Real Dudes,
Does God Owe Me? Not own, but rather owe. We have a lady in our Senior Saints group at Church that recently found out that she has cancer. Her response, “Why not me? Who am I that God can’t give me cancer, and that He should have given it to someone else?” We live in such a way sometimes that surely communicates to God that He owes us something. When we’re not happy, then we’re asking Him why we’re not, or why He made us unhappy. For the word happy, we can replace it with, “When we’re not experiencing peace, joy, health, etc.” Why can’t there be a season for everything in each of our lives, including in our own life? Why do we feel we deserve more than what we have? Below is a great passage to consider this morning and to talk one-on-one to the Lord about. Enjoy, Nate Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NLT) A Time for Everything 3 For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. 2 A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. 3 A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. 4 A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. 5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. 6 A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. 7 A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. 8 A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.
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Real Dudes,
Let me encourage you to read 1 Thessalonians 1:8 in a variety of Bible Versions. https://biblehub.com/1_thessalonians/1-8.htm And as you read this verse, try plugging your name in wherever you see the words “you” and “your.” Is it true? Could that be said about you by others that are close to you? If not, then what needs to change? May you be an example of what it looks like to share your faith and then see the fruit of it all around you. How do I do this? Where do I start? Here’s an article that’s a quick, yet helpful read https://www.gotquestions.org/evangelize-friends-family.html Cheering for you, enjoy! Nate I was speaking with someone recently and we were sharing with each other how things are going in our different ministries. I shared all the great things that God is doing here, and this is the response I received that caused me to stop for a second and give thanks to Him. This person said, “It’s so exciting when God allows us to see how much He’s working in a place where He invites us.” I love it…the place He invites us to. He called us here…He invited us here, and now we get a front row seat to see what He’s up to. Not only a front row seat, but He longs for us to participate in His work. Unbelievable!!!
Men…He’s inviting you – are you following even if it means having to give up some of your life comforts/familiarities? Mark 1:16-20 (NLT) The First Disciples 16 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 17 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 18 And they left their nets at once and followed him. 19 A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee’s sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets. 20 He called them at once, and they also followed him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men. Mark 10:28-30 (NLT) 28 Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said. 29 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, 30 will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines Feeding Off in this way, “to gain strength, energy, or support from (something).”
This past Sunday our Pastor made a joke while he was preaching and those in attendance burst out in laughter…it was evident that he fed off of their laughter. He laughed with them and was able to transition into his connecting thought because of the support he felt at the time. Sometimes when working out I feed off of the type of music I’m listening to. You see, whether it’s music, laughter, the news, or whatever it may be, people feed off of something or someone…what or who is it that you feed off of? Is it evident to others as to where your strength, energy or support comes from? As you're being fed, are you then helping feed others? What are you feeding them…anger, bitterness, wrath, pride, unrest, anxiety, fear, vengeance, backbiting, spiritual weakness, tearing down, or fruit of the spirit / image of Him / His characteristics…what is it and what needs to possibly change? Do others sense or feel your support, help, kindness, love, encouragement, forgiveness, spiritual strength, humility, etc.? Hope it helps to think through these questions and the verses below... Practicing His Presence, Nate Verses to Reflect On…
Yesterday we received some sad news concerning one of our families at the Marshfield PD. The phrase “puts everything into perspective,” kept running through my mind. Listen, I don’t know what you’re experiencing in life right now, but let me challenge you to put everything into perspective as you’re navigating through it. On that note, let me also encourage you to tell your wife and kids that you love them today. There’s an older song that has the phrase “Have I told you lately that I love you?” That’s a phrase that I’ll text my wife on occasion. Who in your life needs to hear that from you. Just remember, you never know the last time that you might see or speak with the ones you love.
Nate |
AuthorNate Smith is a husband, a father of 6 girls, grandpa to 3 granddaughters and one grandson, a police and fire chaplain, a pastor, and has a passion to see men grow in Christ. #girldad including granddaughter
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