". . . to be made new in the attitude of your minds. . . "
Attitudes. Everybody has them, and not just one or two. Attitudes tell everyone around us who we are. That's right. The attitude we project is a defining element of our personalities. And it all begins in the mind.
What we take in through our eyes and ears is routed through the brain and then settles and takes root in the heart. And what is rooted in the heart flowers in attitudes.
Scripture has much to say about various attitudes; I was amazed when I began looking them up. There are Nega-tudes and Posi-tudes. There are worship-tudes and boasti-tudes. There are joy-tudes and sorro-tudes. There are humili-tudes and prid-tudes. Theres the servi-tudes and the arrigat-tudes. There's the bitter-tude and the forgiv-tude. There is just about a tude for everything.
We naturally back off from people who have negative attitudes. People who complain about their jobs, their lives, about everything that touches them. We all know people like that. Then there are people who continually use filthy language. We stay away from them, too, because of their attitude. We walk a wide circle around people who are always "down in the mouth", never smiling, never saying anything good, never joyful. These are all attitudes that are rooted in the heart and are projected on the movie screen of our face. For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks, and the face shows. You cannot hide your attitudes. They are visible for the whole world to see.
We need to be made new in the attitude of our minds, we need to have the mind of Christ Jesus. If we are in Christ, and Christ is in us, the joy of the Lord should automatically radiate from us. Whether in hard times or good, the joy of the Lord is our strength and it should show. And that joy is the peace that passes all understanding. And people see it, and marvel.
What do people see when they look at you or hear you speak? What does your countenance project? Are people drawn to you or do they stay away? Do you need to have a talk with Jesus about your tudes? Is the flower garden of your heart sprouting roses or weeds? It's springtime, time to do some gardening, time to clean out the weeds so the beauty can flourish.
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Phil 4:8-9
Lord Jesus, I give you permission to weed my garden. Remove all that which is undesirable and contrary to your nature, and plant the seeds of the Fruit of the Spirit. Tend the garden of my heart, Lord, so that it will grow and bloom in your likeness. Amen.
Ecclesiastes 5:2 - Words
"Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few."
There is much admonition in the Scriptures, mainly in Psalms and Proverbs, about guarding our words, watching what we say. Most of us have no idea just how incredibly powerful our words can be. They can literally bring life or they can bring death. We make the choice by what we say.
Genesis 1 and 2 is a perfect example. "God said, 'Let there be light', and there was light. And God said, 'Let there be birds of the air and . . . ', and they were." God said, and the world was created. The spoken word. The angel Gabriel spoke that Mary would conceive, and she did. Jesus spoke, and the wind stopped and people were healed. Peter spoke and cripples were healed and the dead were raised. Elijah spoke and there was no rain. Over and over in the Scriptures we read of things happening when people uttered words of grace.
How many times has your own heart been cut by words spoken in anger or thougtlessness? Once the words are out, they can never be reclaimed. James speaks of the tongue and the destruction it can cause if not bridled. We run into this everyday. When we are in conversation with others, do our words bring life or death, healing or hurt, encouragement or criticism? Do we need to "bite our tongues" more often then we do? Are some of the things we say REALLY necessary? And if you truly want to get at the root of speaking, look inside at the attitude of your heart. For there, of course, is where everything begins.
Guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. For out of the heart flow rivers of living water. Open your complete concordance and begin searching out the Scriptures that use the words "tongue", "lips", "mouth", "words", "said", "say", "spoke (n)", etc. and see just how much is written about our words. I promise, you will be utterly amazed. Remember the old proverb, "Silence is Golden"? Well, silence IS golden, but duct tape is silver !!!! Which technique are you implementing?
Our speach is intended to glorify God Almigty in all manner and form. It is to be used to edify and encourage. It is meant to bring life. Does it?
Lord Jesus, as David wrote: "Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips." Convict me, Holy Spirit, of everything I utter that is out of line with your Holy Word. Shut my mouth when it needs to be shut, and open it with words of grace and praise. I ask in your most holy name. Amen.
There is much admonition in the Scriptures, mainly in Psalms and Proverbs, about guarding our words, watching what we say. Most of us have no idea just how incredibly powerful our words can be. They can literally bring life or they can bring death. We make the choice by what we say.
Genesis 1 and 2 is a perfect example. "God said, 'Let there be light', and there was light. And God said, 'Let there be birds of the air and . . . ', and they were." God said, and the world was created. The spoken word. The angel Gabriel spoke that Mary would conceive, and she did. Jesus spoke, and the wind stopped and people were healed. Peter spoke and cripples were healed and the dead were raised. Elijah spoke and there was no rain. Over and over in the Scriptures we read of things happening when people uttered words of grace.
How many times has your own heart been cut by words spoken in anger or thougtlessness? Once the words are out, they can never be reclaimed. James speaks of the tongue and the destruction it can cause if not bridled. We run into this everyday. When we are in conversation with others, do our words bring life or death, healing or hurt, encouragement or criticism? Do we need to "bite our tongues" more often then we do? Are some of the things we say REALLY necessary? And if you truly want to get at the root of speaking, look inside at the attitude of your heart. For there, of course, is where everything begins.
Guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. For out of the heart flow rivers of living water. Open your complete concordance and begin searching out the Scriptures that use the words "tongue", "lips", "mouth", "words", "said", "say", "spoke (n)", etc. and see just how much is written about our words. I promise, you will be utterly amazed. Remember the old proverb, "Silence is Golden"? Well, silence IS golden, but duct tape is silver !!!! Which technique are you implementing?
Our speach is intended to glorify God Almigty in all manner and form. It is to be used to edify and encourage. It is meant to bring life. Does it?
Lord Jesus, as David wrote: "Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips." Convict me, Holy Spirit, of everything I utter that is out of line with your Holy Word. Shut my mouth when it needs to be shut, and open it with words of grace and praise. I ask in your most holy name. Amen.
Romans 7:24 - A Corpse
"What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?"
Let's read the preceeding few verses to get the jist of this statement, beginning with verse 21: "So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law, but I see another law at work in he membes of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?"
When I first read this passage, I envisioned a dead body, a corpse, literally strapped to my back. It weighed me down, tormented me with it's weight, decay, stench and appearence. People would look at me and be repulsed by what they saw, drawing away from me. No one would come near me. I was offensive in every possible way. Eventually, the weight of this corpse began to wear on me and I became slower and slower, until I began to sag under the burden, unable to do anything productive with my life. In time, it finally robbed me of my life and I succumbed.
This "body of death" that we carry around with us is our sins, and if they are not disposed of in the proper manner, they will kill us. People see our sin and stay away from us. They don't like to be around negative people; gossips; criticizers and complainers; liars; haters; backbiters; people with ugly dispositions and characters. These are the kinds of "bodies of death" that hang on us and drive others away. This is why God the Father cannot look on us, except through the Blood of Jesus. We are ugly, hideous and diseased.
When we surrender our lives to Jesus, He removes this body of death from us and buries it in the Sea of Forgetfulness. Glory to God !!!! Every time we repent and give up the sin, the healing is instanteanous. We are the redeemed of the Lord. This is one of the reasons Paul encourages us to think on those things which are pure and holy, filling our minds, hearts and lives with the joy of the Lord, which is light and life. Then, instead of repelling others, we become a life-saving beacon, a magnet for Jesus. We are happy saints of God, positive and upbeat, speaking kindly of others and doing good deeds. The "body of death" has been replaced by the living Spirit of God. Hallelujah!
How incredible it is to be a redeemed child of God! What indescribible freedom we have in the Spirit of the Lord! The joy of the Lord truly is my strength, enabling me to go from day to day positive and upbeat, knowing that if God be for me, who can possibly be against me!
What burden, what stink, what ugly thing is dragging you down, what are you carrying around that needs to be buried? Jesus said " . . my burden is light." Cast off the "body of death", repent, and walk strong an upright in the Life of Christ. It is so much more fun to go through life skipping and laughing then being bent over, haggard, weary, and unhappy. As Paul concluded: "Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
Sweet Jesus, thank you for your wonderful gift of salvation, whereby we can throw off the ugly body of sin and death. Help me daily, precious Lord, to repent of all the ugliness I do, and strengthen me by your Holy Spirit, to walk in your light and love every minute of my life. I love you Jesus. Amen.
Let's read the preceeding few verses to get the jist of this statement, beginning with verse 21: "So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law, but I see another law at work in he membes of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?"
When I first read this passage, I envisioned a dead body, a corpse, literally strapped to my back. It weighed me down, tormented me with it's weight, decay, stench and appearence. People would look at me and be repulsed by what they saw, drawing away from me. No one would come near me. I was offensive in every possible way. Eventually, the weight of this corpse began to wear on me and I became slower and slower, until I began to sag under the burden, unable to do anything productive with my life. In time, it finally robbed me of my life and I succumbed.
This "body of death" that we carry around with us is our sins, and if they are not disposed of in the proper manner, they will kill us. People see our sin and stay away from us. They don't like to be around negative people; gossips; criticizers and complainers; liars; haters; backbiters; people with ugly dispositions and characters. These are the kinds of "bodies of death" that hang on us and drive others away. This is why God the Father cannot look on us, except through the Blood of Jesus. We are ugly, hideous and diseased.
When we surrender our lives to Jesus, He removes this body of death from us and buries it in the Sea of Forgetfulness. Glory to God !!!! Every time we repent and give up the sin, the healing is instanteanous. We are the redeemed of the Lord. This is one of the reasons Paul encourages us to think on those things which are pure and holy, filling our minds, hearts and lives with the joy of the Lord, which is light and life. Then, instead of repelling others, we become a life-saving beacon, a magnet for Jesus. We are happy saints of God, positive and upbeat, speaking kindly of others and doing good deeds. The "body of death" has been replaced by the living Spirit of God. Hallelujah!
How incredible it is to be a redeemed child of God! What indescribible freedom we have in the Spirit of the Lord! The joy of the Lord truly is my strength, enabling me to go from day to day positive and upbeat, knowing that if God be for me, who can possibly be against me!
What burden, what stink, what ugly thing is dragging you down, what are you carrying around that needs to be buried? Jesus said " . . my burden is light." Cast off the "body of death", repent, and walk strong an upright in the Life of Christ. It is so much more fun to go through life skipping and laughing then being bent over, haggard, weary, and unhappy. As Paul concluded: "Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
Sweet Jesus, thank you for your wonderful gift of salvation, whereby we can throw off the ugly body of sin and death. Help me daily, precious Lord, to repent of all the ugliness I do, and strengthen me by your Holy Spirit, to walk in your light and love every minute of my life. I love you Jesus. Amen.
John 20:1, 11-18 - The Resurrection
No church I have ever attended on Resurrection Sunday has ever sung the hymn "In the Garden", but C. Austin Miles, author of this hymn, penned it in 1912 after this portion of Scripture. He was so enraptured of Mary's encounter with Jesus - the hope to the hopeless, the rest to the weary, the comfort to the comfortless - that the words began to flow. The hymn is timeless, because it is Scripture set to music.
"Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb . . ." "I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses. . ." "Woman, he said, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" "And the voice I hear, falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses."
"Jesus said to her, 'Mary'. She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, 'Rabboni!" "He speaks and the sound of his voice, is so sweet the birds hush their singing. And the melody that he gave to me, within my heart is ringing."
"Jesus said, . . . go to my brothers and tell them . . . " "I'd stay in the garden with him, tho the night around me be falling. But he bids me go, through the voice of woe, His voice to me is calling."
"And He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other, has ever, known."
This is one of the most beautiful hymns of faith and love, so intimite and personal, the story of every one of us when we receive Jesus into our hearts. He walks with us, and talks with us, and calls us His own. Beloved friends, it don't get no better then this !!!!
Read the Scripture passage, put yourself in Mary' sandals, sing this hymn, and take in the fullest joy of the Resurrected Christ. Allow God's Holy Spirit to awaken you anew to the living Christ. Incredible.
Bask in the Resurrection, the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Then be like Mary: ". . . went to the discles with the news 'I have seen the Lord!' and she told them the things He had said." It's our turn to spread the gospel. Go !!!!
Precious Lord Jesus, I am in awe that you would so reveal youself to me. Fill me with yourself, that I may share you with my world, that they may know and receive the Living God. Amen.
"Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb . . ." "I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses. . ." "Woman, he said, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" "And the voice I hear, falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses."
"Jesus said to her, 'Mary'. She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, 'Rabboni!" "He speaks and the sound of his voice, is so sweet the birds hush their singing. And the melody that he gave to me, within my heart is ringing."
"Jesus said, . . . go to my brothers and tell them . . . " "I'd stay in the garden with him, tho the night around me be falling. But he bids me go, through the voice of woe, His voice to me is calling."
"And He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other, has ever, known."
This is one of the most beautiful hymns of faith and love, so intimite and personal, the story of every one of us when we receive Jesus into our hearts. He walks with us, and talks with us, and calls us His own. Beloved friends, it don't get no better then this !!!!
Read the Scripture passage, put yourself in Mary' sandals, sing this hymn, and take in the fullest joy of the Resurrected Christ. Allow God's Holy Spirit to awaken you anew to the living Christ. Incredible.
Bask in the Resurrection, the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Then be like Mary: ". . . went to the discles with the news 'I have seen the Lord!' and she told them the things He had said." It's our turn to spread the gospel. Go !!!!
Precious Lord Jesus, I am in awe that you would so reveal youself to me. Fill me with yourself, that I may share you with my world, that they may know and receive the Living God. Amen.
Matthew 26:18 - The Passover
Passover. A celebration of the hand of God bringing the Hebrews out of bondage into freedom. Typically considered only a Jewish holiday and tradition, in Ex 12:14, all the generations to come are commanded to celebrate the Passover as a festival to the Lord. But somewhere along the line we've gotten our wires crossed and confused the Passover with something that has nothing to do at all with Christ - Easter.
The traditional Passover lasts 8 days, and a Seder is held the first two and the last two days, with no work allowed. The middle four days are conducted as a festival with work permitted. Additionally, all four Seder days are considered Sabbaths, that's why no work is permitted. During the Seder, questions are asked by children and the story of the deliverance of the Hebrews from Egypt is recounted. The Jews recount their salvation and pass the story on to future generations.
In Matt 26:17-35, Jesus celebrates His last Passover with His disciples. The Scriptures indicate that Jesus was going to celebrate the first day of Passover. This year, Passover began at sundown on March 29. If Jesus was arrested the first nite of Passover, the date would have been Saturday, April 4. Sort of messes with our Sunday event just a little.
It is interesting to note that no where in the New Testament are we commanded to celebrate Easter. If the original Greek is correctly translated, in 1 Corinthians Christ is called our "Passover Lamb", not our Easter ham. If God had intended us to celebrate the Resurrection, it would be plainly stated in the Scriptures, with dates given. In Acts 12, the 1st Century Christians are still celebrating the Passover. Every year the Passover date changes, therefore our celebration of the Resurrection should also change but be celebrated during the Passover and not with the spring goddess of fertility. Rabbits and eggs have no place with our deliverance from sin and death by the blood of the Lamb and the Resurrection.
Man has taken the Scriptures and conformed them to the world for the convenience of man. This is not God's way. God's way is to conform the world to the Scriptures. To be reconciled to God, not to the world. We need to reevaluate whom we serve and what commands we are obedient to. We need to read our Scriptures in the Spirit and in Truth, and then we need to adhere to them. As Jesus said: "The traditions of man are nulifying the Word of God."
Lord Jesus, lead me in the path of righteousness for Your namesake. Teach me the truth and enable me to walk in it. Help me, Lord, for I am weak. Strengthen me with your Holy Spirit. Amen.
The traditional Passover lasts 8 days, and a Seder is held the first two and the last two days, with no work allowed. The middle four days are conducted as a festival with work permitted. Additionally, all four Seder days are considered Sabbaths, that's why no work is permitted. During the Seder, questions are asked by children and the story of the deliverance of the Hebrews from Egypt is recounted. The Jews recount their salvation and pass the story on to future generations.
In Matt 26:17-35, Jesus celebrates His last Passover with His disciples. The Scriptures indicate that Jesus was going to celebrate the first day of Passover. This year, Passover began at sundown on March 29. If Jesus was arrested the first nite of Passover, the date would have been Saturday, April 4. Sort of messes with our Sunday event just a little.
It is interesting to note that no where in the New Testament are we commanded to celebrate Easter. If the original Greek is correctly translated, in 1 Corinthians Christ is called our "Passover Lamb", not our Easter ham. If God had intended us to celebrate the Resurrection, it would be plainly stated in the Scriptures, with dates given. In Acts 12, the 1st Century Christians are still celebrating the Passover. Every year the Passover date changes, therefore our celebration of the Resurrection should also change but be celebrated during the Passover and not with the spring goddess of fertility. Rabbits and eggs have no place with our deliverance from sin and death by the blood of the Lamb and the Resurrection.
Man has taken the Scriptures and conformed them to the world for the convenience of man. This is not God's way. God's way is to conform the world to the Scriptures. To be reconciled to God, not to the world. We need to reevaluate whom we serve and what commands we are obedient to. We need to read our Scriptures in the Spirit and in Truth, and then we need to adhere to them. As Jesus said: "The traditions of man are nulifying the Word of God."
Lord Jesus, lead me in the path of righteousness for Your namesake. Teach me the truth and enable me to walk in it. Help me, Lord, for I am weak. Strengthen me with your Holy Spirit. Amen.
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