Sunday's Thought

1 Corinthians 15:36 - ...Every time you plant seed, you sow something that does not come to life unless it dies first.

This passage made me think of disappointments in my life. How many dreams and plans have I had that have not come to fruition?
-First, I have to consider the seed I am sowing. Is it the type of seed God wanted in my life in
the first place?
-Second, if it was, and the plan or dream hasn't come forth yet, according to this scripture, it has
to die, anyway. What does this exactly mean? I don't really know, but it obviously means it
probably won't fall easily in my lap. Dieing doesn't sound like a lot of fun to me. It sounds like
self sacrifice, and a willingness to say, "Not my will, but Your will."
-Third, then, that means trust. Do I trust God with my dreams? I say I want His will in my life,
so am I willing to let him mold these dreams as He sees fit, or am I insisting on my own way.
Well, God is going to win, so if I'm not willing to yield, that means disappointment.
-Fourth, I can be assured of victory, if I've done the first three steps. However, it will be in
God's timing, not mine. Verse 57 says - Thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through
our Lord Jesus Christ. I have to stand on this verse in faith, regardless of what circumstances
show. God is true and trustworthy.

In otherwords, one day my God given dreams will come to pass!!

Saturday's Thought

A friend of mine posted this quote on facebook yesterday. She doesn't know where it came from originally, but it was just too good to pass up, so I thought I'd make it today's thought.

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

Friday's Thought

1 Corinthians 14:1 - Eagerly pursue and seek to acquire this love (make it your aim, your great quest)...

This has been the cry of my heart for the past few weeks. I am desperate for the love, the compassion, that God has - especially for those that do not have a personal relationship with Him. It really does come down to the fact that there is a heaven and there is a hell, and everyone will spend eternity in one of these places. True love casts out fear. I need to love people more than I fear their responses. THIS is the type of love God is talking about. This is the type of love Paul had when he spoke earlier in this book about being compelled to share the Gospel.

Oh God, help me to eagerly pursue and acquire this love. Let it be my aim and my great quest. Don't let me feel satisfied with anything less. Change my heart and my nature and grant me the honor of having Your compassion and love for those who need You.

Thursday's Thought

This thought comes from 1 Corinthians 13 - the famous "love" chapter. This is a huge chapter that has so much in it - how do you touch it? Humbly I will point out a couple of things that struck me, knowing there is so much more!!

Part of verse 7 says: Love does not insist on its own rights or its own way for it is not self-seeking...
- For the first time I noticed that this continues on a theme I've noticed in 1 Corinthians about
the rights we have in Christ and yet it's those same rights we must lay down. When we lay
them down, more in concern for others than ourselves, this shows true love.

Verse 5 also continues: it (love) takes no account of the evil done to it
-Wow! That is quite a challenge to live up to!

Verse 7 states: Love...is ever ready to believe the best of every person...
-It struck me that when I think of this verse, I have always focused on that I should believe
the best of somebody who I could easily believe "bad" about for whatever reason. But, how
about that I should think the best of somebody who has thought bad of ME. Now, that is
much more of a challenge...to lay down my rights to be angry and upset that they dare
accuse ME of something...and instead to believe the best in them. That is love!
.

Wednesday's Thought

1 Corinthians 12:31 But earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best gifts and graces (the higher gifts and choicest graces)....

This chapter focuses on the spiritual gifts God gives His church. Everybody receives gifts from God. This last verse talks about desiring the "greater gifts". However, what really caught my eye is the "earnestly desire and zealously cultivate". Gifts are just that - gifts. I can't, in my own strength, get a gift. However, God does seem to favor those who REALLY want it. Now, in non-spiritual things, if I REALLY want something, I start doing something to get it. I think about it, research about it, lay a plan to get it, and probably drive everybody nuts talking about it. So, that makes me wonder, in spiritual things, if I REALLY want something, do I show that type of enthusiasm? Do I think about it, research it, dream about it, and talk about it? Or do I just mumble a prayer every now and then and think about how nice it would be?

Oh, if my heart would change and desire these spiritual things as much as "regular" things! If I would truly "earnestly desire and zealously cultivate" and my actions would reflect this, I wonder what the result just might be?

Tuesday's Thought

1 Corinthians 11:1, 31: Pattern yourselves after me [follow my example], as I imitate and follow Christ...for if we searchingly examined ourselves [detecting our shortcomings and recognizing our own condition], we should not be judged and penalty decreed.

I must evaluate myself prayerfully on a regular basis, and then ask God to change my nature and cover my shortcomings with the blood of Jesus so that I am followable.

Monday's Thought

This thought comes from 1 Corinthians 9: 16, 22, and 27

My heart needs a change. Father, give me the heart of Paul - that I would be COMPELLED to share You with others. Not because I HAVE to, but because it is my nature to do so, and that it wouldn't even dawn on me to do anything else. Missionary Dick Flores said, "The wishbone will never replace the backbone." Oh, how true. I can WANT to do this all day long, but wishing and doing are two very different things. Let me become who I need to be to reach each person You have planned for me to reach. And always keep me close to You so that I may never become unfit for the destiny You have for me.