2 Peter 1:3-11 (NIV)
3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Consider this again....
2 Peter 1:3-11 (The Message)
3Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! 4We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you--your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust.
5So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, 6alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, 7warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. 8With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. 9Without these qualities you can't see what's right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.
10So, friends, confirm God's invitation to you, his choice of you. Don't put it off; do it now. Do this, and you'll have your life on a firm footing, 11the streets paved and the way wide open into the eternal kingdom of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Just for fun, reconsider this again...
2 Peter 1:3-11 (The Amplified Bible)
3For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [[a]full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue).
4By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape [by flight] from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature.
5For this very reason, [b]adding your diligence [to the divine promises], employ every effort in [c]exercising your faith to develop virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian energy), and in [exercising] virtue [develop] knowledge (intelligence),
6And in [exercising] knowledge [develop] self-control, and in [exercising] self-control [develop] steadfastness (patience, endurance), and in [exercising] steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety),
7And in [exercising] godliness [develop] brotherly affection, and in [exercising] brotherly affection [develop] Christian love.
8For as these qualities are yours and increasingly abound in you, they will keep [you] from being idle or unfruitful unto the [[d]full personal] knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
9For whoever lacks these qualities is blind, [[e]spiritually] shortsighted, [f]seeing only what is near to him, and has become oblivious [to the fact] that he was cleansed from his old sins.
10Because of this, brethren, be all the more solicitous and eager to make sure (to ratify, to strengthen, to make steadfast) your calling and election; for if you do this, you will never stumble or fall.
11Thus there will be richly and abundantly provided for you entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
What ya' thinkin?
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Little and Big
Luke 16:10
“Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won’t be faithful in large ones. If you cheat even a little you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. (NLT)
Interesting scripture, it says much about character. First, understand that faithfulness is not determined by the amount entrusted but by the character of the person who uses it.
It also is about my character when no one sees….So, what do I look like when “no one’s” watching. It might be helpful to remember GOD is always with me….yikes!
I had a wonderful discussion with a friend of mine last night. We talked about the various translations and some of the controversy over them. I explained, for me, it really didn’t matter as I have been in the process of rewording scriptures to make them more personal…and at times, a bit too close to the truth, if you know what I mean….
So, as we chatted, I explained what a “gap analysis” is in business:
You set a goal or describe the “ideal” model for a company, a process, a product, a job…then you take a “snapshot” of how things are today. The difference between the present state and the desired state is the “gap” that needs to be focused on. Let me try to explain how this may work in our walk…
Look again at the Scripture:
Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won’t be faithful in large ones. If you cheat even a little you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.
So in my revision/gap analysis, I take the same verse(s) and replace the “you” with my name or “I”…
Unless “I” am faithful in small matters, “I” won’t be faithful in large ones. If “I” cheat even a little “I” won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.
This rocks my world.
Imagine you are a world-renowned sports star…lets say in basketball. Well, while the world watches you slam-dunk them in the finals and win it big in the final seconds of the final game in the final period…how did you get there?
If you had opted out on practices, given less than “your all”; had you taken shortcuts and decided not to push yourself hard and not seek good teachers (God’s the best) and not been around others seeking similar goals…..where would you be?
So, how did you get there?
Simply by being faithful in the small matters and by not cheating alittle when “no one” was watching…..Taking every opportunity, every, trial, every difficulty and trying to work out our faithfulness, our issues, our shortcomings, our sin so that we will become a person of faithfulness, honest, integrity, of CHARACTER when it comes to the really BIG MOMENTS….when everyone is watching…and it’s a do or die, hit or miss, chance in a lifetime moment.
How you handle the big things will be a reflection of how you handled the little things.
“Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won’t be faithful in large ones. If you cheat even a little you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. (NLT)
Interesting scripture, it says much about character. First, understand that faithfulness is not determined by the amount entrusted but by the character of the person who uses it.
It also is about my character when no one sees….So, what do I look like when “no one’s” watching. It might be helpful to remember GOD is always with me….yikes!
I had a wonderful discussion with a friend of mine last night. We talked about the various translations and some of the controversy over them. I explained, for me, it really didn’t matter as I have been in the process of rewording scriptures to make them more personal…and at times, a bit too close to the truth, if you know what I mean….
So, as we chatted, I explained what a “gap analysis” is in business:
You set a goal or describe the “ideal” model for a company, a process, a product, a job…then you take a “snapshot” of how things are today. The difference between the present state and the desired state is the “gap” that needs to be focused on. Let me try to explain how this may work in our walk…
Look again at the Scripture:
Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won’t be faithful in large ones. If you cheat even a little you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.
So in my revision/gap analysis, I take the same verse(s) and replace the “you” with my name or “I”…
Unless “I” am faithful in small matters, “I” won’t be faithful in large ones. If “I” cheat even a little “I” won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.
This rocks my world.
Imagine you are a world-renowned sports star…lets say in basketball. Well, while the world watches you slam-dunk them in the finals and win it big in the final seconds of the final game in the final period…how did you get there?
If you had opted out on practices, given less than “your all”; had you taken shortcuts and decided not to push yourself hard and not seek good teachers (God’s the best) and not been around others seeking similar goals…..where would you be?
So, how did you get there?
Simply by being faithful in the small matters and by not cheating alittle when “no one” was watching…..Taking every opportunity, every, trial, every difficulty and trying to work out our faithfulness, our issues, our shortcomings, our sin so that we will become a person of faithfulness, honest, integrity, of CHARACTER when it comes to the really BIG MOMENTS….when everyone is watching…and it’s a do or die, hit or miss, chance in a lifetime moment.
How you handle the big things will be a reflection of how you handled the little things.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
God Requires
Micah 6:8
No, O people, the LORD has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
How often I fall short of this simple sentence….
What DOES it take to do what is right? That is….doing what is right, all the time.
How DOES one maintain an attitude in all circumstances that loves mercy?
What DOES it take to walk humbly with my God? What does this even look like?
Any suggestions or comments?
No, O people, the LORD has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
How often I fall short of this simple sentence….
What DOES it take to do what is right? That is….doing what is right, all the time.
How DOES one maintain an attitude in all circumstances that loves mercy?
What DOES it take to walk humbly with my God? What does this even look like?
Any suggestions or comments?
Monday, March 06, 2006
The Job I Love Doing and Loving the Job I’m Doing
Hmmm, is there much of a difference in the following two statements: “the job I love doing”, and “loving the job I’m doing”?
I believe there is a significant difference in these seemingly similar statements. Let me explain….
The Job I Love Doing
The job I love doing is, in my eyes, being able to do something that gives ME pleasure, fulfillment, satisfaction. It is truly “I” centered (this is regardless of how beneficial it is to others). I choose the role, job position, career, and/or vocation that gives me such positive reinforcements and such.
When I am at the job/tasks that I love doing it shows, I’m “in the zone” and utilizing the giftings and talents I have to the best of my abilities and in a very true sense, it is easy, and it is fun!
If I loved to fish, than perhaps a vocation as a fisherman in Alaska or somewhere would fall in this category. Sure, the job has it’s difficulties and dangers but perhaps such things also are part of the pleasure and “fun” that I dig.
On the other-side of this then, would be understanding when I’m in a job I don’t love or that I hate....all those good feelings are gone and I’m definitely out of kilter. Sounds okay so far? If I am someone who dislikes math (okay, I HATE math), then if I were to chose a job as an accountant or auditor or similar, we could only imagine how I would behave and the manners I would express. I’d be miserable and I’d probably bring others down with me.
Loving the Job I’m Doing
So what does this look like? Regardless of my personal preference or natural talent for a job, I do whatever is before me with a heart toward accomplishing it to the best of my ability AND with the best of attitudes. Not an easy thing, and there are times when doing such a task we want this “cup of suffering” to pass from us (now, by no means am I trying to trvialize what Christ felt in the garden or what He accomplished for us on the cross….).
To be Christ-like (Christian) we need to follow up such dreadful work sediments with, “not my will, but Your will be done”. And follow on that with the heartfelt and externally expressed understanding that we do not work for “man” but we are to work at all things as if we are serving God.
Also reflect on those times when we were called to do something (by our own needs or at the instruction of others) that we disliked, yet either over time, we got better at doing it, or the outcome was so good and pleasing, the struggle and “pain” was worth it.
So the next time I find myself hating the job I’m doing, I’ll need to read this again, send out a “breath prayer” and recognize the need to love the job I’m doing because the job I love doing is pleasing God.
I believe there is a significant difference in these seemingly similar statements. Let me explain….
The Job I Love Doing
The job I love doing is, in my eyes, being able to do something that gives ME pleasure, fulfillment, satisfaction. It is truly “I” centered (this is regardless of how beneficial it is to others). I choose the role, job position, career, and/or vocation that gives me such positive reinforcements and such.
When I am at the job/tasks that I love doing it shows, I’m “in the zone” and utilizing the giftings and talents I have to the best of my abilities and in a very true sense, it is easy, and it is fun!
If I loved to fish, than perhaps a vocation as a fisherman in Alaska or somewhere would fall in this category. Sure, the job has it’s difficulties and dangers but perhaps such things also are part of the pleasure and “fun” that I dig.
On the other-side of this then, would be understanding when I’m in a job I don’t love or that I hate....all those good feelings are gone and I’m definitely out of kilter. Sounds okay so far? If I am someone who dislikes math (okay, I HATE math), then if I were to chose a job as an accountant or auditor or similar, we could only imagine how I would behave and the manners I would express. I’d be miserable and I’d probably bring others down with me.
Loving the Job I’m Doing
So what does this look like? Regardless of my personal preference or natural talent for a job, I do whatever is before me with a heart toward accomplishing it to the best of my ability AND with the best of attitudes. Not an easy thing, and there are times when doing such a task we want this “cup of suffering” to pass from us (now, by no means am I trying to trvialize what Christ felt in the garden or what He accomplished for us on the cross….).
To be Christ-like (Christian) we need to follow up such dreadful work sediments with, “not my will, but Your will be done”. And follow on that with the heartfelt and externally expressed understanding that we do not work for “man” but we are to work at all things as if we are serving God.
Also reflect on those times when we were called to do something (by our own needs or at the instruction of others) that we disliked, yet either over time, we got better at doing it, or the outcome was so good and pleasing, the struggle and “pain” was worth it.
So the next time I find myself hating the job I’m doing, I’ll need to read this again, send out a “breath prayer” and recognize the need to love the job I’m doing because the job I love doing is pleasing God.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)