Volume 8 Post/Email 2 – Renewed Vision
by brian
"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:14-17)
We used to be a scorekeeper or faultfinder. We stood with the Pharisees, stones in hand, staring at a woman caught in adultery. All we could see was a sinner needing punishment. Now, we stand with Christ, in Christ, beholding a daughter needing love. (John 8:1-11)
We used to stand with the disciples, disgusted by a Gentile woman, an outsider who had the nervee to ask our Messiah for help. Now, we stand in Christ and behold through his eyes a woman of great faith and great love. (Matthew 15:21-28)
Once we stood with Peter, seeing Cornelius and his friends as "unclean," because they were different from us; now, we behold people "in Christ," beyond the old categories of us and them, clean and unclean. (Acts 10:1-48)
We are a new creation, experiencing a new reality in Christ! We see ourselves differently. We see others differently. All things are new, and better! The old has gone! We now live with renewed vision and purpose for Christ.
-Brian
Volume 4 Post/Email 6 – Faith(#6)
by brian
Something that helps me to believe in the practice of prayer is angels. Not only are there hundreds of references to angels in Scripture, but there are several in the context of prayer. Often when praying I envision God releasing an angel or angels to attend to my request(s). Sometimes I even ask God to send an angel or angels as part of my prayer. Below are three Scriptures pertaining to faith, prayer and angels. (I will share two others in the next post!)
May these increase our faith, refresh our praying, and renew our worship. -Brian
Psalm 34:6-7 > "This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them."
Luke 22:43-44 >"An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground."
Revelation 8:3-5 > "Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake."
Volume 3 Post/Email 6 – Proverbs 11:24-25
by brian
One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
I really like these 2 verses and thought they would be good ones to share here on elguy.
These proverbs encourage us to extend a helping hand to our fellow man.
Another translation ends with "he who waters others will himself be watered."
When we only live for ourselves and self preservation, we actually miss out on personal blessings.
However, when we look to bless others, a byproduct of a generous heart and generous acts is personal gain!
By faith, we believe and trust in the supernatural realm and providence of God.
Thus, we live with the awareness of the truth that we actually gain when we give!
We actually end up refreshed, or watered, when we refresh or water others.
Are we giving freely? 
-Brian
Volume 2 Post/Email 1 – Jeremiah 17:5-8
by brian
Have you ever felt empty spiritually? Have you ever experienced burn-out?
We desperately need God and His Spirit filling and fueling our lives.
In a spiritually vacuous, fast-paced world, even a few moments of quiet reflection spent each day in the presence of God can uplift and transform.
Jeremiah, like other spiritual prophets in the Bible, gives us a word from God on these matters.
Jeremiah 17:5 reads, “This is what the LORD says: Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on the flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD.”
How easy it can be for good people of faith to unconsciously and unintentionally start trusting in themselves, including their own strength and wisdom, and begin losing sight of God.
When we neglect seeking, worshipping, and trusting God we can experience spiritual emptiness.
Likewise, burn-out results from giving without receiving – working without worshipping – preaching without praying – serving without His Spirit and strength.
God wants to bless us and nourish us. He wants His loving presence and power to permeate our lives. He wants to make our lives complete and fruitful.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 reads, “But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Fruit-bearing is a work of God.
Without God, our labor is in vain.
Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.
Psalm 127:2 says, “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat – for he grants sleep to those he loves.”
Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is go to bed, not to keep staying up and doing more activities. Everything is not on our shoulders. We labor in vain without God’s help.
As you let God use you this week, make sure you are being filled with His Spirit, trusting in Him, and not depending on the work of your own hands.
Loving off of His resources and serving with this orientation and understanding is a joy!
We need renewal and refreshment from God. Worship renews and re-energizes us for the tasks at hand.
-Brian