Let Go!

If we could only trust our Saviour with our problems, they would be solved beyond anything we could do.  

Notice the hand of Jesus.  He isn't reaching out to grab the problem, but waiting open handed for us to give Him our problem.

Notice the hands of the person holding the problem.  They are holding on tight...just like us and our problems.  We tend to hang on tight.  We want to give them to God.  We say we give them to God, but we take them back, we hang on too tightly.  

We need to 'let go'.   Open our hands up, drop it in the hands of Jesus!

And when those doubts and fear come knocking on our mind's door...Just answer with  "I gave it to God"  

Don't get me wrong.  There are times when we are suppose to work through our problems...like if we get ourselves in financial debt.  We have to fix that; there are many other problems/situations that we cause ourselves.  But it's the fear, the anxiety, the persecution, the hurt, the bitterness, the rage, the jealousy, ... that we need to let go of.

Trust.   Faith.

Forgiveness

Is your life worth His sacrifice?

Christ died for each of us.  
Do we understand the depth of His love, for each of us, that He died in our place?  That He took our punishment, so we can live?

This is a call to all Christians.   We need to stop being a 'Sunday morning Christian'; and start being a '24/7 Christian'.

1. Have we changed our way....Of thinking?  

     "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.  Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

Philippians 4:8

Of talking?  
     "Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behaviour."

2 Timothy 2:16

Of acting? 
     "But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice."

Luke 11:28

Of your responses to others? 
     "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other.   Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.  Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples."

John 13:34 & 35

Of working?
     "Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people" 

Colossians 3:23

     "For we are each responsible for our own conduct"

Galatians 6:5

.......to reflect Christ.


2. What have you done, to show His sacrifice was worth it?

"Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God..."

Luke 3:8

"Think carefully about what is right, and stop sinning. 

For to your shame I say that some of you don't know God at all."

1 Corinthians 15:34

Because if we love Him, and want to show that our life was worth His sacrifice, we need to obey his commands.

     "If you love me, obey my commands."

John 14:15

 

Do I really Matter?

Sometimes we may feel insignificant; like no one see us.  You may feel like you are alone; that no one cares.  You may feel like you don't really matter to anyone at all.

You do matter.

There are times when you may feel like no one is there to give you a hug, when you need one.  Or a listening ear when you talk.   Or a shoulder to cry one when you need one.

There is someone always available.

God sees you.  He knows what is going on in your life.  He laughs with you, listens to you, cries with you, and holds you close in His hand.

Staying Afloat

Keeping our eyes focused on God midst our trouble is often difficult.   We feel like we are drowning and don't know were to look for help. 

 For the past six months, that has been me.
Here is what has been going on.   Back in June of last year, my mom was diagnosed with cancer and had a heart attack.  She had surgery which resulted in the diagnosis of the cancer being at stage three.  In August I got a full time job; turned out to last only three months, because I didn't have the management skills the employers really wanted.  Then our dog died over the Christmas Holidays.  My Mom finished Chemo and started Radiation.  Our furnace quit beginning of January and we almost died due to Carbon Monoxide poisoning because of it.  The furnace still isn't fixed.  No furnace, in below freezing temperatures, is not fun to deal with...frozen pipes and complaining kids).  I feel overwhelmed, and emotional. 

The concept on keeping your eyes on Christ during times of trouble is something I have always heard; something I have always 'known'.   But it is during the midst of trouble that these concepts often take on new meaning for us.

Once you look up, your head is tilted back, and you can breath through your nose again, (and float). 

I know that, as a human, I will look around and start to sink again.  But looking back up, refocusing on God, will help me get through this.

The Conscience

I came across a passage in my daily reading that I thought I would share with you.  It is a passage that I had never heard talked about before but I thought it was very powerful.  This passage didn't create an illustration in my mind (as other passages often do--of which I post here); but made me think and examine myself.



1 Corinthians 4:4
My conscience is clear, but that doesn't prove I'm right.  It is the Lord Himself who will examine me and decide.

Who's to Blame?

How many times a day do we blame others for our own mistakes...
'...It's not my fault, he won't...';  '...You can't blame me, I wasn't the one who...'; 'it's not my fault, she didn't....'....

Don't you think it's time we admitted our mistakes and break free from the habit of blaming others. 

The Measure of a Man

How many times have you said to yourself  'I wish I was like him/her.  S/he is....(perfect, beautiful, creative, disciplined, strong, giving, energetic, rich, ...) '. 
No matter who we try to measure ourselves against, we will fail.  Because we are not that person.  We were all created different.
How we measure ourselves is not how God measures us.  We need to stop measuring ourselves against earthly 'things', and measure ourselves with the Bible, what it says we need to be like.

Heavenly Concert

Do you measure up?

  Are you doing all you can?

Questions?

I have been asked a question that I thought I would pass on to you all.
Here goes:


If you ask God a question,
When do you actively go and seek an answer and when do you sit and wait for the answer.  ??????

Anyone wishing to answer that, please leave a comment. 

The Good Sheherd

Luke 19:10   "For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost."



**I apologize for the picture being sideways.**

On fire

Do people see Christ when they look at you?
How do you show that Christ lives within you?

A Helping Hand

What do you do when you need help?

Do you reach up?

Christ is always waiting to help.
We may not literally see His hand, but He helps us. 
All we have to do is ask.


Do you see someone who needs help?  Don't hesitate to step in and help.  That person may not see you, they may see Christ in you.  You can be Christ's hands and feet here on earth.

Valentine's?

Should matter what day of the year it is when we show others we love them?  That God loves them?
What daily practise do you have with your words and actions?
Does it matter what the person dresses like?  Smells like?  Acts like?  Where s/he lives?  How much money, or what possession,  s/he has to give you?  How old that person is?

What are you giving out?  Judgements?  Gossip or malicious or lying words?    Love?
God loves them. 
We need to show it.

Matthew 7:1&2
Luke 6:37
Proverbs 20:19
Psalms 34:13&14
Luke 10:25-37
Luke 6:27-36

Me? Gossip?

Our tongue can be the deadliest weapon.
Our tongue has the power to heal or hurt.  To empower or repress.  Praise or curse.  (James 3:8-10)
We are warned repeatedly in the Bible, God's word, not to take part in gossip...but we all do it.
"...did you know (insert name) has/does/ is doing..."
"...did you hear about what (insert name) has done..."

STOP RIGHT THERE.  If it's important for me to know, (insert name) will tell me.

James 1:26, it says "If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless."

I think  it's time we learn to talk all over again.
Don't listen to, or say, anything that would destroy someone else.  Who are we to judge?

Create a motto for yourself.  "my lips will speak no evil, and my tongue will speak no lies" (Job 27:4)
And start finding new friends..."A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don't hang around with chatterers" (Proverbs 20:19)



More verses to think about:

Psalm 34:13
Proverbs 11:13, 15:4, 16:28, 18:8, 21:23, 26:20
2 Peter 2:1


 

Confessional

What is the hymn that talks about laying our sins/cares/burdens at the foot of the cross?

I think it is important that, as Christians, we confess everything to Christ.  If we don't, unconfessed sin will burden us, make us ill, cause stress and strife in our lives...to bring us back to the cross and to Christ.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Where do I go from here?

Do I have to?

This cartoon is appropriate for a lot of different themes.

"Do I have to LOVE that person?"
"Do I have to FORGIVE that person?"
"Do I have to FOLLOW you?"

It's our choice that can result in our unhappiness.