Posted in Christ, Control, Desperation, Difficulties, Dread, tagged 1st Peter 2 on November 5, 2012| Leave a Comment »
“For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. — 1st Peter 2:25
We all have our list of “Don’t Wants” — things we don’t want out of life, things we are afraid of happening and try to avoid.
Sometimes we’re more motivated by our “Don’t Wants” than by our wants and that has to change.
Giving our lives and future to Christ means we not only allow him to align our wants to his will but our “Don’t Wants”, too.
– fritz
Posted in Christ, Failure, tagged bad breaks, Matthew 9, riff raff, spirituality on November 2, 2012| Leave a Comment »
The Pharisees complained to Jesus, “Why do you go to the riff-raff and hang out with losers?”
“But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.” – Matthew 9:12
God picks losers.
Those who have failed miserably and often eventually recognize, if they are honest, it’s not because of bad breaks, other people, or because they weren’t given more control. There is freedom in that.
Losers are more likely to turn things over to the only one who never fails.
Losers are more likely to find the love of Christ, who’s acceptance isn’t based on success.
Losers are more likely to follow directions from the one who really knows what to do, more likely to know where any success comes from, and more likely to give credit where it’s due. They usually don’t try to defend their reputation much.
Fact is, we are all losers, there are some who just haven’t realized it yet.
– fritz
Posted in Christ, Gentleness, Good Shepherd, Trust, tagged lambs among wolves, Luke 3, mental picture, personal vulnerability, shield of faith on October 8, 2012| Leave a Comment »
“Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.” — Jesus (Luke 10:3)
The world expects (demands) toughness — notice truck decals, group mascots, and projected personae.
Jesus sent out his followers with a different mental picture — lambs among wolves.
Sheep can at least bite but lambs have nothing! Lambs can’t even pretend to be tough!
How can a lamb survive? Having a good shepherd at his/her side.
We don’t have to play the world’s game nor fix our vulnerability. We follow our shepherd, trust his care, use our “shield of faith” (Eph 6:16) when the enemy zings us with fear — embracing our personal vulnerability with faith in his intervention.
– fritz
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