Vent/Gossip

"A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back." Proverbs 29:11 (NKJV)

I read this verse in another devotional today and it hit me that sometimes we vent our feelings to people for various reasons. Sometimes we want to validated for how we are feeling. You know get your friends all on your side. Other times we are so upset that we just can't find it in ourselves to stop from venting.

Other times still we vent for the sake of making sure that others know what we are feeling and that someone has hurt us. In that process we have shared pain and gossip.

I am guilty of this. I have had to try hard to keep my tongue in situations and at times have not been successful. I remember a time at work that I vented my feelings about how much time a project took that I was working on because I didn't have the help of a co-worker. While I wanted a little praise for work well done, I really wanted my boss to know that I did all the work and that the other person did not do their part.

I pray that I don't vent my feelings but process them and hold my words until when and where it is wise. I don't want to bring myself or another down from my vent feelings.

Becky Sosa 9/23/2010

Nothing More Nothing Less

Rachel Olsen"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought." Matthew 5:5 (MSG)
Lord, how can I become content with just who I am, nothing more and nothing less?
I'm certainly prone to want to be more, or less, than I am. To be smarter, prettier, funnier, fitter. To be more productive, perky and high energy. And then also to be lower key, calmer, more level-headed and focused.
I want to have better self-awareness, and yet I want to be less concerned about what others think of me.
I want to be a better cook, to sing beautifully and to keep th e house neat without so much perceived effort. And did I mention fuller, thicker hair would be nice too? I want to be a better writer – one that's both highly creative and meticulously organized. And I want fewer propensities to run late, slack off or procrastinate.
Yes, I want to be both more and less of me.
Jesus shushes my endless listing of the things I want to change about myself – to improve about myself so I can have what I'm sure would be a better life. He asks me instead to humbly make peace with it all. To lay down my notions of a better woman and a better life by letting Him be the judge of that. To simply take what I'm given and offer it back to Him, in service and surrender. Willingly assuming that I am enough – I have what it takes to live a great life. One that pleases God, others and self.
Today's key verse is among several in the Bible that fuels a core convi ction I hold: When I stop striving to create a life for myself, I find the life God creates for me. This, my friend, is a powerful truth, a divine secret. His life for me begins precisely where mine ends. My life ends in my sin and striving and begins again in God's grace and power. His empowering indwelling affords me everything I truly need and nothing I truly don't.
Do you too long to be content with just who you are in Christ – nothing more and nothing less? Jesus addresses us both in Matthew 23:11-12, ""Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you'll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you're content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty." (MSG)
Amazingly, God's grace humbles a woman without degrading her, and His favor lifts her up without inflating her. The life she finds in Him makes her the proud owner of everything money can't buy – a life of contentment.Dear Lord, help me to quiet my critical, striving spirit today and gratefully accept who I am and where I'm at in this moment. For You are here, ready to invisibly empower my life to count for plenty right where I am. Help me also to seek and hold your definition of "plenty" – nothing more and nothing less. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

The Good Side of Clonflict

The Good Side of Conflict
9 Sep 2010Lysa TerKeurst"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)When I was in my early twenties, there was nothing I disliked more than conflict. I won't use the tired cliché that I avoided it like the plague. But, since I just used it anyhow, I'll admit I tried to navigate around conflict at any cost.I was a 'stuff it and smile' kind of girl. The problem with pretending to be fine when you're really not, is all that pent up steam will eventually come out. And if you've ever held your hand too close to steam, you know how it can burn.A much healthier approach to the inevitable conflicts we all must deal with is to face the issue head on with grace and humility having asked ourselves one very cruci al question. This question is so crucial that might I dare say not asking it could lead to extreme conflict escalation rather than relationship restoration.So, what's this crucial question?Am I trying to prove or improve? That's the question.

In other words, is my desire in this conflict to prove that I am right or to improve the relationship at hand?When I try to prove I am right, I use the circumstances of the conflict as an arsenal to attack the other person. I come armed with past hurts and offenses ready to state my case. I'm tempted to tear down the other person. I react from a place of hurt and anger and can often say things I later regret.On the other hand, when my desire is to improve the relationship, I seek to understand where the other person is coming from and I care enough about the relationship to fight for it rather than against it.

Instead of reacting out of anger, I pause and let the Holy Spiri t interrupt my first impulses. I tackle the issues, not the person.Here are some great questions to ask when we're dealing with conflict out of a desire to improve a relationship:• Can you help me understand why you feel this way?• Why don't we both agree to stick to the issue at hand and not pull in past issues?• What is your desired outcome in this situation?• How can we meet in the middle on this issue?My husband I have renamed what we used to call "fights." We now call them "growth opportunities." And the more we've been practicing these principles, the less conflicts we've been having.But I won't tie this devotion up in a neat bow and end all "cheerio." While Art and I are doing great right now and have had very few "growth opportunities" lately, conflicts with others seem to always be around the corner. So please hear my heart, I'm not saying all of this is easy.

Just this week I've had to tackle some growth opportunities that made me feel like I had fire crackers burning through my veins.Maybe you can relate.What I will say is that it's possible to let those conflicts lead us to better places in our relationships. Improved places. And that is the good side of conflict.Dear Lord, help me to realize that with each conflict I face I can make the choice to improve the relationship rather than try and prove I'm right.

This is hard, Lord, really hard. But, I want to grow in this area and I know this is a good place to start. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

When People Let You Down

"Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us." Psalm 62:8 (NASB)

Disappointment feels like a heavy rock sinking to the bottom of my spirit. I've felt disappointed in many situations – a business opportunity that didn't pan out, a writing door that didn't open, and a relationship that broke my young heart.The heaviest disappointments for me, however, stem from people. And not just any people; people who I'm closest to. People who turn out to be not at all what I hoped they'd be, or not who I thought they were.I know I'm not alone in wondering how to deal with people who let me down. Just this week a friend said with a choke in her voice, "I wish my mom and I could be closer, but I don't think we ever will be." Another woman said with despondency, "My husband and I just don't talk." I've heard the edge of bitterness in women's voices as they vow never to trust again because of a friend's betrayal. And most of us have swallowed the hopelessness that comes with a broken heart, "I thought he was the one."I've tried different ways to handle disappointments in relationships. One way is to ignore the disappointment, to shut it in a box and hope the lid holds. Another way is to gloss over it with a quick statement such as, "People will let you down, but God never will." True, but does this really help me process the hurt?One morning in my quiet time I was pouring out my sadness, anger and disappointment about a close relationship. As the tears slipped down my face, I begged God to show up. What do I do with all this? Show me and I'll do it because what I've been doing is not working.

Clear as a bell ringing in my spirit, Jesus said, Grieve.

Really? I questioned. I remembered that Jesus knew all about disappointment – Peter's denial, Judas' betrayal, and the disciples falling asleep during His anguish before His crucifixion (Matthew 26). I remembered people in the Bible who were well acquainted with people they loved letting them down, such as Joseph or Job. I felt reassured that Jesus wouldn't misunderstand my sadness as a lack of faith.So I cried, feeling every ounce of the disappointment. I told God all the things I wish were different about this relationship, all the things I thought this person had done wrong, and what I wish this person would do differently.After the winds of grief subsided, I was done.

Grieving was the bridge I had to cross to move beyond the disappointment. On the other side I found myself in a place where I could embrace the relationship for what it is, not what it's not.On the other side of grief lies a place where we can consider how to respond to the person who disappointed us. There are a number of possible responses. Sometimes we need to talk to the person or get godly counsel. Other times we may need to create healthy boundaries, or we may need just to let it go. Only after we've allowed ourselves to grieve, however, will we know how to respond to this person in the way that God wants. Then the words, "People will let you down, but God never will," will be truly comforting, not just empty words.

Dear Lord, I'm so thankful that when it feels like no one else understands, You do. You understand about being disappointed in people but You loved them in the midst of that. Lord, I want to follow Your example. I'm thankful You know this sadness is a part of healing from the pain of disappointment. Give me guidance in handling this -I trust that You can bring good out of this. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

By Melanie Chitwood

More on sharing the truth

Every time we share that message we are personally involved in what God is doing in building His eternal kingdom.

What can we expect as we take the gospel out of self-edification and share it with others? We can prepare for and accept hostility from some listeners (Matthew 10:16-18, 21-25). There will be men who “will deliver you up to the courts, and scourge you in their synagogues, and you shall even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles (v. 17). The history of Christianity is the history of persecution and martyrdom for the cause of Christ. More people have been persecuted and died for Christ during the last hundred years than in the previous two thousand years.

We can expect God’s power and sustaining grace to meet all of our necessities as we take the good news to a lost world. Jesus said, “When they deliver you up, do not become anxious about how or what you will speak; for it shall be given you in that hour what you are to speak” (v. 19). Those are instructions for martyrs and Christians under persecution, not preachers getting ready for Sunday morning without doing their homework. The Holy Spirit gives boldness to testify under all circumstances for Christ. “For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you” (v. 20). Success in personal witnessing is simply sharing Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and then leaving the results up to God.

Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006

missions

"“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;
and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.'

Acts 1:8"

Many of the youth here at Calvary Baptist are about to embark on a two week long mission trip to Louisiana and Florida.
Those of you on the trip you need to spend time in the word this week. You are missionaries and will be sharing the love and the truth of Christ to the lost.
In Acts he was telling them to go out and be witnesses to the end of the earth. Next week you are going to be in New Orleans and helping out there. It might not seem like the ends of the earth to you, but the lost need you. I will post a diffrent scripture and/or devotional about mission work on the blog this week.

Becky

Saturday Passion Week Reading

1 Corinthians 15 (New American Standard Bible)

1 Corinthians 15
The Fact of Christ's Resurrection
1Now (A)I make known to you, brethren, the (B)gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, (C)in which also you stand,
2by which also you are saved, (D)if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, (E)unless you believed in vain.

3For (F)I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died (G)for our sins (H)according to the Scriptures,

4and that He was buried, and that He was (I)raised on the third day (J)according to the Scriptures,

5and that (K)He appeared to (L)Cephas, then (M)to the twelve.

6After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some (N)have fallen asleep;

7then He appeared to (O)James, then to (P)all the apostles;

8and last of all, as to one untimely born, (Q)He appeared to me also.

9For I am (R)the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I (S)persecuted the church of God.

10But by (T)the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I (U)labored even more than all of them, yet (V)not I, but the grace of God with me.

11Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

12Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there (W)is no resurrection of the dead?

13But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised;

14and (X)if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.

15Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He (Y)raised [a]Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised.

16For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised;

17and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; (Z)you are still in your sins.

18Then those also who (AA)have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

19If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are (AB)of all men most to be pitied.

The Order of Resurrection
20But now Christ (AC)has been raised from the dead, the (AD)first fruits of those who (AE)are asleep.
21For since (AF)by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.

22For (AG)as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

23But each in his own order: Christ (AH)the first fruits, after that (AI)those who are Christ's at (AJ)His coming,

24then comes the end, when He hands over (AK)the kingdom to the (AL)God and Father, when He has abolished (AM)all rule and all authority and power.

25For He must reign (AN)until He has put all His enemies under His feet.

26The last enemy that will be (AO)abolished is death.

27For (AP)HE HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET But when He says, "(AQ)All things are put in subjection," it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him.

28When (AR)all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that (AS)God may be all in all.

29Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?

30Why are we also (AT)in danger every hour?

31I affirm, brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, (AU)I die daily.

32If from human motives I (AV)fought with wild beasts at (AW)Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, (AX)LET US EAT AND DRINK, FOR TOMORROW WE DIE.

33(AY)Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."

34(AZ)Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have (BA)no knowledge of God (BB)I speak this to your shame.

35But (BC)someone will say, "How are (BD)the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?"

36(BE)You fool! That which you (BF)sow does not come to life unless it dies;

37and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else.

38But God gives it a body just as He wished, and (BG)to each of the seeds a body of its own.

39All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish.

40There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another.

41There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.

42(BH)So also is the resurrection of the dead It is sown (BI)a perishable body, it is raised (BJ)an imperishable body;

43it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in (BK)glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;

44it is sown a (BL)natural body, it is raised a (BM)spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

45So also it is written, "The first (BN)MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL " The (BO)last Adam became a (BP)life-giving spirit.

46However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual.

47The first man is (BQ)from the earth, (BR)earthy; the second man is from heaven.

48As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, (BS)so also are those who are heavenly.

49Just as we have (BT)borne the image of the earthy, [b]we (BU)will also bear the image of the heavenly.

The Mystery of Resurrection
50Now I say this, brethren, that (BV)flesh and blood cannot (BW)inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit (BX)the imperishable.
51Behold, I tell you a (BY)mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be (BZ)changed,

52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for (CA)the trumpet will sound, and (CB)the dead will be raised imperishable, and (CC)we will be changed.

53For this perishable must put on (CD)the imperishable, and this (CE)mortal must put on immortality.

54But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "(CF)DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory.

55"(CG)O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?"

56The sting of (CH)death is sin, and (CI)the power of sin is the law;

57but (CJ)thanks be to God, who gives us the (CK)victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58(CL)Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in (CM)the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.


Footnotes:
a.1 Corinthians 15:15 I.e. the Messiah
b.1 Corinthians 15:49 Two early mss read let us also
Cross references:
A.1 Corinthians 15:1 : Rom 2:16; Gal 1:11
B.1 Corinthians 15:1 : Rom 2:16; 1 Cor 3:6; 4:15
C.1 Corinthians 15:1 : Rom 5:2; 11:20; 2 Cor 1:24
D.1 Corinthians 15:2 : Rom 11:22
E.1 Corinthians 15:2 : Gal 3:4
F.1 Corinthians 15:3 : 1 Cor 11:23
G.1 Corinthians 15:3 : John 1:29; Gal 1:4; Heb 5:1, 3; 1 Pet 2:24
H.1 Corinthians 15:3 : Is 53:5-12; Matt 26:24; Luke 24:25-27; Acts 8:32; 17:2; 26:22
I.1 Corinthians 15:4 : Matt 16:21; John 2:20-ff; Acts 2:24
J.1 Corinthians 15:4 : Ps 16:8-ff; Acts 2:31; 26:22
K.1 Corinthians 15:5 : Luke 24:34
L.1 Corinthians 15:5 : 1 Cor 1:12
M.1 Corinthians 15:5 : Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36; John 20:19
N.1 Corinthians 15:6 : Acts 7:60; 1 Cor 15:18, 20
O.1 Corinthians 15:7 : Acts 12:17
P.1 Corinthians 15:7 : Luke 24:33, 36; Acts 1:3
Q.1 Corinthians 15:8 : Acts 9:3-8; 22:6-11; 26:12-18; 1 Cor 9:1
R.1 Corinthians 15:9 : 2 Cor 12:11; Eph 3:8; 1 Tim 1:15
S.1 Corinthians 15:9 : Acts 8:3
T.1 Corinthians 15:10 : Rom 12:3
U.1 Corinthians 15:10 : 2 Cor 11:23; Col 1:29; 1 Tim 4:10
V.1 Corinthians 15:10 : 1 Cor 3:6; 2 Cor 3:5; Phil 2:13
W.1 Corinthians 15:12 : Acts 17:32; 23:8; 2 Tim 2:18
X.1 Corinthians 15:14 : 1 Thess 4:14
Y.1 Corinthians 15:15 : Acts 2:24
Z.1 Corinthians 15:17 : Rom 4:25
AA.1 Corinthians 15:18 : 1 Cor 15:6; 1 Thess 4:16; Rev 14:13
AB.1 Corinthians 15:19 : 1 Cor 4:9; 2 Tim 3:12
AC.1 Corinthians 15:20 : Acts 2:24; 1 Pet 1:3
AD.1 Corinthians 15:20 : Acts 26:23; 1 Cor 15:23; Rev 1:5
AE.1 Corinthians 15:20 : 1 Cor 15:6; 1 Thess 4:16; Rev 14:13
AF.1 Corinthians 15:21 : Rom 5:12
AG.1 Corinthians 15:22 : Rom 5:14-18
AH.1 Corinthians 15:23 : Acts 26:23; 1 Cor 15:20; Rev 1:5
AI.1 Corinthians 15:23 : 1 Cor 6:14; 15:52; 1 Thess 4:16
AJ.1 Corinthians 15:23 : 1 Thess 2:19
AK.1 Corinthians 15:24 : Dan 2:44; 7:14, 27; 2 Pet 1:11
AL.1 Corinthians 15:24 : Eph 5:20
AM.1 Corinthians 15:24 : Rom 8:38
AN.1 Corinthians 15:25 : Ps 110:1; Matt 22:44
AO.1 Corinthians 15:26 : 2 Tim 1:10; Rev 20:14; 21:4
AP.1 Corinthians 15:27 : Ps 8:6
AQ.1 Corinthians 15:27 : Matt 11:27; 28:18; Eph 1:22; Heb 2:8
AR.1 Corinthians 15:28 : Phil 3:21
AS.1 Corinthians 15:28 : 1 Cor 3:23; 12:6
AT.1 Corinthians 15:30 : 2 Cor 11:26
AU.1 Corinthians 15:31 : Rom 8:36
AV.1 Corinthians 15:32 : 2 Cor 1:8
AW.1 Corinthians 15:32 : Acts 18:19; 1 Cor 16:8
AX.1 Corinthians 15:32 : Is 22:13; 56:12; Luke 12:19
AY.1 Corinthians 15:33 : 1 Cor 6:9
AZ.1 Corinthians 15:34 : Rom 13:11
BA.1 Corinthians 15:34 : Matt 22:29; Acts 26:8
BB.1 Corinthians 15:34 : 1 Cor 6:5
BC.1 Corinthians 15:35 : Rom 9:19
BD.1 Corinthians 15:35 : Ezek 37:3
BE.1 Corinthians 15:36 : Luke 11:40
BF.1 Corinthians 15:36 : John 12:24
BG.1 Corinthians 15:38 : Gen 1:11
BH.1 Corinthians 15:42 : Dan 12:3; Matt 13:43
BI.1 Corinthians 15:42 : Rom 8:21; 1 Cor 15:50; Gal 6:8
BJ.1 Corinthians 15:42 : Rom 2:7
BK.1 Corinthians 15:43 : Phil 3:21; Col 3:4
BL.1 Corinthians 15:44 : 1 Cor 2:14
BM.1 Corinthians 15:44 : 1 Cor 15:50
BN.1 Corinthians 15:45 : Gen 2:7
BO.1 Corinthians 15:45 : Rom 5:14
BP.1 Corinthians 15:45 : John 5:21; 6:57; Rom 8:2
BQ.1 Corinthians 15:47 : John 3:31
BR.1 Corinthians 15:47 : Gen 2:7; 3:19
BS.1 Corinthians 15:48 : Phil 3:20
BT.1 Corinthians 15:49 : Gen 5:3
BU.1 Corinthians 15:49 : Rom 8:29
BV.1 Corinthians 15:50 : Matt 16:17; John 3:5
BW.1 Corinthians 15:50 : 1 Cor 6:9
BX.1 Corinthians 15:50 : Rom 2:7
BY.1 Corinthians 15:51 : 1 Cor 13:2
BZ.1 Corinthians 15:51 : 2 Cor 5:2, 4
CA.1 Corinthians 15:52 : Matt 24:31
CB.1 Corinthians 15:52 : John 5:28
CC.1 Corinthians 15:52 : 1 Thess 4:15, 17
CD.1 Corinthians 15:53 : Rom 2:7
CE.1 Corinthians 15:53 : 2 Cor 5:4
CF.1 Corinthians 15:54 : Is 25:8
CG.1 Corinthians 15:55 : Hos 13:14
CH.1 Corinthians 15:56 : Rom 5:12
CI.1 Corinthians 15:56 : Rom 3:20; 4:15; 7:8
CJ.1 Corinthians 15:57 : Rom 7:25; 2 Cor 2:14
CK.1 Corinthians 15:57 : Rom 8:37; Heb 2:14; 1 John 5:4; Rev 21:4
CL.1 Corinthians 15:58 : 2 Pet 3:14
CM.1 Corinthians 15:58 : 1 Cor 16:10