Wed the 6th

Ephesians 5: 21

 

²¹Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

 

How ironic that one of the big traits that the Bible carries through it is submission, not just to God, or to Christ, but to each other. I say ironic because submission is typically beaten out of us starting in High School….maybe a little earlier. We are taught by the world not to submit to anyone. We are taught to conquer, we are taught to attack, or at least defend, but to submit…..well that is nothing more that weakness, or cowardice…..or both! Submission does not mean just to give in or to give up, but it does mean that we look at each other differently, it does mean that we put others needs in front of our own. You cannot understand how to help someone, or how to fix a problem, if we are shouting at the top of our lungs. We will not see the narrow gate, if we are busy charging the wide one! TO submit to one another is the true path to not only reconciliation, but to harmony. I am sure that you are already thinking, “Yeah well, what if the other guy will not submit” Then it is time to evaluate who you have in your life, and who you choose to invite in. The thing to remember is you will never know what the outcome will be, until you first try. We lose more battles because we refuse to let our guard down, we fight instead of backing off, we strike to inflict more damage instead of trying to fix what is broken……in short we refuse to submit. When you find yourself in the heat of battle remember to submit. You might be surprised to find that your opponent has been praying for a chance to do the same!

 

Peace,

Brian

 

don't forget your helmet

2 Timothy 1: 14

 

¹⁴Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

 

We often take for granted the gift we have been given by Christ Jesus, and the sacrifice he made. We run out into the world, and forget our helmet of salvation! We each have to remain diligent. We were given a gift that we did not deserve, and a time when the gift had no reason to be given; but more importantly, we were entrusted with that gift. It was not an old junky sweater that you were given, it was a gift that will last well beyond a lifetime, a treasure worth guarding, and it has been entrusted to you, not just to keep it safe, but to give freely to others as well! Remember that you are not alone in this task, the Holy Spirit is alive and well within you. Draw on that strength, look inward and upward for guidance. Be vigilant in guarding it, and be relentless in giving it to others. DO not fall into the trap of running out into the world and getting so caught up in other people’s business that you forget about this gift, and leave it unguarded. It is indeed your gift, it is up to you to protect it, You have been entrusted as a child of God, a sibling to Christ. It is no accident that you have been given this life changing, and life giving gift, You have been chosen to walk in the path of the light that is Christ. Guard that gift, and remember your helmet!

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

Tuesday the 5th

Ephesians 5: 15

 

¹⁵Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

 

Be wise, and make the most out of every opportunity. There is a call for continual work! We all leave the proverbial money on the table daily. Here is always more we could of done when it comes to God. Be wise with your time, as Christ reminded his disciples when he wanted to return to the city that wanted to kill him, we have 12 hours of daylight! More than enough time to get done what we need to do, but every hour that passes brings night closer, so there is not enough time to mess around. Find the task at hand and execute! Take every opportunity and recognize it for what it is, a chance to show by word and deed, the goodness of God. If one thing matters….then everything matters, there is no small task that does not count, nor are there tasks to big to tackle. Situations are placed in our path daily, we decide if we will take that challenge and make the most of it, or join the others who have decided to make camp and wait to see if the problem goes away. The days are evil, but we are children of light. Be wise and let that light shine brightly, make the most of every opportunity, if we are doing it in the name of the Lord, it will not be a wasted effort.

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

 

Children of light

 

Ephesians 5: 8

8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)

 

It is not hard for any of us to remember where we started. We all can remember the lives we lived before we, and all of the pain, the feeling of hopelessness, the loss of direction. Yet all to often it is too easy for us to fall back into the old ways. We must remember to live each day as children of the light. We have shed the old ways of sin. That is not to say that some days are not a struggle, and sometimes we come in contact with some pretty daunting temptation. This crazy journey that we call life takes us to place we never thought we would go, and pulls us form the path that often feels warm, and safe. We are called to live as children of the life, often in uncharted waters. Remember that God has the map, He knows the direction, and He knows where you need to be, and what time you need to arrive. Focus on living as the child of light that God intended, let the Lord worry about the direction, He is faithful, and a promise keeper. Trust in him, and Give the glory to the Lord!

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

Monday the 4th

2 Timothy 1: 5

 

⁷For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

 

We each have an opportunity to fan this flame of God that reside in each of us. We are reminded here that the spirit that we are given is not timid….although it is very easy for us to let it be! Christ compares this to a candle, you do not hide it under a bowl, but you put it up so that it might produce light for all! This is the spirit that we must foster. Each one of us has a gift from the Lord. Each day we make a choice weather we will hide that gift, and remain timid, or if we will proudly display that gift so that it might produce a light for those around us to walk by.  Choose to walk in the strength, and the power that is Christ. Allow your spirit to fully develop into the spirit God intended, one of power, of love, and of self-discipline!

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

Give

1 Timothy 6:18

¹⁸Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

 

We all drop money in the plate, some more than others, we all might stop and lend a hand…..when we have time. None of us really have to think twice before we do what we think is the “right thing”. But would we go as far as to say that we are rich in good deeds? Could we say that we are generous, and willing to share? I hate to say that we would find ourselves well short of the mark. It is easy to give when we have more than we need, but how often do we give when it means that we might have to give a little of ourselves? It is easy to drop cash when you have plenty to spare, yet Christ observed that no matter how much the rich man put in the offering, it could not compare to the woman who gave little….she gave more than she had to give! The same can be said about our time. We are always happy to help….as long as it does not cut into “our” time! The football game, the party, the television show……We often put these things in front of others needs all the time. We should each be working to give more of our time, more of our talents in the name of the Lord. The key is we should be willing to share. Did you get that point…..WILLING to share! This is why I say we fall short, all too often we do things not because we want to, but because we feel like we HAVE to. We should work within our lives so that we want to do things for others, even to the point that we enjoy it more than the TV shows or the parties! …..Yeah I know, you are thinking WHHHHHAAATTT???? I promise, when you start top look for ways to share with others, you will see the life that the Lord has for you. You will see why Christ insisted that loving your neighbor is so important. Most of all you will start to see the type of person that you want to see in the mirror!

 

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

Friday the 1st

Ephesians 4: 31-32

 

³¹Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³²Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

 

You don’t make it to far in the New Testament without finding this message. Time and time again it comes back to rest squarely on our shoulders. The Bible is not a blue print for how we should tell others to live, but more of a manual for our own conduct, and morality. We often get caught up in being the good Christian, and as a result we breed bitterness rage, and anger. We condemn and judge others, and hold out the sentence of damnation instead of the hope of forgiveness. We would all do well to remember Through Christ we were given forgiveness, I don’t know what your list looks like, but I know what mine does….and it is a LOOOONG list! If I am forgiven, in spite of all I have done, then I have no room in my life to look at others as less than me. Purge your hearts of bitterness, find that hope that comes with knowing Christ, and pass out freely the Joy, forgiveness, and love that comes with that hope.

 

Peace,

Brian