Main Thought for the Week [5.17.21]

I Samuel 17:4-11: There went out a champion from the camp of the Philistines, Goliath was his name, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail. Now the weight of the bronze coat was five thousand shekels. He had greaves of bronze on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. The staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam. His iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels. And a shield-bearer was walking before him. He stood and called out to the ranks of Israel, “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am not I the Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose for yourselves a man and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and to strike me down, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and strike him down, then you will be our servants and will serve us.” The Philistine said, “I defy the battle lines of Israel this day. Give me a man, and let us fight together.” When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were filled with terror and were greatly afraid.

The story of David and Goliath is probably a very familiar story to most of you reading this email right now. However, I want us to look at this story  and it’s scenes this week in a different light in regard to how they apply to us in our everyday lives. And, here’s what I mean- I don’t have a literal giant in my life and chances are, you probably don’t either. But, I do however, have things in my life that appear insurmountable. I do have things in my life that intimidate me. And, I do have things in my life that taunt me in my my mind and produce fear and cause turmoil. Now, we know that Goliath had been a warrior since he was a young man, however this passage in I Samuel doesn’t talk about his battle spoils or the numbers that he may have slaughtered in war. It just talks about his size and his stature and in some translations it even tells us that he came out daily and taunted the people of Israel. Now remember, Israel was God’s chosen people and they had been promised the promised land earlier, nonetheless, the only keeping them from inhabiting the land and receiving the promised things of God were the giants that were inhabiting the land. Do you remember when the 12 spies came back from spying the promised land? They carried grape clusters so big that two men had to carry them between themselves! Yet, when asked to give a repot about what they had seen, they said, “Surely it is a land that flows with milk and honey, but they’re are giants inhabiting the land and we are like grasshoppers in our own sight and in their eyes as well.” I want you to know today, for you to experience the promised things of God- giants have to be defeated! Giants of fear. Giants of doubt. Giants of unworthiness. Giants of uncertainty. Giants of lack. It is time for you to stand up in faith and confidence. It is time for you to see the giants in your life that are blocking the promised things of God defeated today! David said, “You come to me with a sword and a spear, but I come to you in the name of the Lord!” David didn’t come against Goliath in his own might and strength,  he came against him in the name of the Lord. You have the power and authority to see those giants in your life defeated. David said to the uncircumcised Philistine, “When God delivers you into my hands, everyone will know that my God is the One true and living God!” I want you to know today that your giants are no match for your God. As a matter of fact, most things are bigger in our minds than they are in reality. However, when you come against these giants of fear, doubt, unworthiness, uncertainty and lack, in the name of the Lord, they can be defeated and you can be victorious and than everyone will know that you serve a true and faithful God! 

WEEKLY WORD

Continuing Thought for the WEEK – [5.14.21]

James 1:19-20: My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

CONTINUING THOUGHT for the Week:

To do something slowly means one thing and to do something quickly means another thing. However, there may be times where we need to be quick about being slow, especially when it concerns talking and listening. As we look at the passage in James chapter one for the last time this week, I want to remind you one more time that it tells us to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry. In one of my bibles the subheading of this section says, “Qualities needed in trials.” Now that gives a whole new perspective to this passage! In other words, James is saying, “When you are really going through it, really feeling the fire, really feeling pressured, really feeling tested, really feeling the strain… BE QUICK TO LISTEN, SLOW TO SPEAK and SLOW TO GET ANGRY! Wow! What a great reminder! Now lets look at these the words quick and slow, individually. First of all, James tells us to be quick to listen. Some translations even use the word swift. The Greek word here is taxus– which actually means to be prompt or to be ready. The word prompt carries with it the sense of being timely or moving to action in a quick and timely manner. It would mean that when you listen it should be in a manner that starts quickly at the beginning, with sole intention to hear what someone is trying to say. Secondly, James tells us to be slow to speak and slow to become angry. The word slow in the Greek is: Bpadus. It means dull in the sense of apprehension and slow when it comes to believing something.  It means to be deliberately slow or to be slow on purpose. So, here’s my closing thought on this passage in James chapter 1: When you feel strained, pressured or you fee like your faith is being tested… 1. Be quick (deliberately prompt and attentive) to listen. 2. Be slow (be sluggishly unwilling on purpose) to speak. 3. Be slow (lacking in readiness to participate) to become angry. Remember, human anger doesn’t produce the righteousness that God desires!

Prayer: Lord, help me to be quick to listen and to be slow to speak. May I glorify you by what I say and through what I listen to. In Jesus name, Amen.   

MAIN THOUGHT for the Week:

• The words silent and listen are spelled with the same letters, just in a different order.
• It is difficult to hear what someone else is saying when you are talking!
• You can be silent and not listen and you can talk without thinking!
• You can’t take back what you have said- after it has been spoken!

WEEKLY WORD

Continuing Thought for the WEEK – [5.13.21]

James 1:19-20: My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

CONTINUING THOUGHT for the Week:

Yesterday we talked about how the 3 admonishments is James chapter 1 are somewhat connected. Today I want to primarily deal with the last admonishment: be slow to become angry. Anger solves very little. As a matter of fact, in most cases anger probably makes things worse. And, James tells us as much when he finishes the passage by saying, “Be slow to become angry, because human anger doesn’t produce the righteousness that God desires.” In other words, me getting angry usually doesn’t make things better or set the record straight or make things right, in most cases it just makes things worse. In light of these thoughts- here’s an acronym that Rick Warren uses in regard to thinking before you speak, especially when you are angry:

Use the acronym T.H.I.N.K. to remember these five important questions to ask before you react in anger.

• T: Is it truthful? Is what I’m about to say the truth?
• H: Is it helpful? Or will it simply harm the other person?
• I: Is it inspirational? Does it build up, or does it tear down?
• N: Is it necessary? If it’s not necessary, why do I need to say it?
• K: Is it kind? Will it encourage or discourage?

Scriptures to reflect upon: 

• Proverbs 14:29: “Patient people have great understanding, but people with quick tempers show their foolishness”(NCV).
• Proverbs 15:28: “Good people think before they answer. Evil people have a quick reply, but it causes trouble”(GNT).
• Proverbs 15:18: “Losing your temper causes a lot of trouble, but staying calm settles arguments” (CEV).

MAIN THOUGHT for the Week:

• The words silent and listen are spelled with the same letters, just in a different order.
• It is difficult to hear what someone else is saying when you are talking!
• You can be silent and not listen and you can talk without thinking!
• You can’t take back what you have said- after it has been spoken!

WEEKLY WORD

Continuing Thought for the WEEK – [5.12.21]

James 1:19-20: My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

CONTINUING THOUGHT for the Week:

There is something I had never noticed in this  passage In James 1 until the other day and that is this- there are 3 different admonishments and it seems like these admonishments may be connected. Here they are: 1. be quick to listen. 2. be slow to speak. 3. be slow to become angry. It appears to me that James may be giving us a hint to dealing with conflict.  It seems to me that when you are not angry you are more apt to listen than you are to speak, but when you are angry you are usually more apt to speak. And, if you would take time to listen you would have less of an opportunity to become angry. Listening deals with reasoning and rationalizing. Talking deals with communicating your thoughts and/or feelings. When you’re talking you don’t have time to process what is being heard. When you are angry it causes you too speed up what you would normally take the time to process, so slow down and process your thoughts before you have regrettable actions of recourse. Be quick to listen. Be slow to speak. And be slow to become angry. When you’re angry you will say things that you will regret. Slow down and listen. Give your self time to process before you speak something that you may regret and that you can’t take back.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to be quick to listen and to be slow to speak. May I glorify you by what I say and through what I listen to. In Jesus name, Amen.   

MAIN THOUGHT for the Week:

• The words silent and listen are spelled with the same letters, just in a different order.
• It is difficult to hear what someone else is saying when you are talking!
• You can be silent and not listen and you can talk without thinking!
• You can’t take back what you have said- after it has been spoken!

WEEKLY WORD

Continuing Thought for the WEEK – [5.11.21]

 

James 1:19-20: My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

CONTINUING THOUGHT for the Week:

Yesterday we talked primarily about being quick to listen and slow to speak. This passage in James chapter one is an interesting passage. It is interesting in how it is written and it is interesting in the verbiage that is is used. James uses the words “slow” and “quick” in regard to how we should respond to listening and speaking. What’s even more interesting is how most of the time I am just the opposite of what this passage tells us to do. I am usually slow to listen and quick to speak, instead of being quick t0 listen and slow to speak. Now, here’s something else that I want to point out today, first of all, James tells us that we should take note and secondly he says that EVERYONE should be quick to listen and slow to speak! Not just those who feel like it, but everyone! Also, he doesn’t say that we “will be” slow to speak and quick to listen, he says that we “should be” slow to speak and quick to listen! He may be saying that “if” we were quicker to listen and slower to speak we would experience better results in communication with others and we would probably enjoy more meaningful relationships with others as well. In other words, make listening a first priority and make speaking your second priority. Quickly listen and be slow to speak out or speak up! I believe that this will also result in less regrets. So, here’s my challenge for you: hold your tongue and open your ears and see what happens in your dialogue with others, especially in those untimely disagreements that will pop up from time to time during your day. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to be quick to listen and to be slow to speak. May I glorify you by what I say and through what I listen to. In Jesus name, Amen.   

 

MAIN THOUGHT for the Week:

• The words silent and listen are spelled with the same letters, just in a different order.
• It is difficult to hear what someone else is saying when you are talking!
• You can be silent and not listen and you can talk without thinking!
• You can’t take back what you have said- after it has been spoken!

Main Thought for the Week [5.10.21]

James 1:19-20: My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

I have said for years that the Bible is full of passages that I could spend the rest of my life working on them- living them out in my everyday life. For example: “Be quick to listen and slow to speak.” What did you say?! I know, right! And, as the week progresses we will also look at how foolishness, anger and regret are tied to speaking and listening- stay tuned! Listed below are situations when it is time to speak and situations when it is time to listen:  

The words silent and listen are spelled with the same letters, just in a different order.

A Time To Speak:

1. When you’ve been spoken to.
2. When you enter someone’s personal space.
3. When you have something to say that’s worth hearing.
4. When you need to express what someone needs to hear.
5. When you need to comfort, encourage, or praise someone.
6. When you need to welcome someone or make them feel comfortable, wanted, or needed.
7. When you know the truth and you know it needs to spoken.
8. When the Holy Spirit prompts you.
9. When injustice has been done and the victim or recipient needs a voice that they don’t have.
10. When you are trying to build a relationship.
11. When you speak out of a heart of love with the right motive.
12. When something needs to be said.

 

A Time To Be Silent or Listen:

1. When nothing else needs to be said.
2. When someone needs you to listen, more than they need to hear what you have to say.
3. When someone else is talking.
4. When you really don’t have anything (positive) to say.
5. When you’re angry.
6. When your motive is wrong.
7. When you don’t know all the facts.
8. When the Holy Spirit is talking to you.
9. When you’ve not earned the right to speak into the situation or the person’s life.
10. When you need to think about what you want to say first.
11. When you need to give yourself or the person you are in conflict in a minute to get over the hurt or rejection that is being felt.
12. When God tells you to not say anything.

• It is difficult to hear what someone else is saying when you are talking!
• You can be silent and not listen and you can talk without thinking!
• You can’t take back what you have said- after it has been spoken!

Continuation of the Weekly Word… [5.7.21]

Mark 5:25-29: A large crowd followed Jesus and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

The woman with the issue of blood in Mark’s gospel chapter five is a remarkable story of a woman who had fortitude, will power and a radical faith. This a great combination to see something miraculous take place. She had tried everything and she had spent all that she had, yet she only grew worse. Did you get that? She did everything she knew to do, yet it didn’t get better, it got worse! But here’s the key: she didn’t give in, she didn’t give out and she didn’t give up- she didn’t quit! She still had faith and she still believed. Her declaration was this: “If I can only but touch the hem of His garment, then I will made well.” Have you tried everything, but still no answer? Have you spent all that you have and it’s only gotten worse? You’ve spent time, money and it still never got any better. The woman with the issue of blood had tried everything. She had tried doctors and home remedies and special treatments, but to no avail. However, when she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment she was immediately made well. It was her desperation that drove her to Jesus, but it was her faith that was the conduit for her healing! In the book of Ephesians Paul tells us this: “Having done all stand!” Sometimes you have to stand in faith when nothing is happening. I want to encourage you today to put your faith in the finished work of Christ and stand in faith believing that He is who He said He was and that He will do what He said He will do! Don’t give up! Your answer may be closer than you think. When Jesus passes by, it only takes one touch.   

Prayer: Father, today I pray for everyone that is reading this. I pray that you be with them. I pray that you will strengthen and establish their faith in a new way today. I pray that you will encourage them. I pray that you will bless them. I pray that they will find a faith that doesn’t quit when things get worse. I pray that their declaration will be: “If only I can touch Jesus.” I pray that their faith will be strengthened and that they will be renewed and refreshed today in their faith! In Jesus name, Amen.

Main Thought for the Week: Faith is powerful and faith is the beginning of all things! Without faith it is impossible to please God. The beginning of faith and the beginning of pleasing God is believing that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those that earnestly seek Him. So, does faith really matter? Yes it does! And whom and what you put your faith in matters just as much. I want you to know today that you can put your faith in God, because He is faithful! 

Continuation of the Weekly Word… [5.6.21]

Joshua 6:15-16: On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city! 

Sometimes faith causes you to act without seeing. It will also at times demand that you respond without first seeing a result. In Joshua chapter 6, the Lord tells Joshua something very strange. He tells him that He has given him Jericho before he ever obeys the first command. In verse 2 He says, “See, I have given Jericho into your hands, along with its kings and its fighting men.” He had, but He hadn’t. You see God knows everything, sees everything and He can do anything. And, this, by the way is where our faith should always begin. It should begin in whom God is and in what Gods says and in what God is capable of doing. Remember, God is always already there! He is all powerful and He is all knowing and He can do anything! Anyway, back to the story. God tells Joshua that He has delivered Jericho into his hands when in fact, the city was still fortified, the kings were still on their thrones, the armies were still inside the walls and they were still armed for battle and, the walls were still standing. Joshua, the priests, the trumpet players and the people still had to march around the walls once each day for six days blowing the trumpets and carrying the ark of the covenant without muttering a word and with nothing visibly happening in the natural or on the outside that could be seen. Sometimes you may be required to move in faith before you see the result that is being desired. Nevertheless, on the seventh day they carried the ark, they blew the trumpets and they marched seven times around the city, but on the seventh time around, instead of remaining silent and returning home – they shouted! And, as you know,  the walls came tumbling down and victory was theirs for the taking. I want to encourage you today to be obedient. I want to admonish you to keep believing and to keep marching and to stay in faith – even when you don’t see what you are believing for. If God said it – it will happen. And you can shout today like it already has!!!

Prayer: Father, today I pray for everyone that is reading this. I pray that you be with them. I pray that you will strengthen and establish their faith in a new way today. I pray that you will encourage them. I pray that you will bless them. I pray that they will find a faith and confidence to move in obedience even when they don’t see the evidence of anything tangible taking place. I pray that their faith will be strengthened and that they will be renewed and refreshed today in their faith! In Jesus name, Amen.

Main Thought for the Week: Faith is powerful and faith is the beginning of all things! Without faith it is impossible to please God. The beginning of faith and the beginning of pleasing God is believing that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those that earnestly seek Him. So, does faith really matter? Yes it does! And whom and what you put your faith in matters just as much. I want you to know today that you can put your faith in God, because He is faithful!