Sorry I bumped the send without finishing the final sentence.

Today, for a calm and undisturbed mind ask the Lord to show you if there is something He has directed you to do that you haven't or are not doing.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood, Sr.

Wednesday A Calm and Undisturbed Mind

(AMP) Proverbs 14:30
A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones.

Monday we spoke about turning our thoughts to our Heavenly Father.
Tuesday we spoke about how the Word of God is a comfort.

There is no doubt the Word brings comfort, but just reading it not enough.
(NLT) Luke 6:47-49
I will show you what it's like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. [48] It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. [49] But anyone who hears and doesn't obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins."

I had a professor in college that would pray for us before a test. I didn't like the way he prayed. "Dear Lord," he would say, "help these students remember what they've studied." I needed a miracle, not practicality. God gives us directions to follow and promises, if we follow them, He will carry us through whatever storms of life come our way. Though it is true that none of us can follow them completely, Jesus did say, if you love me keep my commandments. So, to ignore them is impractical at best and disobedient at worst.

Today, for a calm and undisturbed mind ask the Lord if.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood, Sr.

Tuesday A Calm and Undisturbed Mind

(AMP) Proverbs 14:30
A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones.

Yesterday I encouraged you to think on God. Another step toward a calm and undisturbed mind is to praise Him, specifically for the Word of God.

(AMP) Psalm 119:164-165
Seven times a day and all day long do I praise You because of Your righteous decrees. [165] Great peace have they who love Your law; nothing shall offend them or make them stumble.

The NLT states it this way: (NLT) Psalm 119:164-165
I will praise you seven times a day because all your regulations are just. [165] Those who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble.

Do you love God's instructions? Do you love the Bible? Have you spent time in it today, this week, this month? Are you obeying it's instructions? These questions are not here to make feel guilty. They are here to tell you, if you are of a disturbed mindset, perhaps it is because you have been too long away from the source of peace. The Word of God is there for you like a blanket kicked to the foot of the bed on a cold winter night. All you have to do is reach for it and draw it up around you. Immerse yourself in God's word and find that calm undisturbed mind.

Today fall in love with the Word of God. Make an appointment with your Heavenly Father every day. Meet Him at His Word. Find His peace in it's comfort.  

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr

A Calm and Undisturbed Mind

(AMP) Proverbs 14:30
A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones.

This week we will look at some passages that give us direction to a calm and undisturbed mind.
(NLT) Isaiah 26:3-4
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! [4] Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.
The Amplified Bible puts it like this. (AMP) Isaiah 26:3-4
You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind both its inclination and its character is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. [4] So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock the Rock of Ages.

Today, keep taking your thoughts back to your wonderful Creator. Give Him thanks. Hope in Him and His goodness. Trust that at the right time, in the right way He will break into your situation with the perfect solution.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr

A Prayer For Us By Us

(NKJV) Matthew 6:9-13
In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. [10] Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. [11] Give us this day our daily bread. [12] And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. [13] And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Yesterday we spoke about the importance of being on guard at all times. another tool to help with that is this model prayer our Lord Jesus Christ gave us.

Today pray the model prayer. Note that you are praying for "us", that is all believers. Don't rush through it. Stop and savor (meditate on) each line. Think about them and ask the Father to help you get the deepest meaning from each. 

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr.

Be On Guard

(NLT) 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. [14] And do everything with love.

Spiritually there is never a time to let down our guard. (NLT) 1 Peter 5:8
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

Here are some ways we let our guard down.
1. By allowing ourselves to view television programs, movies, internet sites, and reading material we wouldn't view if Christ were in the room.
2. By getting drawn in to idle talk such as gossip or course jokes.
3. By not having a plan of action during down times. Remember the old saying, "Idle hands are the devil's workshop."

Plan to stay on guard
1. Have a list of things to do when you have down time. If your married your spouse can help you with this honey do list.
2. Have some good books or audio books on hand for those times when you can't work on the honey do list.

Another old saying that comes to mind is, "If you aim at nothing you'll hit it."

Today, make a plan for staying on guard.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr.

Fishers of Men

Fishers of men

(NLT) Matthew 4:19
Jesus called out to them, "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!"

I enjoy fishing, but I'm not crazy about cleaning the catch. That's the beauty of fishing for people. It's the Holy Spirits job to clean them. We are to encourage them and to teach them but He has to move in their hearts or they won't move in His direction.

The Great Banquet Community has a saying, "Talk to God about your friend before you talk to your friend about God."  Jesus said, (NLT) John 15:5
"Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing."

Today, these thoughts may seem a little random. However, I encourage you to talk to your best friend, Jesus, about going fishing for some others. Then listen to the Holy Spirit as He guides you, but go fishing.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr.