Video Bible Lesson - Forgive Each Other—Sounds Simple, Right? By Mark Altrogge

Forgive Each Other—Sounds Simple, Right?

By Mark Altrogge

1/2 Hour of God’s Power with Scott Ralls

1/12/2020

#Jesus, #Christian, #Bible, #Salvation, #Heaven, #God, #HolySpirit

Is Suffering Inevitable?

Is Suffering Inevitable?
by Shawn McEvoy

For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.
1 Peter 3:17, NAS

Suffering. It's not standard daily devotional fare, because let's face it, usually we want to begin or end our day being uplifted, or even better, lifting up God, rather than focusing on our pains and problems.

But there's the rub... we all have pains and problems. Christian and non-Christian. Lifelong disciple and baby believer. Red and yellow, black and white. Everyone, from the moment he or she was born, has struggled, tried, failed, hurt, sinned, misunderstood, and reacted. Humanity shares a true brotherhood over suffering, one that we might understand a lot better if suffering weren't also so relative. By which I mean, one person's issues may sound simple, easy-to-solve, even petty to another. "That's nothing compared to what I've had to endure!"

But the fact is, your sorrows and difficulties are real to you. It's one reason why I'm no fan of when people say a certain place or time in their lives isn't "the real world," as if the spot they are currently tucked away at is immune from any degree of difficulty.

Suffering is very real, and there's certainly no reason any Christian would expect life to be otherwise. We purport to follow a "Suffering Savior." His stripes have healed us, and wow do we seem to feel them sometimes, which is as it should be, as we deserved them instead of Him. If we agree that no person but One - no matter where they lived or how easy or hard they had it - has escaped sin's corruption, then how much more must we agree that truly NO person has escaped suffering?

Look at what Peter suggests in today's verse: you can suffer for doing good, or you can suffer for doing bad. By extension, some of the problems in your life may be a result of your own rebellious choices, while other hurts may naturally result from walking so closely with Christ that you ache at the injustice and hardship around you, with the world despising and persecuting you.

In the classic allegory Hinds' Feet on High Places, Much-Afraid journeys with companions named Sorrow and Suffering, and these two assist her in her climb up the Injury Precipice, which is a part of her transformation into "Grace and Glory."

The same is true for you. Your sufferings have informed you, educated you, helped you along in your journey. You may despise them, but they are yours. And they will be with you whether you are doing right, or not. Of course, the nature of them will be quite different.

There may yet be one way, though, to avoid suffering. There's a third option, left out here by Peter, but not left out by John in the Revelation. It's the middling, lukewarm response to life, the do-nothing approach. This is the approach that cocoons itself off from life and all of its pain (but also all of its involvement). And make no mistake, "Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something," says that famous theologian the Man in Black in The Princess Bride.

You may not feel anything from inside a cocoon; in fact, it may be an abundance of pain and suffering that forced you in there. But remember, no creature that cocoons itself is intended to stay locked up forever. The point is to be rested, healed, matured, transformed. To become more beautiful, useful. Even the emerging process itself carries a degree of struggle, but one that, if the insect did not go through unhindered, would leave it too weak to fly.

So be lifted up in your suffering today.

It is a companion.

It is designed to transform you.

It gives you a share in the inheritance of Christ and the brotherhood of humanity.

And it gives you empathy, which gives you every excuse for ministry.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Make it your goal to partake, as much as possible, only of the brand of suffering that comes from doing what is right according to God's Word.

There’s More Than Just MY Way?

There’s More Than Just MY Way?
By: Anne Peterson

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. - Philippians 2:3 

When I got married, I figured it would only be a matter of time before I converted my husband over to doing things the right way—my way. It never entered my mind that this was wrong thinking. And when I learned that Mike had his own opinions about things, I must say it shook me up a bit. But I was still committed to the task at hand.

Controllers are like that. I learned that well from my family of origin. When you grow up in a dysfunctional home, things seem out of control. In order to survive, you learn the art of controlling things. When you are in that situation it is a matter of survival. But maturing and a great deal of counseling enlightened me to the truth. My methods which were meant to help me survive, no longer worked now.

Marriage and counseling would help me see there is not just one way to do things. And even when I did see that, I needed to stop labeling the other ways as wrong. I had to learn thinking was more than just black and white. The challenge came when I realized I had married someone who also had black and white thinking, and that his way was right. Picture if you will two horned animals butting their heads. Now you can see what we were up against. Each other.

Instead of being equal, at times, I saw us as rivals. When? When we didn’t agree. And sadly, that was often. But then God entered the scene. God, who wanted us to submit to each other as it says in Ephesians 5:21. And submitting did not mean, I’ll let you have this time, but next time it’s my turn. Kind of an exchange system. No. We’re told to submit as a reverence to Christ. When we submit to each other, we honor Jesus.

Not being willing to submit is a matter of pride. I didn’t want to type that sentence, but it’s the definition of conceit. And I saw those times I didn’t want to budge were times I was full of myself. All I cared about was proving Mike wrong. Wanting to be right is the opposite of humility. Jesus was right, but he was humble. And sometimes silent. 

I started quietly telling myself a line. over and over, when I was tempted to want my own way. The line was. Different doesn’t mean wrong. There were areas Mike and I agreed on, like the way a toilet paper roll should go. So there was no problem there. But when we got to those areas where we couldn’t see eye to eye. Well, that’s when I had to talk to myself.

I realized our arguments weren’t drawing us closer, but instead, they put distance between us. And for what? Because I wanted to be right. God wanted us to live peaceably as he mentioned in Romans 12:18. The Holy Spirit was faithful in pointing out when I wanted my way, more than I wanted peace. God works in us when we accept Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins. It says in Philippians 1:6, God will continue that work until we look like Jesus. All he asks us to do is respond to him when flaws are pointed out. And the Holy Spirit does this with gentleness, he doesn’t blast us. He simply says, “That behavior doesn’t look good on you.”

It started becoming easier to loosen my grip on having to be right. Except maybe for how I like my towels to be folded on the shelf. Wait, I did say God is at work, he’s not done with me yet. Seriously though, it’s a wonderful thing that God gave us the best manual we could have as we do life with our spouses. He gave us his Word.

Cultivating A Honeycomb of Gracious Words

Cultivating A Honeycomb of Gracious WordsBy Lynette Kittle

“Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”-- Proverbs 16:24

What words are you putting out into the world? Are you choosing your words thoughtfully, taking every opportunity to encourage and uplift others?  Are your words sweetening the lives of those who hear or read them?

Or, are you following the Social Media trend to speak your mind, set someone straight, or put another in his or her rightful place?

Maybe you try to be encouraging but others just push your buttons to point where you feel like you have to say something or you’ll burst!

It’s so easy in heated moments of conflict to get caught up in the latest political, social, fashion, or celebrity debate and say things you’ll wish later you hadn’t said

So if you slipped up in your words a few times, you’re not alone.

James 3:2 describes how, “We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.”

Still Scripture reminds that, “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless” (James 1:26).

Maybe you’ve been surprised by things you’ve heard or read by other Christians? Perhaps your own words at times have caught you off guard?

Proverbs 13:3 gives incentive for choosing to be careful with your words, describing the difference it can make in your life to do so, stating, “Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.”

If you struggle with speaking careless words, ask God to, “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3).

As well, Psalm 34:13 urges to “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.”

When you do, Proverbs 12:14 encourages that from the fruit of your lips you will be filled with good things.

Likewise, Proverbs 16:23 describes how, “The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote instruction.”

Ask God to direct your speech so that your words are helping to build up the faith of those around you. As Colossians 3:16 urges, “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”

A Prayer for Enthusiasm

A Prayer for EnthusiasmBy Rick Warren

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer”  - Romans 12:11-12, NIV

Positive thinking is not enough. Pulling yourself up by your psychological bootstraps is not enough. Talking yourself into optimism is not enough.

The way you stay enthusiastic for a lifetime is found in the word “enthusiasm.” The word “enthusiasm” comes from the Greek word en theos. En is the Greek word for the English word “in.” Theos is the Greek word for “God.” So en theos means to be “in God.”

When you get in God, you will be enthusiastic. It’s the kind of enthusiasm that isn’t affected by the economy or the weather or your circumstances. It’s eternal because you are tied to the eternal God. You are in Christ.

If you want to reach your goals this year, you need to get God’s power by being joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.

Dear God, I don’t want to go another day without you in my life, controlling every part of my heart. I offer you my body. I dedicate myself to you. In light of all you’ve done for me, I give myself as a living sacrifice to you as a spiritual act of worship.

I humbly admit that I need help. I want you to help renew my mind. Help me to think the way you want me to think. Please forgive me for my pride. I don’t want to think more highly of myself than I should. My faith needs to grow, and I need your help to set goals that can be measured so I can manage them. Forgive me for trying to change on my own.

I want to fill my life with love. I want to fill my life with you. Help me to get group support. Help me to take delight in honoring other people, to focus on giving my life away so that you can take care of my needs. I want to nurture my enthusiasm by being in you. Help me to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. I give myself to you. In your name I pray. Amen.

A Time for Starting Over - New Year Devotional

Psalms 1:1
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

A time for starting over. A new beginning. A wonderful time to take stock of life and look for ways to improve and grow. Too often, careless resolutions are made that are never kept, and so one year blends into the next with little change. The fact is, all of us have areas in our lives that could stand some improvement. As this new year begins, let us look at our lives with honesty and candor. Let us approach change with a positive spirit, and work toward finding ways to become the people that god wants us to be. Most importantly, ask the Lord to guide and strengthen, for it is through His power that we are able to conquer our failings and turn them into strengths. God is able to see us both as we are and as we can be, and we need that sight in order to truly change. He will steer us away from the ungodly. He will liberate us from the way of sin. He will lead us from scorn to joy. The Lord will do all this and more because of His great and abiding love for His children. Rejoice i n the love of God. he has given us a new year, and desires to give us a new life.

Prayer: O Lord, cleanse my soul of all wrong. Help me grow in the light of Your love. Lift me above what I have been, and set me onto a new path of righteousness and grace. Amen.

10 Verses about Fear and Anxiety to Remind Us God is in Control

• Debbie McDaniel
• Fear. One of the enemy’s most popular weapons that he uses against us. Worry, anxiety, fear…can overwhelm us with a thick shadow of darkness, controlling our every move and decision.
  
  So much crazy going on around us today - wars, conflicts, persecution, violence, crime, natural disasters, terrorism, economic uncertainty, unemployment, divisions, disease, death. We fear for our children’s future, we fear for our families, we fear for our financial future, we fear for our safety. The list goes on…long. There actually is a lot we could potentially worry about.
  
  Yet reality tells us that so much of what we spend our time worrying about never even happens. Living under the weight of the "what if's" is a hard place to dwell. 
  
  I struggled with fear and worry for years. But through time, I began to find that the things that once would have sent me down an anxious spiral, no longer had the same effect. It didn’t happen quickly, but over days, months, years.
  
  I read words - of life - of truth. Soaking them in, over and over, praying them out loud. Until they became so familiar, they replaced the other things in my mind that I’d battled against. There’s nothing magical about words and verses, but there is power through them, because they’re God’s words. 

1. Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. - Isaiah 41:10

2. 1 John 4:18

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” -1 John 4:18

3. Psalm 94:19

“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.” -Psalm 94:19

4. 2 Timothy 1:7

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” - 2 Timothy 1:7

5. Psalm 23:4

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” - Psalm 23:4

6. Proverbs 12:25

"An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.” Proverbs 12:25

7. Matthew 6:34

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34

8. 1 Peter 5:6-7

“Humble yourselves, then, under God’s mighty hand, so that he will lift you up in his own good time. Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7

9. Isaiah 35:4

“Tell everyone who is discouraged, Be strong and don’t be afraid! God is coming to your rescue…” Isaiah 35:4

10. Mark 6:50

“Immediately he spoke to them and said, 'Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.'” Mark 6:50

God is Greater

He gives us the power to live courageously, boldly, fearlessly in this life, when many things that surround us would tell us to be afraid.  His truth whispers strong and sure to the deepest core of our spirits.

All of that stuff on your mind?  Give it to Him – again.  Replace those fearful thoughts with His words of truth. And sleep in peace tonight.  He knows what concerns you, He’s got you covered.