It matters how you live.

You have heard me say these words over and over again, it matters how you live. Our lives are the manifestation of what we believe. If you truly believe in helping others, your life shows it. If you truly believe in loyalty, your life shows it. If you truly believe, your life shows it.
God says we are to (Eph 5:8) “Live as children of light”. God says we are to (Eph 4:1) “live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” God says we are to (1 Peter 2:12) “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
You cannot do any of those things unless you believe. As Children of God we need to live from the inside out. Our hands need to proclaim our faith; our mouths need to speak His words, and our feet need to take us where His heart leads.
Spend some time this week and intentionally feed your faith, spend some time with God in prayer and in The Word. God will transform you.
2 Cor 3:18
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (NIV)
In Him
J. Tom Washburn

Second Fiddle

Some sections of scripture have become so familiar to us that we cease hearing them. In his translation “The Message” Peterson translates Romans 12:9-21 in a way that challenges me. Take a little bit of time and read these verses in your Bible and then read how “The Message” translates this section and see if you are challenged.
Rom 12:9-21
9 Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. 10 Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.
11 Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, 12 cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. 13 Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.
14 Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. 15 Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. 16 Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.
17 Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. 18 If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. 19 Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."
20 Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. 21 Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.

In Him
J. Tom Washburn