So be careful how you act; these are difficult days. Don’t be fools; be wise: make the most of every opportunity you have for doing good. Don’t act thoughtlessly but try to find out and do whatever the Lord wants you to. Ephesians 5:15-17 Living Bible
…that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. Ephesians 3:17-20 NKJV
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace, you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:4-10
Heaven’s hands are kind. He holds mercy’s wealth & the gift of grace. His hands hold memories of how He suffered to give me everlasting life. Heaven’s hands are strong when I am weak. Heaven’s hands have wide shoulders that carry the weight of the world. I am His world. Heaven’s hands have a heart full of life-giving love. He shares His love with me. I’m so thankful I can hold Heaven’s hands. More than that, I’m thankful when I can’t seem to reach His hands, He can reach mine.
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace, you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:4-10
Scripture Study
Complacency– self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies; a feeling of calm satisfaction with your own abilities or situation that prevents you from trying harder.
an instance of usually unaware or uninformed smug self-satisfaction
* take things for granted
* Monotony, boredom
* Lose ambition and initiative
* Avoid risk
“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. Revelation 3:15-16
“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34, 36
So that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 6:12
Discontentment – lack of satisfaction with one’s situation.
* Frustration
* Unfulfilled
* Not fulfilling purpose/ call
“But godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1 Timothy 6:6
Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things, I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. Philippians 4:11-12
Restless– unsettled, uneasy
* Is discontentment & restlessness needed to motivate complacency & cause a call to action?
* Can The Holy Spirit allow a feeling of discontent to move someone forward?
So long of thirst, my weary soul did languish
and naught of earth my soul could satisfy.
But when to Christ I turned in bitter anguish,
I found in Him the answer to my cry
O I have found it, the crystal fountain
Where all my life’s deep needs have been supplied
So freely flowing on calvaries mountain
And now my soul is fully satisfied
Satisfied– Fulfilled, content
“For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” – Psalms 107:9
“May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you.” – Psalm 25:21
With the blink of an eye, July is in full swing. The more I want to hang on to time, the faster it moves. I find myself counting the days in hopes that it makes me feel like the inevitable won’t happen so fast. It’s there, though. It’s looming. It hovers over me as if it wishes to suffocate.
What is it? It’s me knowing the baby of the family is about to spread her wings and fly. My “baby” is 18 and ready to pursue a life outside the confines of Morrow and Richland counties. Random tears seem to escape me as my heart prepares for drop off.
During these countdown days, I find myself thinking about what we could have done differently. I’m also reminded how God has been faithful. He has watched over, provided, and taken care of this priceless gift from God.
I also continue to be amazed at her level of maturity, talent, and giftings. I wonder how God will use her. I wonder what her new life will be like. I wonder if we did enough to equip her for what life may throw her way.
We now have less time left in the summer with her than when June started. Every moment is important. Every memory is gold.
Dear Heavenly Father:
She’s your daughter and you love her so much. Please continue to watch over her. Be her guide, protection, and comfort. Help her to listen to your voice and not a stranger’s. Help her to pursue you above all else.
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10
Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 NIV
Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:5 NKJV
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 NKJV
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. John 15:7-8
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Comfortable (Are you comfortable with your calling?)
Confident (Are you confident in The One who called you?)
Calm (Are you calm & settled instead of restless?)
Complete (Comfortable + Confident + Calm = Complete) (Ready)
The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:6-8 NIV
For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8: 6-8 NKJV
Carnal- living according to sinful human nature and desires, opposing a life led by the Spirit.
Enmity– hatred, antagonism
Hostile- unreceptive; aggressive; antagonistic; opposed, incompatible
Flesh- Sinful nature, selfish gratification; a desire to please self;
What thoughts are controlling your mind?
Are your thoughts life-giving and peace-promoting?
Is your thought life pleasing self or God?
Is your life pleasing self or God?
We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.
For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.
Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
So, I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.
For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?
Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. Romans 7:14-25
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.
And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.
For in this hope we were saved.
But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. Psalm 139:1-4