Does the fact that you are a Christian mean you have to feel guilty when you are doing something for the sheer fun of it? Does there really have to be a “higher purpose” in order to justify the pleasure of the experience?
What do you think?
Category Archives: fun
Be Encouraged as You Approach This New Year
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
What is your approach to this new year? Gleeful anticipation? Armed with new resolutions? Ho-hum apathy? Down and out discouragement?
Whatever it is, I would like to pass on to you a passage our pastor encouraged us with yesterday.
1 Cor 2:9 “… as it is written, eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for them that love Him.”
He then asked us the question, which I now ask you…
“Do you love God?”
“If so, then God has prepared things for you that you have neither seen, nor heard!”
What do you think of that? Take a moment and breathe that reality in.
Now you may ask — but are they good things?
Years ago, there seemed to be a rash of teachings that promoted the mentality that if it’s something I don’t like or want to do, it must be God.
There was this thinking that God’s desires and our desires were at such odds with each other that surely, if it was pleasurable, fun, or easy… it couldn’t be God.
Because of that many have turned away from Him, either within themselves, or in full out rejection.
God is a good God! And this verse suggests good things are in store for those who love Him. (Notice it is not saying that bad things are in store for those who don’t. We don’t want to go there!)
Here’s another verse that I’ve been meditating on recently, also mentioned in yesterday’s message. (Don’t you love when that happens?)
Eph 3:19
Now to Him that is able to do EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL that we ask, or think, according to the power that works in us…
God has prepared good things for you… exceeding abundantly above all you could even think!
And how will those things come to pass? Through His power that is at work within you.
Meditate on this truth as you think about the new year. Ask God to deepen it within you.
This is partly how we build a mindset of favor.
In a world filled with negativity and for many of us, a history of shame, guilt, and disappointment, establishing a new mindset of favor is essential to moving forward positively, effectively and in power.
God bless you!!
Maryann
Another Adventure in Favor!l
God is showing my husband great favor these days (or maybe we are just more attuned to it!).
As a private investigator and security consultant, he often contracts with major corporations to find missing goods, expose shady operations, or discover counterfeit sources. He quite enjoys it.
This work has given him extensive travel experience (www.AmericasTravelExpert.com), but he is always looking for new places to go and write about. He is also a man after God’s heart, and he loves meeting new people and spreading God’s love wherever he goes.
Recently he was saying he would love to go to the Middle East or China…. and then the call came… an interesting case that pays very well.
And if that wasn’t favor enough, the company might need him to go to ….. YES! the Middle East or China. In 25 years of investigative work, this offer has never been presented! Hmmmm…. He jumped on it!
The forces that oppose us, however, do not like us experiencing the favor of God, His promises, or any good thing actually. They would like us to be frustrated and then, blame God.
And so, many times since Gene began this case, a wrench was thrown into the works where it looked like his desire would not be coming to fruition.
The favor of God is always at work, even if our heart’s desire is not fulfilled at the moment. God makes sure we have golden nuggets strewn along our path. We can rest in that.
However, we had a “knowing” that Gene was supposed to go, not just for him, but for the success of the case. Often corporate budget constraints can make executives short sighted and settle for inadequate results. Gene wanted win-win for everyone.
So, our spiritual training kicked in. We said “No!” to any and all obstacles. We proclaimed God’s love, delight and pleasure to have Gene go. We did not accept, “No”. This was a big lesson for us.
Three times we saw his travel threatened. Three times we declared he was going. Each time there was a temptation to roll over and just accept the company’s decision. But God trains us well.
Ps 32:8 says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go. I will guide you with my eye.”
Gene is now in Istanbul, Turkey, and next month he will go to Hong Kong!
God delights in delighting us.
Do you have a desire on your heart that He would delight in giving you? Let the Lord train you in appropriating His favor. It’s there for you, too!
Have a blessed day!
Maryann
PS Speaking of traveling…. this airport video will put a smile on your face!!