I’m back. I didn’t forget. Been a very busy few weeks. The organization I work for is finally back into the incarceration facilities. We have been waiting for some time to get back into these places but due to covid we have had to wait for an unspecified time to insure everything is clear.
Courtney did her first show in a long time. We didn’t do badly but the results were not what she expected. We need to create more product and offer variety. I took a look around to see what everyone is offering so I can assess what not to offer and what we should consider offering in order to increase our revenue.
As I looked around I thought about “what are people into these days” and how people’s taste in home décor changes over time. Now generally we offer product according to upcoming season and holiday. I was thinking we should offer something people are interested in or like no matter what time of the year we are experiencing. The more I thought about the things people like I then began to thinking about what are people more focused on in their daily life, what has their attention more often than other things.
Billy Graham is credited for saying, “Look at a person’s check book and you will see where their heart is.” That is an excellent accountability tool there. Let’s go a bit further in today’s culture. Look at a person’s web search history or their cell phone and you will see where their heart is. These are great if you are wanting to keep yourself accountable to another, if you allow yourself to be transparent about your daily activity. How about pushing that a bit further. Who should we be, as Christians, accountable to at all times? Christ is always with us, seeing every little thing we do, look at, and where our thoughts are.
Scripture says, “4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2 Corinthians 10: 4-5). This is one of my favorite text to quote. The Christian Metal band Deliverance uses this text as the intro to their song “The Weapons of Our Warfare” from their album “Stay of Execution” spoken by Sir Sean Connery with his notorious Scottish accent. It gives me that “Highlander” feeling. This text reminds me that I am in a constant state of battle but my might and strength, my weapons are to be used in a Spiritual Battle front and not against others who are just like me, beings created in the image of God. In this battle I deal with imaginations and everything that attempts to gain my attention that is not of God and His Kingdom and that I should bring my thoughts to the obedience of Christ. That my mind should always be on Him who offers me salvation, eternal life.
I have heard this saying from church and military leaders I have had as well as in movies;
sow a thought reap an action,
sow an action reap a behavior,
sow a behavior reap a habit,
sow a habit reap a character,
sow a character reap an identity,
sow an identity reap a legacy.
For every action there is a consequence and that consequence can either be good or bad, depending on the nature of the action. Well our thought can lead to our actions, which is where everything begins in our life, with our thoughts. Where do our thoughts tend to be more focused on in our daily life?
Recall what Jesus says here, “27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5: 27-28) This text tells me that everything begins with our thoughts. A person doesn’t even need to put their thoughts into action in order for them to be counted against them. There is no room to wiggle in order to be comfortable with our sinful nature, not like a pair of slightly uncomfortable shoes.
Then read the parable about what defiles a person, “10 And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” 12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” 13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” 15 But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.” (Matthew 15: 10-20). Note verse 19, “For out of the heart comes evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” Now Jesus is not alluding to the idea that the physical heart is where our thoughts come from. The heart is an object that illustrates the seat of our emotions, the object that drives us and motivates us to do the things we desire to do. These things start at the heart, the mechanism that moves life through our bodies.
So ask yourself, what is the thing that drives life through you? Is it your job, you hobbies, video games, extracurricular activities, food, alcohol and drugs, sex and pornography, your need for speed, anything that is placed first in your life? Anything that you devote more time thinking about than you do about the Lord?
I’m not writing this to teach anyone anything. My entire purpose is to share something I have had to consider in my very own life. What does James tend to think about more than he does about God? For many who know me they can tell you I know a lot about biblical matters and history. However, believe it or not, my thoughts are not always focused on those things. I enjoy my job working with men in residential drug rehabilitation centers and facilitating classes in the jail but my thoughts are not always there. I enjoy reading and researching matters in the world of counseling and therapy, to increase my knowledge and gain more tools and resources in the field of Marriage and Family but my thoughts are not always there.
The purpose of this blog is about self-examination and to be honest about what has my full undivided attention in my life other than God. I wish to share that same sentiment with you, for you to do some self-examination in your life. You do not have to share what that thing is with anyone. I encourage you, as I have myself, take this to the Lord and work on making a change.
Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” If a person were to literally take up a cross upon their shoulders there would be no doubt that their attention would be on that cross and nothing else. The weight and burden of that object would cause a person to look for a better way, a more comfortable manner by which to carry the thing. All other distractions would be of no value to them, would cause no attempt to shift their attention from what is on their back. Is there anything that deserves our love more than the Lord? Jesus said if anyone loves their father or mother more than him isn’t worthy of him. If anyone loves their son or daughter more than him isn’t worthy of him. He isn’t saying that we shouldn’t love them but that our love for them should not come before our love for him. Shouldn’t that be the same about our thoughts and attention? What we love most will receive our thoughts and attention more than others things.
Courtney did her first show in a long time. We didn’t do badly but the results were not what she expected. We need to create more product and offer variety. I took a look around to see what everyone is offering so I can assess what not to offer and what we should consider offering in order to increase our revenue.
As I looked around I thought about “what are people into these days” and how people’s taste in home décor changes over time. Now generally we offer product according to upcoming season and holiday. I was thinking we should offer something people are interested in or like no matter what time of the year we are experiencing. The more I thought about the things people like I then began to thinking about what are people more focused on in their daily life, what has their attention more often than other things.
Billy Graham is credited for saying, “Look at a person’s check book and you will see where their heart is.” That is an excellent accountability tool there. Let’s go a bit further in today’s culture. Look at a person’s web search history or their cell phone and you will see where their heart is. These are great if you are wanting to keep yourself accountable to another, if you allow yourself to be transparent about your daily activity. How about pushing that a bit further. Who should we be, as Christians, accountable to at all times? Christ is always with us, seeing every little thing we do, look at, and where our thoughts are.
Scripture says, “4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2 Corinthians 10: 4-5). This is one of my favorite text to quote. The Christian Metal band Deliverance uses this text as the intro to their song “The Weapons of Our Warfare” from their album “Stay of Execution” spoken by Sir Sean Connery with his notorious Scottish accent. It gives me that “Highlander” feeling. This text reminds me that I am in a constant state of battle but my might and strength, my weapons are to be used in a Spiritual Battle front and not against others who are just like me, beings created in the image of God. In this battle I deal with imaginations and everything that attempts to gain my attention that is not of God and His Kingdom and that I should bring my thoughts to the obedience of Christ. That my mind should always be on Him who offers me salvation, eternal life.
I have heard this saying from church and military leaders I have had as well as in movies;
sow a thought reap an action,
sow an action reap a behavior,
sow a behavior reap a habit,
sow a habit reap a character,
sow a character reap an identity,
sow an identity reap a legacy.
For every action there is a consequence and that consequence can either be good or bad, depending on the nature of the action. Well our thought can lead to our actions, which is where everything begins in our life, with our thoughts. Where do our thoughts tend to be more focused on in our daily life?
Recall what Jesus says here, “27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5: 27-28) This text tells me that everything begins with our thoughts. A person doesn’t even need to put their thoughts into action in order for them to be counted against them. There is no room to wiggle in order to be comfortable with our sinful nature, not like a pair of slightly uncomfortable shoes.
Then read the parable about what defiles a person, “10 And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” 12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” 13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” 15 But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.” (Matthew 15: 10-20). Note verse 19, “For out of the heart comes evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” Now Jesus is not alluding to the idea that the physical heart is where our thoughts come from. The heart is an object that illustrates the seat of our emotions, the object that drives us and motivates us to do the things we desire to do. These things start at the heart, the mechanism that moves life through our bodies.
So ask yourself, what is the thing that drives life through you? Is it your job, you hobbies, video games, extracurricular activities, food, alcohol and drugs, sex and pornography, your need for speed, anything that is placed first in your life? Anything that you devote more time thinking about than you do about the Lord?
I’m not writing this to teach anyone anything. My entire purpose is to share something I have had to consider in my very own life. What does James tend to think about more than he does about God? For many who know me they can tell you I know a lot about biblical matters and history. However, believe it or not, my thoughts are not always focused on those things. I enjoy my job working with men in residential drug rehabilitation centers and facilitating classes in the jail but my thoughts are not always there. I enjoy reading and researching matters in the world of counseling and therapy, to increase my knowledge and gain more tools and resources in the field of Marriage and Family but my thoughts are not always there.
The purpose of this blog is about self-examination and to be honest about what has my full undivided attention in my life other than God. I wish to share that same sentiment with you, for you to do some self-examination in your life. You do not have to share what that thing is with anyone. I encourage you, as I have myself, take this to the Lord and work on making a change.
Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” If a person were to literally take up a cross upon their shoulders there would be no doubt that their attention would be on that cross and nothing else. The weight and burden of that object would cause a person to look for a better way, a more comfortable manner by which to carry the thing. All other distractions would be of no value to them, would cause no attempt to shift their attention from what is on their back. Is there anything that deserves our love more than the Lord? Jesus said if anyone loves their father or mother more than him isn’t worthy of him. If anyone loves their son or daughter more than him isn’t worthy of him. He isn’t saying that we shouldn’t love them but that our love for them should not come before our love for him. Shouldn’t that be the same about our thoughts and attention? What we love most will receive our thoughts and attention more than others things.
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