War has Casualties

Photo by the U.S. Army

Scripture: 1 Samuel 31:2-3

The Philistines overtook Saul and his sons; and the Philistines killed Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua the sons of Saul.  The battle went heavily against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was badly wounded by the archers.

Insights: Even back in verse one we learned that many Israelites lost their lives.  In today’s verses we learn that Saul’s three sons also lost their lives and Saul was badly wounded.  The point I want us to remember regarding war is that there are always casualties.  People die in war.  Civilians die, military personnel die, the innocent die and the guilty die.  Death is an aspect of war, period.  Here in the United States of America our freedom was purchased with blood.  To this very day, our freedom is still maintained by blood.  We have foes that battle against us and they have one intent and that is to destroy our way of life.  Our military forces protect these freedom here and abroad.  In regards to our spiritual freedoms, we must also understand that these freedoms were also purchased with blood.  Jesus Christ, God’s Son, died on a cross to pay the penalty for our sin debt.  Even since Christ’s resurrection, church history has been filled with the blood of the saints.  We also know from the book of Revelation the blood of the saints will be spilt throughout earthly time.  As a result of Jesus’ faithfulness and the faithfulness of His children, we know we experience spiritual freedoms.  I challenge you this day to reflect and be thankful for those fallen heroes who have given us the national freedom and the eternal freedom we experience every day.

Questions:

1. Have you personally known someone who has fallen in spiritual war in which we battle?

2. In what ways can you support the families of those who have become casualties in both earthly war as well as spiritual war?

Prayer: Father, thank You for those who have paid the ultimate price for the earthly and spiritual freedoms with which I experience.  May I never take for granted the freedoms I have. Amen.

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War is Scary

Photo by Moyan Brenn

Scripture: 1 Samuel 31:1

Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.

Insights: Let me make a few preliminary comments in today’s Thoughts by Scott.  Normally, if I am in a sermon series, I preach right on through and do not preach a “Mother’s Day” or “Memorial Day” sermon.  Last week I started a sermon series on the family from the book of Hosea and had even planned to preach that sermon yesterday.  On Friday, however, I felt the Lord tell me to change my sermon for Memorial Day.  The instruments the Lord used leading up to His promptings were some conversations I had had during the week.  I had several people ask me, and our worship minister on Sunday morning even got asked this question, if we were going to acknowledge veterans and have them stand.  I instructed our worship minister to not have them stand because this was Memorial Day Weekend, not Veterans Day Weekend.  Memorial Day is to commemorate the fallen of war not the living of service.  Some where, and I don’t know where, we have merged these two days together and our veterans can go to the local restaurant on Memorial Day and receive a free meal or at least a highly discounted meal.  I am grateful for our living service men and women.  The purpose of Memorial Day, however, is not to honor them, but their comrades in the trenches who did not make it home.  As a result of this misunderstanding, I felt the Spirit prompt me to preach a sermon about Aspects of War We Need to Remember.  The first aspect is found in today’s verse and that is war is scary.  Notice what the Israelites did.  They fled from before the Philistines.  Why did they flee?  The answer is they became frightened.  War is a fearful aspect of this world and we ought not to forget and glamorize war.  To those men and women on the front line, they experience true fear.  The same is true in our spiritual warfare.  Satan is a vicious foe and at times he makes the battle hot in our lives.  When those times come, fear is also present.  In either kind of war, let me challenge you to turn your fear over to the Lord.  He may not rescue you out of the situation on this side of eternity, but He will rescue you.  This truth will give you a strength and comfort in the midst of your fear.  Turn to Jesus and rest in Him.

Questions:

1. Have you ever experienced fear?

2. What were the circumstances surrounding your fear?

Prayer: Father, You are my fortress and strong tower.  In You I have no need to fear.  Yet, in my carnality, fear arises at times.  Let me learn the grace of walking in Your sufficiency and help me to trust in Your protective eternal care. Amen.

If you have found this blog to be helpful, please forward it in Facebook or retweet it in Twitter.  If you have a comment you would like to make regarding this Thoughts by Scott, please feel free to live your thoughts.   Thank you.

We Often Times are Conflicted

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patriziasoliani

Scripture: Hosea 1:8-9

When she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived and gave birth to a son.  And the Lord said, “Name him Lo-ammi, for you are not My people and I am not your God.”

Insights: Today’s Thoughts by Scott is titled We Often Times are Conflicted.  I mean by that title that we are often time as people in conflict with another individuals.  In this specific case Israel is in conflict with the Lord God because of their rebellion.  As a result, God tells them that He is about to remove them into captivity and He will not longer be their God because they will no longer be His people.  These ten tribes are eventually taken over by the Assyrians and they are never returned back to Israel.  They become the lost tribes of Israel.  All they had to do was repent and turn back to the Lord and this devastation would never have come upon them.  They, however, chose to remain in their relational conflict with the Lord and judgment came on them.  We as a people also experience conflict in our lives as well.  Conflict in and of itself is not a problem just as anger in and of itself is not sin.  Conflict and anger become sins in the way we respond to it.  If we are not able to deal with it in a fashion that honors the Lord, then we move into the realm of sin.  All too often, because of our  humanity, we respond in the inappropriate way and as a result move into sin.  When it comes to the Lord, I am grateful He is big enough to handle my conflict.  In other words, there are times I get mad at God, but He is able to handle my frustrations.  The key is to not let those frustrations prevent you from maintaining intimacy with Him.  When conflict is in regard to people, then you need to hold to the admonish of Paul when he tells us to live at peace with all people as much as it depends on us.  Let us strive for relational purity in our interactions with people and the Lord.  Let our example be seen by the lost world and may they come to know Jesus as a result of our manner of handling conflict.

Questions:

1. Is there a person which comes to your mind in which you are presently in conflict?

2. Is the Lord Himself the person with whom you are in conflict?

Prayer: Father, I am grateful You are so big that You can handle the times in which I get angry with You.  Help me to understand You and Your ways better and to rest in Your perfect plan and will.  Amen.

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We Often Times are Self-Centered

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Scripture: Hosea 1:6-7

Then she conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. And the Lord said to him, “Name her Lo-ruhamah, for I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel, that I would ever forgive them.  “But I will have compassion on the house of Judah and deliver them by the Lord their God, and will not deliver them by bow, sword, battle, horses or horsemen.”

Insights: Gomer has yet a second child from another man and God commands Hosea to name this daughter Lo-ruhamah because God is getting ready to remove His compassion from the house of Israel.  The way I described this point on Sunday was regarding self-centeredness.  In other words, the reason God is getting ready to remove His compassion is because Israel had become self-centered.  All of their decisions were about themselves and their wants.  Often times we show compassion to those who are self-centered.  The Lord, in this case, is not condoning the sin of Israel, but He has displayed compassion with the hope they would repent and turn from their wicked ways.  We also show compassion to the self-centered because we desire for them to enter into a saving relationship with Jesus.  Until God’s judgment comes, His compassion is ever displayed.  In the gospel Jesus says it is the Lord who makes it to rain on the just and the unjust.  God’s provision for people in this world is a form of compassion.  If one dies without a relationship with Jesus, then this earthly existence is the most of heaven they will experience.  The reason I use this kind of language is because while they are here the Lord’s compassion is being extended to them.  He was giving them every opportunity to meet Jesus.  When they enter into the Lake of Fire, all of God’s compassion will be removed and they will only experience torment and pain.  Let us do all we can, while there is still time, to extend compassion to the self-centered while there is still time.  May they, as a result of our love, receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Questions:

1. Are you grateful for the Lord’s compassion which is on His creation?

2. In what ways have you experienced God’s compassion?

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your compassion.  Let me walk in Your mercy and grace as I experience the fullness of Your presence in my life.  Amen.

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We Often Times are Disobedient

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Scripture: Hosea 1:4-5

And the Lord said to him, “Name him Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will punish the house of Jehu for the bloodshed of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel.  “On that day I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.”

Insights: The context of the naming of this child indicates that Jehu had disobeyed God.  To understand the back story, Elijah had been commissioned by God to anoint Jehu to be the next king.  After Jehu took power, however, he became a disobedient man toward God and God’s ways.  As a result, Jehu killed Jezreel when he ought not to have done so.  God, therefore, was going to punish Jehu’s house for this disobedience.  We, like Jehu, often times walk in the ways of disobedience.  I really did not go into the best corrective method against disobedience Sunday, but I am prompted to share this truth with you here.  A good way to avoid disobedience is to have a good accountability partner in your life.  Think about it from the stand point of Alcoholics Anonymous.  This organization partners participants up with a sponsor.  The sponsor’s job is to be there day or night to talk the recovering alcoholic off of the ledge from taking that drink which leads down a path of destruction and pain.  Our bent toward sin and disobedience is so great that we too need someone to talk us off of the ledge of sin as well.  We face hard days.  We desire pleasures beyond the scope of God’s plan.  We are jealous and covetous of other people and their things.  We are bound up in our sin until we are set free by Christ.  Even after our conversion, however, the old man of sin rises up and tries to pull us back into a life of bondage.  Our fellow Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus are there to help us bear that burden by being a source of strength in our time of temptation.  Beloved, if you do not have someone with whom you can trust with the intimate details of your life, then let me encourage you to find such a person.  Let them help you in times of temptation and pain.  Let this person help you develop safe guards in your life to be victorious in Christ Jesus.

Questions:

1. What safe guards have you placed in your life in order to help you not walk in disobedience to the Father?

2. Who is your accountability partner?

Prayer: Father, thank You for those who walk this journey of faith with me.  May we together, empowered by Your Spirit, walk righteously with You.  Protect us from ourselves and our bend toward disobedience.  Amen.

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We Often Times Put Ourselves in Difficult Situations

Photo by Bill Strain

Scripture: Hosea 1:2-3

When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry; for the land commits flagrant harlotry, forsaking the Lord.”  So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.

Insights: I understand Hosea was walking in obedience to the Lord when he found himself in a very difficult situation.  I would conjecture there are times in which we find ourselves in difficult situations because the Lord has commissioned us to a hard assignment.  Most of the time, however, I would state we find ourselves in difficult situations because of our own sinfulness.  1 Corinthians 15:33 states, “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals.’”  We more often than not find ourselves in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people.  We then wonder, “How did I get here?”  I would tell you it was because you choose the wrong “friends” and went to the wrong place and you stayed later than you ought to have.  I would give you the warning it all started with choosing your friends wisely.  I put the word friends in quotes earlier because those “friends” who lead you into the wrong places at the wrong times are not really your friends.  They are users.  They use you for your resources and when you are depleted, they dump you like dead weight and move on to their next “friend” with resources.  Do not fall prey to their deception.  Rather, walk valiantly with the Lord and let Him determine who your friends will be in your life.  Avoid difficult situations of your own making.  Rather enter the difficult situations only as the Lord prompts, just like Hosea.  You will be blessed if you heed this warning.  I pray you will.

Questions:

1. As you reflect on you life, can you recall times in which you put yourself in a difficult situation?

2. What lesson or lessons did you learn from this situation?

Prayer: Father, all too often I find myself in difficult situations of my own making.  Grant me wisdom to avoid such foolishness and let me walk in the grace of Your love and light.  Amen.

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Family is a Core Value

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I started the year at FBC Bowling Green preaching a sermon series through Acts chapter thirteen.  The series was about the journey we are all experiencing together as a body of believers.  After that series ended I preached a series through the last part of Titus and it dealt with the aspect of our being unified together.  Yesterday I started a third sermon series this year and we will be going through varies passages from the book of Hosea and this sermons focus is going to be on the fact of how we are also a family together.  In a bullet point this year has looked like this:

• We are on a Journey Together
• We are Unified Together
• We are a Family Together

Today’s Thoughts by Scott is the introduction to our sermon series as well as to the sermon from Sunday.  At FBC Bowling Green our number one core value is family.  In fact our core value reads this way:

We value families, and we believe marriages between a man and a woman built through Christ-centered love, accountability and growth through discipleship in God’s Word result in strong families.  We believe parents are the primary teachers of our children in spiritual matters with the hope that one day they will be a part of the larger family, the body of Christ.  We understand in the world we currently live not every family has a spiritual foundation in Jesus.  As a result, we strive to encourage all members of Jesus’ family to teach others about our Savior (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 5:21-6:4; 3 John 4).

Our core values drive our vision statement.  Our vision statement has four parts, but I am going to share with you the first part.  It reads:

We see a church who is Christ-centered as it teaches traditional biblical values to its families through the preaching of the Word.

Underneath each of our four vision statements we have three qualifying sentences to drive home the details of that vision statement.  The three qualifiers to this vision statement are:

The church we see believes in marriage between a man and a woman built through Christ-centered love, accountability and growth from the Bible.

The church we see believes in creating and sustaining traditions that bring glory to God.

The church we see believes in encouraging all believers to grow in their relationship with the Lord through the Holy Spirit.

Our vision statement drives our mission statement.  Our mission statement is the one sentence memorable phrase the we desire for every member of FBC Bowling Green to have memorized.  Our mission statement is:

FBCBG is Christ-centered, gospel driven, joyfully united, and prayerfully obedient.

You will have noticed in the family core value the word “Christ-centered”.  You will notice in the first vision statement the word “Christ-centered”.  You will finally notice in the mission statement the word “Christ-centered” is there as well.  All of our core values drove our vision statements and our vision statements drove our mission statement.  As a result, if we live out our mission statement, then we will be acting in harmony with our vision statement which is driven by the very core values we deem as important at FBC Bowling Green.

At FBC Bowling Green we value families.  We do not live this fact out perfectly, but we are striving to get better at this fact.  Hopefully, you are connecting with a spiritual family somewhere.  If you live in the Bowling Green, FL area and do not have a church home, then we invite you to come partner with us.  We would love to have you as a part of our family.

If you have found this blog to be helpful, please forward it in Facebook or retweet it in Twitter.  If you have a comment you would like to make regarding this Thoughts by Scott, please feel free to live your thoughts.   Thank you.

The Lord Receives Praise from His Name being Proclaimed

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Scripture: Acts 9:42-43

It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.  And Peter stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.

Insights: Back in verse thirty-five and in this verse of forty-two we see people coming to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  I titled this final point in my sermon as The Lord Receives Praise from His Name being Proclaimed.  I think it is a pretty fair assessment to say that once a person comes to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior that they are going to praise Him.  Both the healing of Aeneas and the raising of Tabitha from the dead got people in the area talking.  They were amazed and astonished.  They desired to know the details of the situation.  Once they heard the healing and the raising happened because of Jesus, these people desired to be in a relationship with Him.  This truth takes me back to yesterday’s blog post.  I think part of our problem in the modern church is we are doing nothing to get a lost world talking about Jesus.  We have not followed Him faithfully, and as a result, we do not experience His power.  Because we are not experiencing His power, our lives are not profoundly and supernaturally changed.  This statement does not mean God Himself is not powerful enough to change us.  Nor does it imply God does not have the power to work today as He did in the time of the Bible.  Beloved, I dream for the day in which the church stops all of its bureaucracy and truly does become dependent on the Holy Spirit’s power in them.  In that day, I think we will see more authentic and genuine praise of our Lord God.  I encourage you to start today praising God.  Just praise Him for who He is and then thank Him for what He has done.  Move your praise to other aspects of your life like family and work.  Let your entire focus this day be on the Lord and I would image by the end of the day you will have felt more of the Lord’s power in your life.

Questions:

1. Have you spent time praising the Lord today?

2. Who has the Lord called you to share the gospel with at this moment?

Prayer: Father, I pray You will grant me boldness and opportunity to share Jesus with the person You have laid on my heart.  I praise You for saving me and ask You save this person as well.  Amen.

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The Lord's Power is Available

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Scripture: Acts 9:40-41

But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.  And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

Insights: Sunday morning I preached a sermon in which I shared one of the aspects of a Rabbi selecting a disciple was the belief that the disciple could do what the Rabbi did.  In essence, Peter knew he could heal people and raise the dead because he observed his Rabbi, Jesus, healing and raising the dead.  Notice with me the “technique” he used.  It is almost identical to the “technique” Jesus used to raise Jairus’ daughter.  I put “technique” in quotes because there is not a “technique” to raising a person from the dead.  There is only One who can raise a person from the dead and that is the Lord God.  Peter does not have the power to raise Tabitha from the dead.  The Spirit which resides in him is the One who has the power to raise Tabitha from the dead because the Spirit is God.  The point I am really desiring to make is if we have an abiding relationship with the Lord, then we have access to the same kind of power that raised Tabitha from the dead.  I think the issue of the modern day church is we have forgotten how to actually live by faith.  We have forgotten what it means to walk in complete obedience and dependence on the Lord God.  If the church of today is going to have any major impact on the world at large, then we need to return to Christ Jesus.  We need to walk humbly with our God and obey every command He gives to us, even the commands that sound foolish or impossible.  Let us walk in complete obedience to the Lord and His mighty power.

Questions:

1. Are you walking in the power of the Lord?

2. If you are not, what is hindering you from dropping your guard and surrendering to the Lord?

Prayer: Father, I do desire power.  I do not want power for the sake of power, but rather for the ability to point others to You just as Peter has done in the verses we have looked at today.  May my life be pleasing in Your sight as I walk in the power You have given me.  Amen.

If you have found this blog to be helpful, please forward it in Facebook or retweet it in Twitter.  If you have a comment you would like to make regarding this Thoughts by Scott, please feel free to live your thoughts.   Thank you.

The Lord Receives Pleasure in the Work of His Love

Photo by Max Meir Mroz

Scripture: Acts 9:39

So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.

Insights: Look at the fashion show that is happening in this upper room for Peter.  The widows with whom Tabitha had invested her life are showing off all of her tunics and garments.  They have been blessed by her intense love for them and the Lord.  It is my opinion the Lord is pleased as He watches these events unfold.  Many people have this wrong image of the Father.  They think He is a tyrant in heaven looking to punish His children when they mess up and it is true He disciplines those whom He loves.  At the same time, however, I believe He takes great pleasure and joy in catching His children doing right as well.  I believe every time we walk obediently to His promptings He smiles with joy and in this scene of the widows I believe God is just bursting forth with fatherly exuberance over His daughter.  Beloved, the Lord has equipped us all in different ways.  He has done this to make the church whole and complete.  The gift is His Holy Spirit and He manifests Himself in your life in different ways.  It is His desire you use this gifting to help build up the body of Christ and to disciple lost individuals into the path of righteousness.  When we are serving in this kind of capacity, God is pleased.  Now, please understand one last thought.  Our lives do bring God pleasure, but He is not dependent on us for Him to have pleasure.  In other words, God is completely self-sufficient in and of Himself.  He does not need us for personal joy and pleasure.  He does, however, receive pleasure when we are walking in obedience with Him.  Let us strive, Beloved, to pursue God with all we are for His glory.

Questions:

1. Have you ever thought about the fact the Lord receives pleasure from the work of His children?

2. What work are you presently doing that brings the Lord pleasure and glory?

Prayer: Father, it is my hope that my life and work bring You pleasure.  I desire nothing more than to honor You and bring You glory as I point people to You.  Amen.

If you have found this blog to be helpful, please forward it in Facebook or retweet it in Twitter.  If you have a comment you would like to make regarding this Thoughts by Scott, please feel free to live your thoughts.   Thank you.

The Lord Prompts His Children to Love Passionately and Seek Him Desperately

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Scripture: Acts 9:36-38

Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did.  And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room.  Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, “Do not delay in coming to us.”

Insights: There are two aspects in today’s verses with which I wish to communicate.  The first deals with Tabitha’s service.  She loved passionately the people in her lives.  Notice that her deeds were abounding in kindness and charity.  Also notice the amount of time she was devoting to this passion.  She was continually serving.  FBC Bowling Green has been hosting Financial Peace University courses for almost a year now.  In that course we are taught to have gazelle intensity about getting out of debt because one’s life depends on it because the cheetah is pursuing you with the intent to kill you.  Tabitha’s name means gazelle and she lived with an intensity to help and serve others with passion.  The second aspect of today’s verse deals with our desperate need to encounter the Lord.  Tabitha has died and yet the people have heard about God’s power in the life of Peter.  They have also heard Peter in not too far away.  They send a messenger to him because they are desperate for the Lord to work in the midst of their lives.  Beloved, when we have that kind of intensity and desperation on the Lord, we can accomplish much for the Lord’s kingdom and His renown.  Let us work with abandon for the glory of God and let Him be lifted high because of our faithfulness.

Questions:

1. How have you felt the Lord’s promptings to love passionately with others?

2. What situations have you experienced in which you have felt the Lord push you towards Himself because of your desperate situation?

Prayer: Father, I pray that when I finally leave this world that I will have a testimony as powerful as Tabitha.  Until that day, may I be so desperate for You that I seek You moment by moment. Amen.

If you have found this blog to be helpful, please forward it in Facebook or retweet it in Twitter.  If you have a comment you would like to make regarding this Thoughts by Scott, please feel free to live your thoughts.   Thank you.

The Lord is Pragmatic in His Love for All

Scripture: Acts 9:32-43

Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.  There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed.  Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed.” Immediately he got up.  And all who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

Insights: Contextually speaking the verses we are going to look at this week are a part of God’s moving toward the Gentile world for the proclamation of the gospel.  In the first half of Acts nine we find Saul being converted and the Lord appointing him to be the apostle to the gentiles.  Yet, at this point the church of Jerusalem has not sanctioned a work with this people group.  Peter’s journey into Judea is going to eventually lead him to Caesarea and there he will encounter Cornelius.  So, really, the first part of verse thirty-two when we are told that Peter is traveling through those regions is really the key part of this section.  God has from the foundations of the earth planned to redeem the world to Himself.  This journey is going to eventually open the doors wide for the gentile world to be added as a part of God’s pragmatic plan to save the nations.  At the same time, however, I don’t want to underplay the significance of God’s healing of Aeneas.  This healing act is building the credibility of God through Peter to work in the lives of those in need of a Savior.  In other words, the miraculous news of God’s power at work through Peter is going to spread.  In the next few verses we are going to find Peter called to Joppa to heal.  Joppa is just one step closer to getting to Caesarea.  All of these events point to God’s pragmatic plan to love a world to Himself by having people respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Beloved, God has commissioned us to continue on in His pragmatic work of reaching a world.  Let us join Him in His mission and see many lives changed as a result of His mercy and grace.  

Questions:

1. What part of God’s intentional plan are you playing for His redemptive history?

2. What are some words you would use to describe your involvement in this assignment from the Lord?

Prayer: Father, I am grateful You have had an intentional plan from the foundations of the earth.  Thank You for allowing me to play a very small part in the big picture of Your amazing tapestry of human history.  Thank You for Your love and grace. Amen.

If you have found this blog to be helpful, please forward it in Facebook or retweet it in Twitter.  If you have a comment you would like to make regarding this Thoughts by Scott, please feel free to live your thoughts.   Thank you.

Godly Attributes of Love and Discipline

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Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

Insights: The eight implied attribute of a godly mother is that of love.  The Spirit the Lord has given us is Himself.  His Spirit is not timid, but full of power, love and discipline.  God’s Spirit is so loving, He sent Jesus to the cross to pay for our sins.  Love is such a sacrificial attribute and mothers love their children.  Even the worst mother has an innate love for their kids.  Now these mothers may not be able to function or interact as if there is love, but they have it for their children.  Love displayed properly puts the other people first.  The final implied attribute of a godly mom is that of discipline.  Moms are disciplined people.  They have a routine for getting the kids ready for school.  They have a routine for getting dinner ready.  They have a routine for cleaning and doing the laundry.  Moms are disciplined, however, I am not talking about task disciplines.  Rather I am taking about relational disciplines.  We need to have relational disciplines in order to grow deeper in our love relationship with the Lord.  These disciplines include some tasks, but they are motivated by the relationship.  Some of those disciplines are reading your Bible daily.  Praying to the Father on a regular basis.  Attending corporate worship services.  Worshipping God in your private life as well.  Having accountability partners to hold you steady in the midst of your walk with the Lord.  Fasting from food may be a discipline you implement in order to strengthen the relationship with God.  The point is God has given us His Spirit to empower us to be disciplined people and to grow in our relationship with Him.  Beloved, let us grow in love as we participate in these spiritual disciplines.  As we do, we will be powerful people for the kingdom.  Godly moms display these ten attributes like no one else.  Let us be thankful to the Lord for these godly women.  Have a blessed day and worship at your local church this weekend.  If you do not have a local church and you live in our area, may I suggest FBC Bowling Green as a place to worship.  This Sunday we will be honoring our High School Graduates and would love for you to worship with us.

Questions:

1. Would other people describe you as being a loving person?

2. What are some of your daily disciplines to be a better more productive follow of Jesus?

Prayer: Father, Your love is perfect and mine is flawed.  Transform my life as I grow in You through my daily disciplines to be more loving in my relationships with other people.  Amen.

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Godly Attributes of Growth and Strength

Photo by Kevin Doncaster

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:6-7

For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.  For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

Insights: The seventh implied attribute of a godly mother is that of growth.  Notice Paul encourages Timothy to kindle afresh the gift of God which was in him.  This kindle afresh is the process of growth.  In other words, Timothy was to study and practice using the gifts he had been given by God.  The more he learned the better minister of the gospel he would be, and therefore, Paul admonishes him to grow.  Mom’s are constantly growing in their knowledge of their children.  They are constantly practicing to become the best parent they can be.  We all need to grow in our lives.  Let me encourage you to study well and grow.  The eight implied attribute of a godly mother is that of strength.  Notice Paul tells Timothy that God’s Spirit gives him power.  When we are living life out of the power found in Christ, then we are living life from a point of strength.  All too many Christians today are living life from fear and timidity.  That is not the power God gives to us.  Rather it is the lies of Satan that have crippled us to live life from a place of scarcity and not abundance.  Moms are the strongest people I know.  May we model their strength as the Lord empowers us and let us live victoriously in Jesus.

Questions:

1. In what ways are you growing in every area of life?

2. Would your family describe you as being a strong person?

Prayer: Father, I desire to grow in your grace and truly become a person of strength in You.  May my life reflect Your strength as I grow in You.  Amen.

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Godly Attributes of Joy and Faithfulness

Photo by ilan sharif

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:4b-5

so that I may be filled with joy.  For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.

Insights: The fifth implied attribute of a godly mother is that of joy.  Notice Paul states he is filled with joy because of Timothy.  Joy is an internal reality even in the midst of pain and sorrow.  In other words, happiness is based on what is happening to you at the moment.  If you are watching a movie you like, then you are happy.  If, however, you are afraid of heights and you are having to cross a suspension bridge 300 feet over a gorge, then you are probably not a happy camper.  Joy on the other hand is an attribute of a life in Christ Jesus.  He gives you His joy and it allows us to face the most difficult of situations and still remain in joy.  Parenting is a perfect example of difficult trials and tests and yet an amazing joy filling one from the inside out as a result of this amazing gift from God.  The sixth implied attribute of a godly mother is that of faithfulness.  A faithful person says I know the road is hard, I know the path is dark, I know the obstacles are many, I know the pain is intense, I know the easy way is to give up and quit, but I will not stop.  I will press on and endure to the end because I am faithful to that which I have committed my life.  There is no alternative route.  There is only the gift of Christ Jesus and the faith He has bestowed on me; and as a result, I will stay true to the course before me.  I will win this race and I will see my Savior in the sky and will be restored to Him forevermore.  This kind of attitude is found in a faithful person.  Beloved, let us all walk in joy and remain faithful to Jesus.  May our lives display these attributes and may God be brought glory because of our obedience to Him.

Questions:

1. Would others characterize your life as being filled with joy?

2. Would your family describe you as being a faithful person?

Prayer: Father, it is a joy to be Your child and in Your family.  Help grow my faith and may I be a person of faith who displays Your joy in my life.  Amen.

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