Godfriend

"We need companions on the journey, godfriends.... who will keep us to a chosen narrow way of pilgrimage, who themselves are becoming friends of God." - Jim Cotter

I really like this idea of a 'godfriend' and Jim Cotter is right - we all need someone to walk alongside us as we follow Jesus. Just as I am seeking to become a friend of God, so I can help you along the way and then of course I can also count on your encouragement.

So who is that godfriend for you?

James 2:23 - "And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend."

Living in Grace
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Feeding your mind

It is safe to say that most people recognise that our minds are incredibly powerful instruments. We can use our minds for great good or sadly for destructive purposes. What is important for Christians is what we are feeding our minds. If we feed ourselves a diet of negativity and criticism, then we will begin to live like this. However, if we choose to feed our minds with godly things, then we will reap a spiritual harvest.

 

Luke 24:38 - He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?

Jesus dealt with the doubts that arose in the minds of the disciples and when he shared the scriptures with them he was helping them understand all that they had learnt.

Luke 24:45 - Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

 

Allow the Spirit to feed your mind with godly things so that your life will be led by the things of Jesus.

 

Living in Grace

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Anger continued

“The person who is a slave to anger; 
the person who speaks in the accent of contempt;
the person destroys another’s good name may never have committed murder in action, but he is a murderer at heart.” - William Barclay

These are the words that Barclay uses when he reflects on Jesus words in Matthew 5:21-24. It is easy to get all smug and say "I have never killed anyone and so look at how good I am", but what is really going on inside of us? Is there something that is potentially as dangerous and hurtful? Something that may not kill a person physically, but rather destroy their name and reputation?

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment." - Matthew 5:21-22

Living in Grace
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The destructive nature of Anger

We live in an angry world. People are angry with each other over a myriad of issues, but in the end, a lot of our anger ends up being self-destructive. Read these interesting words from Frederick Buechner on how anger destroys us in the end.

 

"Of the 7 deadly sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come, to savour to the last toothsome morsel both the pain you are given and the pain you are giving back--in many ways it is a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast is you." - Frederick Buechner

What do you think about this?

Ephesians 4: 26 - "In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry."

Living in grace

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Prayer for today

I invite you to receive these words as a prayer for today.
Enjoy and be filled with grace.

"I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God." - Ephesians 3:14-19 (The Message)

Living in Grace
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Love is on the way

When Jude wrote his letter to the church to offer them words of encouragement he said this:

".....writing to those loved by God the Father, called and kept safe by Jesus Christ. Relax, everything’s going to be all right; rest, everything’s coming together; open your hearts, love is on the way!" - (The Message)

I really enjoy that phrase - love us on the way!
It reminds me of Jesus and how he is always right beside us and how he will give us the strength we need.

Living in Grace
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Don't Worry

Such valuable insight and advice for living in today's times - even though this was written for people living 2000 years ago.

“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met." - Matthew 6:30-33 (The Message)

Living in Grace
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