What IF we lived our day FOR others.

What IF our every thought and comment was to encourage and lift them up?

What IF we aimed to clothe them with the garment of praise (for His righteousness within them) and convict them of their righteousness?

What IF we spoke much less about us and listened and responded to them?

What IF there was no room or need for idle chatter or self-promotion.

What IF we walked according to Philippians 2:3 "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition of conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself."

OR as the Amplified reads beautifully Phil 2:1-4
If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you 'care'-then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

Yes, it costs - self, I, flesh, better than, etc. Remind yourself when self-promotion is coming from you that it is likely a mask covering a lie you are believing-that you are in some way 'less than'.

​May Father expose these lies, this need for self-aggrandizement and speak words of peace to our soul that we may serve and love others first, trusting Him with our every need and exposed wound. Yes to heal the wound must be uncovered - the mask must be removed - ONLY you can remove the mask - others can't rip it off and God will not take it, He will only RECEIVE it from you at your willingness then minister His balm upon you. 

The Israelites set up piles of stones as memorials of what God had done/what they had seen. Join me in intentionally looking for the stone (of what God has done or shown you) to be added to your cairn today.
As I looked for the photo I was reminded of the Jewish tradition of leaving a pebble or stone on top of a tombstone signifying that someone has honored the deceased person's memory with a visit to the grave.
As God reminds us of His faithfulness and we build our cairn (our permanent memorial of His goodness) may we honor God with the memory of our deceased Old Man/Old Nature/Adam Nature and praise and glorify Him for the new creation and new live He has given us at great cost.
My first little stone is based on seeing two racoons at the backyard bird feeders before dawn this morning. God's nature is amazing. It reminds me of His creativity, His love for life and the fact that He daily provides for the needs of each 'critter'. How much more does He cares for us today. May we be encouraged today to play on the high places with His hind's feet.....(pebble added to the cairn....looking at it's loveliness....remembering Him who made this possible....wow!)

Reviewing a students answer on the Christians and Suffering final. The question, 'Is suffering beneficial or detrimental to the life of a Christian? Explain your answer and give examples.'
A thought came to me, I find myself assessing what my answer to this question is today in my walk and God brings a tidbit to ponder.
We are told by Paul, James and Peter that suffering has value (Rom 5:3-5, Ja 1:2-5 and 1Pe 1:6-8) in a Christians life - God's love poured out in our heart by the Holy Spirit, the fruit of righteousness and our faith being able to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
What IF trials/struggles/difficulties serve to separate the Christian (living His life) from the people that are with the program but not yet of His life - perhaps through no fault of their own. There are Christians that have never really heard about the Spirit filled life. Many heard that it is for those 'charismaniacs' and is not Biblical. Many do not know that they actually ARE a new creation with HIS life living in them, that their life died 2000 years ago on a cross when Christ drew ALL MEN into Himself. Maybe they have been introduced to the Holy Spirit but do not know how to live His life, this life that costs them EVERYTHING. 
What if suffering, in part, serves to help these people come to the end of themselves? What if it reveals their place and struggle? NOT for condemnation but for the correction that the Holy Spirit brings that they CAN live this new creation life that is now theirs not in their power, ability or strength but in their simple trusting Him who brought them here to walk them through.
I think those that struggle apart from His life within, when faced with trials may turn from Him. They may see Him as demanding. May find a way to medicate the pain of the reality of their inability. I think some may not hang on in the trial and may turn away. I know that in these times there is opportunity to actually meet the God of the Bible and His ability.
So what if the struggles, the refining fire, the crucible brings some to LIFE as they embrace their self-death in His Life in them and brings others to consider their spirit as dead as they embrace their self-life? What if the purpose of suffering is truly to cost US (me, my flesh, my desires, my expectations and standards) EVERYTHING. It costs every remnant of the flesh, the life that WAS lived so that His new life within is the ONLY life manifest through us?
Am I there yet? No! That is an emphatic 'no'. Yet I am further along at identifying those self-life lies that cause me to protect self and prevent His life from being released. The I cant's I wont's, I don't wanna's, the it's not fair, the why me God voices that derive from my flesh. Yet, am I on the way and do I see the value of suffering in causing this growth to take and flourish? Yes, I do and I believe that is why Jesus said that 'in this world you will have tribulation yet I have overcome the world.' KNOW trials come. KNOW they have value. I think 2 Cor 2:14-16 pictures it well... Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place, for we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death and to the other the aroma of life leading to life."
Lord, as You bring me to the end of myself may I learn to trust Your life within. May I submit to it. May I put off the desires of the flesh and walk only in the newness of life, by Your ability. Teach me Lord, for Your child is listening.

Perhaps you have been here. You attend church. You study the Bible. You listen to teaching, preaching and take copious notes. You read constantly. You purchase and study the latest, most brilliant Christian authors and books and attend every advanced discipleship, marriage, and deeper life conference you can find. Yet your Christian life isn’t working for you. You are stressed, anxious, feel guilt and lack joy. 
What if we have had it wrong. If we do-to-be…accepted, holy, righteous and approved we spend our days on a treadmill with a never changing view. 
It is when we function from be-to-do, when we know our identify, when we know we are His kids, accepted, loved and cherished by God that we develop a rich life of intimacy with God. When we know Him and know that He loves us and do not have to cower in fear, guilt or shame, we GET TO choose where we place our attention and what we put our focus on. 
The outer appearance looks the same, but that is the only similarity. It’s been said before, “Know God, know peace…no God (no true, intimate relational knowledge of God), no peace.”
Masterpiece Biblical Counseling and many others are eager to turn things inside out with you. 
(The first paragraph was adapted from a Dan Camp post)