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An Attitude of Gratitude

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Luke 17:11-19

11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.

12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

  1. God’s mercy should always yield thanksgiving. (an attitude of gratitude)
  • ok now that everything’s good I can go back to how I was (repeating failure)
  • preacher I praised him last week, I’m good. (neglecting thankfulness takes us further from humbleness and closer to pride)

Psalm 107:1-3

1 O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.

  1. God works through Jesus (v. 15).

– We must exercise our faith through Christ, the door to God, the voice to God’s ear, the intercessor by the sacrifice.

John 10:9

9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

  1. Getting close to God is a matter of trusting him. One who seems far away can really be near.
  1. The outsider, the foreigner (allogenes), is the most sensitive to Jesus. Those who respond to God may not be the ones we expect to respond.
  1. God’s blessing can be appreciated or underappreciated.

Ahhhhhhhhh! You Better Be Ready, People Will Surprise You!

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Angry - From http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-204_162-10004572.html
How many times in your life were you trying to do the right thing and walked into someones attitude that drained your joy? Have you ever got the worst end of someones problems just by trying to listen or understand? Has people that you least expected blindsided you with something you did not see coming? What about being blamed for something terrible that was simply a rumor and did not happen? Perhaps you have been judged based on the actions of others in your life even though their actions were not in your control. In many different ways through different people and venues has this act of anger has provoked people more times than we could comprehend! We all have been tested by enemies, ‘frenemies’, strangers, family, co-workers and even fellow Christians.I would say the attack that leaves me the most speechless is the kind that comes from people that are in upper positions in ministry. It is just one of those things that when it happens makes you see the kind of behavior that clouds peoples vision from seeing Christ in the church. I cannot say every moment in life will be wonderful during these stressful times but God and His infinite love will teach us all how to come through. We must learn to always be prepared for the confrontations in life that we can expect to happen, especially catching someone during their bad days.
Reading Matthew 5:30: “And if your right hand offend you, cut it off, and cast it from you: for it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into hell.”
It is easy to realize that this is simply not talking about conflicts within yourself but conflicts that you would face that would prevent you from being forgiving and loving towards others. This scripture wants us to realize that it would be better to cut off the emotional attack through forgiveness as soon as possible; for lingering bitterness is like a poison to a persons soul, eventually destroying the spirit man and woman that dwells within.
Ephesians 4:26 reminds us that to not walk in anger that will cause us to sin irrationally from our feelings of bitterness and frustration. It also speaks to not allow that bitterness to stay within you, not even beyond a single day.
So what do we do when you have no choice but to face the confrontation head on? Through God’s love we must forgive.
One of the toughest parts about love is that you must learn to forgive. There are so many other alternatives that you could do to take the easy way out but forgiveness will not be an easy way to take. For example, if you force the issue and yell at someone, then consider what you got in return. You may feel justified for a few moments but through the actions you gave more hurt than you received in justice.I do realize that sometimes to forgive you must release someone from their silly and senseless behavior. I also know that behavior leaves you to feel that something should happen to right the wrongs they have caused. To forgive you must realize no matter what the offense that it is not your right to defend yourself through the feelings of your injustice. Although it may feel good in the short term to lash back out or speak your mind one must ask: what do you gain from your actions? What do people gain from your witness as a Christian if the expressions that you present match up with our image above?

The Things We Take For Granted Are Things We Miss When They Are Gone

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As I am learning day by day to be an ambassador of God’s love there is one fact that stands very clear to me: the things that we take for granted are things we miss when they are gone. I apologize if this sounds like a golden-age’ish trip to the past, but I assure you there is a revelation for you.

Starting out in my childhood I never really realized (and we typically do not as kids) how good life really was. Having  little responsibility and having the only worries of what that note said that was passed at school was definitely a care-free time in my life. Sports were great…well…playing sports with an energy that did not run out was great! Christmas was a different experience as a child than an adult; for I can honestly say that the look on my face when I got presents I wanted let me know what pure glee felt like. I never knew that the experiences I would have with my family that we would seemingly be rushing through would be moments that I would give anything to have had more time in. There were people that I got to be around that were such a joy to my life that have passed away as I have gotten older. What I would not give for that chance to thank them with the same love they have shown me.

Moving on into my teenage years I plainly see my attitude was always objective with rebellious actions and always wanting more. I got what I wanted and thought I was entitled to it, as if being totally irresponsible and ungrateful were not enough in my opinion to deserve it. And even though my teenage years had a lot of bad decisions involved I am happy to say that there were some people that still attempted to invest in me. I had 3 teachers I specifically remember that took the time to make sure they knew I cared. I still remember their names and faces and now know what it was they were trying to do for me. I remember beginning to pay attention in church and seeing people do things that went completely against my outlooks and perspectives of things I thought were true as I was discovering life for myself. Yet there were those who still loved me even when who I thought I was changed all the time. Those people have never left my heart and I am so grateful that I was taught by example about what it means to love through God’s love.

I guess it would be safe to say that I am about in the mid-point in my adult life now. I’m not sure how much more time God will give me to live. Since I have been saved and delivered from my addictions life has totally changed. Something else changed: the numerous amount of people that were as a support around me began to let up little by little. I began to wonder if it was something that I had done to have people start only calling when they were in need of something. I thought I must have surely done something wrong to get in a situation where I always gave and never received a return. I went my entire life knowing one way and now was lost in this part of the journey. The one thing I had to learn in what seemed like the hard way at first was that God was there all along! I then began to learn about how much help I could have through God, that it was so much more than just knowing you had salvation. There was a relationship with God that began to bloom in my life that began to feel just like the people that were around me in my past. And now more than ever I now understand that this stage was a transition to God’s full purpose for my life. There are people now, as I have stepped into the faith, that are in great need of that person that will love through God’s love. Sure I could be sad about losing all of the loved ones and experiences I have had, but I now know why I ever got to feel the good times to begin with. It is now my time to pay it forward.

This ministry and the calling God has on my life was built by every good memory, good experience, and good person that invested in all of our lives. We were being built by people who had the love of God that wanted the best for us. When I really think about that my heart goes out for so many. I could never repay them all, just as much as I could ever fathom of repaying God’s free pardon of sin and love that has been shown to me. God’s love for all of us is shown to us so that we not only know God but show that same love in kind to others. It is so important to not stay selfish and always looking to find more for you. As you grow up and mature in your life God can teach you how to change from being selfish to selfless. In closing this thought I now know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the things I always took for granted are things that I wish I could get back. And though I cannot get back what I had I can still give out of what I had received. That is where the bible all of a sudden opened up to me like a flood and these verses hit me like I had just read it for the very first time.

1 John 4-7-11

[7] Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

[8] He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

[9] In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

[10] Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

[11] Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

The Honor Code: Part 2 – Honor Brings Divine Favor and Abundant Love

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In the first part of “The Honor Code” we discussed the definition of honor and how that is represented in everyday life and to God. I know that in deep evaluations of where honor is shown in my life helped me to conclude that there is far more work to do! The second part of this that I want us to consider is the actual actions and after-effects that genuine honor brings to any situation. As an example, let us say that I tell a colleague that works in the same field at my employer that they do great work and are very talented at what they do. When I make this statement it first does something to me: it acknowledges that there are other people around me who are capable of doing great things. This in principle is a very humbling thing to do as this takes away from a persons agenda at being the best or ‘above’ others. One of the worst attitudes that a person can attempt to live in is a perspective that “I can do everything just fine on my own”. This is an honor-less attitude. The sad fact is that we often dwell in this attitude without being completely aware of it showing up on us.

Here is a nugget that speaks of in part to brotherly love: you will want to prefer someone over yourself and will not have to give yourself credit to find favor or honor.

Trust me, if you do a honoring thing in obedience to loving your neighbor, God will not fail in giving you all the credit you deserve by the blessings you receive.

Let us consider one more example in Gods word: Jacob and Laban. In the first agreement that Jacob and Laban had there was a person Jacob wanted to be with: Seven years for Leah and seven for Rachel. Jacob was with Laban twenty years in all. Can you begin to imagine working fourteen years for something and not receiving all of what should be honored to you? This sounds absurd before the end of the story, but the part that speaks to me is the honor that was shown by staying there and continuing to work for what he was aiming for. For the last six years Jacob was with Laban his request was for the speckled and spotted among the goats and all the black sheep as his own. He did so, and his own flocks grew very large. In Laban’s honor-less attitude he began to move the spotted and speckled to their own area so the flocks would not continue to grow. In hearing this I am glad to know that even when the enemy begins to work against you that God begins to continue your love by giving favor in situations with impossible odds! You see it did not matter what Laban attempted to do to hinder the prosperity of Jacob because God had come on the scene.

I encourage you to receive with gladness is: when living a life of honor you are strengthened by God’s love and are prospered by God’s favor that exceeds all laws and physics of man.

Wait A Second, You Mean To Tell Me That Actually Matters?!?

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When it comes time to really show how much that we care about one another, the actions that seem to make the biggest impact in the long-run are the small things we do.

Oddly enough, there is a very large connection between why we do not perform the small things and how busy we get about taking care of the business side of life. I am sure that at some point in time we have all been in the same train of thought. Have you ever thought or said that “I work hard all week long and don’t have the time or energy” or the classic “you know I care about you”. This almost sounds like something all too familiar, right? You see, no matter where it hits home for you (marriage, friendship, church fellowship, family relationships, work colleagues) there is a great lack in the actual demonstration of Godly love and compassion. Another big reason there is a great lack in the efforts made for others is that this would actually pull people out a state of single-self-consideration (i.e. selfishness). Having an “what’s in it for me” attitude ALL the time tends to lead towards a general disregard for the needs God wants to use us to help in.

I cannot stress this enough, especially as someone who is a devoted advocate for the small things: if you take the time for the small things in obedience, people will receive the witness of the love of God in you. Churches often times try to demonstrate the love of God in a church by how many show up and how great different parts of their services can be, but in doing this are in turn being single-self-minded as a group to only think about the church itself. Please always remember that Christ dwells in you, and your temple is the REAL church that people attend every day. It is by how you carry and conduct yourself through good and bad that people are drawn by the power of God; for they are drawn by how you let the strength of the spirit of God keep you!

So in conclusion, do the small things. Hug someone and tell them that you love them at church. When someone steps out in church or is making a stronger commitment, give them encouragement and a role model. Be at peace with your enemies as God will work the peace in them for you! Be benevolent and give as God leads you. Write your companion a love letter. Lead people to a merry spirit by your joy and laughter! Be that person who stands up first to worship. Surprise people and start participating in outreach ministry. Give that testimony and break the ice! When someone is in need as God shows you, be bold and tell them that you will go with them. Say something nice to your boss even though you feel like you deserve it. The list goes on and on. Learn to prefer others before yourself, and realize the answer to the title of this message!

“Wait a second! You mean to tell me that doing the small things matter?” Yep, it sure does.

 

How To Stand Out Without Standing Out

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When working in the ministry of God, it’s a wonderful thing; there is nothing that could replace the joy that you get from putting in all of the effort that you do. There will be times where it is harder than others, but those are the times that you must prove to stand out and be that separated people.

As you try to be more bold and obedient in service to the Lord, always keep in mind to start everything that you do with a humble spirit. We keep a humble spirit and an attitude of love with continual fervent prayer to God. This lowers us to a place where we get out of our own problems and issues and begin to see the bigger picture. Maintaining a spirit of meekness over time (that’s the key) will begin to bring that patience that you have been longing for.

You see, you can stand out by simply allowing God to be glorified in every aspect of your life. As an example, you can begin to say something in faith rather than in defeat. As you say things in faith, you stand out by not doing what everyone else might be doing (being down, complaining). These pattern changes in your lifestyle will mold you into a new character!

Trust me, the more you do it the more you will grow. The only thing you have to begin to do is find places where God doesn’t stand out and allow it to happen! You won’t have to scream and yell and advertise with a poster on your back that you are a child of God; for people will simply know by your meek and humble spirit that there is something different about you…something that stands out from the rest!

Every Contribution Counts!

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When we look around and consider how many things are going on in the world that we live in, one thing is obvious to me: there are needs to be met. People are sick, people are lost, people are hungry, people need direction, people are depressed, people are fading in the church, etc, etc, etc.

I couldn’t begin to tell you how that if I began to pray in the morning and kept on resolving every thought that came across my mind in prayer that I could never conquer it in a day, week, year, or a lifetime. And yet, in our everyday lives, we count ourselves so small to have no power to help to do anything anymore. Let me be one of the many in this day and time to remind you: Every part counts!

Every person that God created was special. Every person that God made has a given purpose, and something to offer for someone out there. Don’t feel like you come short simply because of the people you are around or the church you go to. If people push you in a corner and don’t make you feel like you can do anything great where you are, do something spectacular on your own. The efforts of one that is willing are sometimes far greater than the efforts of ten thousand that have an attitude.

Be obedient in the gifts and callings of God! Reach out and speak an encouraging word of love today! Don’t forget, and remind yourself of how wonderful that God has been to you, and simply return that selflessness in some way to others! You will not regret it!

Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Do No Evil

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THE WORD

James 1:23-24 – For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

I could not be more troubled about how much it seems that evil is ever present around the people of God. I want to ask some questions that will put us in the frame of mind of what I’m writing on today: How hard do we really try to walk away from something we know that we are seeing or hearing is wrong? In all reality we may find the answer is not too hard at all. If something (being the spirit of God) leads you to know that something wrong is going on, and you have the power to make a decision to change that behavior, then it is our responsibility hands down! If we learn to walk with God’s higher standard then they will know that there is something that drives us to be above the temptation of sin. Could we say a witness of the Lord?!? How much do we restrain ourselves from saying things that we should not in a situation where we are affected? Not too much at all. Keeping ourselves from saying irrational things is one of the hardest things to do simply because we feel enabled from our own self-right of justice. If they wronged us, they are going to hear about it, right? There is a difference in doing things in love versus out of spite or with an attitude! You have to always remember that everyone will answer for their actions and that self-control is only truly successful by the quickening of the anointing in you to help you prevent such decisions! How difficult is it to trust God when you feel like that you are surrounded in darkness? It is truly easy if you allow God to do it! We are the light of the world, but God is the fire that burns within! His spirit will keep you each day and never let you feel stale! If you learn to stir up the gifts and callings every day through worship, prayer, fasting, reading, and ultimately obedience then you will begin to unlock something that will (as the old song sings) shun the wrong and do what is right!

PUT INTO PRACTICE

Make every active attempt each day to avoid the evils that you can and pray for God to lead you out of every temptation that would prove difficult for you to walk away from.

How Do We Learn From Our Mistakes?

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THE WORD

II Timothy 2:22-26 – Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

When we think we can take measures to prevent repeat mistakes, I offer this to you:

Change The Environment Around You – If there are situations that you come across that you can prevent in the future – or that put you in an awkward position, change it up! You can never be any different unless you surround yourself with an environment that will promote you to be who you are, especially a Godly individual.

Change Your Attitude – We want to carry a chip on our shoulder with rightful justification, yet this simply cannot be in every case. Remember that we have to put the Godly virtues into practice each day.

Practice Forgiveness To All – It may be the hardest action but it is the most effective. If you can forgive, you can lift what feels like massive weights off of your mind and heart! When I get upset about issues, I just remember that metaphoric analysis of how often we should forgive: 70 times 7!

Remember To Love Regardless – You can have all the gifts of God, know the bible from front to back, and have all the capital and resources at your disposal for your ministry, but without love it is meaningless.

PUT INTO PRACTICE

Take the time to correct yourself in one specific issue related to you being impatient with others. Use forgiveness and trust God to help you to forgive as He did you!