Don't blow your own horn

Whatever you do, do it to praise and glorify the Lord

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;  but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,  and the lowly things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.  But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,  so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”

How many times have you done a good deed?  Maybe you have given a friend some money when they were in need, or helped them solve a problem they were facing. Maybe you have served someone in another way.  When you have done these things, whatever they may have been, have you wanted to tell someone how you had helped?  Did you want to tell them so they will know what an awesome giving person you are or so they would be proud of you? Did you want to tell someone what a great thing you had done so they would accept you?

We all do things that are worth boasting about, but should we boast? 

It is not important that others know our good deeds and service.  It is only important that God knows how we serve.  It is better that we serve for the advancement of others and not for the advancement of ourselves.  It is important that the reason we serve others is because we want to please God.

It is not important that we do good deeds so that others will see how awesome we are.  It is not important that we do good deeds so that others will be proud of us.  Do you know why it isn’t important? Because God already knows what awesome and giving people we are.  God is already proud of us. God knows all that we do before we even do it, so there is no need to boast about it.

Keep your good deeds and service coming because they are very pleasing to God.  Instead of blowing your own horn and giving the glory to yourself; blow your trumpet for God and give the glory to our Heavenly Father.

Lord, thank you for giving me the spiritual gift of service. Help me to realize how I can use all of my spiritual gifts to serve you better.  Help me to remember that it is better to serve quietly then to shout it to the mountain tops.  

Amen

Many Blessing,

Linda

Something to get you moving today!

Have an awesome weekend.

See you Monday!

 Christy Nockels, "Ever Lifting"

A Love so great

Romans 5:8

 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, 

in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 8:38-39

 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, 

nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, 

nor powers,  nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, 

will be able to separate us from the love of God, 

which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God put everything on the line for us.  He sent his only son to die for our sins.

There is nothing that can drive a wedge between that kind of love.

Lord, thank you for your never ending, unfailing love. I feel blessed to be a part of a love so great.

Amen

Many blessings,

Linda

Patient and tolerant

Bad moments do not make you a bad person

Ephesians 4:2

with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,

Daniel 9:9

To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him;

This was not me yesterday morning with my overtired 9 year old.  She had gone to bed late and was very tired and emotional the next morning.  As I tried to hurry her through the morning routine, my patience and tolerance weakened.  I wasn’t being compassionate to her feelings. I just wanted her to hurry so she wouldn’t miss the bus!  It was a bad moment for both of us.  After she left, I felt bad because I was impatient with her.  I needed to think about the night she had and be patient with how she expressed her tiredness. 

The story did end happily though. She came home from school and we both apologized to each other and all was forgiven.  That is the wonderful thing about love;  It forgives.

If this kind of bad moment happens again, and I’m sure it will, I pray that I will remember this verse.  I pray that I will be more patient and tolerant of the feelings of others.

Remember, bad moments do not make us bad people. God is patient and tolerant of all our bad moments because he loves us.

Lord, thank you for showing me that your love for us is patient and tolerant of all our bad moments.  Help me to be more like you the next time I am faced with a bad moment that will test my patience and tolerance.

Amen

Many Blessings,

Linda

Careful! Don’t be overconfident

and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness.

Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO PLAY.” Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day.

1 Corinthians 10:3-8

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. 

1 Corinthians 10:12-13

This is a warning to all of us. Make certain we never get caught up in wanting our own way as they did. We are just as capable of messing things up as the next person. Don't be so naive and self-confident that you think you are exempt. The tests or temptation that come your way are neither more nor less then the tests and temptations others have had to face.

You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else.   We are all human and we all make mistakes.  Forget about confidence in yourself; it's useless, verses 3-8 above have proven that. Instead, raise your confidence in God.  Know that if God brings you to it, only God alone can bring you through it.  

Lord, thank you for loving me and staying with me even though I mess things up!  I know tough times will come and temptations will knock at my door.  When they do, give me the strength I need to stand up to them and do what is pleasing to you.  Help me to build my confidence in you and not in myself.  It is only through you that all things are possible.

Amen

Many Blessing,

Linda

HOPE IN THE

LORD

ALL THE DAY LONG

What if? If only

A life of What if?  If only?

For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

 Jeremiah 29:11

How many times have we said “What if” or “If only”?  What if I had taken that other job?  If only I had done what the doctors told me to do?  What if I hadn’t over slept?  If only I had not forgotten my loved ones last birthday? What if I had been there for her when she was in distress?  I could go on and on.

After my father died, I was often thinking “what if”, “if only”.  I kept thinking “What if this happened , then that would have happened”

What I finally realized was, at the time, I wasn’t being faithful.  I didn’t have faith in the plan God had for my father. I know now that my father’s life and his death happen exactly how God had planned it.

God had our whole lives planned out before we were even born.  His plan is to take care of us, not abandon us, and to give us the future we hope for.  

God doesn’t want us to live a life of “what if” and “if only” for things in the past.  He wants us to live a life of thanks and praise for today.

“Lord, thank you for the blessing of today.  Help me to accept the discouraging times and not live a “what if” “if only” life.  Help me to have faith in the plans you have for me”  Amen

Many Blessings,

Linda