Miracles and blessings are not all about you. The Lord knows His Children have needs, He is not blind to it. Yet He tells us not to worry about the needs we have and seek Him. We can become s transfixed on ourselves that we use prayer and scripture only to satisfy our physical needs and desires and neglect to pray for the spiritual needs. Lest we forget the Great Commission is about expanding God's Kingdom not our wallet, business, agenda, etc. It is a call to do His Will on Earth as He has decreed in Heaven. This does not mean we should not bring our needs before the Father. But it does mean that the Great Commission is not about the "big payout" we should expect from God just because we are a Christian. Our "best day yet" is when we live with Christ in Heaven not when we get our financial break through, our health improves, or we get promoted at work. We make more money in a year then Jesus did in His Lifetime on Earth but we find ourselves easily complaining about momentary discomfort. How much stuff do we really need? Jesus' baby crib was an animal trough while ours was top of the line Babies R' Us model. He was not rolling on 24's, He rolling on donkey hooves. Yet He did not let His poverty or lack of resources stop Him from proclaiming God's Word. He did not preach about cashing in on God and living comfortable. He was more concerned with the end of man (eternity) as opposed the mist of air we call life (temporary). When we become focused on serving Jesus we will not use prayer or the scriptures as a means of being served by Him. No servant is served by the King. He is not a genie who grants temporary wishes. Nor does He find pleasure when we use the scriptures like they are lotto numbers that helps us hit the prosperity jackpot. He is God and desires to save all mankind. Let's be about the Father's Business and not our own agenda and help others know the Hope of Glory, Jesus Christ.
Matthew 6:7-11,19-34, 28:18-20, 2 Peter 3:9, 1 Corinthians 1:22-23
"In His JOY!"
Read the Word, Share the Gospel, Be Accountable
consumedbyjoy.blogspot.com
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Sunday, February 15, 2015
You like Me....you really like me
Saying and believing "God cannot use someone like me, after all I have done" is a self manufactured lie and it denies the power of Christ. Through the blood Christ bleed for us our consciences are cleared, we are forgiven, and, we can now serve Jesus fully without the guilt of past holding us back. Press forward do not shrink back.
Hebrews 9:14, Philippians 3:13-14
"In His JOY!"
Read the Word, Share the Gospel, Be Accountable
consumedbyjoy.blogspot.com
Hebrews 9:14, Philippians 3:13-14
"In His JOY!"
Read the Word, Share the Gospel, Be Accountable
consumedbyjoy.blogspot.com
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Greener Pastures
The grass is probably greener on the other side but perhaps Jesus has placed you on this side of the fence because He desires to use you as a tool to tend to the dying grass.
Acts 9:15-16, 26:17-18
"In His JOY!"
Read the Word, Share the Gospel, Be Accountable
consumedbyjoy.blogspot.com
Acts 9:15-16, 26:17-18
"In His JOY!"
Read the Word, Share the Gospel, Be Accountable
consumedbyjoy.blogspot.com
Sunday, February 1, 2015
"Take a chance...again"
"Take a
chance...again"
John 21:1-14 starts off with 7 of Christ Disciples going
fishing after a busy couple of days, their Lord Jesus was arrested, declared an
enemy of the state, sentenced to death, crucified, and resurrected in the past
week. So the disciples were probably tired and exhausted from the events
earlier in the week and just looking to sit down for a good meal. The got in
their boats, cast their nets into the water, and patiently waited. The night
passed and it was a dawn of a new day but the disciples had nothing to show for
it because their nets were empty. It seemed pointless now to stay in the boat
and try to catch something that was not there. Why bother or even attempt to
stay any longer it was obvious to Peter and his crew that there was nothing
here so they decided to back it up and move on. It wasn't a big deal, they had
wasted a night looking for something that was not there and they came up
short.
We all have experienced moments like this in life. We have spent an adequate amount of time searching, pursing, or waiting for something to happen. We wait patiently for our "change to come", a breakthrough, employment, etc. We devote time, money, and our resources to try to catch something that seems to have alluded our grasp. We might have become frustrated, discouraged, or it's just we have come to the point of realization that this is not going to work out so we just need to walk away. But look what happens right when the disciples are ready to give up. A man appears and asks them, "Children, do you have any fish? (John 21:5)" Peter's answer is short and maybe even a little mean because he has worked all night for nothing and he says, "No (John 21:6)". Have you been there, after you have given all you can give in the hope of accomplishing something but it blows up in your face and someone comes up to you ask, "How is it going?" and you just want say, "Dude for real? Do you not see the bags under my eyes or the scowl upon my face...things are terrible!" Or when you are trying to save a marriage that is in trouble and friend says "How is the wife" and you want to reply "Have not you not seen how my wife changed her relationship status from "marred" to its "complicated!" We all have been frustrated beyond belief to the point we cannot tell if others are mocking us or if they truly concerned about how things are going in our life. If you are there I want you to keep reading because what happens next in John 21 is truly inspiring for us all.
In verse 6, the mystery man tells them, ""Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some fish." The seven disciples for whatever reason decided to listen to him and cast their nets. They caught so many fish in the net they were unable to haul it in (John 21:6) and instantly they realized it was Jesus. Peter probably overcome with JOY! grabbed his clothes and jumped in the water to meet Jesus on the shore (John 21:7). Because they were willing to take one more chance instead of quitting they had an abundance of fish. They did not consider how they felt, the earlier failed attempts, or even if this last chance would work, no they just took a leap of faith. How about you? Are you at the point when you feel like giving up and calling it quits? Are you looking at how things are not working out and it just seems as if you are wasting your time pursuing something that is not there? What if God would say to you, "Don't give up, and take a chance...again!" I am not promising you an abundance but I am telling you if you hold on and trust God He will bless you beyond what you have expected just like the disciples (Ephesians 5:20)
We often do not see the blessing that is just right around the corner because we are too busy focusing on how things did not work out last time. We lose our ambitions to see things through when we are constantly faced with disappointment after disappointment. But remember this, faith is not dependent on your situation or how you feel, it is dependent on God. Faith is being fully convinced that what we are seeing is temporary and what God has promised is yet to come (Hebrews 11:1). His promises are a matter of His timing and not our situations (Habakkuk 2:2-3). Sometimes we have to bow our head and plow through disappointment to get the expected end. Look at Abraham who was physically incapable of fathering children but he knew God was able to do anything (Romans 4:18-20). Our resolve that God is faithful and true to do what He has promised must stay steadfast (Romans 4:21). See things through to the end, God strengthens those who are willing to walk with Him even when it feels like "quitting time" and blesses them with His expected outcome (Isaiah 40:28-31)". I know you may be tired and feel like walking away but get back in the boat and cast that net. I implore you, take a chance...again! Stay focused you can do this!
"In His JOY!"
Read the Word, Share the Gospel, Be Accountable.
http://consumedbyjoy.blogspot.com/
We all have experienced moments like this in life. We have spent an adequate amount of time searching, pursing, or waiting for something to happen. We wait patiently for our "change to come", a breakthrough, employment, etc. We devote time, money, and our resources to try to catch something that seems to have alluded our grasp. We might have become frustrated, discouraged, or it's just we have come to the point of realization that this is not going to work out so we just need to walk away. But look what happens right when the disciples are ready to give up. A man appears and asks them, "Children, do you have any fish? (John 21:5)" Peter's answer is short and maybe even a little mean because he has worked all night for nothing and he says, "No (John 21:6)". Have you been there, after you have given all you can give in the hope of accomplishing something but it blows up in your face and someone comes up to you ask, "How is it going?" and you just want say, "Dude for real? Do you not see the bags under my eyes or the scowl upon my face...things are terrible!" Or when you are trying to save a marriage that is in trouble and friend says "How is the wife" and you want to reply "Have not you not seen how my wife changed her relationship status from "marred" to its "complicated!" We all have been frustrated beyond belief to the point we cannot tell if others are mocking us or if they truly concerned about how things are going in our life. If you are there I want you to keep reading because what happens next in John 21 is truly inspiring for us all.
In verse 6, the mystery man tells them, ""Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some fish." The seven disciples for whatever reason decided to listen to him and cast their nets. They caught so many fish in the net they were unable to haul it in (John 21:6) and instantly they realized it was Jesus. Peter probably overcome with JOY! grabbed his clothes and jumped in the water to meet Jesus on the shore (John 21:7). Because they were willing to take one more chance instead of quitting they had an abundance of fish. They did not consider how they felt, the earlier failed attempts, or even if this last chance would work, no they just took a leap of faith. How about you? Are you at the point when you feel like giving up and calling it quits? Are you looking at how things are not working out and it just seems as if you are wasting your time pursuing something that is not there? What if God would say to you, "Don't give up, and take a chance...again!" I am not promising you an abundance but I am telling you if you hold on and trust God He will bless you beyond what you have expected just like the disciples (Ephesians 5:20)
We often do not see the blessing that is just right around the corner because we are too busy focusing on how things did not work out last time. We lose our ambitions to see things through when we are constantly faced with disappointment after disappointment. But remember this, faith is not dependent on your situation or how you feel, it is dependent on God. Faith is being fully convinced that what we are seeing is temporary and what God has promised is yet to come (Hebrews 11:1). His promises are a matter of His timing and not our situations (Habakkuk 2:2-3). Sometimes we have to bow our head and plow through disappointment to get the expected end. Look at Abraham who was physically incapable of fathering children but he knew God was able to do anything (Romans 4:18-20). Our resolve that God is faithful and true to do what He has promised must stay steadfast (Romans 4:21). See things through to the end, God strengthens those who are willing to walk with Him even when it feels like "quitting time" and blesses them with His expected outcome (Isaiah 40:28-31)". I know you may be tired and feel like walking away but get back in the boat and cast that net. I implore you, take a chance...again! Stay focused you can do this!
"In His JOY!"
Read the Word, Share the Gospel, Be Accountable.
http://consumedbyjoy.blogspot.com/
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