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Easy Observation Tips

used-car-salesmanOBSERVATION IS A SKILL.

Studying God’s Word deeply is primarily….to SEEING what is there. I promise if you take one verse or ten and write down things you SEE…you will be changed. All of the sudden, the WORD is not just about YOU, but GOD!

I loved teaching a series on selected Psalms. (check it out here). Even now, I share these tips in almost every talk because someone taught me!  (2 Tim. 2:2) This changed the way I read the Bible–and consequently, my love for the Word! For fear of sounding too much like a car salesman, I share with you (I have funny friends!)…

“Tristie’s EASY OBSERVATION TIPS”

  1. How many verses are there in the text?
  2. How many times is God mentioned in this text?
  3. How many times in Jesus mentioned in this text?
  4. Who are the chief characters?
  5. What are the key words?
  6. What are the direct commands?
WANT MORE?
  • *For additional challenge:
  • Where have I seen this same thing ( This is what I call a “Timeless Principle” in the Old Testament! For example, some promises are exclusively for ISRAEL, but where on the New Testament do I see a parallelism? GREAT EXAMPLE- The Great Commandment in DEUTERONOMY and then Jesus repeats this in all Gospels!)
  • What are the verbs in this text?
  • Where is the author writing from?
  • What kind of book is this I am reading? For example, is this a “Prison Epistle” (like Philippians or Colossians) or a “Gospel” like Mark or John?
  • Enjoy digging the gems of blessing out of God’s Word!

I’m so excited for you to see the only written word on paper become what God intends it to be in your life-ALIVE! 

BLESSINGS!

Tristie

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Impact over Imprint

One of the gals I discipled, the amazing Jeni Dillingham, once shared with me that she wanted to have “impact on the world” not just “leave an imprint”. I love this phrase! It is so easy for us  in our Western culture to let our Christian jewelry, religious lingo, and church culture communicate our faith.   Why is our potential impact only an imprint? Because we fail to see the need our culture has-authentic love. As believers, we possess the deep love of Jesus. This love is a gift to hoard or to share. Can you imagine what would happen if every drive-thru attendant sensed the love of Christ through us? We are in an age where kindness can’t be assumed. As the world grows darker, people hearts become colder. The greatest ministry you may have can start by saying “THANK YOU” to those who serve you in the medical profession, in the educational arena and at the grocery store. They will say “Why are you so kind?” Then, you get to tell them about the God of Kindness-the Original Initiator. Lord, help us to have deep impact over soft imprint! We want to reflect You!   Tristie Fisher, 2015

In my time today looking at I Corinthians 13: 4-8….the magnitude of the verse impacted me. WHEN I LEAVE THE ROOM, DO THEY FEEl LOVED? The people who have influenced me the deepest are those led me in the context of love. WHEN I ENJOY SPIRITUAL VICTORY, THEY REJOICE WITH ME BECAUSE THEY LOVE ME. WHEN I STRUGGLE, THEY ENDURE & ENCOURAGE BECAUSE THEY LOVE ME. THEIR SURE LOVE EMPOWERS ME!

  • There are times when I am called to lead….my children, sometimes younger women. But, throughout my life every day I am always COMMANDED to love. I can embrace my call to love my spouse and children actively, to love my extended family fully, and to my friends faithfully. I demonstrate what I have been given by loving acquaintances boldly for His sake.

  • My prayer is that as I order my life, I start with asking myself compelling questions…

  • .Do the people I am connected with feel loved?Is there a deep compassion flowing in my heart for those I work with? Does my “daily” life demonstrate to those I encounter a caring Savior living through me?

  • If I say “maybe”, then I must sit at His feet and rearrange my heart. He delights to use this greatest gift….the MOST POWERFUL INFLUENCE OF LOVE in the lives of all people….including me.

  • Lastly, I am convinced the ministry for CHRIST in this world extends beyond our churches, families, and friends. ACTIVELY LOVE (BETTER WORD: INITIATE!) WITH THE GAL WORKING AT THE GROCERY STORE WITH A GREETING AND “HOW ARE YOU?”. INITIATE WITH THE SERVER AT THE RESTAURANT BY ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT HIM!  YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE THE “MINISTRY” I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE HAVE WITH THESE REFLECTIONS OF CHRIST TO THE WORLD. CHRISTIANS CARE ABOUT PEOPLE.

  • “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous, love does not brag, and is not arrogant, does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account wrong suffered. Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”Love never fails.”

Love to you in Him,

Tristie Fisher,  2008

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Game-Changer

IMG_1709Forgiveness is a game-changer in life. If (by the power of the Spirit) I learn to “speak” this language, my relationships will be blessed! Sadly, the opposite is true, too. If I do not actively exercise forgiveness, all relationships I have will be marked by pride & strife. I bet you are like me-we want good friendships, good marriages, and good relationships with our children.

Many of you know that we try to teach our kids to not say “I’m sorry”. Instead, we ask ” Will you forgive me?” Forgiveness is a TIMELESS issue and one that  can entangle us in sin-soaked vines or free us to breathe clean air! As you know, there are certain things that will ALWAYS be TRUE of our walk with God. This topic will BLESS you, FREE you, and CHALLENGE you…it is FORGIVENESS.

Perhaps one of the most powerful responses is the phrase of the little boy who was asked to describe FORGIVENESS. He said, “It is the SMELL that flowers make when they are stepped on.”You can be a sweet aroma of forgiveness.  HOW?

I. YOU ARE FORGIVEN IN CHRIST

Christ’s death is the basis of forgiveness of our sin. (Col. 1:13, 14, 2:13, 14) . You WERE forgiven..past, present, and future. How many of your sins were in the future? ALL OF THEM. What difference does it make to you to KNOW you are FORGIVEN? Ponder this. Ps. 103:12, Ps. 32:1-5 As you read, thank Him that you are CLEAN!


II. FORGIVE OTHERS THE SAME WAY

How did Christ forgive you? COMPLETELY. Not partially or occasionally. Your sins were atoned for…they were removed! You are FREE! I want (and NEED) to forgive others because of what I have been given. In addition, I need to forgive QUICKLY or it will become a snare of bitterness.  Look at Col. 3:13, Rom. 15:7 and Eph. 4:32.  We must learn to put the question “Will you forgive me? as a common part of our language as opposed to the occasional  (and only when things are really bad in a relationship!) mediocre “sorry”. Get ready! YOU WILL BE SHOCKED AT HOW ALL OF YOUR RELATIONSHIPS IMPROVE AS YOU BECOME A FAST FORGIVER!

III. IF WE DON’T

Bitterness and an “Everybody owes me!” attitude will become your life-long best friend. You will known as an angry person. You can push resentment down but it WILL NOT STAY DOWN. Deal with your disappointments and your feelings of “being offended” by the power of Christ. If you know it’s His Will (and apparently it is since it’s in  HIs Word!). He will give you the POWER! People are going to hurt you….what are you going to do?

IV. HOW WE CAN

Eze. 36:26 is a favorite verse that promises us ” a new heart”. Rom. 5:5 declares God wants to pour HIS LOVE through us! All I need to do is to KNOW my identity AS A FORGIVEN PERSON. ASK GOD TO HELP TO OBEY HIM AND MOVE FORWARD IN FORGIVENESS.

  • Can you imagine the FREEDOM God wants to give you?
  • Can you imagine the PEACE at those Thanksgiving and Christmas FAMILY Celebrations?
  • Can you imagine how YOU can change your work-place by being a FAST FORGIVER?
  • Can you imagine how your MARRIAGE can change by forgiving QUICKLY?
  • Can you imagine being the fast FORGIVER in a generationally BITTER family? You will change the FUTURE!

My prayer for all of us is that we don’t wait for the other person. It may never come. Besides that, You are RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU…not them. It takes courage, but you can be a history-changing follower of Jesus Christ .

May you enjoy the fresh air of forgiveness throughout  your life!

Tristie