Steve Simms's Blog, page 8

Beyond TV I Listen to and Watch Christ in Me

Daily writing promptWhat TV shows did you watch as a kid?View all responses

“The Sovereign Lord is my strength.” “Jesus is Lord!” You’ve noticed that I talk about Jesus a lot. Here’s why:

* I can’t stop talking about the things I have seen and heard Jesus do and speak. (Acts 4:20)
* Jesus told His followers to go into all the world and talk about His Good News. (Mark 16:15)
* God the Holy Spirit has come into me and given me power to witness and testify about Jesus. (Acts 1:8)
* Christ has set me free from so much bondage. (John 8:32)
* I am a new creature in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
* I’ve been born again. (John 3:5-8)
* Christ’s words burn in my heart. (Luke 24:32)
* Out of my innermost being flow rivers of living water. (John 7:37-39)
* Christ in me is the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27)
* Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
* I rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. (1 Peter 1:8)
* Jesus has given me supernatural inner peace. (Philippians 4:7)
* “If I say, ‘I will not mention His word or speak anymore in His name,’ His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.” (Jeremiah 20:29)

My Favorite Time of Day

Daily writing promptWhat’s your favorite time of day?View all responses

My favorite time of day is when the morning star welcomes the sunrise to enlighten, not just the sky, but also my heart. (2 Corinthians 4:6) Jesus is “the bright morning star” (Revelation 22:16) who welcomes me to experience and surrender to His presence because He is risen from the dead and living forever more.

Mornings are my favorite time of day because inspiring words flow as inner springs of hope and from joy deep within my heart. They wake me up to an ongoing awareness of Christ speaking and working within me. I love to listen to His voice and to post what I sense Him saying to me. These are words that came to me this morning:

Inner Springs of Hope

When things annoy
They’re a decoy
Distracting you
Away from joy.
Learn to deploy
Hope in your heart
So you can be
God’s envoy
And help people
To enjoy
Jesus’ presence.

The Simple Recipe of a Humble Open Heart

Daily writing promptWhat’s your favorite recipe?View all responses

Hard heartedness keeps people apart. It makes us suspicious of one another and causes self-protection and defensiveness to rise up inside of us. Hard heartedness keeps people in superficial relationships based on shallow triviality and away from the beautiful vitality of profound inner connection.

There is a simple recipe for moving beyond superficial relationships. Take the risk to humbly and honestly open your heart to people. Share your struggles, your pain, your hopes, your insights, your encouragement. Take off your masks and let people see inside of your heart. This is an incredible recipe although it is often frightening to implement it. To move beyond the fear, take a first step of opening your heart to God.

Get out of your head and into your heart. Daily notice and focus on what God is doing deep inside you.

Too much mental analysis of God produces the spiritual paralysis of merely scrutinizing the Bible without daily doing what it says to do. (James 1:22) God-lectures and God-experiences aren’t the same. Faith is more than hearing words. Let Jesus fill your life with God-experiences. Preaching that’s merely from the head without the heart burning with love for God, is dead. The proclamation of what God has said should never be dead, dull, or routine.

I have seen beyond religious routine. The scene I’ve seen is Jesus risen, alive, and working in and through ordinary people.

Worship is fire in the heart. It’s not merely a programmed religious gathering. “Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you.” (2 Timothy 1:6 NIV)

I don’t want to hear a lecture about Jack-In-The-Box. I want to see Jack jump out. I don’t want to just listen to another lecture about God. I want to see God the Holy Spirit pop out of the religious box and freely manifest His presence, power, and love in, though, and among His people. I don’t want to hear a talk about ice cream. I want to taste and experience ice cream and enjoy it with other people.

I love to hear God the Holy Spirit speak through ordinary people — jars of clay — (2 Corinthians 4:7) and to watch them when they humbly radiate His eloquence. I love it when everyday Christ-followers take off their religious masks and let me see God in them. (For a biblical key to today’s recipe, look up 1 Corinthians 14:26.)

When the sunrise gets too bright for my physical eyes, I realize that I don’t need to analyze it. I need to let my heart look beyond such a glorious natural scene and behold its Creator.

Sign up for God’s Frequent Smiler Program. Watch your smiles grow! (1 Peter 1:8)

[image error]Pexels.com" data-medium-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." data-large-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." src="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." alt="" class="wp-image-44341" />Photo by David McElwee on Pexels.com

The Last Thing I Got Excited About Was Astonishment

Daily writing promptTell us about the last thing you got excited about.View all responses

I woke up this morning with observations about astonishment dancing in my head. The more I paid attention to them, the more excited I became. After about an hour of lying in bed and listening to those incredible thoughts, I got up and wrote the following words. After posting them on Facebook and coming to WordPress, I saw today’s writer’s prompt. I am excited to share today’s amazement with my blog readers.

Learn To Be Flabbergasted! (Even By Little Things) Rediscover Your Lost Marvels

When we let explanations eliminate astonishment and we allow understanding to undermine amazement, we lose our sense of wonder and appreciation. That’s why illusionists don’t explain their tricks. They want their audience to walk away in awe, not to walk away from awe.

Explanations can tell us how the different aspects of the human body function, but they can’t make us treasure our existence. However, amazement and astoundment wake us up to significance, purpose, and calling. Marvelment matters. If you’ve lost your marvels search your heart until you rediscover the sensitivity of your childhood wonder years and it unleashes fountains of joy within you. Little by little cultivate the ability to receive, enjoy, and appreciate astonishment in the way that a little child does. (Luke 18:17)

[image error]Pexels.com" data-medium-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." data-large-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." src="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." alt="" class="wp-image-44332" />Photo by Esteban Arango on Pexels.com

A City of Joyous Hearts Celebrating Kindness

Daily writing promptHow would you design the city of the future?View all responses

I’m looking for a city built differently. Like an ancient man who left his home and family to follow an inner calling, I’m looking for a city whose designer, “builder and maker is God.” His name is Abraham. You can read about him in the Bible. (Hebrews 11:8-12 and many other verses.)

To experience that city in your daily life begin to vet your circumstances in a different way. Instead of analyzing them with your mind or running them through your emotions, consistently say: “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in God my Savior.” (Habakuk 3:18) Regardless of the details of your life situation, nevertheless, continually trust in, rely on, and enjoy the presence of the risen Jesus. If you listen to and obey Christ, He will lead you and empower you to begin to experience the kingdom of God — the inner city and government of God that causes your heart to continually celebrate His presence and glorious reality.

Who Says?

Simon says
Is a game.
Jesus says
Is the way
To true life.
Every day
Listen to
And obey
What Jesus
Has to say.
In your heart
Jesus says
“Follow Me.”
Jesus says
“Stay aware.
My sheep hear
My voice.”
Jesus says
Let Me be
Your Leader
All the way
Everyday.”

[image error]Pexels.com" data-medium-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." data-large-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." src="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." alt="" class="wp-image-44327" />Photo by imamraga on Pexels.com

I don’t believe the origin of my name is definitive of who I am.

Daily writing promptWhere did your name come from?View all responses

As I watched dozens of tree branches in my backyard being moved by the wind, I thought about how beautiful it would be if people would allow God the Holy Spirit to move their heart and continually lead them to take the action of obeying His inner promptings. (Romans 8:14) That would begin to bring about the joyful kingdom of God both within them and around them. The answers to life are blowing in the inner wind of God’s Spirit.

Always seeking first to be led by God the Holy Spirit (surrendering to the inner kingdom/government of God the Father) brings astonishing purpose, meaning, and fulfillment to life. It makes your life like a glass perfume jar. God’s peace radiates from your pain and brokenness and releases a sweet aroma that anoints others with an astute awareness of the beautiful presence and reality of the resurrected Jesus Christ — God the Son.

Notice and obey the inner promptings of God the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:14) It makes Him sad (Ephesians 4:30) when you ignore or resist Him. (1 Thessalonians 5:19) Consistently obeying the inner voice of God the Spirit (Revelation 3:20-22) — Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27) — will cause you to overflow with Spirit-produced righteousness, peace, and joy (Romans 14:17) and all the rest of the fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23) God the Father’s joyous and glorious kingdom will come within you when you begin to listen to His Spirit and to do His will on earth as it is in Heaven. (Matthew 6:10)

[image error]Pexels.com" data-medium-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." data-large-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." src="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." alt="" class="wp-image-44311" />Photo by Alexander Mass on Pexels.com

Reviving Crushed Motivation

Daily writing promptWhat motivates you?View all responses

When I am being broken and downtrodden, and my motivation is being crushed I am motivated by a guy named Habakuk and His deep reliance on and trust in the Lord. Habakuk said:

Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
(Habakuk 3:17-18)

Lord, Like the group of Moravians on the ship in the life-threatening storm in the mid-Atlantic, even when I feel broken and crushed, I will sing Your praises with great hope, trust, and joy so that my life may touch and help to transform someone the way those Moravians touched and helped transform John Wesley. Lord Jesus, Christ in me my hope of glory, empower me to be faithful to You and to this prayer.

[image error]Pexels.com" data-medium-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." data-large-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." src="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." alt="" class="wp-image-44305" />Photo by Stephen Leonardi on Pexels.com

Finding “Wows” Beyond Streaming Movies

Daily writing promptWhat are your top ten favorite movies?View all responses

Uttering words I struggled to mean (little by little) led me to seeing “wows” on the valley floor of my life even in the right now of my painfilled and broken moments. I was recently reminded that the world is full of many kinds of “wows” — tremendous or tiny things that are amazing. “Wows” are so common and familiar (like the grains of sand on the seashore) that it’s easy to overlook them especially when in pain.

Yesterday a friend told me that I say “wow” a lot. I wasn’t even consciously aware that I did, but when he pointed it out, I realized I do. As we talked about why that might be, I noticed what he was cooking in a skillet and said, “Wow! Purple cauliflower! Oops I did it again.”

Saying “wow” could just be a habit or it could be something more — a grateful response to something remarkable. Many years ago, a question came to my mind that I believe was from God: If you could have any personal characteristics that you want what would they be? I came up with 5 and put them together in a sentence: “I am peaceful, content, thankful, healthy, and extremely happy.” I began to repeat that sentence many times in my mind day and night for years. I still do it some, but not as often. I thought about that sentence after my friend’s observation.

Wow! I think it worked. I think that when I say “wow” I am rejoicing in the Lord in spite of my painful feelings and circumstances. I thank God that I now have enough inner peace and contentment to notice little things and be thankful and awed by them. I am healthy and have a hardy happiness that doesn’t depend on hopeful happenings. I’m glad I say “wow” a lot.

Smile awhile.
Even when
Life’s a trial
A true smile
Is worthwhile.

[image error]Pexels.com" data-medium-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." data-large-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." src="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." alt="" class="wp-image-44298" />Photo by Luca Sammarco on Pexels.com

I Love to Express My Calling

Daily writing promptWhat do you enjoy most about writing?View all responses

I love to express what I feel called to say. Writing helps me to open up my heart and do that.

I hope that what I write helps you in some way. I hope it makes you think, encourages you, or inspires you. If it challenges you or if you disagree, I hope you know that I respect your right to have a different point of view.

People need a positive purpose, a hope-filled vision, a passion to live for, a reason to get out of bed. Writing is how I articulate the mission that motivates me. Our causes may not match, but we can still show appreciation for one another as fellow human beings.

The beauty of nature moves me deeply. It helps me connect with my reason for living.

When I look
At a tree
What I see
Astounds me.
I feel peace
Within me.

Listening to God the Holy Spirit — who I believe to be “Christ in me,” — thrills me. It fills me with a burning desire to share what comes to my mind and heart.

God the Spirit
Has a voice.
You can hear it.
Gratitude, love,
Conscience, and faith
Are inner ears.
Be one who hears
Until inner
Healing appears.

Thank you for taking the time to read and consider my posts. I appreciate your respect for my right to write about what I believe. I strive to do it with kindness and to honor your right to agree or disagree.

[image error]Pexels.com" data-medium-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." data-large-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." src="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." alt="" class="wp-image-44293" />Photo by Mikhail Nilov on Pexels.com

I Love Living on Planet Earth

Daily writing promptWhat do you love about where you live?View all responses

There are so many things I love about living on planet earth. I love the beauty that surrounds me. I love the air that I breathe. I love the kindness of strangers and of friends and of strangers who become friends. I love the heartbeat that I see in the synergy and energy of the glorious plants and animals on planet earth–the heartbeat of God.

To keep
Your heart
Away
From God
Is to
Snub His
Heartbeat.
Pour out
Your heart
Before
The Lord.
Set your
Heart on
Jesus.

To live in the way of the Lord let God the Holy Spirit soften your heart. Let Him continually align your heart, mind, and life with what He has proclaimed in the Bible. Let Christ live in and be Lord and Master of your heart and overflow your life with “the hope of glory.”