Informing vs. Forming

God does not want you to read His Word simply to INFORM you of who He is...He wants you to read His Word and be a Christ-Follower in order to FORM you BECAUSE of who He is!

~ Erwin McManus, "Concrete" podcast, "What Is The Church And Why Should I Belong To One?"

Stop It!

In response to Justin's amazing last blog Create Your Future,
and in response to Jesus not condemning the woman caught in adultery (see my blog, point 4), we NEED TO STOP CONDEMNING OURSELVES based off of our PAST sins!

"Therefore, there is NOW NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life SET ME FREE from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:1, NIV).

"Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to LIFE---is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." (Romans 8:34b)

Did you see it? Jesus is at the right hand of God PRAYING FOR US...NOT CONDEMNING US! STOP IT! Stop condemning yourself for past sins! Stop letting others condemn you! Jesus does not condemn you! HE PRAYS FOR YOU!

Create Your Future

“We are all here for some special reason. Stop being a prisoner of your past. Become the architect of your future.” – Robin Sharma

“The best way to predict your future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln

Overcome Fear of Failure

He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?"
Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
~Matthew 8:26~

Thanks to www.litemind.com for today's posting. It is a portion from part one of a two part blog about how to overcome our fear of failure...Enjoy!

Failing is the only way to go far enough

“If you hit every time, the target is too near or too big.” –Tom Hirshfield

The only way to know that you’ve gone far enough is to go too far. And going too far is called failing.

That means that if you don’t go far enough — in other words, if you don’t fail — you’ll never know for sure where your limits really are.

Race car drivers know this to the bone. They even have a saying for it: “The one sure way to find out if you’re going fast enough is to crash”.

So if you decide to live a life of “playing it safe” — of avoiding failures altogether — you can be safe in the knowledge that you’ll most likely accomplish your goal — after all, that’s a dead easy target to take aim at. Just bear in mind, however, that you’ll never be able to get the most out of your life acting that way.

• • •

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

~Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) ~

Jesus and John 8 devo!

John 8 devo application points:

(1) Gather with Jesus
We need to gather around Jesus to be taught by Him. Sit with Him daily and read Scripture (John 8:2). Let Him teach you richly!

(2) What are you caught in?
A woman was caught in adultery (v3). What are you "caught in"? Confusion? Hopelessness? Lust? Overeating? Gossip? Criticism? Doubt? Anger? Bitterness? What is it for you that you are "caught up in?"

(3) Ask Jesus
Question to ask (v5): "Now what do You say?" in reference to Jesus. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees asked this question trying to trap Jesus in order to accuse Him of something. However, we need to ask Jesus this question in order to receive truth in our given situation. Ask Jesus what He wants to say to you today for your given circumstances: "Jesus, here's my situation. What do you say about it?" Spend some time in Scripture meditation and prayer. Maybe He will "bend down and write into your life with His finger (v6b). Your circumstances...your life is not too low for Christ Jesus! He will put His finger in your life "again and again" (v8)...even if you feel like dirt!

(4) No stones
(v7)- No one threw a stone at the lady caught in adultery. They were sinful too. Guess what, Jesus was the only one capable to throw a stone because He was without sin. However, as one preacher says: Jesus did not have any stones in His pocket either! Christ is not out to "stone" you...condemn you...destroy you...Christ has come down to save you and help you out of your sin and difficult circumstances..."...neither do I condemn you...(v11). How great that was for a woman who was naked and embarrassed and feeling like absolute dirt. How great is that for you and me! By the way...if Jesus isn't throwing stones at you...quit throwing them at yourself! While you are at it...quit throwing them at others...the President, government, your enemies, your church, your family...stand with them as Jesus stood with the woman!

(5) Only Jesus was left
(v9) - hopefully there will come a day when "only Jesus is left with you standing with Him"...no more hopelessness...no more confusion...no more accusers...no more sin...no more stone throwers...may there be that day

In Jesus Name, Amen!

Lie: It's what's on the inside that counts

Really eye opening to one of Satan's lies: after you read this, you may think differently about "it's what's on the inside that counts" -->click here

Make sure to read the RESPONSES!

Thanks to Milton Stanley at http://www.transformingsermons.blogspot.com/ for the link!