Collaborative Transformation
  • Blog
  • About the Blogger
  • Contact

Luke 11

10/27/2016

2 Comments

 
Luke 11:34 NLT "Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when it is bad, your body is filled with darkness.”

When we study God's word we need to ask Him for wisdom, knowledge and understanding because if we don't the light we think we have might be darkness.  The scripture warns us about this in verse 35, “Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness.” We can easily get caught up in believing what we hear and not seeking it for ourselves.  Or worse, we can let what we hear or feel get in the way and then be tossed by what we want to be right. Our love for family or friends cannot change the truth of the word, even if it doesn't make sense to us, God has everything under control.

We are told in Matthew chapter 10 verse 37, “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.” Depending how we feel this verse can change the light that is entering us and anything less than our love for Him as first is a dark light that can take root if we let it.  I love my wife and kids but their choices can't make my decisions for what I believe and how I will live. That needs to be driven by the Holy Spirit showing us the truth in the word of God and then us living it out so people don't see hypocrisy but the light from the Lord.  Verse 36 goes on to say, “If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.” I pray for that radiance that has no dark corners, so my growth can be shared and so that I am led by the Spirit not my feelings or emotions.

We are created in His image and as we let Him in, our actions will be the actions we get from the word.  I want to end with verse 28, it is a great reminder of what we should do daily.  “Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” Take it all in and let it shine out so the kingdom is effected every day.  Amen 

2 Comments

James 3

10/19/2016

0 Comments

 
James 3:16 NLT

"For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.”

As I read this today I couldn't help but see the importance of being connected; first to God, then to a local church.  I say this because, when we try and live life on our own all sorts of things fill our mind. We need to remember to seek wisdom from the Lord and continue to fellowship with people trying to seek wisdom as well.  With that kind of attention and having people in our life that can challenge and speak the word to us, the chance for jealousy and selfish - ambition is less.  Selfish - ambition comes when we start thinking we have to be the best and we think we need to do whatever we need to get that done. 

Knowing the word can help us when our mind goes astray.  We are told to love our neighbor as our self, and do to others what you would like them to do to you. We are also told in Philippians chapter 2 verse 3, “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.” This wisdom also covers us from jealousy which has no part in our lives as we surrender our will for God's.  Verse 4 goes on to say, “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” When this is done we see how relationships help us and the success of others fills us and doesn't stir up jealousy in us.  (Which is in all of us somewhere in our flesh)

I love how James ends chapter 3 with verses 17-18 which say, “But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.” This is the opposite of what our flesh is telling us sometimes.  Hearing what the Fathers says and working on doing His instructions is key to us living and loving without thinking of ways to step on someone to get to the top.  Jealousy and selfish ambition will torment us and keep us driven on the things of the world.  We need to have goals and pursue to get better but in that work we need to understand that we can't do it without Jesus as our Lord.  Our mind works in mysterious ways and when we are not feeding on His word we will feed on the world which is like eating all fatty fried foods. Our mind will tell us they taste good when in fact it is all crap. 

James goes on to say in chapter 4 verses 3-4, “And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.” Fix your eyes on God and keep others in your mind seeking ways to love and then our heart will be full of what Christ is showing and the Holy Spirit will be a guide we love to hear and He will lead us to ALL truth.   Amen 


0 Comments

Mark 14

10/5/2016

1 Comment

 
Mark 14:36 NLT

"Abba, Father,” He cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 

I have read this many times but today I really saw something different.  Jesus says, 'everything is possible with you...' We must see this and believe it, because it is true, but we need to understand that we are not God and that God knows best.  I say this because Jesus' next statement is vital to see, "please take this cup of suffering away from me" He wanted in His flesh to not go through what He was about to go through.  We need to pray and pray without ceasing but we can't let the result control our reaction.  Many times we don't understand what happens and that will never change because the word tells us not to lean on our own understanding. In Proverbs chapter 3 verses 5-6 it says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”

When we trust in the Lord with all our heart we can see past our flesh and our feelings and we can understand His love and how much He is for us. See, after Jesus says 'Please' He goes on to say "Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Do we have the attitude of your will be done, not mine, or are we caught up in, why God, I prayed, you should listen? We need to remember that God is only Good and He is so much bigger than we are, as we surrender we open the doors to growth and peace in our hearts.  The understanding might not be there but when we stay firm to who He is we have a heart full of peace. Jesus didn't just say your will be done, He said, 'yet I want your will be done...' We need to 'want' His will to be done and not get caught up in feeling the 'why' God and being crushed. 

There are times for mourning and there will be sadness but we can't let those times keep us stuck and not praising Him.  Our praise needs to be with passion and love, saying, I love you God!  I just shared this in my last blog as well but it is important to see, so I want to finish by remembering what it says in John chapter 16 verse 33, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” He has overcome the world and we have eternal life through Him, there is only life for us so let's remember His will should drive us.  Amen 


1 Comment

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    April 2020
    March 2020
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    November 2018
    August 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009

    Categories

    All
    1 Chronicles
    1 Corinthians
    1 John
    1 Kings
    1 Peter
    1 Samuel
    1 Thessalonians
    1 Timothy
    2 Chronicles
    2 Corinthians
    2 Peter
    2 Samuel
    2 Thessalonians
    2 Timothy
    Acts
    Colossians
    Deuteronomy
    Ephesians
    Galatians
    Genesis
    Hebrews
    Hosea
    Isaiah
    James
    Jeremiah
    John
    Joshua
    Jude
    Lamentations
    Leviticus
    Luke
    Mark
    Matthew
    Nehemiah
    Numbers
    Philemon
    Philippians
    Proverbs
    Psalm
    Revelation
    Romans
    Titus

    Books to Read:

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.