Hold on to Difficult Scripture

Two Difficult Scriptures       

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Herein you will read of two "difficult" scriptures of Jesus' teachings or examples we should follow; and one scripture from St. Paul that can be called "difficult".   In coming to take the Resurrection of Jesus as a true vindication of all Jesus did, say, and teach through his example, we have to come to terms with what we read in the scriptures and do not totally understand.  In not understanding scriptures we read, we must then seek to understand!  Then in coming to understand, we gain wisdom.

Our lack of understanding is often in the lack of meaning of the English words translated from the original ancient Greek or as in the OT- Hebrew.  To seek meaning, find commentaries, books, explore explanations found on the internet, but seek the meaning, and you will find inspiration to better know the scriptures.  Through the study of several commentaries, when we come to understand the original meaning of the translated Greek word and thus, we better know what the English translation is truly saying.  
It truly can be a heavenly moment or just a good old "Ah-haaaa!"
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In Paul's epistle, verse 18 of 1st Thessalonians we find the verses translated well, but still on first reading we most likely fail in seeing the true meaning of what he says.  It requires thought to get the real meaning of "in all circumstances".  If you do not see the real meaning of these words, be patient, think.  This is one of those times that after you read what the words really say you will want to kick yourself for not realizing its real meaning before peaking at the answer.

1st Thessolonians 5:17-18
17  pray continually;
18  give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Giving thanks in all circumstances is truly, on the surface difficult. But in the writing below, it is explained what God wants us to really do.  Have you figured it out yet?   No commentary needed for this one.  Just some goood thinking skills.

Click here:  Give thanks in all Circumstances, Really?

yes! really!

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Matthew 26:39  Going a little farther, he fill with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will but as you will."
Read Matthew 26:39 in context View in parallel Compare Translations

Matthew 26:42

42 He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."

Read Matthew 26:42 in context View in parallel Compare Translations

Matthew 26:44 

44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

Read Matthew 26:44 in context View in parallel Compare Translations

Far too often we want to solve our problems and then persist in our misery thinking less of ourselves if we give up trying. But, sometimes we need to determine we just need to persevere in giving up to God, Praying, "Not my will, but yours be done."

This was prayed by Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus gives us the example verified by His resurrection to follow not only what he did, but how he lived and how he prayed. When He prayed this, He knew he was facing the most important moment in the history of man, His death by crucifixion.
In following Jesus' command, "Seek the Kingdom..." we can do no less in our times of trials. In my lowest moment in Vietnam, in this petition of my prayer, Vietnam became the most important moment of my history.

Let your trials become a testimony by breathing in the Holy Spirit.

Click Here:    Knowing the Holy Spirit Within You

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Matthew 5:5  

  Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

<< Matthew 5:4Matthew 5:5Matthew 5:6 >>

Read Matthew 5:5 in context  Read Matthew 5  View in parallel  Compare Translations

Until just a few years ago, I did not like this scripture and I considered it to say we were to be as a door mat;  Plus, it just did not seem to go with how Jesus lived his life. Oh, he was meek and mild mannered most of the time, but a few times, at the end of his ministry, he was like a hungry cat ready to shred. Just read Matthew 23, where he went after the "Pharisees and teachers of the law" like a father taking an errant child to the woodshed.

But when I read the Biblical meaning behind the words, they became something truly to live up to. We have to remember that it was in Jesus' Resurrection that all He said, all He did, and everything about Him was truly and absolutely vindicated.

In this writing, the meaning of this scripture is discussed so that you can realize it is for your life to be truly humble.... even in your boldness to further His Kingdom.

Click Here:  Meekness or Boldness,
                     How do we be Bold While being Humble

Thanks Be to God

© lonnie coggins

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© Lonnie Coggins

ldcoggins@gmail.com

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Please email me if you find any broken links in this message.

lonnie 

Publication  0104

Intro-
Some scriptures are just difficult to understand and run counter to commen sense.  But, common sense is sometimes the way of the world and does not fit with God's way.  For some scripture that is hard to understand we just need to hold on to it, pray about it, study, pray about it, and eventually it does make sense.  It gives you a new o\Outlook, a new Vision, a new Insight on Common Sense- God's way.  Click the link for the discussion on two difficult scriptures and share on FB as you are lead to do so.

http://lonnieadailythought.blogspot.com/2013/02/hold-on-to-difficult-scripture.html

10 Thoughts on God’s Intentional Will for Us (c)

10 Thoughts
          Of God’s Intentional Will for Us  (c)

or

Keys to Living in the Fullness of His Grace           

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"I have come that they may have life and have it to the full "

(John 10:10, NIV).

"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work." (John 4:34 NIV)

This list could be done in many ways.  But, maybe this will give you pause to think about living in the Will of God.

Light blue text indicate links to the Bible. the NIV is referenced, but you can change the version when you click the link.

1. To "Seek First the Kingdom of God..."  Matthew 6:33
   This takes selfishness out of the our effort in living our lives.  In this seeking of the Kingdom, God is telling us that He wants a relationship with us.
      
2. To Love God and be in Obedience to Him   
    Matthew 22:41-46
      
3. To Love Others as we would love ourselves
         Matthew 22:41-46
      
4. To Accept God's Love, Grace, To accept Jesus as our Savior, To Accept the Holy Spirit into our Lives as our Guide and Comforter, and
   all the other things he does for us.
      
5. To "Repent, ..."-  Matthew 4:17,
   Since Jesus said it, it must is good for us,
   After all, it is the first command of Jesus.
      
6. " Pray without ceasing, and
            Give thanks in all circumstances,"
    and To pray and pray and pray ----- everyday for the infilling of the Holy Spirit to give us the strength we need.   2nd Thessalonians 5:17-18 

    Matthew 26:41 NIV

   
      
7. To live in life in the Perfect Example Jesus’s behavior
      
8. In Humility and submission to God,
        be merciful to others.  (Matthew 5:7)
              Meekness or Boldness, Both?
     
9. Do not worry. It is a killer and sinful.  (Matthew 6:25)
             "Worried Sick" is not an uncommon phrase in western society and medical research shows its truth.  There is great medical evidence linking worry to heart disease.  In Jesus' comments about worry, He also gave us the command to not worry.  Worry interferes with our ability to seek God in our lives and anything that greatly impedes our seeking the Kingdom is sinful.  We need to be concerned about issues in our life, but according to Jesus the worries of our lives is not constructive behavior that leads us to the Kingdom. 
   Matthew 6:25-34
   ...
   Click here for more thoughts about   Living Without Worry
   ...
   ...
10. Live in God's will praying often,  
    “Not my Will but Your will be done”.
          Luke 22:42 NRS   
    God in His love He freely give us
    will help us accomplish His will for us.
    ...

I am sure there are more than 10 elements, behaviors, or actions that we could find in God's will for us.  If you can achieve all these let me know and I will try to find 10 more for you.

or     Send me your thoughts, link is below.

Thanks be to God

lonnie 

© lonnie coggins

Please Join 'A Daily Thought Group' on Facebook.  
It is designed to be an uncluttered library of only ‘A Daily Thought’ postings.  

 Thanks and God Bless.

Click Here to go to  "A DAILY THOUGHT GROUP"   

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© Lonnie Coggins        source- Facebook "A Daily Thought Group"
ldcoggins@gmail.com              www.adailythought.NET

If you desire to use any of these messages in a For-Profit manner you must contact me (email) for permission.  Typically, I will most likely give permission.

Please email me if you find any broken links in this message.

intro

GOD'S INTENTIONAL WILL FOR US IS NO MYSTERY.  Just look to Jesus.  Jesus clearly lays out God's will for us in our lives.   The hard part - Giving up our daily selfishness in our desire to control our lives.   Please share the message on your Fb page as you like and if you like, click the FB 'Follow' button to receive notifications of these publications.  For other messages like this, visit my FB page, or on FB visit-"A Daily Thought Group".
http://lonnieadailythought.blogspot.com/2012/11/10-elements-of-gods-intentional-will.html

Publication 0077

                            

I

Leadership Skills of Jesus Part 1- Example

Leadership Skills of Jesus -

Skills for the 21st Century

Part 1-    Setting the Example

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The most important leadership skill, because

  "as the leader goes, so goes the group"

We often learn more from observation than 
   we learn from direct instruction.

This is second in the series "Leadership Skills of Jesus" and how Jesus' leadership style was the example of what people should aspire to in leadership positions today and adopt as their leadership style.  Leadership skills are the same regardless of the size of a group being led.  At the end of this discussion and all leadership discussions, you will see the leadership skills needed to be a great leader in any leadership situation.  Jesus is the Perfect Example for everyday ordinary practical leadership skills.  Click Here to read "The Leadership Skills of Jesus- Introduction.

In the list of leadership skills for any century and especially for the 21st century, Setting the Example is and forever will be THE most important leadership skill.  The bottom line on leadership is this, "So goes the leader, so goes the group".  Organizations most often rise and fall based on the quality of leadership.  Most people desire to follow leaders seeking to achieve goals through high standards of behavior and leadership skills.  A leader may have most all of the leadership skills as set forth in this series, but if the leader does not set high standards for behavior and goal achievement, the group's long term potential of achievement will not be accomplished.  Again, "so goes the leader, so goes the group".  Another way to express this: "If the leader tends to be lazy, the group will tend to be lazy, if the leader is a diligent worker, organized and goal oriented, and conveys this to the group, the group most often will try to achieve the same."  Great leaders are role models exhibiting quality behavior that motivates their group to learn, assume leadership, take ownership of the goals, and complete the goals even after the leader has left the group.   

Leaders Set the Example!  And as a leader, Jesus Set the Perfect Example in walking His talk for living our lives.

Important Behaviors of Great Leaders

Besides the leadership skills great leaders possess which are listed at the end of this document, there are several common sense everyday behaviors leaders need to exhibit in their everyday activities.  Some of these important  behaviors include:

 (1)-  Great leaders do not break rules, laws, protocols, or traditions without explanation to the group and are prepared to defend the group while accepting responsibility of the consequences.  In Matthew 12, the Pharisees complained to Jesus that the disciples did not respect the law and traditions of the Sabbath.  In defending His disciples with the Hebrew history, Jesus further earned the respect of His disciples.  From Hebrew history, “claims of human need took precedence over any ritual custom” (Barkley, “Matthew”, Vol 2) .  The Pharisees did not like the answer as it legally squashed their objection, and they returned later with more complaints and trick questions, but, to no avail.  The respect we earn is far more important than the respect a group gives because of the leader’s position.

(2)-  Great leaders never set the group up for failure.  Leaders set attainable goals and provide the resources to obtain the tools to complete the tasks.   Jesus in His final moments in Matthew 28 gave His disciples a new task.  He had prepared them well, showered them with wisdom, and supplied them with their needs.  In His time with them he had taught them the wisdom of living life that prepared them to meet obstacles in their ministry.  In breathing on them the Holy Spirit, He filled their lives with His power.  Peter is an example of this.  Peter had learned and gained wisdom he did not understand until anointment of the Holy Spirit.  After the crucifixion of Jesus, the disciples, trained as they were, were not completely understanding the current events.  They huddled in the room of the last meal they had with Jesus afraid of every noise outside their door.  They thought they would be next in line for crucifixion.  Then, Jesus came to them, John 20: 21-23, filling them with the Spirit; and within a short time, Peter is before the Sanhedrin (Acts 4: 8-14) condemning them for killing Jesus!  

Jesus had given them the Great Commission as found in Matthew 28:16-20 and provided them with all their needs and tools to do the job.  In all the skills of leadership, Jesus excelled as our Great Example.

  (3)-  Great leaders do not expect perfection from the group.  Leaders see that intermediate goals are set to achieve the larger goal.  If a goal is not accomplished on time, then analyze, adjust, and advance.  Leaders then determine weaknesses in the group providing additional help where needed.  Jesus knows we are weak.  That is why believers universally have the Holy Spirit to guide us.  When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, we are given the Holy Spirit.  This is unique in the New Covenant.  Again, consider Peter's behavior after the anointment of the Holy Spirit (John 20:21-23).  Peter went from denial to being filled in the Gospel.  Jesus knew Peter so well, just like He knows us His children.  We are weak.  He treats us as He treated Peter.  He did not fuss, harass, or condemn Peter, rather, He forgave Him; just like He does us.  Like Peter, you never know when someone who fails miserably will become your strongest and most capable advocate.   Patience with the group with proper timely guidance and adjustment brings consistent, timely achievement, often beyond the scope of the goals.

(4)-  Great leaders never ask anyone in the group to do something the leader is not willing to do themselves.   At Jesus’ final supper with His disciples, he showed the truth in servant leadership.  InJohn 13:5-14 Jesus washes the disciples feet.  In this act, Jesus clearly shows there is no task a group has to do that the leader can deny doing himself.  In reality, when a leader helps with the lowest of tasks in a group, the group understands and further respects the leader.

(5)-  Finally, great leaders reluctantly take all the responsibility for what the group does.  Rather, they give a wide margin of credit to the group for its accomplishments and to the individuals who really did the work.   They do not blame the group for uncompleted goals.  It is the responsibility of the leader to see that goals are accomplished. But, even if responsibility can be placed on an individual for an incomplete goal, the leader should publicly take the blame which demonstrates "forgiveness".  This again enhances respect for the leader.  In our “modern” societies, many of our leaders do not seem to understand this.  Blame is often their best developed attitude and activity.  This was/is not the way of Jesus.  He forgives our failures and did so over 2000 years ago. 

Trusting the Group

Jesus trusted His disciples to complete His mission just as He trusts us to do the same.  Excellent leaders train their replacements!  Physically, Jesus had to leave His group to complete His goals.  But, we believe we should work toward His goals, "Because He Lives" even until today.

Be like Jesus, Set The Good Example.

Thanks Be to God

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Leadership Skills

====

Setting the Example

Communications

Effective Teaching

Planning

Knowing the Needs and Characteristics of the Group

Using Resources Wisely

Sharing Leadership

Controlling the Group

Representing the Group

Counseling

Evaluating

   

© lonnie coggins

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Sharing these messages

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You can print the message including this sharing message only for your friends and for non-profit.  You will have to copy and paste the message to a word processing document.   After you copy and paste add the following at the end of the message:

© Lonnie Coggins

ldcoggins@gmail.com

If you desire to use any of these messages in a For-Profit manner you must contact me (email) for permission.  Typically, I will most likely give permission.

lonnie