Quote Contemplations 4

 

“As a rule, men worry more about what they can’t see than about what they can.” – Julius Caesar

            It’s the unknown factor. If you can’t see something you give way to wondering. You wonder if it’s benevolent or dangerous. You wonder if you will be in danger or not. You burn a lot of energy wondering. The unknown can rob you of peace, contentment, and joy, among other things. Julius Caesar obviously had much to worry about, especially since Marcus Junius Brutus, who was a Roman senator and a close associate of Julius Caesar, allowed their relationship to devolve from one of friendship and trust to one of betrayal and conflict. You see, Brutus involved himself in a plot to assassinate his friend. His actions prompted Caesar’s famous words, “Et tu, Brute?” (You too, Brutus?)

            When you are a follower of Christ, you truly have nothing to worry about in this life. That doesn’t keep us from worrying, sadly because we are painfully human and prone to fretting about far too many things we have no control over. Scripture tells us, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” ^{[Matthew 6:34]} Yet still we worry. 

            We are taught thru God’s Word to trust in His provisions for us. The Jewish people refer to God as Jehovah Jireh, “the God who provides”. It’s a lesson that most of us need to learn by experience. Once God provides for us we begin to see that our concern was ill founded, yet even after the Lord takes care of us we still have the tendency to worry. Feed your spirit man regularly and you will grow spiritually. It’s an incremental thing. The more we delve into the things of the spirit, the quicker we will become the reflection of Christ that we strive for.

            Find your peace and confidence in the Lord. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Quote Contemplations 3

“The more you know yourself, the more patience you have for what you see in others.” – Erik Erikson, founder of Psychosocial Development Theory.

 

            To me this has a lot to do with our inability to avoid judging others by their externals. In most cases we don’t know them, so we judge them by their physical appearance, the way they act, the way they carry themselves, the way they interact with others, the way they speak, (as in the language they use) and that tends to be the tip of the iceberg so to speak. We also have a tendency to compare them to ourselves. How incredibly insensitive and conceited we all can be at times. Don’t we know we should never compare ourselves to any other person in creation? 

            We need to work at being much more introspective. We need to look at ourselves, especially our inner selves and compare it to the one true and perfect role model and that is Almighty God and Jesus Christ. THAT is what we should be emulating. We need to be a reflection of their virtue and behavior. What would Jesus do is NOT simply a catch phrase, but a question that we need to ask ourselves frequently whenever confronted with any situation.

            The greater we KNOW ourselves, the more we will appreciate others and while not knowing most folks back story, give them the grace to exist without being critiqued. We need to cut people the slack we would like to have from them. God loves us, but He loves others as well just the same way He loves us. Let’s point the finger at ourselves and make the necessary alterations so as to become the best version of ourselves in Jesus name. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Quote Contemplations 2

 

“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not.” – Epicurus, Greek philosopher.

            Too many folks are desirous of material things. While nothing is intrinsically wrong with wanting material things, it has become an addiction for some. Many people lament over what they don’t have rather than being grateful for all that they do have. It truly doesn’t matter if you have a multitude of amenities, as long as you have a roof over your head, food to eat, and enough money to pay your bills. But many folks don’t see things that way.

            By virtue of the vast number of lottery tickets sold each day, we know that people in general believe that a vast amount of cash will answer all their problems and fulfill all their wishes. Not true. The more you have the bigger your bills & the more you spend.. I have no doubt that it would amaze the average person how fast one can spend a million dollars. Spending money can be addictive. Next thing you know you’re broke. If you doubt what I’m saying, go to YouTube and look up lottery winners nightmares. Money is nice and necessary, but even the Bible alerts mortal man that “the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves [through and through] with many sorrows.” ^{[1 Timothy 6:10 Amp Bible]} Sadly, some must learn that lesson the hard way, by experiencing it for themselves.

            Enjoy what you have without pining for that which you don’t have, for that will make a wonderful life into a hateful thing. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Quote Contemplations 1

 “Wise men speak when they have something to say, fools speak because they have to say something.” – Aristotle, Greek philosopher

            Have you ever noticed that some folks simply HAVE to say something no matter whether it is helpful or not. Is it a sickness? Is it arrogance? Is it pride? Is it truly necessary, is the question that needs to be asked. Some folks just want to make their presence known. They want to be heard. The reason why is sometimes a mystery. 

            I have been known to act the fool in group settings because I think I’m funny. I can be very quirky and kind of “out there” with what I say. Nothing off color, just silly. I have learned to ratchet that back quite a bit. It had become somewhat apparent to me that some folks are very self-absorbed and have no interest in anything someone else is either saying or doing. So I now tend to limit my comments to ones meant to inspire, empathize or compliment. I strive to encourage & edify, rather than entertain. It takes a certain type of person to appreciate my humor. Being silly is part of my mental makeup, so I didn’t shelve it, I just came to realize that it wasn’t always necessary or appreciated. 

            I have come to realize over time that life is far too short to whittle away time playing the fool. Souls are on a straight line into the abyss and are very much unaware of it. Talk needs to become more meaningful and less eccentric. If I am known for anything, I’d like to be known as a man who loves God and lives to please Him by showing kindness and compassion to whosoever needs it. Having said that I don’t seek to come across as a grandiose person who has an over inflated sense of importance. I do not require a legacy. If no one ever knows who I am or who I was, that is fine with me, as long as they come to know Jesus Christ thru something I’ve said or done.

            I am learning to speak when I feel compelled by the Holy Spirit to do so and share that which He has laid on my heart. Sharing Christ or something related to Him is far more important than anything else I could ever say. So in conclusion I say, love God with all your being and live for Him alone. THAT is worth saying. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

What is “good”?

 

            You may think you’re a good person, but my question to you is “compared to who?” Exactly who would you like to compare yourself to so you can feel like you are a good person? Adolph Hitler? The “jerk” around the corner from you? The “nervy woman” at work? How would you define “being good”? A definition for good must be universally accepted, not accepted just by you. Perhaps this is why in the gospel of Mark 10:18 (NIV), Jesus Himself says the following: “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.”

            According to the Bible, God defines "good" as morally excellent, virtuous, righteous, of high quality, and beneficial. Goodness is not merely a human standard but is rooted in God's own nature, which is perfectly good and holy. God's goodness is revealed in His creation, where He declared everything He made to be good, culminating in the summary that creation was "very good". This goodness is consistent across Scripture, with God being described as the ultimate standard of all that is good.

God's goodness is demonstrated in His actions, including His law, which is holy, righteous, and good. It is also seen in His self-giving, other-centered love, exemplified in Jesus Christ, who laid down His life as the ultimate expression of goodness. The Bible teaches that God is the source of every good and perfect gift, and His nature is such that He cannot do evil or even desire to do wrong, as it would contradict His inherent goodness.

Furthermore, the concept of good in the biblical sense is tied to moral excellence and right behavior, involving kindness, justice, righteousness, holiness, and purity. Goodness is not just about avoiding evil but actively pursuing what is right and beneficial.  Ultimately, God's definition of good is inseparable from His character—He is the source, standard, and embodiment of all that is truly good. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: www.christianitytoday.com

 

 

Thoughts from a Random Mind

 

            I’ve said in the past that “once born we die a little bit each day”, but I was thinking just yesterday, is that literally true? I found this regarding that.

“The saying "once we're born we die a little bit each day" is not a scientific fact but a philosophical reflection on the nature of life and mortality. While our bodies grow and thrive for decades after birth, the process of aging and eventual decay is an inevitable part of the human life cycle.” ^[1]

            What it actually is is more of a reminder of our own mortality, if you want to be honest about it. Since death is inevitable for everyone, if shines a spotlight on the fact that our time on this earth is limited. With that in mind we should remember to cherish each moment we are above ground and live life to the fullest every day.

            Now there IS the thought from a religious perspective that we are to “die daily” as we practice self-control and surrender our will to a higher power. It means we are to cast aside selfish desires and strive instead to live a more spiritual life devoted to God.

            An interesting point is that scientifically speaking our bodies from birth are in a constant state of cellular regeneration. New cells are born and replace the older, dying ones, and this takes place every single day we are alive. For example, we don’t have the same skin cells we had a decade ago, a year ago, even a month ago. Constant regeneration.

            As we age there is a slow, gradual decline, which counters the thought that we die a little each day we are alive. So the entire concept of dying each day compared to life itself is more symbolic, rather than literal. As we understand this it should cause us to focus on the present and recognize the finite nature of life as a motivational tool that can encourage us to seize the day, appreciate each moment, rather than dwell on the end of your life.

            Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] This was an AI reflection on the topic discussed.

Thoughts from a Random Mind

 

“The phrase “the devil’s in the details” means small, often overlooked elements in a plan, project, or situation can contain hidden problems or complications that threaten its overall success. It serves as a cautionary reminder that seemingly insignificant particulars can have a major negative impact if not carefully examined.” ^[1]

            The earliest citation of the phrase is from around the 1880’s by German philosopher Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844-1900).  We know from scripture that the devil is a devious liar who is in direct opposition to Almighty God. He wreaks havoc whenever possible in his attempt to foil God’s plans. His efforts only succeed temporarily because God allows it, but His long term success against the children of God is limited as long as we stay close to our Heavenly Father and trust Him.

            Whenever plans are made careful attention must be paid to every detail, for to not do so can cause a mistake that has the potential to cause your entire situation to become mired in quicksand or worse. The devil is no friend to the righteous ones at all. He does all he can daily to trip us all up. God allows these trip ups as a means of training us to exercise our faith and trust in Him. He has a plan for each one of us to prosper us spiritually and bless us abundantly. The devil is out to short circuit those plans. 

            If our focus is on the Lord and not the problem then we will avoid the pitfalls that can arise from focusing on something other than the Lord. The devil may be in the details; however, God is also in the details and can easily circumvent the plans of the enemy.

            Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] http://www.grammarist.com