Jealousy in the Kingdom?

Day 3
31 Reasons To Praise by Melanie can be purchase at www.itsmelanielee.com

I have ALL the Spiritual Blessings
-Ephesians 1:3

As I read the devotion there was one thing that JUMPED out at me. “EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING” – then I remembered something that I questioned; why is there so much competition in the church? Why is there jealousy in the church, God? And in an instant the answer was clear!!

People are seeking the same “Spiritual Blessing” – but I think there is a lack of WISDOM in knowing that we are all on the same level playing field. None of us is so special to be more worthy than another. Not one of us is “UNWORTHY” of any blessing – but we are given this “GIFT” because of the precious blood that was shed by the Lamb of God who died so that we ALL have the right to “EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING”

If you read further Ephesians 4:11 – 13 MSG
..He handed out gifts above and below, filled heaven with his gifts, filled earth with his gifts. He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ’s followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ’s body, the church, until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.

We each have our own calling. When we each focus on what God has called us to do – which is clearly listed in the above scripture, we will have no need to envy another. Unless we are guilt-ridden because we are not running our own race and desire the race of another. The other rational is a person is comparing “temporal blessings” – which are not guaranteed…and for me, that is were I would say; FAVOR AIN’T FAIR.

Broken Crayons Still Color On Purpose – All of us come to God with a zero. And God comes to us with a ten, and He gives us everything we could ever possibly dream of in His Son Jesus Christ.

Day 3 of 31 Reasons to Praise

Thank you, Melanie N. Lee

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Fight for what matters…

How do you make the better choice of living with one handful? You fight for what does matter. Paul tells Timothy in 1 Timothy 6 to flee from the love of money and possessions and instead pursue such simple things as righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.

Nehemiah 4

14And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”

instill a desire for His presence…

As you strive to live with an ongoing, unending awareness of God’s presence, instill a desire for His presence just in the way that David desires to dwell in God’s presence in Psalms 62 and 27.

Psalms 27

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;whom shall I fear?The Lord is the stronghold of my life;of whom shall I be afraid?2When evildoers assail meto eat up my flesh,my adversaries and foes,it is they who stumble and fall.3 Though an army encamp against me,my heart shall not fear;though war arise against me,yet I will be confident.4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,that will I seek after:that I may dwell in the house of the Lordall the days of my life,to gaze upon the beauty of the Lordand to inquire in his temple.5 For he will hide me in his shelterin the day of trouble;he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;he will lift me high upon a rock.6 And now my head shall be lifted upabove my enemies all around me,and I will offer in his tentsacrifices with shouts of joy;I will sing and make melody to the Lord.7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;be gracious to me and answer me!8 You have said, “Seek my face.”My heart says to you,“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”9 Hide not your face from me.Turn not your servant away in anger,O you who have been my help.Cast me not off; forsake me not,O God of my salvation!10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me,but the Lord will take me in.11 Teach me your way, O Lord,and lead me on a level pathbecause of my enemies.12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;for false witnesses have risen against me,and they breathe out violence.13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lordin the land of the living!14 Wait for the Lord;be strong, and let your heart take courage;wait for the Lord!

The Agony And The Ecstasy

The cross and crown. No, that’s not the name of an English pub; it’s a pair of biblical symbols that is often used in church architecture and design, the one overlaid upon the other. It describes the two phases of the saving work of Jesus Christ–that he suffered death on a cross so that he might receive the crown of heaven as King of kings and Lord of lords.

Those two symbols are also metaphors for two phases of your life. Jesus invites all of his followers to pick up their own crosses and follow him, but he promises a place in his throne room to all who hold fast to him in faith and refuse to let sin, Satan, hardship, or loss induce them to throw away their treasure: “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Those who overcome I will make pillars in the temple of my God” (Revelation 3:11,12).

What is your cross? Anything you suffer or give up or have taken from you because you are a Christian. Anything it costs you to follow Jesus–friends, money, position, perks, rank, status, or advantages. What is the crown Jesus promises? His holiness upon your head like an aura; status as prince or princess in the heavenly courts; a position at his side as he judges and rules the world; an everlasting relationship with him and all the saints.

I Have Trouble Being Happy

As life goes on, sometimes it drags on, doesn’t it? Our gait slows, our heads droop. Saggy faces see only the ground, the dust, the litter, and garbage. When we look and think only about our own little worlds, the ones we’ve constructed, our lives can seem small and cramped and brittle. Things break. People let us down. Things we’ve woven unravel. Things we’ve built soften and erode like sand castles at the beach.

“Lift up your heads,” the Bible tells us. See things from God’s point of view, God’s intent, God’s design. See where you fit in both in this world and the next: “[God] has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

The poorest person in the world can enjoy a fiery sunset for free–how long has it been since you sat still and just gawked at God’s celestial paintbrush? or got out of town and stood in silent wonder beneath the stars on a cloudless night? or watched the surf ceaselessly smash into a rocky coastline?

Even better–how long has it been since you savored the Bible’s descriptions of how beautiful heaven will be? God put eternity in your heart for a reason.

Cost vs. Price

Matthew 20:8 ~ “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’

Do you ever witness some pretty crappy people receiving some pretty hefty blessings and think: “man that just doesn’t seem right?”  I know I do and I see some horrible things happen to the greatest people ever. I don’t have a clear answer but I know counting someone else’s blessings and judging their worthiness to receive them is not our job. Whenever we begin to compare ourselves to others we will always fall short. That thinking is a distraction and is often comparing apples to oranges. Find the greatness in your own fruit. Our walks, experiences… there is promise and purpose and you may just miss yours caught up in what the Joneses got going on. And don’t forget some people are selling their souls for their gain, is it worth your soul? ‪#‎truestory‬

In simple terms…Price is the amount a customer pays for that product or service. The difference between the price that is paid and the cost that is incurred is the profit the business makes when the item sells. If a customer pays $10 for an item that costs the company $5 to produce and sell, the company makes a $5 profit (none of my business.)

Matthew 16:26 (ASV) For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life?

Think about it…Pray this prayer with me:

Precious Father, Lord Jesus, Wonderful Holy Spirit,
May all my labors for you be done to bless your name and glorify you before the world.
May my times of poverty be embraced as a time for you to teach me about giving thanks and humility during in my poverty.  May my times of plenty be embraced by me as a time for you to teach me about giving thanks and humility in my plenty.  In the name of God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit who lives within me and touches me,
Amen!!

Written by: Cybill

Protecting my soul…OnPurpose!

 

…Pursuing Me…

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Psalm 23:6, NKJ)

As a believer in Jesus, did you know that goodness and mercy are following you? God´s grace and favor are chasing you down! But if you live with a cloud of condemnation over you, if you surround yourself with negativity, then you are putting a barrier between yourself and the blessings of God.

So many believers today miss out on what God has in store for them because they live like they´ve got a dark cloud over their heads. They´re always talking doom and gloom, living in condemnation. But when you open your heart to receive what God has for you, that cloud is lifted and all that´s left is His goodness and mercy!

Instead of living in guilt and shame, God desires that you walk in His love and forgiveness. Make the decision today to let go of condemnation, let go of the past through forgiveness, let go of self-defeating behaviors, and embrace His goodness and mercy! Let His favor surround you like a shield so you can live the life of victory He has in store for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father in heaven, I humbly come to You today asking that You remove anything in my heart that would keep me from You. Give me a heart of forgiveness so that I can move forward into all You have for me. In Jesus´ Name. Amen!!

Written by: The “Butterfly”

Living a life of victory…OnPurpose!

All things made NEW…

Ezekiel 36:26 “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

I am a woman of God born into sin and I sin – we all do!  But thank God for the Blood of Jesus!  Jesus died on the cross so that we can be free for the bondage of sin.  Going to church doesn’t save you.  Doing “good works” does not save you.  Just talking about it does not save you.  True repentance and reconciliation is what is required – Confess & Believe read Romans 10:9

2 Corinthians 5:16 – 18

16) So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17) Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold,the new has come! 18) All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:…

Vs. 16 is about our outward exterior Vs. 17 is about being brand new in our heart and mind Vs. 18 is all about Jesus died on the cross therefore we are afforded this gift.  It’s about the SPIRITUAL CHANGE and not so much a physical change.

Don’t look at my flesh…I am carnal.  Only God really knows.  Don’t look in the mirror…measuring up is not part of the package!  You must received this gift by FAITH.  My faith is what I have to offer…not works of “good deeds.”

Today, I will stop regarding myself by my flesh, my attitude and my works – it is all about my HEART!  My heart is made new every morning because my Savior Jesus Christ lives in my heart.

Do you have a personal relationship with Him?  Do you want one?

Pray this prayer aloud with me:

I confess with my mouth that You, Jesus, are Lord, the Ruler over all. You are the Christ, the Son of God. I believe in my heart that God raised You from the dead and You are alive forevermore, seated on Your throne in heaven next to the Father. The heavenly hosts worship before Your throne. I believe Your blood that was shed on the cross washes away all my sin. I receive You as my personal Lord, King and Commander. I invite You into my life as the Lord and Ruler of my life. I no longer choose to be in charge of my life. I give it to You. I invite You, Jesus, to have first place in my heart and my life. I ask for Your cleansing blood that was shed on the cross to come now and wash down over all my sins. Come make me clean. Restore me to a right relationship as a child of my heavenly Father.Thank You, Lord, for Your cleansing blood! I stand clean and white in Your presence. I put on Your robe of righteousness which You are handing to me. Thank You, Lord. Holy Spirit, I welcome You into my heart, my soul and my body. Come, enter me now. Take up residence within me. Be the Source of power in my life. Be the Source of my life. I choose to live and walk by Your leading within. I acknowledge You as the River which flows from the throne of God, and is now flowing within my heart (Jn. 7:37-39). Come flow within me. I want to sense Your flow within, and live out of Your flow for the rest of my life. Give life to me now, I pray in Jesus’ name. I receive the Holy Spirit. I receive the River of Life. I receive You, Lord Jesus. You are my all and my everything. Thank You, Lord, for saving a sinner such as I was and now equipping me with Your empowering Holy Spirit. What amazing gifts You have given to me!

Now wait quietly in His presence: See the light and energy of the Holy Spirit swirling around within you, changing you, transforming you, enlightening you, empowering you. Is He speaking something to you? Tune to His voice, which is flowing thoughts, and hear what He is saying to you. Respond with, “Yes, Sir.” as He is giving you your very first instructions as your new-found Commander and Friend.

Written by: The “Butterfly”

Being Made New…OnPurpose!

Pressure reveals ALL!

Pressure tell’s the real story!

Jame 1: 3-13 (MSG) ~ 3 You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. 4 So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. 5 If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. 6 Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. 7 Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, 8 adrift at sea, keeping all your options open. 9 When down-and-outers get a break, cheer! 10 And when the arrogant rich are brought down to size, cheer! Prosperity is as short-lived as a wildflower, so don’t ever count on it. 11 You know that as soon as the sun rises, pouring down its scorching heat, the flower withers. Its petals wilt and, before you know it, that beautiful face is a barren stem. Well, that’s a picture of the “prosperous life.” At the very moment everyone is looking on in admiration, it fades away to nothing. 12 Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life. 13 Don’t let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, “God is trying to trip me up.” God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one’s way.

Pressure makes you who you are. It is how you decide and manage to deal with issues and problems that builds your character and turns you into a leader or superior being amongst the human population. Darwin’s theory of the “Survival Of The Fittest“, clearly favors those who can deal with the pressures that life imposes on them.

The word of God gives us a way to deal with the pressures of life: James 1:5 – If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get His help and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. 

I watched a young man lose his cool over a game last night.  As I listened to him rant, I couldn’t help but see him as an employer, employee, parent, leader or mate.  It made me think about how I publicly handle situations I’m unhappy about.  How am I coming accross with people when I am under pressure?  It made me take notice of myself.  Do I want to represent myself in that manner?  Do I want to represent God in that manner?  Not to mention…it is just a game, it is not life threatening?  Is it worth the pain and pressure of being angry?  I remember when raising my son I would offer him a count down to rectify a situations – it did two things…1) I had a chance to calm down and not overreact & 2) I taught him about grace and self control.  I think I will start to use that method again with everyone – I will call it: reflective positioning …counting to 10 when under pressure and asking God to help me in “that” moment.  If you decied to try it too…comment and let me know how it worked for you.  I want to be better than the day before!

Embrace pressure, take in change and keep your head up because you will either be a piece of broken coal or a diamond at the end of all that pressure!

Pray this prayer with me:

Most Precious Lord Jesus…
Gentle And Wonderful God…
Truly Awesome And Ever-present Holy Spirit…
When every ounce of my soul wants me to survive for myself, let me think of you.
When the pressure and distress of my life pushes out my thoughts for others and for you, let me count your blessings in my life.
When the distress of my life grows so great I think I will crumble, be over me, under me, and all around me.
When my sin of selfishness punishes me with fear, doubt, insecurity, and a total separation from your love, let me kneel before your suffering endured for me on the cross of Calvary.
May all I say, think, and do be a blessing to you and to your call upon my heart.
All these things I humbly pray in the name of my most Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, my Mighty God, and my Ever-present Holy Spirit upon whom I can rely.
Amen!!!

Written by: The “Butterfly”

Being Better…OnPurpose!

 

The reading of my WILL

Luke 22:42b “…Yet I want Your will to be done, Lord, not mine.”

I will – not lament about impediments, barriers, morons at the helm and lack of time.
I will – not get hung up on details.
I will – not allow pessimists, doomsayers and curmudgeons near me. (They will suck the life out of you.)
I will – not procrastinate.
I will – not being in love with methodology, processes and tools. (I will Challenge myself instead.)
I will – not censor my ideas.
I will – not tell people how to do their job. (Instead, set my own expectations to acheive next level results.)
I will – not punish myself for mistakes, unless they are a result of laziness or overt sloppiness.
I will – not limit myself with arbitrary timelines, goals and beliefs.
I WILL – EXCEED MY OWN EPECTATIONS!!

Colossians 1

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2 To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,

4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people—

5 the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel

6 that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.

7 You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,

8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,

10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,

12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.

13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,

14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

In Jesus’ name AMEN

I WILL…OnPurpose

Written by: Michelle