The Greek work for Peace is Irenic
Greek eirēnikos, from eirēnē peace, which means favoring, conducive to, or operating toward peace, moderation, or conciliation.
One of the Fruits of the Spirit is Peace. I love the part of the definition of "operating towards peace." I love this concept of operating towards peace. Everything that we do should be operating towards peace. Every part of our daily life should be trying to achieve peace in the world around us.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He is the Prince of Operating towards Peace. Interesting thought isnt it? Every part of who Jesus was during his life here on earth he was the epitome of Peace. He was the epitome of Irenic.
How are you working towards peace? During this busy time of year, don't forget to slow down and try working towards peace.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Joy
Joy: the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires.
How do we have Joy in the Lord? I think that if we just lay everything that we deal with in life at the feet of Jesus, Good and Bad, we can experience true Joy. I know that its not the easiest thing in the world to do. Give it all to God. There is a song written by Darrell Evans "Trading my Sorrows"
"I'm trading my sorrow
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord
I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord
Chorus:
And we say yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord
Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord
Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord Amen
I'm pressed but not crushed persecuted not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed
I'm blessed beyond the curse for his promise will endure
And his joy's gonna be my strength"
God wants us all to lay it down for the Joy of the Lord. WOW lay it all down. I can honestly say that this is extremely important to me, personally. God delights in us giving all of our problems to him.
I think that we also can have Joy in the same manor. Truly enjoy all that God provides for us. We also have to understand that God is going to give us more than just the good things but the things that we don't want either. Its all stuff that HE wants us to have. Have Joy in it.
How do we have Joy in the Lord? I think that if we just lay everything that we deal with in life at the feet of Jesus, Good and Bad, we can experience true Joy. I know that its not the easiest thing in the world to do. Give it all to God. There is a song written by Darrell Evans "Trading my Sorrows"
"I'm trading my sorrow
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord
I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord
Chorus:
And we say yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord
Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord
Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord Amen
I'm pressed but not crushed persecuted not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed
I'm blessed beyond the curse for his promise will endure
And his joy's gonna be my strength"
God wants us all to lay it down for the Joy of the Lord. WOW lay it all down. I can honestly say that this is extremely important to me, personally. God delights in us giving all of our problems to him.
I think that we also can have Joy in the same manor. Truly enjoy all that God provides for us. We also have to understand that God is going to give us more than just the good things but the things that we don't want either. Its all stuff that HE wants us to have. Have Joy in it.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Love
Love: a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person
admire, adulate, be attached to, be captivated by, be crazy about, be enamored of, be enchanted by, be fascinated with, be fond of, be in love with, canonize, care for, cherish, choose, deify, delight in, dote on, esteem, exalt, fall for, fancy, glorify, go for*, gone on, have affection for, have it bad, hold dear, hold high, idolize, long for, lose one’s heart to, prefer, prize, put on pedestal, think the world of, thrive with, treasure, venerate, wild for, worship
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (New International Version)
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
The first Fruit of the Spirit that is listed is Love. God commands us to love our neighbors as ourselves. We are to love everyone. Something that God does! Loving everyone isn’t exactly easy, I know. However, we are commanded to love everyone, even our enemies. I know that this is not an easy task. It does not mean that we have to run around hugging everyone. Simple acts of kindness to everyone. Slow down, take the time to do something nice for a random stranger, If they ask why, Tell them that God wanted them to know that He loves them!
Remind yourself daily that God loves YOU. He sent his only son to atone for your sins. That is LOVE! As a parent I could never imagine killing one of my children for the world. Putting them through the most unimaginable pain and suffering just can’t even be comprehended.
What can you do to show your love?
admire, adulate, be attached to, be captivated by, be crazy about, be enamored of, be enchanted by, be fascinated with, be fond of, be in love with, canonize, care for, cherish, choose, deify, delight in, dote on, esteem, exalt, fall for, fancy, glorify, go for*, gone on, have affection for, have it bad, hold dear, hold high, idolize, long for, lose one’s heart to, prefer, prize, put on pedestal, think the world of, thrive with, treasure, venerate, wild for, worship
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (New International Version)
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
The first Fruit of the Spirit that is listed is Love. God commands us to love our neighbors as ourselves. We are to love everyone. Something that God does! Loving everyone isn’t exactly easy, I know. However, we are commanded to love everyone, even our enemies. I know that this is not an easy task. It does not mean that we have to run around hugging everyone. Simple acts of kindness to everyone. Slow down, take the time to do something nice for a random stranger, If they ask why, Tell them that God wanted them to know that He loves them!
Remind yourself daily that God loves YOU. He sent his only son to atone for your sins. That is LOVE! As a parent I could never imagine killing one of my children for the world. Putting them through the most unimaginable pain and suffering just can’t even be comprehended.
What can you do to show your love?
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Go And Bear Fruit
John 15:12-17
"12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17This is my command: Love each other."
I want to focus on Verse 16 " You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." God chose US. God chose ME. God chose YOU. GOD CHOSE YOU! If that doesn't knock your socks off I don't know what will! God chose us and has commanded us to go and bear fruit. Now I am pretty sure that he isn't talking about grapes and apples. Fruit of the spirit. What are the fruits of the spirit?
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control.
Over the next few days We are going to go over each of the fruits in more depth. If we do as God commands us to do, bear fruit, He tells us that he will give what we ask in His name. He will grant our prayers. Isn't that they whole point of us praying? To come to Him and ask Him to have His hand in a situation or life? I am pretty sure that he isn't telling us that he will give us everything that we ask for. Such as, I know that my daughter is praying for a Nintendo DS. I don't think thats what he is talking about. What do you ask him for? What Fruits do you grow?
"12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17This is my command: Love each other."
I want to focus on Verse 16 " You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." God chose US. God chose ME. God chose YOU. GOD CHOSE YOU! If that doesn't knock your socks off I don't know what will! God chose us and has commanded us to go and bear fruit. Now I am pretty sure that he isn't talking about grapes and apples. Fruit of the spirit. What are the fruits of the spirit?
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control.
Over the next few days We are going to go over each of the fruits in more depth. If we do as God commands us to do, bear fruit, He tells us that he will give what we ask in His name. He will grant our prayers. Isn't that they whole point of us praying? To come to Him and ask Him to have His hand in a situation or life? I am pretty sure that he isn't telling us that he will give us everything that we ask for. Such as, I know that my daughter is praying for a Nintendo DS. I don't think thats what he is talking about. What do you ask him for? What Fruits do you grow?
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Worry
Matthew 6:25
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?"
WOW something to think about in these desperate times. As we are all facing the worry about provisions and how we will provide for our families. Jesus commands us not to worry about it. We need to put all of the provisions of life in Gods hands. He will provide for us. He will make sure that we have everything that we need. It may not be the things that we thing that we need. But he will provide. We need to put all of our worries into His hands.
Something that I do know is easier said than done. Trust me I know! However, Laying it before the Almighty Father take strength and obedience. Ouch!! Obedience!! God tells us that we are not to worry. Human nature alone makes us worry. Place it at the feet of God. He will provide.
I have experienced this firsthand. I have recently been diagnosed with a medical condition that is not curable. It also makes it really hard to live life normally. I have lost my job. My husband recently lost his job. He had a new job the next day. We have never gone without food, shelter, or even heat. We put it at the feet of Jesus and we have been provided for. His love is Amazing.
Trust and Obey... There is no other way.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?"
WOW something to think about in these desperate times. As we are all facing the worry about provisions and how we will provide for our families. Jesus commands us not to worry about it. We need to put all of the provisions of life in Gods hands. He will provide for us. He will make sure that we have everything that we need. It may not be the things that we thing that we need. But he will provide. We need to put all of our worries into His hands.
Something that I do know is easier said than done. Trust me I know! However, Laying it before the Almighty Father take strength and obedience. Ouch!! Obedience!! God tells us that we are not to worry. Human nature alone makes us worry. Place it at the feet of God. He will provide.
I have experienced this firsthand. I have recently been diagnosed with a medical condition that is not curable. It also makes it really hard to live life normally. I have lost my job. My husband recently lost his job. He had a new job the next day. We have never gone without food, shelter, or even heat. We put it at the feet of Jesus and we have been provided for. His love is Amazing.
Trust and Obey... There is no other way.
Monday, December 1, 2008
What if His People Prayed by Casting Crowns
What if the armies of the Lord
Picked up and dusted off their swords
Vowed to set the captive free
And not let satan have one more
What if the Church, for heaven's sake
Finally stepped up to the plate
Took a stand upon God's promise
And stormed hell's rusty gates
Chorus I:
What if His people prayed
And those who bear His name
Would humbly seek His faith, yeah
And turn from their old ways
And what would happen if we prayed
For those raised up to lead the way
Then maybe kids in school could pray
And unborn children see light of day
What if the life that we pursue
Came from a hunger for the truth
What if the family turned to Jesus
Stopped asking Oprah what to do
Chorus I:
What if His people prayed
And those who bear His name
Would humbly seek His face yeah
And turn from their own way
Chorus II:
He said that He would hear
His promise has been made
He'll answer loud and clear, yeah
If only we would pray
Bridge:
If My people call by My name
If they'll humble themselves and pray
If My people call by My name
If they'll humble themselves and pray
Choruses:
What if His people prayed
And those who bear His name
Would humbly seek His face, yeah
And turn from their old ways
He said that He would hear
His promise has been made
He'll answer loud and clear yeaah
If only we would pray
Picked up and dusted off their swords
Vowed to set the captive free
And not let satan have one more
What if the Church, for heaven's sake
Finally stepped up to the plate
Took a stand upon God's promise
And stormed hell's rusty gates
Chorus I:
What if His people prayed
And those who bear His name
Would humbly seek His faith, yeah
And turn from their old ways
And what would happen if we prayed
For those raised up to lead the way
Then maybe kids in school could pray
And unborn children see light of day
What if the life that we pursue
Came from a hunger for the truth
What if the family turned to Jesus
Stopped asking Oprah what to do
Chorus I:
What if His people prayed
And those who bear His name
Would humbly seek His face yeah
And turn from their own way
Chorus II:
He said that He would hear
His promise has been made
He'll answer loud and clear, yeah
If only we would pray
Bridge:
If My people call by My name
If they'll humble themselves and pray
If My people call by My name
If they'll humble themselves and pray
Choruses:
What if His people prayed
And those who bear His name
Would humbly seek His face, yeah
And turn from their old ways
He said that He would hear
His promise has been made
He'll answer loud and clear yeaah
If only we would pray
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