I have been gone through the weekend and need to catch up on your blogs, hopefully I can do that today!
I was reading this morning in the Message Bible and I just love this:
1 Peter 2: 11-12
Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it.
Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul.
Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices.
Then they'll be won over to God's side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.
Success according to the world is not the same in God's kingdom.
Jesus said...
Matthew 7:13-14
Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.
Now look at what He says next...
Matthew 7:15-20
Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity.
Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other.
Don't be impressed with charisma; look for character.
Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say.
A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook.
These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned.
Wow, I wasn't going to go THERE, but there it is.
Of course, this doesn't just apply to preachers, it is us too.
Character is far more important than charisma!
Don't spend your life trying to chase the dream of success, instead spend it chasing Him!
I can't say it any better than this...
Matthew 23: 1-12
Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you'll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you're content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty.
LOVE THAT! Don't you?! It's way too exhausting trying to be someone else!
34 comments:
(Sorry Lori, this was accidently deleted too!)
Beautifully said this morning! EXACTLY the words I needed to hear...it's the content of our character, and living in contentment...the only way to peace in this world...How clear is it in those verses, HE TELLS us over and over again!
LOVE THAT!
thanking you today for the blessing!
~lori
http://allyouhavetogive.blogspot.com/
Then they'll be won over to God's side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.
I want to live an exemplary life that would make others want God too, I never want to be the one who would turn someone off to God.
Very good examples of the world’s way, I do get caught up in this place as home thanks for the reminder to stay fixed on true success.
Very encouraging...I love reading your blog. (and now that my internet is up and running again...I can do so more often):o)
tamatha,
Long time no see!
Glad you have a computer that you can use now!
Sue
my hubby and i were speaking of this very thing last night. how easily the focus can switch from JESUS to our own platform or adgenda. its important to remember....and remind ourselves the truth found in that little keith green quote on your sidebar.
I remember when I first graduated form college and how my idea of success was a high income job... a career... I never thought of stay at home mothers as successful! God really worked on my heart! : )
Even in the christian world sometimes I found myself trying to obtain success... leadership positions... ministry... those things that I consider a successful christian to have. Crazy isn't it???
I love what Micah(?) says "what does the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, love mercy, and to walk hunbly with your God."
So true Ruth!
Don't you sometimes want to just look in the mirror and say- die! die! (to your flesh)?!
Holy chaos,
I view stay at home Mom's with such honor! I believe the Lord does too.
My heart goes out to those women who want to be home but can't.
Sue
yes, mine does,too.
Indeed, it IS exhausting to be someone else. And every time I've tried in the past, it's never worked out well.
Wonderful post! Oh how we need to hear that! Look for character.
I just rec'd a beautiful compliment from my six-year-old today as I made him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. He said, "Mommy, it's like you're a servant to me, Jared, and Daddy."
At first I was taken back, but then I thought for a moment and said, "Honey, that's such a nice thing you said to Mommy. Because Jesus came down from Heaven to be a servant and he wants us to be kind and serve others too."
Out of the mouths of babes...
Hi,
Thanks for stopping by! I have been reading the story of your beautiful little girl and looking at all the pictures! Wow! How blessed she is to become part of a wonderful christian family and how blessed you all are to have her!
just love your heart for the Word...to this one God looks---that would be YOU---who trembles at His word...
my computer crashed so i am intermittent in visits these days...
count me in your giveaway! how fun...
What a great reminder to look for character....so many people today are lacking just that.
"Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul." I love The Message Bible. I was thinking of doing a whole blog on that version of the Bible. It speaks to all of us!
Ok, now you are starting to freak me out a bit...are you writing all this stuff down because of ME?!?!?
Does anyone else feel this way??
Seriously Sue...you hit me again, I mean, I just sent you an email about this very thing...
AND...I know what you are talking about in the message and I feel ya sister!!!
Way to stay on track...
Melissa
Janet- :)
Susan- that is so sweet!
Midlife Mom- thank you, we are so blessed. :)
Bev- Oh I hope your computer comes back soon!
Lady_msnow
I agree. It's epidemic!
Scarlet
It's so good isn't it?! Always seems to hit me between the eyes.
Sue
Mel- LOL!
I know! You would think I was wouldn't you? I didn't intend on even going in that direction with the post- it just kind of happened...and I think I'll be addressing it even more in the near future.
I'm thinking that the Lord is laying it on my heart for a reason...maybe that it's becoming so evident that if Christians don't start acknowledging it- we will seem almost blind and irrelevant!
Wonderful reminder Sue! I love the way those verse read in that version! So often we are so consumed by the outside, what we look like, what we wear, how much money we make, the car we drive, out houses...oh the list goes on and on. When are we going to wake up and realize that THE only thing that matters is our character. How we live and what we do for Christ is what counts...NOTHING else!
Oh...how I needed these word today!
Amen Sharon- preach it girl!!
The only thing I am chasing now a days are dogs, cats and kids. Hubby ever now and then wink*
Well and of course my Lord. He is my number 1, my main pursuit in life. When I was fresh out of college MANY years ago, I thought I wanted to chase the career dream but God showed me HIS plan. I am so happy I went with HIS plan instead of mine. So much easier!!!
i love the message...i have been reading it more these days...and it just says things so plain and beautifully that my heart can actually understand! :) thanks for these verses!!
This was a great reinforcement/complement of what I studied in my Ladies Bible Class at church yesterday. It is easy to get caught up in the wrong things, become entirely too complacent, and feel like we're promised a cakewalk here on earth.
Thanks for your tremendous thoughts, Sue!
Blessings,
Lisa
Great stuff, Sue! Important for us to remember that our character is so very important.
Sooo true! Sooo true! I will have to share this with some of my bloggy friends!
This has been a focus of my family for the last few years. You basically have to unlearn what you spent your life learning...Joyce Meyers did a series like 99 or so called the Upside Down Kingdom - pretty much the smae thing, always good to renew our mid with though, bc everything around us (even in the corporate church setting (just bc people are people) screams, "Next rung up the at Ladder!"
Thanks, Sue!
Maria
Sue Great post!
This stuck out at me, with the following scripture.Don't be impressed with charisma; look for character.
Great devotion!
Jennifer
So eloquently explained! Thank you for the blessing!
"Don't spend your life trying to chase the dream of success, instead spend it chasing Him!"
Amen! In Him is found everything. EVERYTHING. :)
simply be yourself...love that...I recently told my bible study teacher that I loved simplicity...she looked at me and my 6 kids around the table (bible study just finished and the kids were let in to share in our snack bounty)...she said complex simplicity is what you like.
I guess I will have to chew on that ;-) She knows me maybe better than I know myself.
;-)
love you my sweet friend, thanks for the encouragement the other day-I appreciate it Sue.
Kimmie
mama to 6
one homemade and 5 adopted
Thanks for that, Sue.
Lately I just keep returning to the simple truth of seeking FIRST His Kingdom...and seeking it with all of my heart. I am frustrated with how easily I am distracted...
Amen to all!
"It's way too exhausting trying to be someone else."
Amen to that, sister!
You are preaching to the choir again! I am going to simply be myself this week and see what happens.
Sue, I so needed to hear this today. As the holidays approach and the inevitable time with the inlaws, I always play the comparison game, and I always lose in my mind. Thanks for the great post.
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