Prepare to Drop Your Bombs!

Mushroom Cloud Over Nagasaki
Lieutenant Charles Levy
1945

Romans 6:14
For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. (NIV)

Sin can’t tell you how to live. After all, you’re not living under that old tyranny any longer. You’re living in the freedom of God. (MSG)

Word Study

Master – to lord over, be master of, have authority over, one who rules or exercises authority; note in some contexts there is an implication that the authority exercised is harsh

Thoughts…

What would the world be like if we really understood the power we have? On July 25, 1945 orders we’re given for bombs to be loaded on planes and prepare to drop on Japan. On July 26, 1945, Japan was warned and given a final ultimatum. They were to surrender or they would see prompt and utter destruction. Japan didn’t think the US, Great Britain, and Canada had it in them. On August 6, they found out they were wrong. Three days later they still didn’t believe and a larger bomb was dropped. It was estimated that 226,000 lives were lost between both bombs. Japan had no idea the power the Allies held. 

Can I let you in on a secret? Satan does not want Christians to know the power they have in themselves. God has placed two bombs inside each of us that would devastate Satan and his plans. Those bombs are the Holy Spirit and grace. 

Grace sets us free from Satan. We no longer owe him anything. He is not our Master. We do not answer to him. The Holy Spirit gives us the tools to fight back. We can throw other bombs right back at him and put him in his place. We can take our lives back! We have the power to blow Satan apart. He cannot stand in the light of God. He has been given his ultimatum. Now prepare to drop your bombs!

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

Job Well Done

Anderson Avenue, in the Bronx. Photo Dennis Harper via Flickr.)

Luke 17:10
So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ (NIV)

It’s the same with you. When you’ve done everything expected of you, be matter-of-fact and say, ‘The work is done. What we were told to do, we did.’ (MSG)

Word Study

Duty – G4053 ὀφείλω opheilō, to owe, be in debt; be bound by oath; be obligated, ought, must

Thoughts…

Have you ever felt unappreciated? I can think of a lot of jobs where people are not thanked nearly enough. One particular group in NYC decided enough was enough. In Febuary, 1968, the sanitation department walked out. They had worked without a contract for six months and decided they were done. The city wouldn’t give them a raise, so they went on strike. For nine days, no one picked up trash that eventually piled up to 100,000 tons. The entire city began to look like garbage dump.

Everyone may deserve appropriate pay, a pat on the back or even a simple thank you, but we don’t always get it. When we don’t we can sulk about it. We can let the trash pile up in our heart. We can even get angry and strike out against people…OR…we can simply say, ”The work is done. What we were told to do, we did” (Like 17:10, MSG).

You see when we keep our eyes on God and remember we are only out to please HIm, we will find our appreciation. Our real rewards come from God. It is from Him one day after all of our hard work is done we will hear, ”Well done, good and faithful servant” (Mark 25:23, NIV).

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

I Dwell Too Much

Isaiah 43:18-19
“Forget about what’s happened;
don’t keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new.
It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert,
rivers in the badlands. (MSG)

“Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. (NIV)

Word Study

Dwell – H1067 בִּין bîn, to understand, discern, realize; be prudent; to be discerning, be understanding; to care for; to have skill, insight; to instruct, explain; to look closely, consider with full attention, ponder

Thoughts…

Hi, my name is Tabetha and I am a re-hasher! I replay events over and over and over in my mind. I play the what-if game. I play the I should have game. I even play put words in the mouths of other people game. I am just so sure I can figure out the puzzle and fund a solution to make it better or even all go away. 

Sometimes I do this to figure out what I did wrong. Honestly moment though, most of the time I spend trying to prove I am right or justify my actions. What I really need to do is let it go!

Isaiah specifically says, ”don’t dwell on the past.” What’s done is done. God is moving on. He has plans for us. We can’t control the last, but. God controls the future. He is working on something. We need to just move in with Him.

History is already in the books. There is no need to break it down and give it your full attention. God is on the move, catch up with him!

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

Everything to Succeed

1 John 2:27
As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him. (NIV)

Word Study

Anointing – G5987 χρίω chriō, to anoint (physically, with oil; spiritually, with the Holy Spirit), to assign a person to a special task, implying a giving of power by God to accomplish the task

Remain – G3531 μένω menō, to stay, remain, live, dwell, abide; to be in a state that begins and continues, yet may or may not end or stop. “To abide in Christ” is to follow his example of a life obedient to the will of God

Thoughts…

Believers stood secure against the false teaching of the antichrists because of three sources of strength. First, they had the anointing of the Holy Spirit. This provided the capacity to understand spiritual things. Second, they had made a personal commitment to the Christian message. Third, they were living in union with Jesus Christ. (HCB Commentary)

You have received an anointment. Do you fully understand or even believe that concept? The priests used to have oil poured over them to show that God had appointed them. We have been filled with the Holy Spirit. We have been given this power and he remains with us. There is nowhere we can go without him.  

God has not only given us a task, but He has also given us the power to accomplish the task. Then on top of that has agreed to work right beside you.

All I can say today is, WOW! I am not sure why this blew my mind, but it did. I mean as a student teacher supervisor, I give my students the tools they need. The state gives them the power to do the job, but neither of us walks every step of the way with them. God doesn’t teach you then send you on your way. He teaches you, empowers you them still walks the road with you! So how can you not succeed!

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

Religion can strengthen our relationship with Christ, but it does not establish it!

Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. (NIV)

Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything. They spread their ideas through the empty traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings. But that’s not the way of Christ. (MSG)

Word Study

Captive – G1639 εἰμί eimi, to be, exist, be present 

Hollow – G3031 κενός kenos, empty, empty-handed; by extension: vain, ineffective, useless, foolish

Thoughts…

The Greek termstoicheia, translated “basic principles of this world” in this context denotes false, worldly, elementary teachings. Paul was counteracting the Colossian heresy, which, in part, taught that for salvation one needed to combine faith in Christ with secret knowledge and with human regulations concerning such physical and external practices as circumcision, eating and drinking and observance of the religious festivals. (Archeological Study Bible).

Today’s word is very simple. Don’t get trapped in legalese. The thief on the cross died without observing any traditions, eating certain foods or wearing certain clothing and met Jesus in paradise. I am not saying these observances are bad, I am just saying trust that the only way to Heaven is accepting Jesus as your savior. There is no more and no less.

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

Hold Fast to that Which You Value

2 Thessalonians 2:15

So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. (NIV)

So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversation or by our letter. (MSG)

Word Study

Hold – G3195 κρατέω krateō, to arrest, seize into custody; to take, grab, hold onto, obtain; (pass.) to be kept from, held

Thoughts…

According to the Archeological Study Bible, “Teachings” is literally “traditions.” Until the New Testament was written, essential Christian teaching was passed on in the “traditions,” just as was Rabbinic law.

Traditions are something we pass down generation to generation. We hold dear to them because they are valued, loved, comforting, and familiar. This is the way it should be with our faith and hope in God. We should be passing it down from generation to generation. However, we should also hold fast to it. In times of trials and troubles, what more comfort can you find than your hope and faith. Don’t let Satan take that away from you. Don’t throw it away. Just like out traditions they are valued, loved, comforting, and familiar.

When we hold fast to our hope and faith we can stand firm on the rock of our salvation and weather any storm. 

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

Walking in the Dark

Isaiah 50:10

Who among you fears the Lord
and obeys the word of his servant? Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light,
trust in the name of the Lord
and rely on their God. (NIV)


Who out there fears God,
actually listens to the voice of his servant? For anyone out there who doesn’t know where you’re going, anyone groping in the dark, Here’s what: Trust in God. Lean on your God!

Word Study

Rely – H9128 שָׁעַן šāʽan, to lean oneself upon, rely on

Thoughts…

The Lord’s Ideal Servant Perseveres (50:4-11). In this third servant song the servant declared his confidence in God. He had not drawn back from the Lord’s commission, despite severe opposition and humiliation. He persevered, confident that the Lord would one day vindicate him before his enemies. The song concludes with an appeal for the servant’s faithful followers to continue to trust the Lord and with a warning of judgment to those who reject the Lord’s guidance (HCB Commentary).

Sometimes our world can come crashing in on us. Darkness looms all around. Isaiah reassures us to just keep walking. Trust God. You can’t see what is coming but He can. You can’t see in the dark but He can. Keep moving. Press on. Don’t give up.

Sometimes God leaves us in the dark because our enemy can’t see in the dark either. 

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

God is Your Biggest Fan

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. (NIV)

May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech. (MSG)

Word Study

Encourage – G4151 παρακαλέω parakaleō, to ask, beg, plead; to comfort, encourage, exhort, urge; to call, invite

Thoughts…

Before taking up the discussion of the power of evil in people’s lives, Paul offered thanksgiving for the Holy Spirit’s work in the life of the church. He also encouraged them to remain faithful to all they had been taught. In typical Pauline style the apostle prayed that God would encourage their hearts and strengthen them in every good word and deed (HCB Commentary, 2 Thess 2:13-17).

I could use a smile. I am sure everyone could use a smile and a kind word. The world spends so much time convincing us we are not enough, don’t have enough or will never be enough unless we do or buy this one thing. Then we do it or buy it and bam the next thing is out and we are back where we started. The world is wrong. The only thing you need to make you enough is Christ. That is true today, tomorrow and forever!

Today, let Jesus himself touch your heart with the Holy Spirit. Look to him for refreshment for your spirit. He is and will always be your biggest fan. He will encourage and strengthen you today and every day. I encourage you to give God a chance!

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

Build Your Offense Before You Go on the Defense

Jude 1:20-21

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. (NIV)

Word Study

Building – G2224 ἐποικοδομέω epoikodomeō, to build up, build on

Keep – G5498 τηρέω tēreō, to keep, guard, obey, observe

Thoughts…

Jude reminded his readers that the apostles had warned against the divisiveness and spiritual emptiness of the coming false teachers. The recipients were to build themselves up with prayer and obedience. They also were to offer help to wandering believers who need both an experience of divine mercy and the wisdom to avoid corruption (HCB Commentay).

Athletes never just walk out onto the court, field, ice, or diamond and start playing. No one would ever just get up one day and run a marathon. To do these things require practice. You must eat the right food and stretch. You build your body up and keep it in shape. Our spiritual life can benefit from this as well. Build your faith by reading the bible, praying and spending time with God.

Do you want to win the game of life? Build your offense with God before you have to go on the defense.

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.