 PDT Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5:1-2
Just as children imitate their parents, we should imitate Christ. His great love for us led him to sacrifice himself so that we might live. Our love for others should be of the same kind - a love that goes beyond affection to self-sacrificing service. When we are children, it is all about us. As we grow older, we slowly begin to realize it's really not about us at all. Love is giving and love is kind. Love is putting other people's needs, wants and desires before our own. That is what Christ did for us, and that is what we should do for others. Yes, it is that simple.
God bless you,
J.H. The TrinityPosted Jun-04-07 06:26:32 PDT Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Matthew 28:19-20
Jesus' words affirm the reality of the Trinity. Some people accuse theologians of making up the concept of the Trinity and reading it into Scripture. As we see here, the concept comes directly from Jesus himself. He did not say baptize them into the names, but in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The word Trinity does not occur in Scripture, but well describes the three-in-one nature of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus was with the disciples physically until He ascended into heaven, and then again spiritually through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would be Jesus' presence that would never leave them. Jesus continues to be with us today, through His Spirit. God's Promise to never leave us, nor forsake us is kept to this day. Taste and see that the Lord is good.
God Bless you,
J.H. Be Content With What You HavePosted Jun-01-07 06:26:55 PDT Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
Hebrews 13:5-6
How can we learn to be content? Strive to live with less rather than desiring more; give away out of your abundance rather than accumulating more; relish what you have, rather than resent what you are missing. See God's love expressed in what he has provided, and remember that money and possessions will all pass away. When we become content, we realize God's sufficiency for our needs. Christians who become materialistic are saying by their actions that God cannot take care of them - or at least that he won't take care of them the way they want. Insecurity can lead to the love of money, whether we are rich or poor. The only antidote is to trust God to meet all of our needs.
God bless you,
J.H. |
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