There are moments, sweet moments when I am overwhelmed by how good my life is. I think about my wife, children, grands, friends, life experiences, and a rush of gratitude swells within. I even find myself giving thanks for aches, pains and trials, because they, like every other blessing, have served to deepen my experience of God’s goodness. I am not a lucky man, but certainly a blessed one.
“My cup runneth over!” Ps.23 Conversations Within ts 10/22/
Don’t you wish there was an “undo” button? We wish we could “take back” something we’ve said or done, but the damage is there. One thing we can do is to ask for, and grant forgiveness where it is needed. When the best option has passed, go for the next best. How precious the words, “I was wrong, will you forgive me?” Even more precious, “Yes, I do.”
“Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Jesus Conversations Within ts 10/22/
I have never felt bad about eating an apple. I cannot say that about everything I have eaten. I have never felt bad about encouraging someone. I cannot say that about all my actions toward others. Once we are persuaded that something that makes us feel good is actually good, why would we not do anything else.
“I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they
There is a unique freedom to be found when we run in the direction of love. Why linger at the fence of what is forbidden, when there are no prohibitions when we love. There is so much joy to be had playing on the positive side of life. Do not spend all your time dying the old life, rise up and live the new.
“Against such things there is no law.” Gal.5 Conversations Within ts 10/19/
It is silly to believe that you can be happy following the advice of the unhappy. Hold in high esteem people who lift others up, not put others down, who praise, rather than criticize and who inspire you to be better, over those who can never be satisfied with anything you do.
“'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance...” Jesus Conversations Within ts 10/
I value a life lived with ease and grace. Who would not want a life free from the burdens of any imposed religion. Christ calls us to decide for ourselves to join Him in relationship not a religion. He left us so much more than rules to follow, He gives us His Spirit to enlighten, encourage and enable us to run and play in the meadows of the Most
“The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” 2Cor.3.6 ) Conversations Within ts 10/16/22
Our circumstances change, as should our application of some of the truths we believe. Some truths are absolute to circumstances and never change. Some are relative and change in keeping with our situation. It can be unwise to confuse the two. A rigid application of some passage in the Bible may not be the best way to honor its intent. This is why the good book condones getting your ox out of a pit on Sunday.
“Which of you having a son or and ox that has fallen into a well on the Sabbath day will not immediately pull him out.” Jesus Conversations Within ts
I am tempted at times to write off answers to my prayers and other providences of God to simple coincidence. Then I am reminded that every coincidence is still under His personal direction. I pray, and voilà, something is provided! Of course He knew what I would ask before I prayed. So what came first, the prayer or His answer? This stretches my brain sometimes.
“Before there is a word on my tongue you know it all together.” Ps.139 Conversations Within ts 10/13/
I am always getting in my own way. I disrupt my peace by getting drawn into something petty and immature. I hold myself back with silly doubts and overthinking. I refuse to commit because of my struggle with FOMO, you know, the fear of missing out. Lord help the real me, the one you are creating, get over the old boring and uninteresting me. Let's have some fun!
“If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creature, old things are passing away, all things
We can assert, as Jesus does, that each of us are gods with a little “g”. There is a bit of the one true God in every single person. The mortal part of us is passing, the immortal part of us will live forever. Every person we meet today is becoming. We are becoming more like God or less like Him and as one brother put it, “All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations.”
“Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods"’? Jesus Conversations Within ts 10/12/
I enjoy being a disciple of Jesus. Naturally I want others to discover the joy of life with Him. I realize more and more the best way to share Him isn’t with words as it is in simply loving others. After all, love is the principle focus of being His disciple in the first place.
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Jesus Conversations Within ts 10/10/
It dawns on me that humans have always worshiped various aspects of nature, the sun moon and stars and now it seems that “mother earth” is taking center
“Love the Lord your God with all of your heart…” Jesus Conversations Within ts 10/9/22
I require more than resolve to experience my needed transformation. I need grace, pure and simple. I need grace to know that I need grace. The Christian life is not “a pick yourself up by the boot straps” and change religion. Only an amazing grace, God’s grace, can transform a sinner into a saint.
"For by grace are you saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift if God, not by works , lest you be able to boast." Eph.2.8 Conversations Within ts 10/8/
Experience has taught me to do a taste test so to speak before I decide to commit to the whole meal. My trust is tied to my experience. I decide what to believe and trust my life to, based on the fruit it produces. In particular, I look for the fruit of love, joy, peace, goodness and the like. If these qualities are lacking, I just push the plate away.
O taste and see that the Lord is good. Ps.34.8 Conversations Within ts 10/7/
Love yourself, not in some selfish sense, for that is not love at all. Love yourself by seeking the very best life you can have, and understand that that life is found in loving God and keeping His commandments. It is on this path that we will be able to live in His love and begin to truly love the people in our life.
“God is love. Those who abide in love, abide in God and God in them.” John Conversations Within ts 10/7/22
I have wondered, with all the suffering going on in the world, if I should seek relief from God for my daily aches and pains. After all, in His wisdom God has prescribed toil as an overall consequence of our rebellious lifestyle. Then I am reminded that He told us to cast “all” our cares on Him, not just some of them. There is nothing too great or too small for His loving care.
“Cast all your cares on Him, because He cares for you. 1Pet.5.7 Conversations Within ts 10/3/
One of the reasons I decided to put my faith in Jesus is the way he speaks about God. He does not see God as some impersonal force binding the Universe together, but a very personal being. His favorite way of speaking about the Creator was to call Him “Father.” He even teaches us to see Him that way, and goes as far as encouraging us to call Him Dad.
When you pray, say, “Our Father…” Jesus Conversations Within ts 10/2/22
Just waking to where you are is a powerful means of purpose and peace in life. Do not confuse living for the moment, with living fully in the moment. The first attitude may tempt us to grasp at life with a kind of gasping for your last breath panic before the air runs out. Lay hold of the joy that is found in the present moment and rest in the knowledge that in Christ there are more moments to come.
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The power to focus is a great blessing. This gift enables us to tune out all the noise that surrounds us and tune in the beautiful music of life. See with the lens of love, listen with the filter of compassion.
“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
If God chooses to deny a request we have made, we can still be absolutely certain He is working His goodness on our behalf. He may refuse to give us what we want, but He never fails to give us what we need. As any good parent, our Father wants to mature our comfort zone--that is what comforts us.
“May your unfailing love be my comfort…” Ps.119.76 Conversations Within ts 9/29/22
If you don’t like what you are feeling, change what you are thinking about that is making you feel that way, and do so by finding a new something to think about that makes you feel better. It really is as simple as that.
“Take captive every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2Cor.10.5 Conversations Within ts 9/27/22
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The Roman centurion whose faith amazed even Jesus tells us something about the nature of a faith that gets God’s attention. In short, a confident faith doesn’t blindly trust, it knowingly trusts not only in God’s power to do, but His willingness to do.
“Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.” Jesus Conversations Within ts 9/26/22
I feel quite certain that my most fruitful life comes when my daily schedule grows out of my prayers for people. This pretty much means that I need to give priority to intercessory prayer each and every day. It is one thing to pray for others when they come to mind, and another to prioritize praying for them on a regular basis. Doing so may contribute to their most fruitful life.
“I always thank my God as I remember you at the time of my prayers..” Phil.1 Conversations Within ts 9/26/22
As our grand kids get older, we are thinking about buying life experiences with them instead of material presents. Toys break, and are forgotten, but a day hiking in the woods with Nana and Papa can become a joyful and lasting memory, not to mention an important life message from Jesus.
“Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Jesus Conversations Within ts 9/24/22
