Thoughts#2361

Learn from one another

Let us be focused on peace and mutual learning

We must pursue and share peace if we are going to have it ourselves. We must edify, and be open to being edified, if mutual edification is going to happen. In other words, we live with other people in God's family. He wants us to be responsible for making relationships work in our spiritual family. He reminds us it will require strenuous effort.

Love means sacrifice, effort, and concern for others. 

Let us ask God to forgive us for our impatience and selfishness. Ask God to help us to defeat the bad attitude of competitiveness that we often display in arguments and disagreements with others in our family. Let us ask God to energize us by His Spirit to see areas where we can be a blessing and an encouragement to others.

Romans 14:19   

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

2361

Thoughts#2360

Undivided and indivisible

Let us ask God to help us

never to be a party to any division within the body of Christ.

to be perfectly united in mind and heart with all others who follow God.

from misplacing our loyalties

to be  of one mind.

to be together and in agreement.

to be like-minded, having the same love, one in spirit and purpose.

Philippians 2:1-2

Imitating Christ's Humility

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose

2360

Thoughts#2359

Avoid foolish questions

Our days are few, and are far better spent in doing good, than

in disputing over matters which are, at best, of minor importance and

incessant discussion of subjects of no practical importance

Questions upon

points wherein Scripture is silent;

mysteries which belong to God alone;

prophecies of doubtful interpretation; and

mere modes of observing human ceremonials,

are all foolish, and wise men avoid them. Our business is neither to ask nor answer foolish questions, but to avoid them altogether; and if we observe the apostle's precept (Titus 3:8) to be careful to maintain good works, we shall find ourselves far too much occupied with profitable business to take much interest in unworthy, contentious, and needless strivings.

Titus 3:9 

Avoid foolish questions.

2359

Thoughts#2358

HIS consolation

        

God is our comforter, sustainer, and Lord. Only his gracious presence and tender blessings can bring relief and comfort to our restless and discouraged souls. So let us turn to him, honestly confessing both our sins and our sorrows. Let us ask him to take our anxiety away and restore to us the passion, the joy, and the confidence of our salvation.

Let us ask God to minister to us through His Holy Spirit. We need His comfort and peace. Let us  ask for His presence and His grace.

Psalm 94 : 19   

When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.

2358

Thoughts#2357

Knowledge of God

‘Knowledge of God’  means knowledge that has been revealed directly to our heart by the Spirit of God. It is revelation knowledge .The lack of this kind of knowledge has caused more faith failures than anything else I know. That is because most Christians believe the Word with their minds, but they have not meditated on it enough. If they had, that Word would absolutely revolutionize their lives.

If you need something from God, determine right now that you are going to do. Determine that you are going to meditate the Word until you get a revelation. Keep that Word before you until you receive a revelation of Jesus as your healer or your deliverer or your financier--whatever you need Him to be. Do not settle for a shallow mental understanding of Him. Get a deep revelation and His grace will be multiplied to you!

2 Peter 1:2

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.

2357

Thoughts#2356

Finish His work

Do you have grand dreams for God’s glory ?

   

What incredible ideas can you imagine requesting that God would bring to realization? What are your hope of heaven with God?

Are you ready for some down to earth truth straight from the Marvel of heaven?

God’s power is at work in us to do His glorious will and finish His eternal purposes. So let us not set our sights too low and expect too little. Live for His glory and expect to see it at work in our life.

Ephesians 3:20-21   

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

2356

Thoughts#2354

Do not be afraid

How can we be certain in what happens today?

What is our guarantee for tomorrow?

Where do we gather excitement about eternity?

The Lord is our helper! Fear will not be our master because our future, our destiny, our eternity rest in the hands of the eternal Lord. The worst that man can do is to send me home to my Lord.

Hebrews 13:6   

So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

2354

Thoughts#2353

Focusing on God

Why is it difficult

to fix our Thoughts   on God,

to being aware of God,

to willfully put our Thoughts   on God

to draw our Thoughts   back to Him as often as they wander.

We may enjoy the things around us that spoke of God’s majesty and the beauty that God created. We are also thankful for the opportunity to enjoy time with our loved ones. Yet our Thoughts   are not singularly set on God.

It was not until the way become very difficult that our attention became focused on God. As our focus had narrowed in, no energy was spent on wandering  Thoughts  , but instead God completely filled our mind. God alone was the centre, the point of convergence of all our reflection.

Let us ask God to use times of intense experience to teach me how fully and acutely we can be aware of His presence.

Hebrews 12:2

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith

2353

Thoughts#2352

LO V E

God is love. God is also the source of love. He pours love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5).

To make our churches, our families, our small groups, and communities more loving, we pray for God to grow the love.

Let us ask God

to  use us to help be an example of love to those around us.

to pour His love into our hearts through His Spirit

to channel that love out of our life to others.

to help the loving spirit in our congregation grow more and more, not just to each

other, but also to those around us who are not part of His Kingdom family.

1 Thessalonians 3:12   

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.

2352

Thoughts#2351

Prayer

Christians must pray much more frequently to God.

               

Jesus has sent his church into the world on the same errand upon which he himself came, and this mission includes intercession.

The door of grace is always open for our petitions, and our prayers will always be answered.

Most churches conduct regular prayer meetings all the days in the year, and we are never be without a special subject for supplication.

the sick and the poor,

the afflicted and the wavering

those who seek the conversion of relatives,

the reclaiming of back-sliders, 

the salvation of the depraved

Luke 18:1

Men ought always to pray.

2351

Thoughts#2350

 Finding fault with others

So often we can find fault with others, pass judgment on them about some inconsequential matter, but then never deal with the unashamed sin in our own life. Let us remember that we will answer to God for what we do every bit as much as someone we are wrongly passing judgment upon.

   

Please be reminded

whose job it is to judge these sorts of matters.

that the person we are judging actually belongs to the Lord and what right do we have to pass judgment on that person.

Let us ask God to forgive us. Let us confess that we have wrongly passed judgment on others when we had no right or authority to do so..

Romans 14:4   

Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

2350

Thoughts#2349

 How to please HIM

   

Want to know something you can do that will please God?

Rejoice in his grace.

Pray for others.

Give thanks for your blessings.

It is so simple and this is something that He wants us to do.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  

Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

2349

Thoughts#2348

 Under pressure

Are you under pressure these days ?

Satan is putting more pressure on us mentally, financially, emotionally and every other way he can.

Praise God, Jesus says we can give our way right out from under any pressure the devil brings to bear.

When Satan puts you under pressure, go to Jesus and let Him tell you how and where to release you from the pressure the devil has been putting on you.

Galatians 6:7

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

2348

Thoughts#2347

 Waiting

Sometimes when God's answer seems to take too long I find myself  beginning to lose heart. My trust in God may even waver.  

And then God speaks.  His Word touches my heart and He tells me what  to do.  He tells me how to wait.

Are you waiting for God's intervention or His answer?  

Change your waiting.   Stop waiting for the answer, trust God with the timing, and start waiting on God to strengthen you to do what He has set in your path Jul2012.  Days, weeks, even months and years can be wasted if we put our focus on the waiting and not on our God.  

Psalm 27:14

Wait on the Lord.   Be of good courage and He shall strengthen your  heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord 

2347

Thoughts#2346

 The one and only thing we must do is  -  Abide in Jesus.

The one thing you are truly responsible for is your union with Him. If  you keep your union and fellowship with Him intact, everything else  will be taken care of.

Do not fall into the devil's trap. Instead, keep your Thoughts   and  affections trained on the Lord. As you do that, the force of faith will begin to flow out of you. And that flow will repel every form of darkness. It will bring you in triumph through every storm.

John 15:6

If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered

2346

Thoughts#2345

 Give HIM only the best

Honoring God comes first in everything. We do not give him the last, the least, or the leftovers. He gave us his best, most precious, and most perfect of gifts -- his Son Jesus.

How could we give him anything less than our best, our first, and our most precious?

Proverbs 3:9   

Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops…

2345

Thoughts#2344

 Looking for love, joy and peace ?

The Holy Spirit has pure spiritual power. Love is so powerful, the scripture says, that it never fails. Patience is so powerful it cannot be stopped. No matter what the circumstances, it will not quit. Self-control is so powerful it can master all the uncontrollable desires of your flesh.

The fruits of the Spirit are strong. So strong that if you will let them flow out of you, they will correct the problems in your life. They will keep you steadfast when all the people around you are falling down. They will keep you on your feet in all circumstances and situations.

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

2344

Thoughts#2343

 I am not weak

Jesus gave all Christians  the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; Titus 3:3-7). The Spirit lives in us, making our bodies a Temple (1 Cor. 6:19-20) and blessing us in many ways (Romans 8).

We can be courageous people even in the face of attack, criticism, and ridicule because of the Spirit's presence. The fruit that the Spirit produces (Gal. 5:22-23) and the love that the Spirit pours into our heart (Rom. 5:5) do not make us weak. Instead, the Spirit's presence is a powerful force to help us overcome sin (Rom. 8:13) and live self-disciplined lives.

2 Timothy 1:7

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline

2343

Thoughts#2342

 Our future

God not only buys us out of our bondage and debt to sin, but he also promises us that he will provide protection for those who trust in him. Our future is tied to him and not to our ability to provide and protect what we need.

Psalm 34:22

The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.

2342

Thoughts#2341

 The unheeded secret

The great enemy to the Lord Jesus Christ in the present day is no private life with God. The emphasis is put on the wrong thing.

The central thing about the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a personal relationship to Himself, not public usefulness to men.

      John 18:36

      My kingdom is not of this world.

2341

Thoughts#2340

 I am not mine

After sanctification it is difficult to state what your aim in life is. If you seek great things for yourself, you are putting a barrier to God’s use of you. As long as you have a personal interest  or ambition, you cannot get through into identification with God’s interest. You will need to lose any idea of yourself and let God take you right out into His purpose for the world. Unless your goings are of the Lord, you can never understand your ways. This is because God has taken you up into His purpose ; He is using you now for His purposes throughout the world as He used His Son for the purpose of our salvation.

1 Thessalonians 3:2

            Fellow labourer in the gospel of Christ.

2340

Thoughts#2339

 HE is always near

Do not let troubles or heartache lead you to pull away from God or doubt his nearness. Let him draw close to you.

   

The LORD is near!

The LORD is present!

The LORD is close!

He walked among us in ministry. He suffered with us and for us at Calvary. We know that in tragedy, trial, heartbreak, and brokenness He is near to us to save us.

Psalm 34:18

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

2339

Thoughts#2338

 Go to HIM

Deliverance! A great theme of the Bible is that God is a God of deliverance who keeps his promises and faithfully shares his grace, mercy, and justice. Let this promise stir you to righteous living and to

cry out to God in all your troubles.

cry out to God with the praises, questions, and wounds that life brings.

Let his presence be real to you and your heart open to him.

Psalm 34:17

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.

2338

Thoughts#2337

 Do not do evil deeds

God hates violence and demands that we not admire those who are violent or share in their violent lifestyle. (Proverbs. 3:31) God abhors those who do evil. God not only opposes them when they are alive, he also mitigates their influence after they are gone. He helps them be seen for what they really are. Far from being viewed as heroes, their legacy of hate and wickedness is spurned, shunned, scandalized, and forgotten.

Psalm 34:16

The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

2337

Thoughts#2336

 HE is always around

We are righteous

       because of God's grace.

We are remembered

       because of God's faithfulness.

We are heard

       because of God's faithfulness.

We are blessed

       because God is God.

Psalm 34:15

The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry...

2336

Thoughts#2335

 Be forgiving

Somebody has done you wrong.  It happens to all of us.  Somewhere along the way, we all get hurt or cheated or lied to or  abused. It's as predictable as it is painful. Yet when it happens most  of us find ourselves strangely unprepared. In our outrage, we often  cry out to God against the one who wronged us. We ask for justice,  or even vengeance, and end up making things tougher on everyone  involved--including ourselves.

Crying out for the vengeance of God when somebody does us wrong is not acting like our Father. Remember  God has great, great mercy. Not just for me and you, but for everyone! Next time someone causes you pain, put the power of love to work  for you.

Luke 10:19

"Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions,  and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means  hurt you."

2335

Thoughts#2334

 Be careful how we live

Even though we are God's holy children, we also need to be aware of what time it is in our world. The evil one still exercises his control over the hearts of many people. God wants us to  make the most of every opportunity we have to touch the lives of others with his grace and to resist the temptation and overcome the opposition of the evil one.

Ephesians 5:15-16

Be very careful, then, how you live -- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

2334

Thoughts#2333

 Faith

Some aspects of faith are beyond description: they can only be experienced and known by doing them. Taste the Lord. Sample his goodness. Lean on his grace. Take protection in his care. We are blessed to find him near and take our protection from life's greatest dangers and death's greatest fears.

Psalm 34:8

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

2333

Thoughts#2332

 Who do you trust ?

This is an important question.

Pay close attention to my answer,

To trust Him whose

power will never be worn out,

love will never decrease,

kindness will never change,

faithfulness will never fail,

wisdom will never be confused,

perfect goodness can never be diminished

You will be a happy man if these are your trust. 

Isaiah 36:5

You say you have strategy and military strength— but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel against me?

2332

Thoughts#2331

 Help those in need

Psalm 34:6

This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.

    

So few hear the cry of the poor or respond to the troubles of the underprivileged. If we are going to be true children of God, His values must become our own, His lost sheep must become our search.

Let's help others around us who are in need.

2331