THE APARTMENT MANAGER

“The following conversation was overheard when two friends reunited after several years.  “I heard you sold your apartment building so where are you living now?  It must be nice to be away from the difficult woman on the third floor.”

“Oh, Ms. Know-it-all?  She’s still there as she has tenure so won’t be gone until the building is no more. I’m still living on the ground floor but the new owner brought in his resident trainer to live on the second floor and he’s teaching me how to manage the building using the Apartment Managers Handbook so I can deal with her better. It was slow at first because I was new at it, but you know, she can’t help her attitude; it’s her nature. I’m learning to discern between her voice and His. You know what?  I’m tired of talking, let’s go shopping!”

As they left , I was envisioning that scenario, and it occurred to me:  I’m that building!  I am body, soul, and spirit!  When I was constructed at birth my body and soul were born but my spirit wasn’t alive until I accepted the new Owner’s offer to purchase me.  I've had been living on the ground floor with Ms. Flesh on the third floor and the second room on the second floor was empty.   Her voice of criticism, fearfulness, and doubt, is the heaviest weapon she wields to discourage and terrorizes me.  

When I accepted the price Jesus paid for me.  He moved in the Holy Spirit, who faithfully reminds me to study the Bible with Him and that I have to take responsibility of making the right choices in listening to the voices!  It’s an ongoing struggle but His weapons have, and still do, supersede hers, and Satan.  I am the manager, the one who is in charge, based on grounding in His word, the Bible, the apartment manager’s manual.  I am the apartment manager; I have to take responsibility.   

I also meet with other managers who want to be the best they can be for the new Owner, and we help newborn managers learn be the best apartment managers they can be. There are many of us out there, and we love to encourage!”

 Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, 

who is in you, whom you have from God, that you are not your own?   

For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify 

God in your body.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 

Paul encourages: 

”Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.  

For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh 

so that you may not do the things that you please.”    

(22- 25)

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,

 kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, 

against such things there is no law.”

Galations 5:16 

“Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might, put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  For our struggle isn’t against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 

Ephesians 6:10-18  

Written by
Sandy Schott

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RAVE REVIEWS...

February Writing

I suppose we are all familiar with Internet reviews on products and services. I am grateful myself for these performance appraisals. Because of online recommendations by various customers I have been successful in finding competent appliance repair people, talented hairdressers, and excellent restaurants.

While thinking about this modern day phenomenon of Internet assessments, the Lord reminded me that we can offer other people reviews concerning Himself and His Kingdom. When led by the Holy Spirit, we can tell friends, neighbors, family members and co-workers what a difference Jesus has made in our lives. I heard a preacher on television the other night say that no one can argue with our testimony. We don't need to cajole or try to convince people to come to Christ. However, when we give a glowing review of how the Lord has miraculously intervened in our circumstances or even how He has given us peace and joy in the midst of adverse situations, we are planting the seeds of salvation in the hearts of others.

In my morning devotional times recently, I have been praying against the crime and wickedness in our land today. God has impressed me that the only real answer to this dilemma is for people to hear the gospel, be saved, to learn the ways of God and repent of wrongdoing.

I pray that the Lord give me the boldness to share the Good News of His love with those around me who need a touch from heaven.

 “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.

Always be prepared to give an answer 

to everyone who asks you 

to give the reason for the hope that you have. 

But do this with gentleness and respect.”

I Peter 3:15 

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; 

and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, 

and in all Judea and Samaria,

 and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:8 

 “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; 

and he that wins souls is wise.”

Proverbs 11:30

By Cathy Friberg