Joshua 7 Read This Chapter
7:21
For I saw a beautiful robe imported from Babylon, F19 two hundred silver coins, F20 and a bar of gold weighing more than a pound. F21 I wanted them so much that I took them. They are hidden in the ground beneath my tent, with the silver buried deeper than the rest."

Psalms 119 Read This Chapter
119:36
Give me an eagerness for your decrees; do not inflict me with love for money!
119:37
Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word. F96

Ecclesiastes 5 Read This Chapter
5:10
Those who love money will never have enough. How absurd to think that wealth brings true happiness!
5:11
The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what is the advantage of wealth – except perhaps to watch it run through your fingers!


Matthew 4 Read This Chapter
4:8
Next the Devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him the nations of the world and all their glory.

Luke 4 Read This Chapter
4:5
Then the Devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
Genesis 3 Read This Chapter
3:6
The woman was convinced. The fruit looked so fresh and delicious, and it would make her so wise! So she ate some of the fruit. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her. Then he ate it, too.


2 Peter 2 Read This Chapter
2:10
He is especially hard on those who follow their own evil, lustful desires and who despise authority. These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at the glorious ones F10 without so much as trembling.


1 Peter 4 Read This Chapter
4:2
And you won't spend the rest of your life chasing after evil desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.
4:3
You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy – their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.


1 Peter 2 Read This Chapter
2:11
Dear brothers and sisters, you are foreigners and aliens here. So I warn you to keep away from evil desires because they fight against your very souls.


Titus 2 Read This Chapter
2:12
And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with self-control, right conduct, and devotion to God,
Galatians 5 Read This Chapter
5:17
The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict.
5:24
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.

The New Living Translation Read This Chapter
10:6
These events happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did

Romans 13 Read This Chapter
13:14
But let the Lord Jesus Christ take control of you, and don't think of ways to indulge your evil desires.

Numbers 11 Read This Chapter
11:4
Then the foreign rabble who were traveling with the Israelites began to crave the good things of Egypt, and the people of Israel also began to complain. "Oh, for some meat!" they exclaimed.
11:34
So that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah – "the graves of craving" – because they buried the people there who had craved meat from Egypt.



15. Love not the world--that lieth in the wicked one (1 John 5:19), whom ye young men have overcome. Having once for all, through faith, overcome the world (1 John 4:4, 5:4), carry forward the conquest by not loving it. "The world" here means "man, and man's world" [ALFORD], in his and its state as fallen from God. "God loved [with the love of compassion] the world," and we should feel the same kind of love for the fallen world; but we are not to love the world with congeniality and sympathy in its alienation from God; we cannot have this latter kind of love for the God-estranged world, and yet have also "the love of the Father in" us. neither--Greek, "nor yet." A man might deny in general that he loved the world, while keenly following some one of THE THINGS IN IT: its riches, honors, or pleasures; this clause prevents him escaping from conviction. any man--therefore the warning, though primarily addressed to the young, applies to all. love of--that is, towards "the Father." The two, God and the (sinful) world, are so opposed, that both cannot be congenially loved at once.
16. all that is in the world--can be classed under one or other of the three; the world contains these and no more. lust of the flesh--that is, the lust which has its seat and source in our lower animal nature. Satan tried this temptation the first on Christ: Luke 4:3, "Command this stone that it be made bread." Youth is especially liable to fleshly lusts. lust of the eyes--the avenue through which outward things of the world, riches, pomp, and beauty, inflame us. Satan tried this temptation on Christ when he showed Him the kingdoms of the world in a moment. By the lust of the eyes David (2 Samuel 11:2) and Achan fell (Joshua 7:21). Compare David's prayer, Psalms 119:37; Job's resolve, Psalms 31:1, Matthew 5:28. The only good of worldly riches to the possessor is the beholding them with the eyes. Compare Luke 14:18, "I must go and SEE it." pride of life--literally, "arrogant assumption": vainglorious display. Pride was Satan's sin whereby he fell and forms the link between the two foes of man, the world (answering to "the lust of the eyes") and the devil (as "the lust of the flesh" is the third foe). Satan tried this temptation on Christ in setting Him on the temple pinnacle that, in spiritual pride and presumption, on the ground of His Father's care, He should cast Himself down. The same three foes appear in the three classes of soil on which the divine seed falls: the wayside hearers, the devil; the thorns, the world; the rocky undersoil, the flesh (Matthew 13:18-23, 4:3-8). The world's awful antitrinity, the "lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life," similarly is presented in Satan's temptation of Eve: "When she saw that the tree was good for food, pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise," Genesis 3:6 (one manifestation of "the pride of life," the desire to know above what God has revealed, Colossians 2:8, the pride of unsanctified knowledge). of--does not spring from "the Father" (used in relation to the preceding "little children," 1 John 2:12, or "little sons"). He who is born of God alone turns to God; he who is of the world turns to the world; the sources of love to God and love to the world, are irreconcilably distinct.
17. the world--with all who are of the world worldly. passeth away--Greek, "is passing away" even now. the lust thereof--in its threefold manifestation (1 John 2:16). he that doeth the will of God--not his own fleshly will, or the will of the world, but that of God (1 John 2:3,6), especially in respect to love. abideth for ever--"even as God also abideth for ever" (with whom the godly is one; compare Psalms 55:19, "God, even He that abideth of old): a true comment, which CYPRIAN and LUCIFER have added to the text without support of Greek manuscripts. In contrast to the three passing lusts of the world, the doer of God's will has three abiding goods, "riches, honor, and life" (Proverbs 22:4).

The flame of passion - Set apart or consumed?

Every day we offer our lives on the altar of God. The altar is the place of sacrafice, the place where we offer up our works to him from earth and he recieves or rejects them. Throughout the old testament the altar was the place of communication between God and man. It has always been a place of sacrafice, a place we we offer up a sacrafice to God. Abraham offered sacrafices of animals and fire, David offered sacrafices of rams, Jesus was the ultimate sacrafice, offering his life to God. What is your sacrifice? What is your life bringing to God on the altar? What fire, or passion, is burning within you as you live your life as a daily offering? Is it an offering that is pure and pleasing to the Lord? Or is it a stench in his nostrils? An insult to all he has given you?


Genesis 4 Read This Chapter
4:4
while Abel brought several choice lambs from the best of his flock. The LORD accepted Abel and his offering,


Hebrews 11 Read This Chapter
11:4
It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. God accepted Abel's offering to show that he was a righteous man. And although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us because of his faith.

Greek renders this word as thusiasterion [qusiasthvrion], "a place of sacrifice."

As disciples of Christ it is our duty to ensure that the passions and flames burning within us offer up a pleasing incense to heaven. It is our duty to ensure that we keep ourselves "unmixed" and "free" from that which would take away from his call and purpose for our lives. On that day the Word says (insert verse) we will have to give an account for all that we have done and it will be tried by fire. I want to live my life in a way that I will arrive with the precious good works in hand, ready to receive my reward. I don't want to to be left wanting, having produced wood, hay, and stubble - things that are of little value. Things that will be burned in the fire.

The flame of passion - Set apart or consumed?

Life is full of many things, but when you boil it down to it's essential core your are left with a very few deep seated, human desires and passions. Paul wrote to Timothy in his second letter, Chapter 2 verse 20 (NLT):

In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use.

Notice the distinction between common every day things and things that are meaningful in your life, the events that count for something. I'm referring to the gold and silver in your life, the gifts and callings of God on your life. These are the purposes you were brought to this earth for, the mission you were designed to accomplish.

Paul continues to Timothy in verse 21:

If you keep yourself pure, you will be a utensil God can use for his purpose. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.

In order to find that gold and silver within, that "good work" which could be your next job promotion, a new ministry opportunity, a greater increase in your personal walk with God, whatever this "good work" may be, we must be pure. This is the condition God lays out in his Word. To be pure is to be "unmixed with any other matter", to be free from that which weakens and pollutes. It is to be free from things that do not properly belong.

As disciples of Christ it is our duty to ensure that the passions and flames burning within us offer up a pleasing incense to heaven. It is our duty to ensure that we keep ourselves "unmixed" and "free" from that which would take away from his call and purpose for our lives. On that day the Word says (insert verse) we will have to give an account for all that we have done and it will be tried by fire. I want to live my life in a way that I will arrive with the precious good works in hand, ready to receive my reward. I don't want to to be left wanting, having produced wood, hay, and stubble - things that are of little value. Things that will be burned in the fire.

Every day we offer our lives on the altar of God. The altar is the place of sacrafice, the place where we offer up our works to him from earth and he recieves or rejects them. Throughout the old testament the altar was the place of communication between God and man. It has always been a place of sacrafice, a place we we offer up a sacrafice to God. Abraham offered sacrafices of animals and fire, David offered sacrafices of rams, Jesus was the ultimate sacrafice, offering his life to God. What is your sacrifice? What is your life bringing to God on the altar? What fire, or passion, is burning within you as you live your life as a daily offering? Is it an offering that is pure and pleasing to the Lord? Or is it a stench in his nostrils? An insult to all he has given you?

The Crisis: Following the lusts and passions of the flesh results in a shameful life trapped behind the prison bars of sin, with a great longing to be free and never fulfulling the call of God on your life.

sacrafice, altar, passion, fire

Title:
Misdirected Passions - Aflame with all the wrong things
Burning with Passion - What drives you?
Passion - What is burning inside of you?
Passion - What consumes you?
The flame of passion - set apart or consumed
Passion - An all consuming flame


The Solution:

• Old Man vs. New Man
  Awareness - Knowledge is Power (I understand therefore I can overcome)
• Renewed Passions & Desires by the Holy Spirit
• Willpower (it is a constant fight, I beat my body daily)Mindpower

Romans 8:5-??

Proverbs 26:20
Without wood, fire goes out;

Leviticus 6 Read This Chapter
6:13
Fire must be kept burning on the altar continually; it must not go out.


Acts 2 Read This Chapter
2:3
And tongues, like flames of fire that were divided, appeared to them and rested on each one of them.

Fire for a sacred purpose obtained otherwise than from the altar was called "strange fire" (Leviticus 10:1,2; Numbers 3:4).
Isaiah 4 Read This Chapter

Fire for sacred purposes obtained elsewhere than from the altar was called "strange fire," and for the use of such Nadab and Abihu were punished with death by fire from God. (Leviticus 10:1,2; Numbers 3:4; 26:61)
4:4
when the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodguilt from the heart of Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of burning.

Proverbs 30 Read This Chapter
30:16
Sheol; a barren womb; earth, which is never satisfied with water;and fire, which never says, ";Enough!";

Evil desire Genesis 3:6; Exodus 20:17; Job 31:9-12; Psalms 81:12; Proverbs 6:24,25; Matthew 5:28; Mark 4:19; John 8:44; 1 Corinthians 9:27; 10:6,7; Ephesians 4:22; 1 Timothy 6:9; 2 Timothy 2:22; 4:3,4; Titus 2:12; James 1:14,15; 4:1-3; 1 Peter 2:11; 4:3; 2 Peter 2:18; 3:3; 1 John 2:16,17; Jude 1:16,18

Joh 2:17 - Show Context
Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: "Passion for God's house burns within me."

1Co 7:37 - Show Context
But if he has decided firmly not to marry and there is no urgency and he can control his passion, he does well not to marry.
1Th 4:5 - Show Context
not in lustful passion as the pagans do, in their ignorance of God and his ways.

Ro 1:27 - Show Context
And the men, instead of having normal sexual relationships with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men and, as a result, suffered within themselves the penalty they so richly deserved.

1Co 7:9 - Show Context
But if they can't control themselves, they should go ahead and marry. It's better to marry than to burn with lust.

Eph 4:22 - Show Context
throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception

Col 3:5 - Show Context
So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. Don't be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry.

2Ti 2:22 - Show Context
Run from anything that stimulates youthful lust. Follow anything that makes you want to do right. Pursue faith and love and peace, and enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.
1Pe 4:3 - Show Context
You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy – their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.
2Pe 2:14 - Show Context
They commit adultery with their eyes, and their lust is never satisfied. They make a game of luring unstable people into sin. They train themselves to be greedy; they are doomed and cursed.
1Jo 2:16 - Show Context
For the world offers only the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and pride in our possessions. These are not from the Father. They are from this evil world.

Ec 7:26 - Show Context
I discovered that a seductive woman is more bitter than death. Her passion is a trap, and her soft hands will bind you. Those who please God will escape from her, but sinners will be caught in her snare.

Work Week

Strong Goals for this Week:

- Desire to Bring Accountability and Focus to Work

The new employees brought on to JEA.com and the RAPID initiatives in combination with my Six Sigma have forced me to revalidate the need for a solid foundation. This foundation is undergirded by a strong understanding of the basics of the business:

Support, Maintenance, Outage, Enhancement, Imp/Upgrade

Then understanding the impact of these processes on the business.

Finally, following up by rigorous data collection and reporting.

The end in mind for these results:

(1) Personal Accountibility
(2) Group Accountibility
(3) Customer Feedback