Tuesday, November 17, 2020

SNIPPET: STASHES

Use those stick-'em pads? I do, especially for jotting Bible quotes. "I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me." "If God be for me, who can be against me." "No fear in Jesus." Stick, stick, stick. Pretty soon, they're a stashful in my drawer. They better not just be in there. His Word must be stashed in our hearts! Psalm 119:11 "Your Word have I hidden in my heart that I may not sin against you." What's to un-stash from our hearts? Unforgiveness. Fears. Regrets. His Word hidden in our hearts should be enough to blot out those dark thoughts and anxieties.

SNIPPET: INSEPARABLE FROM CHRIST

“...in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39

SNIPPET: THANKS FOR WHAT

What are you thankful for? Your family? Your wealth and material possessions? Your job? Your friends? Your freedom? All these we enjoy because of God's amazing grace. Why not give heaven a big shout-out. "Thank you, Jesus! Thank you for saving me. I repent and acknowledge that apart from you, I can do nothing. Be my Way. Be my Truth. Be my Life."

SNIPPET: BORDERS

 Most of life is about boundaries. West/east. Land/sea. Light/dark. Truth/lies. Right/left. Male/female. Narrow gate/wide gate. Get out of these designations and confusion somehow sets in. Maybe these borders, boundaries, limitations—whatever you want to call them—is for a reason. God wants us to order our lives. He's a God of order and not of chaos, so He designated laws and rules and limits. They're not meant to shackle us but to release and free us towards our purpose. Psalm 74:17 "Thou hast set all the borders of the earth; thou hast made summer and winter." So the next time you get an urge to go beyond your borders, think again. Borders are for our protection.

SNIPPET: THIS JESUS THING

Some of my acquaintances think I overdo it. Guilty as charged. How can’t I? Forgiven. Saved. Declared righteous in spite of me being a sinner. My life changed. Peace in my heart. Joy which overflows. And a million other things besides. How can I bottle all of these up? If you’ve encountered THE ONE who could save your soul from hell, wouldn’t you speak up? If you encounter THE ONE who can turn your life around, wouldn’t you respond? Don’t let Jesus just be an info in your mind. Let Him be the Savior you invite to your heart. Put your faith in Him. ONLY HIM. Let’s see how that changes everything.