“The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.” (Isaiah 32:17) The change that we need in any relationship will begin with us. We can spend more time questioning or blaming the person in our relationships than seeking God’s righteousness. Blaming may feel good in the moment, but it's dangerous because it can lead to anger and resentment. Dr. Gottman, an expert on relationships, believes that conflict is not a bad thing in relationships. He believes that the saving grace in any relationship is not the conflict but how we repair the conflict. He contends that people who have mastered healthy relationships are the ones who “take responsibility for their role in the issue and change their behavior.” “Instead of criticizing the people in our lives, let’s remind them of all the things we appreciate about them. When people feel criticized, disliked, and unappreciated they feel under siege and dig in to protect themselves.” A flurry of misspoken words and actions can ensue. In those moments we may think that it’s impossible to take responsibility and walk in God’s righteousness, when we are hurting ourselves. Yet, we know all things are possible with God. Charles Spurgeon preached this advice, get as much light in us as we can, which allows us to see ourselves and not look upon the wrongdoing of others. “The housewife, when she is busy about her house, with curtains drawn, she may have dusted all the tables, and think everything looks clean; but she opens a little corner of the window, and in streams a ray of light, in which ten thousand grains of dust are dancing up and down. ‘Ah!’ She thinks, ‘my room is not as clean as I thought it was. There is still more dust.’ Now, endeavor to resist judging others, but allow the Holy Spirit to stream into our hearts and it will help us to detect our own shortcomings. Detection is half of the cure.” Taking responsibility and submitting them to God is the other. “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17, KJV) GiGi❤️
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The discipline to stop and think before we speak or act is a reflection of who we are. Proverbs 18:21 reads, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Today, the tongue is not just spoken words but can be posted on many online forums. Once words have been spoken we cannot take them back. Our words say so much about our character. Scientists, psychologists and linguists study the use of words and are able to determine issues of self-esteem, depression, lying, perspective, positivity, etc. If an individual does not know us, they will after we speak. They will also know who we are after we send that text or tweet. Alas, if nothing else, we have to remember who we are. If we say we love the Lord, let that love be reflected in our choice of words. Let us also be mindful that our choice of words are a reflection of what we treasure in our hearts (Luke 6:45). James offers us a recipe for success: Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving]. (James 1:9 AMPH) This is HEART work and this is us giving life rather than taking it. GiGi❤️ Being present is such a stress reliever as it reduces anxiety. It allows us to hear from God without all of the distraction. Also, being present helps to usher in prayer. But the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. (1King 19:11-12, KJV) But, how is it possible to hear God's still small voice with the clutter of anxious thoughts, or weighed down with emotion? There is no way of stopping the thoughts from continually coming but we can stop them from overtaking us. In the initial phase of getting alone in the silence, you learn to let the thoughts come, and then you give them up. You let them go because they are the seedbed of distraction. We handle them by releasing them and allowing God to take them. Dear Lord, help us to be present today and bring every thought captive to your obedience. Show us how to turn distracting thoughts and emotions into prayers, then listen for your still small voice, that will provide us direction and peace. GiGi❤️ So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. -I Kings 19: 19-20 The loneliness of ministry and the isolation of the cave caused Elijah to feel like he was indeed the only one God had left. For this reason, the only thing left for God to now do was to command him to go find some help. Elijah felt alone because he was alone. He felt overwhelmed because he was trying to do everything alone. He had a sense of powerlessness because he was attempting to carry the load alone. So, what he did was found Elisha the son of Shaphat. Finding Elisha solved several problems for Elijah: 1. Elisha gave Elijah someone to share the load. Elisha was another person, but also a younger person. This added strength would not only lighten the prophet's load. It might have also had the effect of extending his life. 2. Elisha gave Elijah someone to show the ropes. God forbid that Elijah would leave the planet without pouring all that was in him into someone else. Thus, Elisha became a willing receptacle to receive all that Elijah was able to show him. 3. Elisha gave Elijah someone on whom to shift the ministry. When Elijah cast his mantle upon Elisha, what he was doing was shifting his ministry to him. That is what actually happened. When Elijah was taken away into heaven, Elisha caught his mantle and picked up where he left off without ever missing a beat. If you are weary and worn out as you read this today, maybe the answer is to go find an Elisha (or Elishette) who you can mentor and who can help you finish and carry on what God has already begun in you. Pastor Benjamin Morris There are seasons for all things. Seasons of preparation, seasons of test, seasons of stress, seasons of joy, seasons of challenge, seasons of rest. Seasons of demotion, seasons of promotion! A season when the devil is allowed to attack, and seasons of victory, seasons of celebration. Through all seasons- give thanks! “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV “I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.” Psalms 7:17 NIV “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:4-6 NIV No matter what your season is today - give thanks in it all! May the joy of the Lord be with you in every season today and always! Give Him ALL the praise! Nikkie 💞 As long as we live, and regardless of how strong we are, we will contend with our flesh as we struggle with thoughts that influence our self perception, self esteem, self worth, etc. Someone can say something to us and circumstances can provoke the recall of messages that were spoken to us as children, or experiences that shaped and molded who we are today. In Song of Solomon 6, the Shulamite woman’s inner struggle is on display and is described as a battle between two armies (13). Inner conflict manifests when the Word of God informs us of who we are, and our flesh speaks to us in opposition. The flesh contends that we are less than and should be, feel, or look like someone other than who we are. There’s the tendency to use demand-based thinking with the use of words such as, "should," "must," "ought to," "have to," and "need to." This type of thinking can induce a mental state, such as depression that can cause us to withdraw, change our countenance, level of energy and motivation. The new nature which God implants in his people is directly the opposite of the old one. As the old nature comes of Satan, being defiled and depraved by the fall, so the new nature comes direct from heaven, pure and without spot. As the old nature is sin, is essentially sin, so the new nature is essentially grace—it is a living and incorruptible seed which lives and abides forever, a seed which cannot sin, because it is born of God. When these two come into conflict, it is as fire and water meet—either the one or the other must die. Now the old nature was here before the new nature; it is like a tree well rooted—it has been there twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, or sixty years, according to the date of conversion, and it is not easily torn up by its roots. Even when grace comes into the heart and makes sin to fall, the stump is left, and there is enough vitality in that old stump still to breed the pain” of old experiences and negative messaging that we have endured. Charles Spurgeon The Word of God is our invitation to “Return, return, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the company of two armies,” (Song of Solomon 6:13). If we find ourselves struggling inwardly today, let us, “recover the peace lost and come back to our former composedness and cheerfulness of spirit." Dear Lord, help us to rise up today from our state of discomfort. Help us to return and make peace with You so that we can “lift up our face without spot.” Help us to state with confidence, “I should,” “I must,” “I ought to,” “I have to,” and “I need to” be, look like, and do what you have called me to and not man. Remind us again and again that we are enough in You. GiGi❤️ Mordecai had to remind Esther that, although she was a queen surrounded by luxury, ultimately she had been placed there by God for such a time as this. “God’s intent is to educate his people by affliction, and we must not therefore dream that an event is not providential because it is grievous.” We are to enjoy the blessing but the affliction is also providential. “Then Mordecai told them to answer Esther, "Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace, more than all the Jews. For if you altogether hold your peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knows whether you are come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13-14, KJV) Spurgeon wrote: To each of us there is a share in the purposes of Heaven and this is a large enough kingdom! Who knows, Brother or Sister, whether you are put in your family to save your family? Who knows whether you are made to live on your street to bless that street? Who knows whether you have that job so that you can be a blessing to your co-workers? Who knows whether you are put into that nation to save that nation? Yes, put into the world, in Christ’s name, to save the world? Aspire to great things for God! Instead of asking God to remove the affliction, to move the mountain, perhaps we should inquire, “what practical purpose has God placed each one of us where now are now?” Let us look around today and assess God’s blessings. With a grateful heart, we do not take our blessings for granted. And just like Esther, we are reminded that if we are not willing to allow God to use us after all of the learning, all of the word, all of the prayer, all of the praise, then the “enlargement and deliverance will arise to His people from another place.” Dear Lord, we commit ourselves, our marriage, children, grandchildren, relationships, job, home, church, community, all to you. For, it was you who provided these blessings. We are where we are, in this moment, for a reason. Please help us to submit to you so that you can use us right where we are, in whatever situation we find ourselves in. “Dismiss us not from your service Lord, but train us for your will, for such a time as this.” Let God Use You! GiGi❤️ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11: 1) What the writer of Hebrews means when he says that faith is the substance of things hoped for is that faith is driven by hope. Hope is the switch which activates faith. Where there is no hope, there is no need for faith. People tend to have faith which matches their hopes. Have you ever wondered why a woman has faith that she can somehow redecorate her house while her husband doesn't think they can afford it? Then, at the same time, her husband has faith that somehow he can get a new car when his wife thinks it is too expensive. The reason is simple. They each have different hopes and they use their own faith to make them believe in the possibility of what they hope for. Later on in Hebrews chapter 11, we read that without faith it is impossible to please God. Today's portion of Hebrews 11:1 affirms that without hope, it is impossible to have faith. Therefore, if you find that your faith seems weak, never lose hope! Pastor Benjamin Morris A member of a church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited. The pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead. Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting.The pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it. As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, 'Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the firey sermon. I will be back in church next Sunday.' We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken. The God that is Greater than all loves you! My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one. John 20:29-30 What is most valuable is not what we have in our lives, but WHO we have at the head of our lives! Nikkie❤️ Sometimes it’s not that clear but I think we all have experienced what it feels like to be led by the Spirit. You don’t seek another’s opinion, you are not being led by emotions. You feel guided and so you just do, go, pray. There’s a story of a man who got up in the middle of the night and felt compelled to drive over to his friend’s home. He didn’t question God but felt strongly that he had to go. When he got there he told his friend, “I don’t know why, but surely the Lord has some reason for sending me here. Is everything alright?” The friend stood in amazement, asked him to come up the stairs, and showed him a rope tied to a beam. He was putting the rope about his neck to commit suicide when a knock sounded at the door, he decided that he would go down, see who it was, and then return and finish what he started. But it turned out that the visit from a friend helped him to calm down and refocus. He would go on to live an honourable Christian life. Now that’s being led. When people are driven they move furiously, fanatically, and don't stop to think, as if they are forcing the decision. Spurgeon wrote that the devil is a driver and reminds us of the herd of pigs that were driven off the cliff into the sea. That provides us with a good visual, doesn’t it? Frantic movement is moving so fast that we can’t hear God’s, No! The scripture reads, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.,” Romans 8:14 (KJV). The Spirit of God is a sweet and quiet Spirit. “He treats us as intelligent beings, made for thought and reflection.” Thus, the Lord’s leading will not be in our feelings or emotions but will be thoughtful and honorable. Dear Lord, help us to pause, and breathe when we are caught between two decisions. Help us to get out of our feelings and emotions and seek your direction. Strengthen our confidence in you because, even if it's a hard decision we know that you will be by our side every step of the way. Remember, the Spirit of God Leads, the Devil Drives! GiGi❤️ |
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