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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!

Delayed Blessings Test Faith

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One of the hardest principles to apply in our lives is when we have to wait for an extended period of time on something that God is moving for us in. I hope by reading some of the scriptures that God gave me that we can see that we sometimes have to remember that delayed blessings test faith.

Genesis 15:2-6 – “A delayed birth of a son.”

[2] And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
[3] And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
[4] And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
[5] And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
[6] And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Genesis 21:1-6 – “Many years waiting. “

[1] And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.
[2] For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
[3] And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.
[4] And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.
[5] And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.
[6] And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.

We find it so crazy sometimes to believe God. We will even go as far as to laugh at the possibility to see it through! You see, God cannot move through our lack of faith; God moves through our practice of faith.

Genesis 22:8-13 – “Faith into practice”

[8] And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
[9] And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
[10] And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
[11] And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
[12] And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
[13] And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

God will make a way, but we have to follow through sometimes for us to be proven vessels! That even means in church services when we don’t feel like it or have the lack of desire to do anything at all. We have to follow through on our faith. Faith without works is dead, right?

Joshua 6:12-20 – “Faith with works”

[12] And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD.
[13] And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
[14] And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.
[15] And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.
[16] And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.
[17] And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
[18] And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
[19] But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.
[20] So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

Victory will come with continual and specific obedience. We might find it to be confusing or sometimes crazy with the requirements that God lays before us, but he never puts us out there in a trial without the strength to be able to endure it!

Luke 24:49 – “God gives power”

[49] And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

While we are here, we have power in him! We should not act as though we are powerless! We have to learn to utilize the power we have so that we can learn to help others!

Luke 15:22-28 – “Being faithful to others”

[22] But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
[23] And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
[24] For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
[25] Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
[26] And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
[27] And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
[28] And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

We have to turn from our ways to find our new life and blessings ahead! We can finally lay the old man down, and pick up the new person that God has ordained us to be!

Learning To Be Satisfied

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Philippians 1:3-7

[3] I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
[4] Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
[5] For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
[6] Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
[7] Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.

I am satisfied with the good works that Christ has perfected in all of us!

Consider the phrase “so many works, from the first day until now” – Think about it! We should have all the reason in the world to be thankful and to praise God with no matter what we are dealing with at the time in our lives.

God knew us before we ever came to know him! He had already taken care of us before we were ever formed in this world! From this day until now! That should let me know with certainty that I am definitely not alone for sure!

Philippians 3:8

[8] Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

I am satisfied with Christ’s compensation!

I would lose it all to gain him! Nothing else is of worth to keep that even compares to what you can feel through God!

When I really put into perspective what everything is really worth to me in comparison to what God means to me in my heart, all of this stuff in this world does not mean a thing!

Philippians 3:9-10

[9] And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
[10] That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

I am satisfied with Christ’s fellowship!

I want to know him, I want to know more of Him and I want to feel more of the spirit! To actually be in fellowship with the spirit is to be in a place of growth in my life!

I want to make it a goal in my life to be in continual fellowship with God and the spirit of God. That’s the only way my life can be in a ready state to grow!

Philippians 4:6-7

[6] Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
[7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

I am satisfied with Christ’s perfect peace!

It shall keep your minds and hearts if you will allow it to! In all reality, there is nothing out there that will ever keep me per say; it will only ever be the peace of God, because I will never be content with the way things are. God teaches us by the spirit to be content to a circumstance or situation.

Philippians 4:11-14

[11] Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
[12] I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
[13] I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
[14] Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.

I am satisfied with Christ’s perfect strength!

God will speak to your situations and circumstances, no matter how grim that they seem to be! He will give you strength to be able to endure them!

Always remember the joy of the Lord is our strength, and without that joy, there is no strength. So I need to remember to surround myself or get myself to a place where joy is abundant.

Philippians 4:18-19

[18] But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
[19] But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

More than anything, I am satisfied know that I will receive from Christ’s supply for my every need!

These things we get from God are according to his riches in glory, and are not limited to what we are in this world. That should say so much to us when we feel like we have so many reasons why we cannot make it or cannot move forward in life.

What Do We Partake Of

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Romans 14:14-21

[14] I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
[15] But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
[16] Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
[17] For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
[18] For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
[19] Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
[20] For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
[21] It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

It is so easy to get caught up in the wrong conversation, or caught up starting one. It’s easy to get caught up taking the wrong actions, or being around others doing this also. Whether we realize it or not, we become appointed responsible witnesses when we are saved and transformed through and through. And I don’t know how it is for others, but as for me, there are moments in my life when I am shown by God personally and am guided in areas of my personal life when things need to change. I am always reminded each day of what not to do, when to not say, etc. God is wonderful like that, presenting a voice of accountability. To make a long story short, we cannot be caught up in flesh, partaking in meat of the world, or those things that will make our brothers and sisters stumble and fall. The kingdom of God is not flesh, but all things manifested in the Holy Ghost! We cannot have it both ways and think that life can be stable. We cannot serve two masters (have two lifestyles or life choices) and think we’ll ever find happiness. And as it ties to the scriptures above, we cannot eat of both meats and ever expect to find peace and joy in our lives!

Proverbs 16:16

[16] How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

How much better to gain knowledge of God than to have the wealth and favor of man! So sweet is God’s wisdom! God’s wisdom to you is power! Coming through the trials of life will reward you so much more than wisdom of people most of the time. For then you will know rather than just assume that you do. You are made as an overcomer by the Blood of the Lamb AND the words of your testimony. Testimonies bear more of an impact than you think!

Proverbs 16:24

[24] Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

I read a phrase once that a person could live for months off of one good compliment. And those words could not be more true when it comes to encouraging and edifying the church. I’m not telling everyone to go and give worldly compliments to everyone. I’m not talking about flattery. I’m talking about being encouraged in a tough time in my life, when I am feeling hopeless and I don’t feel like I have anyone. You can almost guarantee that about 25 percent of the church always feels like that at any given time. A little encouragement goes a long way!

Proverbs 17:14

[14] The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

Why does this all matter? Have you ever seen something with a leak? What about the feeling of disappointment that you get when everything that was in it runs out? So true it is when we sit idly by and let the spirit of God not be stirred and eventually leak out of the church. And yet we begin to wonder why it just disappeared one day! God never leaves, and is always there and ready. However, WE have to stir up the gifts within. WE have to come together!

Proverbs 18:19

[19] A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

People need to always remember before they go to do anything that they have to follow what God is leading them to do in something, and that they do not need to ever try and cross someone that tries to come against them. Every person that you try and witness to isn’t going to receive it; in fact, they might reject you and try to hurt you in the process. The point I am trying to make is that we cannot push people to the point of lowering our standards to worldly standards, and trying to reason with reason. Spirit works conviction, and that work will take place following your obedience. You won’t have to fight for it, and if it seems like one, walk away and pray for another day. God will open the doors.

Romans 15:17

[17] I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.

Why do all this for them? To lift up the weak!

I feel like in my personal life that God spared me and kept me here to deliver his word and to witness my testimony that others like myself might find hope and believe that they have a way out and can find a new life. And if we do not begin to start having more compassion and bear the infirmities of others, all of our suffering neighbors will continue to die out without hope.

Remember what was written in the Bible was for our learning! Also remember that we through patience (our part) and comfort of the scriptures (what we’re given) might have hope (your choice). And finally beginning to be likeminded one toward another (one mind and one mouth) and glorifying God will breathe new life into the church!

As I have personally learned, life was never promised as an easy burden, but as we near the end of each trial, the promise begins to come to a truth in our heart. God intends for our lives and our witness to be fruitful. That is, what people see of us as ripe and good and what they taste and partake and get to know as even better.

Being Established

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Some start to return to the true fellowship God has ordained for His people, but some have a hard time getting free of what they have experienced, but not all do get out.

There are all kinds of people that are out there:

1. Those who are so involved, they are absorbed into it to the point where their “faith” will never be shaken

2. Those who leave because they have been hurt or damaged and consider true Christianity a farce and leave it altogether

3. Those who come out of it immediately because the light of God’s word and conviction by the Holy Spirit is so clear

4. Those that will come out of it, but struggle to get rid of the oppression and experiences and feelings

Am I Established In The Right?

Many believers who have stepped onto the road of deception have all had thoughts or doubts about what they were doing, having thoughts like “Something seems wrong” or “I am not sure“.

1 John 1:5-7

5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

What is around me? Is it something of God?

It may have looked like light, but it was darkness. It may have looked like truth, but it was a lie. It may have looked like God and His workings, but it wasn’t. It was darkness, and Jesus said,

Matthew 6:23

23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

Why can’t I let things just stay this way?

This is an important area of repentance and a turning to the word of God.

2 Corinthians 6:14-17

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you

Where do I go from here? What do I do?

His forgiveness is readily available. It is the heart of the individual that limits to what extent God can work to fully restore them. God wants to ESTABLISH you again in His truth and He has the total power to do so if you will return to the faith you once followed:

God desires to establish you again according to His gospel through your obedience:

Romans 16:25-26

25 Now to him that is of power to STABLISH YOU ACCORDING TO my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

God wants to establish you in holiness by ridding you of the deceptions:

1 Thessalonians 3:13

13 To the end HE MAY STABLISH YOUR HEARTS UNBLAMEABLE IN HOLINESS before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

God wants to establish you in good works once again and deliver you:

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
17 Comfort your hearts, and STABLISH YOU IN EVERY GOOD WORD AND WORK.

The Lord will establish you and deliver you from those who have not faith around you:

2 Thessalonians 3:1-4

1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.
3 But the Lord is faithful, WHO SHALL STABLISH YOU, and keep you from evil.
4 And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.

Thanksgiving And Praise

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In honor of this Thanksgiving weekend, I have some words on Thanksgiving and praise to share with you today. Someone once said, “If you can’t be satisfied with what you have received, be thankful for what you have escaped.” Or you may want to look at it like this. “Compare what you want with what you have and you’ll be unhappy. Compare what you deserve with what you have and you’ll be happy.”

Every day should be Thanksgiving Day, so why has one day in the year been designated specifically as “Thanksgiving Day”? Well, the pilgrims came to America to make a home in the wilderness. They came to this country looking for freedom to worship God according to the desires of their own conscience. They had their first harvest in 1621. So, at Plymouth, Massachusetts, in the fall of 1621, a little handful of devoted people, in the midst of many perils and great hardships, set apart a day for thanksgiving to God. And on that day, they feasted and gave thanks. President Lincoln appointed the last Thursday of November, 1864, as Thanksgiving Day. Now the Thanksgiving Day tradition is firmly established in America.

Every person who has a grateful heart should devoutly thank God, take stock, and count his blessings. Actually, Thanksgiving Day should simply get us in the mood and in the spirit to be thankful throughout the entire year. In fact, David the psalmist wrote in Psalm 34:1 “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Again in Psalm 35:28 he said “And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.”

We spend a huge amount of our time wishing for things that don’t really matter; hoping for things that aren’t important, and frustrated about stuff we don’t have yet. Folks, let’s make a choice instead to spend our energy reflecting on the things that God has done and is doing in our lives.

See, when we live in such a bountiful land like we do, even the poorest among us are richer than 90% of the world. And when we live life so rushed, we tend to not reflect on the ordinary everyday blessings from God:

-A hug from your kids going out the door to school
-A car that starts most of the time
-A bed to sleep in every night
-A furnace to warm us up this time of the year
-A cup of water any time we want it

So often we take this stuff for granted, don’t we? Take a minute today and move beyond the daily grind of life. Make a choice to reflect on what God is doing, and when you do, be thankful!

How important is praising the Lord? The word praise appears 248 times in 216 verses in the Bible. God has given you many ways to praise Him. Don’t let the rocks do your praising but be willing and glad to give praise unto the name of Jesus.

Here’s some scripture about praising the Lord:

Who shall praise?

“Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.”

Where?

“I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.”

Why?

“The Lord in my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with song will I praise Him. I will praise thee: for thou has heard me, and art become my salvation.”

When?

“Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honor all the day.”

How?

“My mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud voice. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord.”

Does God want your praise? Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

I hope that you’ve had a blessed Thanksgiving weekend. Remember to always reflect on God’s many blessings in your life and give Him the praise he is due.