New Year Expectations for God's Mercy

 What are your specific expectations for this coming New Year? You may hope everything will remain the same so that your life stays predictable. Are you waiting and hoping for the world to make significant changes so you will feel more secure and safe? Thousands of people are preparing to ring out 2022 and celebrate the coming New Year with fun and laughter.

New Year’s celebrations and parties can be a happy, joyful time to acknowledge what God has provided for us out of his love and kindness. As we are willing and able to express an attitude of gratitude for God’s goodness, our hearts are transformed into repositories overflowing with God’s mercy.

What significant change do you expect to make in this coming New Year? As you consider what that one expectation could be, ask the Lord Jesus Christ to speak to you clearly, and then commit your heart and soul to pursuing that objective. The Lord God promises you a bright future. Happy New Year and God bless you!    

____________ 

The Lord’s unfailing love and mercy still continue, fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise. The Lord is all I have, and so in him I put my hope. The Lord is good to everyone who trusts in him.

~Lamentations 3:22-25  Good News Bible

 

Overflow with mercy and compassion for others just as your heavenly Father overflows with mercy and compassion for all. 

~Luke 6:36 The Passion Translation

____________

Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.

New Year Expectations for a Hopeful Future

Hope for the future can be supported by expectations that good things do happen to those who trust in God’s goodness and mercy. How would you define expectation? Simply put, expectations identify what you want, or fear will happen, in the future. Expectations are closely related to what is anticipated.

Scores of people go forward into the new year expecting to make changes that will have a positive outcome. Good things can happen, so evaluate your expectations to be sure they’re in line with what is possible. God gives you faith for analyzing what is within reach of his will for you.

God designed us to make changes in our life where we fail to live up to self-imposed goals and expectations. Moving forward from where we are now can be achieved by trusting that “God is working by his power in us to do much more than we could ever ask for or even imagine.” This can be your hope for the future. Happy New Year!  

___________ 

The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.

~Proverbs 10:28 English Standard Version

 

I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can see something of the future he has called you to share. I want you to realize that God has been made rich because we who are Christ’s have been given to him!

~Ephesians 1:18 The Living Bible

____________

Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.

Moving Forward with New Year Expectations

It’s impossible to live without expectations, specifically when those expectations are linked to the necessities that perpetuate our existence. Expectations are oriented toward the future and to decisions that daily confront us. Expectation can be coupled with something that brings joy and pleasure or to what is difficult and even feared.

We will soon be saying goodbye to 2022, which indicates the Christmas season is ending but not what made it joyful and delightful. For some, this first day after Christmas means getting back to routines and reality, but to others the joy of sorting out gifts and visiting with loved one continues to be delightful.

The new year challenges us to move forward with hope. Jesus gave us this encouragement, “Ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you shall find; knock and the door shall be open to you.”  These are action-oriented words and filled with hope for those who believe God is present to help us with unexpected challenges.  

____________

Fellow Christians, I don’t think I have [the goal] in my hands. But one thing I do: I forget what is behind, reach for what is ahead, and with my eyes on the mark I go after the heavenly prize to which God has called us in Crist Jesus.

~Philippians 3:13-14 Beck – New Testament in the Language of Today

____________

Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.

God's Christmas Gift: Reconciliation

Isn’t it wonderful that Jesus is the Prince of Peace?  Think about this verse as you celebrate his birth on this Christmas Day: “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself. Thanks be to God, for he refuses to keep a record of our offenses against us, but committed to us the wonderful ministry of reconciliation.”  

Jesus, the Prince of Peace, gives you his gift of peace, and through that gift of peace you become eligible to receive his gifts of love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. So count yourself most fortunate and privileged. Merry Christmas and God bless you!   

__________ 

The angel reassured them, “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “ I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord – has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others – the armies of heaven – praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

~Luke 2:10-14 New Living Translation

__________

Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.

________________________________

From Wednesday, December 21 through Christmas Day, blogs have been posted each day to coincide with KHCB radio's special music and short devotional programming, "Five Days of Christmas". 

God's Gift: Peacemaking in the Presence of Discord

Why is Jesus called the Prince of Peace? Jesus is the Prince of Peace because through him we have peace with God. The name Prince of Peace means “one who removes all peace-disturbing factors and secures peace for us.” Luke 2:14 gives this declaration: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

As we take notice of the world around us, peace seems unattainable. Yet God calls us to be peacemakers, for “blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God.” So be kind to everyone, and the peace of God will be your gift as a peacemaker. Merry Christmas and God bless you!    

__________ 

God’s Kingdom consists of God’s approval and peace, as well as the joy that the Holy Spirit gives. The person who serves Christ with this in mind is pleasing to God and respected by people. So let’s pursue those things which bring peace and which are good for each other.

~Romans 14:17-19 God’s Word Translation

__________

Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.

________________________________

On Wednesday, December 21 through Christmas Day, blogs will be posted each day to coincide with KHCB radio's special music and short devotional programming, "Five Days of Christmas". 

God's Gift: Inner Peace in the Presence of Discord

God sent Jesus, the Prince of Peace into the world to create a state of goodwill between himself and you. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, generated a spiritual flame to burn in the heart and soul of all humanity. He came with a message of God’s love that burns so deeply and intensely that nothing can permanently extinguish it.

How does Jesus, the Prince of Peace, calm your inner being so you can live in  peace with yourself and others? Decide to be a peacemaker so you can, by faith, enjoy the gifts of love and mercy God will bestow on you. Faith is God’s gift to you, so open your heart to receive it. God bless you and Merry Christmas!   

__________ 

God does not want us to be in disorder but in harmony and peace.

1 Corinthians 14:33 Good News Bible

Let the peace of heart which comes from Christ be always present in your hearts and lives, for this is your responsibility and privilege as members of his body. And always be thankful.

~Colossians 3:15 The Living Bible

____________

Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week. 

________________________________

On Wednesday, December 21 through Christmas Day, blogs will be posted each day to coincide with KHCB radio's special music and short devotional programming, "Five Days of Christmas". 

God's Gift: A Life with Peace in the Presence of Discord

Isaiah concluded Jesus would be called the Prince of Peace. A prince, especially an honored, highly respected prince, should occupy a special place in your heart and soul. Do not permit routines associated with Christmas to overshadow your devotion to the Prince of Peace and the Christmas message. 

God the Father longs to restore and rekindle in you the peace only he can give. This  precious gift can be received by opening your heart and soul to God’s generosity. Jesus is the giver of life – abundant life and eternal life – for those who are receptive to the most precious gift you will ever receive. Merry Christmas and God bless you!  

__________ 

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

~Isaiah 9:6 Christian Standard Bible

 

May the God of peace himself make you entirely pure and devoted to God; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept strong and blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes back again. God, who called you to become his child, will do all this for you, just as he promised.

~1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 The Living Bible

___________

Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.

________________________________

On Wednesday, December 21 through Christmas Day, blogs will be posted each day to coincide with KHCB radio's special music and short devotional programming, "Five Days of Christmas". 

God's Gift: The Peace of Christ in the Presence of Discord

God sent Jesus, his beloved Son, as a symbol of peace into the world where conflict and turmoil were constantly prevalent. So as we in our day seek to celebrate the wonderful coming of Christ Jesus, we open our hearts in a renewed effort to grasp the peace God longs to provide for us.

You can know Jesus as the Prince of Peace even in the presence of discord. When Jesus is the center of your attention, distractions can be forced into a submissive posture where they cannot control your focus. Jesus assures us, “My peace I leave with you, not as the world gives, but as I give.” May God bless you with peace and a Merry Christmas!  

__________        

 “Then they will praise me. I will give perfect peace to those who are far away and those who are near. And I will heal them,” says the Lord.

~Isaiah 57:19 New International Readers’ Version

  

So Christ came and preached the Good News of peace to all – to you, Gentiles, who were far away from God, and to the Jews, who were near to him.

~Ephesians 2:17 Good News Bible

__________

Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week. 

________________________________

On Wednesday, December 21 through Christmas Day, blogs will be posted each day to coincide with KHCB radio's special music and short devotional programming, "Five Days of Christmas". 

Managing Peer Pressure

Peer pressure is a fact each person must learns to manage. Negative peer pressure is one of parents’ primary concerns as their sons and daughters seek more independence in adolescence and young adulthood. However, peer pressure isn’t limited to any one phase or stage but overlaps every stage of development.

Temptation's cutting edge can infiltrate our best guarded defenses by sidestepping our strengths to penetrate our vulnerabilities. The strength of our self-image, fortified by our faith in God and the need to be accepted by our peers, is linked to how successful we are in resisting temptation.

Do we attribute too much power to those who entice us to reject our faith in God? Proverbs 1:10 advises, "When temptation entices you, turn your back and walk away."  Accept the escapes from temptation God always provides. Be alert and strong in the Lord when you are confronted by the cutting edge of peer pressure and temptation.  

 ___________

Wise friends make you wise, but you hurt yourself by going around with fools.

~Proverbs 13:20 Contemporary English Version

 

Don’t fall into the trap of being a coward – trust the Lord, and you will be safe.

~Proverbs 29:25 Contemporary English Version

___________

Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.

________________________________

On Wednesday, December 21 through Christmas Day, blogs will be posted each day to coincide with KHCB radio's special music and short devotional programming, "Five Days of Christmas". 

Temptation As a Thief

Temptation has been described as a criminal who lurks in the background, determined to rob us of our treasures. Temptation may, however, confront us disguised as a friend whose only desire is to give us joy and pleasure. And yet temptation also may be identified as an opportunity that once was perceived as untouchable.

We’re often tempted to equate idleness with the need to rest and relax. I am not implying that rest and relaxation aren’t warranted after a day’s work or on the weekend, but some folks accept laziness as a way of life. An old proverb portrays laziness as the devil's workshop because it opens the door to temptations.

The opposite of idleness is an obsession for busyness to the point of neglecting your health and relationships. Excessive busyness steals away energy that should be devoted to God, family, friends, and rest. Insight and strength are the resources God provides for escaping temptation. Are you available?  

__________                             

Therefore, see that you walk carefully [living life with honor, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil], not as the unwise, but as wise [sensible, intelligent, discerning people], making the most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil.  

~Ephesians 5:15-16 Amplified Bible

___________

Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week. 

Facing Down Temptation

Everyone has fallen prey to temptation’s allurement. Temptation is unavoidable, and I'm not referring to being lured into a heinous crime or being seduced by obsessive sexual lust, but by enticements that may appear harmless. The temptation may be to overlook appropriate Christian ethics in everyday living.

A reason for discarding Christian values in social settings is cutthroat competition that disregards the Golden Rule. A common conviction is that you have to "play it safe" and maintain the status quo by standing firm in your comfort zone, which is a defense against risking failure.

The key to resisting temptations to play it safe and risk nothing is found in James 1:5: “If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him and he will gladly tell you, for he is always ready to provide a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask him." After asking God for wisdom, be prepared to use what he gives in ways that honor him.  

__________         

For inasmuch as [Jesus] has suffered himself by being tempted, he is able to give immediate help to any who are tempted.

~Hebrews 2:18 Williams – New Testament in the Language of the People

__________

Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week. 

 

Correctly Perceiving Temptation

 Perhaps the reason there's so little conversation centered around temptation is because everyone’s vulnerable and therefore guilty of being pulled into its embrace. The cutting edge of temptation may not appear dangerous or sharp, but it’s possible to be deceived by first appearances. However, its grip can be unyielding and unforgiving.

The severity of temptation’s snare may vary between appearing harmless to absolutely and clearly treacherous. Temptation's cutting edge poses a perception of reality that’s actually a deceptive façade. A practical defense for any temptation is wisdom that magnifies God’s insight and knowledge.

The Holy Spirit’s job is to direct you on how to confront temptation. The wisdom he provides enables you to see your situation from God's perspective. He will then empower you to respond according to his purpose. Self-discipline is a fruit of the Spirit that’s essential for making wise choices in the face of temptation.

___________ 

If you lack wisdom, ask God, who gives to everyone with an open hand and doesn’t scold, and he will give it to you. You should ask with faith and have no doubts. Anyone who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

~James 1:5-6 Beck – New Testament in the Language of Today

____________

Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week. 

The Test of Temptation

The test of temptation determines if specific values will be abandoned for what appears delightful. The enticement draws you to what is forbidden and taunts you to conform to its captivating image. Resisting becomes difficult as soon as you allow your mind to concoct every possible argument for giving in.

Deceptive reasoning insists, “I am smart and will turn back if I decide this is out of bounds." The cutting edge of temptation deceives your mind and heart by grasping for what promises to fill the gap that separates you from God. We often refuse to accept what God provides by perceiving it as deficient and unrewarding.

While resisting temptation is difficult, it is a frontline defense against its power. Another way of resisting temptation is with an accountability partner. Ecclesiastes 4:12 confirms, "Although one may be overpowered, two plus God can prevail. A cord of three strands is not easily broken." 

___________ 

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and over-burdened, and I will give you rest! Put on my yoke and learn from me. For I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

~Matthew 11:28-30 Phillips – New Testament in Modern English

______________

Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week. 

Power for Resisting Temptation

Resisting is a common behavior that’s learned early in childhood. Even a toddler resists obeying all the rules, and this applies to every age and stage of life. The cutting edge of temptation is designed to confuse the teachings of the Bible as well as the values taught by the family, church, and society.

A rationale against resisting temptation is that it questions the absurdity of resisting what doesn’t appear dangerous or bad. However, our perception of reality can be deceived by misleading influences and powers insisting temptation is harmless and of no consequence.

Where does power come from to resist temptation? It comes first and foremost from the Holy Spirit by shifting your focus away from the temptation and on who Jesus Christ is and what he means to you. Listen to Psalm 28:7: "The Lord is my strength and shield, my heart trusts in him and I am helped." Let it be so with you right now.

___________ 

So use every piece of the Lord’s armor to resist the enemy whenever he attacks, and when it is all over, you will still be standing up.

~Ephesians 6:13 The Living Bible

___________

Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.

 

Temptation's Objective

What basically defines temptation? Temptation is a craving or desire for what is out of bounds because it doesn’t conform with what is righteous or healthy. The objective of temptation is to stifle the voice of the Holy Spirit while destroying a clear conscience. Resisting temptation is not easy, for its lure appears to be an acceptable option.

The cutting edge of temptation is desire and craving, for the moment you consider a temptation, your imagination appraises the possibilities and costs it offers. However attractive the imagination may construe temptation to be, submitting to its appeal can result in a lifetime of regret.

Resisting is an essential first step in defeating temptation’s traps. God's word encourages you to accept resisting as your only option. “Resist Satan and he will flee from you” is a promise from God's word. Resisting under the banner and power of Jesus Christ is a sure way to fight the appeal of temptation.    

 

___________ 

In conclusion be strong – not in yourselves but in the Lord, in the power of his boundless strength. Put on God’s complete armor so that you can successfully resist all the devil’s craftiness.

~Ephesians 6:10-11 Phillips – New Testament in Modern English

___________

Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week. 

Prayer is Power for Overcoming Temptation

God cares that temptation attacks us where we are vulnerable. A mistake Christians make is believing they are beyond the cutting edge of temptation. Temptation doesn’t often confront us with violent aggression but may shrewdly enter our thoughts like a gliding butterfly to catch us unprepared to battle its power and influence.

Jesus warned us to watch and pray because temptation lurks in darkness and the light. He tells us to guard our vulnerabilities and our strengths. But how? Prayer is the channel God uses as a means for his power to flow to us to provide an escape from temptation’s lure.

God cares when you are tempted. Remember Jesus was tempted as you are, but he did not submit to its power. He is qualified to deliver you from temptation’s control and to heal you from the wounds it inflects. God does care when you are tempted, so be on guard and ask him for power to resist and overcome its appeal.  

__________ 

“Watch and pray. Then you won’t fall into sin when you are tempted. The spirit is willing. But the body is weak.”

~Mark 14:38 New International Reader’s Version

____________

Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.