Watch your step.

“So watch your step, friends.  Make sure there’s no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God.  For as long as it’s still God’s Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn’t slow down your reflexes…”

-Hebrews 3:12-14 MSG

We must renew our minds with God’s light, continually, otherwise the devil can quickly take hold and turn our lives upside down – we cannot let this happen! Therefore, stay focused on God and His Word – never let Him out of your mind, sight, and heart… 
NEVER!

Through the experience of death

“Jesus, through the experience of death, he fully experienced death in every persons place.”

-Adapted from Hebrews 2:5-9 MSG

So, why did Jesus go through so much pain?

Here’s why:  In order that you and I might LIVE, LOVE, and LAUGH.

Therefore, let’s make sure that we are living in accordance with His death, (which equals LIFE),  and stop living in accordance with the world, (which equals DEATH).  Yes, let’s start living like we are truly, truly living ~ friends, Jesus died so we could do so.

People come and go, but Jesus...

People will come and go in our lives, but One remains with us - forever and always - Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  

Thank you Jesus - Thank you God

“Earth and sky will wear out, but not you, Jesus.

You stay the same, year after year;

 You’ll never fade, you’ll never wear out.”

- Adapted from Hebrews 1:1012 MSG

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Bighearted and courteous

"God's people should be bighearted and courteous." 

-Titus 3:1-2 MSG

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So, are we???

Accept the hard times along with the good.

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"... keep your eyes on what you're doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive... " 

-2 Timothy 4:3-5 MSG

Shout it out

"God doesn't want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold, loving, and sensible." 

-2 Timothy 1:5-7 MSG

As a child of God, share your gifts boldly, lovingly, and sensibly.  As a child of God, shine, shout, praise, and amaze; share YOU - share God!

Lust, the good and bad

“… Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble…”

(1 Timothy 6:9-10 MSG)

HOWEVER,

A desire for Christ will bring us all the riches we can manage and will build us a treasure that will last – gaining eternal life that is truly life, life eternal. 

(Adapted from 1 Timothy 6:17-19 MSG)

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Good or bad...

“The sins of some people are blatant and march them right into court.  The sins of others don’t show up until much later.  The same with good deeds.  Some you see right off, but none are hidden forever.” 

1 Timothy 5:24-25 MSG

Good or bad, your sins and good deeds will all come out in the open eventually.  So, stick with the good deeds – you’ll be better off in the long run.

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Teach others with your life

“... Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity.  Stay at your posts reading Scripture, giving counsel... Keep a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching.  Don’t be diverted.  Just keep at it.  Both you and those who hear you will experience salvation.”  

-1 Timothy 4:11-14, 15-16 MSG

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The most important thing you can do

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"The first thing I want you to do is pray.  Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know..."

1 Timothy 2:1-3 MSG

Simply love - a life open to God

“The whole point of what we’re urging is simply love - love uncontaminated by self interest and counterfeit faith, a life open to God.” 

-1 Timothy 1:5-7

Simple LOVE - the kind of love given to us by God - nothing added, nothing taken away; no judgement, no critique - no end.

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God's children prevail

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“Take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high…”

2 Thessalonians 2:15-17 MSG

You are a child of God and His children will never be defeated.

Life makers, not life takers

Let’s follow the words of 1 Thessalonians and become life makers instead of life takers:

Let’s keep the eyes of our heart on God and be smart.  Let’s speak encouraging words to one another, gently encouraging and looking for the best in one another. Let’s be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time, thank God no matter what happens and, at all times, stay alert as to anything tainted with evil, making sure to keep it out of our lives completely.

(Adapted from 1Thesselonians 5:4-22 MSG).

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Dignity to your body

“Learn to appreciate and give dignity to your body, not abusing it, as is so common among those who know nothing of God.” 

-1 Thessalonians 4:4-5 MSG

Your body is God’s temple - holy, clean, beautiful, and redeemed. 

Therefore, treat it as such.

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Don't waste a second

“Pray diligently.  Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude… Make the most of every opportunity…” 

-Colossians 4:2-6 MSG

In a nutshell: Make the most out of your life – don’t waste a single second of it.

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Defeat? NEVER!!

“Happy and blessed are you, O Israel,

Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord,

The Shield of your help,

And the Sword of your majesty!

Your enemies will cringe before you,

And you will tread on their high places [tramping down their idolatrous alters].”

-Deuteronomy 33:29 AMP

If we know that God is our Savior, then we mustn’t let defeat ever enter our minds – it is NOT an option!

Are you serious about living?

"So, if you're serious about living this new resurrection with Christ, act like it. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ.  Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life, is with Christ in God."

-Adapted from Colossians 3: 1-4 MSG

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Glory

”For I consider [from the standpoint of faith] that the sufferings of the present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us!”

(‭ROMANS‬ ‭8‬:‭18‬ )

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If you aren’t living HIM, then...

“... You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him...” 

Colossians 2:6-7 MSG

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If you aren’t living Him, then you aren’t living.

Dead-ends and dark alleys.

”God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons.  He’s set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating.” 

-Colossians 1:13-13 MSG

In Christ there is no darkness, no dead-ends, no dark alleys, no dungeons.  No, there is light, help, healing, joy, completeness, favor and fearlessness.  Therefore if you are seeing darkness, then somewhere along the way you lost sight of God - it’s time to turn and run to him in humility, with all fervor and haste. Open your heart to him and he will open his arms to you.  He is with you and waiting patiently for you to find him - seek him and you will see him; seek him and you will find him.

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Instead of worrying, pray!

Philippians 4:6-7The Message (MSG)

6-7 Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

The Message (MSG)

Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

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None of what you've done is wasted

"Yes," says the Spirit, "and blessed rest from their hard, hard work.  None of what they've done is wasted; God blesses them for it all in the end."  

-Revelation 14:13 MSG

Whether you can see it or not, when you work hard, do the right thing, live with a right heart, and keerp striving forward for Christ, nothing - and I mean NOTHING - will be wasted.  Soon, the fruit of your hard work and dedication will shine through.  Hang in there - it will happen sooner than you think, better than you can imagine, and hand-blessed by God himself.

Dump the trash out!

“... Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant - dog dung!  I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him...”

-Philippians 3:7-9 MSG

What is your main focus in life?  Work, fun, money, wealth, leadership, people... yourself...?  Is God at the top,  middle, or bottom, of your list?  Is God even on your list when you honestly think about it?

Whatever your answer, we all make the mistake of letting worldly-life come first.  Therefore, refocusing, rethinking, and recharging all needs to happen - a dump run is at hand. So, begin to  dump out the trash, dump out the clutter; clean out your heart and mind of all that is blocking you from the light of Jesus. Re-center yourself: make God your first priority - take charge and begin to move forward in faith and power - God’s will for you.  Once you do, your life will clear of life’s unimportant trash and a straight path to Him will be in sight.  Go to Him!! He is waiting for you - He loves you and he has a life of greatness waiting for you to grab hold of... run for it!

From the Board of Wisdom

From the Board of Wisdom: This quote by Klodya Daoud is a favorite of 23 users.

When God moves you...

https://boardofwisdom.com/togo/Quotes/ShowQuote?msgid=308657#.WiUx2s6IafA

”Moved by the Spirit, he went...” Luke 2:27

When God speaks, or touches you to move, then DO IT!  Believe me, it is something you won’t want to miss.

Step aside

"Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top.  Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead.  Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage.  Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand." 

-Philippians 2:1-4 MSG

Step aside, put your ego below your feet, let those around you go ahead... for in doing so, your time will come, and it will be much greater than you could ever think, want, or hope for.  

As well, remember the fine, truth-filled, words: Those who are first will be last and those who are last will be first (Matthew 19:30).

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This is how your future will be ...

I know how it's going to turn out.  Everthing Christ wants to do in and through you will be done -  PERIOD!!!

- Adapted from Philippians 1:10-21MSG

Friends, you can't change your future - what God wants from, for, and through you, will eventurally be done - like it or not.  Therefore, stop fighting, stay in faith, and live for right now.  The future isn't yours yet, and time spent trying to figure out what will happen and what you want to happen will only waste your precious time of living in the right and the now.

Move onward and upward

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Wake up - get out of the darkness

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Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It’s a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ.

Wake up from your sleep,

Climb out of your coffins;

Christ will show you the light!

So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!

Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.

-Ephesian 5:11-17 MSG

Step out! Be different!

Step out! 

Be different! 

Be yourself and live out your dreams and desires and goals.  My friend, you've nothing to lose.

Adapted from Press On. A 5 day devotional from @Jennifer MCAllister

"For I consider [from the stand point of faith] that the sufferings of the present life are not worthy to be compared to the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us." 

-Romans 8:18 AMP

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https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/9185-press-on

Travel the road in which you are called

“... I want you to get out there and walk - better yet, run! - on the road God called you travel...”

-Ephesians 4:1-3 MSG

Are you running on the right road?  Do you see the light ahead?  If not, turn back - ASAP - look up to God and ask him which way to go.  Once you do, He will turn on the street lights of Heaven on for you to see ahead, and the red lights of Hell will begin to diminish in your rearview mirror.

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