Author: everydaywiththeking

Bible, Jesus

Worth Living

everydaywiththeking

What makes life worth living?

There are so many possible answers to that question.

For many people this question doesn’t have an answer. Some find themselves drifting from one day to the next without a reason or true purpose. Others have something in their life that makes them feel at least for the moment that it’s all worthwhile. But when circumstances change, health fails, friends leave … life disappoints— then what???

If you are depending on yourself, another person, career, activity, possessions or anything else to make life worth living you are going to find yourself devastated one day. Any and all these things are going to fail to provide a life worth living. Like a dream or an illusion what once seemed so real and lasting will simply be memory.

BUT JESUS SAID

I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). – John 10:10 AMPC

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
-John 10:27 NKJV

I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me. – John 14:6 AMPC

Jesus makes life worthwhile!

Life is worth the living because Jesus lives

Do you want to know Jesus? You can start right now. He is waiting for you.

If you have access to a Bible start reading in the gospel of John. Here is a link to read the Bible online – https://www.biblegateway.com/

Matt Maher – Because He Lives (Amen) [Official Lyric Video]

Live your life every day with the King and you will have a life worth living!

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Bible, prayer

God Is Limitless

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Oh, how often they rebelled against him in the wilderness
    and grieved his heart in that dry wasteland.
 Again and again they tested God’s patience
    and provoked the Holy One of Israel.
 They did not remember his power
    and how he rescued them from their enemies.

-Psalm 78:40-42  NLT

So much becomes clear when we understand the truth of Who we are talking to!

Remember God is always and forever limitless!

Here is a great reminder from Esther Walker.

Bible, Bible study, Jesus

John 21:22

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John 21:22

Sharing this scripture today as a follow up to the recent post – Envy

Please take a moment to read chapter 21 of the gospel of John. After reading the chapter go back to look at verses 21 and 22.

Here is a link to the chapter on the Blue Letter Bible website → John 21  If you take some time to explore the website, you will discover many tools to help you in your study of the Bible. The page I’ve linked to is the chapter in the KJV because it is the easiest place to start for accessing the tools. However, at the top of the page, you will see where you can easily choose another Bible translation.

Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.     John 21:22  KJV

Jesus said to him, If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.    NKJV

Jesus said to him, If I want him to stay (survive, live) until I come, what is that to you? [What concern is it of yours?] You follow Me!    – AMPC

If I want him to remain until I come, Jesus answered, what is that to you? As for you, follow Me.     -HCSB

If it is my wish, returned Jesus, for him to stay until I come, is that your business, Peter? You must follow me.   – J.B. Phillips

 

If you have read the chapter, you see that Jesus is speaking in response to Peter’s curiosity about John’s future. I don’t know about you, but I can easily follow Peter’s thinking that led him to ask about John in this chapter. I have often found myself wondering about other people’s situations and life story. This is especially likely to happen when things appear to be unfair. This is also the place where wondering and seemingly innocent questions quickly lead to comparison and envy.

John 21 contains the answer for when our focus shifts from following Jesus to wondering about what is going on with other people.

Interesting that this is the last time Jesus speaks in the gospel of John.

 

what is that to thee_ follow thou me.1 (2)

 

Bible, prayer

Envy

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What comes to mind when you think of envy?

Read the definition here – Envy

Below is a powerful 4 part series on the subject of envy from John Eldredge’s excellent podcast. I personally found it to be a fascinating discussion and also extremely convicting. Can’t imagine there is another resource on the subject that compares to this series. So take some time to listen and then share your thoughts on envy by leaving a comment below.

 

 

 

Bible, Quiet time

Secret Place

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Many phrases are used to refer to the abiding life but one of my favorites is the secret place. One of the most well-known Psalms begins by describing the life of those who live this way.

Please read Psalm 91:1-2  in your choice of Bible versions. Below are the AMPC and YLT which seem particularly helpful in a study of this portion of scripture.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]. I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him, I lean and rely and in Him I [confidently] trust!    – Psalm 91:1-2 AMPC

He who is dwelling In the secret place of the Most High, In the shade of the Mighty lodgeth habitually, He is saying of Jehovah, `My refuge, and my bulwark, my God, I trust in Him,’      – Psalm 91:1-2  Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)

Are you dwelling in the secret place? Are you living every day with the King?

An excerpt from Matthew Henry’s Commentary explains a little about this kind of life.

 …It is the privilege and comfort of those that do so that they abide under the shadow of the Almighty; He shelters them and comes between them and every thing that would annoy them, whether storm or sunshine. They shall not only have an admittance, but a residence, under God’s protection; He will be their rest and refuge forever…

-from Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Psalm 91

Read more from the commentary –  HERE

I thank You for the bitter things

They’ve been a friend to grace,

They’ve driven me from the paths of ease

To storm the secret place.

I thank You for the friends who’ve failed

To meet my soul’s deep need;

They’ve driven me to the Savior’s feet

Upon His love to feed.

I’m grateful too, through all life’s way

No one could satisfy,

And so I’ve found in You alone

My rich, my full supply!

– Florence White Willett

Florence White Willett quote

 

Faith, Goals

Burn The Ships

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Burn the ships is a phrase that I was familiar with but could not remember the origin story. So when I heard for King & Country’s great song Burn The Ships, I immediately had to do some quick research.

In 1519 Hernan Cortes and his crew sailed to Veracruz, Mexico. Soon after arriving the men of  Cortes’ crew wanted to return back home. Legend says that Cortez ordered his men to burn the ships. Once they burned the ships they no longer had the option of going back home. They had no choice but to go forward into a new life.

Burn the ships means to cut off the option of returning to old ways and forging ahead to the new. It is easy to see how this can be applied to the Christian life.

Have you left your past behind? Are you forging ahead into the new life? What ships do you need to burn?

Below is the music video for King & Country – Burn The Ships

books, Goals

Bring The Books

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If you’ve read the blog post – Social Media  you may find yourself with a renewed interest in books and other activities that you enjoyed before the smartphone takeover.

Randy Alcorn recently wrote about why we should be reading more. He gives a little challenge that I hope you will decide to try.

“PLEASE turn off the television and open a great book and begin to read. Tell yourself you will read a minimum of ten minutes before watching something or looking at a device. I guarantee you that if you do this every day, some days you will never turn on the TV. An hour or two will go by and you’ll realize how much better reading is than watching.”  – Randy Alcorn

Read the entire post from Randy Alcorn – Make Reading a Priority—and Let Books Change You—in the Coming Year

Here are a few suggestions

Many websites and blogs have a recommended reading page. Do you have some favorite authors? Author websites often have a page with links to reading resources. LifeWay has a separate new website devoted to cultivating a greater love of books – LifeWay.books 

Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.   – Paul

– 2 Timothy 4:13

We are quite persuaded that the very best way for you to be spending your leisure time, is to be either reading or praying. You may get much instruction from books which afterward you may use as a true weapon in your Lord and Master’s service. Paul cries, “Bring the books” — join in the cry.

– Charles Spurgeon

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me._ - C.S. Lewis

Bring The Books!

Do you have a reading suggestion or a comment about books?

Please share ♥

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bible, Bible reading plan

Psalm 19

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I’m reading each morning in the One Year Bible this year. Psalm 19 was included in the daily reading this week on January 23.ps. !9

Take a look at the first four verses in the NKJV and AMPC version.

The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork.

Day unto day utters speech,
And night unto night reveals knowledge.

There is no speech nor language
Where their voice is not heard.

Their line has gone out through all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.    Psalm 19:1-4 NKJV

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows and proclaims His handiwork.

 Day after day pours forth speech, and night after night shows forth knowledge.

 There is no speech nor spoken word [from the stars]; their voice is not heard.

 Yet their voice [in evidence] goes out through all the earth, their sayings to the end of the world.      Psalm 19:1-4 AMPC

Don’t you think it is amazing that God is speaking to us each day everywhere in the world we live in?

Look anywhere and He is to be found if you want to see. Are you looking?

Elizabeth Barrett Browning says it so simply.

earth's crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with god, but only he who sees takes off his shoes;the rest sit round a

 

Goals

Social Media

everydaywiththeking

Last year I found benefit in taking a break from social media for a while. I’m not and have never been one of those people who is constantly looking down at their phone. But I felt like too much of my time was given to social media and wanted to see what the results would be if I just stopped it.

See these posts — Social Media Break  — Returning From Social Media Break

There were those who began warning early on of the dangers of social media addiction. Remember the video – Look Up – from Gary Turk? That video is from April of 2014. In the years since that video was released many more people have fallen under the spell of constant social media. Today the consequences are becoming clear. We now know enough to conclude that too much social media is very damaging. Information is showing up in books, articles, Ted Talks and individual life experiences convincing us that we must not continue in this pattern.

Social media robs valuable time and delivers very little of worth. Instead of promoting social involvement, as the phrase, social media would suggest, it is actually an anti-social activity. Look around when you’re in public areas and you’ll notice people with their eyes locked on the screen of their cell phone.

girls-3481791_640

There is good news. Take a little time to learn about the harm of social media and what can be done about it. Explore the helpful links included in the rest of this post.

Quit social media | Dr. Cal Newport | TEDx Talk

Manoush Zomorodi    Ted Talk

Cutting the Cord: Cell Phone Addiction by John Eldredge

What I Gained When I Lost My Social Media Addiction

25 Websites Other Than Social Media To Upgrade Your Life

Let me conclude this post about social media with a favorite quote. I always find this quote to be helpful in determining if something is beneficial or not.

“Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, takes off your relish for spiritual things, whatever increases the authority of the body over the mind, that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may seem in itself.”    ~Susanna Wesley

social media

What do you think?

Please take a moment to share your thoughts on this subject