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No More Double-Mindedness

A double minded man is unstable in all his ways (James 1:8, KJV).
Have you ever found yourself wanting one thing but doing something totally opposite?

Like maybe after spending an hour at the gym, you decide to eat a bowl of ice cream. Chances are, you'll never reach your goal on the bathroom scale that way. Or you want a good marriage, but you want to keep being selfish. You want to make impulsive purchases at the mall and have financial growth and security. Or you're not ready to let go of your private addiction, but you want a growing relationship with God. Stop! It doesn't work that way. These things can't co-exist, and it's double-mindedness to want them to.

Change your thinking. Change your life.
Notice three things the Bible says about double-mindedness:

First, double-minded people are everywhere.
There is double-mindedness in all of us. There are competing things we want that we try to make go together. And we have to begin to think differently about this.

If I really want this, I'm not going to have that. I have to get off the fence and stop with the in-between. No more half-measures. I have to settle this. What do I really want?

Second, double-mindedness creates instability.
Are the kids wondering which Mom is coming home today? Is the extended family worried about how that uncle is going to act at the next family gathering? Are all the employees on edge anticipating what the office will be like when the boss arrives?

Or maybe it's you. You're unstable, and you know it. The people around you sure know it. You're unpredictable. You might try to hide it in public, but people close to you see it and they never know what to expect from you. The bottom line is that you want two things that can't coexist, and it makes you unstable.

Third, double-mindedness affects everything.
Seriously, everything. The guy who is double-minded about his marriage? It's affecting his career. The woman who's double-minded about her finances? It's affecting her parenting.

You might protest, "I make some bad financial decisions, but I would never do anything to hurt my family!" Well, you actually are. Double-mindedness affects everything.

Ending double-mindedness isn't easy, but it's pretty simple. You have to want to think differently. And you have to take action that reinforces your desire.

Later in that same chapter of James, we read, "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" (James 1:22, ESV).

Are you ready to put an end to double-mindedness?

Want what God wants. Seek His ways in His Word. Confess your desire for two things that cannot coexist, and put off the behavior that is keeping you from doing the thing that will make you more like Christ.

JOURNAL

In which areas of your life do you find yourself wanting two things that you know can't go together?
How does this area of double-mindedness create instability for you or someone close to you?
PRAY

Lord God, I confess that I don't always want what You want. Sometimes I desire one thing but act in a totally different way. I confess that my behavior can create instability in other areas of my life and hurt those around me. Thank You, Lord, for opening my eyes to my double-mindedness. Help me to think differently. By Your grace, help me to do the things that reflect Your power in my life. In Jesus' name, amen.

Many years ago (about 25) a very dear friend asked me to pray for her grandson Justin.  Every time we would talk it was please pray for Justin.  We both did.  Then I met Justin.  A young fellow, with long blond hair, beating on his drums. Boy he was good.....I happen to love a good drum playing.
I developed a relationship  with his mom, and dad. His grandparents moved and I started driving truck. I remembered the plea to pray for Justin.
He started going to church regularly, started dating the pastors daughter, finished school, and started working.  The pastor mentored him, and there was growth.  He owned his own business making ice, added to that was jugged water. As the years passed the business was sold, and a full time job was the next move in appliances.  He freely shared his faith in God, on and off the job. Other employees complained, however God honoured him as he continues to share and sell appliances.  He had the highest sales in the store.
He met and married his wife, a beautiful young lady, (not the pastor's daughter) and they now have 3 beautiful girls and Justin is the youth pastor in the church where he was mentored.
I have many times told him "God has answered your grandmother's prayers!"

Justin wrote the above devotional.  Do you agree God has answered prayer?

Greetings Everyone  A new month is here and this saying sums up June for me.   It is the month of June, The month of leaves and roses, When pleasant sights salute the eyes and pleasant scents the noses.  Ellie
 

Greetings Everyone    I saw this splendid quote on peace  and I must share it with you  "Every breath we take, every step we make, can be filled with peace, joy and serenity."    Ellie

Good  morning Ellie. Iams so sick of the racism in this country.

Marilyn...
... i know what you are refering to ( tv news footage, ) as if there is not enough in our countries to worry about, our C - Virus... so why must people add more..

From Chris
"The end of all things is at hand so be sober and keep praying. And above all keep fervent love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without grudging."
1Peter4.
The end of all things does indeed seem much closer,with wars everywhere, earthquakes.. more now than there ever was, volcanos erupting, viruses becoming deadly, and so We are encouraged to pray... For what especially?
That we shall be knit together in love, that we should be generous towards each other. This nucleus called the family of God is a very special body of God's grace and mercy.
We shall all be gone to a better place sooner or later.. Let's show God's great grace to all while we are here, give and do not count the cost, you won't need it where you are going!

Greetings Marilyn  I am cannot stand racism in any country.  No matter what colour a persons skin is, we are all equal.   Ellie   

Ellie...
... same here, I either like someone, or i dont like someone....

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If there is to be peace in the world,
There must be peace in the nations.
If there is to be peace in the nations,
There must be peace in the cities.
If there is to be peace in the cities,
There must be peace between neighbors.
If there is to be peace between neighbors,
There must be peace in the home.
If there is to be peace in the home,
There must be peace in the heart.

(Lao-Tse - 6th Century BCE)

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Bless those who are peacemakers,
From all creeds and cultures,
All who bring no other agenda
Than to see neighbour and stranger
Live together as one community.
A: Bless the peacemakers
B: Strengthen and bless them

©John Birch

Thank you for the great devotion, Judy, and for the good music, which I will come back to hear.  I have an eye appointment in a few minutes.

I wanted to pop in and tell you that we have been away for five days.  We went to visit my sister and husband in Hershey, Nebraska, planned to stay three days, but car died and we stayed five days.  I think it was a God thing, because our visit made her feel a lot better.  She has cancer, and hadn't had much company at all, and Vernon is trying to take care of everything, so he is tired and stressed.  I was able to take over the cooking and washing dishes for him (he dislikes those jobs!) and also cut and curled her hair, and you all know how much better that makes us ladies feel.  We had such a sweet visit, and I have promised to come see her at least once a month.  It's a five hour drive, but Darrel, bless his sweet heart, is willing to drive us there. 

Off to get my eyes checked--see you later!

Good to see you back Janet, glad you were able to go and help your sister and brother in law. I am sure they appreciated it.

I have a notice that my post had errors and had to be corrected.  What errors.

Trying to write - hope everyone is well.

Well, that note went through.  Hallelujah!  For a while, I thought this wouldn't work - I deleted my longer message - guess it wasn't important anyway.  What is more important is to keep on keeping on.  Staying on our message of trusting the Lord to get us through this roller coaster time in life.   

Chris Saunders
8 hrs ·
"For the time is come that judgement must begin at the house of God, and if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who don't obey the Gospel of God? I Peter4.

God's judgement must begin with His own people, all through history that has been obvious, we are His by grace alone and shall never be cast off and we are liable for judgement. And with many false churches today. God must shake us true believers up
We have to judge each other and check our own pulses too. We must desire to be perfect. He tells us that if we judged ourselves and tested each other then we would not be judged by Him. As flint sharpens flint, so one man sharpens another, that is why fellowship is so import.
We keep an eye on and encourage each other. We know how to live right.. But we can become careless and slipshod in our ways " it's only a little one" but small sins lead to big sins.
Be careful, be watchful, we are not yet perfect.

Greetings Jackie  This is one splendid peace quote    'Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures'.   Ellie
 

Judy...
... noticed that two days ago, June 6th would have been a very special day for sister Pat, our forums founder Pat Scott Halbach...it would have been her 80th Birthday...that day must have been a hard day for you and your family to have gotten through..

Where is everyone, three days and no one posting.. 

Greetings Jackie  I am here, did you find the quote a splendid one?   Ellie

Greetings Everyone  This peace quote is few in words, 'Peace is its own reward'  It is a splendid quote.    Ellie

Well one day we shall all be " at Peace " whether we like it or not...

Greetings Jackie  I hope and pray for peace.   Ellie   

Ellie...
...that's all we can do..whether we see it in our lifetime, or maybe our next generations..As my late father often would say " we live in hope, girl," we certainly do..

Greetings Everyone  'Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love'.

Francis of Assisi


Ellie

Good day Jackie, Pat's birthday is the 10th of June, my brother's was the 10th of September, I was late on the 15th of July. Mom's due date for me was also the 10th.

May 20th, is a harder date. Pat and Jack were married on the 20th Jack passed away in January 2001 and Pat was buried on their anniversary date! She so missed he beloved Jack.  Her second husband Paul passed away about 3 weeks later. We all miss Pat and Jack, Jack loved his family as well as our family. He has a prayer book with all the people he prayed for. Pat continued with the prayer book. In the archives here you can read many of Jack's messages.  Yes May is a difficult month.

We have Heather and Jon coming tonight. Tomorrow they will work on the garden with me, I pray for a large good crop.  It is big enough to feed most of the family. We are giving veggies to all the family who helps us with the garden.  The coming year will be hard with high food costs. Thankfully we have a neighbour who has a beef farm, and 2 hunters in the family who will also bring in meat.  I wanted 3 young pigletts to help clear brush and have for pork in the autumn, however I believe we can get pork cheaper in the warehouse store we call Costco. (For those in the UK)... Heather and I want to arrange to get Layer hens because we go through so many eggs in a week. Easily 21 for breakfast alone then more for baking.  We have access to bread flour, and yeast, so I believe except for milk we have all areas covered.

Thought for today, from Our Daily Bread

Psalm 149:1–5
When the school year began, fourteen-year-old C.J. would hop off the bus every afternoon and dance down his driveway. His mom recorded and shared videos of C.J.'s after-school boogie time. He danced because he enjoyed life and "making people happy" with every move. One day, two garbage collectors took time out of their busy work schedule to stomp, spin, and sway with the young boy who inspires others to dance with him. This trio demonstrates the power of sincere and infectious joy.

The writer of Psalm 149 describes the original source of enduring and unconditional joy—God. The psalmist encourages God's people to join together and "sing to the Lord a new song" (v. 1). He invites Israel to "rejoice in their Maker" and "be glad in their King" (v. 2). He calls us to worship Him with dancing and music (vv. 1–3). Why? Because "the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory" (v. 4).

Our adoring Father created us and sustains the universe. He delights in us just because we're His beloved children. He designed us, knows us, and invites us into a personal relationship with Him. What an honor! Our loving and living God is our reason for everlasting joy. We can rejoice in the gift of His constant presence and be grateful for every day our Maker has given us.

This is the hymn Pat sang on May 20th 1961, during the service of her wedding.  She sounded like an angel.
.







I went for a little visit of five days (to Areley House). There were ten per­sons in the house, some un­con­vert­ed and long prayed for, some con­vert­ed, but not re­joic­ing Christians. He gave me the pra­yer, "Lord, give me all in this house!" And He just did.

Before I left the house every one had got a bless­ing.

The last night of my vis­it af­ter I had re­tired, the gov­ern­ess asked me to go to the two daugh­ters. They were cry­ing.  Then and there both of them trust­ed and re­joiced; it was near­ly mid­night. I was too hap­py to sleep, and passed most of the night in praise and renewal of my own con­se­cra­tion; and these little coup­lets formed them­selves, and chimed in my heart one af­ter ano­ther till they fin­ished with "Ever, On­ly, ALL for Thee!"
Havergal Manuscripts
 
 

In case the link above doesn't work here it is again.  This is actually the tune she sang to.

Judy B..
... apologies, it was on the S & F's site as the 6th but on our forum site as the 10th June, today..

...yes there is always a significant date that several occurrences fall on, for me it is now 11th April and all for the sad memories of when we - i, lost our dog number one, my MS diagnoses, and recently the sudden loss of my Richard...a date that will always bring sadness to me..

...oh i so miss our Larry Hanna, his daily regular postings...his outlook would always lift everyones day..the goodness in his heart...