Romans 1:20-22 (New International Version)
20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools.

The passage pictures a time when men had the knowledge of God. Mankind had in their possession truths about the invisible qualities of the author of life.

Paul tells us that the response of mankind to the evidence of God's existence was a choice not to worship him or give thanks. Romans 1:21 tells us that the reward of an ungrateful heart is futile thinking and a darkened heart.

Gratitude is a powerful and indispensable aid to your own mental health.

In the original language the word futile indicates that the expected results were not achieved.

A mind that is ungrateful will always bring about futile thinking, which implies going no where. It implies going in circles. Around and around: with no clear direction or destination.

Just as physical fitness can keep our bodies strong and healthy, mental fitness helps us to achieve and sustain a state of good mental health.

When we are mentally healthy, we are able to enjoy our life and the people in it. The God who created you has left us strong words of advice on how to enjoy our life, our environment and the people in it.

Phi 4:11-13 KJVR
(11) Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
(12) I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
(13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Just To Be Close To You

Sowing The Gospel

A farmer can’t just toss seeds on the ground and hope for the best. He has to prepare the soil, turning it over, breaking up the hard places and sifting it. The same is true in your heart. You need to break up the hard places if you want to see spiritual growth.

Accepted

Have you ever walked into a room and felt uncomfortable; perhaps felt distant from the people in the room?

Is there a sense of distance with the brethren in your church or is there sense of distance with a specific individual?

Are you uncomfortable or nervous about approaching your boss or persons in authority?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions then your behaviour is being motivated by something other than acceptance.

If acceptance were a place, we would find at its perimeter rejection, condemnation, and their offsprings separation and isolation.

Rejection comes in many forms - racism, sexism and discrimination (denying someone equal treatment). Fear of Rejection is a driving force that can prevent you from being an authentic human being. Condemnation is poison to any relationship.

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Rejection and condemnation breeds separation and isolation.

Acceptance says, “You are okay now even though you haven’t reached your goal”

Acceptance is not about overlooking acts of disobedience or condoning brethren who have given themselves over to a pattern of sin that leads to death.

1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I write to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of [Christian] brother if he is known to be guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater [whose soul is devoted to any object that usurps the place of God], or is a person with a foul tongue [railing, abusing, reviling, slandering], or is a drunkard or a swindler or a robber. [No] you must not so much as eat with such a person.

Acceptance will cause you to function in your gift effectively:
1Samuel 18:5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

The world craves for acceptance. People will pretend to be important in order to gain acceptance. Christiand crave acceptance. Paul wrote the Corinthian church that he was labouring in order to be accepted of Jesus.

2Corinthians 5:9 Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

Paul wasn't putting the cart befre the horse.

Our works don't bring God's acceptance. If we have eaten of the spiritual meat and drunk of the spiritual drink we are accepted. Our acceptance by God in the beloved frees us to do acceptable things.

I am motivated by my acceptance in Christ.

Here are some tips to help you walk in acceptance.

1. Stop striving with people and Stop complaining about other people’s short coming; understand that you have a finite view of things; acknowledge right now that you don’t know what is best for yourself and much less others


2. Commit to bringing every part of yourself into your house of worship. Bring your complaints about other people’s shortcomings to the God of all flesh: and invite his transforming power to soak your being so that you might give acceptance to those around you. Perhaps you have lost faith. Maybe you are filled with rage, or disdain. It could be that there is an undercurrent of the desire for revenge. Don’t leave it at the door but come to God with it and seek His peace for it.


3. If there is a place where you don’t fit in then start accepting people


4. Behave yourself wisely as David did:
   1Samuel 18:5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

Amen!

Who Am I - Casting Crowns

Here I am To Worship

The Smell of Sin

Sin has a odor.

Individuals who have been involved in waring with spiritual powers involved in the principal of sexual immorality often report the smell of rotten eggs.

There is an odor to sin. There is an odor to righteousness.
Exodus 30 tells us that worship involved the use of anointing oil and incense made according to the art of a perfumer. There was to be a distinctive smell to right worship.

Ask God to help you become sensitive to the smell of sin and to exude the perfume of right worship. Amen