Do the Opposite

Let's face it, we live in challenging times. The moral absolutes we grew up believing have flip flopped and what was once called "good" is now called "bad."

Tolerance has been taken to a new level, and we as Christians are being pressured to be permissive in regards to what God calls sin. Instead of lashing out at the unbelievers around us, it is up to us to share the Love of God in real and tangible ways....so that all may believe!

I was reading my devotion this morning on an app called "First5" and thought you might enjoy it as well!

Enjoy!

By:Wendy Pope

Today’s Reading: Philippians 2

Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV) “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Let’s face it, relationships are challenging. And Paul’s relationship-building tips are out of the box and counter to the world in which we live. The message we receive from social media, mainstream media and secular print sources is: Think of yourself first, and do whatever it takes to be successful. Paul challenges believers to survey the way the world builds relationships and treats others, then do the opposite.

Paul is passionate about message of humility and unity. Unity welcomes our differences as we develop our likeness around one Person. We accept and love our diversity because of our love for Jesus and our common desire to be like Him.

Paul teaches that since we have unity with Christ we should also imitate Christ’s humility in our relationships with others. This lifestyle is completely counterculture and is often misunderstood by the world.

Jesus offers the perfect example of what humility looks like. It begins, He says, with having the mind of Christ. Oh, the loftiness and responsibility! The magnitude of the statement is made clearer as Paul unpacks the details.

We demonstrate biblical humility that promotes unity when we:

• Focus on the greatness of God, not our own. Jesus was God and had all the privileges of deity, yet He did not hold onto those rights or His rightness. His actions always put others first and deflected any glory He received to God. (Philippians 2:6)
  
• Serve without seeking attention and gratitude. Jesus took on the nature of a servant. Even though He had power as a leader, He served. He served across cultural, economic and relational boundaries. (Philippians 2:7)
  
• Obey God even when the task seems extreme. Jesus gave His physical life in obedience to God. While, in most cases our obedience will not require the giving of our physical life, humility says, God, I’ll obey even if Your call to action seems risky. (Philippians 2:8)

Living a lifestyle opposite of the world isn’t popular but it presents Christ to the world. When we lower ourselves and lift up Christ,others are drawn to Him and we are aligned with Him. There is no better place for the believer to dwell than in agreement with the Father.

Prayer: Father, living the opposite is hard. My culture directs me to live in a way that is contrary to Your instructions. Your Word is truth and good for me. Living by it, I am shaped into Your likeness. I boldly pray for the courage to live counterculture, in full alignment with Your heart and Your Word. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Watch Out For Pride

Pride is a tricky thing. It can sneak into your life subtly and almost when you're not looking, but can cause so much damage in your relationships. God hates pride, mostly because it is us thinking that our thoughts, ways, or intents are better than His. 

I was reading my devotion this morning and Wendy Blight said it better than I ever could . . .

Take a look-

"Saul’s Legacy

Wendy Blight

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 31

1 Samuel 31:6 (NIV) “So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day.”

Today is Saul’s day of reckoning. This day God exacted justice for the blood of the Amalekites Saul sinfully spared. The blood of the priests he sinfully spilled. The blood of David for which he sinfully sought and desperately schemed.

On the battlefield of Mount Gilboa, God fulfills Samuel’s haunting prophecy against Saul in 1 Samuel 28:18-19. This mountain that had once set the backdrop for Gideon’s great victory now becomes the scene of Saul’s shameful end.

In the heat of the Philistine battle, Saul watched his soldiers fall dead around him. He then watched as the Philistines slaughtered three of his sons one by one, including David’s beloved friend Jonathan. Saul knew he was next. The Philistines had already critically wounded him, and fearing further torture, Saul asked his armor-bearer to finish the job. He refused, so Saul took his own sword and fell on it. The king of Israel chose to die by his own hand, rather than be humiliated by the enemy.

The Philistines celebrated their victory in the most gruesome of ways. They hung Saul’s head in the temple of Dagon (1 Chronicles 10:10), displayed his armor in the temple of Ashtoreth and fastened his body to a wall as a trophy of their victory.

Saul’s tragic ending takes us back to God’s words in Deuteronomy 7:9-10. God promised to keep His covenant of love “to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.” But “to those who hate him he will repay to their face by destruction.”

We see this played out before our eyes with King Saul. He disobeyed God for years. He walked in his own ways. He failed to seek God’s counsel. And in the end, Saul even chose death by his own hand.

God kept His Word. He held Saul accountable. Israel’s enemies overtook them. Saul and his family died painful, humiliating deaths.

Though Saul’s life ends shamefully and tragically, it leaves a legacy of valuable lessons.

• A life steeped in sin begins with compromise and small steps of disobedience.
• Prideful justifications and excuses cannot replace humble confessions.
• God-given gifts are worthless when not surrendered to the One who gifted them.

Yes, the first king of Israel was tall, handsome, strong, rich and powerful. But it all meant nothing without a heart surrendered to the One who placed him on Israel’s throne. Saul looked good on the outside but was spiritually bankrupt on the inside.

Friend, Saul’s life teaches us how not to live. David’s life teaches us how we should live. 

• Walk consistently and faithfully, stacking small steps of obedience one on top of another.
• Bow before God when we take a step of disobedience, swiftly and humbly confessing our sin without justification or excuse.
• Surrender our God-given gifts and talents to our Creator, giving Him alone all the glory and honor for our successes.

Prayer: Father, help me to walk consistently and faithfully with You. Give me a heart of humility so that when I take even the smallest step off Your path, I will submit to Your words of discipline and turn back toward You. May I daily give back to You that which You have entrusted to me. May I never seek personal credit and always give You all the glory in everything I say and do. In Jesus’ name, amen."

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(Wendy Blight, First5 Devotional App)

When Did Help Become Bad?

I spent the morning yesterday with my two sweet nieces L & M at Chick-Fil-A....or as they affectionately call it..... "ChickenfilA!" I thought it would be great to stop in and let them eat a little breakfast and play on the playland....which they love!! I was also being wise in the timing since we would be there before too many other people got the same idea! The sweet little sidekicks of mine are 4 and 1 3/4 years old. What I found out was that although the younger of the two is quite mobile, she happens to be just a little too short to make it up the tube by herself. 

When she realized that trying to climb up the tube by herself was proving unfruitful she turned around and ran straight to me. This was not just any run...she ran with her arms outstretched as she was calling my name! She knew that she couldn't do it on her own! Well, needless to say that melted my heart! Anyone who knows me, knows that I am always up for a little fun. But I am not so sure that a playland designed for children that are close to 40 years my junior would be considered my fun of choice! LOL! But I excitedly took off my shoes and helped her climb on in. Then as we made our way through the plastic maze I helped her explore and experience the playland in all its mighty splendor!

As I thought more about it, it made me think about my relationship with God. You see, children find it so easy to ask for help when they need it. They run to the ones they love, and ask for help. So that made me wonder......when does that switch flip? When does it become bad to ask for help?What makes us try to do everything on our own when a loving heavenly Father wants to help us?

God is waiting for us to ask for His help. He wants to help us experience life in all its splendor! Not that we won't go through difficulties, but we don't have to do it alone. Take time each day to invite God into your day.  He wants to help you through each situation that you face. Sometimes our life can be much like the plastic tubes of a playland and we may not be able to navigate it on our own. Be quick to go to God, He is waiting to hear from you. 

Dare to Dream

I was reading my devotional this morning and it spoke directly to my heart. I have been a person that has thought that my dreams were either unimportant or too lofty for someone like me to even hope to achieve. But God has been doing a great thing in my heart this year! He has begun to challenge me to new things and has placed great dreams in my heart! 

So when dreams were the topic of my devotional my heart leapt inside me!

So take a moment friend and read this devotion by Joyce Meyer and allow God to speak to you, challenge you, and encourage you. He has great things in store for you.....so don't be afraid of the dreams he has given you. Turn them into plans and move forward!

What is the dream that God's placed in your heart?I'm not asking if you have one, I already know it's there because God gives all of us dreams. 
I've seen people do all kinds of things to their dreams. Some people bury them so deep in their hearts in order to protect them from the criticism of others. Some people set them out of sight so they don't have to think about them anymore. And some people finally just give up on their dreams because it hurts too much to hold on. 

If your dream needs a jump-start, there are two things I want you to remember. First, you need to get a vision that's clear. And second, you must keep your vision in front of you at all times. 
But having a vision doesn't mean that it will instantly appear. God's as interested in the process of vision as He is in the end result. 

The apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:11-13 that he had learned how to be content and satisfied to the point where he was not disturbed by whatever state he was in. In other words, he never allowed himself to get upset with where he was at the moment, he was always looking forward to where he could be. 
That means you, like Paul, need to find a balance between contentment and ambition. Here's the key: Learn to enjoy where you are on the way to where you're going. 

When you have a dream or a vision, you have to keep it in front of you. If it helps, write it down. And remember, God will help you live the dream He's given you, step-by-step, one day at a time. 

Prayer Starter: Jesus, even though I don't always feel like it and life tries to get me to quit, I believe You have a great plan for my life. I choose to trust You to help me live the dream You've given me more than I trust my circumstances.

Indianapolis Area Event

Indianapolis area women...make it a point to attend this fantastic event this coming Friday night!

We look forward to seeing you there!

Lifeway Church

3500 E. Thompson Road

Indpls, IN 46239