Work Through You.

Philippians 2:13

"God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him." 

It is the Holy Spirit's job to produce Christ-like character in you.

You cannot reproduce the character of Jesus on your own strength. New Year's resolutions, willpower, and best intentions are not enough. Only the Holy Spirit has the power to make the changes God wants to make in our lives. The Bible says, "God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him" (Philippians 2:13 NLT).

Mention "the power of the Holy Spirit," and many people think of miraculous demonstrations and intense emotions. But, most of the time, the Holy Spirit's power is released in your life in quiet, unassuming ways that you aren't even aware of or feel.

Christ-likeness is not produced by imitation but by inhabitation. We allow Christ to live through us.

How does this happen? Through the choices we make. We choose to follow Jesus in all situations and then trust God's Spirit to give us his power, love, faith, and wisdom to do it. Since God's Spirit lives inside of us, these things are always available for the asking.

Yolk.

Matthew 11:29-30

"Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest. For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light." 

Expectations are a yoke. Some of you are carrying a yoke — a heavy burden — of the expectations that were put on you by your parents, your husband, your wife, your children, your boss, or your teacher.

But most of us carry a yoke of burden that we've put on ourselves because of unresolved guilt and unrealistic expectations. We're trying to prove that we matter.

We take on a heavy yoke that God never intended in order to prove that we're important, when God says we're already important: He created us to be with him and to fulfill a unique mission in life. That makes us important, not all the things we do (or don't do).

God's yoke is that we follow his purpose for our lives, and when we do that, things work out a whole lot better. When we go our own way in life, we hit one brick wall after another. In a sense, God says, "Put on my purpose, my plan for your life."

How heavy is God's yoke? Jesus says, "The yoke I will give you is light and easy." You say, "But my Christian life isn't easy. My Christian life is heavy; it's like a duty that I have to fulfill."

Then it may be you are out of God's will. You may be doing something that God never intended for you to do. I can't say it any plainer than this: It may be that some of the things you think God is asking you to do, he's not actually asking you to do. Your conscious and your perfectionism are asking you to do them.

Jesus did not come to give you a burden but a blessing.

Am I saying the Christian life has no problems? No, not at all! We all will have a lot of problems. The Christian life is full of difficulties. The point is this: To live in the center of God's will is a lighter load than to live out of God's will. To live in God's purpose and plan for your life is a lighter, more relaxing, more enjoyable load than for you to live your own life any old way you choose.

Quit Trying To Please Everybody.

Proverbs 29:25a

It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you.

When we worry about what other people think, we let them control us. We waste a lot of time and energy trying to figure out what other people want us to be and then trying to become like that.

Worrying about what other people think is dangerous, because we're more likely to cave in to criticism. It means we don't always do the right thing; instead, we do the thing that everybody wants us to do.

And we're in danger of missing God's best, because we're so worried about what other people want us to do that we can't stop to think about what God wants us to do.

• Fact #1: You cannot please everybody. Even God can't please everybody. One person prays for it to rain; another prays for it to be sunny. Who is God going to answer? God can't please everybody. Only a fool would try to do what even God can't do.

• Fact #2: It's not necessary to please everybody. There is a myth that says you must be loved and approved by everybody in order to be happy. That's just not true. You don't have to please everybody in order to be happy in life.

• Fact #3: Rejection will not ruin your life. It hurts, sure. It's not fun. It's uncomfortable. But rejection will not ruin your life unless you let it.

Quit trying to please everybody! Remember that nobody can make you feel inferior unless you give him or her permission.

Your Choice

¹² He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. ¹³ So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’

¹⁴ “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’

¹⁵ “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

¹⁶ “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’

¹⁷ “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’

¹⁸ “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’

¹⁹ “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’

²⁰ “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. ²¹ I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’

²² “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? ²³ Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’

²⁴ “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’

²⁵ “‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’

²⁶ “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 

Luke 19:12-26

We had our sunday school class today, and it was an interest heads up, and reminder. Basically the story talks about a master giving his servants, money to see what they'll do with it. Some use it wisely and invests and brings back ten times its worth, and some fail and just do nothing with it, hiding it under cloth.

Similar to our lives, God has given us gifts, and blessings, education, friends, opportunities, jobs, healthcare, so much more. But it truly is what we do with it that counts. Will we invest in it and let it grow? Or will we just push it aside?

As Christians, we're called to love and help others in need, but for us to help others, especially at this age, its hard. But for us to be able to do that in the future, we must be in a position of authority, we have to be influential, and be a leader. The only way for that to happen is to get a good job, for instance, Apple, changing the world of technology, vs Pepsi, sugared water. To get a good job, we have to do well in university, and for us to get into the program we want, and to do well there, we need to do well in high school. So start now, and build your way up into making that change. 

Love what you do because your attitude determines your altitude.

So will you be the one that invests and makes their master proud? or will you be the stubborn one that does nothing with the gifts he's blessed with? Its your choice.

verse of the day: Romans 12:6

⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Eliminate Negative Self-Talk.

Proverbs 4:23 

"Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts."

Long before psychology came around, God said your thoughts determine your feelings and your feelings determine your actions. If you want to change your life, you have to control the way you think.

You're constantly talking to yourself — all the time. Your mind is talking to you! You're talking to yourself right now. Research indicates that most people speak at a rate of 150 to 200 words per minute, but the mind can listen to about 500 to 600 words a minute. That's why you can listen to me and plan today's dinner at the same time.

In fact, our internal dialogue — the conversation we have with ourselves — is at a rate of 1,300 words per minute. How? Because our mind sees in pictures, and you can see a thought in a nanosecond! 

The problem is that a lot of us are like Job, who says, "Everything I say seems to condemn me" (Job 9:20 GN). He's saying, in effect, "Everything I say puts me down." If you are typical to the human race, you are your own worst critic.

We're always putting ourselves down. We walk into a room, smiling, but inside we're thinking, "I'm fat. I'm dumb. I'm ugly. And I'm always late!"

God wants us to stop putting ourselves down. When you put yourself down, who are you really putting down? When you say, "I'm fat. I'm dumb. I'm ugly. I'm no good. I have no talent," you're really pointing to the Creator who made you. When you say, "God, I'm worthless. I'm no good. I can't do anything," you're saying, "God, you blew it with me." That's why God says it's wrong to put yourself down.

How do you eliminate negative self-talk so you can become a more confident person? 

Relax.

Psalm 103: 13-14 

"As a father is kind to his children, so the Lord is kind to those who honor him. He knows what we are made of; he remembers that we are dust."

God understands you completely. He's fully aware of your humanity. He knows what makes you tick. He knows your faults, your fears, your failures, and your frustrations. He doesn't expect you to be Superman or Superwoman. 


The point is, God loves you at every stage of your development, so you don't have to have unresolved guilt and unrealistic expectations. 


Understand this:

• There is nothing you will ever do that will make God love you more than he does right now.
• There is nothing that you will ever do that will make God love you less than he does right now.

God's love is unconditional; it's not based on what you do or don't do.

brands brands brands!

there are things in the world that we as a society may care about too much,

from what others think,

to what we wear,

but some things aren't worth caring about.

I got to go pick out a new pair of glasses today before i head into university, and there were so many choices to pick from, thick frames, no frames, rectangular, round, hipster, etc... and as i was going through it, i was content, knowing that i didn't really care about what I had as glasses. I was already blessed enough with a) even having a choice, b) being blessed enough to have glasses, c) have healthcare and the money to purchase this.

Materialism has definitely gotten bigger and bigger in our world today. Society says that to be cool, to be successful, we need to have all the latest gadgets, the branded clothes and the expensive cars, and as great as they are, they mean nothing. At the end of the day, thats isn't what matters. Thats why shopping, picking out new glasses, it isn't hard for me. I don't necessarily need to look good, i just need be comfortable and content.

Im not saying looking good and looking sharp is bad, its important for things like interviews to show that you care, but its when you're flashing your LV wallet, and your ferrari is when its gone too far.

In fact, it feels good to not care about something that isn't worthy of being cared for.

Is there something you're caring about too much? may it be things, a person, a relationship, school?

verse of the day: Matthew 6:33

³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 

rainbow in the sky

simple and sweet gestures

small or big

can turn one's upside down day,

right side up.

today was a pretty dull day, with the horrible weather, the wet and windy walk to school, the drag of friday and school when its June, and just being tired in general, what a drag. I wasn't the happiest either because of the negative thoughts racing through my mind, over thinking everything and everyone, but, things change.

i've recently started to learn that there are sparks in this life that bring twists to life, some for the better, and some for the worst. Today, it was for the better. I was leaving the school, and right before i walked out the door, i hear my name being called, so i turn around to see one my best friends come running. I was surprised at first, what he needed me for, why he was calling my name, and when i asked it was simply "because i wanted to say goodbye". As simple and sweet as that, being known that i was thought of was enough for my day to twist 180 degrees. Even though i had to walk home in the rain afterwards, i was able to walk home with a genuine smile on my face.

God should do that for you as well. Life is rather meaningless, dull, before knowing Christ. There are times where life is dull, where hope is lost, and the sun is hidden behind the clouds, but when Christ comes into our lives, sometimes like that a surprise, a call from behind, or sometimes slow and steadily, but when he comes in, our lives will change. Probably a bit more than just a simple smile, but he should bring joy into our lives and give us new found hope in heaven and eternal life.

We always enjoy those surprises we get that make our day, but this surprise, this event will make and change your life. You want it?

verse of the day: Galatians 2:20

²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,who loved me and gave himself for me.

Feel the Power.

2 Timothy 1:7-8 

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner.Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.

The Holy Spirit is in you. 
You weren't given a timid spirit. 
You are filled with God's Spirit of power. 

Faulty Thinking

Romans 5:12-21
.
.
.
I've heard this story many times, through many different renditions, but here is the version this devotion provided.


"Four people—a pilot, a professor, a pastor, and a hiker—were flying in a small plane when the engines died. The pilot said, “There are only three parachutes. Since this is my plane, I’m taking one of them.” He put it on and jumped out. The professor said, “I’m brilliant and the world needs me, so I’m taking a parachute,” and he jumped out.

Then the pastor told the hiker, “I don’t want to be selfish, so you take the last parachute.” The hiker replied, “There are still two left, so we can each have one. The professor jumped out with my backpack instead of the parachute!""

Many of us are like the professor; we believe in faulty thinking. He believed that backpack was a parachute, and it gave him false hope. We believe our works can get us into heaven, whether it is being "good," attending church or being baptized. 

"For if, by the trespass of one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men." [Romans 5:17-18]

We all have sinned, and believed at some point our faulty thinking can allow us to receive eternal life. But as sin entered through one man, so does our breakage from sin through another, Christ Jesus. 

.

.

.

If we could earn our salvation, Christ would not have died to provide it.