How you doin? As we get closer to the Spiritual Conference at our church on Feb. 6-8, my mind is racing. My spirit is stirred. I feel just about every emotion there is to feel, all at once. I'm praying for rest in Him, peace, 100% dependency on the Holy Ghost, a hedge of protection around our property/house/us, and for protective angels with us as we go. I'm praying that God can turn my attention and time to those who are excited about coming to this conference and away from nay-sayers, skeptics, sabatagers, and religious folks. I know this is going to be HUGE!!!!!!! 1 Timothy 4 today.
I love the encouragement, comfort, and instruction that Paul gives Timothy and all who read this book. Verses 8-9, "for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. 10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers." AWESOME!!!!!!! I'll take that to heart. As usual, the preceding verses put these 2 verse in context.
Verses 14-16, "Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the [f]presbytery. 15 Take pains with these things; beabsorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. 16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will [g]ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you." I left the footnotes because they help. I love these instructions. Not just the part about spiritual gifts, but the part about paying attention to yourself. I believe that we, meaning people in general, do way to much comparing. We also believe that it's selfish to give our self attention. I've found that by tending to myself, especially spiritually, I can offer Stacey, the kids, and everyone else a better me. I don't want to offer 50% of me. I want to offer 100% of the fullness of Christ in me. COME ON!!!!!!! That's a good word. Pay attention to you and fix your hope on the living God today.
I love the encouragement, comfort, and instruction that Paul gives Timothy and all who read this book. Verses 8-9, "for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. 10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers." AWESOME!!!!!!! I'll take that to heart. As usual, the preceding verses put these 2 verse in context.
Verses 14-16, "Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the [f]presbytery. 15 Take pains with these things; beabsorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. 16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will [g]ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you." I left the footnotes because they help. I love these instructions. Not just the part about spiritual gifts, but the part about paying attention to yourself. I believe that we, meaning people in general, do way to much comparing. We also believe that it's selfish to give our self attention. I've found that by tending to myself, especially spiritually, I can offer Stacey, the kids, and everyone else a better me. I don't want to offer 50% of me. I want to offer 100% of the fullness of Christ in me. COME ON!!!!!!! That's a good word. Pay attention to you and fix your hope on the living God today.
PS After talking to Stacey about this, she put it in great language. The paradox of selfishness is, when I'm not pay attention to my spiritual condition and fullness of my capacity, I'm fixed on my own needs and survival. When I'm full to my capacity, I'm able to be fixed on other peoples needs, well being, and survival. I'm able to love my neighbor. If I'm not paying attention to myself, it renders me complete self absorbed. If I'm in good spiritual condition, I have 100% of myself available to minister to others.
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