Archive for the ‘ Relationship ’ Category
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”
Matthew 6:25, ESV
It is easy to worry about things in this life.
To fight this, we should be so focused on The Life (Jesus) that we cannot help but trust that He is taking care of us.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23, ESV
No matter what you are going through in life, good, bad, or whatever, God is there sustaining you.
Lean on His mercies and grace. He is faithful, even when we are not.
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
John 15:7, ESV
Jesus is not promising a “Name-It-and-Claim-It” kind of wishful thinking.
Jesus is following through on what many other parts of the Bible, including His own words, promise: When your character is becoming so in tune with His and you are living by the Holy Spirit, then you will ask for things according to His will.
And then your requests will be given.
Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the Lord .
Zechariah 2:10, ESV
Heaven is not some ethereal place where we will live forever.
Christ shall establish His Kingdom on the new Earth, and we will live with God and He with us in this renewed world!
“For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
John 3:20-21, ESV
Many avoid accountability with others, because, honestly, they love doing their sinful acts, even while hating that it is true.
To grow in Christ requires allowing His light to shine on all parts of our lives, revealing the embarrassing, sinful things we do, say, and think.
And we need each other in this, as well.
A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.
Psalm 68:5 NIV
Are you an orphan or widow (or widower? Just have an absentee or abusive father or husband (or mother or wife)?
God loves you and wants to care for you. Lean in to Him.
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
Romans 11:33, ESV
We cannot understand God. Able to see and know everything, He makes decisions that we may never see the origin or full results of, but He is our wise Father.
We can trust Him.
“Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.”
Jeremiah 32:17, NKJV
Why do we struggle to trust God?
If He can create literally everything, and He is able to raise people from the dead, walk on water, and make a few loaves and fish feed thousands, surely He can handle each of our situations in life.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29, NIV
Our culture is steeped in dirty jokes, personal roasts, and vile notes.
God calls us to more. A joke is fine, but we should build each other up, help each other out, and invite Christ in.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:34-35 ESV
Israel knew we had to love God and love others, but Jesus came and basically said, “Keep going, guys! I want you to love each other as brothers and sisters!”
We may be a dysfunctional family, but good families stick together, care for each other, and defend each other.
a simple man of God 