My Serendipitous thought, how is Jesus messing with You?Me

 “My Serendipitous thought by Sugar Bear is always  just having my eyes open daily,’ for how Jesus is mess in with you/me today’.” 

 

I tapped her on the shoulder in the post office line and gave the stranger one of my Sugar Bear cards. Usually, people are too busy scrolling through their email and social media on their phone to notice me. she started reading the front of my card and laughed at my nickname, “Sugar Bear loves you” But at the same time she noticed my shirt. In all honesty, I didn’t even remember there were words on the front of my shirt until she started pointing  and said , what a good sense of humor, I’ve always wanted to talk about the football transfer portal.

“That came at the perfect time. I needed to hear that today. “As I looked at her quizzically, she pointed to my shirt’ you want to enter the transfer portal? I said Yes, for Christ! How is Jesus mess in with you today? “I needed to hear those exact words today,” she said again, more emphatically. I had to think for a moment to remember the words to which she was referring.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)

I spoke to her simply about how I came to understand that there was no way I could be good enough or work my way to heaven and there is none who does good. I declared that salvation is a gift of God, not something earned and it is received only by faith which is to simply trust in or rely completely on the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ as payment for my sin. But what does that have to do with the Transfer Portal term? 

You see Jesus is moving out on his mission to redeem and restore all people to his Father’s kingdom. And he invites us to join him. ‘Come, follow me.’ Joining Jesus on his redemptive mission is what I mean by the term ‘missional transfer portal living’. Simply living each day as if it were a mission trip thru your individual unrestricted people portal. The difference, of course, is that instead of being on a mission trip to a foreign land of sports, we are on a mission trip to our own 100 foot community circle of influence. We are “Neighborhood Transfer Missionaries”. Finally ,the postal clerk said, “Next” and I said to her, “How’s Jesus been messing with you lately?” Her response with a knowing smile, I’m finding that Jesus is messing with a lot of us. So, in his grace Sugar Bear, Jesus has started messing with us and he needs our attention for that. Because he intends for us to join him. Let the adventure begin and continue with “Grace the ongoing, benevolent act of God working in us, without which we can do nothing “. John 15:5

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise. ” Hebrews 10:23

When I think about this verse there’s a different with God. If we let go of God he is still holding on to us. We can hold on to hope knowing the God of hope is holding on to us. And why because he who promised is faithful. When you promise something you are making a commitment to a future action. Something you will or will not do. So what are those promise from God we can hold on to? Good news the Bible is full of them. I want to point our three things. In 2 Thessalonians , God promises justice for those who have experienced in justice. Philippines 1:6 says, “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ”.

And then finally in John 14 ,” Let not your heat be troubled; ye believe in God believe also in me, I will prepare a house for you and come back and get us, and not leave us or abandon. 

I don’t know what promises you need today. I encourage you to write a promise and put it on the Fridge and repeat it often, He who promised is faithful and we can count on God and His word. For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does,” declares Psalm 33:4 The Lord’s promises for our future is messing with us with hope for today. We can stand, walk, sleep, and wake securely in this truth: God is trustworthy to keep His Word and repeat it often 

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

God Bless You And This Ministry!

Serendipitous Thoughts about proverbs 4:24-27

 Serendipitous Thoughts by Sugar Bear today while visiting my second favorite team(The Denver Broncos) to the Cyclones of Iowa state.

"Keep your mouth free of perversity;

keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.

Give careful thought to the[a] paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.

Do not turn to the right or the left;

keep your foot from evil". Proverbs 4:24-27

Nights and days are forever when dealing with evil. It messes with your romance for sleep. Lately I've seen how people of the world wear "masks" of deception . They spread untrue like war children that ponder the inseparable path of their feet. In the meantime, with Satan's help they try to instill influences in our own human hearts to turn against God.

But your trust in the lord not a altering image, social media goblins that may misrepresent facts. What is real and true? you see its," a me and mister Jones syndrome " you just have to be very careful who you trust in this "masked" world .

My simple advice comes from Jeremiah. One of Jeremiah’s persistent themes is contrasting those who trust in human resources and those who put their confidence in the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.

You ever have a calypso moment in life? You ever have times in which you slip slide away and fall short of God's commands, especially based on the above scripture?

"Show and tell the game that's played " God only knows the mask we wear. Instead take this life and your patience toward God as you learn the path and where we are to walk.

In Deuteronomy 6:8–9 the Lord speaks of His laws, saying, “Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” A related passage says, “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Despite the literal application of these verses you ever looked at that, have not been able to uphold God's law, and have the humbleness to come before him to plead for help?

We can't be who God has called us to be without the help of the Holy Spirit. He has given us everything, his word and spirit. He has made us into a new creations.

But there are times I've had a Chick-A-Boom moment about life making me feel like in the parable of the lost sheep or lost coin. Still needing a constant supply of strength in the mist of this life. I'm reminded that the smile is the first step in love and the beginning in friendship and the next time to sharing with a stranger. God has a joyous love for individuals who are lost (in sin) and are found (repent).

When God created us, He designed us to live in intimate, trusting fellowship with Him (John 3:16–17; Matthew 11:28–30; 1 Corinthians 1:9). I am reminded during times of trails, "When God created us, He designed us to live in intimate, trusting fellowship with Him" (John 3:16–17; Matthew 11:28–30; 1 Corinthians 1:9).

I pray that God would strengthen us this Day to walk with us in greater measure giving us widom with a playful heart that supplies us richly in devotion and worship in Jesus name Amen.

God Bless You And This Ministry!

Serendipitous thought by Sugar Bear my aunt

 Serendipitous thought by Sugar Bear as I visited my aunt Agnes in Cincinnati, the closies person to my mom.

For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?

1 Timothy 3:5

I've often heard the phrase, "the people of God” this to me, always indicates a clear relationship of a family.

Family conveys a sense of belonging. That is why I decided to take time out of my life and visit family. I called it , The Rage of I-inter-state,” as it came to be known for me as my embodiment to drive on a family and teammate tour, everything good and bad, unforgettable and why-did-I-ever-think-this-would-be-fun? What was my motivation in doing this? To recapture, Who is my neighbor?”

I didn’t really have a specific “motivation”. I’ve always been what someone would consider a loner and always loved traveling by car. It really just made sense for me to travel alone. It was the only thing that would make me regain my happy spirit and forgiveness after so many difficulties with the "mask enemies"and understand what true love is.

We love people by genuinely seeking what is best for them. Loving others does not mean agreeing with everything they say or do, nor does it mean acting in ways that always gain their approval? Only if you don't want to be voted off the Island?

Being a part of the family of God is the greatest blessing bestowed upon believers and one that should drive us to our knees in humble adoration. We can never do anything to deserve it for it is His gift of love, mercy, and grace to us, yet, we are called to become sons and daughters of the Living God (Romans 9:25-26). May we all respond in faith to His invitation Our extending of forgiveness is motivated by the truth that God has forgiven our sin through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:32)

Where sin increases, grace increases all the more (Romans 5:20). Love covers a multitude of sins—and it keeps on covering . God Bless families.

God bless you and This Ministry

"Serendipitous Thought "Glover Rogers" by Sugar Bear "

 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4

We got some devastating news.

today as we were celebrating teammates reunion someone who was more than a friend or teammate but our Cyclone brother, Glover Rogers A bond that spanned a lifetime just Came to abruptly to an end. The kind of friend that is family. You know the kind of friend I mean that everyone loves.

Glove you brought out the best in each of us, brother I love you. You were devoted to one another in love as a teammate and Honored one another above ourselves.” -- Romans 12:10

God did not ever intend your life to be one without a team. He created you for relationship with Him and with others; He created you to enjoy the love that comes along with having teammates to love and be loved by. Thank God for Team Jesus! We will miss you.

God Bless You and This Ministry!

 Serendipitous Thoughts by Sugar Bear. My first try at a podcast.

The sound is off . Goes to fast. Lucky its a work in progress. only on Spotify

but here is the link

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ustoI88UdiYiARPE9fTlR...

Serendipitous teammate Thoughts by Sugar Bear.

"I will give thanks to you, Lord; with all my heart I will tell of all your wonderful Deeds". Psalm 9:1

Gratitude is a knowing awareness that we are the recipient of goodness and yet to live a life of goodness is difficult.

How many times have we welled up with bitterness when no one notices or says thank-you when you do simple acts of kindness towards other people. You wait and wait but,"They only have a 'critical heart' ." And when they say thank you ,do you ever get the feeling it's not sincere?

"For where your treasure is , there your heart will be also".Matthew 6:21

When we are thankful, our focus moves off selfish desires and off the pain of current circumstances. Expressing thankfulness helps us remember that God is in control. Thankfulness, then, is not only appropriate; it is actually healthy and beneficial to us. It reminds us of the bigger picture, that we belong to God, and that we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3). Truly, we have an abundant life (John 10:10), and gratefulness is fitting.

So on this day as we celebrate Thanksgiving, see the goodness around us.

I invite us all to not be distracted by the brokenness of this world but practice gratitude by doing simple acts of kindness towards other people. When you’re being kind to others, you’re not the only one who’s giving away something. In fact, you are getting a lot, if not more, in return.

Make Thankfulness a way of life with the mindset of Christ.

Psalm 136:1 says, " Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. " let us recognize our faults and understand that without God there is only death. God desires His people in every generation to be generous-hearted givers. He wants His children to trust “that God is able to make all grace abound.” And He bountifully provides all we need.

God Bless You and This Ministry!

"Serendipitous Thoughts by Sugar Bear"

My thought of the day is ,"God Calls Us to Participate in Politics". What does that mean when dealing with political polarizating topics like climate change?

As the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world” (Matthew 5:13–14), the flourishing of our world is, in part, our responsibility.

It is interesting to note how the phrase "climate change" is replacing "global warming" as the catch phrase of environmentalism. Some scientists/climatologists are certain that human activity, primarily greenhouse gas emissions, is impacting the environment. What they are not certain about is precisely what the impact will be.

Polarized views about climate issues stretch from the causes and cures for climate change to trust in climate scientists and their research. But as an American,I support a role for scientists in climate policy that is bipartisan. But the costly remedies makes me scratch my head.

Where I live in Ames, Iowa the City Council members along with city staff are working on a 'Climate Action Program/Plan'. My first thought ,"How, then, should a Christian view climate change?

"We should view it skeptically and critically, but at the same time honestly and respectfully. Most importantly, though, Christians should look at climate change biblically. What does the Bible say about climate change? Not much.

My conversative side says,"will it be done in steps?

Will it be costly, disruptive or eventually make living in Ames unaffordable? So with everything what does scripture say?

Not much. Likely the closest biblical examples of what could be considered climate change would be the end times disasters prophesied in Revelation 6–18. Yet these prophecies have nothing to do with greenhouse gas emissions; rather, they are the result of the wrath of God, pouring out justice on an increasingly wicked world.

Is there anything wrong with going green? No, of course not. Is trying to reduce your carbon footprint a good thing? Probably so. Are renewable energy sources worth pursuing? Of course. Are any of these things to be the primary focus of followers of Jesus Christ? Absolutely not! As Christians, our focus should be proclaiming the truth of the gospel, the message that has the power to save souls. Saving the planet is not within our power or responsibility. Climate change may or may not be human-caused. What we can know for certain is that God is good and sovereign, and that Planet Earth will be our habitat for as long as God desires it to be. Psalm 46:2-3,

"Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging."

Contact your Ames city council members with

Matthew 7:7 in mind,

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

https://www.cityofames.org/government/mayor-and-city-council

At issue is not whether we should question, but in what manner—and for what reason—we question. As a child of God, we should never ask Insincere questions, or questions from a hypocritical heart.

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things"

Philippians 4:8

God Bless You and This Ministry

Serendipitous Thoughts on Christmas by Sugar Bear

“Here I come ready are not, here I come” Often when things are out of my hands I think of that quote. You see , I have those serendipitous, “to be born” moments of thought, that always start with , “what do we Live for”? or am I fearful , full of pride, indifferent or am I just lazy?

“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:14

Are you ready for what matters? That’s when my light comes on during the sounds of the ‘Noel’ season with great joy and I begin to pray for the truth and understanding of what does that mean?

Like newborn babies, you must crave spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.” 1 Peter 2:2-3

The Holiday season brings an expectation of family, friends and shared experiences. As I read through our Christmas cards today each card from family and friends lead me to happy memories and cherished traditions of my youth. Though this is true for so many of us, it’s not true for all . But don’t lose heart. In 1 Peter 2: 2-3 , we are reminded of the importance’s of spiritual maturity as we grow from being broken, into a beautiful citizen of heaven, God is so faithful t us he provides us with wisdom, Grace and insights into each individual situation. Because of Jesus, I lift my head as I learn from Paul in Ephesians. He says, “so then you are no longer strangers and aliens of brokenness but you are fellow citizens with saints, and are God’s house hold.”

Always remember to take it to Jesus. We are all purposefully placed by a purposeful God with no fear,, doubt; because we believe Jesus does what he is famous for, walking in the Grace of God every day.

“my grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me”. 2 Cor 12:9

As we have received his mercy and grace in our lives, like the song that was soul music singing in our hearts, we must come to his table and testify to his grace by sharing the gospel with others and extend this invitation to those that God puts in our 100 foot circle of influence this season, knowing that , “by grace we have been saved through faith and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God” Ephesians 2:8

Ah, the thunder and lightning of Noel comes to me, “God’s grace to us that’s available every day “and we are co-workers in sharing this hope. Always come to the foot of the cross and bring our failures, sufferings and thirst no more.

With full knowledge that Jesus does identify with our sufferings but our suffering is the byproduct of the fall of mankind’s into sin whereas Jesus’ suffering was as a innocent Lamb slaughtered for the sake of other’s sin, not his own.

“The First Noel” the message of this truth song is the joyous pronouncement that the King of Israel has been born. Accept this free gift of love by giving each other gifts not just material possessions but worshiping him, and being especially conscious of the poor in realities and admitting that because of your sin, you are completely destitute spiritually before you can come to God in faith to receive the Salvation He offers.

Let us incline someone with the true meaning of a joyous noel, and following the example of the angels,, announcing the good news that Jesus Christ was born, not just for Israel, but for all mankind, so we could receive forgiveness of sins through Him.

So why did God do such a thing? Because He loves us! Why was Christmas necessary” Because we needed a Savior and shook the world with the salute of the Good news as people around the world transforming us as we declare with our mouth, for this occasion of joyful celebration as we join hands in this spiritual rebirth,” Very truly I tell you , no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again” John 3:3

“But God demonstrated His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us “Romans 5:8 “Here we come ready are not, here we come”

God Bless You And This Ministry!

Serendipitous Thoughts By Sugar Bear 5/8/2022

 Why do I do, what I don’t want to do? Being pointless hurts as God’s voice speaks to my life with the help of the Holy Spirit. Why ask the question Sugar Bear?

 

“for what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate… For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.” Romans 7:15

 

I learned at a young age that questions are so important. Especially when  traveling on this journey trying to identify as a child of God with the mindset of Christ daily. But as my mama used to say, “don’t rush to live your life “, believe me Ronnie being silly in a rush, hurts. Sound familiar?

 

Like Paul, many Christians find themselves in a comparable spiritual battle. We want to do what is right but struggle to overcome our rebellious, sinful nature. We fail, we falter, we do the very things we hate and know are wrong, and when we mess up, we can often grow weary, disheartened and even overwhelmed with physical and spiritual pain.

We ask ourselves:

Why is following in the footsteps of Jesus so hard?
Why do we do the things we know are wrong?
Why do we continue to sin when we’re supposed to be redeemed, new creations in Christ Jesus? God this is hard and it hurts!

 

Paul attempted to address these many question describing the battle between sin and righteousness and the all-important, life changing power of God’s grace.

 

You see my battle as a sinner every day is one of constant warfare, between the flesh and the spirit, the old man and the new, “a very arrogant and ungrateful son who has no keen interest in the goal that lies most heavy on his father’s heart”  And the faithful son who longs to know and to understand his father’s deepest intentions so that he can bring his thoughts and affections and actions into alignment with it. This brainless question from the world above makes me assume it not run by an absentee landlord?

 

While I agree that mature believers must fight a continual battle against indwelling sin (the flesh or the old sin nature), What Paul description hear adequately as one that seems to be a losing battle. In this life, I will never love God as completely as I should, with my entire heart, soul, mind, and strength. I will never love others as much as I love myself (Mark 12:30-31). I will always fall short of these commands. But a lack of perfection is not the same as persistent disobedience. As a new creature in Christ, by God’s Spirit, I can choose to love God by spending time with Him each day in His Word and in prayer, with a sense of joy as we read scripture with a big old sugar cookie smile  that helps as we hear him as he is called himself as the Alpha and Omega the completeness of God, implying that God includes all that can be.

 

"For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God" (Psalm 86:10).

 

What this means as you read throughout the entirety of Psalm 86, gives glory to God.  Praises Him throughout with prayer in the most humble and reverent adoration. Throughout every trail you are currently going thru and  never let it take your mind away from God’s infinite greatness. 

 Remember my brothers and sister in Christ as we journey through this spiritual  walk ,you will see this concept of humans, although made in God’s image, struggling to do what’s right, on our own.We all need the salvation of the Lord. There are so many trials and tribulations within the world therefore it is imperative that we pray to God for mercy and seek prayers from others which allow Him to help lead us away from potential sins. Sometimes we avoid asking for help out of fear that it admits failure. We think, I should be able to handle this on my own; I’m supposed to succeed. I just need to push through. 

But the truth is that God created us with a need for help. Asking for help isn’t admitting failure, but recognizing the way God made us. Even before the fall, in Garden of Eden, God created Adam to receive provision and help rather than be self-sufficient. On a material level, God provided all of Adam’s food, water, even his breath. He provided fellowship for Adam through his own presence. In all of these ways, God longs to meet our needs. It’s simply not possible that God intends for us to “push through” without calling on his grace and compassion.

My Prayer:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next.

 

God Bless You And This Ministry!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Serendipitous Thoughts by Sugar Bear 4/24/2022

As I listen to a unassuming opening funeral message, almost immediately, I ask myself why must we face all these trials. I have been tired of life, but I realize God has a plan for me and for everybody. I have these serendipitous thoughts as the Pastor begins:

 

We are here today to pay our tribute and our respect to a man of God, our brother, Maynard. Stensrude Not only have people from this congregation and community gathered, but many faithful Christians have come… who have respected him as a disciple of God, and have loved him as a friend.  To know Maynard was to love him!

 

“How can we recognize the force of God”?

 

"Through good character, perseverance, value of time, callous hands,  and a faith in God, you can live your dreams ." You see, Christianity doesn't have to be complicated. These words of simple meditations came from the Stensrude family traditional values which  helped you/me unpack the simple but practical path to following Jesus.

 

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.  And he said: 

“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. Matthew 18:2-5

 

I have asked in excess how can we recognize the force of God throughout my early years. Samuel heard the voice of God, but did not recognize it until he was instructed by Eli 1 Samuel 3:1-10. Gideon had a physical revelation from God, and he still doubted what he had heard to the point of asking for a sign, not once, but three times Judges 6:17-22,36-40. When we are listening for God’s voice, how can we know that He is the one speaking? First of all, we have something that Gideon and Samuel did not. We have the complete Bible, the inspired Word of God, to read, study, and meditate on. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” 2 Timothy 3:16-17. And also have role models, When it comes to finding a good role model, a good thing to consider is whether the person you look up to consistently seeks to imitate 1 Peter 2:21. Does this person display the fruit of the indwelling Holy Spirit Galatians 5:22-23.? No human is perfect, and everyone will falter at some point in their lives Romans 3:23. 

 

Does he or she strive to live in harmony with others Romans 12:16?  You see at the celebration of life for Maynard Strensrude, my teammate and captain at Iowa State University in the 70’s. I truly can answer “yes” to these questions, and what a good and godly role model. Someone we desire to follow and emulate, that was unpretentious and  humble to not have me say this; most of us have someone we look up to, He was a teacher, parent, friend and influencer in his one foot circle for Christ.

 

 

The Bible never exhorts us to have “childlike” faith, at least not in so many words. But at the celebration of Maynard funeral I was reminded of Matthew 18:2 Jesus says that we must “become as little children” in order to enter the kingdom of God. 

 

The contexts of the five simple signs of genuine faith that their family life was based on, that Josh his son spoke on; as he eulogized his father. Those badges of simple faith came from his grandmother, no one knows where but for me it made me think simply of “whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me’.

 

As Josh spoke,  I remember meeting his grandmother as a young athlete on their farm and how loving she was to me as she fixed the best sweet corn I ever had. This was the start of my threshold of change to joining Jesus on his mission. I remember reading Genesis right after that encounter with the Stensrude's family. That verse says to  us that at the end of each day of creation God looked around at the work that he’d done, appreciate that it was good. But stay obedience in the same path for Christ. I thought to myself Maynard's family did that a lot. 

 

As Jesus was messin with me during my change and during the funeral , He wants us to always be looking around, at the mountains, at the flowers, at the birds, and at the relationships(teammates) forming and playing out all around him and keep it simple; and you could tell from the twinkle in Maynard’s eyes and Maynard’s smile what he was thinking. “Oh man, that’s good. That’s really good This is one of the most important questions in the Christian life. 

 

During our journey of connection  in order to have the mind of Christ, one must first have saving faith in Christ in all we do (John 1:12; 1 John 5:12). After salvation, the believer lives a life under God’s influence. The Holy Spirit indwells and enlightens the believer, infusing him with wisdom—the mind of Christ. The believer bears a responsibility to yield to the Spirit’s leading (Ephesians 4:30) it took me a long time even today to allow the Spirit to transform and renew my mind (Romans 12:1-2)
Thinking on “things above” it is so hard to focus on the truths of God’s Word, so the message of simple really resonated in Josh's talk. not only guides us in what we should do but gives the reasons we should do it (grace, our position in Christ, our eternal reward, etc.). 

 

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand." John 10:27-29. If you hear and obey the voice of Jesus, then you are one of His sheep, and He will never let you go. Jesus gave a wonderful word picture here of Christians securely held within His loving hands and the Father’s almighty hands wrapping themselves around His, giving us a double assurance of eternal security.

 

Jesus promoted a humble, honest faith in God, and He used the innocence of a child as an example. Emulating the faith of children, we should simply take God at His Word. As children trust their earthly fathers, we should trust that our “Father in heaven [will] give good gifts to those who ask him” 

 

God Bless You and This Ministry!