When The Door Slams
The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need.
He lets me rest in green pastures. He leads me to calm water. He gives me new strength. He leads me on paths that are right for the good of His name.
Even if I walk through a very dark valley, I will not be afraid, because You are with me. Your rod and Your walking stick comfort me. You prepare a meal for me in front of my enemies. You pour oil on my head; You fill my cup to overflowing. Surely Your goodness and love will be with me all my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 23:3-6
Think about this: The basis of serenity for the believer: trust in God. Even on the verge of Death, David was not afraid that God would abandon him. In fact, David trusted God to remain with him. When anointing someone's head with oil was an ancient tradition to signify honor and blessing. Our cups run over with abundant, undeserved blessings.
The Hebrew word for "goodness" In verse 6 is hesed, implying "Good loyal." God's good loyal love for us results in blessings and continued mercy and forgiveness throughout all the of our lives. We do not needs to fear the shadowing trials in our life, or even death, because the Lord and His blessing are with us.
Trust the Lord with all your heart, and don't depend on your own understanding. Remember the Lord in all you do, and He will give you success. Proverbs 3:5-6
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness. never rest ministries
Sunday, May 31, 2020
Monday, May 25, 2020
Self-Control
When The Door Slams
Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
Proverbs 4:23
How much unnecessary effort and worry do we put into trying to change things that are out of our control? We cannot change other people and this irritated some of us. We can only change ourselves. As you read this you may be feeling as if your life is out of control. Solomon clearly states that we have to exercise self-control in four ways.
We are to control our heart with with all diligence. The heart is more than our mind or emotions; it encompasses our values. We are in control our of character. We are also to be in control of our communication. Not only are we in charge of what we say, we are in control of how we say it. Each of us would be healthier if we would contemplate (think about) before we communicate.We are also in control of what we concentrate on.
Think about this: Do we see the good in people, the opportunity in challenges, and the possibilities, even in pain? Do we look at our world with eyes of faith, or do we view ourselves as victims of fake news? Do we focus on things that are true, noble, wise, pure, lovely, of good report and praiseworthy, or are we critical, condemning, and ill-tempered? The choice is ours.The last thing we can control, according to this passage, is our conduct. We must be responsible for how we act.
Listen: If we focus on the four areas over which we do have control, we will be so busy there won't be any time or energy left to try to change anyone else.
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
Proverbs 4:23
How much unnecessary effort and worry do we put into trying to change things that are out of our control? We cannot change other people and this irritated some of us. We can only change ourselves. As you read this you may be feeling as if your life is out of control. Solomon clearly states that we have to exercise self-control in four ways.
We are to control our heart with with all diligence. The heart is more than our mind or emotions; it encompasses our values. We are in control our of character. We are also to be in control of our communication. Not only are we in charge of what we say, we are in control of how we say it. Each of us would be healthier if we would contemplate (think about) before we communicate.We are also in control of what we concentrate on.
Think about this: Do we see the good in people, the opportunity in challenges, and the possibilities, even in pain? Do we look at our world with eyes of faith, or do we view ourselves as victims of fake news? Do we focus on things that are true, noble, wise, pure, lovely, of good report and praiseworthy, or are we critical, condemning, and ill-tempered? The choice is ours.The last thing we can control, according to this passage, is our conduct. We must be responsible for how we act.
Listen: If we focus on the four areas over which we do have control, we will be so busy there won't be any time or energy left to try to change anyone else.
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Sunday, May 24, 2020
Why Do We Lie to Ourselves
When The Door Slams
Why do you notice notice the little piece of dust in your friend's eye, but you do not consider the big piece of wood in your own eye? How can you say to your friend, 'Let me take that little piece of dust out of your eye? Look at yourself! You still have that big piece of wood in your own eye. You hypocrite! First, take the wood out of your own eye. Then you will see clearly to take the dust out of your friend's eye. Matthew 7:3-5
Defense mechanisms are the ways we lie to ourselves without even knowing that we are doing so. They can cause great emotional pain, and it is important that we understand them as we get older. There are examples and explanations of all forty defense mechanisms in the scriptures.
Think about this: One of the most commonly used defense mechanisms is projection. When you put your hand on an overhead projector, you see a huge hand on the screen, but of course the hand is really on the projector. In the same way, if you lie a lot (from being abused, for example) in your unconscious, then you will project it. You will lie to someone else, but will be blocked from your self-awareness if it is too painful for you to face the truth.
The unconscious anger you have toward yourself for "unclear thinking "will be projected to someone who reminds you of yourself, man or woman and it will be very difficult for you to accept and love that person. A father tends to project on his oldest son and a mother on her oldest daughter. Most teenagers project their own faults onto their parents. The unconditional love and acceptance take so much work in families.
Think: Is there someone who greatly irritates you? Maybe it time to take a hard look at myself. Am I projecting painful or ugly lies inside me onto him or her?
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Why do you notice notice the little piece of dust in your friend's eye, but you do not consider the big piece of wood in your own eye? How can you say to your friend, 'Let me take that little piece of dust out of your eye? Look at yourself! You still have that big piece of wood in your own eye. You hypocrite! First, take the wood out of your own eye. Then you will see clearly to take the dust out of your friend's eye. Matthew 7:3-5
Defense mechanisms are the ways we lie to ourselves without even knowing that we are doing so. They can cause great emotional pain, and it is important that we understand them as we get older. There are examples and explanations of all forty defense mechanisms in the scriptures.
Think about this: One of the most commonly used defense mechanisms is projection. When you put your hand on an overhead projector, you see a huge hand on the screen, but of course the hand is really on the projector. In the same way, if you lie a lot (from being abused, for example) in your unconscious, then you will project it. You will lie to someone else, but will be blocked from your self-awareness if it is too painful for you to face the truth.
The unconscious anger you have toward yourself for "unclear thinking "will be projected to someone who reminds you of yourself, man or woman and it will be very difficult for you to accept and love that person. A father tends to project on his oldest son and a mother on her oldest daughter. Most teenagers project their own faults onto their parents. The unconditional love and acceptance take so much work in families.
Think: Is there someone who greatly irritates you? Maybe it time to take a hard look at myself. Am I projecting painful or ugly lies inside me onto him or her?
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Sunday, May 17, 2020
Twenty-Third Psalm
When The Door Slams
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's safe.
Psalms 23:1-3
Let's look at the first three verses.
The Lord in my shepherd. King David wrote this psalm, and after years of tending sheep as a boy, he observed that the Father's relationship to us is much like a loving, caring shepherd.
I shall not want. The Hebrew word translated want really means "lack." We will not lack anything physically, emotionally, or spiritually that we truly need. God will provide.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. God nourishes us with His Word, the Bible. Without it, we starve spiritually and our behavior and emotions show it.
He restores my soul. Sanctification, restoration is a slow, steady process.
He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. We hardly ever notice when He does it. But He is intimately involved in every second of our lives, making us like Christ.
Think about this: If we are God's sheep, we follow our Shepherd. He provides serenity and renewal to us if we will just drink of the peaceful waters.
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's safe.
Psalms 23:1-3
Let's look at the first three verses.
The Lord in my shepherd. King David wrote this psalm, and after years of tending sheep as a boy, he observed that the Father's relationship to us is much like a loving, caring shepherd.
I shall not want. The Hebrew word translated want really means "lack." We will not lack anything physically, emotionally, or spiritually that we truly need. God will provide.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. God nourishes us with His Word, the Bible. Without it, we starve spiritually and our behavior and emotions show it.
He restores my soul. Sanctification, restoration is a slow, steady process.
He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. We hardly ever notice when He does it. But He is intimately involved in every second of our lives, making us like Christ.
Think about this: If we are God's sheep, we follow our Shepherd. He provides serenity and renewal to us if we will just drink of the peaceful waters.
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Sunday, May 10, 2020
The Great Physician
When The Door Slams
But their scribes and the Pharisees murmured against His disciples, saying, "Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" And Jesus answered and said to them, "Those who are well do not need a physician, But those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."
Luke 5:30-32
Luke was a medical doctor, and he was a wise and godly man. Jesus was called the Great Physician, but unlike Luke, He never attended medical school. He didn't need to. He created all the scientific, medical and physiological rules of the universe we are still discovering today.
Luke was probably delighted when the Holy Spirit inspired him to record Jesus' words in this passage. Jesus message, simply put, was this: those who are physically sick need a physician, and those who are spiritually sick need to repent, change the direction of their lives, and trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Think about this: If you have a brain tumor, request prayer, but go see the most qualified neurosurgeon you can find. If you have an emotional disorder, request prayer, but find the best Christian psychiatrist you can. If you have a spiritual problem, request prayer, then seek wise counsel from your pastor, a godly friend, a Christian therapist, or whoever can assist you in applying the truth of God's Word to your life.
There are extremists who say we don't need medical doctors or psychiatrists, and there are those at the other end of extreme saying there is no such thing as spiritual problem-The Bible has a balanced answer.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shum evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Prov. 3:5-8.
Ask the Spirit to search your and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and think Him for His forgiveness.
But their scribes and the Pharisees murmured against His disciples, saying, "Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" And Jesus answered and said to them, "Those who are well do not need a physician, But those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."
Luke 5:30-32
Luke was a medical doctor, and he was a wise and godly man. Jesus was called the Great Physician, but unlike Luke, He never attended medical school. He didn't need to. He created all the scientific, medical and physiological rules of the universe we are still discovering today.
Luke was probably delighted when the Holy Spirit inspired him to record Jesus' words in this passage. Jesus message, simply put, was this: those who are physically sick need a physician, and those who are spiritually sick need to repent, change the direction of their lives, and trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Think about this: If you have a brain tumor, request prayer, but go see the most qualified neurosurgeon you can find. If you have an emotional disorder, request prayer, but find the best Christian psychiatrist you can. If you have a spiritual problem, request prayer, then seek wise counsel from your pastor, a godly friend, a Christian therapist, or whoever can assist you in applying the truth of God's Word to your life.
There are extremists who say we don't need medical doctors or psychiatrists, and there are those at the other end of extreme saying there is no such thing as spiritual problem-The Bible has a balanced answer.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shum evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Prov. 3:5-8.
Ask the Spirit to search your and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and think Him for His forgiveness.
Saturday, May 2, 2020
When The Bottom Falls Out
When The Door Slams
Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, For I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have enlarged; Oh, bring me out of my distressed! Look on my suffering and my pain, And forgive all my sins.
Psalm 25:16-18
What do you do when the bottom falls out of your world? Some people get busier, Some get depressed and sleep to escape. Others try to gain relief from the pain by using drugs or alcohol. Still some just pray. You will often hear people making fun of someone who prays saying he or she must be weak to pray.
Think about this: In the Book of Psalm, David did not fit into this category. He had confidence and charisma. He was a leader. He had served as King of the nation Israel, and he was well liked and appreciated. On the other hand, David did experience psychological difficulty. He felt he was alone and desolate. He was aware of his failures and sins, and felt distant from God. He pleaded with God.
David was in psychological, physical and spiritual pain. His negative thoughts grew out of proportion. In all of his pain and self-pity, David cried out to God. It is no disgrace to be hurting and to call on God for help. If King David could ask God to grant him relief from pain, so can we.
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal and areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Lord, grant me the courage to face whatever life holds, and grant me the wisdom and humility to call on You for help.
Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, For I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have enlarged; Oh, bring me out of my distressed! Look on my suffering and my pain, And forgive all my sins.
Psalm 25:16-18
What do you do when the bottom falls out of your world? Some people get busier, Some get depressed and sleep to escape. Others try to gain relief from the pain by using drugs or alcohol. Still some just pray. You will often hear people making fun of someone who prays saying he or she must be weak to pray.
Think about this: In the Book of Psalm, David did not fit into this category. He had confidence and charisma. He was a leader. He had served as King of the nation Israel, and he was well liked and appreciated. On the other hand, David did experience psychological difficulty. He felt he was alone and desolate. He was aware of his failures and sins, and felt distant from God. He pleaded with God.
David was in psychological, physical and spiritual pain. His negative thoughts grew out of proportion. In all of his pain and self-pity, David cried out to God. It is no disgrace to be hurting and to call on God for help. If King David could ask God to grant him relief from pain, so can we.
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal and areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Lord, grant me the courage to face whatever life holds, and grant me the wisdom and humility to call on You for help.
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