IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY CHECK UP 2009 CHECK UP

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Ephesians 5:15-17 (NLT)

1. WE SHOULD REMEMBER OUR BIRTH

13You are the one who put me together inside my mother's body, 14and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me. Everything you do is marvelous! Of this I have no doubt.

Psalm 139:13-14 (CEV)

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 (NLT)

2. WE SHOULD REMEMBER OUR RE-BIRTH

On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!

38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” 39 (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him).

John 7:37-39 (NLT)

You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. 36 The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! 37 You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true.

John 4:35-37 (NLT)

3. WE SHOULD REMEMBER WHAT GOD HAS DONE IN OUR LIVES

We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 7 Then you can tell them, ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.” Joshua 4:6-7(NLT)

Search for the LORD and for his strength;

continually seek him. 5 Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given, you children of his servant Abraham, you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones. Psalm 105:4-6 (NLT)

4. WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT GOD IS STILL AT WORK IN OUR LIVES

So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.

2 Thessalonians 1:11 (NLT)

Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.

2 Corinthians 7:1 (NLT)

JESUS LOVES YOU

But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him

BEWARE OF EMOTIONAL UNFORGIVNESS 2009 CHECK UP– Part 2

27But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

Luke 6:27-28, 35 (NIV)

1. SHOW YOUR LOVE THROUGH ACTION

(Do something good for them)

20-21Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good. (NLT) Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

Romans 12:21 (TM)

2. FOLLOW JESUS WAY AND RECEIVE DOUBLE BLESSINGS EVERYTIME

Then Jesus said to all the people:

If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross each day and follow me.

Luke 9:23 (CEV)

35 “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.

Luke 6:35 (NLT)

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)

3. TRUST JESUS INSTRUCTIONS, NOT YOUR EMOTIONS

Your emotions are out of control, making you look fierce;

Job 15:12 (CEV)

During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Hebrews 5:7 (NIV)

A sound mind makes for a robust body,

but runaway emotions corrode the bones.

Proverbs 14:30 (TM)

JESUS LOVES YOU!

Jesus said: If you follow your selfish desires, you will harvest destruction, but if you follow the Spirit, you will harvest eternal life. Galatians 6:8 (CEV)

BEWARE OF SPIRITUAL SWINE FLU 2009 CHECK UP– Part 1

Instead, they grumbled in their tents and refused to obey the LORD. Psalm 106:25 (NLT)

Friends, don't complain about each other. A far greater complaint could be lodged against you, you know. The Judge is standing just around the corner. James 5:9 (TM)

1. A COMPLAINING SPIRIT SHOWS YOU ARE UNGRATEFUL FOR GOD’S BLESSINGS

And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death. 11 These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.

12 If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.

13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

1 Corinthians 10:10-13 (NLT)

31 The Israelites called the food manna. It was white like coriander seed, and it tasted like honey wafers.

Exodus 16:31 (NLT)

2. THE ANTIDOTE FOR COMPLAINING IS THANKFULNESS, BECAUSE IT GIVES YOU A POSITIVE ATTITUDE ANCHORED IN JESUS

Jesus told them: Stop grumbling! John 6:42 (CEV)

Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Philippians 2:14-15 (NLT)

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 5:18 (NLT)

I am disgusted with my life.

Let me complain freely.

My bitter soul must complain. Job 10:1 (NLT)

Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Philippians 2:14 (NLT)

3. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMPLAINING AND CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK

Better to be criticized by a wise person than to be praised by a fool. Ecclesiastes 7:5 (NLT)

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. Matthew 7:5 (NLT)

JESUS LOVES YOU

Jesus said: It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.” Matthew 15:11 (NLT)