To Love Life and See Good Days…

“Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.”  1Peter 3:1

1.  In order to keep our “tongue from evil and our lips from deceitful speech”, our thoughts need to be on the right track!  We generally think before we speak, (hopefully!) so,  therefore,  we need to think on exactly what Christ said;

“whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable – excellent or praiseworthy.”  Philippians 4:8

You may want to look up each word in the dictionary like I did, and you may find exactly what I found …

* Note that each of these words describes Christ!  So think about Him!

2.  “He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.  For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”  1Peter 3;11-12

Christ has given us His Peace!  It’s already in us!  We just need to tap into it!!

3.  “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”  Ephesians 4;29

After truely studying this verse I quickly realized that I wasn’t talking very much!  And that’s okay, I started getting my thinking on track and in the positive, and continually tap into God’s peacefulness in my attitude and actions, and strange things happen!!  I did start speaking a little more often, but now it was to build others up and encourage them, not criticize and bring them down!  I do still need to desperately work on this DAILY!

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”  Romans 12:2

Each and every day I need to renew my mind, my thinking, and be peaceful and full of God’s goodness and think the way He wants me to think!

 

 

While Suffering, Continue to do Good!

1Peter 4:19 says, “So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”

I think of my friend Charlene when I read this, because in one year she ended up needing two different back surgeries and then two different hip repacement surgeries!  She was unable to walk most of that year, was pretty much house bound most of that year and was in quite a lot of pain most of that year.

But she continued “to do good”!  If she wasn’t on the phone encouraging others and organizing service projects, then she was inviting others over to her house, as she always does, and was always available to talk about God and read whatever verse you suggested!  Charlene lived out this verse just as Christ had to live out this verse!

“And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.  To Him be the power forever and ever. Amen”.  1Peter 5:10-11

 

Storm Chasers

In Mark 4:35-41 Jesus was in a boat with the disciples as they traveled across the sea to the other side.  A great storm came up while Jesus was sleeping.  The boat was being tossed and the waves were breaking over the boat to where it was nearly swamped!  The disciples woke Jesus, asking if he even cared if they drowned!  Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet!  Be Still!”, and the wind died down and it was completely calm!  And Jesus said, “why are you so afraid?  Do you still have no faith?”

Life is full of problems, and storms, that is why we need to rely on Jesus Christ to get us through!  We need an ongoing relationship with Him, not just in the bad times, but all the time!  Regardless…

Embrace the certainty:
-There will be storms in your life
-Christ will never leave you!

When a “storm” comes in your life, immediately say, “God help me do this right!”
Then:
-Keep your mouth closed (no unwholesome talk)
-Only think about what God has specifically told us to think about: “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things”.  Philippians 4:8
-Talk to God – pour it out!
-Write this list down and keep it with you and pull it out
often and read, reread!
Be Calm
Know that God is working on your problem
Cast your Cares!
Relax, God has this!
He is faithful!
You’ve already prayed for God to show you
what you are to do and which way to go
Trust Him!
He will show you! You don’t need to aimlessly
try to figure out/solve your situation
Rest in His peace
Seek peace
Pursue Peace!

If your storm is with an individual, when around them, only speak positiveness.
Speak what God told you to think; whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy.
No malicious talk or accusings – You aren’t perfect yourself!
If you cannot completely get past the pain of the situation then you will need to get completely away from it for a little while!
Go for a walk and openly talk with God, pour out your heart and be open about your own faults and ask forgiveness. Then pray humbly for each person involved in situation.  And stay away for as long as it takes until you feel better and you must stop thinking about the pain of the situation!  Especially if the cause of the pain contains any unholiness, because God is holy – He doesn’t want you thinking in detail about it anymore!
Now, back to the “list” – Be calm!, know that God is working on your problem….etc READ IT!

ONLY talk to God about the situation, you do not need a bunch of people agreeing with you and offering their opinions!  God will WALK you through your storm, not hurridly RUN you through it, but WALK!

You will get through it and you will come out on the other side a better person!  That is, IF you let God help you do it right!

You will be stronger spiritually, mentally and emotionally.  Which is good, because there will be more storms, but when the next one comes, it’s not going to be as painful because you are stronger!

When you have gotten through it, stay ever so close to God and continue to get stronger!