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Philippians 2:14-15 - "Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God…" NIV
His players moaned and groaned about this schedule, but Shula would not change his mind nor reduce the number of workouts like the players wanted him to do. His players said this was unheard of and no other NFL team had four workouts per day. One player complained to the press saying, "All we do is dress, practice, undress, and dress, practice and undress. We are not sure if we are football players or strippers."
The exact thing they complained about is what, within a few months, they attributed to their success. In 1972 the Dolphins went undefeated something no other NFL teams has been able to duplicate at this time.
We humans have a way of complaining about what is really good for us. We just can't see it at the time of our complaining. Do yourself a favor and hold off on the complaining.
The Israelites wanted to be free from the Egyptian bondage in the days of Moses. Once God started His plan to free them with Moses as their leader all we see them doing is complaining. In fact, they complained all the way out of their bondage.
God has started the process of freeing us from our bondage and how have we decided to thank Him? We complain during the entire process. We are exactly like the Israelites as they were being led out of 400 years of Egyptian bondage. We complain all the way through it. God has a plan for us to be free. Do yourself a huge favor. Don't complain about the way God is freeing you from your bondage. Try trusting God more and yourself less. God knows exactly what it is we need in our lives and that you can take to the bank. Think On These: Some people would complain that the stepping stones to success have bruised their feet. Don't pray for rain if you are going to complain about the mud. Don't find fault with what you don't understand.
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Joshua 1:6-7 - "Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go." NASU
A person who is courageous is one who tells himself he is going to be courageous at that moment. We all possess a courageous or brave spirit. Some of us fail at being courageous when we choose not to be. It isn't because we can't. It is because we chose not to be when a challenge arises. When a courageous person is faced with new circumstances or even dangerous situations, he believes he must confront them and does. All one has to do is remember the courageous NYPD and FDNY officers running into the burning twin towers on September 11, 2001 (911) to see courage in action. They choose to enter those towers. It was their choice. They choose to be courageous. There can be no running from the challenge as this would not be a person who is courageous but would be more in line with a person who is cowardly.
Moses had recently died and up to this point Joshua had been Moses' assistant. God spoke directly with Moses and Moses made the decisions based on what God had told him. This is all going to change. God is now going to speak directly to Joshua. Joshua will be the new leader. Joshua will be making decisions based on God's commands. Joshua was going to lead the Israelites into battle and all he has to do is believe God's promises. In Joshua 1:5 God promises him - "No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you." NASU Now it is on Joshua's shoulders to believe what God told him. God tells us the same thing in Hebrews 13:5 - that He will not forsake us. Do you want to be courageous? Then believe God's promises when your faith is being given a test because that is what courageous warriors of God do.
When you take a stand to be courageous it is a mental decision. The more you know God's Word the easier it will be for you to be courageous. I heard a preacher say one time, "If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything." People who know God's Word will not fall for anything or at least they shouldn't. Go ahead make your decision to be strong and courageous today. Stand up to the challenges that are before you today and every day and when you do you will be courageous. Think On This: Courage is not the absence of fear, but the conquest of it. Remember, you are your own doctor when it comes to curing cold feet. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Share this Pump Up with others by Sharing on Your Facebook Page or Forwarding to a friend. To Read Other Pump Ups You Can Go To My Website. www.SeragosPumpUps.com Acts 10:30-31 - Cornelius answered: "Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. NIV
I wonder what went through Cornelius' mind after that conversation with an angel. I am fairly sure he was not giving to the poor to be noticed by God. Yet, that is exactly what happened to him. He gave to the poor and God noticed him. I am fairly sure that when we give to the poor we do not give thinking "Well, God is watching me so I will give a large sum to this poor person." When we give we do so to help this person. I am quite sure that if we think about it for a moment there was a time when someone helped us. Now it is our turn to return the favor.
In the Old Testament times when the Israelites lived in an agricultural society God told them not to harvest all of their crops. They were to leave the edges of their fields alone and the poor people could come and glean the edges of their fields for free. In other words, the poor people had to do something to help alleviate their poor condition. They were given an opportunity to better themselves by harvesting crop that was left in the field for them by the land owner. They could use this harvested crop to feed their families or sell the crop and bring money into their own pockets to support their family. This type of living is supported by the Apostle Paul in the New Testament when he writes in 2 Thes. 3:10 - For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. NASU
I have been asked if I give to the people who are at the stop lights begging for money. My answer is "No." But I will tell you who I do give money too. I give to the ones working in the restaurants. I know the ones working there are definitely not rich. A lot of them are working there as a second job. They are trying to make ends meet. Some of them are in school during the day and working there at night. God's plan is to help those who are indeed working to try and get ahead in this life and I see waiters and waitresses doing exactly that. When I leave them a very nice tip I see this as a way to give to the poor.
Acts 10:4 - The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. NIV Proverbs 14:21 - But happy is he who is gracious to the poor. NASU Prov. 22:9 - He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor. NASU
Prov. 19:17 -One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his good deed. NASU Think on These: Poverty is often the sidekick of laziness. A man is truly poor, not when he has nothing, but when he does nothing. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Share this Pump Up with others by Sharing on Your Facebook Page or Forwarding to a friend. To Read Other Pump Ups You Can Go To My Website. www.SeragosPumpUps.com Matt. 27:3-4 - Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." NASU
And he owns up to his mistake the text says, "…he felt remorse and returned the 30 pieces of silver…saying, 'I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.' " Judas owned his mistake. He confessed that he had sinned by betraying Jesus the One who was innocent.
You must identify your mistake or your sin. Judas said, "he had sinned by betraying innocent blood." The Greek word for "sin" is "harmatano" and it means to "miss the mark." Judas had missed the mark as we all have done. He identifies what sinned he has committed and that is an example for us. When you have sinned or made a mistake name it or own it. The mark that he missed was being "loyal" to the One who was innocent. What "mark" have you missed? Does everything have to be your way? Have you allowed your arrogance to rule your life? Have you missed the mark of being honest, being faithful, or being loving? Are you the kind that will not listen to anyone because you are always right? Judas would not listen to the lessons that Jesus had been teaching and because he would not listen he betrayed innocent blood.
Notice what Solomon says in Prov. 1:5 - "A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel…" NASU A wise man will HEAR. In other words he will "LISTEN". If you will hear or listen to others you may find that you don't make as many mistakes in life.
James 5:16 - Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. NASU Who should you confess your sins to? First, and foremost is the person you sinned against if that is possible. Then I would recommend one of your close friends. One who will help keep you accountable and keep something like this from happening again to you. Think On These: There is more hope for a confessed sinner than a conceited saint. Few things in life are more difficult for some people than admitting a mistake. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Share this Pump Up with others by Sharing on Your Facebook Page or Forwarding to a friend. To Read Other Pump Ups You Can Go To My Website. www.SeragosPumpUps.com |
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