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THE DANGER OF DISCONTENTMENT

It’s true: A discontented heart produces troubled waters which are target-rich for Satan for Satan’s temptations!
So many of Satan’s schemes and deceptions and temptations breed in the mindset that “I deserve better & more”.
More money. More toys. More respect. More attention. More credit. More admirers. More success.
Better children. A better husband. A better wife. A better explanation. A better teacher. A better test score. A better car.
 
Troubled, troubled, very troubled waters.
One sure cure for a discontented heart is heartfelt gratitude. Gratitude calms the waters of a person’s life.
Gratitude: Calm, calm very calm waters.
1 Timothy 6:6 puts it this way:
 
“But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment.”
If your waters are troubled, be grateful! The sooner the better.


BE STARVING!

Every day, all around the world, precious Christians are being persecuted for their love for Jesus.
Many times these Christians secretly meet in underground or house churches. Usually there are very, very few copies of the Bible available to whole groups of believers.
Sometimes portions of the Bible are carefully removed and bound together so that believers can take small portions of God’s Word with them to secretly have in their homes for one week at a time.
 
One week Boris has 1 Thessalonians and the next week Maria has 1 Thessalonians. And the following week Boris has James.
 
When the Bible is so scarce, those under persecution’s pressures are starving to have it in their hands, through their eyes and into their minds.
 
“… like newborn babes long for the pure milk of the word, that play it you may grow in respect to salvation …”.
(1 Peter 2:2)
 
Whether persecuted or not persecuted yet, we should always be starving for the Bible.


THE FERTILIZER FOR ANXIETY

Philippians 4:6 –
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made
known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
When we are anxious we are not praying. And failure to pray is often symptomatic of a failure to believe in God’s ability and love and goodness and control.
The fertilizer for anxiety is unbelief demonstrated by prayerlessness. Then fertilizer for peace is belief demonstrated through prayer.
Which do you want to grow: anxiety or peace?
Fertilize accordingly!


IT JUST DOESN’T LOOK RIGHT

The COCA-COLA COMPANY’S colours are red & white.
But certain nations are allowed to bottle unique soda flavors under the umbrella of the COCA-COLA COMPANY.
Here in the Bahamas the soda flavor selected & produced is grapefruit.
It’s a BIG seller. And the side of the can of this delicious soda is green & white rather than red & white.
It doesn’t look right.
Sometimes we Christians just don’t look right to others.
They know what Christians are supposed to look like and sometimes we don’t look those ways.
Ephesians 4:1-3 …
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
These wonderful qualities look “Red & White” to others who observe us.
 
When we live proud or harsh or impatient or self-asserting or unloving or divisive we look “Green & White”.
 


WHAT SHALL I WEAR TODAY?

Fear and faith will never live together. Where there is one the other will not be.
 
Proverbs 12:25 -“Anxiety in the heart of a man weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad.”
 
The good word of course are all the promises of Sacred Scripture!
 
Did you know that there are 365 Bible verses that command us not to fear? That’s one for each day of the year, isn’t it?
 
Put on the right clothes each morning! The choice is fully yours.