Don't believe everything you hear.

"My dear friends, don't believe everything you hear.  Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you..." 1 John 4:1 MSG

Consider the source of whom you are speaking with, as what they are telling you about somebody else, is similar to what they told somebody else about you.

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Blessed is the one who...

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Blessed are those who stay away from evil and the evil talk of those who thrive off it.

Wisdom comes from within

“… I saw that all those who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth…”

Ecclesiastes 4:15

Wisdom doesn’t always come from those older than us, those with a superior title, or those that have a degree behind their name.  No, wisdom is found in everyone.  So take time to look and listen to whomever you may be in contact with – you never know, you just might find the answers to your deepest of questions.

God brought you into existence for a purpose.

“God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth.  Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every creature that moves on the ground.”

-Gen 1:28

You are blessed - you have a purpose! 

We were brought into existence by God for a reason, and we’ve been anointed for that reason! Therefore, let’s find that reason and start living it out!  When we do, our lives will flood with God's light, His favor will be ours without asking, and the gifts of the Spirit will continually pour down upon us.

Friends, get busy and find your purposes, making your God-given gifts the miracles that God graciously and specifically has given each and every one of you.  He has given you the gift to shine for him, so start shining!

Be blessed!!

Wisdom and understanding are for whoever shall ask

“But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding…”

Job 32:8 NIV

No matter your shape, sex, color, creed, age, or title, God gives wisdom and understanding to any and all who will choose to ask and listen to him.

Hence, ASK! He’ll answer you and show you the way.

Zip your lips

“I will show partiality to no one

Nor will I flatter any man;

For if I were skilled in flattery,

My Maker would soon take me away”

Job 32:21-22

If you mean it, say it; if you don’t, keep your lips zipped!

Where real truth and wisdom are found.

"... You don't need any of their so-called teaching.  Christ's anointing teaches you the truth on everything you need to know about yourself and him, uncontaminated by a single lie..."

-2 John 2: 26-27 MSG

Let not the world tell you who you are - for they know not!  However, God does, and he will tell you all you need to know about yourself, your purpose, your meaning... ask him to teach you.

Stay out of the world - stay in Christ.

Victory over the devil

"Your fellowship with God gives you victory over the devil."

-1 John 2:14

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The promises of God.

“… With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day.  God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness…” 

-2 Peter 3:8-9 MSG

All God’s promises come to pass, and they will come to pass for you.  However, they will come to pass in God’s perfect timing – not one second early, not one second late!

Let them talk all they want

Let them talk all they want, and not to worry, they won’t get away with it.  Their fate will soon reign down upon them and destroy their wayward lies and deceits:

“… They’ll say anything, anything, that sounds good to exploit you.  They won’t, of course, get by with it.  They’ll come to a bad end, for God has never just stood by and let that kind of thing go on.”

-2 Peter 2:2-3 MSG

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The prophetic Word of God

“… The prophetic Word was confirmed to us.  You’ll do well to keep focusing on it.  It’s the one light you have in a dark time as you wait for daybreak and the rising of the Morning Star in your hearts…”

-2 Peter 1:19-20 MSG

Stay focused on the Word – stay focused on the Light; hence, stay focused on God.

My friends, God and His Word never fail, and soon, very soon, His Light and Star will come beaming through and see you through to your victory so close ahead.

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The fullness of Christ within

“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ who is the head over every power and authority.”

-         Colossians 2:9

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Hence, with Christ living in you, you have the power and authority to conquer, defeat, trample and obliterate all falsity from the devil and from the world.

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Stay within limits

“Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of the world, why… do you submit to its rules: Do not handle… taste… touch?  These are all destined to perish with use because they are based on human commands and teachings…”

-Colossians 2:20-22 MSG

Stay within the limits of the Word of God and the Word of God alone.  Anything outside of it, anything added to it, or anything made up in regards to it, is simply a waste of your time and of your precious life.

Important advice for daily living.

Advice to reflect upon for today:

Take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Love each other. Be generous with your gifts: words, help, materials, money, possessions, etc.  

Trust God - he knows what he's doing, especially when you don't.  Be content with who and where you are - God's strong hand is upon you; he'll promote you at just the right time. So, keep your guard up and a firm grip on faith; stay out of YOU and stay in HIM.

And remember to turn away from worldly rubbish, it is a waste of your time.  For in due time and in all things, painful or not, God always gets the last word; yes, he does.

-Adapted from 1 Peter chapters 4 & 5  MSG

Want the good life?

"Whoever wants to embrace life
     and see the day fill up with good,
Here's what you do:
     Say nothing evil or hurtful;
Snub evil and cultivate good;
     run after peace for all your worth."

-1 Peter 3:8-12 MSG

Need I say more?

A clean sweep

“So clean house!  Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk!..”

-1 Peter 2:1-3 MSG

The way you talk is the way your life will be!  So make sure it is wholesome and good: God-given speech - God-approved words.

  

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God on your mind

“Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God.”

-1 Peter 1:18-21 MSG

Live with God on your mind, not yourself. 

Guaranteed, life becomes a lot more rewarding this way.

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I can and I will

I can, and will, do ALL things through (and only through) Christ who infuses me with inner and outer strength, and knowledge and wisdom to do so.

-Jen’s version of Philippians 4:13

Challenges

Challenges – face them or run? 

Run?

No WAY!!

In a challenging situation, don’t turn and run – face it head on repeating these words I’ve taken from God’s Word, James, Chapter 1:

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you.  Under pressure, your faith life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.  Don’t try to get out of anything prematurely.  If you don’t know what you are doing, pray.  God loves to help and he won’t condescend you when you do ask.  So, ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought.  And remember, anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick with it is mighty fortunate.  For such persons loyally in love with God is rewarded with life and more life.

Worry gets no one anywhere

“… People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves.  Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.”

-James 1:5-8 MSG

Worry is the same as insanity – it causes the mind to frantically do one-legged sprints around and around a mountain without realizing we have another leg to help, as well as keeping us blinded to the fact that there is a freeway running right through it.

Before you can stand

“… Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.”

-     James 4:7-10 MSG

You’ll never be able to stand and run if you first don’t kneel and pray.

One word is all it takes

"... A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything - or destroy it!"

-James 3:3-5 MSG

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Public opinion or God’s opinion?

"My dear friends, don't let public opinion influence how you live out your glorious, Christ-originated faith...”

-James 2:1-4 MSG

Public opinion doesn’t matter - God’s opinion does!

Live out your life worrying about what God thinks, not what anyone else thinks!

Let's stop worrying about what everyone else is doing

“… This “insider world” is not our home. We have our eyes peeled for the City about to come. Let’s take our place outside with Jesus, no longer pouring out the sacrificial blood of animals but pouring out sacrificial praises from our lips to God in Jesus’ name.”

-Hebrews 13:13-15 MSG

Since the world isn’t spending eternity doing what we are doing, wondering what we are doing, or wanting to do what we are doing, then we truly need to stop doing the same - trying so hard to fit in and pretending to be people we were not meant to be.  Friends, Jesus made us who we are and that’s that – period!

Therefore, spend your precious time worrying about eternity with Christ: be yourself fully and honestly, taking  your priceless time living the pleasant and enjoyable life God has graciously given you.

Security in Christ

“It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.”

2 Samuel 22:33

Security lies in Christ.  Therefore, since we have Christ within, let’s make sure insecurity never crosses our minds again.

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Through faith in God mountains turn into mole hills

"...who through faith, conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in the battled and routed foreign armies... These were all commended for their faith."

-Hebrews 11:32-34, 39 NIV

HERE'S A RUNDOWN OF WHAT FAITH IN GOD CAN AND WILL DO FOR YOU:

STRENGTH TO CONQUER ALL YOUR ENEMIES

ADMINISTER JUSTICE

AQUIRE GOD'S PROMISES

QUENCH THE FURY

SHUT THE MOUTHS OF LIONS

ESCAPE THE ENEMIES

GAIN GOD-GIVEN STRENGTH FROM WHAT MAN CALLS WEAKNESS

POWER TO LEAD AND CONQUER

BE COMMENDED FROM GOD, WHICH IS THE ONLY FORM OF COMMENDATION ONE NEEDS

Strip off the past and dress for the future

“Strip down, start running – and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins…

don’t sit around on your hands!  No more dragging your feet…

Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent.  A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time.”

-Adapted from Hebrews 12:1-3; 4-11; 14-17 MSG

It’s time to move on.  The past is over, the future is at hand, and the time is now.  So, get on with your amazing life, there’s so much in store for you and all you have to do is take a bold step forward -  friend, God is patiently waiting for you to do so.

Yes, the time is now: time to live; time to breathe! Strip the past from yourself and move forward fresh and new.

Yes, the time is now: time for God to take control and for you to give it up to him.

There our promises will be

“The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living.”

-Hebrews 11:1-2 MSG

Faith in God makes a dark world so much more alive and bright to live in.

My friend, if you feel God is tugging at your heart to make a move, then it’s due time to step out in bold faith.  Like so many written about in God's Word, once you do you will find your promises and blessings patiently waiting for you to take hold of. 

Live by faith - make life worth living!

Committed faith takes home the prizes.

"... Grow up in Christ... there's so much more.  Let's get on with it!... Don't drag your feet.  Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them." 

-Hebrews 6:1-3, 4-8, 9-12 MSG

Committed faith in God always takes home the promises (blessings). Flakey, uncertain, faith in Christ always goes home empty.

Promises promises

"We received the same promises as those people in the wilderness, but the promises didn't do them a bit of good because they didn't receive the promises with faith..."

-Hebrews 4:1-3 MSG

We have all of God's promises at our disposal.  However, unless we receive them by faith, we will never be able to experience them.

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