Fugacious (Psalm 144:4)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “fugacious.” I remember one of my mentors telling early on in my Christian journey that I needed to make sure to take every opportunity possible within my current time in life. He said that as I got older time would speed up. He used the analogy of how kids think that summer lasts forever… and then at some point in life, summer as well as the rest of life, speeds up. That is why there is an importance on using time wisely.

“They are like a breath; their days are like a fleeting shadow.” ~Ps 144:4

My question is: how are you spending the days of your life? I think it is important to know that we sometimes overestimate what we can do a year, and underestimate what we can do in five years. Sometimes when life is not going the way we would like it, we withdraw and cease trying. But if we just hold on and try to make every day count, we will find that in a matter of time God can change and shape us. Whether it is regarding your spiritual life, or just something that you know needs to get done, God can make our lives worthwhile. So, although our lives might be fugacious, we have the opportunity to live in eternity with the father following a life of productivity, hopefully for the Kingdom.

Praying for you,

MO

Shibboleth (John 3:3)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “shibboleth.”  We currently live in a world that is driven by the Internet, social media, and everything that comes along with it.  In fact, we don't really remember a time when these means of communication did not exist.  I catch myself often wanting to leave the house late at night because I see a commercial for my favorite fast food, or some other subliminal message from a the marketing techniques that bombard our lives.  In Jesus’ time, there were also certain phrases that one might use to help others understand what they were trying to communicate.

Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." ~Jn. 3:3

My question is: what are the parts of the Bible that you know best? For some who have grown up in the church, they might have certain remembrances of scripture, while others might have seen one or two verses over and over again on TV, or wherever. Jesus used the words “truly, truly” several times, a kind of shibboleth, in the Gospels to help people understand that we was about to say something pretty important. My prayer is that you always look for what Jesus might want to say to you. Take the opportunities that God gives you and begin to hear Jesus speak into your life.

Praying for you,

MO

Periphrasis (Matthew 5.1-12)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “periphrasis.”  I remember when I first started reading the Bible.  I was very overwhelmed because I did not understand a lot of what I was reading.  My church group leader and people that helped me through those first years reminded me that I did not have to understand everything.  So, when I asked them about some verses that I might be able to understand pretty clearly, even not having been a Christian for a very long time, I was directed to the following passage.

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

~Matt 5:1-12

My question is: do you make the Christian life more complicated than need be?  I think sometimes we get so caught up on trying to understand things and go deeper with God that we forget that the Christian life is all about simplicity.  As we see in today’s passage, Jesus had no need for periphrasis speech, but instead a simple and succinct set of commands would suffice then, and end up being some of the most widely read verses in the Bible even to date.  My prayer is that you keep your relationship with God simple.  Don’t make more of it than necessary.  Allow God to work with you on his time and agenda.  That’s how you grow fast as a Christian.

Praying for you,

MO

Rufescent (Matthew 19:1-22)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “rufescent.”  Have you ever been embarrassed in a situation? I know that is kind of a rhetorical question. Of course, we all have.  Well, one of the reoccurring themes in the New Testament is the Pharisees trying to catch Jesus in a lie, or worse yet, something to condemn himself in front of all of his followers.  We all know that he is God, but what comes along with that sometimes is a lack of spiritual understanding, as we are all in need of growth.

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. ~Matt 19:21-22

My question is: what the things that are most important to you? I know that sometimes we put stuff in front of our spiritual growth.  My prayer is that each of you takes moment to evaluate all of the important items of your life, and make sure that God is a part of those growth areas.  Each of you has a ton of blessings from the Lord, we just need to capitalize on all of the stuff that God puts in front of us.  That way we will never have a sheepish and rufescent, or reddish, shade of embarrassment on our faces.

Praying for you,

MO

Realpolitik (Matthew 23:12-14)

Good morning ladies,

THe word of the day is “realpolitik.”  Self-righteousness has been going on since, and even before, the Bible was recorded.  Some peeps just like to get up in other people’s business and tell them how to live.  Unfortunately, most of us have enough hang-ups to keep ourselves busy, and do not really need to worry about others and the way that they are living life.  The Pharisees were these kind of dudes back in the New Testament.  JC really had it up to here with the way that they were living, and judging others...

"Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.13"But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation.… ~Matt 23:12-14

My question is: what do you spend most of your time and energy on?  Some peeps are so consumed with the business of judging others that they do not take time to look in the mirror.  My prayer is that each of you takes a moment and self-reflects upon the things in your own life that God would like to work on.  If we spend more time working out our own issues, we will have less time to try to run other peeps’ lives.  Live in grace today, and give others the same benefit that God would… an accepting heart.

Praying for you,

MO

Rifacimento (1 Corinthians 9:19)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “rifacimento.” The Bible is a compilation of instances and circumstances in which those most unlikely to succeed find themselves in relationship with God. It is fascinating to see the different characters that we meet throughout this Gospel story, past, present, and future. By the time we get to his letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul talks about his use of freedom in a most unfathomable way.

"For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.”

~1 Cor 9:19

My question is: what are you doing to make yourself part of God's story? Each of you has something unique about your personality and understanding of a relationship with the Lord that can positively influence somebody else. Although you are a slave to no one, it should be your top priority to become a servant to as many as possible, that you might win one or some for the kingdom of God. My prayer is that you look deep within yourself and understand that you are made free in Christ, and so you must serve more.  Become a rifacimento, or the adaptation needed, to do God’s will and add to the Kingdom.

Praying for you,

Mo