Years ago, in 2011, I wrote a book called Large, Large Living in a Small, Small World. In it I purposed to teach what a generous-lifestyle heart looks like. I defined generous from the Hebrew as being of noble birth and possessing noble character. Such a person is generous in overlooking injury or insult, rising above pettiness or meanness. It’s one who indicates a willingness to give, share, or to bestow favor.

Reciprocity:

Two areas in which I believe most believers have missed God completely are: one, serving; and two, giving. It’s so sad to me that people will talk about how much they love God and are thankful to Him, but never reciprocate by giving and serving His kingdom. I guess the saying might be true, “Put your money where your mouth is!” In other words, Show us what you believe.

Obedience:

John 14:15 — “If you love me, obey my commands.” Way too many people treat the Bible, the word of God, as a book of suggestions, instead of a book of commands. John 15:14 (NLT) — “You are my friends if you do what I command.” We need to do what God commands. He commands us to give of our money. He commands us to serve.

So, the question I leave you with is this: “Do you love God, and are you thankful enough to do what He commands?”

Just a thought,

PSS

New Mexico is plagued with poverty and victim mentalities. These spirits have produced all the poverty and crime we see in our city and state. They are the dysfunctions that cause people to elect the people we have running and ruining our state. People feel entitled — they believe they deserve stuff instead of wanting to earn stuff.

Scarcity mentality:

The poverty and victim mentalities give rise to a scarcity mentality. People with this mentality believe that life has only so much — so much time, so much money, so much intelligence, so much of whatever resource they can name. So, if they give, they will have less. They may even believe in God. They believe God made the earth, but He didn’t make it big enough, and He made it with limited resources. Because of this scarcity mentality, people get deceived and start believing in the wrong things.

Abundant life:

God didn’t make the earth too small, and He definitely didn’t make it with limited resources that will run out. This scarcity mentality is a stronghold for way too many. They need to be delivered from this type of thinking. These false beliefs hinder a person’s relationship with God. We need to believe the Bible and the words of our Lord Jesus. He came to give us life and life more abundantly (John 10:10) — to give us a rich and satisfying life. The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Don’t allow him any longer to deceive you into believing God is not big enough.

We really do need to learn and practice generosity. If we do, it could change our whole life.

Just a thought,

PSS

Being consistent, staying consistent, is sometimes different for some. Consistency is an essential part of our lives. People who are up one day, down the next are hard to deal with. You never know what mood they will be in. Consistent people are easier to deal with, especially when their attitude is consistent. 

Principles:
Consistent means acting or done in the same way over time, especially so as to be fair or accurate, consistently adhering to the same principles. Our views and actions are consistent. Even as we serve the Lord, we must be consistent in our faith. The way we talk, the things we do must be consistent with what we believe. 

It’s work:
I believe we should all work at being consistent in our lives, that when people are around us, we are consistent in our words and actions. The thought, Do as I say, not as I do, is very inconsistent — not a healthy way to be. So, let’s strive to be more consistent in our lives — at work, around our families, even when we are alone. It will bring greater peace to our minds. 

Let’s all strive to be more Christlike in speech and deed. It will help us be more and more successful in every area of our lives. 

Just a thought,
PSS

Be Hopeful!

Hope is not a sedative; it is a shot of adrenaline, a blood transfusion. Like an anchor, our hope in Christ stabilizes us in the storms of life; but unlike an anchor, our hope moves us forward; it does not hold us back.
— Warren Wiersbe

Tough times:

Although we may experience tough times, disappointing moments, heartache, we still can have hope if we believe. These temporary detours of suffering will actually strengthen our commitment to Christ and our testimony for Him. You see, as believers, we all have an incredible future with Christ in heaven.

Hope deferred:

Don’t ever allow your hope to be deferred. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life (Proverbs 13:12). No one likes waiting. It feels good to get what we want. But when our expectations are delayed, we can experience disappointment, disillisionment, and loss of hope. Waiting can become such an affliction to some that it’s like a lingering sickness. Even though things are delayed, we need to stay in faith, trust, believe in the word of God.

A better tomorrow:

Our hope in a better tomorrow because we are born-again, saved by the power of God, and realizing our future home with God is very real, will help us to keep going. No matter what you face, remember we have a hope that never perishes. It is a shot of adrenaline to our minds.

Let’s never lose this hope God gives us, and when our faith is being tested, remember it is only temporary — it’s God’s kingdom only that lasts forever.

Just a thought,

PSS

RESOLUTIONS

“When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?’ ” (John 21:15)

Restoration:

Jesus has a wonderful way of restoring us when we fail Him! He does not humiliate us. He does not criticize us. He does not ask us to make a resolution to try harder. Rather, He takes us aside and asks us to reaffirm our love for Him.

Failure:

Peter miserably failed his Lord when he fled with the other disciples from the Garden of Gethsemane. Later, he publicly denied that he even knew Jesus. Peter must have wondered if he had been capable of being Jesus’ disciple when he was unfaithful to Jesus in His most crucial hour.

As you begin a new year, you may be painfully aware that you have failed your Lord in many ways. Perhaps you were not faithful. Perhaps you disobeyed His word to you. Perhaps you denied Him by the way you lived. Jesus will take you aside, as He did Peter. He will not berate you. He will not humiliate you. He will ask you to examine your love for Him.

Affirmation:

Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love Me?” If your answer, like Peter’s, is “Yes, Lord,” He will reaffirm His will for you. If you truly love Him, you will obey Him (John 14:15). Jesus does not need your resolutions, your recommitments, or your promises to try harder this year. If your resolve to obey God last year did not help you to be faithful, it will not make you successful this year.

Jesus asks for your love. If you truly love Him, your service for Him in the new year will be of the quality that He desires.

Just a thought,

PSS