365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 288

My job is such that I come across cases of customers or alarm companies that are simply not educated in what the law requires. However, I am very sympathetic to this because I realize how little do I know about the actual laws where I live. If we haven't been taught that we must do our own research to find out what the law says than we end up in a mess of fines, etc. My job is to teach alarm companies what is required of them so they can be in compliance with the law. Have you ever read an ordinance? Why oh why can't they just put it in honest straight to the point language? No wonder people are confused and don't know what the law is telling them. Now God's laws are the honest straight to the point kind. You know what they mean and you understand what you have to not do. Do not murder, lie, cheat, steal to name a few. Jesus gives us a "law" to live by in saying to love God and love one another as you love yourself. This is a positive motivating "law" in that it is telling you what to do instead of what not to do. Focus on loving, loving, loving. It can't get any more straight to the point then that.
Matthew 22: 37-40 Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 277

The words ‘delight’ and ‘fear’ in the same sentence can be confusing if you do not understand the nature of God’s word and the fact that it has been translated from another language. When you are confused by a word or words in scripture, it is always good to do a little research. I just google ‘definition of (word) in the bible’ and will start searching and reading what I can find and ask God to lead me to understanding. Delight has two different meanings in the Old Testament and another different meaning in the New Testament. Since I am studying from Isaiah, I am looking at the Old Testament meanings. Here is what I found:

The Old Testament. Two of the most common Hebrew terms for delight are hepes [,pej], "to bend towards, to be inclined towards [an object or person], " and rasa [h'x'r], "to delight or take pleasure in."

The next word I looked at was actually the phrase “fear of the Lord”. I already understand that it is not the kind of shaking in your boots, going to pee my pants kind of fear of something frightening but a healthy respect for the power, wisdom, will and awesomeness of God. It was interesting to read a 2 minute article on this topic and confirm my understanding is on point. Read that article here: http://www.ligonier.org/learn/qas/throughout-bible-we-are-told-fear-god-what-does-me/

The Bible is a complex compilation of God’s word and took hundreds of years to get to the point where we have it today. So always take into consideration that a word or phrase that isn’t familiar or you just don’t get, is probably because of this and God wants you to just dig a little deeper and ask for help in understanding.

Isaiah 11:3 …and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.

 

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 158

Because of my recent class, I am in-tuned to anything about needs. What are needs are and how we meet them determines our behavior and direction in our life. In my Hebrews bible study by Warren W Wiersbe a statement was written that really stood out. “God puts us through difficulties that we might better understand the needs of others, and become able to encourage them.” I think most people get that we can end up with much growth after getting through a challenging time. This statement put this idea into something more detailed. The more we are aware of others needs, the better we will be able to respond to them with love. In the midst of challenges, it can be tough to consider the positives that will come out of them but this is one to keep in mind.

2 Corinthians 1:8-9 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 149

Everyday at my job is a struggle to be patient and to not fall into the complaining mode that is so easy. It is so easy to fall into the trap of complaining right along with the crowd. Thankfully today is a new day and another chance to get it right. Complaining is really just anger at not being in control and complaining with the crowd is just trying to be on their good side. So no matter the rules at my job, the lack of communication or direction, I have to let go of it all and know that God is ultimately the one in control, not a boss with too much on her plate or an owner who doesn’t really understand. Humbly, I must do my job with joy and thankfulness.

James 5:9 Don’t grumble against each other, brothers or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 92

One of my new responsibilities at my job is to call back alarm companies that call in with questions, etc. Most people that know me, already are aware I am not a phone person. It may be because of what I think is an audiotory processing issue I have that is fairly common. I have always had a fear of the phone. But I have been steadily gaining more confidence especially at my job because I have been there for almost 3 years and pretty much know my stuff and if I don't, I know where to get it. Yesterday morning I had to call a man who had a very thick accent, possibly French who seemed very frustrated so I wasn't so sure how this phone call was going to go. So, I started off the phone call with a casual easy-going what can I do to help you out? That set the tone very well as he said later in the phone call that he felt like he was talking with a real person rather than a robot. It turns out the guy was not very good with computer stuff and just needed someone to listen to him and to give him a little guidance on what he should do. Although I was initially a little wary of what this phone call was going to end up being like especially because of the thick accent, I was happily delighted with the outcome. The man was very happy and professing today is turning into a great day. I am really thankful to God for giving me a sense of peace in doing this phone call, patience, understanding and compassion which really ended up helping this man out. Is there a frustrated or angry person in your life that could use a showering of kindness?
Romans 11:22 Consider therefore the kindness and sterness of God: sterness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 60

Don't you just love it when a plan comes together. Okay, so you have already heard me say, I am not the best when it comes to planning. I have always been by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of person but my new years resolution last year was to become more of a planner to be better prepared for all things. I don't want to scramble at the last minute or be stressing when I could be enjoying. I joined a master mind group and had our first meeting last week. If your not familiar with the term 'master mind group', it's simply a group of business people who are committed to getting together regualarly and we help each other with ideas and we are accountable to each other. I am working on building a good foundation for this ministry because God led me to that conclusion through His Word and many prayers. Although it is a chunk of change to do this, I felt very convicted to do it. We've only had that first meeting so far but already I have been making more strides in my research this last week. One of the first keys towards success and prosperity based on the book Ten Keys to Success and Prosperity by Meredith Bromfield is the idea of getting rid of the old negative stuff filling our lives. When we start getting rid of this stuff, what is left is an open space and like any vaccum open space will be filled. We have to create that open space for those good things to come into our lives. One of our assingments was literally to start doing 18 minutes a day to get rid of stuff whether it is actual stuff or meditating and choosing to let go of negavite feelings we are holding onto. I can't say I have done the 18 minutes but I have tried to do something everyday even if it's as little as taking the trash out of the car, which my hubbie will SO love. The great thing is I can already feel the positive affects of this with the new ideas and resources that have come to me or I have heard from others this week. So, I am thankful for the guidance this group has given already and looking forward to all it will bring in the future.
Proverbs 2:1-6 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turing your ear to wisdom and applying your hear to understanding, and if you cal out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search fro it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.