persistence

You know sometimes in life I think we give up to quickly, especially when it comes to prayer. Our culture has become so much about "I want what I want and I want it now" that if we don't get it "now" then we blame Abba and say "oh it must not have been in God's will".  This attitude has even infected our church services, you know you have 3 songs, announcements, a message that better not go over 20 minutes or you will half the congregation looking at their watches complaining that it went over again. The reactions we used to get from folks when they found out our church services would last 5 hours on average, were kind of funny. But once they came they understood why. I guess there were some things we figured out kind of by accident, we found that sometimes sitting around a living room with a snack and other Abba loving folks is a great form of ministry His love flows and stuff just happens, it's ok to stop and back up to make sure everyone is ok or to have a teaching moment, that when we are praying for people that we need to not let time interfere with what the Holy Spirit is doing and in that sometimes persistence is the key (Jesus tells us to ask and keep asking, seek and keep seeking) these things take time and commitment.
We need to maintain our focus keep our eyes on Him, let Him know we are serious about being the overcomer's  that He has called us to be. That doesn't happen when we have a drive-thru, microwave mentality. It takes persistence and pursuit of what Abba lays before us.
Luke 18:1-8 "ALSO [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not to turn coward (faint, lose heart, and give up). He said, In a certain city there was a judge who neither reverenced and feared God nor respected or considered man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and  saying, Protect and defend and give me justice against my adversary. And for a time he would not; but later he said to himself, Though I have neither reverence or fear for God nor respect  or consideration for man, Yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will defend  and protect and avenge her, lest  she give me intolerable annoyance and wear me out by her continual coming or at the last she come and rail on me or assault me or strangle me. Then the Lord said, Listen to what the unjust judge says! And will not [our just] God defend and protect and avenge His elect (His chosen ones), who cry to Him day and night? Will He defer them and delay help on their behalf? I tell you, He will defend and protect  and avenge them speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find [persistence in] faith on the earth?"

choosing who we trust

I think there are many that become wary or even afraid of the Holy Spirit, mostly because of gift abuse or sheep abuse, where people misuse the Holy Spirit for personal gain or use the gifts to manipulate and control others. However, when you look at the names that Jesus gave the Holy Spirit you don't see manipulator in the list what you do see is this; Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate,  Strengthener, Standby. Personally I welcome the Holy Spirit and everything that comes with Him, its not always easy and sometimes the things He leads you to do or deal are a little scary, but that is when trust and faith come in. We need to do what Jesus told us to do through the power of the Holy Spirit we can take control of our hearts and not let them be troubled or afraid. That is a choice we have to make and in doing so we can overcome fear and dispel manipulators.
John 14:26-27 "But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate,  Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]"

logical, courteous and respectful

Be logical, courteous and respectful... Wonder if Peter was a Star Trek fan or maybe Spock was a Peter fan. Just sayin'
1 Peter 3:14-16 "But even in case you should suffer for the sake of  righteousness, [you are] blessed (happy, to be envied). Do not dread or be afraid of their threats, nor be disturbed [by their opposition]. But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully. [And see to it that] your conscience is entirely clear (unimpaired), so that, when you are falsely accused as evildoers, those who threaten you abusively and revile your right behavior in Christ may come to be ashamed [of slandering your good lives]."

the basics

Many times in ministry situations you hear people say "I want to know what God's will is for my life." Frequently in trying to figure this out we spend so much time focusing on  the big thing He might want us to do that we miss the things that He wants us to do on a daily regular basis. His  will for us at the most basic level is love Him, love others as you love yourself and to be obedient to what He is telling you to do. If we do these three things we will be in His will for our lives. In the story of the Samaritan woman at the well this is demonstrated to us by Jesus. It says that Jesus needed or had to go through Samaria. In this time Samaria was completely avoided by the Jews they looked down on the Samaritans, they would walk around Samaria to get where they were going even if it were faster to go through. But Jesus NEEDED to go there, the Father put it on His heart to go where no one else was willing to love and minister to a woman and then a town. 
You see when you stick to the basics there really aren't any limitations to what you can achieve.
John 4:3-10 "He left Judea and departed again to Galilee. But He needed to go through Samaria. So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her,  “Give Me a drink.” For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered and said to her,  “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”"

attitude is everything

How many times do we hear that your attitude is everything?  I tend to agree with that and the thing about our attitudes is that we have the ability to have control over them. Uhoh I used the "c" word, so many people cringe at the word control, mostly because they confuse control with manipulation. But when control is used in a godly sense it is a good thing, especially when we talk about self-control. In fact the Bible says in Galatians 5 that self-control is fruit of The Holy Spirit. We also need to be open to and accepting of correction and guidance, especially when it comes from Abba Himself, but also when it comes from the godly folks in our lives that have the relationship and authority to bring it.  A litmus test on the source of this guidance or correction is this; is it given in love, and does it line up with God's word and things He has already been showing you? If it is brought with condemnation and manipulation it isn't from Abba. When Abba brings correction it brings life, growth and wisdom when we decide we are going to accept and obey what He brings to us.
Proverbs 15:28-33 "The mind of the [uncompromisingly] righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the [consistently] righteous (the upright, in right standing with Him). The light in the eyes [of him whose heart is joyful]  rejoices the hearts of others, and good news nourishes the bones. The ear that listens to the reproof [that leads to or gives] life will remain among the wise. He who refuses and ignores instruction and correction despises himself, but he who heeds reproof gets understanding. The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord brings instruction in Wisdom, and humility comes before honor."

mature insight from Peter

I would have to say that Peter definitely matured as he got older and took a place of leadership in the early church.  He was the guy that was so passionate he went from being praised for his prophetic insight to being reprimanded for sticking his foot in his mouth all in the same conversation. Believe me there are times I can really relate to him.  One thing that he does well is lay out guidelines for how we should live being a part of the body of Christ. We need  to be hospitable, care for and love one another, especially for other members of the body. The Bible says that we should be recognized by outsiders by our love for one another, how ya doing there? He also tells us that Abba has given us gifts and talents that are to be used to bless others. That we should speak as oracles of God, which means that we should be a prophetic voice into others lives calling out the things that are hidden there waiting for life to be spoken into them. And finally that we need to fully rely on Abba for our strength so that everything we do brings Him glory because He is the provider of it all. If we work and function in the gifts that He has given us so that we can receive the glory due to Him then we become no better than Satan who was cast out of heaven for doing just that. Don't get me wrong, it's good to receive compliments. We just can't do what we do forgetting them. On the flip side of that to be self effacing and say that you aren't worthy and it was just Jesus is false humility and a form of pride.
People will know who you are by what you do, how you love and the fruit you bear. What are you known for?
1 Peter 4:9-11 "Practice hospitality to one another (those of the household of faith). [Be hospitable, be a lover of strangers, with brotherly affection for the unknown guests, the foreigners, the poor, and all others who come your way who are of Christ’s body.] And [in each instance] do it ungrudgingly (cordially and graciously, without complaining but as representing Him). As each of you has received a gift (a particular spiritual talent, a gracious divine endowment), employ it for one another as [befits] good trustees of God’s many-sided grace [faithful stewards of the extremely diverse powers and gifts granted to Christians by unmerited favor]. Whoever speaks, [let him do it as one who utters] oracles of God; whoever renders service, [let him do it] as with the strength which God furnishes abundantly, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ (the Messiah). To Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever (through  endless ages). Amen (so be it)."

mopey or joyful?

You ever hear people who don't have a relationship with Jesus say things like: "why should I become a Christian? I don't see any difference in them than anyone else" or "if I decided to become a Christian I'll just have to follow a bunch of religious rules and be all mopey all the time, and i can't have any fun anymore." ?
These comments tend to irk me, not because of their statements but because the people that are Christians in their lives   haven't been setting a good example. We need to be showing them something different that is attractive not repelling them with religious stuff.
We need to be better about expressing the benefits of a deep relationship with Abba. He loves us, protects us, is interested in us and pays attention when we speak or are in need, He also gives us rest, peace and an incomprehedible joy. Don't you think that is what we should be showing the world instead of mopey religiousness?
Psalm 4 "ANSWER ME when I call, O God of my righteousness (uprightness, justice, and right standing with You)! You have freed me when I was hemmed in and enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me and hear my prayer. O you sons of men, how long will you turn my honor and glory into shame? How long will you love vanity and futility and seek after lies?  Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself [and given distinction to] him who is godly [the man of loving-kindness]. The Lord listens and heeds when I call to Him. Be angry [or stand in awe] and sin not; commune with your own hearts upon your beds and be silent (sorry for the things you say in your hearts).  Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! Offer just and right sacrifices; trust  (lean on and be confident) in the Lord. Many say, Oh, that we might see some good! Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord. You have put more joy and rejoicing in my heart than [they know] when their wheat and new wine have yielded abundantly. In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust."