Prayer

Restoring a Brother/Sister

I liked the heading in my Bible for Matthew 18:15 – Restoring a Brother. Jesus is talking to His disciples about how to restore a relationship with another Christian that has gone bad. It may have just went bad a little, or a situation that is big and been around for some time.

As humans we have issues because of disagreements or just plain misunderstandings.

The point in Jesus’ teaching is there is a right way to restore that relationship. Follow the teaching of Jesus and watch out God takes care of the situation in ways we could never imagine!

Restoring Christian relationships

Tell Your Story – Ask Others

The last session of Share Jesus Without Fear looks at telling our story and asking others theirs.

As a disciple of Jesus it is so important to share how you came to believe in Jesus. Our story is unique, because it is our own story. Telling how we came to believe in Jesus is encouraging to us and those who hear our story.

Same with asking others their story. If they know Jesus then sharing their story is a wonderful conversation.

If they don’t have a story, then you have the opportunity to go back ask the probing questions, share scripture and then ask if they are ready to surrender to Jesus – just as we have learned the past four weeks.

You just don’t know where to start until you start to ask questions. Tell and Ask !

Pray Scriptures

One technique to be able to “pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18) is to pray God’s Word back to Him.  Suggestions on how to do this is the theme of today’s video from Digging Disciples.

Healthy Habits

How do you create a healthy habit?  I believe that we can set a goal of making a healthy habit.  Some people say if you do it for 21 days you will form a habit.  But I believe there are some circumstances that allow a habit to be formed quicker and sometimes longer.  It just depends on the three stages of forming a habit.

Paths

While looking at Proverbs 3:5-6 I was struck by one word – Paths.

Different translations will describe v6 as make paths straight / guide you on the right paths / make straight your paths / direct your paths.  But they all use a plural form of path – paths.  Meaning we take many paths in our lives, and we should think about and listen to God – and he will provide correct paths for us to take.

Digging Disciples – Thanksgiving

Thankful for Thanksgiving week!  From time off work, cooking, eating, spending time with family, getting into the woods and praising Jesus – this is a great week!

The Thanksgiving edition of Digging Disciples covers the beheading of John the Baptist in Matthew 14.  The lessons we took away were:

  • Followers of Jesus are not immune to hard times.  Matter of fact we will have very tough times in this life.  Prepare for them and don’t be blown away when you are down.
  • When you are disappointed, discouraged or beat down – get alone with God.  Others will help, but only God will be there at all times with truth.

 

Current Situation Advice

I wanted to share a few thoughts on how to prepare for what I believe are some very uncertain times we are about to have in the USA.

The video is not designed to detail the troubles that are coming, but rather to calmly prepare for those who agree on the current situation.

In short, these details are:

Don’t worry over situations in which you have no control.

Understand the difference between comfort and NEED

Network with like-minded individuals in your community

Have enough food and water on hand that would last 30 days

Have extra fuel and heat sources

Do your best

God is in control.  Through these trials we should allow them to bring us closer to Him!

Completely Obedient

This past week we had our men’s Bible study from Genesis 22.  I wanted to share with you the lesson that I learned from this passage.

This is the story of Abraham being asked to sacrifice Isaac by God.  Abraham finally got the son he had asked for.  Abraham was 100 years old, and his wife Sarah was 90!  Talk about waiting till the last minute for a great gift!

So the most precious gift that God could give Abraham was in the form of this son Isaac.  Not cattle, not land, not money or fame – no the most precious gift was a son.

So one day God asks Abraham to sacrifice this precious non-renewable gift in his son.  I have one son in Austin, and I tell you – I would struggle greatly if I was asked to sacrifice my precious gift.  I can only imagine the thoughts that went through Abraham’s mind.

But Abraham was obedient, and got up early the next morning and let out with the sacrifice – his son.  They made their way to the place where God led them to and built an altar.  In obedience Abraham laid Isaac on the altar and was about to kill him when God intervened and provided a ram for an acceptable sacrifice.  Abraham did not stop in obedience – God stopped him after his obedience.

The lessons I learned this week from this passage are these:

  1. More important than the sacrifice God just wants me.  I have things to sacrifice and give to God (money and talents), but the real deal is those things are already His.  I am His also, but that is what He really wants (time).  Just like how I want my son spending time with me – that is what my Heavenly Father wants from me.  Spend time with Him.             I have been listening to a song that really brings this into focus.  Listen to CT and Becky Townsend sing “When I Lay My Isaac Down”.
  2. I got to thinking about what obstacles are keeping me from spending time with Him daily?  Work, wife, family, TV, yard work, selfish desires and social media.  All of these can be good things in my life, but they also play a hand in keeping me from giving Jesus the #1 slot in my life.  I have to focus on Jesus 1st thing in the morning, and the last thing at night.
  3. What is it that God really wants from me?  I believe He wants me to simply…
    • Read my Bible daily asking what Jesus wants to say to me
    • Pray asking what Jesus wants me to do today
    • Go out in my day and be obedient to what He has told me
    • Sleep – repeat the next day

When you read Genesis 22 – what does God say to you?