SETTLE ME DOWN, LORD!

Posted on March 8, 2016 by randscallawayffm

Philippians – The Happiness Letter

Imagine a humongous dump truck full of manure. Now imagine this dump truck being driven by you! Imagine backing the truck up to your big garden spot in your backyard. Beep, beep, beep. Here the rumble of the engine. Now, take the lever in your hand and pull it down, dumping all that smelly manure on your garden plot. Whew, you sigh deeply of satisfaction, because you know that smelly stuff is going to be mixed inwith the good soil to create the most beautiful, bountiful fruits and vegetables ever in your history of garden production!

Can we do the same mental exercise with our worries? Let’s put all our worries and concerns, every one, into a huge dump truck. This time the truck is driven by Jesus Christ. You are in the passenger’s seat beside Him. He allows YOU to pull the lever, dumping all the worries into the garden of our lives. He mixes and shapes until “everything comes together for good”. HE does all the work. We worship while He works! Spiritual fruits are produced in abundance. Wow!

Philippians 4, The Message

6-7 Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

What do we learn?
–Dump it. All of it. “It” is worry.
–Bring all your concerns to God for He cares for you.
–Jesus is ready to displace our worries and settle us down.
–Worry turns to praise when Jesus is at the center of our lives.
–Don’t get a shovel and pick it back up, and carry it around with you! Yuck.

988421_10152288974732777_1530475933_n

Dear Heavenly Father, We repent of spending too much time in useless worry. It’s unhealthy in so many ways. You are God and we are not. We trust in You alone. There is no one like You, no one at all. So, why do we worry and why do we fret? There is no reason. So we dump all worries and concerns at your feet, shaping them into prayers and then letting You take over, once again. Don’t allow us to stay in our state of worry for too long. Settle our minds. Jesus be the center of our lives today. Right now. And now we worship! Praises to the Holy One!
In Jesus Name, Amen

Posted in Christian Living, Christian Perspective, Corinthians, Encouragement, Faith, heaven, Holy Spirit, hospitality, insight, Jesus, joy, Leadership, Macedonian Call, marriage, ministry, Prayer, Romans, Salvation, Teaching, Training, Truth, Uncategorized, Unconditional love, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

WHAT GOD DOESN’T WANT…

Posted on March 7, 2016 by randscallawayffm

Philippians – The Happiness Letter Why is it so hard and painful to talk to a person about your hurt and offense by them. It isn’t easier to wallow in self pity. It doesn’t bring …

Source: WHAT GOD DOESN’T WANT…

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

WHAT GOD DOESN’T WANT…

Posted on March 7, 2016 by randscallawayffm

Philippians – The Happiness Letter

Why is it so hard and painful to talk to a person about your hurt and offense by them. It isn’t easier to wallow in self pity. It doesn’t bring peace to keep replaying the hurt like an pushing the reverse click on the computer. It’s unhealthy and causes stomach problems to think about it. What is “it”…it’s called a grudge. We all know it stinks. It’s hard to get over that hill, but when we do, joy and happiness returns. The relationship may or may not be restored but you have done your part by letting go of the grudge and at least trying to make peace and move on. “God doesn’t want his children holding grudges.”

The following from God’s Word is a short passage that carries a big wallop of wisdom for living as one of God’s kids.

Philippians 4, The Message
My dear, dear friends! I love you so much. I do want the very best for you. You make me feel such joy, fill me with such pride. Don’t waver. Stay on track, steady in God.

Pray About Everything
2 I urge Euodia and Syntyche to iron out their differences and make up. God doesn’t want his children holding grudges.

3 And, oh, yes, Syzygus, since you’re right there to help them work things out, do your best with them. These women worked for the Message hand in hand with Clement and me, and with the other veterans—worked as hard as any of us. Remember, their names are also in the Book of Life.

4-5 Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!

What do we learn and what does God want?
–To know that we are his children.
–He wants his children (his church) to be in unity of purpose.
–He wants us to love each other enough to talk to each other instead of about each other.
–Assume the best in each other, not the worst.
–Treat each other kindly and full of grace.
–We all work hard. We are all on the same team.
–The Master, Jesus Christ, who died for our sins, IS coming back.
–Maybe today?
–SO, instead celebrate God! Revel in Him. True joy and happiness are instantly found when we do…

Bokeh of city lights

Bokeh of city lights

Dear Heavenly Father, Help us in this inward battle to defeat our own selfishness of holding a grudge. It is unhealthy, sinful, full of pride and self-pity. Give us courage to face this battle head on and do what we must to end the war within. Forgive us our sin as we forgive those who merely offend us. In Jesus Name, Amen

Posted in Christian Living, Christian Perspective, Corinthians, Encouragement, Faith, heaven, Holy Spirit, hospitality, insight, Jesus, joy, Leadership, Macedonian Call, marriage, ministry, Prayer, Romans, Salvation, Teaching, Training, Truth, Uncategorized, Unconditional love, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

STICK WITH ME!

Posted on March 6, 2016 by randscallawayffm

Philippians – The Happiness Letter What joy it is to have good friends or family members who you know will stick with you in good times and bad. It is reassuring when you fall into the dumps …

Source: STICK WITH ME!

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

STICK WITH ME!

Posted on March 6, 2016 by randscallawayffm

Philippians – The Happiness Letter

What joy it is to have good friends or family members who you know will stick with you in good times and bad. It is reassuring when you fall into the dumps of mourning, self-pity or just exhaustion from working hard or trying circumstances. Thank God for those friends and family. Thank them by telling them and sticking with them in their good times and bad.

Running the course God has set out for us is not easy, as Paul reminds us, but if we stick with God, his purpose and best for us, stick with our brothers and sisters in Christ, then we are promised that Jesus Christ, our Messiah, our Savior and Lord, will still stick with us! Jesus will return, claim us as His own, transform our earthly tents to glorious bodies like his own. He will make us beautiful and whole. Finally. Stick with Jesus.

Philippians 3, The Message

7-19 Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I’ve warned you of them many times; sadly, I’m having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ’s Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.

20-21 But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He’ll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.

What do we learn?
–What joy awaits those who believe, focused on God’s higher goals, act as His will commands and love Him back with all our hearts, minds and souls.
–There is NO greater joy than doing exactly what God intended for us to be and do.

come alongside to help

Dear Heavenly Father, We cry out to you this morning for wisdom, insight and understanding as we strive to stick with You and what You have given us to do. Thank you for this message of encouragement. Thank you for preparing a place for us. Thank you for getting us ready here..for there with You. We love you, Lord. Go with us today…In Jesus Name, Amen

Posted in ACTS, Christian Living, Christian Perspective, Corinthians, Encouragement, Faith, heaven, Holy Spirit, hospitality, insight, Jesus, joy, Leadership, Macedonian Call, marriage, ministry, Prayer, Romans, Salvation, Teaching, Training, Truth, Uncategorized, Unconditional love, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

NO HAS ARRIVED BUT EVERYONE IS LOVED AND ON THEIR WAY!

Posted on March 5, 2016 by randscallawayffm

Philippians – The Happiness Letter How many times have you heard someone say, “I have it all together, I just don’t know where I put it!” Smiling, but because this is me som…

Source: NO HAS ARRIVED BUT EVERYONE IS LOVED AND ON THEIR WAY!

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

NO HAS ARRIVED BUT EVERYONE IS LOVED AND ON THEIR WAY!

Posted on March 5, 2016 by randscallawayffm

Philippians – The Happiness Letter

How many times have you heard someone say, “I have it all together, I just don’t know where I put it!” Smiling, but because this is me sometimes. I even put stuff in “special” places so I won’t forget it, and forget where that special place is located. Mm. No we haven’t arrived, even in our spiritual lives, but we are loved and well on our way…if we believe, stay focused, trust and obey. AND we rejoice in being loved so unconditionally by our God, our Father in Heaven, who knew us before we were born, loves us unconditionally and has our name written on the palm of His precious hand. Wow. Rejoice!

Philippians 3, The Message

Focused on the Goal
12-14 I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.

15-16 So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it.

17-19 Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I’ve warned you of them many times; sadly, I’m having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ’s Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.

20-21 But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He’ll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.

10974735_10153244083268694_676032723751243449_o

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you. Just thank you from my heart to the heavens, I thank you and praise you for loving me. You are God and I am not. I do not have it all together, but I know You do. So I will trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy. In Jesus Name, Amen

Posted in ACTS, Christian Living, Christian Perspective, Corinthians, Encouragement, Faith, heaven, Holy Spirit, hospitality, insight, Jesus, joy, Leadership, Macedonian Call, marriage, ministry, Prayer, Romans, Salvation, Teaching, Training, Truth, Uncategorized, Unconditional love, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

BECAUSE OF CHRIST…

Posted on March 4, 2016 by randscallawayffm

Philippians – The Happiness Letter Seriously. I do not know what I would do without Christ in my heart, His Presence in my daily journey. HE is my life. HE comes first before I can begin my d…

Source: BECAUSE OF CHRIST…

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

BECAUSE OF CHRIST…

Posted on March 4, 2016 by randscallawayffm

Philippians – The Happiness Letter

Seriously. I do not know what I would do without Christ in my heart, His Presence in my daily journey. HE is my life. HE comes first before I can begin my day! Because of Christ, I live, truly live. His is my strength and my song all day long, no matter the challenge or circumstance. He is there. Yes, in Jesus Name, I live a redeemed life. Is it because I am strong? NO, it is because I am weak and always in need of a Savior and Lord. HE is my strength. And I rejoice. Again, I rejoice. My joy is never ending all because of Christ.

Paul is a serious, passionate believer…a true believer who also knows his needs, knows his Savior and Lord, knows his purpose and “fills the air with Christ’s praise” as he does it. This is the person I want to be…all because of Christ.

Philippians 3, The Message
The real believers are the ones the Spirit of God leads to work away at this ministry, filling the air with Christ’s praise as we do it. We couldn’t carry this off by our own efforts, and we know it—even though we can list what many might think are impressive credentials. You know my pedigree: a legitimate birth, circumcised on the eighth day; an Israelite from the elite tribe of Benjamin; a strict and devout adherent to God’s law; a fiery defender of the purity of my religion, even to the point of persecuting the church; a meticulous observer of everything set down in God’s law Book.

7-9 The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I’m tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn’t want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God’s righteousness.

10-11 I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it.

Focused on the Goal
12-14 I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me.

Jesus invites

Reflect…
May all we think, imagine, act on or behave be done in Jesus Name…all because of Christ Jesus our Savior and Lord.

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray we all can relate and be Your breath of fresh air to someone today. Help us to see You clearly then see others through Your eyes. We will be praising you all day long. All because of Christ. In Jesus Name, Amen

And I’m singing…

Hope for all the world You came down,

Traded heaven’s throne for a sinner’s crown,

Grace poured out,

Son of righteousness crucified,

Hanging on the cross You paid the price,

To give us life
In Jesus’ name our sins are washed away,

In Jesus’ name we are rescued, we are saved,

For love has come to make a way for us,

In Jesus’ name there is freedom for the broken,

In Jesus’ name there is healing for the hopeless,

For all our days, We rest in Jesus’ name

You alone are good forever true,

Never far away,

We’re holding on to you, only You…

In Jesus’ name our sins are washed away,

In Jesus’ name we are rescued, we are saved,

For love has come to make a way for us,

In Jesus’ name there is freedom for the broken,

In Jesus’ name there is healing for the hopeless,

For all our days, We rest in Jesus’ name
Holy, holy, You are worthy,

Hallelujah we are free

For all our days, We rest in Jesus’ name

Posted in ACTS, Christian Living, Christian Perspective, Encouragement, Faith, heaven, Holy Spirit, hospitality, insight, Jesus, joy, Leadership, Macedonian Call, marriage, ministry, Prayer, Romans, Salvation, Teaching, Training, Truth, Uncategorized, Unconditional love, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

REJOICE TOGETHER!

Posted on March 3, 2016 by randscallawayffm

Philippians – The Happiness Letter “Do you know her?” one woman says to another. “Yes, I do! She’s the real thing!” replies the other. This is probably followed …

Source: REJOICE TOGETHER!

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment