God’s will

I’ve been involved in full time, local church ministry for over 15 years. And since I have worked with students during that entire time, there are certain questions that come up every year, with every group of kids. There’s usually one about dating, a few about the reality of God and always one question about obeying parents. But one of the questions that comes up frequently, and is asked by almost every student at some point during their seven years in our student ministry program is this: How can I know the will of God?

Do you ever catch yourself complaining? The other day I caught myself complaining about a how a woman was driving in the car in front of me. "Really, you feel that going 30 mph in a 40 mph zone is the safest way to get around town? Really?"

After being thoroughly irritated by her driving, I was irritated by the warmth of my water bottle, the glare of the sun coming through the window — the sun was just high enough to glare right into the car, but just low enough that the visor was no good — and I was most thoroughly irritated by the complaints of the kids in the back seat. “Don’t you kids have anything to be thankful for?!?!?”

 Take time to pause today and reflect on God’s goodness to you.

“When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me” — Hosea 13:6

Check out this parable of Jesus:

Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, “Come along now and sit down to eat”? Would he not rather say, “prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink”? Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty” — Luke 17:7-10

I got a call from an insurance salesman today. One of those calls.

Have you ever struggled to pray for some one who doesn’t have a major issue going on? When some one is in crisis, it’s relatively easy to pray for their busted up marriage, a wayward child or a sick family member. But how do you regularly pray for someone who’s doing fine?

Check out this prayer by the Apostle Paul for the believers in the book of Colossians. This will be a great model of prayer for you and I to follow in praying for one another.

Happy Thanksgiving from your friends at Tenthdot Ministries.

We are thankful that you share in this ministry with us each day. May today’s TD encourage you to be even more thankful for all that God has done in our lives!

1 Thessalonians, 52 of 66

For years I’ve threatened to write a book on the will of God.  On the one hand, it sounds preposterous to even think about such an undertaking.  Who are we to try and grasp and understand the incredible concepts pertaining to God, His will and His eternal plans?!?!?

On the other hand God’s Word says a lot about His will so it seems He wants us to know and understand aspects of it.  1 Thessalonians five is another one of those passages that gives us incredible insight into God’s will.

I left the IRS office the other day and relatively speaking, things didn’t go well (I was in the IRS office…how well could they go?!?!).  But thinking about thankfulness, my conversation ended like this:

Atilla the Hun:  “Is there anything else we can help [editor’s note:  I use the word “torture” as synonymous with “help”] you with Mr. Castañeda”?

Me:  No, I think you’ve answered all my questions.

Atilla the Hun:  Ok.

Me:  Seriously, thank you guys for doing your job.  I’m sure you don’t get very much thanks around here, but I appreciate people doing their jobs well.

Atilla the Hun:  Wow…you’re right we don’t get much thanks around here.

Me:  It’s not like I’m happy about the outcome, but I am thankful for the good service you’ve provided and the fact that you’ve been kind through this process.

Atilla the Hun:  I’ll need to mark this day down as the first day a customer gave me a compliment.

Me:  Well, I hope you get more compliments for your work.  Thanks again.

I left feeling better about the lousy situation especially since every bone in my body wanted to scream and run out like a mad man!

This is part 3 of a 6 part series on worry from Philippians 4:4-9.  Today as we examine verse six of this passage, we will take a hard look at the two clear commands given in this passage.  The problem with today’s study is this:  When we see clear commands in Scripture the onus of obedience is placed on us.  In other words, when you know the truth, God expects you to live it.  James said it like this,

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

The great news is, as you and I learn to apply these commands from Scripture, we will learn to replace our fear, worry and anxiety with joy, gentleness and the peace of God.  So be readers AND doers today!

In this season of holiday giving, it seems like I’m constantly reminding my children to “say thanks” for this gift or that.  Two of our three kids celebrate birthdays in December and my wife and I celebrate our anniversary a few days after Christmas.  Gifts are flying around our house and “thank you” cards are heading out of our mailbox almost daily.  It’s good to be thankful.

Not only is it good to be thankful, it’s actually God’s will that we be thankful people.  Look at this verse:

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5:18