I was studying a recent Bible Lesson and I came across this verse, from Romans:
"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience to righteousness?" (Romans 6:16)
Thinking of this immediately brought forth two other "decisions" that have stood out to me in my Bible study, contained in the same verse:
"No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." (Luke 16:13)
Handling dread
Several days ago, someone said to me, "I have an appointment with the dentist, and I'm dreading it."
Ahh, yes, the dentist. One of the people who seem to make us uncomfortable, if not fearful, just by the mention of the word or name. Sort of like He Who Shall Not Be Named in the Harry Potter books!
Ahh, yes, the dentist. One of the people who seem to make us uncomfortable, if not fearful, just by the mention of the word or name. Sort of like He Who Shall Not Be Named in the Harry Potter books!
Joy is Our Default Setting
My son reminds me daily that joy is the most natural, innate emotion we possess ... anything else is too much work! Why? Because joy comes directly from God - who created all of us.
My little one loves to laugh and giggle and have a lot of fun with his toys, stuffed animals and books (and even watching Daddy's model train go around the track!). He practically pulls my hands toward him when he's being tickled because he can't get enough - and of course, Mommy and I oblige him because he has such a cute laugh!
My little one loves to laugh and giggle and have a lot of fun with his toys, stuffed animals and books (and even watching Daddy's model train go around the track!). He practically pulls my hands toward him when he's being tickled because he can't get enough - and of course, Mommy and I oblige him because he has such a cute laugh!
Let's Have Communion about Communion!
I have been thinking a lot this week about "communion," which many Christian denominations take every week and others take only a few times a year. It has been generally tied to the symbolism of the bread and wine which Jesus gave to his disciples the night before his crucifixion. I've always known the word "communion" to have a higher meaning than just the symbols of bread for body and wine for blood.
I have been thinking about communion as symbolic in general, and not something confined to Sunday Mass or a special once-a-month (or less frequent) service; true spiritual communion (which everyone claims to locate for themselves) can be achieved whenever we want.
I have been thinking about communion as symbolic in general, and not something confined to Sunday Mass or a special once-a-month (or less frequent) service; true spiritual communion (which everyone claims to locate for themselves) can be achieved whenever we want.
Symptoms of Good
The last couple of days, my family and I have been working on different challenges. But rather than give them names or labels, we have chosen to look for good in everything. Which is a Truth of all things - God, good, created ALL, is ALL, and thus all (everything) is good. (Read the first chapter of Genesis.)
The thought came to me recently that we didn't have to twist things around to see the good; it is already there. Like the belief in a disease, there are symptoms to the disease as there are symptoms of good. What is a symptom? The definition is "a sign or indication of something." The word 'symptom' seemed to have taken on a negative or unhealthy connotation in today's language - "He has flu-like symptoms," "His financial troubles are a symptom of a larger issue," etc. But think again about the word.
The thought came to me recently that we didn't have to twist things around to see the good; it is already there. Like the belief in a disease, there are symptoms to the disease as there are symptoms of good. What is a symptom? The definition is "a sign or indication of something." The word 'symptom' seemed to have taken on a negative or unhealthy connotation in today's language - "He has flu-like symptoms," "His financial troubles are a symptom of a larger issue," etc. But think again about the word.
God is Light ... So Be the Window!
It is said several times in the Bible that God is light, or a light ... For example: "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." (I John 1:5) There are many other references just to light, which apply to God and His Word. I have been working recently about God as Light and our relationship to that light.
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