Hard to believe that I haven't posted anything on here for so long.
I was thinking about the scripture from Colossians 3 this morning: "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. " the word 'affection' is defined here as 'mind'.
I don't think that the Lord is telling us that we can not enjoy what He himself has given us on this earth, or that we are not to appreciate the beauty of the earth. Certainly, we are to appreciate and enjoy our family and friends as well..and even the talents that we engage in.
I think what the LORD is trying to get my attention about this morning, is my attitude.
If you read all of Colossians 3, you first of all, find a warning that says if we are to appear with Christ in glory, then we must put to death the things that we 'know' are evil in our lives. I think some of these things are pretty apparent to us..fornication, idolatry, covetousness, etc. We are even told that God's wrath will be directed toward us for indulging in these things.
We are reminded that once upon a time, when we did not serve Christ, we walked in these things, but, now...knowing better..we are to avoid them. Also, we are to put off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication- lies. I think we all know - just like children- when we are doing wrong and when we are not.
Maybe we don't have as big a problem with the above as with the following scriptures from colossians 3: Put on the new man -as the 'elect' of God, be holy and beloved..hmmn that's a thought in itself. It goes on to say, put on kindness, humbleness of mind, long suffering, forgiving one another - just as Christ forgave you! That one, I need to remind myself of from time to time. Put on charity and let the peace of God rule in your hearts and be ye THANKFUL!
So, my thoughts this morning are that I am to seek out what Christ would have me do.
Once again, when this ole flesh wants to hold a grudge..wants to bask in self-pity..the Bible says a definite "NO!"
But, you say.."you don't understand what this person did to me".
All I know is that with all of us, pain comes our way in life, but we do not have to live in it.
I keep going back to what my dear mother said to me, all the time..and I do mean, all the time.
"If you want to be forgiven, you have to forgive" I think that when we make up our minds to
truly forgive..we have a release of sorts. We are freed up in our thinking and once again we are not only able to show Christ love to others, we are able to receive it for OURSELVES. Isn't that what the LORD wants for us? HIS LOVE....HIS CLARITY OF MIND..HIS PEACE?
GOD did not make little robots down here on this earth He created. HE made real people, with very real feelings, but HE also equipped us with a heart that is truly capable of forgiving and loving even beyond our own selfish desires.
When we realize these scriptures are written for our benefit, that God's love is being poured out for us in these words of His, then we will find true victory.
It's a daily 'putting on Christ' people..and when we do, we will truly walk in His blessings.
Enjoy the Springtime- NOT JUST OUTSIDE- BUT, IN YOUR NEW WAY OF LOOKING AT THINGS, FROM GOD'S PERSPECTIVE!
HAVE A BLESSED EASTER!
Friday, March 30, 2012
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
i've been trying to send this message on my computer. I can't get it to work. Decided to post it on my blog.
A friend of mine was asking me the other day about those who have not or had not heard about Jesus and God's plan of salvationfor them..I said, "I'm not God...of course...and I know that ONLY GOD can decide these things." I KNOW that the Bible says God lookson our hearts (so thankful for that one!)...and that He sent Jesus has come into this weary ole world to bring us LIFE...everlasting. His Son, Jesushas defeated everything..taken on every sin..for us...Made a way for us to come directly into the Throne room of God Almighty..and lay our sins before him. I KNOW He loves us by that ONE act of MERCY on that cross. It's the Christmas season..still thinking aboutChrist and His divine uncomprehensible love for mankind. I found these scriptures..thought they might be a comfort to you..and remindus all 'honoring God's Son is HONORING GOD"........Have a happy and blessed New Year!!! From JOHN 5:Jesus said to them, “I assure you that the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. What the Son does is always modelled on what the Father does, for the Father loves the Son and shows him everything that he does himself, Yes, and he will show him even greater things than these to fill you with wonder. For just as the Father raises the dead and makes them live, so does the Son give life to any man he chooses. The Father is no man’s judge: he has put judgment entirely into the Son’s hands, so that all men may honour the Son equally with the Father. The man who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent him.(How wonderful that the Son of God and Man will be sitting in the judgement seat! the ONE who has lived on this earth in human form and knows all about temptations,trials and the weaknesses of mankind- and has overcome them for us!-- our part...believing.) I solemnly assure you that the man who hears what I have to say and believes in the one who has sent me has eternal life. He does not have to face judgment; he has already passed from death into life. Yes, I assure you that a time is coming, in fact has already come, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and when they have heard it they will live! For just as the Father has life in himself, so by the Father’s gift, the Son also has life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is Son of Man. No, do not be surprised—the time is coming when all those who are dead and buried will hear his voice and out they will come—those who have done right will rise again to life, but those who have done wrong will rise to face judgment! “By myself I can do nothing. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is true because I do not live to please myself but to do the will of the Father who sent me. You may say that I am bearing witness about myself, that therefore what I say about myself has no value, but I would remind you that there is one who witnesses about me and I know that his witness about me is absolutely true. You sent to John, and he testified to the truth. Not that it is man’s testimony that I accept—I only tell you this to help you to be saved. John certainly was a lamp that burned and shone, and for a time you were willing to enjoy the light that he gave. But I have a higher testimony than John’s. The work that the Father gave me to complete, yes, these very actions which I do are my witness that the Father has sent me. This is how the Father who has sent me has given his own personal testimony to me. “Now you have never at any time heard what he says or seen what he is like. Nor do you really believe his word in your hearts, for you refuse to believe the man who he has sent. You pore over the scriptures for you imagine that you will find eternal life in them. And all the time they give their testimony to me! But you are not willing to come to me to have real life! Men’s approval or disapproval means nothing to me, but I can tell that you have none of the love of God in your hearts. I have come in the name of my Father and you will not accept me. Yet if another man comes simply in his own name, you will accept him. How on earth can you believe while you are for ever looking for each other’s approval and not for the glory that comes from the one God? There is no need for you to think that I have come to accuse you before the Father. You already have an accuser—Moses, in whom you put all your confidence! For if you really believed Moses, you would be bound to believe me; for is was about me that he wrote. But if you do not believe what he wrote, how can you believe what I say”?
A friend of mine was asking me the other day about those who have not or had not heard about Jesus and God's plan of salvationfor them..I said, "I'm not God...of course...and I know that ONLY GOD can decide these things." I KNOW that the Bible says God lookson our hearts (so thankful for that one!)...and that He sent Jesus has come into this weary ole world to bring us LIFE...everlasting. His Son, Jesushas defeated everything..taken on every sin..for us...Made a way for us to come directly into the Throne room of God Almighty..and lay our sins before him. I KNOW He loves us by that ONE act of MERCY on that cross. It's the Christmas season..still thinking aboutChrist and His divine uncomprehensible love for mankind. I found these scriptures..thought they might be a comfort to you..and remindus all 'honoring God's Son is HONORING GOD"........Have a happy and blessed New Year!!! From JOHN 5:Jesus said to them, “I assure you that the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. What the Son does is always modelled on what the Father does, for the Father loves the Son and shows him everything that he does himself, Yes, and he will show him even greater things than these to fill you with wonder. For just as the Father raises the dead and makes them live, so does the Son give life to any man he chooses. The Father is no man’s judge: he has put judgment entirely into the Son’s hands, so that all men may honour the Son equally with the Father. The man who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent him.(How wonderful that the Son of God and Man will be sitting in the judgement seat! the ONE who has lived on this earth in human form and knows all about temptations,trials and the weaknesses of mankind- and has overcome them for us!-- our part...believing.) I solemnly assure you that the man who hears what I have to say and believes in the one who has sent me has eternal life. He does not have to face judgment; he has already passed from death into life. Yes, I assure you that a time is coming, in fact has already come, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and when they have heard it they will live! For just as the Father has life in himself, so by the Father’s gift, the Son also has life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is Son of Man. No, do not be surprised—the time is coming when all those who are dead and buried will hear his voice and out they will come—those who have done right will rise again to life, but those who have done wrong will rise to face judgment! “By myself I can do nothing. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is true because I do not live to please myself but to do the will of the Father who sent me. You may say that I am bearing witness about myself, that therefore what I say about myself has no value, but I would remind you that there is one who witnesses about me and I know that his witness about me is absolutely true. You sent to John, and he testified to the truth. Not that it is man’s testimony that I accept—I only tell you this to help you to be saved. John certainly was a lamp that burned and shone, and for a time you were willing to enjoy the light that he gave. But I have a higher testimony than John’s. The work that the Father gave me to complete, yes, these very actions which I do are my witness that the Father has sent me. This is how the Father who has sent me has given his own personal testimony to me. “Now you have never at any time heard what he says or seen what he is like. Nor do you really believe his word in your hearts, for you refuse to believe the man who he has sent. You pore over the scriptures for you imagine that you will find eternal life in them. And all the time they give their testimony to me! But you are not willing to come to me to have real life! Men’s approval or disapproval means nothing to me, but I can tell that you have none of the love of God in your hearts. I have come in the name of my Father and you will not accept me. Yet if another man comes simply in his own name, you will accept him. How on earth can you believe while you are for ever looking for each other’s approval and not for the glory that comes from the one God? There is no need for you to think that I have come to accuse you before the Father. You already have an accuser—Moses, in whom you put all your confidence! For if you really believed Moses, you would be bound to believe me; for is was about me that he wrote. But if you do not believe what he wrote, how can you believe what I say”?
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