Wouldn’t it be great to make a healthy decision and stick to it. If we find it difficult to stay with a healthy choice to not do something, it may help to say, I am not doing it right now. Now is what matters anyway. Stay in the moment of a healthy choice.
“Blessed is that servant whom his master finds so doing when He comes.” Jesus Conversations Within ts 9/22/
I have the deepest admiration any time I see a joyful spirit, but especially one freely expressed even in the midst of adversity. I have seen dogs running happily on three legs, and people radiating joy even while sick. Such are heroes and champions to me.
“Consider it pure
There will always be leaks on your boat. Adopt an attitude that accepts the reality that something will always need to be repaired. You will enjoy life more when you do.
“...you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in” Is.58.12
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It is a great gift to us when we realize that we are unhappy. The reason is simple. The moment we wake up to being joyless is a natural reminder that joy can be chosen. Make the choices that release its power in your life.
“I will be glad and exult in you…” Ps.9.2 ESV Conversations Within ts 9/17/
How wonderful it is to enjoy life without guilt, not because of a callous uncaring heart, but because you know God approves the life you are living. One reason we know He approves is because He tells us to pray for his provision daily and once received to give Him thanks.
“Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” Jesus
My soul hungers for the spiritual bread of God’s wisdom. I have found it well worth my time to sit down and dine at His table. Every dish He serves, every word He speaks, as my dad would say, is “good to ya and good for ya.” If God says it, whether a rebuke, an encouragement, a command, or a promise, it nurtures life, health and peace when we embrace it.
“Man shall not live on
When we ask God to forgive us our debts, “as'' we have forgiven those indebted to us, Jesus hopes to teach us the grace of forgiveness. His Spirit reminds us that the forgiveness we receive is tied to the forgiveness we offer. What we offer to others when we forgive them is a mere reflection on what we are able to receive when we ask forgiveness from God.
“and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Mt.6.12 ESV Conversations Within ts 9/14/2023
Discipline is training. It is teaching yourself a skill by doing something over and over again until it becomes, as we say, second nature. It doesn’t matter if the goal is losing weight, or purging negative thoughts, the only way to get there is to unlearn and relearn, to practice saying no to one thing and saying yes to another.
For the grace of God…teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” Titus 2.12 Conversations Within ts 9/13/2023
God sets the table everyday. I don't always join Him there. Sometimes I am too busy eating the junk food of the world. There certainly are times when we should eat on the run. The Scriptures even mention such times. But on the whole, it is healthy to sit down, eat and enjoy what God puts before us each
“He sets the table before me in the presence of my enemies.” Ps.23 Conversations Within ts 9/12/2023
I am convinced of God’s love and care for people every time He moves me to pray for them. I feel like He is saying, “The reason you are asking me for this, is because I want it for them too, and you are asking because I worked this grace in you to ask for it.
“I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit--fruit that will last--and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give
I feel God inviting me to talk. Often the focus of our conversation is not what i want from Him. When we converse He gives me a better understanding of myself. Walks and talks with Him are rewarding, not just when I get what I want but when He does. I appreciate what Lewis said. “Prayer doesn't change God, it changes
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’” Jer.33.3 Conversations Within ts 9/11/2023
What are friends for? Someone recently said this to me when I thanked him for his help on a project. I value belonging. There is healing power when we breathe the air of supportive friendship. True wealth is not in belongings, but in belonging.
“Pray for one another that you may be
When we are convinced that something is good, right and true, let us be equally convinced to never give up striving for it. What is hopeless in this life may very well be within the scope of hope in eternity. Stand true for what you know is true.
“Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” 1Cor.13 Conversations Within ts 9/8/
The saying "life in every breath” has always resonated with me. The average person inhales and exhales about 20,000 times a day. Breath sustains life, but focusing on our breath is hardly living life. Breathing enables us to find life in every breath, but in itself it is not life. We say, “take a breath,” to remind ourselves to slow down and center ourselves. What centers me?
“In whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of
What price tag would you put on selling this day? I am not thinking in terms of selling it for cash. Would you trade this day for holding on to anger? How about arguing over something religious, or political? Would you throw this day away to worry about something over which you have no control? How much is this day worth to you?
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart
I like the simplicity and the scope of this prayer. It sufficiently covers all the decisions we make in a day. Most of the time I can say that God grants that I know the right. Sadly I do not always choose it. I cannot blame this on unanswered prayer. I have fed the wrong desire. I have the will to choose what is right, I need to feed its fire.
“Above all else, guard your
Imagine the quiet peace of not wanting, of resting in complete satisfaction with where you are, who you are, and what you have. Gratitude nurtures this quietness of soul. To live in perpetual thanksgiving is to possess your own heart in
“Be content with what you have.” Jesus Conversations Within ts 9/1/2023
I have some preconceived notions that hinder a clear apprehension of the life God desires for me. He is teaching me to reject some of these personal judgments about Him, others, and myself, and to empty my cup so He can fill it.
"Cast down every
I find comfort knowing that there is a list of activities that God has completely approved. He has given a clear thumbs up for everything related to the actions of love. He encourages us to romp and stomp on the playground of joy, peace and patience. He smiles on every act of kindness, goodness, and delights in faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. He will not call us back when we run in this direction.
“Against such things there is no law.”
A very old bedridden woman reached into heaven and changed the course of my life. I only met her once, but she prayed and recorded in a journal three very specific prayers for me. I knew nothing about this. Decades later when God answered her prayers, I met her daughter who shared with me what she had prayed for me. She prayed that I would come to know Jesus, that I would go into the ministry and that I would attend a certain school. I met her daughter studying for the ministry at that very school.
“The effective prayer of a righteous person can accomplish much.” James 5 Conversations Within ts 8/29/
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What you are experiencing right now may not look like the abundant life Jesus promised, but remember that His promise is not that everything that happens to us will be good. His promise is that He will work good out of everything happening to us.
“For I reckon that the
Sometimes when we use the word “if” we use it making an assumption that the likelihood of something happening is true. For instance, when the Scriptures say, “if we sin,” they are making the assumption that we probably will. God has factored in this possibility, and made provision for it. We don’t plan to sin, but God in His wisdom has a plan of action when we do.
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I hate to admit it, but I still need the fear of negative consequences to motivate me to stay the right course. Remembering last night's heartburn, encourages tonight’s decision not to overindulge. I look forward to the day when all my choices are governed by love alone.
"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.
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My focus determines so much. It makes perfect sense that the Creator is the model of what our focus should be. God is love, and He is always showering it on the world. I can think of nothing better than to choose “love” as my life’s focus. Keeping this focus can be a challenge but the peace and joy that comes is worth it.
“Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.” Prov.4.25
Recently I wrote about the advice of a friend counseling me on how to avoid injury while working on a building project. Since, I realize that this advice is a wise approach to everything. When I do something, or say something, I should calculate if it is good, healthy, and if I am using the best approach.
“...the prudent gives thought to his steps.” Prov.14.15 Conversations Within ts
