"The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins,. Offer hospitality to one another with out grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ."
- 1 Peter 7-11
There is not much to say here. It is packed with great reminders of how to live and what we need to do in our own lives. For these very reasons we need to be reading the Word everyday. We so easily forget or slip into our own attitudes and plan for our lives, that reading a passage like this reminds us of what really is important.
I have to continually remind myself that my life is not all about me and that praise and glory needs to be brought to God through the way I live.
Thought for the Day: Are we living our lives like God has called us to: loving deeply, providing hospitality without grumbling, using your gifts and when speaking, speaking the very words of God?
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Wives and Submission...yes, I went there
“Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the work, they may be won over without words but by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives….Your beauty should come from your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy woman of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful.”
- 1 Peter 3:1-5
It is interesting that this was the verse that I read today. I was just talking with a friend about what we had observed with wives and how they treat their husbands. Or how we treat our own for that matter. The Bible is very clear that wives are to be submissive to their husbands. I know woman don’t like to hear this and can be turned off by this verse.
When you look at what it means for the woman to be submissive here, the NIV study Bible says, “Inferiority is not implied by this passage. The submission is one of role or function necessary for the orderly operation of the home.” That puts a new spin on the verse.
When you think about it woman for some reason try to dictate, demand and control in the home. Things should be a certain way, the husband should act a certain way or do what we need them to do in order for the house to function properly. How well does this work our? It doesn’t.
Even wonder why your home can be so chaotic and why the husband doesn’t seem to lead the way you think he should? Well, the reason things are this way is because we as wives but in and try to be in control. It doesn’t work to have two leaders and no followers. The word is clear that woman are to be submissive.
Imagine living in a peaceful home where the husband is allowed to lead and you can follow knowing that its what God has called you both to do. This does not mean the husband is allowed to assert full control over the wife and do whatever he wants because the Bible is also clear that men and woman are equal and to be partners. It does mean allowing each person to fulfill the role God has called them to.
This verse even talks about how a woman can win over her non-Christian husband by her acts and that beauty comes from a quiet and gentle spirit. Wives what kind of spirit have you been showing to your husband? Is it controlling, overbearing, needy, complacent, disrespectful and contemptuous or is it one of gentleness, kindness, love, patience and submission? Think about it, if you have the first attributes, I can pretty much guarantee that you are not being submissive and your household can feel very tense at times. If you have the second, you may feel peace and comfort knowing you are living how God has called you.
Living in submission to our husbands is not easy all the time. Living with loving characteristics and behavior that reflects inner beauty is not always easy either. Just because its not easy doesn’t mean we don’t try and when we try and give up, we try again. It is a process. Our sinful nature will always want to direct us to try to control our husbands. If we were naturally submissive, this wouldn’t be an issue.
I want to challenge the woman out there to try to put their husbands in the place that God has put them as the head of the household. Woman try to be submissive for the sake of order in the home. Try to have a gentle and quiet spirit and see what results. Men are not stupid idiots who cant lead if given the chance. Let them be who God called them to be, men of leadership and integrity. When we try to lead we squelch the spirit and can destroy our own home. Be a person of action and practice what the Word says.
Thought for the Day: Take it one day at a time. Take today and be quiet and gentle allowing your husband to lead…today, the next day and the next then let it build till you can see he truly is who God has called him to be.
- 1 Peter 3:1-5
It is interesting that this was the verse that I read today. I was just talking with a friend about what we had observed with wives and how they treat their husbands. Or how we treat our own for that matter. The Bible is very clear that wives are to be submissive to their husbands. I know woman don’t like to hear this and can be turned off by this verse.
When you look at what it means for the woman to be submissive here, the NIV study Bible says, “Inferiority is not implied by this passage. The submission is one of role or function necessary for the orderly operation of the home.” That puts a new spin on the verse.
When you think about it woman for some reason try to dictate, demand and control in the home. Things should be a certain way, the husband should act a certain way or do what we need them to do in order for the house to function properly. How well does this work our? It doesn’t.
Even wonder why your home can be so chaotic and why the husband doesn’t seem to lead the way you think he should? Well, the reason things are this way is because we as wives but in and try to be in control. It doesn’t work to have two leaders and no followers. The word is clear that woman are to be submissive.
Imagine living in a peaceful home where the husband is allowed to lead and you can follow knowing that its what God has called you both to do. This does not mean the husband is allowed to assert full control over the wife and do whatever he wants because the Bible is also clear that men and woman are equal and to be partners. It does mean allowing each person to fulfill the role God has called them to.
This verse even talks about how a woman can win over her non-Christian husband by her acts and that beauty comes from a quiet and gentle spirit. Wives what kind of spirit have you been showing to your husband? Is it controlling, overbearing, needy, complacent, disrespectful and contemptuous or is it one of gentleness, kindness, love, patience and submission? Think about it, if you have the first attributes, I can pretty much guarantee that you are not being submissive and your household can feel very tense at times. If you have the second, you may feel peace and comfort knowing you are living how God has called you.
Living in submission to our husbands is not easy all the time. Living with loving characteristics and behavior that reflects inner beauty is not always easy either. Just because its not easy doesn’t mean we don’t try and when we try and give up, we try again. It is a process. Our sinful nature will always want to direct us to try to control our husbands. If we were naturally submissive, this wouldn’t be an issue.
I want to challenge the woman out there to try to put their husbands in the place that God has put them as the head of the household. Woman try to be submissive for the sake of order in the home. Try to have a gentle and quiet spirit and see what results. Men are not stupid idiots who cant lead if given the chance. Let them be who God called them to be, men of leadership and integrity. When we try to lead we squelch the spirit and can destroy our own home. Be a person of action and practice what the Word says.
Thought for the Day: Take it one day at a time. Take today and be quiet and gentle allowing your husband to lead…today, the next day and the next then let it build till you can see he truly is who God has called him to be.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Thoughts about Christmas
As Christmas approaches, I am reminded of family and all the things that come along with everyone being together. One could say, just say drama. We all know what I am talking about. Who’s house to go to and who not to be around. Reminders of things past, positive and negative.
No wonder Christmas is the best time of year. Avoidance….denial….reminders…good times…and unwanted memories are to come. We all have a past. Family just brings it all back up to either haunt us or encourage us. Sadly with all this looming over our heads, we can lose the true focus of what Christmas is truly about.
Put every though away regarding past and what is to come when you see family and think about the reality of the season. Stop and remember that God is what matters. Christmas isn’t a here for our torture or flood of memories. Christmas is about one thing, the fact that God loved us enough to send his son to earth for us.
Sometimes we just need to refocus our thoughts on what really matters. I know family can be hard, memories can be difficult and being alone can be overwhelming. When we can focus on what really matters, God, these things will fade. The tree, the presents, family, customs, traditions, who’s house to be at, who’s house not to be at, who to see and who to avoid….these things don’t matter. Refocus, rethink and remember, God loves us and is always here for us. He showed us that by giving us his son at Christmas and that is all that really matters.
Thought For the Day: Refocus, rethink and remember…God loves us and is always here for us and that is all that really matters.
No wonder Christmas is the best time of year. Avoidance….denial….reminders…good times…and unwanted memories are to come. We all have a past. Family just brings it all back up to either haunt us or encourage us. Sadly with all this looming over our heads, we can lose the true focus of what Christmas is truly about.
Put every though away regarding past and what is to come when you see family and think about the reality of the season. Stop and remember that God is what matters. Christmas isn’t a here for our torture or flood of memories. Christmas is about one thing, the fact that God loved us enough to send his son to earth for us.
Sometimes we just need to refocus our thoughts on what really matters. I know family can be hard, memories can be difficult and being alone can be overwhelming. When we can focus on what really matters, God, these things will fade. The tree, the presents, family, customs, traditions, who’s house to be at, who’s house not to be at, who to see and who to avoid….these things don’t matter. Refocus, rethink and remember, God loves us and is always here for us. He showed us that by giving us his son at Christmas and that is all that really matters.
Thought For the Day: Refocus, rethink and remember…God loves us and is always here for us and that is all that really matters.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Consistant Work
"Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'"
- 1 Peter 1:13-16
Peter was encouraging the readers to be ready when Christ came back. He encouraged people to be prepared, be self-controlled and full of grace. They had no idea when Christ was coming back but Peter still wanted everyone to be prepared.
Are things different today? No, just because we are in a different time and we don't know when Jesus is coming back does not mean we should not be prepared. Just as Peter said prepare your minds for action, be obedient children. Am I preparing my mind? Am I being obedient to what God has called me to? Am I living a life that is in preparation for Christ's coming? I wish the answer to all these questions was yes, but I have to say it is not. How do I change? How do I ensure my life reflects that of Christ and his holiness?
Be in the Word
Pray
Remind myself what is important
Concentrate on God's plan
Trust in God
Believe what God says is true
Think of myself less
Put others first
To refocus my thoughts and life on God and what really matters. His glory is where my thoughts should be.
Thought for the Day: Am I living as if Jesus is coming back?
- 1 Peter 1:13-16
Peter was encouraging the readers to be ready when Christ came back. He encouraged people to be prepared, be self-controlled and full of grace. They had no idea when Christ was coming back but Peter still wanted everyone to be prepared.
Are things different today? No, just because we are in a different time and we don't know when Jesus is coming back does not mean we should not be prepared. Just as Peter said prepare your minds for action, be obedient children. Am I preparing my mind? Am I being obedient to what God has called me to? Am I living a life that is in preparation for Christ's coming? I wish the answer to all these questions was yes, but I have to say it is not. How do I change? How do I ensure my life reflects that of Christ and his holiness?
Be in the Word
Pray
Remind myself what is important
Concentrate on God's plan
Trust in God
Believe what God says is true
Think of myself less
Put others first
To refocus my thoughts and life on God and what really matters. His glory is where my thoughts should be.
Thought for the Day: Am I living as if Jesus is coming back?
Friday, December 2, 2011
Patience and Perseverance
"Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm...Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed all those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy."
- James 5:7-11
The concepts of patience and perseverance have been frequent concepts swarming in my mind as of late. They are both two different concepts that readily need to put hand in hand. We can believe we are being patient when no answers come to our situations, while still having a negative attitude and being stressed beyond belief. But when we put patience and perseverance together we get a whole different picture. There stands the possibility of strength, confidence and even hope.
Patience is not an easy concept to come to accept. God asks that we be patient and wait while also persevering. There are several different circumstances or suffering we have to go through in life that include the vital acceptance of patience. The suffering the prophets went through in the Bible may not be exactly what you are going through but suffering comes in many different forms.
Take a look at your life right now. What suffering are you having to endure? Maybe it's big, maybe its small. We all have to face reality at some point when we are in the midsts of our own or another's suffering. I love how this verse reflects back on Job. He was a man who faced more suffering I believe then any of us ever will. He literally lost everything with exception of his life. If anyone had a reason not to be patient and persevere it was Job.
Job chose to persevere even when those around him told him to give up. His best friends and even his wife told him to give up, give in, let go and just die. Talk about a bummer of people to be around. These were not supportive people that encouraged Job to want to persevere but that is exactly what he did. He choose to trust in God's plan for him. He persevered even when it was most difficult for him and in the end he was blessed with even more then he had before his suffering.
Does this mean that we should only feel happy when suffering? No, that is impossible. What we do need to do is persevere in the midst of feeling unsure about what comes next. We need to be patient and wait of God. When we call out to him, He will help us persevere even in the gravest of situations. As the end of this verse says, "The Lord is full of compassion and Mercy." Whatever your suffering big or small remember God is compassionate and merciful. Be patient and persevere ... God will show up and answer. Who knows you may even be blessed more then you could have ever dreamed.
Thought for the day: Are we willing to be patient and trust in God's mercy and compassion in your suffering?
- James 5:7-11
The concepts of patience and perseverance have been frequent concepts swarming in my mind as of late. They are both two different concepts that readily need to put hand in hand. We can believe we are being patient when no answers come to our situations, while still having a negative attitude and being stressed beyond belief. But when we put patience and perseverance together we get a whole different picture. There stands the possibility of strength, confidence and even hope.
Patience is not an easy concept to come to accept. God asks that we be patient and wait while also persevering. There are several different circumstances or suffering we have to go through in life that include the vital acceptance of patience. The suffering the prophets went through in the Bible may not be exactly what you are going through but suffering comes in many different forms.
Take a look at your life right now. What suffering are you having to endure? Maybe it's big, maybe its small. We all have to face reality at some point when we are in the midsts of our own or another's suffering. I love how this verse reflects back on Job. He was a man who faced more suffering I believe then any of us ever will. He literally lost everything with exception of his life. If anyone had a reason not to be patient and persevere it was Job.
Job chose to persevere even when those around him told him to give up. His best friends and even his wife told him to give up, give in, let go and just die. Talk about a bummer of people to be around. These were not supportive people that encouraged Job to want to persevere but that is exactly what he did. He choose to trust in God's plan for him. He persevered even when it was most difficult for him and in the end he was blessed with even more then he had before his suffering.
Does this mean that we should only feel happy when suffering? No, that is impossible. What we do need to do is persevere in the midst of feeling unsure about what comes next. We need to be patient and wait of God. When we call out to him, He will help us persevere even in the gravest of situations. As the end of this verse says, "The Lord is full of compassion and Mercy." Whatever your suffering big or small remember God is compassionate and merciful. Be patient and persevere ... God will show up and answer. Who knows you may even be blessed more then you could have ever dreamed.
Thought for the day: Are we willing to be patient and trust in God's mercy and compassion in your suffering?
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