Released

Jesus opened the prison doors and let you out, but a lot of times we just don't feel the love as a result of that, so we contain ourselves where we are the strongest, and that is usually back where we are the most vulnerable.

Questionable behavior sprouts out of what we plant.  If we are given grape seeds and throw them away in favor of planting thistles, then this is a replica of our life.  The grape seeds are anything to do with the Word of God and the thistles are anything to do with the world.

Matthew 7:16  By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?

Thistles may have beautiful flowers but you have to approach them carefully, whereas grape vines are very approachable and the fruit is very nourishing.   When we lock ourselves back up in our selfish thinking then we are telling Jesus that what He did for us just doesn't matter.  So we lose out out on a magnificent gift.  

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Graceless

What is the purpose of us being on this planet? Why are we supposed to live a law biding life and always follow the rules?  Why can't we just do what makes us feel good and forget about everyone else?  Lets look at life in a Petri Dish for a moment.  Mold and bacteria grow in there because there is something to feed on, and there's enough sweetener or Agar in the dish to allow the micro organisms to flourish.  When the sweetener is gone the organisms die.

Our spiritual life can be just like that too!   We can take on these sweeteners that seem to make us a better person and spiritual person, but in the long run they are spiritual anchors.

Matthew 5:19  Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven

That's not the kind of people God wants in Heaven, one's that only feed on sweetener.  God wants people that can flourish on the word of God without the sweeteners, the one's with bravery to withstand the world's taunts for choosing what is right later instead of cheap immediate sweeteners.

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Fear

When you don't know whats' coming next, when you see a facade that looks soo threatening standing in front of you, when others you love and admire are in trouble of some sort, those are some of the times when we experience the greatest amount fear.

So when we hear statements like "Fear the Lord", what goes through your head?  When I was 10 or 12 years old I always thought to myself, "Why do I need to fear Him".  He is a loving God!  So I was confused.  But over the years I've come to realize that if people are living a questionable lifestyle then that fear is a very present factor in their lives and something I've experienced personally.

Deuteronomy 6:13 Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.

So what I've learned is that that "Fear" we are talking about for me personally, is that I fear not doing His will, so I fear the outcome of my wayward thinking and I fear how that will affect my relationship with God.

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Grace

When you are void of grace, the world appears to be your own personal canvas, a place where you can change and manipulate anything and anyone without recompense.  Others emotions are simply an action of their own doing and not related to anything that you're doing. People appear 2 dimensional and if you wreck one then "its okay because they are not real anyway".  You basically have no feelings for others except what they can do for you only.

It's when we suddenly become aware of this, how we have been treating others and then our conscience is activated that we experience grace for the first time.

Romans 6:14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

Grace grants us peace in the midst of turmoil, gives us patience when we see ourself reflected in others, and opens our eyes when the real truth finally breaks through the dichotomy we have been surviving in.

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Transparency

What is the fear about being transparent with people?  I've heard that it is a flaw of character when you reveal your weaknesses to people, I've heard that it is a private matter and shouldn't be revealed, and I've heard that it means that you can be taken advantage of.

Transparency reveals the truth about you, it shows that you can be trusted because. . . yes . . .you too have mistakes in your life.  We all have mountains of mistakes that we can spend the rest of our life covering up and losing ourself in those onion-skin wrappings, to other people it stinks and we spend money, effort, and self worth spraying it with pretend deodorants to try to make it smell pretty.

John 3:21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

Just knowing that you don't have to carry all of those facades around with you for every situation, releases you to be a much happier relaxed person.

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Truth

Truth they say is completely of your own making, it's something you devise to suit your own purposes. In reality, that is the world's view as the real truth that is hidden in the Bible has far reaching effects into our life and our interactions with others.

However, there are a lot of perspectives on whether the Bible is true and accurate, or is it just a book written by old men with nothing else to do and trying to manipulate us?  Some think the Old Testament and New Testament have no correlation with each other.

Psalm 80:17  Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand, the son of man you have raised up for yourself.

The Old Testament carries with it all of the descriptions for the New Testament, just as the whole Bible carries with it the description that our life could take should we make the effort to follow it, or just continue on our merry way and hope that the Bible is not true.

But . . . . what if it is true, right down to the last letter?  Where will we be then if we continue on our merry way?

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Responsibility

What is our responsibility as individuals in our neighborhood and greater community?  Why are we faced with so many challenges in life?  Why does life appear to be so difficult and unpredictable?

No easy answers to some serious questions.  But here's a thought, why not focus on other things rather than the negative things that seem to consume our thinking and energy?  In all actuality that's what we are supposed to do.

Philippians 4:8  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.

Why waste your time thinking and worrying about garbage most of which you can't do anything about anyway?  Focusing on junk like that can very easily drag you into compulsive and addictive behaviours.  So lets think about things that will help change one of those negatives and gradually others will join in with you...as long as you don't quit in the meantime.

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Fearless

Do you know the difference between being fearless & smart v/s fearless & stupid?

The 2nd one shows a person who is fearless by their own might, where they are determined to do things their own way, force their way through, create their own world.  That's fine you can do that, but the longevity factor is a bigger hindrance to all that you do.

Fearless & smart is having a plan, bringing it to God to ask if it falls into the way God wants you to live your life.  You can still be determined about it and continue to pray to God for his blessing over it.  When you believe that it fits into God's word, and believe in your heart that it is so, then God will grant you the desires of your heart.

God isn't a mean God, he's not looking for ways to destroy your creativity.  He wants you to excel, just bring it to Him first so He can bless it!

1 Corinthians 12:31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. [ Love Is Indispensable ] And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

Happy Easter Jesus Has Risen

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Consistent

It's nice to know that when you are experiencing hard times and you turn around to see someone who has your back, someone you never knew was there but was brushing aside deceitful work raged against you and stamping out flaming arrows aimed at your back.  Someone who consistently has your better interests in focus and can see your future and knows the full plan for your life.

Psalm 5:11  But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

When you are living a pure and clean life and show your commitment to God and then put your complete trust in that premise, it releases you to do your best work.  Just knowing that expands your thinking capacity because now you don't have to worry about anything except what your good at. 

It's true: your creativity, freedom of thought, and your love of God all expand with the more He gives you.

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Young Adult

When I was young; I knew everything, my ideas were all original in my mind, my actions were necessary, and I was the most just person I knew back then.   Nobody could tell me I was making a mistake because I wasn't. . . . at the time!!  It's funny how the older you get and the more kicks you take in life, the more you realize that wisdom is just a collection of hurt feelings, black eyes, cuts and bruises.  

Ecclesiastes 11:9,  "You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.  Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment."

Every questionable action, frivolous thought and comment, are all necessary in order to be judged for our actions.  So why would we purposefully do that, when we know full well that we will be in trouble later for it?  Because we don't have enough emotional damage in order to think clearly about things.  Our carnal desires have NO consequences . . . right now, but they will and its going to hurt!!  

Best to clear the air right now by confessing your sins so the damage will be less later.  It's time to think ahead.

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Plateau

Whenever something doesn't go our way we can assume it is defeat, but in reality it is just a change in our direction.  Our plans morph over time as we live our life and most times we don't even notice the change.  Or maybe we do and think everything will be fine.  Then the bottom falls out of our world and we are devastated.  At least that's our view....

But it's just a plateau!  God sees the whole picture of our life and knows when it's time for us to move on.  To grow in our thinking, expand our small world, meet new people, & experience greater things.  If we can't stand change, then it can be tough to take, and if we don't know God then it can be hell.

Psalm 71:14 "As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more."

A series of unfortunate events is not a curse and certainly no reason to fall off the rails into addictive and compulsive behaviours.  It's simply designed to get us off the plateau and onto greater and higher  things.  But more importantly, to teach us how to stay secure with God.

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Petri Dish

What is the purpose of us being on this planet? Why are we supposed to live a law biding life and always follow the rules?  Why can't we just do what makes us feel good and forget about everyone else?  Lets look at life in a Petri Dish for a moment.  Mold and bacteria grow in there because there is something to feed on, and there's enough sweetener or Agar in the dish to allow the micro organisms to flourish.  When the sweetener is gone the organisms die.

That's not the kind of people God wants in Heaven, one's that only feed on sweetener.  God wants people that can flourish on the word of God without the sweeteners, the one's with bravery to withstand the world's taunts for choosing what is right later instead of cheap immediate sweeteners.

Matthew 5:19  Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

You can blindly fall for the fake worldly sweeteners RIGHT NOW and get nothing later, or you can wait for the best Heavenly sweeteners you could ever imagine when you finally meet God IN HEAVEN.

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Preaching

It's hard to listen to someone who appears to be preaching directly at you or down to you and making you feel guilty.  It's easier to criticize them and avoid them than it is to actually listen to them.  To be fair there are people who beat you with the teachings in the Bible or any other religion for that matter, but if you are even slightly offended at the mention of what's right and wrong then maybe it's not the teacher!!  Maybe it's your conscience talking to you?  Maybe you don't realize you're breaking the law.  That's why we get speeding tickets.

Romans 7:7  What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. 

Well ... maybe you don't want to change and listen to rules, or maybe you're just not used to listening to rules and you're always making your own way in life?  People break Biblical laws and still go to Heaven but your reward is much smaller when you get there.  The fundamental difference is this: 

1. you can live like hell on Earth right now and maybe you'll get to Heaven v/s
2. following the rules now and see how BIG your reward is when you DO get to Heaven! 

The Bible also says that you're simply giving in to temptation and you are receiving your reward right now and none later!

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Recompense

Life can be tough some times, heartaches, rogue emotions in us and others, even acts of harm against us, for no reason.  People scoff at that like I did, but the reality is that when you avoid someone because their lifestyle no longer fits in with your new life based on the teachings of Jesus Christ, they can become very offended.  You still respect them but they cannot handle it with you living a clean life and them still struggling and being overwhelmed with their sin life.  If only they would realize that complete surrender to Jesus is the only way.

Proverbs 12:21 No harm overtakes the righteous, but the wicked have their fill of trouble. 

No matter what they say about you or do to you, you always have the relationship with Jesus, as long as you don't slide back into that old lifestyle.  Sharing Jesus' teachings with them works, but if their guilt is greater than their will to come clean then the carnage in their life becomes greater and unfortunately they can take that out on you.  

Their anguish is probably heightened when we continue to display the peace and joy awarded us through Jesus Christ, a perk when you have a personal relationship with Him.

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Idolatry

Ever wonder why you think the way you do and get into situations you never thought you would?

Well in reality, an idol is something that steals all your time, uses up your brain power with you trying to get more of it.  It can be anything: our hobbies, striving for money or fame, crime, thought life, addiction, co-dependency where you can't be away from someone, and even things like worshiping the moon.

So let's look at what the 1st commandment is talking about?  Exodus 20:3 "You shall have no other God's before me"

The Bible gives us clear instructions on how to live a stress free life, but if we don't take the time to understand that it is there for us to grow with, then we will fall into strange habits and thoughts.

 

Colossians 3:5  "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry."

I know it sounds easier than doing it because our pride can get in the way!  But I promise that if you do try it you will be rewarded.

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Legal

Everyone has a theory about the Bible, people on both sides say either the Old or New Testament no longer apply or cancel each other out.  Reality is, those people that avoid religion are judged by the Old Testament and those that accept the New Testament want to live their life by the Old Testament.  If you're avoiding it, then you've heard about it!

Galatians 5:18  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

If you live under the Old Testament only then you will never live up to the list of rules in it, so you are under the law.  If you accept Jesus Christ & the Holy Spirit as the head of your life then Grace fills your world and suddenly living according to the Old Testament becomes much easier, simply because you want to try, not because you have to.  Then, if you fail any of the laws, you know you are forgiven.

Incidentally, those people who have never heard that there is an Old or New Testament cannot be judged, because they have never had the opportunity to accept or avoid the Holy Spirit.

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Thoughts

Our thought life is the GPS for the next action we take.  GPS is wonderful when its accurate and they are getting better all the time.  But we don't have to follow the direction it tells us to take which can land us in difficulty.  Getting through life is much like that, our GPS conscience tells us things and if we ignore it, then we wind up in difficulty.

Jeremiah 17:10 “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”

When you say "NO" to everything, you become stuffy, old, and miserable before your time.
When you say "YES" to everything, you become gullible, weak, and exhausted before your time.

God wants you to take everything to Him and find out what thinks.  The Bible is our GPS to get us through life.

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Flesh

Not the kind we have on our body, but rather a way of thinking.  When a person is deep in their addiction or compulsive behaviour, this is called living in the flesh.  Our mind is totally controlled by our repetitive actions, and the furthest thing from our thinking is God and His plan for our life.

Roman's 8:7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.

We think we are free living under our curse because we get to do what we want, but in reality we know that we are trapped in a hell-hole of despair, hurt, and lies.  We lie to others & ourself saying "it's not that bad", but deep down we are sickened by our plight.

The other option is giving your life to Jesus Christ, secretly praying, asking Him into your heart and allowing Him to clean you up.  May have to follow a few rules but it is infinitely better than the way you are now.  After a while you will find that your old lifestyle will start to make you sick just thinking about it.

Try it and see for yourself!  No one needs to know, it's just between you and Jesus.

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Belief

Most people don't spend enough time looking things up to see why they believe in something.  It's when an article comes along or someone has an interesting story, that we adopt that line of thinking without testing it first.  That is the basis of alot of false religions & addictions believe it or not.  We are fed a line that something is actually good for you and we believe it simply because we have no other response or haven't spent the time looking it up for our self.

1 Corinthians 1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

When we just take hearsay and false doctrines and build a complex belief system for ourself, then we have created a lie that we can follow.  No wonder the world has so many problems and so many people have a life that is short of a living hell.

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Sanctify

Most people don't know what that is!  It's when you believe in something, finally understand it completely, and give your whole life over to it.  It's doing everything in your life to live according to the teachings of Jesus Christ.  You might still fall at times but your heart is in the right place and want to live wholesomely.  People respect your commitment and you become sanctified.

The opposite of that is an addictive or compulsive behaviour that runs your life, you have no say, basically out of control, and death or destruction is near you all the time.  Your loved ones suffer the most.

1 Thessalonians 4:4-5  Learn to appreciate and give dignity to your body, not abusing it, as is so common among those who know nothing of God. (MSG)

The difference is obvious;  living for God and serving others v/s serving self over all others and ignoring God.  The first one leads to life and the other leads to death.

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