Attitude!

prov22:4 By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life.

1pet5:5-7 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Philippians 4:6
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.


1 Thessalonians 5:18
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 John 1:4
And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

Psalm 98:4
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

Matthew 6:24-34
 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

I am to be joyful, humble. I am not to be worrisome. I am to be thankful, and content.

Just these things (and I am sure there are others), can transform how one sees life. I know it's been transforming how I see.

Love-How much would you give up?

John 15:13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Would you give you life?

Would you give your time?

Would you give you attention?

Would you give up a "bad habit"?

What would you give to keep your family?

Would you give your money?

Would you give up your pride?

Would you give up a sin you want to keep?

What would you give to save a soul?

Would you give up coffee?

Would you give up fear?

Would you give up "safety"?

Would you give up an awkward silence?

Would you give up that friend?

What are you willing to give?

Would you give everything?

Matthew 16:24
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Authority and Power.

John 1:11-13
 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

2 Timothy 3:5
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

1 John 4:4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you,than he that is in the world.

As a Christian, my power comes from Jesus Christ. I have the authority over things of the world, I have the power to overcome; THROUGH Christ I have this power.

Today began the first of a week of revival meetings. God spoke to me in many matters. In matters of Faith, Humility, Service, Trusting not in my own power, but in His.

He told how the Isrealites often told God "Yeah, But..." as I also have.

"Yeah, I know you can... but..."

In sunday school class, we are going through Hebrews. Talking about the superiority of Jesus Christ to angels, people, and priests.

It amazes me how I belittle God Himself! The Living God who created all that exists. Who died for me, and walks with me each step of live. How I can think that I have to do things on my own, to think that I CAN... how that must hurt Him. He knows the moment I say "I can do it myself", is the moment I will fail.

In all the things of God I am learning, the hardest is to trust Him in all things, allowing Him to be the Power and Authority in my life. When I don't trust Him, I end up like this poor dog, stuck in a desert place. Frazzled, and at the end of my rope-the end of my power.

Love.1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Charity means love in this verse:
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

1 John 4:7-9
 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
 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.

Mark 12:30
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

From these verses above, we see that God is love. We can see in 1Cor(above) many things that love is and isn't. And we can see that we are to love.

Jesus said:

John14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Strength!

Mankind has a very limited physical and mental strength. While many animals can like 10times their weight or more, most humans can't even lift their own weight. Mental battles with tragedies, or just a game of chess, will often baffle us.
This is where a Christian has an advantage. Not because we ourselves have more strength, but because we have a giving source that will provide that which we have need of, which is Christ.


Nehemah8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Exodus 15:2
The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.

Job 36:4-6
For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee. Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom. He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.

 

Psalm18:1-2 I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Psalm18:32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

Psalm 28:8
The Lord is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.

Psalm 31:23-24
O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.

Enemies... Thinking... Life.

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:43-45

Romans12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Isaiah 41:10
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 

Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

What is an enemy? "a person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something." ~Google

So, a person who is against you, fights you, is mean to you... that is an enemy.

What is the first fleshly response to an enemy?

Hate, anger, dislike, a wish to punch them in the face, ect... These are the responses of sin.

What should be our(my) first response as a follower of Christ?

Love. Service. Blessings. Prayer.

Our thinking drives our actions. Our [dwelling] thoughts are the heart of who we are. They play a large part in how we respond when shocked or hurt. We are to renew our minds, transformed from the sinful thinking, to the Christ-like way.

When we hear "life" we think of a life time. With this thought we over look the day-to-day living that makes up life. 

Matthew 6:30-34

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

We are to live in today. Thinking on Christ, serving others in His name. We have no need for worry, God will take care of His own.

"I know He CAN, it's if He WILL"

The quote in this title was said to me once, and burned in my memory as it crushed any little bit of faith I had in God at the time. Questions came to mind that I could no longer answer...
"God CAN save me, but WILL He?"
"God CAN do anything, but would He do anything for me?"
"God can, but why would He?"
These questions lead to "God wouldn't." But only because I didn't know anything about Him.

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

John 3:16 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Mark 11:23
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Hebrews 13:5
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Matthew 21:21-22
Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

John 11:21-23
 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

John16:23-24 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

John 14:12-14
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

John 15:6-8
If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

John 16:25-27
These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

1 John 5:13-15
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

These verses show His(My Lord's) care for us. They show that He will. He is able AND willing.