Author: Jason

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Pride Goeth Before…

Originally published on July 28, 2009

Pride and forgiveness.  Hm.  The go hand and hand, or well maybe they don’t ever touch.  They can’t exist together! Our Savior says forgive as I have forgiven you! Tough stuff.  Imagine Joseph – his brothers ‘killed’ him, his boss sent him away, his ‘friends’ forgot him, but he still forgave and lived to give the glory to God.

Do you think Joseph may have started this Proverb?

Proverbs 24:17New International Version (NIV)

17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice,

Then look at the next verse – just as Jesus says forgive and you will be forgiven, I think this Proverb says, “Gloat and you will fall” or “Have Pride and well, its your turn to stumble”.

18 or the LORD will see and disapprove
and turn his wrath away from him.

I like how the message phrase that last part  – or he might “take pity on his plight”.

17-18 Don’t laugh when your enemy falls;
don’t crow over his collapse.
God might see, and become very provoked,
and then take pity on his plight.

Lets be transformed and changed.  And lets forgive and lets help our ‘enemies’ – after all who really is your enemy?

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New Years Best of Countdown

Simple Truth

Originally published on June 25, 2009

Hey, this is pretty simple today, and I think it sums up a lot of Christrianity and boy, its sure seems I say this to my children a whole lot.  Treat people how you want to be treated.  Of course the flip side of this is “what goes around comes around”.

But really, this is such a simple truth, but can be so transformational in your life if you have never thought this way before.  It start to humanize others people and makes you aware that people are very much the same.  Look at the people around you and look for the things that you can do for them that you really would like people to do for you.

Have a good day and do to others..

Luke 6:31 (New International Version)

31Do to others as you would have them do to you.

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New Years Best of Countdown

Step by Step

Originally published on 5/27/2009

“Step by step ooh baby , Gonna get to you girl , Step by step ooh baby …. “ oh uh.. well, sometimes NKOTB just stays in your head.

But not today.  I had to google those lyrics, today I am singing about keeping in step with the Spirit in Gal 5:25.  I think the Message’s paraphrase is good.  We have more interesting things to do with our lives then to get got up comparing with each other.  Lets live by the spirit.  Lets turn this world upside down.

are you ready?

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

— Galatians 5:25 (NIV)

http://www.heartlight.org/gallery/1720.html

The Message (MSG)


25-26Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.

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New Years Best of Countdown

Good Enough

Originally published on 5/19/2009

Have you thought that you were not doing enough, or not good enough for God.  Well, that’s a trap where we can find ourselves.  We can never do enough to be good enough for God.  Once we accept his gift and put on Christ, we will be continually transformed to be more like him.  We will strive for good works.  We will attempt to eliminate sin from our lives.  We will hold up the banner of righteousness.  However, we will never be good enough – without the death of Christ.

With Christ in you, and his grace and mercy washing you, you don’t have to try to be good enough.  You are! Christ has made you that may. And boy, when you can free yourselves from the bondage of works to achieve salvation – you are free.  So works – YES- works to honor, works to serve, works to glorify God.  But not works to repay, or works to earn.  And these works don’t have to be great spiritual events.  They can simple.  The way you interact with someone in the hallway.  The way you reach out to a child that is hurting.  The way you listen to you friends struggles.  You don’t have to be a ‘spiritual giant’ to be a recipient of his forgiveness.

Let the grace of God wash over you today.  Accept his gift. Live free, and serve the master.

The Message (MSG)

Romans 12

Place Your Life Before God

1-2 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. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. 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.

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New Years Best of Countdown

useless?

originally published on 4/15/2009

1 Corinthians 15:14

14And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.

Its one of those things.  If it didn’t happen were bad off, following a hoax.  So then it if did happen we are so blessed that its mind boggling!

This should give us some strength as we face the daily challenges of life.  I hope it strengthens you today.  Live like Christ.