"Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation" 1 Peter 2:2
My almost three-year-old son Luke often comes to me and says, "Hold me like a baby." Of course I scoop him up like a little baby and snuggle him close and tell him what a cute baby he is and how much I love him. This is when Luke loves to act like a little baby and ask for a bottle and a pacifier; which of course I do not give him, but he just likes to play like a little baby sometimes. When Luke first started doing this I realized that he was wanting to be doted over the way we did with his little baby twin sisters. Julia and Olivia are still babies that have infant needs that Luke often wants to be extended to him. Any of you with children can relate to this I'm sure.
When little kids do this it is cute. When adults do this in their Christian walk it is not so cute. There are so many Christians who received salvation and just stopped growing right then. This verse in 1 Peter talks about being a new Christian and being babied with spiritual milk for a while but then you have to grow up and start acting like a mature Christian. Think about it this way; if we all received salvation and didn't continue to grow up in our faith not many other people would be hearing the word of God. Babies don't teach other people, they don't share their wisdom with others. It is no different for new Christians. They aren't going to be helping anyone else if they don't grow up themselves.
Have a terrific Tuesday!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Control Your Self!
We are finishing up our ninth day of Spiritual fruit with self-control. I hope you have enjoyed this little series on fruit. Now, let's talk about controlling ourselves.
"The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray." 1 Peter 4:7
Wonder why this verse says we have to be in control of ourselves to pray? Of all the things that could have been mentioned as ways to promote your prayer life, I think it is interesting that self-control is mentioned. People often relate an inability to pray with harboring unforgiveness, feelings of hatred, jealousy, wrath, disgust, etc, etc... But this verse focuses solely on self-control.
We can't go to God in prayer when our minds, actions and motives are spinning out of control because of some situation in our lives that has robbed us of our self-control. I am not saying that we shouldn't seek God's guidance when we are feeling out of control. No way! However, we do need to come down from that out of control spiral that has pushed the Holy Spirit aside and seek God's guidance. The ideal situation for self-control is that we never lose it in the first place. We all know that is not always the case, but we do need to make good use of the fruit of self-control that Jesus died to give us so our hearts are in a state that can seek God through prayer just like Paul said "without ceasing." Because believe me, when the self-control flies out the window our prayerful attitude and awareness goes with it!
"The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray." 1 Peter 4:7
Wonder why this verse says we have to be in control of ourselves to pray? Of all the things that could have been mentioned as ways to promote your prayer life, I think it is interesting that self-control is mentioned. People often relate an inability to pray with harboring unforgiveness, feelings of hatred, jealousy, wrath, disgust, etc, etc... But this verse focuses solely on self-control.
We can't go to God in prayer when our minds, actions and motives are spinning out of control because of some situation in our lives that has robbed us of our self-control. I am not saying that we shouldn't seek God's guidance when we are feeling out of control. No way! However, we do need to come down from that out of control spiral that has pushed the Holy Spirit aside and seek God's guidance. The ideal situation for self-control is that we never lose it in the first place. We all know that is not always the case, but we do need to make good use of the fruit of self-control that Jesus died to give us so our hearts are in a state that can seek God through prayer just like Paul said "without ceasing." Because believe me, when the self-control flies out the window our prayerful attitude and awareness goes with it!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Be Gentle!
"Let your gentleness be evident to all." Philippians 4:5
One of the most frequent phrases that I hear myself yelling at my two-year-old son is, "Be Gentle!!!" For those of you who know Luke you will know exactly what I mean when I say that he is rough. Luke is all boy and plays so rough with my twin girls that are only 18 months old. I have to remind him to be gentle with the girlies all the time. When I tell him this he kind of gives me this look like, "Playing gently is no fun."
Well, as Christian adults our responsibility to be gentle does not have much to do with not body-slamming your sisters or dragging them across the floor by their feet. I think that our biggest challenge with gentleness today is in how we speak to other people. Our words can often be so rough and insensitive. Most of the time we don't realize our lack of gentleness, but sometimes we do. The Holy Spirit has gifted us with the fruit of gentleness. This means that a Christian can no longer say, "Well, my personality is not very gentle so I can't help that I hurt other people's feelings sometimes." No, no, that excuse will not work anymore because gentleness is in your heart because of the Holy Spirit. If Christians are not being gentle with others it is because they have chosen not to let that fruit ripen within their hearts so they can put it to good use.
When we choose not to use the gentleness that God has given us it is like telling God that you don't really want His gift. I don't know about you, but I want everything that God wants to gift me with! (Guess that means you will start seeing more gentleness out of me! LOL!)
One of the most frequent phrases that I hear myself yelling at my two-year-old son is, "Be Gentle!!!" For those of you who know Luke you will know exactly what I mean when I say that he is rough. Luke is all boy and plays so rough with my twin girls that are only 18 months old. I have to remind him to be gentle with the girlies all the time. When I tell him this he kind of gives me this look like, "Playing gently is no fun."
Well, as Christian adults our responsibility to be gentle does not have much to do with not body-slamming your sisters or dragging them across the floor by their feet. I think that our biggest challenge with gentleness today is in how we speak to other people. Our words can often be so rough and insensitive. Most of the time we don't realize our lack of gentleness, but sometimes we do. The Holy Spirit has gifted us with the fruit of gentleness. This means that a Christian can no longer say, "Well, my personality is not very gentle so I can't help that I hurt other people's feelings sometimes." No, no, that excuse will not work anymore because gentleness is in your heart because of the Holy Spirit. If Christians are not being gentle with others it is because they have chosen not to let that fruit ripen within their hearts so they can put it to good use.
When we choose not to use the gentleness that God has given us it is like telling God that you don't really want His gift. I don't know about you, but I want everything that God wants to gift me with! (Guess that means you will start seeing more gentleness out of me! LOL!)
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Faithfully Faithful
"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." Psalm 91:4
When we consider the concept of faithfulness our minds naturally tend to think about marital faithfulness or being faithful to our Christian walk. These are all good examples, but here is one aspect of faithfulness that we do not think about often: God's faithfulness to us. God promises that He will be faithful to fulfill the promises that He has given His children. God's faithfulness should be a source of strength and encouragement for us in our lives but we often overlook His faithfulness.
When I consider why many Christians overlook God's faithfulness one thing comes to mind --- God does not fulfill His promises in our own timing so we mistake God's delay for unfaithfulness. Well, let me tell you that this is a lie. Satan himself wants you to think that if God doesn't answer your prayer right when you want Him to that He is being unfaithful to help you in your time of need. Let's be aware of this lie and prayerfully work to not fall victim to it!
One important fact that Christians must remember is the faithfulness God shows to us is the same faithfulness that we receive as a fruit of the Holy Spirit. God's faithfulness is infallible and perfect and I am encouraged that fruit of faithfulness is living in me. Now it is just up to me to cultivate it and make it work and thrive in my life!
When we consider the concept of faithfulness our minds naturally tend to think about marital faithfulness or being faithful to our Christian walk. These are all good examples, but here is one aspect of faithfulness that we do not think about often: God's faithfulness to us. God promises that He will be faithful to fulfill the promises that He has given His children. God's faithfulness should be a source of strength and encouragement for us in our lives but we often overlook His faithfulness.
When I consider why many Christians overlook God's faithfulness one thing comes to mind --- God does not fulfill His promises in our own timing so we mistake God's delay for unfaithfulness. Well, let me tell you that this is a lie. Satan himself wants you to think that if God doesn't answer your prayer right when you want Him to that He is being unfaithful to help you in your time of need. Let's be aware of this lie and prayerfully work to not fall victim to it!
One important fact that Christians must remember is the faithfulness God shows to us is the same faithfulness that we receive as a fruit of the Holy Spirit. God's faithfulness is infallible and perfect and I am encouraged that fruit of faithfulness is living in me. Now it is just up to me to cultivate it and make it work and thrive in my life!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Oh My Goodness!
"God saw all that He had made, and it was very good" Genesis 1:31
Genesis is all about the beginning. The first verse starts off saying, "In the beginning God..." Genesis 1:1. Then it follows by giving a list of all the wondrous things God created. At the close of the sixth day of God's creation it speaks of God taking time to look at all He had created. God was pleased because his creation reflected the goodness of God himself. God is good. That is His very essence and being. Anything from God is good. It is funny how in the English language the word "good" is only one "O" too many from being the word God. That is pretty amazing when you consider that God is very literally good.
Have you ever had a moment when you told God how good he is? I have had times when I would be doing something and I could see God working out something for my good. That is when I just giggle to myself and say, "God you are so good!" It cracks me up when I see God being good to me in very simple ways. Like when I go to the store needing a new pack of sippy cups (which are expensive for some reason) and I find two sippy cups exactly alike in the clearance bin that cost me next to nothing. God knew I needed two for my twins and He also knew that I like for them to match. And God really knew that I didn't want to spend a lot for them, so He had them right there waiting for me in the clearance bin.
Many times we don't recognize these times of God's goodness in our lives. I am sure that I have overlooked many times myself. We all need to be watching for these acts of goodness God bestows upon us because they encourage us and strengthen our relationship with Him. So, make an extra effort to find the goodness of God in everything you see. You won't have to look very hard.
Quick side note here:
I have noticed that our society has become really big on this whole OMG thing. (If you don't know what it means it is using God's name in an unholy way.) Some of you may disagree with me on this one, but I am sorry. It grieves me to hear people say this phrase and what grieves me even more is that my two year old son said it the other day. I nearly fainted! Once I came back to my senses I corrected him and said that we don't say "Oh my (you know)", we say "Oh my goodness." I have no idea where Luke heard this spoken, but once the two year olds in our lives are walking around saying these things, it is an even bigger problem. Please join me in praying that people will stop throwing God's name around so flippantly and disrespectfully.
Genesis is all about the beginning. The first verse starts off saying, "In the beginning God..." Genesis 1:1. Then it follows by giving a list of all the wondrous things God created. At the close of the sixth day of God's creation it speaks of God taking time to look at all He had created. God was pleased because his creation reflected the goodness of God himself. God is good. That is His very essence and being. Anything from God is good. It is funny how in the English language the word "good" is only one "O" too many from being the word God. That is pretty amazing when you consider that God is very literally good.
Have you ever had a moment when you told God how good he is? I have had times when I would be doing something and I could see God working out something for my good. That is when I just giggle to myself and say, "God you are so good!" It cracks me up when I see God being good to me in very simple ways. Like when I go to the store needing a new pack of sippy cups (which are expensive for some reason) and I find two sippy cups exactly alike in the clearance bin that cost me next to nothing. God knew I needed two for my twins and He also knew that I like for them to match. And God really knew that I didn't want to spend a lot for them, so He had them right there waiting for me in the clearance bin.
Many times we don't recognize these times of God's goodness in our lives. I am sure that I have overlooked many times myself. We all need to be watching for these acts of goodness God bestows upon us because they encourage us and strengthen our relationship with Him. So, make an extra effort to find the goodness of God in everything you see. You won't have to look very hard.
Quick side note here:
I have noticed that our society has become really big on this whole OMG thing. (If you don't know what it means it is using God's name in an unholy way.) Some of you may disagree with me on this one, but I am sorry. It grieves me to hear people say this phrase and what grieves me even more is that my two year old son said it the other day. I nearly fainted! Once I came back to my senses I corrected him and said that we don't say "Oh my (you know)", we say "Oh my goodness." I have no idea where Luke heard this spoken, but once the two year olds in our lives are walking around saying these things, it is an even bigger problem. Please join me in praying that people will stop throwing God's name around so flippantly and disrespectfully.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Showing Kindness
"...but blessed is he who is kind to the needy." Proverbs 14:21
People all over the world are needy in many different ways. We often consider the needy to be financially poor people. This is true, but there are people who are needy in other capacities as well. Some people are in needy for encouragement, a friend, support, a helper, advice...the list goes on. I would go so far as to say that we have all been needy at some point in our lives whether our need had anything to do with money or not. You may be needy in some way right now.
Well, here is the perk for Christians: God loves it and blesses us when we fulfill someone's need. But don't go into this as an obligation where you are looking for a blessing. The funny thing about being kind and helping someone in need is that you often experience more joy giving out the kindness than the other person does receiving it. Don't believe me? Go try it. Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" Acts 20:35.
Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit that has a great power to transform a person from the inside out. Kind Christians are happy because they are letting God's kindness shine on other people around them. And you know this makes God smile!
Surprise someone with unexpected kindness today. Wouldn't you love it if someone did that to you???
People all over the world are needy in many different ways. We often consider the needy to be financially poor people. This is true, but there are people who are needy in other capacities as well. Some people are in needy for encouragement, a friend, support, a helper, advice...the list goes on. I would go so far as to say that we have all been needy at some point in our lives whether our need had anything to do with money or not. You may be needy in some way right now.
Well, here is the perk for Christians: God loves it and blesses us when we fulfill someone's need. But don't go into this as an obligation where you are looking for a blessing. The funny thing about being kind and helping someone in need is that you often experience more joy giving out the kindness than the other person does receiving it. Don't believe me? Go try it. Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" Acts 20:35.
Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit that has a great power to transform a person from the inside out. Kind Christians are happy because they are letting God's kindness shine on other people around them. And you know this makes God smile!
Surprise someone with unexpected kindness today. Wouldn't you love it if someone did that to you???
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Everyone?
Patience is the fourth fruit of the Spirit and our focus for today!
"...encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone." 1 Thessalonians 5:14
Patient with everyone? Really? You mean that I have to be patient with that crazy person who cut me off on the road this morning, or that moody cashier that won't honor the sale price, or my kids who don't care to listen to me? Really? YES.
Patience is one of those fruits that can be the hardest to cultivate. However, the Holy Spirit gave it to you so don't think that He is going to leave you on your own when it comes to making it work in your life. In the verse above Paul is writing and telling his brothers in Christ how they need to be acting to each other and everyone else. When he mentions being patient he didn't just say, "be patient." No, that would have easily been misconstrued by the brothers to mean that they only had to be patient with each other. Paul took care of that misunderstanding before it started by saying, "be patient with everyone." Now there was no mistaking what Paul meant.
It is pretty easy to identify a Christian who is practicing the patience that the Holy Spirit has given them. However, it is much easier to identify a Christian who is not practicing the patience that the Holy Spirit has given them. Which are you?
"...encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone." 1 Thessalonians 5:14
Patient with everyone? Really? You mean that I have to be patient with that crazy person who cut me off on the road this morning, or that moody cashier that won't honor the sale price, or my kids who don't care to listen to me? Really? YES.
Patience is one of those fruits that can be the hardest to cultivate. However, the Holy Spirit gave it to you so don't think that He is going to leave you on your own when it comes to making it work in your life. In the verse above Paul is writing and telling his brothers in Christ how they need to be acting to each other and everyone else. When he mentions being patient he didn't just say, "be patient." No, that would have easily been misconstrued by the brothers to mean that they only had to be patient with each other. Paul took care of that misunderstanding before it started by saying, "be patient with everyone." Now there was no mistaking what Paul meant.
It is pretty easy to identify a Christian who is practicing the patience that the Holy Spirit has given them. However, it is much easier to identify a Christian who is not practicing the patience that the Holy Spirit has given them. Which are you?
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