Simple & Abundant

On October 30, 2015   /   Endurance, Faith, Strengthing, Victory  

Things Above Thoughts
TAT #38
Simple and Abundant

The entire human race was plunged into sin because Adam and the woman took one bite out of one piece of fruit. Job was blessed abundantly simply because he forgave his friends (Job 42:10). Naaman was healed of leprosy because he simply washed in the Jordan river rather than doing a great and might work of his own (1 Kings 5:1–14). Moses was kept out of the promised land because he simply struck a stone with his staff (Num. 20:11–12). We are saved into an abundant spiritual life because of one person (Rom. 5:19).

Many are now telling us that we all can do great things. Hollywood releases movie after movie of simple people doing great things, becoming great people, and we all cheer at the end. The countries of the world have a “New World Order” in mind and are looking for great people to lead us into that “new” frontier. A bigger and better world order with abundance for everybody.

But what about the simple things that God asks us to do every day of our lives? He simply asks us to be obedient to Him and then to wait for His blessings ………………………………………… even if they come after death ……………………………………… and last for all eternity (Heb. 11:1–40).

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Don’t Be Satisfied

On October 29, 2015   /   Bible, Character, Christian Basics, Christian Values, Faith, Goals, Reigning, Strengthing, Victory  

Things Above Thought
TAT #34
Don’t Be Satisfied

Are you satisfied with your biblical knowledge? Are you satisfied with the frequency with which you learn biblical knowledge? Are you satisfied with your biblical study habits? Are you satisfied with your ability to help others understand the Bible? Are you satisfied that the biblical knowledge you have is accurate? Don’t be satisfied with biblical knowledge!

For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,  so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects,
(Col. 1:9– 10)

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Heavenly Witness

On October 27, 2015   /   Christian Basics, Darkness & Light, Endurance, Eternal, Faith, Heavenly Witness, Kingdom, Trials, Victory  

Things Above Thoughts
TAT #20
Witness

No body knows the troubles you’ve seen!

You have tried to be faithful to God and you have seen much hurt and pain from all the confrontations and battles. Some of the pain remains with you today. But understanding yesterday’s battles from God’s perspective lessens today’s pain.

The Good of the battle:

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2–4)

The Glory of the battle:

To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to enlighten everyone about God’s secret plan– a secret that has been hidden for ages in God who has created all things. The purpose of this enlightenment is that through the church (that’s you) the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 3:9–10 NET clarification and emphasis added)

In heaven – your pain is known and God is glorified by your faithfulness – in heaven!

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Goals

On October 27, 2015   /   Christian Basics, Christian Values, Endurance, Eternal, Faith, Kingdom, Victory  

Things Above Thoughts
TAT #19
GOALS

What goals do you have for your life? Love, family, home, good job, money, retirement?
Check out these goals straight from the lips of our Lord:

Thus says the LORD of hosts, “If you will walk in My ways and if you will perform My service, then you will also govern My house and also have charge of My courts, and I will grant you free access among these who are standing here.” (Zechariah 3:7)

The above goals might add a little clarity to Matthew 6:20–21:

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;  for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

If we are not living for eternity we are not Living.

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Expectations

On October 27, 2015   /   Christian Basics, Endurance, Eternal, Faith, Victory  

Things Above Thought
TAT #18
Expectations

We expect governments to be fair and equitable. We expect society to exhibit a certain degree of social manners. We expect loved ones to be loving. We expect our friends to be friendly. We expect those who call themselves Christians to act like Christians. The LORD never asks us to have expectations of others. However:

The anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (Romans 8:19–21)

All creation is watching, waiting on, and expecting – YOU.

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Eternal Light

On October 27, 2015   /   Christian Basics, Christian Values, Endurance, Eternal, Faith, Victory  

Things Above Thought
TAT #15
Eternal Light

Look at your life in the light of today and you will see your sin;
Look at your life in the light of eternity and you will see your glory—His eternal glory:

If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.
(1 Corinthians 15:19)

Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready. It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. (Revelation 19:7–8)

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Eternity

On October 27, 2015   /   Eternal, Faith, Victory  

Things Above Thought
TAT #13
Dust & Eternity

Today I awoke with no wonderful thought about things above, I was dry, and when I looked around all I saw was dust. What a comfort it is to know that my dryness and this dust will soon pass away – FOREVER!

while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

(2 Corinthians 4:18)

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Regret

On October 27, 2015   /   Endurance, Faith, Suffering, Victory  

Things Above Thought
TAT #12
Regret & Expectations

It seems that some of our expectations have produced regret. It also seems that some of our remembered regret causes us to lower our present expectations. Let us once again raise our expectations.

Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 3:13-14 NET)

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Our Country

On November 6, 2014   /   Bible, Christian Basics, Christian Values, Darkness & Light, Eternal, Faith, God, God's Will, God's Will for Me, Kingdom, Satan  

Things Above Thoughts (TAT)
Heavenly Citizen

I’m glad we have a day to remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice so that we might live free in this country.

We should be proud of our country and be good citizens and hopefully our parents are proud of us for this:

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. (Hebrews 11:16)

Let us remember the – One – who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we might be free from Satan’s rule. And may our desire for our – heavenly country – make the Father proud of us.

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