The House You're Building

“I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.    John 15:11-15 MSG Today is Valentine's Day.  Being an elementary school teacher, it is common in my world that the emphasis is on love expressed through friendship and not romance.  Reading the above verse this morning reminded me about the friendship we have with God.  Here are some things I notice in regards to how this friendship with God works: He wants joy to come out of a friendship with Him.  This joy comes from growing as a person into your full po...

Prepare your Heart: Read Luke 12:16-20.   Pray about how “foolish” you are.   Do you trust in yourself or in God? Ask Him to teach you about becoming wise in His eyes through this study. Today’s lesson deals with insight and ignorance.   I think is very hard to have insight into yourself and see yourself clearly.   A year or so ago my Bible Study was studying Romans 12 and the Holy Spirit used verse 3 to show me that I can’t see myself clearly.   For through the grace given to me I say to everyone amoung you not to think more highly of himslef that he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgement, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.   It has become a regular prayer of mine to see myself as God sees me, and ask Him for the ability to do so.   Like this verse says, I think the more my faith grows, the more I come to understand grace and then am able to see my own sin, knowing He will provide for me in my weakness. L...