DISCOVER BEAUTY IN EVERYONE!

Posted on February 12, 2014 by randscallawayffm
Another Romans 12 reminder…

“Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody.” Romans 12, Msg

How do we do this? By giving each other value. God sent His Son to come to earth to walk among us. He moved into the neighborhoods of mankind. Jesus gave value to all people he met by looking them in the eyes and listening to what they had to say. That is probably one the biggest reasons they, in turn, listened to him and followed him by the thousands. Value people like that. 

Jesus then valued you and I by going to a cross, voluntarily, to die for our sins. He took the blame without blaming anyone else, and died for our sin. Value people like that.

Truly listen. Look people in the eyes when you listen. Look so intently that you see their souls. Discover the beauty put there by our God who created it in all humans. Value people like that.

“Treat everyone you meet with dignity.” (1 Peter 2:17 MSG)

Loving like Jesus means you must value others the way Jesus values you. We sing an old chorus, “let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me”. The best way to do that is to “discover the beauty in everyone” else.

Value…people crave it. Give it freely as Jesus gave it to you.

 
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Dear Heavenly Father, Your Word reaches deep inside my heart this morning with this transforming characteristic of Christ of giving value. Open my eyes to see and my ears to really listen…to give value to another human today. In Jesus Name, Amen

 

 

 

 
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LOVE…GOD’S WAY!

Posted on February 11, 2014 by randscallawayffm

A Romans 12 reminder…

“Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.” Romans 12, Msg

Loving and accepting someone does not mean you approve of all they do. The Bible says in Romans 15:7, “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you” (NIV). Jesus accepts and loves us deeply…that doesn’t mean He approves of everything we do. He knows we are work in progress until we see Him face to face.

How do we love like that? One of the ways you can show love, “from the center of who you are” and acceptance to other people is to listen to them. Love pays attention. Love listens to the fears and the doubts of others and treats them with respect. Love accepts others the way Jesus accepts you. Love like that!

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Dear Heavenly Father, Continually change our minds, our “view of things and others”, until we love perfectly like you love us. It is by grace alone that we are accepted by you. Thank you! Now, that we know what love and acceptance truly is, give us Your power to show it to others. We don’t have to approve of what they do to show the love of Christ to them. Yes, change us from the inside out. 

In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE ART OF BEING YOU

Posted on February 10, 2014 by randscallawayffm
God’s Word says that we, as believers, are a masterpiece, a work in progress, by the Master Artist, God. Each one of us is the simple canvas on which the Master Artist creates his work. No two pieces of art are the same. 

Each work of art is begun with knowing what it will look like in the end. He knows what colors will be needed. He knows which strokes need to be gently applied and those that need more pressure to accomplish the end result…another work of art…His Masterpiece! We are HIS Masterpiece. Let Him have his way with you. With me.

How can a work of art, a canvas, paint itself? How can the created tell the master artist what strokes are needed or what paint or other medium to use? 

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Eph 2:10, NLT

God’s Word then extends this thought with each work of art having a specific purpose. So, how can a painting, in progress of becoming a meadow make itself transform into a mountain? Or a dessert in an ocean? Only God can make those changes. Get the picture? 

God’s Word tells us in Romans 12 we cannot be anyone else other than who God intended for us to be. And we should not compare what God is painting on our canvas with what He is painting on the canvas of someone else. 

Why do we frustrate ourselves by trying to be something we are not? It is like telling a dog to be a cat!
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Let go. Let God.

“…let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t.” Romans 12, Msg, One bite at a time.

Dear Heavenly Father, You are Creator. We are the created. You are God. We are not. Thank you for constantly and consistently reminding us that we are only to be what You intended for us to be. Thank you for the freedom that brings to our lives. Trying to be like everyone else is bondage and impossible. Thank you for your strokes of genius on our canvas. Keep working on me until I am all YOU want me to be. And do.
In Jesus Name, Amen

 
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NEWS FLASH: GOD DOES NOT NEED US!

Posted on February 9, 2014 by randscallawayffm

“I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God.”

“No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.” Romans 12, Msg 

God loves letting us in on His work, but we are not the reason for the work. He allows us to join Him so He is even more known to us about who He is…the Almighty God, Ruler of all, Creator of all, in control of all. He is our salvation, our light through the darkness. He loves us, wants to transform us along the journey to be more and more like Him. It’s still not about us. It’s always about Him.
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“Everything come from him;
Everything happens through him;
Everything ends up in him.
Always glory! Always praise!
Yes. Yes. Yes.

Dear Heavenly Father, We are not moving from Romans 12, Your Word to us, until we get this right. Thank you for your teaching. Thank you for allowing us to join You in Your work from time to time, knowing full well we are not responsible for the outcome of this work. What a relief! You don’t need us…we need YOU…every hour of every day. It’s about learning more about You IN the work. It’s You. It’s always been You and always will be…You! Yes, In Jesus Name, Amen

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GIVE US THIS DAY

Posted on February 8, 2014 by randscallawayffm

Lord, give us THIS day…

A Romans 12 Reminder…

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you; Take your everyday, ordinary life–your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.” 
Rom 12, Msg
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In Jesus Name, Amen

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WHAT TO WEAR, WHAT TO WEAR…

Posted on February 7, 2014 by randscallawayffm

After coffee, I begin to wonder what to wear for the day’s activities. We do this every morning, don’t we? We think about what we are going to do, then dress accordingly. Will we be going outside? Dress warmly. Will we be seeing anyone? Might put on a little make-up. Going to an important meeting or appointment? Work harder at making ourselves presentable so people will listen and not be distracted by our appearance. These are just some of the things we tell ourselves. 

Then I remember that God has already chosen my wardrobe and it is the best. If I put it on, I will be at His best throughout this day. 

“So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. NEVER be without it.” 
Col 3, Msg
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Dear Heavenly Father, Give us this day Your wardrobe of love. Dress us from the inside out with Your compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline with even temperedness. Forgive us our sin as we forgive those who sin or merely hurt us…completely. Yes, Lord, give us THIS day Your garment of love, in Your Name, by Your Power, Amen

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BE DIFFERENT, ON PURPOSE!

Posted on February 6, 2014 by randscallawayffm

Another Romans 12 Reminder…

“Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture hat you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out.” 

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Dear Heavenly Father, Change me. Change my heart, mind and soul. Transform me more and more to be like You, so I will think and behave more like You. In Jesus Name, Amen

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I GIVE UP!

Posted on February 5, 2014 by randscallawayffm

ROMANS 12 REMINDER…

“Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” Romans 12, Msg
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Dear Heavenly Father,
Only You can do this in us, for we cannot do it ourselves. I confess that I try to do it myself and fail miserably. So, here I am, ready to get up and listen to you. Let’s try this again, together. Focused.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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EVERYTHING!

Posted on February 4, 2014 by randscallawayffm

EVERYTHING!.

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EVERYTHING!

Posted on February 4, 2014 by randscallawayffm

EVERYTHING!

“Everything comes from him;
Everything happens through him;
Everything ends up in him. Always glory! Always praise!
Yes. Yes. Yes!” 

(Romans 11, Msg- a precursor to Romans 12!)

EVERYTHING! There is nothing you can think of that escapes God.
So, therefore, because of…GIVE UP!

“Give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice–the kind he will accept.” Romans 12:1, NLT
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In Jesus Name, Amen

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