“All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised.”
Hebrews 11:39 NLT
http://bible.com/116/heb.11.39.nlt
It's fascinating the greats from the Bible earned their reputation because of their faith. It's not surprising because faith in our father, letting the spirit of the Lord fill us, we are bound to make better choices and earn respect from all people. As Christians our reputation is everything. We don't need to be perfect, we are going to make mistakes but we are so much better with Jesus at the center of our lives.
This world needs us to value our own reputation. We need to care deeply about how we are perceived wether it is real or imagined. Our inward and outward appearances are equally important and when we are attacked, our response is so crucial. Many times we need to hold back our temptation to defend ourselves, to lash out in anger. Sometimes silence is our best response. Sometimes it is best to say and do nothing in defense of our reputation. Other times we need to vigorously defend ourselves with all aggression and passion. How do we know when? The indwelling of the Spirit will guide our response. I personally have experienced this guidance. I believe my reputation was protected through a recent attack exclusively by my own silence. It was not me. It was the power of God.
Dear Lord, protect our reputation so we can speak fully your message. Watch over us and give us guidance while we are under attack. Feed our minds and hearts with your words and actions. Help us to react in Love so that others can come to know you through us.
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Monday, October 30, 2017
We need encouragers!
“For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord. When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.”
Romans 1:11-12 NLT
http://bible.com/116/rom.1.11-12.nlt
I long to be with my brothers and sisters in Christ. I love working with them, hearing about their challenges, and encouraging them. I value the art of encouragement more than any other skill I possess. I want to encourage my students to persevere. I want to encourage my family, friends, and ministry partners. They deserve it. As I spend time encouraging others, I am greatly encouraged. It's amazing what "positive talk" can do to everyone involved. Discouraging talk can also destroy everyone within ear shot. That's why I recommend, rather strongly, know who are your encouragers and who are open to encouragement. Avoid the negativity in others. It's harder to do that in families and work situations but for your own wellbeing you need to try. Over the past half year, I've been doing everything I can to avoid the "negative nellies" and spend time with the encouragers. I have also, for the past year, tried to post only positive posts on social media. Now, trust me, I know people can read "negativity" into anything so I'm sure my posts have not always been received as intended. People that disagree with me politically might not think of my posts as positive. They might not appreciate my thoughts, but they are only intended to lift up those they are posted for. We need more encouragers in this world.
Encouragement is a powerful force in the lives of people. We need to spend more time building people up and not tearing them down. Life is not a sports talk show. Life is not a news show filled with biases of politics and ideology. People are not encouraged though constant criticism and detailed analysis. People need to know you believe in them. You support them in tough times, and that you will be there for them. They just need someone to support them with a kind word. How tough can that be.
Romans 1:11-12 NLT
http://bible.com/116/rom.1.11-12.nlt
I long to be with my brothers and sisters in Christ. I love working with them, hearing about their challenges, and encouraging them. I value the art of encouragement more than any other skill I possess. I want to encourage my students to persevere. I want to encourage my family, friends, and ministry partners. They deserve it. As I spend time encouraging others, I am greatly encouraged. It's amazing what "positive talk" can do to everyone involved. Discouraging talk can also destroy everyone within ear shot. That's why I recommend, rather strongly, know who are your encouragers and who are open to encouragement. Avoid the negativity in others. It's harder to do that in families and work situations but for your own wellbeing you need to try. Over the past half year, I've been doing everything I can to avoid the "negative nellies" and spend time with the encouragers. I have also, for the past year, tried to post only positive posts on social media. Now, trust me, I know people can read "negativity" into anything so I'm sure my posts have not always been received as intended. People that disagree with me politically might not think of my posts as positive. They might not appreciate my thoughts, but they are only intended to lift up those they are posted for. We need more encouragers in this world.
Encouragement is a powerful force in the lives of people. We need to spend more time building people up and not tearing them down. Life is not a sports talk show. Life is not a news show filled with biases of politics and ideology. People are not encouraged though constant criticism and detailed analysis. People need to know you believe in them. You support them in tough times, and that you will be there for them. They just need someone to support them with a kind word. How tough can that be.
Friday, October 27, 2017
Rhoadzie's Daily Blog: I've learned a lot.
Rhoadzie's Daily Blog: I've learned a lot.: “So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversati...
I've learned a lot.
“So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversation or by our letter. May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.”
2 Thessalonians 2:15-17 MSG
http://bible.com/97/2th.2.15-17.msg
http://bible.com/97/2th.2.15-17.msg
It's great to know the Lord is always with us directing our steps, encouraging us, and invigorating our work. I can’t tell you the number of times these past 5 months I really wanted to give up. But the Holy Spirit has lifted me up. I have a new, quite surprising direction , which has instilled a hope missing at the end of May. While I still struggle with bouts of depression about the changes, God has been very active in his perfect love to assure me HE is in charge. I have been able to keep my head high even through the barrage of attacks. It’s not through my own will. It’s through Jesus.
I hold on to what I have been taught. Yes, I am constantly learning and my teacher is the Spirit of the Lord. I am constantly learning by the experiences of life, a life built by my loving God. When I asked Jesus into my life at the age of 12 years old, I asked him to direct my life and he has certainly done that. I have been encouraged and given confidence each step I have taken down the path. Praise God for his powerful hand. Praise God he cares so much about me and the life I lead.
2 Thessalonians 2:15-17 MSG
http://bible.com/97/2th.2.15-17.msg
http://bible.com/97/2th.2.15-17.msg
It's great to know the Lord is always with us directing our steps, encouraging us, and invigorating our work. I can’t tell you the number of times these past 5 months I really wanted to give up. But the Holy Spirit has lifted me up. I have a new, quite surprising direction , which has instilled a hope missing at the end of May. While I still struggle with bouts of depression about the changes, God has been very active in his perfect love to assure me HE is in charge. I have been able to keep my head high even through the barrage of attacks. It’s not through my own will. It’s through Jesus.
I hold on to what I have been taught. Yes, I am constantly learning and my teacher is the Spirit of the Lord. I am constantly learning by the experiences of life, a life built by my loving God. When I asked Jesus into my life at the age of 12 years old, I asked him to direct my life and he has certainly done that. I have been encouraged and given confidence each step I have taken down the path. Praise God for his powerful hand. Praise God he cares so much about me and the life I lead.
Saturday, October 21, 2017
I've been silent!
“But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.””
Acts of the Apostles 4:19-20 NLT
http://bible.com/116/act.4.19-20.nlt
I have been pretty quiet lately, especially at school. Really I am a very contemplative person. I'm a thinker and over the past several months I have been thinking a lot about what God has planned for me in the next phase of my life. While I'm thinking, contemplating, I just want to be alone. If I avoid communication with people maybe they will just leave me alone.
Theses verses are still true. God doesn't want us to stop telling about the things he has done for us. There is a time and a place to open up the floodgates of his grace and mercy. He want us to tell our story, but sometimes we need to stop talking and listen. We need to let the spirit of the Lord speak and we need to be quiet so we can hear him. God has been speaking. A plan is forming, not from my own thoughts and desires but his. I feel the Spirit of the Lord at work. I can see the path slowly take shape before me. While I wait to see the entire picture develop, I will continue to remain silent, listening for direction, praying, and spending time away from the crowds. If you wonder what's wrong with me? Nothing is wrong. Im just waiting on the Lord! I'm in a season where I greatly look forward to the Lord speaking and I want to hear less from the world.
Acts of the Apostles 4:19-20 NLT
http://bible.com/116/act.4.19-20.nlt
I have been pretty quiet lately, especially at school. Really I am a very contemplative person. I'm a thinker and over the past several months I have been thinking a lot about what God has planned for me in the next phase of my life. While I'm thinking, contemplating, I just want to be alone. If I avoid communication with people maybe they will just leave me alone.
Theses verses are still true. God doesn't want us to stop telling about the things he has done for us. There is a time and a place to open up the floodgates of his grace and mercy. He want us to tell our story, but sometimes we need to stop talking and listen. We need to let the spirit of the Lord speak and we need to be quiet so we can hear him. God has been speaking. A plan is forming, not from my own thoughts and desires but his. I feel the Spirit of the Lord at work. I can see the path slowly take shape before me. While I wait to see the entire picture develop, I will continue to remain silent, listening for direction, praying, and spending time away from the crowds. If you wonder what's wrong with me? Nothing is wrong. Im just waiting on the Lord! I'm in a season where I greatly look forward to the Lord speaking and I want to hear less from the world.
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