Self-control is man’s highest need. Without it you will never become who and what God intended you to be. – Daily Inspirations, Catholic Ministries
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 1 Corinthians 10:13
If you want to stay warm, it is best to stay close to the fire.
If you want to live a Christian life, it is best to stay close to Jesus.
And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that its not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive – only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins.
Mark 11:25
[Goodnight that is a tough one! It is so much easier to hate your enemy. But I have seen this in multiple places in the bible, forgive your enemy! I will try. I will do. Man, that is a difficult one.]
“I do not at all understand the mystery of grace – only that it meets us where we are, but does not leave us where it found us.” Anne Lamott
Erwin Lutzer had a good one on this mornings radio show (Running to Win). He was talking about grace, it was very uplifting. He mentioned that those who are forgiven most, appreciate it the most. He also had an interesting take that some people (goody-two-shoes) have a hard time accepting grace, or the idea that they would need it. As it turns out, nothing we have done warrants salvation. It is all what Jesus has done. All you have to do is say, “Yes please, thank you”. Dr. Lutzer suggests that it is not Jesus plus works, nor Jesus plus rituals.
“Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, “Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?” – James 2
The other day at the Life Tree café discussion group, the discussion was about where was God when everything went haywire in your life. Everyone had instances where their relationship with God helped them through the tough times. The question was then raised, how do the people who don’t know Jesus get by? Which brought to mind this verse from Galatians 5;
“But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity.”
I know I can say that life with God, is much better than life without.
“Watch that you don’t treat a single one of these childlike believers arrogantly. You realize, don’t you, that their personal angels are constantly in touch with my Father in heaven?” [Matthew 18:10] (the amplified says the angels “look upon the face of my Father”. The Message is so much clearer to me.)
Oh my gosh, reading The Message version of the bible has been a game changer (and large print). It flows! The clarity and the meaning leap off the pages also. I just compared that verse in the Amplified version, there’s no comparison! Check out this next passage, Matthew 10: 38-39: “If you don’t go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don’t deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you’ll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you’ll find both yourself and me.” Try and figure that one out in the Amplified! (38 And he who does not take up his cross and follow Me [[o]cleave steadfastly to Me, conforming wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also] is not worthy of Me.39 Whoever finds his [[p]lower] life will lose it [the higher life], and whoever loses his [lower] life on My account will find it [the higher life].)
It is easy on many nights to read 5 or more chapters! And understand it!
Iowa life 