Speak intelligibly from the heart

1Corinthians 14:14 "For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do?  I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind.  I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sign with my mind. ...... 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.  19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in tongues."    Speak intelligibly from your heart!!   This is the time of year when it is very politically correct to speak of Jesus!!   Speak from your heart what makes sense!!! We each have different experiences with God that keeps us close to Him.   Tell YOUR story!!  It doesn’t help the unbeliever believe if we speak in a language they can’t understand.    Speak from your heart about what is real in your life!!!    Most of us can relate to each other’s failures.   And most of us want to know how to get back up.     A teacher friend told me, the kids that were the biggest “ winners” had the fewest friends.  Maybe it’s because there is only one winner and the rest of us can’t relate.      Be the person people can related to.   Then relate it all back to Jesus.   Win souls this Christmas time!😇❤️🙏🎄

Truly Love

1Corinthians 13:4 " Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  5 It is not rude, it is not self- seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs.  6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes always perseveres."

......13 "And now these three things remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love."   Love ❤️ When I read these verses I evaluate if I am truly walking in love.    I know the people who say they love me don’t always act these ways toward me.   Truth is the people I know in every breath of my being, I  love; I don’t always act like this toward them either.   God is the only one that can love us this way and He does!!  Jesus broke the sin barrier that separated us from God.    Today I will try to embrace His overflowing love for me, love Him back and take that devine love and share it with my loved ones.   Let’s choose to love people where they are at not if they are the way we want them to be.   Put on a 1 Corinthians  13 Love for Christmas !!

Hurting people hurt others put on live anyway

1Corinthians 12:12 "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body.  So it is with Christ."   We are many parts, one body.   Is an eye less valuable than an ear?  Of course not!! Is a rich man more valuable than a poor man? Of course not!!! Is a healthy person of different valuable than a sick one?   Of course not!!!! Why then do we treat each other as if we have different  values?  We have been conditioned by our culture to value one thing or one person over another other.  Jesus looks upon our hearts.   Let’s try to be like Jesus and see each other through the eyes of love.       I heard it said, “ If you’re having a tough time seeing someone in love, remember they were someone’s precious baby one day”.     Not all of us have had the privilege of growing up in loving families.    Many people have suffered many things.   Hurting  people hurt others.   Try to love people even when they are seemingly unloveable.   This time of year we think of Our Precious Baby Jesus.    Let’s try to see each other as precious no matter how different we may be.   Each of us were created on purpose for His purpose!!!

Destitute but loved at Christmas

Joel 2:12 "Even now," declares the Lord, " return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning."

Joel 2:32 "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."   I love the focus on Jesus at  Christmas time.   I love the old hymns and tradition carols.  I love extra advent services and singing in the choir.  I love the extra emphasis on connecting with the people I love.    Christmas time reminds me to live a life for Jesus.   It's easy to get distracted with things that are meaningless at this time of year or anytime.  Let’s try to stay focused the true meaning of the season.  I remember one  Christmas I was so embarrassed, because I was so poor I didn’t have money to buy presents or bring food.  I didn’t plan to go home.   I mustered up the courage to walk in the door empty handed.   That was one of my best Christmas  memories of love.  I enjoyed the love of my family and the love of Jesus and of course an amazing Christmas Eve service.   Joel 2:13 “Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, He relents from sending calamity.”  Let’s have a Jesus Christmas season!!!  Be the love of Jesus!!! Let His love be the biggest present you give and receive!! 

Content in competition?

 Philippians 4:11 "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."    I have been playing Pickleball.   I'm a very average player.      I used to be someone who excelled at sports.  I can get pretty frustrated with myself when I'm not performing at a level I would like.   Then instead of being content.  I'm busy complaining to others about my lack.    Last night a dear friend pointed this out to me.   Isn't it funny how I can read the word daily and not see clearly my own discontentment.   That's why it's good to have people in our lives that help us remember Gods word.    Today, let’s be energized to encourage each other in the Word of God!!

The way out!

1Corinthians 10:12 "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!"  13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."   If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! Whenever I think, “I’ve got this” I usually get humbled pretty quick.   I take comfort in knowing I don’t face any temptation that is not common to man.    We all struggle!!  When I first started in ministry my goal was to help alcoholics be filled with Jesus instead of booze.   What I have found in the past 20 years is we all need to be filled with Jesus instead of what ever temptation we are lusting after.    God promises a way out!!  I have been guilty of seeing the way out and still choosing to go forward in my sin.    Today may we each look to Jesus and take the way out when He shows it to us!!!   1Corinthians 10:31 “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.”

Get the prize!

 1 Corinthians 9:24 "Do you not know that in a race all runners run , but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.  25 everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  26.  Therefore do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.  27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."  A crown that will last!!!   Recently a dear friend of mine went to Heaven.   She is wearing a crown that will last, all the time I knew her she shared the love of Jesus, she ran her race with endurance..   I have always liked these verses because I have been a runner and physical fitness has been important to me.   Godliness is most important.    When I think of training as an athlete I make sure I have the discipline to workout daily with a commitment to a goal.  In my Faith journey it is even more important to workout daily, with a commitment to a goal.   My work outs, for faith are daily Bible reading, listening to Christian radio and podcasts, felllowshiping and participating in Bible studies with other Christians, belonging to a church family and praying constantly.   Being a faith filled Christian is like going into physical training.  Unlike physical training it produces a crown that will last!!  (We are not saved by our works, we are saved by the finished work of Jesus on the cross)   Our Spiritual journey here, helps us introduce the Savior to all those around us.   Be the light of the world today!    Run the race to get the prize!   😇🙏❤️