BUT GOD!

Today's blog was inspired by Rev. Gregory Dickow, who preached: "But God."  It is a good practice to add "but God" to the end of negative statements.  This way we cancel out the negative with good, because God is good.  Also, saying "but God" reminds us that no matter what, God is still in charge and in control. District attornies and a wife were murdered by a disgruntled Justice of the Peace in Kaufman, Texas, but God.  There was an intentional bombing at the Boston Marathon, but God.  The president of the United States, and others received posionous letters, but God.  There was a devastating explosion at a fertilizler plant in West Texas, but God.  And, let's not talk about the numerous unheard of atroscities that are going on around the world; and let's not forget our own personal struggles, BUT GOD!

No matter what we see and/or hear happen, God is still on the throne.  He sits high and looks low.  He doesn't look down on us, He looks down upon us, because He is interested in us and concerned for us. 

Self-Gratification vs. God's Glorification!

What and who inspires us to do the right or wrong thing (hanging with certain people, watching television, over indulging with food or drink)?    We lose focus when we allow worldly things to contaminate our thinking (minds).  We must determine to, no matter what, do what is right.  We know how to gratify ourselves only too well.  In fact, we practice self-gratification so much and so well until we hardly have time to do anything for any body else, if at all.  First of all, in order to do things to God's glorification, we need new minds, hearts, and spirits (keep our minds on things above and not below, read the Word).  When we do things to glorify God we bless others and ourselves.  What a beautiful thing; it's a win, win situation, and all to the glory of God.  We must seek inspiration from on-high, rebuke contamination, and walk with Holy Spirit determination, and all to God's glorification!

What causes fights and quarrels among you?  Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?  You desire but do not have, so you kill.  You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight.  You do not have because you do not ask God.  When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.  You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God?  Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. James 4:1-4 (NIV)