Obsessed With Being Busy

American culture values busyness. Your sought after. Needed. in demand. you’ve got better things to do. After all, you are important. Busyness indicates a high social status.

In 2016 Harvard business review did a study on “Why Americans are so impressed with busyness.” According to the research, those who use online grocery shopping and delivery service are perceived as having a higher social status than those of us old-fashioned consumers who just go to the store.

What does Alder say? If you want to be relevant, you’d better get busy…or at least act like it.

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus warns about busyness after talking about His kingdom and when you will come in all it’s fullness. The Pharisees wanted to know when this would be. Instead of giving an exact time, Jesus warns them to be ready, who stand on guard, and to be alert.

Jesus said people in the days of Noah were “eating, drinking, marrying, and being given in marriage.” each of these verbs is found in an imperfect tense, which denotes action that is in progress. It emphasizes going here and they’re rushing back-and-forth. Busyness.

None of these activities Jesus listed as going on in Noah’s day are simple in and of them selves. Yet, the people of Noah’s day became so occupied with these every day things that they failed to hear Noah’s warning’s about the coming of judgement.And they perished- while being busy.

Is it possible to Jesus is telling us the busyness and cause you to miss out on His kingdom? when we are busy with life, our thoughts can be disengaged from the Lord. Between friends, work, school, and family, we might stop contemplating the kingdom of God. We vow that we’ll think about it again when things slow down. But life keeps us busier.

Sobering, isn’t it?

What’s really imperative is that we keep our focus on the kingdom of God and take Jesus’s plea to follow him seriously. If you’re obsessed with being busy, today is a good day to slow down and make God your priority.

Satan loves to keep us running in circles and trying to beat the clock. If he can distract us, he can minimize our time with God. That’s exactly what he wants.

Comfort

3 Bible Tips For Comfort

And a sad, discouraging and dangerous world, we all can use some comfort.

1. God, our loving and protective shepherd, comforts us

“Yea, Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me;, your rod and your staff they comfort me.” -Psalm 23:4

.2. God gives us comfort through the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit

“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning. That we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one accord glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” -Romans 15:4-6; Acts 9:31

3. God comforts us so we will learn to comfort others

“Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of mercy and God of all comfort, who comforts us all in our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves were comforted by God.“ – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Driving Out Darkness

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” -Martin Luther King Jr.

Hate multiplied hate adding deeper darkness, violence Multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness and leads to adescending spiral of destruction.

When Jesus says “love your enemies,“ he is setting forth a profound ultimately inescapable admonition. Have we not come to such an impasse in the modern world that we must love our enemies – or else? The chain reaction of evil-hate begetting hate wars producing wars must be broken or we will plunge into the dark abyss of annihilation.

The idea of love, true Agape love )love that knows no boundaries and is selfless and unconditional). You might be thinking, “Okay great advice, I see quoteslike that all the time on social media.” But the context And atmosphere in which the entire thing is what makes it so unique.

We’ve all heard love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But Matthew 5:43-44 tells us love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

It would have been easy for Dr. King to adopt hate and preach war, but he followed the example set by Jesus, to love your neighbor, no matter who they are and what they do. Hate breeds hate but like it says in Proverbs 25:21-22:

If you see your enemy hungry, go buy them lunch; if he’s thirsty bring him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him into goodness, and God will look after you.

Proverbs 25:21-22 (MSG)

Light overcomes darkness – every time, and love drives away hate – every time.

In our own lives, we often want to meet anger with anger, instead of reacting in a negative way, what is a proactive step we can take to meet anger with love and kindness and gentleness. If you’re a Republican, how can you love a democrat? How can you love someone with a different ethnic background? How can you love that person at work who is always getting on your nerves? How can you love that neighbor or that negative relative who you can’t seem to see eye to eye with?

We’re going to have differences with each other, we weren’t made to be the theme (which is a wonderful thing!), but we have a unique opportunity through Christ to love anyway.

When we have darkness inside of us we cannot help but spread darkness. When we have a like inside of us we can spread light.

Next time you meet with someone who don’t have the same views as you try spreading the light instead of darkness. And you will see the difference.

Sinking Sand Or Solid Rock?

There once were two men, one each needed to build a house.

The first man was a foolish man he chose to build on the sandy soil where it was easy to access and easy to dig the foundation. And a few short weeks he had almost finished.

The second man with a white man, and he chose to build his house on a rocky hill, where it was very hard to access and he had to dig deep into the foundation. He spent many months doing building his house.

As time passed a huge storm broke upon the houses and these men. After the rain, a flood switch to the valley and a man’s house that was built in the sand was swept away. But the second then who is built on a rocky hill with say. No matter how hard the rain or the fierce floods were his house remained solid and unmovable.

Parable in the Bible is about a foolish man and a wise man.

So let’s ask ourselves the question. What’s the foundation of life? Are we like the foolish man who builds our lives out of sand?

In Matthew 7:24-27 the Bible says:

That you said and what I have right now everyone who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will like and him as a wise man, who builds itself on a rock.The rain came down, the floods came, the wind blew, and beat on that house, and he did not fall, or it was founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand. The rain came down, the floods came, and the wind blew, and beat on that house; and it fell-and great was its fall.

Matthew 7:24-27

Jesus said that whoever heard these words and obeyed them, would be like a wise man who built on a rock. And that house could never be torn down nor could it be moved.

But if we only hear the wonderful words of Jesus and yet still go on our way and don’t do what He says, then we are like the foolish man who built his house on the sand just think about that, who would want to build a house on a Sandune? It sounds very foolish doesn’t it?

Perhaps a foolish man thought it was safe? His house was standing to start with it and it was cozy and warm inside, everything was going just fine. But when the floods came he had no hope. His house fell flat, and great was the fall of it.

How about our lives? When Satan brings Temptations in trial she works it may feel like we are being battered by a flood?. The Bible refers to the enemy coming like a flood:

When the enemy shall come like a flood…

Isaiah 59:19

And perhaps you’ve found yourself standing on the sand before. And when the temptation or trial comes in, you fall flat like the foolish man. But don’t be discouraged, that she used to be like the white man who listens to a Jesus so good in the Bible and does what he says.

And when we listen and obey Jesus what rock are we building our lives on?

My rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust,

Psalm 18:2

For no one can weigh any other foundation than that which God has been made which is in Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:11

Jesus is our Rock! He is the firm foundation that we can build our lives upon. And if we obey Jesus, and everything He tells us in his word, the Bible, we have assurance that no matter what flood beats upon us, no matter how fierce the storms of this life may get it we will never fall and we will never be moved.

God wants us to build securely upon the eternal Rock,, the word of God. We have been only yours long enough. There is now but important lessons of Christ into practice. He who is in here and not a doer of the word, Christ compared to that of a foolish man who build his house upon the sand, it only needs a storm and the foundation they secured and swept away.

How great is the loss of the souls! They might have had eternal life – a life that measures with the life of God -had they build their house on a firm foundation.

The Strength Of God

There’s a story of a runaway with no way home and no way out. I threw the best of me away. I had my chance, it’s too late now. Too far gone and too ashamed to think that you would still know my name. But, love refused to let my story end that way. You didn’t wait for me find myself to you. I couldn’t cross that distance even if I want to. You came running after me when anybody else would have turned and left me at my worst. Love moved first. What kind of grace, relentless grace would chase this rebel down. Crawl into this prisoner’s cage, take my hand and pull me out. You knew I couldn’t make the change-so you became the change in me and now I live to tell the story of the God who rescues. -Love Came First.

I didn’t write these words, but O how true they are for me, When you’ve hit rock bottom and have no where else to turn. God is always there to pull us out. Where would we be without His strength.

There’s A big difference between God’s strength and humans strength, and you will never make it by depending on human strength alone. The Lord is the one who will stand with us and strengthen us as we carry His rescue story to the world. We must depend on His strength. Friends and Family may forsake us, and others may fight against us; but we must know where our true strength lies.

So What does the word “strength” mean? First of all, it is the quality of being strong. Second, it’s power that comes from influence, it will give to greater strength. Third, it’s power that comes from authority, and God must be your authority. Then you can use that authority on the devil and trample him underfoot. Fourth, strength is power that comes from resources, and God must be your source of supply, if your going to make it to the end.

We must depend on God’s strength because humans strength runs out to quickly. Human strength rely on the things of the earth- food, sleep, exercise,water, sunshine,and so forth. But those things are not enough to make us strong in the Lord.

You must have and use divine strength of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost; it is never in short supply.

Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit (the Spirit of the Living God), Saith the Lord of Hosts.

Zechariah 4:6

When you depend on God‘s strength, it strengthens the whole person – soul, mind and body.

Paul Used God’s Strength

The apostle Paul knew exactly where his strength came from. He said:

At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me; I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthenEd me; that by my the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion (meaning out of the devils hands and his powers of evil).

Timothy 4:16-17

God delivered Paul from all his persecutors. They fought the Gospel, and they are in hell today.

Paul knew that God had called him to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles, and we must know that God has also called us to take up the Gospel to the world. If we depend on God’s strength, we will know as Paul did that God will stand with us and strengthen us all the way.

Paul would have never made it without depending on God strength because he endured more trials and more persecution than any other apostle, yet he never failed. He set himself apart from those who only claim to preach the Gospel saying:

Are they ministers of Christ? (And I speak as a fool) I am more in labours and abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received by 40 stripes saved one.Thrice I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, I suffered shipwrecks and a night and a day I have been in the deep. In journeying often, perils of water, in perils of robbers, in perils by my our countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painful ness, in watches often, in cold and nakedness.

2 Corinthians 11:23-27

He endured much; yet he’s still said,

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, and reproaches, and necessities, and persecutions, and distress for Christ’s sake for when I am weak then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:10

The word “infirmities” here does not mean sickness, it means trials, troubles and persecutions.

The Flesh Is So Weak

The Bible says, Let the weak say, I am strong (Joel 3:10). This Verse refers to the strong in the Lord; and when you are, you are strong and divine love, grace, and peace. There is no ego in any of those things. When the right arm and the right hand of God are moving for you you have nothing to fear. You are “God Strong” and “grace strong,’ never forget those two phrases.

It is true That in the human, we are weak; but Paul said we can live the Christ life through the power of God. For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we are also weak in him but we shall live with Him by the power of God towards you. (2 Corinthians 13:4). Jesus was crucified through the weakness of the flesh; but He lives by the power of God. Paul knew he had to live that way, too. He said, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ in me. (Galatians 2:20),

We are strong in Christ through His grace, so we must depend on that sufficient grace. The Lord told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). When we are weak as humans, the strength of God will show up in us through His power. His live and His greatness. Paul goes on to say, “Most gladly, therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. I would have to agree with Paul, I would rather live with my weakness and have God power resting with me, then to be strong and not have the power of God.

The flesh is too weak to perform spiritual things or to fight the power of the devil. That is why Paul said, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.” – 2 Corinthians 10:3-4).

Through divine strength, we can pull down the powers of the devil and stomp them under food.

Paul gave God his all; and before he was beheaded, Paul left these words to his son in the Lord, Timothy: “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to a reliable people who will also be qualified to teach other. Therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ- 2 Timothy 2:1-3.

God Made Paul Great For Him

Paul was an educated man: and before he was saved, he he,o one of the highest seats in the court of the Jews. He depended on his education,his position and his authority; and he had confidence in his own str. But after he was saved, Paul realized how weak his flesh really was; and he no longer had confidence in it. “For we are the circumcision” (that means circumcised in heart), “which worship God in the Holy Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh (Philippians 3:3).

Paul knew he had been made a minister by God, not man. “Whereof I was made to minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power (Ephesians 3:7).

It is miraculous how God can take a sinner like Paul (Paul being the one who was a part of crucifying Jesus) and make him into a great teacher and preacher; but God has all the power, and Paul realized that. That is why he spend about 3 years in the desert with the Lord before he started preaching.

Paul knew he had to get ready; and he said, “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mothers womb, and called me to his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood; Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned to Damascus. Then after 3 years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him 15 days (Galatians 1-15-18),

Never Trust Yourself

You can never trust the flesh because everything about it is weak, while everything about the Holy Spirit is strong. We have ti depend on the divine strength of the Lord and never our own glory.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:26-27, For you see your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble; but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things in the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong.

People with a lot of higher education can become so caught up in what they know that they leave God out. This is why God takes people who are considered simple in the eyes of the world and makes them into magnificent witnesses. No one has to be highly educated to be able to understand the Gospel. It is so simple that any consecrated, dedicated, Holy Spirit filled person can understand it.

God will willingly give you His wisdom, but you must give him time and always give him the glory for it.