 I know, especially nowadays, how it feels to have things. To have money. To have clothes, a car, a nice house. To have… just stuff. So many people obsess over their stuff, they tend to forget about others in need.
“The good person is generous and lends lavishly…” -Psalm 112:5
I bet you know what I’m talking about – someone that has only their best interest in mind. Someone that hoards money. Someone whose life revolves around their stuff. Someone who would rather have extra then have just what he needs. Who rolls in his money. Who is obsessed over what he has. That would rather help himself then others.
We see, from the bible, that’s just wrong! Being generous and giving is an act of love. If we are to love completely, we should love like Jesus Christ did, and not only be willing to put down a few bucks to give a brother a meal, but we should be willing to DIE for a brother, because love is the foundation of Christian Living.
So, think about a way you can be generous today – and do it with a smile!
written by Matt
\\ tags: Attitude, Bible, Generosity, Giving, God, Jesus, Love, Psalms, Who God Is
 There are two types of people in this world – the type that, when something bad happens to them, they say ‘It could always get worse!’ and the type that say ‘It could always get better…’
What type are you? When life gives you lemons, do you make lemonade, or do you rub it in your wounds and pout about? The worst time to pout about when things aren’t going your way, is when people want EVERYONE to know they’re having a bad day, too. Always sighing, being irritable on purpose, or leaving intentionally depressing MySpace/Facebook/Whatever statuses – anything for attention. Really, all complaining is is a form of selfishness.
What does the bible say about this?
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Philippians 2:3-5
11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. Philippians 4:11-12
“9 Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door!” James 5:9
…plus many, many more verses on this very subject. Friends – I urge you to stop complaining, and get over yourself! To live in Christ is to die to the self and to sin. If you’re still at the center of YOUR life, then you’re not living for Jesus.
Here’s some more bits of scripture on Complaining and Whining:
Exodus 15:24
1 Peter 5:7
Proverbs 19:3
Thanks for reading,
-Matt
written by Matt
\\ tags: Bible, Christ, church, Complaining, God, Help, Jesus, Letting Go, life, Selfishness, Sin, stress, Struggle, Whining, Who God Is
In the last ‘Ultimate Grace’ post, I talked a bit about who God is – a holy, unapproachable, glorious being who makes even the mightiest shake. Chances are, last time you read my ‘Ultimate Grace’ post, you were thinking ‘That’s great and all, but what does that have to do with Grace?’ Well, behold your answer: this post.
Now that we know who God is, let’s talk about what he did. I guarantee, now that you know who God is, reading about what he did is that much more amazing. If you didn’t read the last ‘Ultimate Grace’ post, you can do so here: Click
So, let’s begin with a favorite passage of mine: it’s in Romans, Chapter 8.
3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.
4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
That says it all right there, doesn’t it? That’s what Grace is. Even though He is the Holiest of ALL, even though he’s more powerful then ALL, bigger then ALL, the Creator of the Universe, the Father of the World, the God of Existence, the most wise, beautiful, awesome being ever, he still has enough Grace to Come down off of his Holy Throne in Heaven, and to put on a body (like ours!) and die a horrible, agonizing death to pay the debt WE owed Him! That’s what Grace is! Grace is even though he is more awesome then we can imagine, he humbled himself for our sake, even though we did not deserve it, and came to Earth as one of us, then died for us. Grace is not something you find. Grace is not something you can ever earn. Grace is not something that you, as a human, can even really have. Grace is what God has; what Jesus has for, not only some people, but for ALL people.
Does that not make you think twice about what Jesus did for you; for all people? I think we tend to think of Jesus’ death as the death of a great man, and not the death of the same one who sat in his throne as the angels cried in his presence, or the same one who spoke the Universe into existence, or the the same one who created you apart from everyone else. Here’s the amazing part to think about: had you been the only person ever in existence, He still would have come to Earth and died for you. His love for you is that huge.
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below— indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Jesus Christ, our Lord. — Romans 8:38-39
Thanks for reading,
Lots of Love,
-Matt
written by Matt
\\ tags: Christ, God, grace, Holiness, Jesus, Love, Romans, Ultimate Grace, Who God Is
Josh, in his last post, brought up the topic of grace. Grace is one of the most unbelievable aspects of who God is, and why he loves us so much. A lot of people, though, wonder exactly what grace is.
Grace (n.) – Seemingly effortless beauty or charm of movement, form, or proportion.
a. Divine love and protection bestowed freely on people.
That’s a simple definition of grace. Divine love, beauty, charm. How does that apply to God, though? I think it’s important to know a bit about who God really is, first. One of the most amazing descriptions of God comes from the Book of Isaiah; the sixth chapter. Here’s a bit of it:
1 … I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple.
2 Attending him were mighty [angels], each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.
3 They were calling out to each other,“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies!
The whole earth is filled with his glory!”
4 Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.
5 Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”
Okay. Imagine, if you will, finding yourself in a huge, immaculate temple – the most amazing you’ve ever imagined. Sitting in the throne on the opposite side is the God of the Universe, in ‘light so brilliant that no human can approach him,’ as 1 Timothy 6:16 puts it. Exodus 33:20 says we can’t even ‘ look directly at [God's] face, for no one may see [Him] and live.’ So, there he is, in the throne, and you can barely even stand.
Surrounding the throne are these amazing, bizarre Angels whose voices are so loud and booming they shake the foundations of the Temple. And what are the doing? They can’t even show their faces before God! And here’s poor Isaiah in the midst of all this, probably shaking in his sandals, saying, “I am ruined! It’s over!” because he, like you and I, is a sinner, and he is standing before God. I think that paints a better picture of who God is then any artist rendering or painting in the world.
Now, here’s something for you to do and consider. When you pray, do you pray to THAT God? If you were to knowingly pray to THAT God, would you pray the same way? I know I challenge that a lot; sometimes I just go through the motions when I pray. Some people just stand there and recite the Lord’s prayer, or Catholics recite a ‘Hail Mary,’ but do you think those rituals mean anything to THAT God? That amazing, Holy being wants to have a PERSONAL relationship with you!? Does it not blow your mind to pieces? I know it does mine.
What does that have to do with Grace, though? You’ll have to read my next post to see, and I guarantee you, it’ll blow your mind.
Thanks for reading!
Lots of Love,
-Matt
written by Matt
\\ tags: Angels, Exodus, God, grace, Holiness, Isaiah, Jesus, Timothy, Who God Is
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