Saying No to What Holds You Back

 A Summary of Jon Weece's Teaching with Expanding Scriptures

My friend Chris sent me this message and a personal note of connection this week. Can a person of God fall away and sin so deeply, hurting the people they love, even destroy their family and still be counted as a person of God? This is the difficult reality we live in and the difficult reality Jesus lives to intercede for us now. The Holy spirit groans and creation groans and we have a pain in our side that won't fully go away - yet God's grace is sufficient for us. 

A few weeks ago we laid hands on Chris, I recommended  this because his story reminded me of my story. Suffering in Christ, with Holy Spirit brings unfathomable hope (Romans 8:17-30)

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The Core Problem: Appetites That Promise but Don't Deliver

We are creatures of appetite, wired for desire, but sin hijacks those desires, promising satisfaction while producing bondage. The things we reach for most often (comfort, distraction, control, pleasure) can quietly become the things that own us.

"For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption." — Galatians 6:7-8

"All a man's ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart." — Proverbs 21:2

"I have the right to do anything, but not everything is beneficial. I will not be mastered by anything." — 1 Corinthians 6:12

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Step 1: Identify the One Behavior Holding You Back (35:15)

Honest self-examination is where transformation begins. Many people stay stuck not because they lack willpower but because they've never named the specific thing standing in the way. Naming it brings it into the light.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me." — Psalm 139:23-24

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles." — Hebrews 12:1

"But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire." — James 1:14

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Step 2: Build a "Stop Doing" List and Replace It (35:25)

Willpower alone fails because it only says no. Lasting change requires substitution, filling the space with something better. Scripture doesn't just command us to stop; it calls us to put on what we've put off.

"Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires... and put on the new self, created after the likeness of God." — Ephesians 4:22-24

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." — Romans 12:21

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely... think about these things." — Philippians 4:8

"But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." — 1 Corinthians 9:27

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Step 3: Anchor Gratitude in the Promises of God (37:47 – 38:50)

Weece points to three pillars that sustain a changed appetite:

Creation. God made you on purpose and for a purpose. You are not an accident to be managed but an image-bearer to be sanctified.

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." — Ephesians 2:10

Crucifixion. The cross didn't just forgive the past; it broke the power of the old self. You are no longer a slave to what once owned you.

"We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin." — Romans 6:6

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." — Galatians 5:1

Consummation. The story ends in glory, not defeat. That future hope reframes every present struggle and makes the temporary pleasures of sin look small by comparison.

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." — Romans 8:18

"Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." — 2 Corinthians 7:1

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The Bottom Line

Gratitude for what God has done, in creation, at the cross, and in the coming kingdom, is not just an emotion. It is a weapon. When the appetite for God grows, the appetite for lesser things shrinks. The goal is not white-knuckled restraint but a genuinely transformed desire.

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." — Psalm 37:4

"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him." — Psalm 34:8

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Spirit of heaviness and other "spiritual ailments"

Listening to How Demons Can Cause Negative Thinking - Derek Prince and looking at, What Does the Bible Say About Spirit Of Heaviness?

I can see how modern preachers recycle the classics and make them their own. Robert Morris (Free Indeed) appears to have been influenced heavily by Derek Prince (Pulling Down Strongholds) and John Bevere (Bate of Satan) by Warren Wiersbe (Strategy of Satan). 

Derek Prince highlights that we can be given over to torment by lack of forgives. Matthew 18:33-35, "…Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should repay all that he owed. That is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

Notes from how demons can cause Negative Thinking: 

• Compelling to bite nails. Cutting self, self harm. 
• Enslave.  People can sin and stop sinning. Enslaved can’t stop
• Compel + enslave = addiction
• Addition can be respectable. 90% demons.
• Defile, dirty unclean, evil impure images and thoughts in our minds.
• Anything to keep you from worshiping God is demonic
• Deception: deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.
• Week, sick, tired or killed. You spirit of tiredness come out of her… they make us go to sleep, spirit of slumber…

Remedy is found in God's promise delivered in Jesus Christ

Isaiah 61:1-3 ESV 

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

Luke 4:14-21 Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power...taught regularly in their synagogues and was praised by everyone...he stood up to read...the prophet Isaiah...“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor...Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 

Grateful to share these truths with my brother yesterday as we watched Tim Mackie - What Many Christians Misunderstand About The Bible. We talked about what it means to be a child of God who wanders away from God, rejects God. Is it right to kidnap them and force them into heaven or allow a door for them to walk through? I was able to accept Jesus into my life after rejecting him in my foolish youth because I learned the principles of healthy spiritual and mental functioning. From insecurity to peace of mind (Serenity Principle)

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Faith in step with my professed hope

Friday, July 21, Mike and I drove 4 hours to Ely, MN, to embark on my first Waters of Rest Boundry Waters canoe and camping experience. I remember learning about Spiritual Disciplines and struggling with "silence and solitude." In our technology-heavy world, we need to make room for this discipline. Waters of Rest provides the opportunity and structure to do this. 

We spent five days pondering God's work in creation, the fall, redemption, and restoration with a study guide and Bible. We enjoyed good food, fellowship, and working together with the natural world around us. We followed the trails to established campsites built by others before us. I found myself thanking God for those strangers and praying for the needs of my fellow campers. 

I've been working on establishing Alpha for MNTC.org's thirteen-month program and listing to Revival God's Way by Lenard Ravenhill. The big Biblical idea is that one plants, others water, but God makes things grow (1 Corinthians 3:6-9). This trip cemented the truth that all ministry is futile without prayer from a righteous person (James 5:12-14,15-17). Prayer ministry is serving others through prayer. We do nothing to make prayer effective; Instead, we present our gratitude, faith, and hopes to God. 

God can do more than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). God intercedes on our behalf, over and over (Isaiah 53:12, Romans 8:34), and calls us to intervene through prayer for everyone (1 Timothy 2:1). 

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Listening helps people discover where they want to be

Being lost is funny because you know where you are but don't know how to get where you want to be. Sometimes we can be so distraught about the current situation we can't even describe where we want to be. I enjoy Bible study in BSF because we bridge scripture into our lives and see miraculous breakthroughs. 

This week we studied Lamentations and how to respond to difficult people and life situations. The big idea of Lamentations is that when we cry out to God about specific hurts, he responds with specific healing. Similar to when we confess specific sin, he gives specific grace to overcome sin. We can learn through Biblical poetry that grieving with God, brings us to hope and ultimately worship to him. We see Jesus on the cross praying Psalm 22 going from despair to hope. Lamentations doesn't end on a "happy note," and we got to discuss this question: "Describe a situation in which you are waiting on God to fulfill His promises. What are you learning about yourself? About God?"

I thought about someone with whom I've been sharing the good news about Jesus weekly for several years. Every week we land in a good place of clarity, and then it seems to fade until we meet again. So we prayed for him, and I got to experience a miraculous breakthrough less than 24 hours later. 

We drove around for a few hours, and I listened to him talk through what was on his heart and mind. We have a unique friendship and trust each other. While he was distraught and down about where he was in life, I shared what I saw as being good things in him and areas of accomplishment that were his. 

He tends to drudge up the past, and I encouraged him with a word from Earl Nightingale, "Don't water last year's crop," instead think about the person you want to become and focus on your ideal self.

I had the good news from Lamentations 3:22-24 on my mind, "Great is thy Faithfulness."

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father

There is no shadow of turning with Thee

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not

As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be

Great is Thy faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness

Morning by morning new mercies I see

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love

Great is Thy faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness

Morning by morning new mercies I see

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow

Blessings all mine with 10,000 beside

Great is Thy faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness

Morning by morning new mercies I see

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

Great is Thy faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

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God's desire is grace, compassion, and justice (Isaiah 30:14)

 Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! - Isaiah 30:14

Psalm 27:14,Isaiah 25:9,Isaiah 33:2,Isaiah 40:31,Isaiah 64:4,Lamentations 3:25,Daniel 12:12

Today I'm letting go of selfishness and receiving God's grace anew. I'll wait for the Lord and not give up.

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. - Psalm 27:14

In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.” - Isaiah 25:9 

Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress. - Isaiah 33:2

but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. - Isaiah 40:31

Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. - Isaiah 64:4

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; - Lamentations 3:25

Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days. - Daniel 12:12

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Prayer: Urgent, continual reliance on the grace of God (Acts 13:42-52)

What I'm doing this morning, I do every morning: Do your best to present yourself to God, approved after being tested. I want to be a good and noble vessel, ready and useful to God. The purpose of this time is to move up and see clearly how I can best serve the Lord. Some days are better than others. Today I'm excited to help my work colleagues advance their capabilities and succeed. It's SALT and LIGHT today. My prayer is that we are what God has called us to be, holy His. I'm grateful for this Day 4 of 40Days (Acts 13:42-52).

Acts 13:42-43) Paul and Barnabas, large fan club of Jews: urgent, continual reliance on the grace of God

44-45) Next week most of city came to hear the word of the Lord, Jews jealous, slandered them

46-47) bold declare: first Jews who rejected God's word, judging themselves unworthy of eternal life - now for Gentiles

‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth. Isa 49:6

 - Message: The living Word of God engages and intrigues us right where we are

 - Gently instruct those who oppose the truth (2 Timothy 2:25)

48-49) Gentiles VERY glad, THANKED the LORD - all who were chosen for eternal life became believers, spreading the message

50) Jews stirred up influential religious leaders, ran Paul and Barnabas out of town

51-52) Shook dust from feet as sign of rejection, to Iconium - disciples filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

Daily Reading for Personal Growth, 40 Days with God

40 daily Scripture readings that illustrate the character of God and the nature of faith.

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Gratitude brings you into the present even when reflecting on the past

 

Love https://www.openbible.info/topics/gratitude, an open-source Bible Reference voted up by real people.

Gratitude is acknowledging God in all things, his faithfulness in creation bringing all of us from one man. But how do acknowledge God in all tings? Psalm 100:1-5 is a Psalm for giving thanks. "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations."

Offer thanksgiving to God and dedicating your way rightly gives you eyes that see God's salvation. "The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” - Psalm 50:23

Gratitude shows what you treasure. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."- Matthew 6:21

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. - Psalm 28:7

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. - Colossians 3:16

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Appreciation is an opportunity to express gratitude

Ever wonder why people "say grace" before a meal? Some people say the same thing every time and others have a more long, reverent approach. When we thank God for the provision of good and bless "the hands that made it", we acknowledge that all good things come from the Father of lights (James 1:17), That God is the Father of Lights and is Light (1 John 1:5) - opens our eyes to his blessing. Ultimately, we are acknowledging that God is the creator and life comes from him. Saying grace is an out-word expression of faith.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. Hebrews 11:1-3

Most people I know who are generally positive, hopeful, seeing the best in others and feeling good in life have "an attitude of gratitude". An attitude is a disposition towards life events. In The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom, sees God's provision in a Nazi concentration camp. Where something initially perceived as negative (getting flees). Is celebrated in prayer later (not getting raped because of flees). Corrie gives a powerful testimony of Forgiveness in an Alpha series "Why did Jesus Die?", check it out:

Looking forward to listening to Tramp for the Lord

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God works through Abigail, David, Saul, and Philistine home (1 Samuel 25-27, Psalm 37)

“Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.” – Psalm 54:4

“The Lord makes firm the steps of those who delight in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.” – Psalm 37:23-24

The best part of BSF is the first question every week: "how you have seen God’s activity during the week. (How has He provided, answered, comforted, reconciled, guided, etc.?)"
 - It helps us to notice HOW God is at work in our lives. Through people, through circumstances, that prayer is all we have, in ourselves that in spite of circumstance we have joy and peace. In relationships that seemed irreconcilable and in decisions/commitments that put us on the right path he's showing us. What a wonderful year we've had in fellowship with one another.

Big Idea: God’s mercy is greater than all our weakness, weariness and sin.

1 Samuel 25-27; Psalm 37
A) Abigail intervenes between Nabal and David saving many lives
25:1) Samuel died, all Israel gathered mourned, buried at his house Ramah, David arose to wilderness of Paran
2-3) Nabal (harsh/evil/Calebite) in Maon, 3,000 sheep, 1,000 goats in Carmel, Abigail wife intelligent/beautiful
4-8) David sends 10 men to bless him with peace, give an account of blessings bestowed and ask a favor, give
9-17) Nabal didn't know David/Jesse, David/400 come to visit, a worker tells Abigail truth of David's protection
 - 11) Nabal SCORN: "Shall I then take my bread and my water and my meat that I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men whose origin I do not know?”
 - 17) Nabal workers: "he is such a worthless man that no one can speak to him
 - Principle: Respect those whom God has placed in charge
 - Application: I'm like Nabal, Arrogance, stupidity, "unearned wealth", unknown protection from government/police - assuming that my position is and knowledge gives me the right to treat other/unknown people in need poorly. Certainly should know better but go on towards foolish ends.
- Application 2: I'm like David, quick tempter, going to extremes when I feel mistreated. Both sides suffer when the greater more mature person goes to the extreme. Thank God for godly women at home and in the workplace - cooler heads prevail, love covers a multitude of sins.

 - Proverbs 17:27 tells us: “He who has knowledge spares his words.” This means keeping in check a multitude of opinions that could ignite further anger in others. Someone who displays wisdom will think before speaking, and then will share only insights likely to be helpful.

18-22) Abigail 200 loaves, wine, 5 sheep prepared.. loaded on donkeys, workers, David intends to slaughter all Nabal has
 - 21) “Surely in vain I have guarded all that this man has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him; and he has returned me evil for good."
23-25) Abigail takes blame for not intervening sooner, Nabal name = folly
26-31) Abigail blesses David in the name of the LORD with gifts, asks forgiveness, acknowledges David as lord
32-35) David acknowledges LORD who sent Abigail, grants her request.
 - 35) David received from her hand what she had brought him and said to her, “Go up to your house in peace. See, I have listened to you and granted your request.”
Application: Be like Abigail: wise, takes responsibility to save many at great personal risk, leadership - gets others to help her make things right, intervenes between two opposing forces helps them make peace.
36-38) Nabal eating/drinking like a king, Abigal tells what happened, his heart died, 10 days later LORD struck Nabal, he died
39-42) David, "Blessed be the LORD", heard David, brought Nabal's evildoing on himself - took Abigail to be his wife
 - 41) She arose and bowed with her face to the ground and said, “Behold, your maidservant is a maid to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.”
 - Application: be like Abigail, follow the LORD wholeheartedly and help others do the same Lord, wash my feet, Godly relationship enhance spiritual growth (Romans 16), Everyone's choice: sacrilege or coram Deo
43-44) Meanwhile David also marries Ahinoam of Jezreel and Saul regifts Michal to Palti son of Laish, from Gallim.
Psalm 37:1-6) don't worry/envy wrongdoers, trust God and do good, cultivate faithfulness, delight in the LORD, commit your way to HIM - trust in HIM, he will bring forth righteousness/judgment as the light of noonday
7-11) rest in the LORD, wait patiently for Him, stewing over others wicked schemes only leads to evildoing
12-15) wicked plot againt righteous, LORD laughs, He sees, their sword enters their heart
16-20) better little + righteous, than abundance + wicked, LORD sustains, knows = evidence not ashamed in the time of evil
21-22) wicked borrows, doesn't pay back, righteous graciously gives, blessed inherit land, cursed cut off
23-26) STEPS of man established by the LORD, He delights in his way, fails but God has his hand, gracious/lending, descendants are a blessing (footprints in the sand)
27-34) depart from evil and do good, LORD loves justice, righteous speak wisdom/justice, law of God in his heart (Psalm 119:11), his steps don't slip wait for the LORD you will see
35-40) wicked men like big tree gone, man of peace has posterity - salvation of righteous is from the LORD, strength, help, delivers - because they take refuge in HIM.
Application: better to rest in the LORD, trust him as I obey and see his day approaching.

B) David trust LORD, sparing Saul's life a second time
26:1-5) Ziphites tells Saul David hiding, 3,000 searches for him. David, spies where Saul lays
6-12) While Saul and army slept, David and Abishai walk up to Saul and converse about killing him or letting LORD deal with him, steal spear and jug of water.
13-16) David calls the army out for not protecting LORDs annointed
17-20) Saul recognized David's voice, David asks why he pursues him, evil he's done, LORDs will?
21-25) Saul repents, David gives back spear, they make peace blessing eachother
 - 23) The Lord will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness

C) David lives with Philistines under false pretense
27:1-7) David lives with Philistines, Achish at Gath with 600 men and their families, Saul no longer searched for him, 1 year, 4 months in Ziklag, Judah
8-12) David robs and kills Geshurites, Girzites, Amalekites - lies to Achish - says Negev of Judah, Jerahmeelites, Kenites - Achish, believed David is his servant

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Hannah's blessed with Samuel the dedicated prophet of the LORD (1 Samuel 1-3)

AIM: Commitment to the Lord results in blessings, indifference results in curses

Themes (From bsfinternational.org PPL Lesson 7)

• God's gracious prophecy
• Prayer's powerful connection (with God and one another). How clearly do I see, hear and speak of God throughout my day?
• God's Word taken to heart unveils His presence and transforms lives. People may dispute or ignore God's Word but none escapes it's purifying and righteous power.

1 Samuel 1-3
A) Hannah’s Prayer and God’s Gift – 1 Samuel 1:1-2:11
1:1-8) Elkanah and Hannah
9-18) Hannah’s Prayer
19-20) God's Answer
21-23) Elkanah, Hannah's plan for Samuel
24-28) Hannah's commitment
2:1-11) Hannah's Praise
Application: What am I dedicating to the Lord, giving over to Him fully

B) Eli’s Sons and God’s Judgment – 1 Samuel 2:12-36
2:12-17) Eli's Wicked Sons
18-21) Samuel and his family
22-36) God's prophecy of judgment
Application: What sin have I chosen to ignore?

C. Samuel and God’s Prophecy – 1 Samuel 3:1-21
3:1-10) God's call (Here I am, Isaiah 6:8, 1 Sam 3:4,6,8,10)
 - Word from Lord rare in those days 1 Sam 3:1, Ps 74:9; Ezek 7:26; Amos 8:11, 12
11-14) God's message
 - Everything I told Eli about his house, iniquity he knew about, sons curse upon themselves - Eli's indifference (1 Sam 2:27-36)
15-21) God's Word and His prophet
 - God was with him like with Joseph (1 Sam 3:19, Gen 39:2) let none of his words fail/[fall to the ground] (1 Sam 9:6, Matt 18:18)
Application: How will I be persistent in the call of God with his ministers?

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Praise God who comforts us, so we can comfort others (2 Cor 1:3-4)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
2 Corinthians 1:3‭-‬4 NIV

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 2:1‭-‬2 NIV

The pessimist complains about the wind, the optimist expects the wind will change, the leader adjust his sails

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
- Praise, worship and thanksgiving
- Focus on God, who he is
- Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”  ...Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. John 14:8‭, ‬10 NIV
- “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me...“All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. John 15:26,16:1 NIV

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
- “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.  But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.  He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.  All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” John 16:12‭-‬15 NIV

our Lord Jesus Christ
- he is OUR Lord, we get along with eachother, United in Christ.
- (Jesus prays) "For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.  Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent... (John 17:2-3) whoever does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:17)
- (Jesus prayer continues) And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.    “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.  Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you.  For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.  I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours....  Sanctify them by  the truth; your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.  For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.    “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,
John 17:5-‬9‭, ‬17‭-‬20 NIV

the Father of compassion
- Compassion is deep personal empathy and sympathy
- Bible praises God as "Father of..."; lights

and the God of all comfort
- fulfilling the law of love
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be that person?

who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.  This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
1 John 3:16‭-‬23 NIV
http://bible.com/111/1jn.3.16-23.NIV

with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
- Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.  This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.
1 John 4:7‭, ‬9‭-‬17 NIV
http://bible.com/111/1jn.4.7-17.NIV

Thank you God for saving me, for giving me your Spirit to cheer and to guide, to comfort with warmth when I'm cold and refreshing when afflicted. Thank you for your loving kindness that leads us to repentance and your empowering grace enabling us to follow where you lead. Keep me near your heart. In Jesus name.

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We are the clay, and you are our potter (Isa 64:8)

O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand - Isaiah 64:8

When God calls, we do not make a decision — we answer! Robert Murray McCheyne said, “The greatest need of my people is my own personal holiness.”

God interacts with us like our Father
 - Jesus said, "Let the children come to me and do not hinder them" (Matt 19:14, Luke 18:16)
 - Jesus said, "unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matt 18:3-4, Mark 10:15)
 - Fathers want their children to grow up (1 Peter 2:2, 1 Cor 14:20)
 - Application: We must approach God, submitting ourselves to him with childlike humility, faith, and simplicity - knowing that he loves us and is our greatest advocate. We don't talk back to God our creator with talk like, "why have you made me like this?" (Romans 9:20, Isaiah 29:16, Psalm 100:3).

Clay is prepared 
 - The purest clay is white and deep in the earth. Clay is separated from other materials. Clay sticks together and can be shaped into useful items like plates, cups, sinks, tiles. (good youtube video). Purity, wisdom, and preparation are illustrated by Jesus parable of the 10 virgins (Matthew 25:1-46
 - We pray to God, asking for him to prepare our heart; "Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10, and we honor the preparation he does "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you" 1 Peter 3:15
 - God is preparing us even when we are not aware or asking for it; Romans 8:28, "no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him" - 1 Cor 2:9
 - When ready we present ourselves to God as aa one approved, as a living sacrifice, allowing him to mold us (2 Timothy 2:15, Romans 12:1-2)
 - Prepared clay can be tested

A potter molds good clay
 - God's holy people, who are faithful, loyal, and steadfast in Christ Jesus (Eph 1:1), having been given every spiritual blessing, adopted in his family, purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins (Eph 1:3-7),

The potter adds water to clay
 - He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding (Eph 1:8, Isaiah 41:17-18, Isaiah 55:1-2),
 - God himself is living water (Jeremiah 2:13, John 4:14), from our heart (John 7:38), promised long ago (Isaiah 44:3;58:11)
 - We have the promised Holy Spirit having trusted in Christ Jesus (Eph 1:9-14)
 - Being molded into Christ body (Eph 1:15-23), "With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." - Isaiah 12:3
 - We are the work of his hands - Eph 2:10,

http://biblehub.com/isaiah/64-8.htm
https://www.openbible.info/topics/god_the_father
http://www.gotquestions.org/let-the-little-children-come-to-me.html
http://biblehub.com/matthew/19-14.htm
https://www.openbible.info/topics/preparation
https://www.openbible.info/topics/living_water

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Seeing your life through the lens of Gratitiude

Problem: You or someone you love is having a tantrum about how life isn't fair, nothing is good and "we don't have anything"
Solution: Write a list of things you are thankful for, if your like me you might find it useful to make columns of categories like health/ability, food/shelter, community/safety, opportunity/gifts. Then spend time thanking God for the good things that you've got, remember for others it's just a dream.
Here's a template

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