Category Archives: Attitudes & Behavior

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August 25, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Family, Friends & Fellowship, Love & Works

DO WE LOVE LIKE CHRISTIANS?

My children, we should love people not only with words and talk, but by our actions and true caring. [1 John 3:18 (NCV)]

The Apostle John makes it abundantly clear that it is not enough for us to believe; we must both believe and love. Our Christian faith must result in loving behavior. If it doesn’t, there is something wrong with our faith.

We may not like everyone and God doesn’t expect us to do so. But he does expect our actions and words to reveal our faith and our love. Unfortunately, loving all the people around us all of the time can be extremely difficult to do. Loving people from afar seems a much easier concept than loving those we see day after day! Impersonal charity is often simpler than forgiving a brother or being kind to a neighbor. We often find it easier to write a check to a worthy cause than to make our daily words and actions reflect our faith on a personal basis.

We certainly won’t have affection for every person we meet, but we can have love. It is not our politics or words or even our knowledge of the Bible that identify us as Christians; it is our love.

All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other. [John 13:35 (NCV)]

 

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August 17, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Forgiveness, God's Word: The Bible, Peace of God

IS THERE SOMETHING YOU NEED?

Be like newborn babies, always thirsty for the pure spiritual milk, so that by drinking it you may grow up and be saved. [1 Peter 2:2 (GNT)]

If a baby is fussy or crying, my theory is that he is either hungry, tired or needs changing because he is soiled. That theory hold true of adults as well. When we find ourselves anxious or sad, we have a spiritual hunger. We need to feast on His word and drink in His spirit. When we’re short-tempered or tense, it’s time to rest in the peace of His presence and feel His love. When we’re irritable or oversensitive, there is usually something troubling our conscience: something that needs confessing and forgiving. Forgiveness (like a fresh diaper) gives us a clean start!

When you find yourself drained, replenish yourself with His word; when you’re weary, rest in His presence; and when you’re guilt-ridden, confess and be washed by His hand.

Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. [Matthew 11:28 (GNT)]

So let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, with hearts that have been purified from a guilty conscience and with bodies washed with clean water. [Hebrews 10:22 (GNT)]

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August 15, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Family, Friends & Fellowship, Holy Spirit, Love & Works

A THORN IN THE FLESH

cactus (prickly pear) - NBG03270WEBSo to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. [2 Corinthians 12:7 (NLT)]

Paul wrote that he had a thorn in his flesh; some Bible scholars believe it was a physical ailment and others say it was a person. I don’t know which it was for Paul, but I do know we all have people in our lives who sorely test our tolerance and can even cause a rise in blood pressure. These are the people who, sometimes through no fault of their own, truly challenge our capacity to act as Jesus would behave. They try our patience, cause us to question our ability to love our neighbor, and test our capability to curb anger and tame our tongue. They challenge our generosity and exasperate, irritate, frustrate and annoy us. These people are what a friend calls our “Jesus meters.” Our behavior toward them is a clear indication of how much like Jesus we’ve become. Like Paul’s thorn, they keep us from becoming proud and self-righteous.

While it helps to remember that even the prickly pear cactus, with all its thorns, bears a beautiful flower and delicious fruit, the best solution is to tap into the power of the Holy Spirit and let Him guide us whenever we have a thorn in our flesh.

Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. [Ephesians 4:23-24 (NLT)]

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August 14, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Holy Spirit

A GENTLE REMINDER

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: Throughout the generations to come you must make tassels for the hems of your clothing and attach them with a blue cord. When you see the tassels, you will remember and obey all the commands of the Lord instead of following your own desires and defiling yourselves, as you are prone to do. The tassels will help you remember that you must obey all my commands and be holy to your God. I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt that I might be your God. I am the Lord your God!” [Numbers 15:37-41 (NLT)]

Unlike the Israelites, we don’t wear tassels on the hems of our coats  to help us remember our faith, but perhaps we should. I often wear a small cross around my neck. When I put it on, I try not to think of it as a piece of jewelry but rather as a visible reminder of who I am and how I should behave. It reminds me to let the Holy Spirit not the wholly me run my life. We shouldn’t need a cross on a chain or tassels on our coats, however, to remind us; it should be our nature. This morning, let’s put on the Holy Spirit and let his presence continually remind us to live His way, not ours.

Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. [Romans 13:14a (NLT)]

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August 4, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Fruit of the Spirit, God's Plan, Obedience, Spiritual Gifts

WHAT’S YOUR PURPOSE?

We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. [Colossians 1:9b-10 (NLT)]

What is my purpose, my goal, in life? Now in my seventh decade, I still vacillate over the answer. Moreover, the answer seems to have changed over the years. Was it to be an obedient child and a good student? To be a good mother and homemaker? Is it now to be a loving grandmother? Has it been to be a community volunteer? Is it now to be a writer? Was it to help my husband in business? Is it now to enjoy retirement?

What is our purpose in life? Is it to be someone, have something, achieve a special goal, accomplish a specific task, or to amass a particular amount of money? Upon reading the Bible, however, I realize there is no reason to be uncertain when answering that question. Our purpose is clearly laid out for us in Jesus’ own words:

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” [Matthew 22:37-40 (NLT)]

 

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July 28, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Fruit of the Spirit, Holy Spirit, Love & Works, Spiritual Gifts

RECIPE FOR A FRUITFUL LIFE

Because you have these blessings, do all you can to add to your life these things: to your faith add goodness; to your goodness add knowledge; to your knowledge add self-control; to your self-control add patience; to your patience add devotion to God; to your devotion add kindness toward your brothers and sisters in Christ; and to this kindness add love. [2 Peter 1:5-7 (ERV)]

Take a large bowl and gently stir together the above ingredients, adding one element at a time. Mix well. Taste and evaluate. Are you a little short of any component? Some chefs need a dash more self-control while others need to add more kindness. For best results, add extra love. Place in an empty life and sprinkle with plenty of prayer. Be sure to exercise perseverance during the cooking process and feel free to call on the Holy Spirit for help. When in doubt, refer to the Holy Bible for more detailed directions.

If all these things are in you and growing, you will never fail to be useful to God. You will produce the kind of fruit that should come from your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. [2 Peter 1:8 (ERV)]