Life's Little Frustrations

This age of technology is too complicated, I moan,

And then I watch a two-year-old scrolling on an I Phone!

And if you want to learn the way to operate a computer

You just need to get a kid to come and be your tutor!

Spiritual Battles

Ephesians 6:12,  "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

      Halloween is fast approaching.  Little children see it as a time to dress in costumes, go trick or treating, and gorge on the candy they have collected as long as it lasts.  Schools have viewed it as a possible way to raise money, and the Halloween Carnivals were the forerunners of the Fall Festivals that are popular today.  Some churches see it as a good time to have alternative entertainment and use it as an opportunity to present the gospel to those who attend their event.  But the scary costumes, the bizarre masks, and the macabre decorations should remind us that evil is not only present but prevalent in our world.  God hasn't called us to a tea party but to a battle.  He calls us soldiers and tells us to put on our armor for defense against our enemy.  We are to take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, and to use it as our offensive weapon.  As the time for Christ's return grows nearer, we can expect evil to grow more intense, and I definitely think we are seeing that happening today.  We are to stand firm in our faith, to hold our ground, and to fight a good fight.  Ephesians 6:13-14a exhorts us,  "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm, then."

Father, may we be true soldiers of the cross.  Empower us to stand firm against the tide of evil that is so prevalent in our society today.

Life's Little Frustrations

Sometimes the things you want to do

Come at the same time, and then you

Must make a choice between the two,

But which to choose--I wish I knew!

Goodness

      We all know what goodness it, but it's a little hard to define it. My Webster's Dictionary calls it "virtue" and "kindness."  A larger dictionary adds these synonyms: "moral excellence, kindly feeling, generosity, integrity, honesty, and uprightness."  Another word for "uprightness" could be "righteousness."  How would you describe "goodness"?  I think it's a heart that is right with God and a life that is lived in obedience to His will as spelled out in Scripture.

      The model for goodness is the character of God.  He is too good to do any evil.  From Him emanates love, mercy, grace, kindness, generosity.  From a good person emanate acts of love, kindness, and generosity.  Matthew 7:17 tells us that a good tree brings forth good fruit.

      When we accept Christ as Savior, God gives us a new nature, His nature, in the form of the Holy Spirit Who comes to live within us. 

And when God's Holy spirit controls our lives, He will produce righteous acts, kind deeds, moral behavior,  the fruit of goodness, in and through our lives.

      Philippians 2:5 exhorts us,  "Let that mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus."  I like Andrew Murray's comment which is a summary of goodness.  He said,  "The mind of Christ must be my mind, my disposition, and my life."

Father, You have told us that "as a man thinks in his heart, so is he."  May we have Your mind and Your heart so that the Holy Spirit will produce the fruit of goodness in and through our lives.  Amen.

Life's Little Frustrations

It's not that I don't realize

The benefits of exercise.

That's not all that there is to it.

I still find it hard to DO it!