“And I will pray the Father, and He shall brings you another comforter, that He may abide with you forever” -John 14:16
Jesus taught His disciples about the Holy Spirit during their last night together in the upper room, He referred to the Holy Spirit as the “Comforter” on four occasions in John 14:16, 14:26, 15:26, and John 16:7.
For Jesus to repeat this title four times in three chapters tells me this point must be very important. When a phrase is repeated in scripture it has emphasis. Jesus was trying to get this point across to their hearts as well as our hearts what the truth of the Holy Spirit’s role as a “Comforter” so they would fully understand this truth.
Jesus’ promise in His teachings, spoke of sending the Holy Spirit as a “Helper” or “Comforter“ to His followers after He ascended to heaven.
If we look at the Greek translation for Comforter or Helper it can mean “advocate, counselor, or comforter,” highlighting the multifaceted role of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit as a comforter is understood to console and encourage -to provide comfort and strength in times of sorrow and difficulty
He is with us to remind us of Jesus’ teachings. To bring to mind the words and truths of Jesus and guide us in our faith.
He intercedes for us with God. He prays on our behalf, especially when we are struggling to find the right words.
He indwells within us, offering constant companionship and support.
He guides us in our daily lives and empowers us to live according to God’s will.
A personal relationship with the Holy Spirit is not just a concept but a living presence that believers can connect with personally to seek comfort and guidance.
We can experience the Holy Spirit’s comfort by inviting Him into our lives, surrendering our pain, and trusting in His presence.
The first thing in preparing for emergencies is to understand the types of emergencies would likely happen in the area you live. For example the area I live we are susceptible to floods and wildfires. And the human caused ones like terrorizing, or shooting. Which I suspect will get worse because the state government is sending people to my town for rehab “rehabilitation” programs from prison because we are out of the way, thinking people will not re-offend.
We need to have a way to stay informed. Having a 2-way radio with plenty of batteries.
Building an emergency kit is also important. Water, non perishable foods, flashlights, batteries, first aid kit, medications, copies of important document, cash, hugging supplies, multi tools, or knives, hygiene supplies, where to charge cell phones, like solar or power banks. It’s important to have contact information written down and a meeting place in case you get separated.
We all hope we won’t need an emergency preparedness plan, but it is essential to protect yourselves and your family. It’s important to have an organized plan.
Have you ever wondered how to align your thoughts, words, and actions with the teachings of the Bible? Here are a few of the basics that will put you on the path to do just that.
It begins with the importance of the consistency of our thoughts, words, and deeds. By understanding and applying this to your life you’ll be on your way to experiencing greater harmony and alignment with God’s will.
Most preachers and teachers will tell you why you need to do things without telling you how to do these things. Hopefully, my writings give you some pointers on how to live out your faith with God.
The concept of living out one’s faith in thought, Word, and deed is a central theme throughout the Bible. This principle emphasizes the importance of aligning our beliefs with our actions, and our speech, which ensures that our entire being reflects the love and teaching of God.
One key scripture that summarizes this idea is Colossians 3:17 which says, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” This powerful scripture serves as a reminder for us to conduct ourselves in a manner that glorifies God in every aspect of our lives.
In addition, James 1:22 reinforces the significance of not only hearing the Word of God but also acting on it. “Do not merely listen to the Word, and so, deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” This scripture underscores the importance of translating our beliefs into tangible actions, and demonstrating our faith through our deeds or actions.
Matthew 5:16 goes on to say that Jesus instructs His followers to let their light shine before others, so that they will see their good works and glorify God. “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds, and glorify your Father in heaven.” This scripture highlights the transformative power of living out our faith in a visible and impactful way.
The Bible consistently emphasizes the interconnectedness of our thoughts, words, and actions with the teachings of Jesus, and we can truly embody the message of love, compassion, and righteousness that God calls us to live out each day.
Our thoughts, works, and deeds refer to the three aspects of human actions that are often discussed in morality and ethics. These terms are used to encompass the entirety of a person’s behavior and intentions.
Thought: refers to one’s internal mental processes, including beliefs, attitudes, and intentions. Our thoughts can lead to our actions and reveal the true nature of a person’s heart.
Word: refers to the spoken or written expressions of one’s thoughts. Words are powerful and significant because they can impact others and reflect the condition of a person’s heart.
Deed: refers to the actions and behavior that a person carries out. Deeds are often seen as the most tangible and visible aspect of a person’s character, because they demonstrate how one’s beliefs and intentions are put into practice.
Putting together these three components is often used to emphasize the importance of aligning one’s beliefs with one’s actions, and living a life of integrity or righteousness according to biblical teachings.
The Bible emphasizes the importance of our thoughts and words in several scriptures. For instance, Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -think about such things.” This scripture highlights the significance of focusing on positive and uplifting thoughts.
Proverbs 18:21 speaks of words, saying, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” This scripture underscores the impact of our words on ourselves and others. Similarly, Ephesians 4:29 advises us, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Ultimately, the Bible teaches us that our thoughts and words have the power to shape our lives and influence those around us. It encourages us to be mindful of what we think about and speak. Promoting positivity, kindness, and encouragement in all aspects of our lives. I learned this concept of whether I am speaking a blessing or a curse over someone.
We can apply the concept of “In thought, Word, and deed” in our daily lives by ensuring that our thoughts words, and actions align with the teachings and values in the Bible. This means being mindful of our inner thoughts and intentions, speaking truthfully and with love, and behaving in a way that reflects our faith and beliefs in God.
“Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
Do you find yourself in chaos, whether it’s in your mind or your circumstances? If you’re like me it’s hard not to give more than you receive, and sometimes we find ourselves empty and deflated with nothing left to give. But there’s a way to protect our peace.
Proverbs 4:23 reminds us to “above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
This scripture is telling us to be careful what we let into our hearts and minds.
Think about conversations you enter into. Maybe a conversation where you know someone is going to try and tear you down. That we feel like you have to defend yourself. We can choose not to engage with that person.
Protect your peace by thinking about the people you allow in your life. Choose who you are going to have a “place at your table” or speak into your life this place has to be earned by people. They just don’t get to have it because of who they are.
There are only certain people who have earned the right to speak into my life. And it doesn’t have anything to do with the title they hold.
Think about who has shown you they don’t have the right to be at your table or speak into your life. Is there anyone you’ve been allowing into your life who hasn’t earned it? Do you need to set some boundaries to protect your peace?
Protecting your peace is also about guarding what you think about. What we think about has a lot to do with our peace.
Sometimes we can just get tired and let the negative thoughts come and it’s hard to fight them off.
Some things I put into practice are: questioning the validity of my thoughts.
Is it true?
Is there any evidence for that thought or is it just my emotions or me being tired?
What does God say about this in His Word?
I am not perfect at this. But, I have found that I can usually guard my heart and mind by having boundaries around the conversations I enter into,
I am aware of who I let into my life and who has earned the right to speak into it and who has not.
I can guard my heart from negative thoughts by questioning whether there is really evidence for that thought and comparing it to what the Bible says about my situation.
The word I know I say tend to overuse is goodbye. The word goodbye can sounds like the end, a permanent, absolute.
Unless I know I will never see that person again don’t say it. Life is full of cycles. It brings people together again in unexpected ways. Saying “see you later” or until next time leaves the door open for reunion.
The Bible teaches us that our words carry weight. Choosing different words can change how to process separation.
Having peace comes down to a few things I put my trust in.
Romans 8:28 states, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
Because of God’s faithfulness in the past I know I can trust Him in any difficult situation now and in the future.
When times are tough I know I can stand on a few promises God has for my peace.
Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”
Ephesians 1:11 – “I Him we were chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will.”
Following God and obeying Him is knowing I can be in keeping with myself at peace.
When life is calm it’s easy to become complacent, but it should be a time for preparing for trials. Peace is often a training ground.
In times of trials. Obeying God requires courage and discernment.
Trusting in God’s sovereignty, holding on to righteousness, praying is how I get through chaotic times with peace.
Here are a few scriptures I stand on when I’m in a trial:
It’s important that we understand how trials work and the response we should have. There’s a natural increase to sin in our trials simply because of the added pressure and the human desire to escape from the pain and suffering.
Preparation is critical to pass trials because Satan can use our trials to destroy our faith in God.
One of the most common reactions to a trial in sickness, political upheaval, or just bad events in our personal lives is how shocked or upset we become. We saw this during Covid. People who didn’t have a strong foundation in the Word of God had foolish reactions. Like buying up the supply of toilet paper, wearing 2 and 3 masks, or even fighting because someone else wasn’t wearing a mask. God told us plainly that major changes will happen in life both good and bad.
When we encounter tough times, we often ask “Why?” We search for answers. But we should see the bad things as avenues for good things. In bad times there are always blessings. Romans 8:28 tells us “we know all things work together for good to them that love God, for those who are called according to His purpose.” God uses the trials we face to develop our character. By responding to trials by asking God “What do you want me to learn through this trial,” instead of asking why this is happening we can respond with grace, and experience the power of God, tranforminhour lives through love, joy, and peace.
I like what Peter says in 1 Peter 4:12-13, “Beloved, don’t be astonished at the fiery trial which has come upon you, to test you, as though a strange thing happened to you. But because we are paretakers of Messiah’s sufferings, rejoice that at the revelation of His glory you also may rejoice with exceeding joy.”
Our response makes all the difference. Tests are opportunities to grow spiritually, instead of despairing whenever we encounter trials. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 22:9 he would glory in his infirmities so that the power of Christ Jesus would rest on him. By choosing to trust God and accept the grace He has given us, Jesus’s character will be formed in us.
Unless we accept God’s grace to deal with suffering, inevitably we will become bitter. However, if we choose to trust God to bring about His purposes through our suffering we can avoid the trap of bitterness and grow in the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 5:7, Ephesians 4:31, Hebrews 13:14-15, 2 Peter 3:28).
We can be confident that God will not allow anything to happen to us without His permission, and will not let any bad thing happen that will not ultimately be turned into good. We can take advantage of bad situations to mature spiritually.
I admire people on the profession of psychology. Mostly because they offer a deep rooted understanding of human experiences.
They help people heal and grow. Psychologists work directly with individuals to help people overcome trauma, manage illness, and discover personal strengths.
They are the bridge between science and humanity with a sensitivity to human emotions and ethics.
It is a profession that listens deeply. In a noisy world, that alone is revolutionary.
Our revelation of the Holy Spirit can be our strongest tower. He is a lantern that guides us through the fog of the world. There is an insane amount of noise in the world and it’s difficult to sort through all of it and hear His voice.
Having the right mindset is key to living under God’s covering of protection. There’s a huge need to obey God and hear His warnings if we want to be covered.
I knew a man who almost ended up dead because he missed the Holy Spirit’s warning. A motorcycle and a desire to go to a Christian retreat weighed more than listening to God. After 3 warnings he went anyway. He almost lost his life after a bad wreck. He got out from under God’s protection by not listening and obeying.
Every day we have a choice to stay under God’s covering and not listen to our flesh. When we listen to our flesh and sin we are not under God’s covering. When I pray and ask God to help in a situation I pay attention to whether I have peace about the decision. For me, I know because I get an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. If this happens I know not to do something. But everyone’s feelings of upset can be different.
We need to heed God’s warnings not only to prepare for the road ahead, but we also need to make sure that when things get tough we don’t quit. The words that ring in our hearts and heads that cause us to keep pushing forward past obstacles, challenges, and discouragement.
We will struggle on this journey through life, but we can stay under God’s protection when we do what’s right and obey Him. This is in no way saying bad things won’t happen, because we live in a broken world and we will make mistakes. The key is learning to hear God’s voice and then obeying.
We need to have a strong foundation in God. And work on our lives every day to have the right mindset to help us defeat the carnal nature and keep our motivation on course.
It is up to us individually to invest in our journey and our chance at eternal life. No one will do it for us.
As the world grows darker, it’s important to stay under God’s covering. If we are listening to our carnal flesh, we are in a dangerous place.
Never think you don’t have to worry, because you are “covered by the blood of Jesus because that’s the mindset you don’t want to have.
The kingdom of heaven is be compared to a person who sowed good seed in their field, but while people slept his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away (Matthew 13:24-25).
In the parable above, this is what goes on in the world. The good soil (a godly life) will produce an abundant crop, but that is only half of it. There is more to be told.
Jesus tells us more about the experience of a true follower in this world.
There are 7 elements of the seed and the sower.
The owner:
The field is the world. So, the sower of good seed is the owner of the whole world. Just says the one who sows good seed (the owner of the world) is the “Son of Man.” Jesus used this name “Son of Man” 80 times in the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) to refer to Himself. I find it interesting that “son of man” is a common human being. Jesus uses this to describe His own humanity and Hid prophetic role on earth.
So, Jesus says in Psalm 24: 1, “The earth is the Lord’s and all its fullness.”
The enemy:
Jesus (the owner) has an enemy, and we cannot understand the world as it is without taking into account the enemy and his work. Jesus tells us that His enemy is Satan or the devil (Matthew 13:39). If you do not believe in the devil remember Jesus did.
The power of this enemy is great and his work so vast that it took God an incarnation, a cross, and a resurrection to bring his kingdom to a defeat.
The seed:
In Matthew 13:38 , the good seed are God’s people of the kingdom (us). The weeds are the people of the evil one.
In the parable the seed is the Word of God, but now the seeds are His people who are growing where they are planted in the world.
There are two kinds of seeds. The different seeds are the kinds of people. The good seeds are the people of the kingdom. That is people who live under the rule of God in their lives. The weeds are the people of the evil one, that is, people who, like the evil one, place themselves on my the throne of their own lives.
I think we can look at the world and notice the destructiveness of the enemy’s work. He sows destructive seeds in Jesus’s field. He has no positive objective in mind. The motivating force of all his work is simply to destroy the harvest.
Do you ever scratch your head and say, “Why have so many terrible things happened?” I think this is at least part of the answer.
The field:
“The field is the world.” (Matthew 13:38).
I think these words are crucial to understanding what this parable is about. While there are applications of this parable for the church, this parable is not about the church. Jesus says it clearly in Matthew 13:38.
The question:
Matthew 13:27 says, “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?”
If God is so good, if Jesus is so mighty, then why is there so much evil in the world?
This is a profound question, and it arises in every generation. Where does evil come from? If Jesus triumphed over evil on the cross, then why is it flourishing today?
People in Jesus’ day assumed that when He came He would blow the whistle and it would be “game over” for evil. But Jesus came without judgement.
Isaiah 61:2 says the coming Messiah will “proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” What happened to the vengeance?
The answer is grace comes with Jesus now, and judgement comes with Jesus later.
It’s important to understand that Jesus came as a lamb, but He will return as a lion.
The growth:
Matthew 13:30 says, “Let both grow together until the harvest.”
Evil will grow alongside the good until the return of Jesus. That is the teaching of Jesus, and we need this wisdom because we need to understand the nature of the world that we are living in.
The good seed is growing and producing abundance but the weeds are growing too. With every week that passes they become larger and more deeply rooted than before.
The harvest:
Matthew 13:30 says, “At harvest time I will tell the reapers, gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into My barn.”
We are living in the day of God’s grace. The day of judgment has not yet come, and until this day, this is what the kingdom will look like. Good wheat in the field laced with weeds.
The work of judgment belongs to Jesus. He has not given it to us to do. We are called to love and help save the lost. We plant seeds and water them, but ultimately it is God who brings the growth.
He calls us to live and grow in this world until He comes and brings about a righteous judgment when all will be brought to account before Him. The day will come, and when it does, the weeds will be gathered and bound together in bundles,
There are three ways to apply this to our lives.
Stay Engaged
“Let both grow together” Matthew 13:30
Where has God rooted you down? What have you sown? Stay engaged.
Don’t be on an agenda of withdrawal from the world. There are no ideal spots in this world. Whenever we sow and water seeds satan sows his weeds. So bloom where you are planted.
2. Practice Tolerance
The word tolerance has been hijacked in our culture. It used to mean showing patience and forbearance towards people with whom we radically disagree. Now it means affirming what others affirm. But there is no need for tolerance between people who affirm the same convictions. If you agree what is there to tolerate?
Tolerance is a wonderful virtue that is needed where there are deep-seated disagreements. It means showing patience and forbearance towards people you find really difficult, and disagree with radically.
A perfect example is that my mother-in-law and my views have radically different views. When I am at her house, I am tolerant of her because I believe she should be respected in her home.
I do not mean this passively. It does not mean that we give up concern for another person’s spiritual condition. Jesus makes it clear that in this world, the wheat needs to grow alongside the weeds until Jesus returns.
3. Anticipate the Harvest
Matthew 13:43 says, “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”
God will harvest the wheat. He will bring His people home, and the righteous will shine like the sun.
May you be found in the bundle of life with the people of God who submit their lives to King Jesus.
From Pity to Praise 