Tag Archives: scripture

Do Not Be Afraid

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I know of a few people who have been recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, including Alex Trebek, well known host of the TV game show, Jeopardy. This is a very frightening diagnosis and these people need our prayers. An extremely appropriate scripture appeared to me in my quiet time yesterday and I thought of all of these people. As much as it is possible for some, and to all others, happy Sunday.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified…for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV

The Matter of Change

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Yesterday, during my quiet time I came across some very interesting quotes about how to go about changing ourselves.

Self awareness is the first step to self improvement.

A change in behavior begins with a change in heart.

We defeat ourselves or gain victories by the thoughts we think.

Become addicted to constant and never-ending self improvement.

Never neglect an opportunity for self improvement.

When you look in the mirror see more than your face…see your self.

Put off your old self….to be made new in the attitudes of your minds. (Ephesians 4:22,23)

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2)

Image result for self improvement quotes

 

 

Let It Be

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There is so much in our world that we don’t understand should we take the words of John Lennon of the Beatles, and the scripture,  Luke 1:38 “Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Happy Sunday.

 

When Tears are not Enough

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A fire in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Tuesday, killed seven children ranging in age from four months to fourteen years. Their father is in life threatening condition and the mother is remarkably unharmed…physically.

Can anyone even fathom the devastation this mother is dealing with?

Tears are not enough to wash away the enormity of this woman’s suffering in the moment and in years to come…her own tears and those of all who mourn with her.

Some will ask where is God in all this.

Along with the rest of us…Jesus wept. (John 11:35)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking Back

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Looking back on yesterday’s post, “A Take on This Spiritual Thing”, I don’t want anyone to get the impression that I’m coming out as a saint (although our pastor says we are all saints)…far from it.

Some of the things that I regret saying and doing that could have been handled in a much better way got me thinking about my own spiritual side. Hear what St. Paul said in Romans 7:15, I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. NIV

How many of us can relate to this passage of scripture. I know I can and do.

Tomorrow’s post is going to strike some of you as weird but it shines a light on the thoughts we sometimes have that we aren’t even aware of. Till then…

A Take on This Spiritual Thing

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After taking some time off from writing, I’m back on the page with something I did a few years ago under the above title.

What is it like to be a spiritual being having a human experience? From my point of view it couldn’t be better. When Spirit takes over, changes are made to our humanness. As St. Paul says in Romans 12:2 “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” This can mean many things to many people. For me it meant a complete mental housecleaning.

The ego is the first to go. It clutters up the thinking process, always trying to be number one. Does being number one really matter? If so, to whom does it matter? The ego of course. Ego being what it is would not understand taking a back seat to an insult. Was the insult really meant to hurt us or was it intended to rid that person of his/her own hurt? A spiritual being would see beyond the actual act and not react in a way that would be harmful to the antagonizer. The spiritual being sees with the heart, feels with the heart, and tries to get to the true heart of matters.

Super sensitivity must be eliminated. It is good to be sensitive when it keeps us aware of our surroundings, the needs of others, and our own fragility when dealing with extraneous forces. However, to be super sensitive can be debilitating, causing us needless hurt when we take uncalled-for remarks too personally and dwell on them until our senses no longer have room for sensibility. The spiritual being allows for hurts and loves anyway.

Judgement is the next to go. This means allowing others to have and speak their own beliefs without jumping in and telling them where they are wrong (in our opinion of course). It means accepting the person not the deed when an unkind act has been committed. The spiritual being recalls the admonition in scripture, “do not judge or you too will be judged”. (Matthew 7:1 NIV)

Next on the list is eliminating bad habits. For me it was giving up swearing, smoking, and among others, procrastination. (I made a New Year resolution on this one but put it off until the next year.) All this is a cleansing procedure which helps to open us to our higher good.

All in all, spiritual beings recognize human weakness and prompt each other to become the best we can be by overcoming.

That’s my take on this spiritual thing. What’s yours?

 

 

 

 

 

On Growing Old (Or Not)

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Recently, a fellow blogger spoke about growing older and remembering things past. It reminded me of a poem I posted in 2014 along the same lines. Here is “The Me I Used to Be”. Thank you, Butch, for the reminder that we can live in both worlds…young and old. Actually, scriptures speaks of this also…”Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”( 2 Corinthians 4:16)

THE ME I USED TO BE

I miss the me I used to be,

the things I used to do,

I miss the energy and verve,

the vim and vigor too.

I miss the way my feet could dance,

the way my body bent,

contorted to the Limbo

(under the pole I went).

I miss the feel of garden soil

where once my hands would dig

while scrunching down to plant the seeds

before my joints got big.

Yes, I miss the me I used to be

and all the things I did,

but even though the body’s old,

inside I’m still a kid.

Insights

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These insights come from different issues of Our Daily Bread magazines and make good pondering.

The actual words and thoughts of God are revealed in the Bible. Don’t just read them and repeat them; think them, feel them, ask the Lord to clarify them, to make them a part of your experience and teach you.

Second Timothy  3:16 and Peter 1:19-21 are two key passages that tell us the Bible is the inspired Word of God. The human writers of the Bible were not afraid to acknowledge that what they spoke or wrote was given to them by God (Ex. 34:27; Acts 3:18; Heb. 1:1) through the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). The Lord Jesus affirmed that it is the Spirit who is the author of Scripture (Matt.22:43; Mark 12:36).

Happy Sunday.

The Bible on Power

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Power is a powerful word…the very sound of it can sometimes evoke the feeling. Here are a few of many scriptures that give meaning to the word.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being…Ephesians 3:16

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Happy Sunday.

20 Amazing Bible Verses about God’s Power

 

Believe It Or Not

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Frederick Buechner, American writer, novelist, poet, autobiographer, essayist, preacher, and theologian is one of many authors who makes us sit up and take notice of what goes on around us as well as what goes on inside of us. Here is a recent quote from Facebook.

UNBELIEF IS AS MUCH OF A CHOICE as belief is. What makes it in many ways more appealing is that, whereas to believe in something requires some measure of understanding and effort, not to believe doesn’t require much of anything at all. 

In my opinion, in order to believe we must choose to do so. I’m so happy I made that choice.

Jesus told him, “Is it because you’ve seen me that you have believed? How blessed are those who have never seen me and yet have believed!” International Standard Version

Happy Sunday.