My daughter got her first set of braces today. They're actually just partials designed to widen the top of her mouth in order to make more room for her permanent teeth to come in. As loud as she is, they say she needs a bigger mouth...
I was the same way as a child. Too many teeth and not enough room. I'll never forget the day I had to get that horrid contraption in the top of my mouth at age 13. Back then, they put a W-shaped wire in the roof of my mouth that pushed out with all it's strength from the get go. My mouth was so sore I lost 15 lbs in about 3 weeks. It was quite painful.
Lauren will have a much easier time of it. The bar in her mouth is to be tightened twice a day over the next 10 days in order to slowly reach the desired size. It will still be painful, but not so bad as the whole dose at once. Then they will leave it in for 6 months to make sure it doesn't return to the former shape.
When I was sitting there listening to the hygienist describe how we are to turn it each time, I started thinking how grateful I was that God uses this method on me. Let me explain...
Before I came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ I was messed up. There was just not enough room in my sinful flesh for the person God created me from antiquity to be. I was crooked and out of shape.
Then Jesus came into my life.
(That gives the WWJD acronym a whole new meaning to me!)
What if He had expected me to follow all the "rules" right away? What if He had put the pressure and demand of living a pure and holy life on me immediately? All I can say is that I would have lost a lot more than weight! But because He loves me so much and knows what is best, He is changing me day by day.
Therefore we do not give up; even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 4:16
Day by day He is reshaping me to be holy and beautiful for eternity, and has given the Holy Spirit to guide me in all truth. My responsibility is to make sure I don't just let Him sit there- Waiting for me to allow Him to make room in my life for His blessing and glory. I must tighten it day by day by the reading of the Word, and the bending of self and knees to Him in prayer. I must allow Him to do His work:
...assuming you heard Him and were taught by Him, because the truth is in Jesus: you took off your former way of life, the old man that is corrupted by deceitful desires; you are being renewed in the spirit of your minds; you put on the new man, the one created according to God's [likeness] in righteousness and purity of the truth.
Ephesians 4:21-24
And you want to know the best part?
There is no monthly payment plan: Jesus paid it all in full at the cross.
Showing posts with label Bible-2 Corinthians 4. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible-2 Corinthians 4. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Make Every Effort: Confirm Your Calling
Confirm Your Calling
2 Peter 1:10-11
For His divine power has given us everything required
for life and godliness,
through the knowledge of Him who called us
by His own glory and goodness.
By these He has given us very great and precious promises,
so that through them you may share in the divine nature,
escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires.
For this very reason,
make every effort to supplement your
faith with goodness,
goodness with knowledge,
knowledge with self-control,
self-control with endurance,
endurance with godliness,
godliness with brotherly affection,
and brotherly affection with love.
For if these qualities are yours
and are increasing,
they will keep you from being
useless or unfruitful
in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The person who lacks these things
is blind and shortsighted,
and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins.
Therefore, brothers, make every effort
to confirm your calling and election,
because if you do these things
you will never stumble.
For in this way,
entry into the eternal kingdom of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
will be richly supplied to you.
2 Peter 1:3-11
Being a details person, when I go on a trip I check and recheck my luggage and tickets. Kevin laughs at me when a plane is involved because I will look at the schedule for take off and landing at least a dozen times. I'm always concerned that I didn't look at the time right and that in my head it's completley wrong. Trust me, it's happened before.
I'm not saying that being completely obsessive/compulsive is the way to go, but I believe Scripture suggests we should practice it a little in our Spiritual life. This is one area where we really don't want to miss the plane because we got it wrong in our heads! The New Testament often shows us we are encouraged to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12), to "not give up" for "...our inner person is being renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4:16), and to train ourselves and strive for godliness (1 Timothy 4:6-10). It is the daily process by which we are being sanctified.
Now don't get me wrong, we were sanctified when we chose to sacrifice our lives for the sake of Christ, but we have not reached the ultimate goal yet. As my Pastor so aptly puts it, "We were sanctified, we are being sanctified, and one day we will be sanctified." We were washed by the blood, we are daily being washed by the blood (for the new sins we fall for), and one day we will get our final cleansing and be pure and holy forever at the resurrection. Until we reach that final day however, we must strive and work in order not to stumble.
To be richly supplied entry into the kingdom of heaven reminds me of my children:
We recently had basic cable run to our home for the first time in 8 years. We've had a television with DVD and VHS players, but never live TV. Thus, they had never experienced infomercials. Numerous times over the last month the children have run to me so excited about the amazing product they could get for only three easy payments of $60! They have no idea really what the product even is- but they want it!
That is how I feel about this section of Scripture. I really don't understand how a person can be richly supplied entrance into the kingdom of heaven instead of just gaining general admission, but I want it! Don't you? Well, He graciously has supplied the knowledge of how to obtain it:
We are to confirm our calling.
I'm not saying that being completely obsessive/compulsive is the way to go, but I believe Scripture suggests we should practice it a little in our Spiritual life. This is one area where we really don't want to miss the plane because we got it wrong in our heads! The New Testament often shows us we are encouraged to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12), to "not give up" for "...our inner person is being renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4:16), and to train ourselves and strive for godliness (1 Timothy 4:6-10). It is the daily process by which we are being sanctified.
Now don't get me wrong, we were sanctified when we chose to sacrifice our lives for the sake of Christ, but we have not reached the ultimate goal yet. As my Pastor so aptly puts it, "We were sanctified, we are being sanctified, and one day we will be sanctified." We were washed by the blood, we are daily being washed by the blood (for the new sins we fall for), and one day we will get our final cleansing and be pure and holy forever at the resurrection. Until we reach that final day however, we must strive and work in order not to stumble.
To be richly supplied entry into the kingdom of heaven reminds me of my children:
We recently had basic cable run to our home for the first time in 8 years. We've had a television with DVD and VHS players, but never live TV. Thus, they had never experienced infomercials. Numerous times over the last month the children have run to me so excited about the amazing product they could get for only three easy payments of $60! They have no idea really what the product even is- but they want it!
That is how I feel about this section of Scripture. I really don't understand how a person can be richly supplied entrance into the kingdom of heaven instead of just gaining general admission, but I want it! Don't you? Well, He graciously has supplied the knowledge of how to obtain it:
We are to confirm our calling.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
W.E.I.R.D.
If you don't utilize it already, I'd like to encourage you to use driving time as God time. Don't call anyone, turn off the music or whatever you have playing, and spend the time talking to and listening to God. Think of yourself as being a captive audience.
Yesterday as I was driving, I told God how I feel like a weird person sometimes. OK, most of the time- and I know many of you who will agree. What's so wrong with that? I felt Him prod. What does it mean to be weird? That got me thinking? In what ways should we be weird? When we have a vibrant, fruitful walk with Jesus Christ, we are called to be different. So why not just except being weird. Of course, I had to come up with an acronym, so I will ask of you today:
Are you W.I.E.R.D?
Are you...
Written in the Book of Life
In the same way, the victor will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before My Father and before His angels.
Revelation 3:5
Nothing else you do will matter if you have not surrendered your life to Jesus Christ. It is the first and most important thing, and it always will be. Remember who, and whose, you are.
Involved in the Body of Christ?
1 Corinthians 12, 13, & 14
We are members of a body of believers that can not function well unless all parts of it's body are willing to work. Are you working well in your local body, or do you cause them to seek some pain killers?
So also you - since you are zealous in matters of the spirit, seek to excel in building up the church.
1 Corinthians 14:12
Eternal in Your Perspective?
Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14
For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen; for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18
There is just no adding to that. Either we do it, or we don't.
Reading the Word Regularly
But He answered, "It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."
Matthew 4:4
He sent His word and healed them; He rescued them from the Pit.
Psalm 107:20
We can not know what the Lord is directing us to do if we refuse to listen to the Word that He gave us. We are then no longer w.i.e.r.d.; just odd.
Devoted to the Things of God and Not the Things of Man?
And every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved.
Acts 2:46-47
When we plan out our days and schedules, are we asking God first in order to bless and glorify Him, or are we asking Him to bless what we have decided to glorify in?
Take some time to discern what the Lord is telling you today. You must also ask yourself if you are willing to be weird for Him. If not, you might want to go back and double check your standing on W.
Yesterday as I was driving, I told God how I feel like a weird person sometimes. OK, most of the time- and I know many of you who will agree. What's so wrong with that? I felt Him prod. What does it mean to be weird? That got me thinking? In what ways should we be weird? When we have a vibrant, fruitful walk with Jesus Christ, we are called to be different. So why not just except being weird. Of course, I had to come up with an acronym, so I will ask of you today:
Are you W.I.E.R.D?
Are you...
Written in the Book of Life
In the same way, the victor will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before My Father and before His angels.
Revelation 3:5
Nothing else you do will matter if you have not surrendered your life to Jesus Christ. It is the first and most important thing, and it always will be. Remember who, and whose, you are.
Involved in the Body of Christ?
1 Corinthians 12, 13, & 14
We are members of a body of believers that can not function well unless all parts of it's body are willing to work. Are you working well in your local body, or do you cause them to seek some pain killers?
So also you - since you are zealous in matters of the spirit, seek to excel in building up the church.
1 Corinthians 14:12
Eternal in Your Perspective?
Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14
For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen; for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18
There is just no adding to that. Either we do it, or we don't.
Reading the Word Regularly
But He answered, "It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."
Matthew 4:4
He sent His word and healed them; He rescued them from the Pit.
Psalm 107:20
We can not know what the Lord is directing us to do if we refuse to listen to the Word that He gave us. We are then no longer w.i.e.r.d.; just odd.
Devoted to the Things of God and Not the Things of Man?
And every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved.
Acts 2:46-47
When we plan out our days and schedules, are we asking God first in order to bless and glorify Him, or are we asking Him to bless what we have decided to glorify in?
Take some time to discern what the Lord is telling you today. You must also ask yourself if you are willing to be weird for Him. If not, you might want to go back and double check your standing on W.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Blessed Are: You, When...
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:11-12
Honestly, this verse makes no sense what-so-ever to a non-believer. Perhaps even those who are weak in their faith believe that it's wrong to think this way, yet time and time again we are told to consider difficulties that come because of our belief as a blessing.
Read through the following verses and decide for yourself. Remember though, we are never instructed to comprehend why it's a blessing. We are just told to know that it is.
Matthew 13:20-21 The Parable of the Sower and the Seeds
“And the one sown on the rocky ground – this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. Yet he has no root in himself, but is short lived. When pressure or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he stumbles.”
Romans 5:3-5
“And not only that, but we also rejoice in our affliction, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope does not disappoint, because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
2 Timothy 3:12
“In fact, all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
James 1:2-4
“Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trails, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.”
1 Peter 1:6-7
“You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to be distressed by various trials so that the genuineness of your faith – more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Amen and amen to that! Though I don't understand exactly why, isn't the eternal worth it? I'll end with yet another Scripture I love to cling to:
“Therefore we do not give up; even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So that we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen; for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Matthew 5:11-12
Honestly, this verse makes no sense what-so-ever to a non-believer. Perhaps even those who are weak in their faith believe that it's wrong to think this way, yet time and time again we are told to consider difficulties that come because of our belief as a blessing.
Read through the following verses and decide for yourself. Remember though, we are never instructed to comprehend why it's a blessing. We are just told to know that it is.
Matthew 13:20-21 The Parable of the Sower and the Seeds
“And the one sown on the rocky ground – this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. Yet he has no root in himself, but is short lived. When pressure or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he stumbles.”
Romans 5:3-5
“And not only that, but we also rejoice in our affliction, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope does not disappoint, because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
2 Timothy 3:12
“In fact, all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
James 1:2-4
“Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trails, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.”
1 Peter 1:6-7
“You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to be distressed by various trials so that the genuineness of your faith – more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Amen and amen to that! Though I don't understand exactly why, isn't the eternal worth it? I'll end with yet another Scripture I love to cling to:
“Therefore we do not give up; even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So that we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen; for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
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