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June 16, 2014

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Temptation & Sin

DON’T GET BURNT (OR BIT)

Burnt or bitten-cropYou cannot carry hot coals against your chest without burning your clothes, and you cannot walk on hot coals without burning your feet. [Proverbs 6:27-28 (NCV)]

There it was, perfectly placed near the pathway in the Botanic Gardens: a small alligator. “What an authentic looking bronze,” was my first thought. I stepped off the path to get a better view and stood just a few inches from it. As I wondered why a bronze alligator would be in the Asian garden, it finally occurred to me that it just might be real. “What’s the harm?” I thought. “I’m just looking, not touching.” I took a photo and stepped back. Two days later, I returned to the garden. In place of the alligator was a sign cautioning people, “Danger, alligators might be present.”

Sin is a little like that alligator. There is rarely a “danger” sign and it doesn’t always look like sin; often, it seems innocent and harmless. We venture near for just a look; we’re not planning on touching it. What’s a little flirtation with the forbidden? Does it never occur to us that sin could turn on us? That gator could have taken a nasty bite out of my foot; sin can take a lot more from our lives.

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. 1 Corinthians 10:12 (NLT)]

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June 14, 2014

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God's Promises, Nature, Worry

THE EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM

2014-6-13Look at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or gather the harvest into barns. Yet, your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? Can any of you add a single hour to your life by worrying? [Matthew 6:26-27 (GW)]

Jesus tells us not to worry and that God will take care of us. He doesn’t, however, tell us to sit back and do nothing.

June was the official start of hurricane season and the Florida newspapers were filled with articles about hurricane preparedness. In fact, several days were even set aside as sales tax holidays on hurricane supplies. Yet, I guarantee that there will be some people who, when the hurricane hits, won’t have the flashlights and batteries, the extra water and the other emergency supplies they should have stock-piled. Are they the ones who simply trust God to provide or are they the ones who have ignored God’s provision because it involved effort on their part?

Yes, God will provide all we require to meet our needs, but let us never make the mistake of thinking there won’t be some work on our part, as well. After all, the robin still has to wake early to get the worm, the egret has to get his feet wet to catch the fish, and the woodpecker has to drill into the bark for bugs.

I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it. [Thomas Jefferson]

So don’t ever worry about tomorrow. After all, tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. [Matthew 6:34 (GW)]

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June 13, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Holy Spirit

HOW TO BEHAVE

Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead bless – that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing. [1 Peter 3:8-9 (MSG)]

It seems so simple on paper, yet so difficult in actuality. Lord, fill us with your Holy Spirit so that we can fulfill these simple instructions. Lead us; live in us, so that we can truly be a blessing to those we encounter.

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June 10, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Faith & Hope, Temptation & Sin

IS SOMETHING HOLDING US BACK?

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. [Hebrews 12:1-2a (NLT)]

When a horse is hobbled, its front legs are tied loosely together. The hobbling limits the animal’s movement; he can graze and is able to slowly move a short distance, but he can’t go far and he surely can’t go fast. Sometimes slaves and prisoners were hobbled with shackles around their ankles to keep them from running away.

Are there things that are hobbling us or weighing us down to keep us from running the race that is before us?

You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. [Galatians 7:7-8 (NLT)]

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June 9, 2014

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Faith & Hope, Fear & Doubt, Joy, Trusting God, Worry

LET’S GET OUT OF THE DARK ROOM

I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. [Psalm 34:4 (NLT)]

Fear and worry are powerful emotions; they can keep us from living the confident and joy-filled life our Father in Heaven has in mind for us. They lose their power, however, when we trust God. Trusting God doesn’t mean that we will never have difficulties. What it does mean is that, even if our worst fears come true, we will never have to face them alone; God is with us.

Worry is the darkroom in which negatives are developed! [Anonymous bit of bumper sticker wisdom]

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. [1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)]

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June 8, 2014

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Salvation: A New You, Today: Make it Count

THE TIME IS NOW

And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him. [Hebrews 9:27-28 (NLT)]

Since life isn’t like the movie “Groundhog Day,” unlike Bill Murray, we’re not going to wake tomorrow and get another chance to improve upon today. Since life’s not like the new movie “Edge of Tomorrow,” unlike Tom Cruise, we’re not going to die and return to life with our past knowledge and get to fight our battles over again. When we learned how to play golf, we may have been allowed “mulligans” when we missed the ball. When the kids started baseball, they might have had an unlimited number of strikes. In real life, however, there are no “do-overs” when we miss and there are no “gimmes” if we’re just “close enough.” There is no reincarnation; we don’t get another go-around to be better people and we don’t get to relive each day until we finally get it right. If we’re going to re-examine our life and priorities, the time is now. If we’re going to make changes, the time is now. If we’re going to accept Jesus, the time is now. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. What are we going to do with it?

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. [Romans 10:9-10 (NLT)]