The Best Is Yet to Come

"The Best is Yet to Come"
                                       

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Galations 5:22-23  NIV

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

<< Galatians 5:21Galatians 5:22-23Galatians 5:24 >>

Read Galatians 5View in parallelCompare Translations

In my youth growing up, like many people, we sometimes had lunch on Sunday's with my grandmother.  Now, grandmother could be grumpy,  but, she would finish her lunch and start clearing the table; and as she picked up our plates, she often, said, "Keep your fork, the best is yet to come."  There were lots of grandmothers like this in my childhood day, telling her children and grandchildren to keep their fork.  Little did we know how profound she spoke.  She may have been grumpy, but her dessert was always the best.


Life, it is often filled with the PITs, Problems, Issues, and Troubles and we cannot avoid them.  As we try to avoid the PITs, our circumstances often bring them anyway.

The PITs may cause us to be unhappy, but even in our unhappiness, we can have vision to make Godly decisions as we walk in the Holy Spirit through the minefield of our PITs.  It is all about the goals we set.  In the Guidance of the Holy Spirit, we set better goals, worthy goals, and we cannot ever give up, even when the PITs get in our way.  And, it will happen!  Just never give up, and make any failures in your PITs be your stepping stones to success.

Even in unhappiness with our circumstances, we find Joy in life's trip of God-worthy everyday achievements.  
As happiness is a reflection of our circumstances, 
   Joy is found through the Holy Spirit and 
      becomes fruit of the Vine in our decision to be 
          in humble repentance in accepting 
              Christ Jesus and His salvation, and 
                  Seeking His Kingdom.  

Our happiness is circumstantial but Joy in the Holy Spirit is forever. 
Rise above your PITs, living in the Guidance of the Holy Spirit.

At the end of my Journey in this world with the Holy Spirit, as I lay in my casket, I will have a fork in my hand with a note card, "The Best is yet to come".  Near by will be this writing.  

My grand mother taught me to "Keep your fork", but in my mother dragging me to church I learned the wisdom in those words, "the best IS yet to come".  I learned, Believe in Jesus, Repent, Receive the Holy Spirit, Trust God, and bear fruit.  In this, we have the best of this world in us, and in the Promises of Jesus, 

the best IS STILL yet to come.

Thanks be to God
and for Godly-mothers and Wise-grandmothers.

(c) Lonnie Coggins

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Author's note-  Years ago, I read something similar to this in another magazine, Guide Posts I think.  This is my experience, my writing.  I am thankful it made an impression on me.  The Best is still to come.   

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Publication  0203


intro
MOTHERES ARE SPECIAL, so to are GRANDMOTHERS.  Grandmothers often have great thoughts that mothers have to teach the real meaning, one day at a time.   Click to find out about how true it is that: the best is yet to come. Please share the message on your Fb page as you like, and if you like, click the FB 'Follow' button to have notifications of these publications.  For other messages like this, visit my FB page, or on FB-"A Daily Thought".

http://lonnieadailythought.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-best-is-yet-to-come.html

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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  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  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

Our Most Important Behavior

Our Most Important Behavior
                                       

                                                                                         Return to Main Menu

 

Jesus taught us many behaviors.  

     But, there is only one that is most important.

Our most important behavior is -

     not Being Nice,

     it is not loving our enemy,

     it is not feeding the hungry,

     it is not helping the sick,     rather...

     

Our most important behavior is

  Pursuing a Righteous Relationship with God in

     Seeking His Kingdom,

           Learning to Love and Trust Him more,

             to better understand His will for our lives

              through the Guidance of the Holy Spirit

                Provided by our belief in and salvation of Jesus,

All this to better discern our sinfulness,

      to better understand our need for repentance

           creating a greater internal desire for God's Forgiveness.

Then and only then do we really feel the need to live in submission to God's will and in humility for all He does and provide for us.

In this, we then begin to really Trust God and only in trusting God can we truly come to love Him as we should.

In is only trusting God 

that we can Righteously

 show our True humility by

      helping the sick,

      feeding the hungry,

      loving our enemy,

      being nice and 

           all the other behaviors Jesus taught us.

Perhaps, best of all, in our Righteous relationship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, the Fruit of the Spirit descends on us, especially the Peace of Mind that passes all understanding.

Thanks be to God

Scriptural Foundations of 

        Our Most Important Behavior

We must remember that the words of Jesus was not the words of just any teacher or prophet.  

Many times He said, "I tell you the truth.....".  His words have  the absolute Ring of Truth because of one thing, 
      His Resurrection.  

It is in His resurrection that God, the Creator of the Universe, the one True God verified, sanctified, and made Holy the life and teachings of Jesus.  

Failing to bring into our heart the Holy Spirit to absorb the life and teachings of Jesus and live according to His word is truly a road block of eternal proportions possibly leading to an eternal death.

Seeking God: 
  
Matthew 6:33

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,                          and all these things will be given to you as well.

                

Love God:   
Matthew 22:37

Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'

Trust Him:   
John 14:1

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

God's Will:

·        John 6:40 NIV

For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

·        John 14:23 NIV

Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

·        Matthew 7:21 NIV

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

·        Mark 8:38 NIV

If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Manwill be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

·        John 12:26 NIV

Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father willhonor the one who serves me.

·        Matthew 26:42 NIV

[Jesus gives us the example:]  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."

Guidance of the Holy Spirit:

·        John 14:26 NIV

[Jesus promises the Holy Spirit]  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.

• Matthew 3:11 NIV 
   [The coming of John:]  "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

  
  
  Matthew 28:19 NIV
  

  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Mark 13:11 NIV

Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

Luke 10:21 NIV

At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

Luke 12:12 NIV

for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say."

• John 14:15 NIV

  [Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit] "If you love me, you will obey what I command.
  
  
  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.

• John 20:22 NIV

  And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

  
  
  
  
  Belief in and Salvation of Jesus

  • Acts 4:12 NIV

    • 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.
      11 He is " 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone. '

      12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

      
      

      
      

      Fruit of the Spirit
      

      
      

    Galatians 5:22 NIV

    22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

    
    

    23  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 

• 
  
  © lonnie coggins   

Thanks Be to God

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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.

intro

We have many opportunities for important behaviors everyday.  Click the link below for some thoughts those behaviors and why they are Truth in our lives.  Share to your fb page as you desire and click the 'Follow' button for notifications on new postings.

http://lonnieadailythought.blogspot.com/2013/09/our-most-important-behavior.html

lonnie

Publication  000

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