”Eternal life does not begin with death; it begins with faith.” Samuel M Shoemaker

I have to be honest. I am grateful that one of the most attractive aspects of believing in Jesus is the promise of eternal life. I mean, I love life and love it so much I could do it forever. And, if the taste of it here has been so good, think how wonderful it must be when we experience it new and without all the baggage of our own selfishness. Yep. The resurrection of Jesus excites me with all the prospects of working and playing in the dawning light of eternity.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Jesus Conversations Within” ts 3/21/2018

“Love is not just a feeling, it's commitment and above all a sacrifice” Meme

Anyone who has loved someone knows that sacrifice is the highest expressions of it. This is how we know that God loves us so very much. He sacrificed. Christ became His partner in this. Together they offer everyone true spiritual freedom. Of course as it is commonly asserted, “Our freedom isn’t free.” It cost God. It cost Christ. But so great is their love that they joyfully made the sacrifice knowing it would release us from any condemning judgement. Accept it. 

“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us…” 1John 3.16 Conversations Within” ts 3/23/2018

God has taken the sword of our enemy and turned it into a healing scalpel.

When death came to Christ and touched Him, it was not Christ, but death itself that was forever changed. The door which carried us away from God’s presence was made into an entrance. Because of Christ, death does not carry us away from our hearts desire, but carries us to it. In this sense we are able  to view death no longer as an enemy, but as a friend. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.”

“O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 1Co15.55 Conversations Within” ts 3/22/2018

"May God grant us the wisdom to discover the right, the will to choose it and the strength to make it endure. Amen” (First Knight--the movie)

Our Father’s grace comes to us in many forms. His Spirit enlightens us with wisdom; He encourages us with strength of purpose; and enables us with the enduring power of faith. What is left for us is to appropriate each of these blessings and walk by them day to day. We should not ask Him to do what He expects from us. We should not try to do what He expects from us without asking for grace.

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2Cor.9.8 Conversations Within” ts 3/21/2018

“I do not understand the mystery of grace -- only that it meets us where we are and does not leave us where it found us.” Anne Lamott

The grace of God is magical simply because its beauty is bathed in mystery and its power transcends all human effort. Grace accomplishes what we ourselves cannot do. Lost as we are, grace will lead us home. Imprisoned in darkness, grace will transform us into creatures of light. Grace meets us on the highway of turmoil and leads us to the path of peace. Grace morphs us form godless selfishness to godly love.

“Great is the mystery of godliness…” 1Tim.3.16 Conversations Within” ts 3/20/2018

“Our worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace.” Jerry Bridges

When it come to a relationship with God, grace is what is it all about. Without it we would all be in over our head. According to Jesus, grace defines our every interaction with our Creator. So what is grace? Grace is goodness, the goodness that God gives to people not because we are good or deserve it, but because He is good and He overflows with it, Grace is spelled J-E-S-U-S.

“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” 2Cor.9  Conversations Within” ts 3/20/2018

“Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love.” Brene Brown

Always be honest with yourself, and speak the truth to your heart even if it hurts. Of course, being honest may be difficult at times because we sometimes are not able to see things about ourselves without help. Get it! Here is great value of meaningful friendship. Here is one great value of having the Spirit of Christ living in us.

“Speak the truth in love.” Eph.4 Conversations Within” ts 3/16/2018

“Follow your heart, but take your brain with you.” Meme

Our goal should not be just to feel good about ourselves as to do what is good for ourselves. Wisdom is our true friend in this quest. Wisdom inclines us not only to do what is in our best interest, it helps us do it the best way. Wise living is happy living. If I wisley love myself, I will more than likely start feeling better about myself.

“He who gets wisdom loves his own soul.” Prov.19.8  Conversations Within” ts 3/15/2018

If beating yourself up worked you'd be rich, thin, and happy. Try loving yourself instead.” Cheryl Richardson

Being negative rarely accomplishes anything of value. It follows that entertaining negative thoughts about yourself, namely putting yourself down, will not bring positive results. It is one thing to be honest about our shortcomings and seek positive change, it is another to get wrapped up in a woe is me self-pity. 

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.“ 2Cor.7.10 Conversations Within” ts 3/13/2018

”What if you simply devoted this year to loving yourself more?” Meme

It took a number of years before I came to the realization that God wants me to love myself. This should not be confused with liking myself. Love, as Christ describes it, is beneficial action. Certainly God wants each of us to do what is in our best interest. Before we think something, or say something, or do something it would be wise to ask if it will bring us benefit or harm. Of course Jesus wants us to think beyond our immediate comfort pursue long term reward, otherwise He probably would not have gone to the cross. It is not a temporal but a lasting joy that is best.

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross” Heb.12.2 “Conversations Within” ts 3/11/2018

Love…as you love yourself.” Jesus

We may wonder how we can love ourselves without being selfish until we realize that being selfish is not really loving ourselves. We love ourselves when we do what is in our best interest and it is always in our very best interest to look also after the interest of others. To serve others is to ultimately serve yourself. Do yourself a favor and love the person in front of you.

“Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” Phil.2.4 “Conversations Within” ts 3/10/2018

Three simple rules for a wonderful life. “Love God. Love others. Love yourself.”

Jesus said that loving our neighbor as we love ourselves is like the first command to love God with all our heart. How so? Well, for one thing, loving God and loving our neighbor is the very best way that we can love ourselves. We could also say that the final measure of doing both is in our actions, not just our feelings. These words direct us not only whom we should love, but how we should love. Do not love even yourself in half-measures. Put your whole heart into it.

Love God with all your heart...This is the first and greatest commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus “Conversations Within” ts 3/10/2018

“Meditation is the discovery that the point of life is always arrived at in the immediate moment.” Alan Watts

The Spirit of Christ is always inviting us to join Him in the joys of the present moment. Meditation can help us get there. Meditating on God’s word helps to clarify what we really want in life and help us merge what we desire right now and what we desire most.

“Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Ps. 119 “Conversations Within” ts 3/9/2018

“Meditation-- Because some questions can’t be answered by Google.” Meme

There are a number of steps to fruitful meditation. Many agree that the first step is to still the body and empty the mind. Sadly some see this as the only goal. The reason we empty the mind is to prepare us for the next step, and that is to fill it with focused thought on what is good and right and true. The first step helps us shut out the distractions of the outer world to help us reflect on truths that will help us live better in it.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” Col.3.16 “Conversations Within” ts 3/8/2018

The mouth is the faucet of our thoughts.

We are warned to “think before we speak,” and it is good advice. But we should equally think about what we are thinking about. Our thoughts have a way of escaping through our mouth. We don’t need to worry about this if we are only thinking good thoughts. Everything begins as a thought. If we entertain only good thoughts, we will give birth only to good words.

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Ps.19.14 ESV “Conversations Within” ts 3/7/2018

“No spiritual exercise is more profitable to the soul than that of devout meditation.” C. H. Spurgeon

Let me think, but let me think about what is worth thinking about. Let me muse, ponder, reflect. Let me wrestle with the meaning till I understand and with understanding let me flesh it out in my words and actions. Let me commit God’s words to memory so I can recall and meditate on them throughout the day, to remain in its light and request from Him all that is needed to embrace its promised joy.

“...whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” Phil.4.8 “Conversations Within” ts 3/6/2018

“Come and get it.”

Words are powerful so very powerful. How much more are God’s words in the heart of people who know and love Him. “In keeping them there is great reward.” But one cannot keep what they do not possess. We must come and dine at God’s table and nurture our inner life if His words are to powerfully possess us. Feed, yes even feast daily at your Father’s table. His words are life, health and peace.

“Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Jesus “Conversations Within” ts 3/5/2018

“Aha--a God given moment that changes everything.” Kyle Idleman

There is nothing quite as precious as a personal word from God. It may be a word of comfort in a sad time or a word of encouragement when we are down. His word may come to us when we need guidance, or wisdom when we are facing an important decision. I even appreciate a stinging rebuke because it assures me that He loves and cares about the kind of person I am becoming. How sweet it is when the Spirit speaks to the heart.

“Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'" 1Sam.3.9 “Conversations Within” ts 3/4/2018

“Learn to calm down the winds of your mind, and you will enjoy great inner peace.” Remez Sasson

There are a number of situations where learning to relax is wise. I have found that when a large ocean wave is holding me down and I am being dragged underwater by my surfboard the best thing I can do is go limp and relax instead of frantically struggling for the surface. I read recently that the best way to fall down and not get injured is to just relax and roll with it. It would seem that the best approach to the many stressful situations in life is just to take a breath, relax and calm the soul.

“I have stilled and quieted my soul.” Ps.131.2 “Conversations Within” ts 3/3/2018

"If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." - Wayne Dryer

I know some who look at their marriage as a prison, and others who see it as a fruitful  partnership. How we experience life depends to a large degree on how we choose to look at it.  It is certainly in our power to change the way we view situations, people, even ourselves. If we don’t like the view the solution may simply be to start thinking about it differently, instead of trying to run away from it.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” Rom.12.1 “Conversations Within” ts 3/2/2018

"Some of the greatest battles will be fought within the silent chambers of your own soul." Ezra Taft Benson

Most of my struggles are not with circumstances but with character. The struggle is real. There is a daily battle waged in me to be selfish or loving, to do it my way, or the right way, to worry or worship or to lash out when provoked or to express patience and kindness. The business of Christ isn’t just to relocate us to Heaven but to reform us into the kind of people who enjoy living there. Smile and enter the fray.

“As a person thinks … so is he” Proverbs 23:7 “Conversations Within” ts 3/1/2018

“It’s all about finding the calm in the chaos.” Donna Karan

Like a good many people I usually react when provoked. I would rather respond calmly. There are no shortcuts to this kind of transformation. If I want to stay calm, cool and collected as we say, then I have to practice it, and practice it until it becomes second nature. Of course the only way to practice some things is in a live performance. Of course we can rehearse staying calm in our mind. It may just be that it is before I am slapped on the cheek, that I can do a dress rehearsal to turn the other.

“A gentle answer turns away wrath” Prov.15.1 “Conversations Within” ts 2/29/2018

"You can't calm the storm, so stop trying. What you can do is calm yourself. The storm will pass." Timber Hawkeye

The ability to calm oneself is of great value. Remaining calm usually precedes a wise decision. Everytime I listen to God’s reassurances a sweet calmness stills the storm within. When I listen to myself, the waters churn. Remaining calm is for me a matter of focus, one, refusing to listen to lies and two, speaking the truth to my heart that I am in God’s hands.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you…” Ps.43.2 “Conversations Within” ts 2/27/2018

“The real mark of maturity is the ability to remain pleasant when others are not.” Sheryl Brady

It takes a well nurtured patience to remain calm in provocation. Patience is patient because it has rehearsed living by the principle of “what” is right and wrong, not “who” is right or wrong. It is wise to always choose what is good, not necessarily what makes us feel good. When we choose to return a blessing in the face of being provoked, blessings will rebound on us.

“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” 1Pet.3.9 “Conversations Within” ts 2/26/2018

“The purpose of influence is to speak up for those who have no influence.” Rick Warren

If I am ever in an advantageous position, I hope it will prove advantageous not just for me, but for the people in my life. Let me be an intercessor for others--before God first, then as my position enables me to speak for others. I want a tribal life--family, friends lifting up and helping one another. Anytime I am in a position of influence, I want to use it for the tribe not just for myself.

“And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?" Esther 4.14  “Conversations Within” ts 2/25/2018

"The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively." - Bob Marley

In a sense what is considered “positive” is measured in the “eye of the beholder.” What I think is positive and what someone else thinks is positive may conflict. I may think that I am being positive by supporting a certain cause, but someone else may think my cause harmful. I suppose there are universals that everybody would consider positive. But the word “everybody” is probably too big a description. All we can do is try our best to serve and realize that In the end, God will decide what is positive and what is not.

For the LORD is our judge, The LORD is our lawgiver, The LORD is our king; He will save us.” Is.33.22 “Conversations Within” ts 2/23/2018