We have to MAKE Room……for Jesus to HAVE Room…in our lives.

We have to MAKE Room……for Jesus to HAVE Room…in our lives.

Some people have an extraordinary ability to get things done. They may have special talents, intellect, and abilities to succeed. Think of athletes that stand out, or musicians that are able to perform on different instruments. There are hugely successful people in business, finance, AI or medicine. Our world is full of them. They use their abilities and what they have to make something happen.

There are others that maybe are not as famous or maybe not even known at all. They too have abilities. The scriptures have some interesting people that were ordinary people, going about their daily life with the things they had. God used them in very unique ways. These are the stories of their lives and what they had and how they used them, in surprising ways. You might also be surprised at what you have and how it specifically fits into God’s plan.

Some people have an extraordinary ability to get things done. They may have special talents, intellect, and abilities to succeed. Think of athletes that stand out, or musicians that are able to perform on different instruments. There are hugely successful people in business, finance, AI or medicine. Our world is full of them. They use their abilities and what they have to make something happen.

There are others that maybe are not as famous or maybe not even known at all. They too have abilities. The scriptures have some interesting people that were ordinary people, going about their daily life with the things they had. God used them in very unique ways. These are the stories of their lives and what they had and how they used them, in surprising ways. You might also be surprised at what you have and how it specifically fits into God’s plan.

Everyone here and everyone watching or listening, at one time or another in their lives, has probably had someone do them wrong, really wrong, bad wrong. Maybe even a few times! Can anyone identify with this? We all can probably. If not, just give life enough time. And what we normally do is get angry. It is a natural reaction. And the anger lingers and settles in and we resent the wrong and can easily begin to hold a grudge against them. Scripture talks about grudges. Is it ok to hold a grudge? What should we do with grudges? If you have ever wondered if God holds grudges, you are in the right place. There is a great example of where Jesus was done wrong by one of his closest followers and then how Jesus handled it with him.

Everyone here and everyone watching or listening, at one time or another in their lives, has probably had someone do them wrong, really wrong, bad wrong. Maybe even a few times! Can anyone identify with this? We all can probably. If not, just give life enough time. And what we normally do is get angry. It is a natural reaction. And the anger lingers and settles in and we resent the wrong and can easily begin to hold a grudge against them. Scripture talks about grudges. Is it ok to hold a grudge? What should we do with grudges? If you have ever wondered if God holds grudges, you are in the right place. There is a great example of where Jesus was done wrong by one of his closest followers and then how Jesus handled it with him.

I am certain that everyone hearing this message has, at one time or another, wanted to just speak their mind and tell others what they think. Free speech right? I am reasonably certain that some hearing this have done it. I am in the group of “have done it.” Since I was 18, I have had basically 2 long term jobs. A person at one of the jobs was basically an “organizational terrorist.” He had a great job with great hours but just talked negatively about the organization and people. I was with him one day and told him to just shut up because he didn’t know what he was talking about and he should be lucky he had such a great job. Well, that is the clean version of what I said. And he complained on me. The speech was free but the results had some costs.

James has some really good examples of free speech and what we should think about before we speak. In an age of quick/easy and widespread communication and our face to face encounters, what we say has a huge importance in our Christian walk. This unpacks just a few concepts of how to win the battle with our speech.

I am certain that everyone hearing this message has, at one time or another, wanted to just speak their mind and tell others what they think. Free speech right? I am reasonably certain that some hearing this have done it. I am in the group of “have done it.” Since I was 18, I have had basically 2 long term jobs. A person at one of the jobs was basically an “organizational terrorist.” He had a great job with great hours but just talked negatively about the organization and people. I was with him one day and told him to just shut up because he didn’t know what he was talking about and he should be lucky he had such a great job. Well, that is the clean version of what I said. And he complained on me. The speech was free but the results had some costs.

James has some really good examples of free speech and what we should think about before we speak. In an age of quick/easy and widespread communication and our face to face encounters, what we say has a huge importance in our Christian walk. This unpacks just a few concepts of how to win the battle with our speech.

I always wanted a Corvette. As I was a kid growing up, there were a few men I knew that had them. Red, silver, dark blue; low to the ground, sleek, smooth, fast, loud. They were always eye catchers. To me, at the time, they symbolized success and popularity. When I was 20 and had enough money for a down payment on my first house, I almost spent it on a Corvette at a car show. A red one. I took my eye off the house and was distracted by my desire for the car. What a mistake that would have been. Of course, that is easy to see now, but it was not so clear then.

Desire never really leaves us. That strong feeling to have something or wishing for something to happen. It is always there, if we are honest. Desires may shift or change over time. One thing is certain, the wrong desire can distract, the right desire can attract…it is really about our desires. This looks at some examples in the bible that demonstrate this point.

I always wanted a Corvette. As I was a kid growing up, there were a few men I knew that had them. Red, silver, dark blue; low to the ground, sleek, smooth, fast, loud. They were always eye catchers. To me, at the time, they symbolized success and popularity. When I was 20 and had enough money for a down payment on my first house, I almost spent it on a Corvette at a car show. A red one. I took my eye off the house and was distracted by my desire for the car. What a mistake that would have been. Of course, that is easy to see now, but it was not so clear then.

Desire never really leaves us. That strong feeling to have something or wishing for something to happen. It is always there, if we are honest. Desires may shift or change over time. One thing is certain, the wrong desire can distract, the right desire can attract…it is really about our desires. This looks at some examples in the bible that demonstrate this point.