Everything the Lord says

"Everything the Lord has said we will do."

Exodus 24:3

Let's get this kind of Israelite faith - let's do what the Lord tells us to do.  Yes, the Israelites initially grumbled, complained, (like we do now), and took forty years to finally trust and do what the Lord said, but once they did, boy-oh-boy, their lives were so blessed and life was good.  So as God's children, we can not only learn from the Israelites by refraining from grumbling and complaining at what God tells us to do, we can take the faster route and just listen and do, grasping hold of God's blessings right now!! 

So friends, take the short way to the good stuff - just do what God is telling you to do!!

Raise your standard of living

How can you raise your standard of living? 

Simple:

“Live right,

speak the truth,

despise exploitation,

refuse bribes,

reject violence,

avoid evil amusements.

This is how you raise your standard of living!

A safe and stable way to live.

A nourishing, satisfying way to live.”

Isaiah 33:55-16 MSG

Now you know!

So raise your standards: Live out God’s word.

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Do all things without grumbling and arguing.

^"14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, ¹⁵ so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky. " Philippians 2:14-15 NIV

In the Amplified Version, the Word reads (something along the lines of), "Do everything without grumbling and complaining... be a bright light in this dark world...".   These verses bring me to the questions, If God were to come and show himself to you, would your life shine, or would your life be dark and dreary?  Are you proud to show God your life, or are you hoping He's not noticing right now?  Now, don't be misled, God notices everything, but sometimes, since we don't see Him, we think He doesn't, which leads us to fall into the flesh pretty easily. 

Therefore, work on making your life one that you are proud to show off for God.  Yes, it is extremely hard on occasion, but I believe the harder it is to be the light in the darkness, the more God is using your life as an example and a blessing to many who don't know Him.  Which also means, the more you fight to be shining light for God's glory, the more abundantly His good fortunes, blessings, and love, will be showered over you - and those are definitely good things which no one wants to miss.