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Remember the Thief

Ephesians 4:14

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. (NIV)

Word Study

Cunning – G3235 κυβεία kybeia, cunning, craftiness, trickery

Craftiness – G4111 πανουργία panourgia, cunning, craftiness, deception, duplicity

Deceitful – G4415 πλάνη planē, error, delusion, deception

Scheming – G3497 μεθοδεία methodeia, scheming, craftiness, strategy

Thoughts…

In his New Testament epistles, Paul frequently warned his readers to be on guard against false teaching (e.g., 2 Cor 11:3–4). These cautions reveal that from an early point Christianity was open to distortions and heresies that took many forms through overemphasis on some and denial of other central Christian teachings (Archeological Study Notes Bible).

 Believe on the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31). the Lord with all your heart and love others as yourself (Mark  12:30-31). I don’t read in these verses anything about wearing or not certain clothing. I don’t see hairstyles, piercings, or tattoos. I don’t see any must-have rituals. So why do people get so hung up on things like that when judging others and their walk with God?

Don’t let anyone other than God dictate your walk with Him. Remember the thief on the cross died right after believing in Christ and went to heaven with him that very day.

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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Now Straighten That Crown

Corinthians 15:56-57
It was sin that made death so frightening and law-code guilt that gave sin its leverage, its destructive power. But now in a single victorious stroke of Life, all three—sin, guilt, death—are gone, the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ. Thank God! (MSG)

Word Study

Sting- G3034 κέντρον kentron, sting, goad

Power – G1539 δύναμις dynamis, power, ability; miracle; ruler, an extended meaning of a person or supernatural being who has administrative power

Thoughts…

Thanks to the victory of Christ, death will be finally abolished. This is great encouragement for all believers to persevere faithfully in the Lord’s service, knowing that “labor in the Lord is not in vain” (HCB Commentary).

We are so blessed. We have always had the privilege of Jesus destroying death for us. We don’t have to worry every second about what happens when we die. We don’t have to carry around huge heavy loads of guilt and perform long rituals. 

When Jesus died he took away Satans power. There is no more guilt-filled legal system to hold us down.  

“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55


Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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For Today, You Can Choose To Not Be OK

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (NIV)

Word Study

Good – G19 ἀγαθός agathos, good; good as a positive quality (vs. bad), good as a moral quality (vs. evil):– good, clear, right, better, favor, fully, generous, grain, helpful, kind, pleasant, surplus, useful

Thoughts…

It cannot be that He ‘of whom, and through whom, and to whom are all things,’ should suffer that purpose to be thwarted by anything really adverse to us, or that He should not make all things, dark as well as light, crooked as well as straight, to co-operate to the furtherance and final completion of His high design (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary).

This verse is the most well-meant verse Christians use when someone is in trouble. However, in the midst of the pain, it doesn’t help. I want you to know today it is OK to not be OK. It is OK to need to curl up and just take a moment to cry, be angry, confused, afraid and hurt. Let God hold you. Tomorrow will come and when it does we will face this together and know God has our backs. But today take your moment and I will sit here with you quietly praying that when you’re ready we can face that purpose together. 

God has a purpose for everything but we don’t have to face that purpose today. Today we can choose to just not be OK.

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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No Never Alone

1 Peter 5:9

Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. (NIV)

Word Study

Undergoing – G2200 ἐπιτελέω epiteleō, to finish, complete, end; to perfect, attain a goal 

Sufferings – G4077 πάθημα pathēma, suffering, misfortune

Thoughts…

The consideration of what others suffer is proper to encourage us to bear our share in any affliction; and in whatever form Satan assaults us, or by whatever means, we may know that our brethren experience the same (Matthew Henery’s Concise Commentary).

We are all going to go through trials, tribulations, and sufferings. Take heart that you are never alone. Someone somewhere has been there and done that. This is why it is so important to open our mouths. We need to both reach out for help AND tell our stories to help others.

Life is not filled with rainbows and unicorns. Be a believer throughout the world so no one ever has to feel alone.

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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Don’t Throw in the Towel; It Ain’t Over Yet!

Isaiah 40:29

He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak. (NIV)

Word Study

Weary – H3617 יָעֵף3 yāʽēp3, weary, exhausted, fatigued

Weak – H226 אוֹן1 ’ôn1, power, strength, vigor, manhood; wealth, weak

Thoughts…

Where God had begun the work of grace, he will perfect it. He will help those who, in humble dependence on him, help themselves. As the day, so shall the strength be. In the strength of Divine grace their souls shall ascend above the world. They shall run the way of God’s commandments cheerfully. Let us watch against unbelief, pride, and self-confidence. If we go forth in our own strength, we shall faint, and utterly fall; but having our hearts and our hopes in heaven, we shall be carried above all difficulties, and be enabled to lay hold of the prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus (Matthew Henery’s Concise Commentary).

Have you ever found yourself in a place where you cannot take one more step? Your would cannot face one more strike. All you can’t do is look up and say one word, ”Help!” This is where God rolls up his sleeves, rubs his hands together and says, ” Look out, now it is my turn!”

All the strength you need is always just a prayer away!

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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Have or Seen

Romans 8:24-25

For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. NIV

Word Study

Have or seen

G1063 βλέπω blepō, to see, look at; to watch out, beware, pay attention:– see (51), saw (9), watch out (7), ever seeing (6), seen (6), see to it (5), seeing (5), sees (4), look (3), on guard (3), blind (2), careful (2), consider carefully (2), look at (2), unseen (2), already have (1), be very careful (1), before eyes (1), consider (1), do (1), do yet have (1), exposed (1), facing (1), gaze (1), judging (1), looked in (1), looks (1), looks at (1), pay attention (1), pay attention to who they are (1), sight (1), stared (1), take care (1), think (1), watch out for (1), with care (1)

Thoughts…

Believers have been brought into a state of safety; but their comfort consists rather in hope than in enjoyment. From this hope they cannot be turned by the vain expectation of finding satisfaction in the things of time and sense. We need patience, our way is rough and long; but He that shall come, will come, though he seems to tarry (Matthew Henery’s Concise Commentary).

One version I read compared this verse to pregnancy. We haven’t seen the baby but we are still waiting eagerly to see it. Overall though I like the word have over the word seen in this verse. 

I am a person who saves up for things. I get all excited waiting for that new gadget, item, vehicle or even house. I don’t have it yet. I have seen it, but I don’t have it. I even tend to make vision boards as I wait to purchase the item.  I wait eagerly and patiently. I keep working towards it. I place my hope that I will soon have it.

I did not see Jesus hanging on that cross. I have not seen Heaven. I hope for it. I don’t have a life filled with rainbows and unicorns, but I will. My hope in having my troubles and tears taken away one day is what keeps me going when I see nothing but trials and troubles all around me.

It doesn’t matter if you use the word have or seen. Either way, we have HOPE for the future!

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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Just Dance

Psalms 37:7

Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Word Study

Still – H1957 דָּמַם1 dāmam1, to be still, be silent, be quiet, rest; to be silenced; to quiet

Fret – H3013 חָרָה1 ḥārâ1, to be angry, be aroused; to burn with anger; to rage; to be jealous

Wait – H2565 חוּל1 ḥûl1, to swirl, turn, fall, dance; to wait; to dance

Thoughts…

Let us be satisfied that God will make all to work for good to us. Let us not discompose ourselves at what we see in this world. A fretful, discontented spirit is open to many temptations (Matthew’s Concise Bible Commentary).

I loved how the Hebrew words for still meant to be silent; fret meant to be angry and wait is the same word used for dancing. This verse is telling us to quit whining, do not get angry over what is going on around us and just dance. How beautiful is that! God is in complete control. We don’t have to worry. When the enemy comes against us just dance. When we are feeling unloved, lonely or left behind…just dance. Give up control and sway to God’s music. 

“The most valuable thing the Psalms do for me is to express the same delight in God which made David dance” (C.S. Lewis).

Life is never going to be equal, but God always provides what I need. So it is time to give up my whining and… 

JUST DANCE!

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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Jesus-The Original Avenger

Isaiah 43:1

Israel’s Only Savior
But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

Word Study

Redeemed-H1457 גָּאַל1 gā’al1, to redeem, deliver; avenger; kinsman-redeemer; to be redeemed; to be redeemed, redeem oneself; often this redemption is in the context of saving from danger or hostility, as a figure of purchasing a slave or indentured person. A “kinsman-redeemer” purchases a relative from slavery (actual or potential); a “kinsman-avenger” provides justice on behalf of a relative; both concepts are in the image of God as Redeemer

Summoned- H7924 קָרָא1 qārā’1, to call, summon, announce, proclaim; to be invited as a guest, be appointed; to be called, be summoned; to be called; “to call on the name of the LORD” means to proclaim or praise the excellence of Yahweh, to worship Yahweh, or to summon Yahweh by name for help

Thoughts…

Matthew Henrys Concise Commentary tells us Isaiah 43:1-7 speaks of, “God’s favor and goodwill to his people speak abundant comfort to all believers. The new creature, wherever it is, is of God’s forming. All who are redeemed with the blood of his Son, he has set apart for himself. Those that have God for them need not fear who or what be against them.”

In this passage, God is letting the Israelites know he is asking them to be a part of him. They are not slaves. They have minds of their own. They can choose no. He is giving them a choice. (summoned)

He also wants them to know that he is the one that has saved them from their enemies. He is the one that has brought them through so far. He is the one that has avenged them for everything their enemies did to them. (redeemed)

Today God is calling us by our names. He is pleading with us to give ourselves over to him. He has already taken care of our number one enemy-Satan. He no longer has a hold on us. We are not destined for death. We have been redeemed if we just answer the summons. 

Jesus is the original AVENGER! He is calling out your name. Let him save you!

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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Fear vrs Afraid

Psalms 27:1-2

The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.

Word Study

Fear – H3707 יָרֵא1 yārē’1 to be afraid, be frightened; to revere, respect; to be awesome, be dreadful, be feared; to frighten, terrify, intimidate; in some contexts fear relates to terror and fright, in other contexts fear relates to honor, respect and awe, as in “the fear of the LORD”

Afraid- H7064 פָּחַד pāḥad, to tremble, be afraid; to live in terror, fear; to make shake, make tremble

Thoughts…

This Psalm was written by David probably as a testimony after a battle. I took a new look at the word fear used in verse on “Whom shall I fear?”

Fear can stand for two things. One is to be afraid and the other is to pay respect or revere someone or something. If you respect someone you put an awful lot of trust, energy, and even love into that person. So I ask this simple question was David asking who will I be afraid of or whom will I put my respect, admiration, time, energy, and trust into?

How much time and energy do i devote to my enemy?
How much time and energy do i devote to god?
Which one is the one i should I show reverence and trust?
Who is the real stronghold?

I need to spend a lot less time and energy on my enemies and more time on the stronghold of God. After all, the God behind me is a lot bigger than the enemy in front of me!


Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.