Category Archives: Charecteristics

We could learn a great deal from observing the weather

Charecteristics, Community, Relationships, Thought, , , ,

As I stand in my kitchen watching the snow fall outside, I think about how beautiful it is. Pure white snow falling … blanketing the landscape. I remember many moments from my childhood … playing in the snow. I smile. Then, my adult brain jumps to the need to shovel the sidewalk and clean off the vehicle. I start to ponder the condition of the roads as the wet snow accumulates and the temperature drops.

We could learn a great deal from observing the weather.

There are millions of people who have never, nor will ever see snow. They may live in regions that do not get cold, let alone cold enough to snow. There are many who live in regions who will never see a hurricane. Some regions rarely get rain.

Let us ponder rain. There are regions of this world where people die from lack of access to clean water. They are in desperate need of rain. There are regions of this world where heavy rains are common. There are areas that experience devastating flooding. Hurricanes have ravaged many lands. A springtime rain shower is rejoiced in some regions. The thought of rain is often dreaded in some areas of our world.

Rain, the thought of, sight of, mention of can invoke an extremely wide range of emotions in many … depending on where they live.

We could learn a great deal from observing the weather.

Let us ponder snow. Snow acts as a blanket for the ground and causes the ground to freeze thus killing wintering insects, their eggs and larvae plus slowing down noxious weed populations. Rain is great, but snow is heavy and soaks deep into the ground and adds nitrogen and trace nutrients to the soil. We cannot overlook the childlike wonder involved with playing in the snow. Likewise, extreme amounts of snow can cause tremendous problems … blocking roadways, trapping people in their homes, bringing down trees and powerlines, freezing water pipes, just to name a few problems. Snow, the thought of, sight of, mention of can invoke an extremely wide range of emotions in many … depending on where they live.

We could learn a great deal from observing the weather.

Lack of a weather element can lead to problems. Excessive occurrences of a weather element can lead to problems. Just like weather elements, a person’s emotions in excess or lack thereof can lead to problems. We cannot control the weather. We can, however, control our emotions.

You may be the only sunshine a frozen heart receives today. You may be the only shelter a battered soul receives today. Keep in mind that “a little goes a long way”. Being encouragement for someone does not mean you have to flood them with all your “insights”.

We could learn a great deal from observing the weather.

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My Song (at this point in my life)

Charecteristics, Music Related, My Life, , , , , , ,

MercyMe is a wonderfully Godly group of artists who has shared some amazing songs with the world. “I Can Only Image” is a wonderful song that got them started. For many, it is their “my song“. For me, I have many “songs”.

That being stated ….

Right now .. at this point in my life .. “Say I Won’t” by MercyMe .. is my song.

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Show me there’s a God

Bible Study, Charecteristics, Relationships,

When is the last time you read Romans 14? Been a while? Take time to read it. (Scroll down to read it here if you do not have a Bible handy.)

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Okay, now that you have read it … Did you notice the emphasis on the danger of criticism?

“Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.”  Romans 14:1 NLT

Right off the bat, boom. We have no right to condemn someone for their differing ways of honoring/worshiping The LORD. We live to honor the Lord, not ourselves. On Judgement Day, we will all be standing before God. We will be called to give an account of our own lives, NOT the lives of others.

“For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.” Romans 14:17-19 NLT

Sidewalk Prophets – Save My Life (Official Video)

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1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. 2 For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. 3 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval.
5 In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. 6 Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. 7 For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. 8 If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.
10 So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For the Scriptures say, 
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bend to me,
and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’”
12 Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. 13 So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.
14 I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. 15 And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. 16 Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. 17 For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. 19 So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.
20 Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble. 22 You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. 23 But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning. -Romans 14 NLT