Bailiwick (2 Timothy 2:14)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “bailiwick.”  I remember when I was in high school I did pretty much everything, and every activity, under the sun. I was part of sports teams, student government, club activities, community activities, and the like. As I grew older, I realized that I needed to focus my energies on maybe just a couple of items in life. Through much prayer and talking to others I trusted, I decided that ministry would be at the center of that journey. I wanted to help others realize why God’s word, and God’s way, were the best possible option in life.

Remind everyone about these things, and command them in God's presence to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them.

~2 Tim 2:14

My question is: what are you doing on a consistent basis to understand God’s word just a little bit more? I have the opportunity to speak with many young men and women about faith. I often ask them what kind of structures they have in life to help them through the tough times. Shockingly, the majority of the people that I talked to often have little or no support system. My prayer is that you make the knowledge of God’s word part of your bailiwick, or area of expertise. I’m not telling you have to be perfect by any means, or know the intricacies of the Greek and Hebrew translations. What I am saying is that when you take responsibility for being a productive member in God’s family, a huge part of that is working through the Bible so that when others ask you questions, you have answers, according to God’s will and not your own. Get busy becoming an expert, today.

Praying for you,

MO

Afflatus (Hebrews 4:12)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “afflatus.” I remember one time I had not studied for a test that was pretty important. I was a highschooler, and had very different priorities than I probably should’ve had at the time. I often failed to prepare for exams. So, when I got to a test day in my Chemistry class - one of those no-preparation days - I figured the only action that I could take at that point was to pray. And so I did. I took the test, and did not feel good about it, but figured that God had my back. To my amazement, when we received our test paper back, I had gotten a 36%. I mean, how could God not answer my prayer? I was truly dumbfounded. Then, I actually was dumb enough to have a conversation with Kevin about this, my youth pastor at church. He was in about as much amazement that I thought God was going to help me through my lack of preparation as I was that God did not help me.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

~Heb 4:12

My question is: from where do you find your inspiration? Although I had the wrong line of thinking for that test back in highschool, I did realize that if I could align my thinking  with stuff that was important to God, my life would probably be a bit easier, or at least better. My challenge is that you treat God’s word with respect it deserves. God’s word is alive, it is working within this world each day, and it has the power to do more than you or I could ever imagine. I hope you take a moment to ask God to allow his word to permeate your heart. This is the divine inspiration, or afflatus, to which i am referring.

Praying for you,

MO