Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
Living in the Spirit                                       

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It has been said, "Timing is everything."  When a someone tells a joke, timing of the unexpected words, the punch line, has to be timed to just right moment to get the biggest laugh.  Timing is needed when making an investment; to buy low and sell high you have to know the product and the readiness of the market for the best time to get the greatest return on your investment.  But in receiving the Holy Spirit, timing does not matter.  In accepting Jesus Christ as Lord of your life, as having Risen from the dead, and because He is the Son of God you receive the Holy Spirit as your guide in Life, counselor, comforter, and teacher to know God's Will.  

In this, Timing, waiting for just the right moment, means nothing as Jesus' timing is always now.  Always, in our "I believe", He immediately fills you with the Holy Spirit and accepts you as His.  He is on duty 24 hours, seven days a week, 365 days a year.  He never takes holidays, vacations, or breaks, always ready to provide for your needs.  With Jesus, time is of the essence, the words are not joke, all that matters are the words "I believe", and the 'right' timing is always now.  In the decision of that moment, your real life begins.
------- So, you have said "I believe"- now comes the time of
   "Seeking the Will of God in your life by 
          Living in the guidance of the Holy Spirit" 
as presented in the example of Jesus.

To do this, first look at the New Testament scriptures as the foundation and motivation to live in the guidance of the Holy Spirit:

In this first scripture, we see Jesus doing exactly what God desires for us to live in the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  His desire is our public acceptance of the Holy Spirit into our lives, baptism.  Accepting and living in the Spirit brings powerful changes to your life.

Matthew 3:15-18 NIV

15Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.16As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.

<< Matthew 3:14Matthew 3:15-16Matthew 3:17 >>

• 
  
  in John 14:1, we see the Perfect Leader Jesus counseling the disciples (us too) with what they needed, Comfort; it is the same with us.  Then, in John 14:16- we see Jesus promising the Counselor- the Holy Spirit, and in the next 14:26 and 15:26 we see the job of the Holy Spirit- to teach us, remind us, and testify to us about Jesus.  He was teaching the disciples but it is for us as evidenced and presented by Peter's preaching in Acts 2:38.
  
  
  

  John 14:1 NIV
  [Jesus Comforts His Disciples] "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.<<John 13:38John 14:1John 14:2 >>

  
  

  Read John 14:1 in contextRead John 14View in parallelCompare Translations
  
  John 14:16 NIV
  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--Read John 14 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
  John 14:26 NIV
  But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.Read John 14 | View in parallel | Compare Translations

• John 15:26 NIV

  "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.
  Read John 15 | View in parallel | Compare Translations

• John 16:7 NIV

  But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselorwill not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
  Read John 16 | View in parallel | Compare Translations 
  
  
  In the next verse, Jesus fulfills His promise of the Holy Spirit, our counselor and teacher.  Again, this is also for us.

• John 20:22 NIV

  And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
  Read John 20 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
  
  
  Here, Peter verifies that we too receive the Holy Spirit when we accept Jesus as our Savior.
  
  

  • Acts 2:38 NIV

    Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
    Read Acts 2 | View in parallel | Compare Translations
    
    
    
    

  • Acts 4:8 NIV

    Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people!
    Read Acts 4 | View in parallel | Compare Translations

    
    

    So, how do we know the Holy Spirit is guiding our decisions?

  
  

  First, 

     Pray daily to be in the Guidance of the Holy Spirit and

          to Live Obediently in the Will of God just as Jesus did.
          Trusting God and Trusting Jesus.- It is a command to do so.

         That is God's plan!  Jesus said so!  He prayed often!

  To know God's will for living life-

     Study Scripture, 

            especially the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 4-7).

     Jesus knew Scripture, Follow His example!

     Remember, Jesus quoted scripture three times 

          in His desert experience and

          bang, the evil one was gone.

      When you feel tempted, pray and think scripture.

     Prayers and answers to your prayers, build Trust in God!

  
  Then, in Seeking the Kingdom (Matthew 6:33-4)
  

     Seek to Live as Jesus Taught and 

       Seek to Live as He walked His Talk and

          Seek to live Righteously before God in Jesus' example to us.
      And again, Trust God, Trust Jesus!

  
  Finally, just as First,

      Most importantly,

           "Pray and pray and pray, Everyday, 

           often Everyday for the Holy Spirit 

                to fill your heart and guide your life in

                everything you think, everything you say, and 

                    in everything you do."

       This, my friend, will change your life.  It did mine.
  
  

  Faith- it is all about Trusting God and Trusting Jesus!
  Now, 

      We all make many decisions every day and most of them are

            not very difficult, but

      When a decision you make is difficult, 

        when you have prayed in Righteous Obedience to God, when 

         you have examined the scripture concerning your need, and 

           when in your heart you are truly and righteously at 

           peace with your decision then 

  perhaps you are in the Will of God and 

       in the path the Holy Spirit is leading you.

  
  In doing this, we must leave worry out of daily life because

        Jesus counseled us not to worry in Matthew 6:25-34,
             Jesus did so because

        worry presents barriers to our relationship with God

           shoving inteference into our decisions,

             making difficult the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

  
  As you live out your decisions, 

        discern your needs as they are different from your wants,

        continue to examine scripture,

        continue to pray that you are in His will,

        pray often daily for the Spirit to lead you,

        live in acceptance of and trusting in His will,

        live in Righteousness before God by

             following the words and life of Jesus

  then

        as you seek answers in His Grace to

           the decisions you daily make,

       you will come to know the peace you seek in

       the life God has planned for you

  and 

        in His answers to your Righteous prayers

        the peace you find builds Trust,

        Trust in your peace and confidence in Him.

  
  Thanks be to God

  
  

  © lonnie coggins

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

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

  
  

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  Publication  0000

  
  

  
  

  
  
  

  Intro:
  
  We all make decisions every day.  It has been said that most people make just as many decisions in their daily lives as Presidents do, they just do not affect as many people.  But, to make the best decisions, President or not, you need guidance.  Click the link for more on making decisions in our lives.
  
  http://lonnieadailythought.blogspot.com/2013/09/decisions-decisions-decisions.html

10 Thoughts on Reducing Worry

Ten Thoughts on Reducing Worry

                                   

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Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,
                                        for tomorrow will worry about itself.
                                        Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Have you ever thought about how fruitless the time is that you spend worrying about stuff that you generally have no control over.  Be concerned about what you can control and have an affect on, but seek to put behind you the worry about things you cannot change, correct, or control.

1. You probably will hate this one, too bad, get over it:
   Have no Credit Card debt over 45 days old.  More specifically, charge nothing you cannot pay off within 15 days of the next billing cycle.  Burdensome debt is a great source of worry and becomes a barrier to our relationship with God.  Anything that is a barrier to our relationship with God is sinful.
   ...
2. You must accept the fact that your wants are not your needs and your needs are more important than your wants and you are "...big enough for your wants not to hurt you."
   ...
3. Live within your means (income), buying what you can truly afford and be happy with what you have.   You probably have far more than most people in the world; bigger and faster is not always better.
   ...
4. Living in humility* does not mean you have to be a doormat but just because you think of something does not mean you have to express it.  It is better, more productive, and creates longer lasting friendships to express nice and thoughtful ideas much more often than expressing hurtful personal thoughts to others that are merely opinions and accomplish nothing more than creating bad feelings.   Seek to be on good terms with all people around you but never compromise your faith and Trust in God. (*Living in meekness or boldness)
   ...
5. You may not like this but... Accept the fact that people are generally selfish, including yourself, leading to sinful thoughts, behavior, and verbal expressions (*).  The fact that this selfish sinfulness may be a part of our nature is not excuse for letting it happen.  In that selfish sinfulness we must realize we should apologize daily for that sinfulness in our lives toward others.  Likewise we must be quick to forgive, especially when we receive an apology.  Similarly, forgive others, even without receiving an apology.  Harboring ill feelings toward someone hurts you more than the other person, who most likely will forget about the transgression anyway.  (*Psalm 51:5)
   
   ...
6. Accept and Live without doubt and in great, continuing, earnest faith that God in raising Jesus from the dead verified, sanctified, and made Holy the life and teachings of Jesus.  Because of this, we must accept Him as Lord of our lives living in obedience to God's will as set forth by the example and teachings of Jesus.  Repent (daily) as directed by Jesus in his first command to us for as we are selfish toward others, certainly we are sinful toward God.
   ...
7. Pray and Pray and Pray Everyday to be in the Will of God through the Guidance through the Holy Spirit.  This is the example of Jesus.
   ...
8. Read your Bible daily, participate in a Bible Study and Spiritual Church Fellowship weekly.
   ...
9. Realize that it is through God's grace you are given life everyday, everything you have comes from Him, He blesses your abundantly, and in that it is not too much to give back to Him 1/10th of your earnings, also known as a Tithe.
   ...
10. Above all, "...Seek you first the Kingdom of God."
    I promise- You will be blessed in ways beyond your understanding and your fruitless worry.
    
    For concerns and worries you cannot change, you need to give them up to God praying and relying on His power and His answers to what you cannot change, correct, and/or control!
    Matthew 6:
    

    Do Not Worry

    6:25-33pp -- Lk 12:22-31

    25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
    
    27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ?
    
    28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
    
    31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
    
    33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
    
    34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
    Thanks be to God
    To God be the Glory for anything I have done.
    lonnie
    
    
    
    © lonnie coggins
    
    
    For more on eliminating worry click:
                  Living without Worry
    
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Publication 137

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!"
============

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!

=====================================
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

==============================

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

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.

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

In His Own Image

In His Own Image                               Return to Main Menu


Genesis 1:26-31
26Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.30  And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground--everything that has the breath of life in it--I give every green plant for food." And it was so.31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning--the sixth day.


One Sunday in the comic strip 'Ice Age', the featured Neanderthal was rolling up balls of snow.  First, a big ball, then a middle size ball, and finally a small ball for the snowman he was making.  When he finished, his creation looked just like him, a neanderthal.  And, as the slumped shoulder man looked the slumped shoulder snowman, his likeness, his smile indicated He was very pleased.

On of the great blessings God gives us is the opportunity to create our children.  Not just from the inception but all the way through the process of teaching them as they grow into adulthood.  As good parents, we take great care in the process of raising our children.   And, as the children go on their own, we like to think, "those are very good children."  But, that caring process extends to many facets of our lives.

My son and I built a model car in cub scouts.  He wanted to look real shiny, red, and fast.  "Together" we cut the block of wood down, made it look really sleek, and started spray painting it.  It could hardly get dry before we lightly sanded it and painted it again, getting the finish sleek, slick, and with a deep finish.  Two days before the competition, it was dropped and it broke in half.  Both of us were devastated   We had worked so hard to make the car beautiful, and then I dropped it.  It was broke in a way I could glue it back together, paint, sand, paint, sand.  And by the competition time, it looked almost perfect.  In creating that car, it became a part of my son and I.  

In a much greater way we feel the same about our children.  We  work hard to  bring them up in the ways we should, and in time, we, like God did when He created man, we say "very good, my child".  Just like God, we are are saddened when they are hurt in some way, upset when they disobey us, but always loving them.  We are like that because we are in God's image.

For five "days" in the creation, God made things and called it good, but on the sixth day, he created Adam and Eve, and called it "very good".

In the fulfillment of the OT prophecy and teachings, Jesus brought new meaning to having a relationship with God.  The old relationship was the First Covenant with Abraham and based on "the Law", the Ten Commandments.  But, in the New covenant, the relationship became much more personal.  When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the command comes from Jesus, First- to Repent in Matthew  4:17 and then in Matthew 6:33, we are told not to worry, but to Seek First the Kingdom.  In that, God wants to know us, hear from us, desires communication with us more, much more than we even want to know our children.  I do not feel compelled to hear from my son everyday, but God's love for us exceeds anything we can have for our children.  And, he wants to hear from us, daily.

We are made in His image, as we love, He loves so much more.  As we are concerned about the things we conceive, grow, develop, and create, He is the same in a far greater capacity than we can ever know.  As we can get upset, Jesus showed the same.  But, Jesus showed us how to deal with our being upset, do it at the right time, in patience.  He waited many years before he cleansed the Temple, or told the Pharisees and teachers of the Law how wrong they were (Matthew 23).  As we try to teach our children, so too did Jesus teach us how to live in the Sermon on the Mount.

From all that is written here, truly consider this:  Genesis tells us that God created us and in His image.  As He loves us, so too we should love and desire a relationship with Him just as with our children.  As we yearn for something beyond ourselves, know too, that God yearns in patience to feel your love and your desire for Him.  Pray often everyday, in faith watch what God will do with you as you listen and feel the guidance of the Holy Spirit He puts in you.  It is just what He does as a loving parent and creator God.

Thanks Be to God.
lonnie
(c)

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© Lonnie Coggins

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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.

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

lonnie 

Publication  0098