Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder

In playing music there are a group of notes, & combination of notes that are harmonious with each other.  The goal is to be playing those good notes and to avoid the bad notes, the BROWN NOTES. 

Paul is encouraging the harmony of fellowship: rejoice and weep together, be kind, even to your enemies. He also warns about avoiding the brown notes: don't be overcome by evil, don't avenge yourself, and don't be prideful.

None of this happens without knowledge and practice, just like playing the piano.  Today we GIVE THOUGHT to the right notes,& LEAVE out certain notes; we seek to live in harmony and make beautiful music before God. 

For more harmonious practice, leave an email at bewithme.us or subscribe on Overcast, PocketCasts, iHeartRadio,Podcast Addict, Pandora, Chromecast or iVoox. 

The SURVIVOR TV show has been surviving the 43 seasons since 2000.  Its' motto is OUTWIT, OUTPLAY and OUTLAST. It highlights the particular characteristics that contestants need to thrive on the island.

Similarly, Paul highlights characteristics of successful Roman Christians: Outhonor, Outserve, Outpray, Outlast tribulation, Outgive, and Outlove.  Remember, God specifically equips His specific people, for specific needs of a specific church.

Be encouraged. You are built for this challenge.  You are gifted for the needs that will arise.  You are made to be a survivor. To continue to be equipped, write at [email protected] and I'll send you another thought to help you survive tomorrow.  

Today we focus on the greatest organization in the world, the greatest organization in the history of the world, and the greatest organization in the world to come.  It is the body of Christ.  The amazing thing is that we get to be a part of it.

To function well in it, God gifts individuals so as to function well in this organization.  It functions cheerfully, zealously, generously, with teaching, grace filled, and with 1 purpose.  In it, individuals are members of 1 another.

Join me for 7 minutes today and the join me in the Body of Christ.  Go to bewithme.us to get tomorrow's message early in the day.  Please listen. Share. Send. Retweet. Post, etc.

Scripture asks that we build beauty internally.  That is a non-conformed, fighting, tested, transformed mind. Scripture also asks that we build beauty externally. That is behavior, actions, tongues, and zippers that demonstrate a changed mind.  Both the internal and the external parts are difficult.

We best remember that before it was hard on us, it was hard on God.  Before it costs us something, it cost God something.  We remember the MERCIES of God.

We do this together.  This passage, as does the rest of God's call, presumes and even demands Christian community.  God values highly real community under His banner.  Do you? How would I know? Nobody gets beautiful alone.

Finally, this whole beautifying process, internally, externally and together, PLEASES God.  It is acceptable to Him. Let's be beautiful together, because God likes it.

You won't be done being beautiful tomorrow, so you might as well subscribe for another 7 minutes at bewithme.us or on any podcast directory.  Share on FB. Retweet. 

Our spiritual walks have a transforming of our mind that is described as a testing.  Lots of Christianity is battled between our ears.  Then, the renewal mentally is to be enacted in our behaviors and the actions of our bodies. That is described as a SACRIFICE.  Both are supposed to be hard.

David, our favorite knucklehead from the Old Testament, declares a Census against God's will.  9 months later, he repents but there is a punishment over the land by a destroying Angel that kills 70,000 people.  When the hand of that angel is stayed Ornan tries to GIVE David land, grain, ox, and wood to make a required sacrifice.  David says I will not offer "sacrifice" that COST ME NOTHING.  

Let's not be surprised at the cost of Christianity in our minds...and in our actions.  Whether you are considering generosity, or purity, or service, or fellowship; It is supposed to be hard.  That's the point.  

For more help tomorrow, sign up today at Bewithme.us or Apple Podcasts.

There are passages that cost God more, but this is the passage that costs US the most: Romans 12:1.  It is the most expensive passage in the Bible. It talks of being shaped differently; of behavior that is different, and of a mind that is changed.

All of this comes at great cost to the believer and is described as a SACRIFICE. Sacrifice means that it comes expensively.

Listen 7 minutes.  It will be costly.  It will be expensive in regards to your TIME.  Start with that.  Learn about the most expensive passage in the Bible, and then subscribe for another costly 7 minutes tomorrow at bewithme.us

Ethnic Israel, the Jewish people, are valued, called, gifted, honored, elect, beloved and not forgotten by God. Regarding Jesus, they don't quite get it just yet. But God is not finished with ethnic Israel, as He has a "MERCY FACTORY" ready for them.

The factory has inputs of disobedience and outputs of mercy. The Gentiles are in that factory now, and the Jews are scheduled for mercy next. Somehow, and in some way, all of Israel will be saved. God is going to be glorified by the Gentiles and the Jews.

We'll be slapping our foreheads and proclaiming the wonders of God's election, sovereignty and mercy on that day.  All this is pointing toward and demonstrating the particulars of: God's GLORY.  Join me tomorrow too by subscribing at BEWITHME.us

Our attention is directed towards the KINDNESS OF GOD today.  We are to note it; give our attention; and think about out it.

Let's first note it, but then let's not stop there.  Let's appreciate and give God a thank-you for His kindness.  Further, how about if we continue in His kindness?  Rm 2:4 reminds us that God's kindness is to lead us to repentance.  Finally, let's set our minds to RESEMBLE God's kindness.  

That means to find someone who specifically does not "deserve" your kindness, and then put them in the buttertub of your kindness.  In this way we might best "NOTE THE KINDNESS" of God.

Come back tomorrow to listen to more kindnesses of God by subscribing at bewithme.us, Overcast, Podcast addict, iHeartradio, pocket Casts, iVoxx, Apple or google Podcasts. Then you can note the kindness everyday with me.

When a Cacao farmer grafts in fruit bearing branches onto good rootstock, what exactly is he after? The glorious answer is CHOCOLATE.

The picture in Romans 11 is "faith-Israel" being grafted onto the rootstock of "ethnic-Israel" by the sovereign hand of God.  It is for His ultimate glory and purpose.  In the meantime, it is for CHOCOLATE.  Listen 7 minutes with me as we visit the Cacao farm of God.  

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When people on the outside see the kindness of God displayed upon another people group, it gets their attention.  They notice the activity, the favor, the discipline and the presence of God on the other side of the fence.  When they see it, they desire it.

God is also using the trespass of ethnic Israel to bring salvation to the new group of "faith-Israel", AKA the Gentiles. The trespass of one group is used to help another group.  Here's the kicker: The trespass of ethnic Israel is going to eventually be used to HELP THEMSELVES.  When ethnic Israel sees that the presence of God has come to the Gentiles, they are going to want it again for themselves.

Join me in Romans 11 to put ourselves before the kindness and yes, the severity of God. Subscribe at bewithme.us so we can pick this up tomorrow.