[Nia]

@michael what an inspirational post! It is good to be reminded of the excellence we are called as Christ followers. Phil 4:8 instructs us to meditate on what is true and pure, and what else but the Word of God perfectly meets that criteria. Because the Word of God is living and active (Heb 4:12), we are not meditating on on a passive object (like you might use your natural mind to think about a magazine article). I like how you called that the Holy Spirit impregnates our spirit when we meditate effectively – it’s a mind renewal, a divine interaction that brings about transformation. That has been my experience as well.

[Nia]

I stand in agreement with this prayer! May God bless and protect the precious children 🙏🏾

[Nia]

Amen! We must partner with the Holy Spirit to remove obstacles to our faith! This is exactly what we’ve been studying in the Fall Study Group 🙌🏾

[Nia]

Great post @Michael! I’m always shocked when I hear someone say that Christian faith is contrary to science. I believe it’s the complete opposite. Christians should be the best in science! We have the upper hand because we have the Holy Spirit and access to divine revelations and insights about the world God made.
One Christian inventor who comes to mind is Emily Kennedy, who I went to college with. She used her studies in artificial intelligence to build a software to help law enforcement officers identify victims of sex trafficking. It’s incredible what you can do in science when inspired by God.

[Nia]

Thank you for expounding upon this parable @phil4krist. I think for the first time I read it and felt heartbroken by what it represents. I was reminded of the danger of “religion”. The way that the tenants refused to give the householder his share of what he had set up and given to them in the first place (what He is rightfully due) is sad. It demonstrates a lack of love, respect and honor for the householder. In other words, God shares His Kingdom with us, sends His Son for us, and yet we in our selfish ways so often end up making it about ourselves and our own profit. As much as it is true of the Pharisees, we can slip into this attitude very easily if we don’t readily check our own motivations and behaviors. I often get into the “motions” of service, whether it is with church, work or family, and it becomes about me getting things done so that I am satisfied with myself rather than doing those same things as service unto God and giving him the honor that He deserves. As mature believers, we are often doing the “right” things, but rightly handling the things of the Kingdom becomes more about adjusting the heart behind our actions rather than the actions themselves.

[Nia]

Good instruction. Reminds me that love keeps no record of wrongs. To forgive is to put the offense away and not retrieve it again.

[Nia]

Good word. Interesting that the instruction is repentance followed by creative action.

[Nia]

Thanks @michael. I love that you addressed this topic so comprehensively. Many people simply haven’t been taught about the significance of giving. I especially like the way you highlighted the motivation of giving. Giving is an issue of the heart. That’s why Scripture instructs us to give cheerfully, not begrudgingly. If you’re going to be a grumpy giver, don’t even bother. We ought to give freely in the way that God has given and continues to give to us. So whether you give of your financial resources, your time, whatever it is – it’s important to check that your motives are pure and you are operating in love. I believe that’s what transforms giving from an ordinary transaction into a supernatural experience that we enter into with God.

[Nia]

I was reading Proverbs 22 in the Amplified version today and saw something new about the commonly referenced “train up your child in the way he should go” verse. The Amplified version adds “in keeping with his individual gifts and bent”. That’s what we’re talking about here. Meaning, not all kids are headed on the same exact path into adulthood. We train them to follow Jesus wherever He would take them in life, and that happens to be directly correlated to way He uniquely crafted them.

[Nia]

Amen!!

[Nia]

Amen @maureen!

[Nia]

Incredible work of art! Wow, what a gift that Denny has 🤩

[Nia]

Thanks for sharing @phil4krist. Excellent insights! Divine inspiration and revelation is key in discovering purpose and vision, otherwise we are prone to bring out selfish ambitions that Scripture warns us against. Thanks for this reminder.

[Nia]

Thanks for your response @michael! Being efficient in the use of God’s grace… what a great prayer! I agree that we must be intentional about what we direct our energy and focus toward.

[Nia]

Yes, love this!