It Starts At Home

Jesus gave two commandments for His disciples to follow.

The first, "love God with all your heart", Matthew 22:37

and the second, "love your neighbor as yourself", Matthew 22:39

The former verse wraps up and includes everything within

the Ten Commandments given to Moses.

By loving God, we are obedient to His word 

and are glorifying Him.

It is the greatest commandment.

The latter verse is wrapped up in the first.

Who would not want good things for themselves.

In the same way, we should want good things for our neighbors.

In a global sense, our neighbor is everyone.

We all live next door to someone 

and that person lives next to another, then another, and so on.

Our neighbors cross boundary lines, country lines,

and nationalities.

Love comes down from God

and starts at home.

It then travels exponentially outward in ever increasing 

numbers as others love one another.

Nothing is greater than love

and it starts with you! 

Meditate

It's okay.

Meditate.

The Bible instructs us to meditate 

on God's word day and night.

Meditation is not like Eastern religions

which puts one into a trance or hypnotic state.

It is keeping God's word close.

The word meditate  in Hebrew is"hagah".

It means to utter, muse, or mutter.

Utter means to speak.

Muse means a period of reflection.

Mutter means to say something in a low or barely audible voice.

Basically, the Bible tells us to speak in a low voice and reflect

the word of God daily.

We are to mutter or keep His words in our mouth constantly.

Meditation is reading His word and reflecting on,

thinking about, speaking it out and committing it to heart.

Let God's word dwell in your mouth, mind and heart daily.

Psalm 1:2

But his delight is in the Law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true,

whatever things are noble, whatever things are just,

whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely,

whatever things are of good report,

if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy

meditate on the things.

Set Your Mind

Colossians 3:2

Set your mind on things above,

not on things on earth.

Our mind is very powerful.

What we think about determines how we act.

The mind is the collective conscious and unconscious

thought processes which directly influence behavior.

When we direct those thoughts towards heavenly places, 

we see Jesus.

We see ourselves seated next to Him.

Ephesians 2:6 NIV

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him

in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.

Even though we are seated in heaven, we still have

one foot here on earth and things here can still affect us.

As we focus our thoughts on worldly things,

our actions are influenced and sin abounds.

By setting on mind towards heaven, we are

influenced by Jesus.

So look up!

Philippians 4:8 NIV

Finally, brothers (& sisters), whatever is true, whatever is noble,

whatever is right, whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--

if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--

think about such things.

What Song Do You Sing?

Psalm 40:3

He has put a new song in my mouth.

Every day we are bombarded with noise.

Most of us start the day out with loud alarm clocks,

followed by the noise of traffic

or maybe its the kids screaming and yelling during play.

The dog is barking.

The phone is constantly ringing.

Teenage kids are driving up and down the street with their 10"

woofers and you feel your heart with every beat of bass.

We listen to the radio and what comes out is not gratifying.

Or the tune gets stuck in our head.

So do we let the noise around us become our song?

Do we let it get stuck into our head?

Music has been around since the beginning of time.

It is powerful.

It shapes our mood.

Sing to the Lord.

Sing from your heart.

The Bible is full of scripture about singing to the Lord.

The book of Psalms are all songs.

So it doesn't matter if its a hymn, Christian rock, or made up.

Today, sing a new song.

One which affects the spirit.

One that glorifies God.

And God will listen!

Psalm 96:1

Oh, sing to the Lord a new song, sing to the Lord

all the earth.

Give Up Or Let Go

There is a difference between giving up and letting go.

To give up means to forfeit, lose the right to by some error,

offense or crime.  To abandon.

To let go means release, as from ones grip.

So many times we give up.

We let life's circumstances gang up on us to the point

we give up our hopes and dreams.

Things like depression, sickness, lack and hopelessness

become our normal.

But God wants to give life.

And life abundantly.

In John 10:10, Jesus tells us He came so that 

we may have this abundant life.

When we let go, we relinquish our hold, releasing

our faith, which allows God to go to work in our lives.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,

declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not

for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

We may not understand everything we go through,

but He is working everything out for our benefit.

Romans 8:26-28

........And we know that all things work together

for good to those who love God, to those who are

called according to His purpose.

God has good plans for you, let go and let Him direct your ways.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on

your own understanding. In all your ways

acknowledge Him and He will make straight

your paths.