Isaiah 46:3b I created you & have cared for you since before you were born.
vs 4 I will be your God throughout your lifetime - until your hair is white with age.
I made you & I will care for you.
I will carry you along & save you.
2 Corinthians 4:1 Since God in His mercy has given up this wonderful ministry, we never give up.
vs 2 We reject all shameful & underhanded methods.
We do not try to trick anyone,
& we do not distort the word of God.
We tell the truth before God, & all who are honest know that.
vs 7 This precious treasure - this light & power that now shine in us - is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies.
So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God & is not our own.
vs 8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed & broken.
We are perplexed, but we don't give up & quit.
vs 9 We are hunted down, but God never abandons us.
We get knocked down, but we get up again & keep going.
vs 10 Through suffering, these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.
vs 16 That is why we never give up.
Though our bodies are dying,our spirits are being renewed every day.
17 For our present troubles are quite small & won't last very long.
Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever!
vs 18 So we don't look at the troubles we can see right now;
rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen.
For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
excuse Me!
In a day when many address God as "Daddy", I think we've forgotten Who it is we're hooked up with here.
Yes, Jesus said we could call Him "Abba".
Yes, something like 129 times in the New Testament He's referred to as "Father".
And yes, there is every indication that this Person wants, desires,& created us for intimate relationship with Him.
But let's not forget Who it is we're in relationship with here.
Isaiah 45
9 "What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator.
Does a clay pot argue with its maker?
Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying,
'Stop, you're doing it wrong!'
Does the pot exclaim,
'How clumsy can you be?'
10 How terrible it would be if a newborn baby said to its father,
'Why was I born?'
or if it said to its mother,
'Why did you make me this way?'"
11 This is what the LORD says - the Holy One of Israel and your Creator:
"Do you question what I do for my children?
Do you give me orders about the work of my hands?
12 I am the one who made the earth
and created people to live on it.
With my hands I stretched out the heavens.
All the stars are at my command.
Just a thought...
Yes, Jesus said we could call Him "Abba".
Yes, something like 129 times in the New Testament He's referred to as "Father".
And yes, there is every indication that this Person wants, desires,& created us for intimate relationship with Him.
But let's not forget Who it is we're in relationship with here.
Isaiah 45
9 "What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator.
Does a clay pot argue with its maker?
Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying,
'Stop, you're doing it wrong!'
Does the pot exclaim,
'How clumsy can you be?'
10 How terrible it would be if a newborn baby said to its father,
'Why was I born?'
or if it said to its mother,
'Why did you make me this way?'"
11 This is what the LORD says - the Holy One of Israel and your Creator:
"Do you question what I do for my children?
Do you give me orders about the work of my hands?
12 I am the one who made the earth
and created people to live on it.
With my hands I stretched out the heavens.
All the stars are at my command.
Just a thought...
Thursday, March 29, 2012
yes
1 Corinthians 1:19c Jesus is the divine Yes - God's affirmation.
20a For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Him.
21 It is God who gives us, along with you, the ability to stand firm for Christ.
We live in such a negative world.
The news on TV, online,& in print is always negative.
There's abuse, hate, greed, deceit, death, depression, addiction, disease.
Wars, conflict, famine, despair are everyday life of so many people on this planet.
But Paul says Jesus is the divine Yes.
Because of Him, there is a way out of all of this in a simple relationship with Him.
And even though those things I just listed don't go away when we give ourselves in a relationship with Him, He gives us the strength & power to walk through them & in some instances the strength & power to change them.
20a For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Him.
21 It is God who gives us, along with you, the ability to stand firm for Christ.
We live in such a negative world.
The news on TV, online,& in print is always negative.
There's abuse, hate, greed, deceit, death, depression, addiction, disease.
Wars, conflict, famine, despair are everyday life of so many people on this planet.
But Paul says Jesus is the divine Yes.
Because of Him, there is a way out of all of this in a simple relationship with Him.
And even though those things I just listed don't go away when we give ourselves in a relationship with Him, He gives us the strength & power to walk through them & in some instances the strength & power to change them.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
words
The last couple of days have been kinda tough. Here's what He gave me this morning...
Isaiah 43:1 But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
2 When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
3 For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom;
I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
4 Others were given in exchange for you.
I traded their lives for yours
because you are precious to me.
You are honored, and I love you.
5 "Do not be afraid, for I am with you.
(still in Isaiah 43, in the verses preceding this,God talks about what He did to the countries who tried to attack Israel - then He said...)
18 "But forget all that—
it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
19 For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
Psalm 44:3 They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strength that gave the victory. It was by Your mighty power that they succeeded; it was because You favored them & smiled on them.
Isaiah 43:1 But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
2 When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
3 For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom;
I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
4 Others were given in exchange for you.
I traded their lives for yours
because you are precious to me.
You are honored, and I love you.
5 "Do not be afraid, for I am with you.
(still in Isaiah 43, in the verses preceding this,God talks about what He did to the countries who tried to attack Israel - then He said...)
18 "But forget all that—
it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
19 For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
Psalm 44:3 They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strength that gave the victory. It was by Your mighty power that they succeeded; it was because You favored them & smiled on them.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
closing remarks
Be on guard.
Stand true to what you believe.
Be courageous.
Be strong.
And everything you do must be done with love.
1 Corinthians 16:13 & 14
This is what Paul said at the end of his first letter to the church in Corinth. It's kinda those closing remarks you make at the end of a letter - remarks that kind of wrap things up - remarks that are little bullets of important stuff we want people to remember, or words of encouragement.
If we believe that the Bible is God's Word, then we believe that these weren't just things that were true for the church in Corinth - it's true for us today.
Stand true to what you believe.
Be courageous.
Be strong.
And everything you do must be done with love.
1 Corinthians 16:13 & 14
This is what Paul said at the end of his first letter to the church in Corinth. It's kinda those closing remarks you make at the end of a letter - remarks that kind of wrap things up - remarks that are little bullets of important stuff we want people to remember, or words of encouragement.
If we believe that the Bible is God's Word, then we believe that these weren't just things that were true for the church in Corinth - it's true for us today.
Monday, March 26, 2012
holding on
These 2 verses gave me these 2 verses in April, 2010. They are one of 5 passages He gave me to carry in my heart through this season in Blairsville.
Isaiah 41:9b For I have chosen you & will not throw you away.
10 Don't be afraid,
for I am with you.
Don't be dismayed,
for I am your God.
I will strengthen you.
I will help you.
I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.
And this verse came up off the page this morning...
1 Corinthians 15:58 be string & steady,
always enthusiastic about the Lord's work,
for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
I know these verses are to service as reminds to me.
How about for you?
Isaiah 41:9b For I have chosen you & will not throw you away.
10 Don't be afraid,
for I am with you.
Don't be dismayed,
for I am your God.
I will strengthen you.
I will help you.
I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.
And this verse came up off the page this morning...
1 Corinthians 15:58 be string & steady,
always enthusiastic about the Lord's work,
for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
I know these verses are to service as reminds to me.
How about for you?
Sunday, March 25, 2012
who's in the waiting room
Isaiah 40:31
Those who wait on the Lord will find new strength.
They will fly high on wings like eagles.
They will run & not grow weary.
They will walk & not faint.
I can't tell you how many times this verse has been quoted glibly to be me in the last 19 months.
It's been interesting to note that those who are quickest to quote this verse are usually people who have never been in God's waiting room. ;-)
Being that as it may, what's the crux of this verse?
I don't think it's about the things we're promised...
new strength,
flying high,
running & not tiring,
walking & being overcome by it.
I think the most important thing to remember is that God promises that He's there in the waiting with us, giving us freely what we need to make it through.
Boy, howdy! did I need to hear that this morning.
Maybe you too?
Those who wait on the Lord will find new strength.
They will fly high on wings like eagles.
They will run & not grow weary.
They will walk & not faint.
I can't tell you how many times this verse has been quoted glibly to be me in the last 19 months.
It's been interesting to note that those who are quickest to quote this verse are usually people who have never been in God's waiting room. ;-)
Being that as it may, what's the crux of this verse?
I don't think it's about the things we're promised...
new strength,
flying high,
running & not tiring,
walking & being overcome by it.
I think the most important thing to remember is that God promises that He's there in the waiting with us, giving us freely what we need to make it through.
Boy, howdy! did I need to hear that this morning.
Maybe you too?
Saturday, March 24, 2012
God speaking
Here's some verses that came up off the page today as I read Psalm 40.
It's so interesting to me what I was thinking as I got up this morning, & what I wrote in my journal, & then read this specific psalm this morning.
People tell me often they think reading the Bible is kinda dead & boring. I wonder if they ever read it, & if they ever read it consistently for a short while. I think if they did they would find God speaking to them A LOT - a lot more they would want Him to, & in areas of their lives they'd just as soon not come under the bright light of His attention.
At least that's the way it's been for me these last 9 years.
Psalm 40
1 I waited patiently for the LORD to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
3 He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the LORD.
4 Oh, the joys of those who trust the LORD,
who have no confidence in the proud
or in those who worship idols.
5 O LORD my God, you have performed many wonders for us.
Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
You have no equal.
If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,
I would never come to the end of them.
6 You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.
Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand*—
you don't require burnt offerings or sin offerings.
8 I take joy in doing your will, my God,
for your instructions are written on my heart."
9 I have told all your people about your justice.
I have not been afraid to speak out,
as you, O LORD, well know.
10 I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart;
I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power.
I have told everyone in the great assembly
of your unfailing love and faithfulness.
11 LORD, don't hold back your tender mercies from me.
Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me.
12 For troubles surround me—
too many to count!
My sins pile up so high
I can't see my way out.
They outnumber the hairs on my head.
I have lost all courage.
16 But may all who search for you
be filled with joy and gladness in you.
May those who love your salvation
repeatedly shout, "The LORD is great!"
17 As for me, since I am poor and needy,
and the Lord is thinking about me right now!
You are my helper and my savior.
O my God, do not delay.
It's so interesting to me what I was thinking as I got up this morning, & what I wrote in my journal, & then read this specific psalm this morning.
People tell me often they think reading the Bible is kinda dead & boring. I wonder if they ever read it, & if they ever read it consistently for a short while. I think if they did they would find God speaking to them A LOT - a lot more they would want Him to, & in areas of their lives they'd just as soon not come under the bright light of His attention.
At least that's the way it's been for me these last 9 years.
Psalm 40
1 I waited patiently for the LORD to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
3 He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the LORD.
4 Oh, the joys of those who trust the LORD,
who have no confidence in the proud
or in those who worship idols.
5 O LORD my God, you have performed many wonders for us.
Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
You have no equal.
If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,
I would never come to the end of them.
6 You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.
Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand*—
you don't require burnt offerings or sin offerings.
8 I take joy in doing your will, my God,
for your instructions are written on my heart."
9 I have told all your people about your justice.
I have not been afraid to speak out,
as you, O LORD, well know.
10 I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart;
I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power.
I have told everyone in the great assembly
of your unfailing love and faithfulness.
11 LORD, don't hold back your tender mercies from me.
Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me.
12 For troubles surround me—
too many to count!
My sins pile up so high
I can't see my way out.
They outnumber the hairs on my head.
I have lost all courage.
16 But may all who search for you
be filled with joy and gladness in you.
May those who love your salvation
repeatedly shout, "The LORD is great!"
17 As for me, since I am poor and needy,
and the Lord is thinking about me right now!
You are my helper and my savior.
O my God, do not delay.
Friday, March 23, 2012
hope
Psalm 39
4 "LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered -
how fleeting my life is.
5 You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
at best, each of us is but a breath."
6 We are merely moving shadows,
and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.
We heap up wealth,
not knowing who will spend it.
7 And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?
My only hope is in you.
4 "LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered -
how fleeting my life is.
5 You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
at best, each of us is but a breath."
6 We are merely moving shadows,
and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.
We heap up wealth,
not knowing who will spend it.
7 And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?
My only hope is in you.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
trust
Psalm 37:34 Don't be impatient for the Lord to act!
Travel steadily along His path.
He will honor you, giving you the land.
vs 5 Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust Him & He will help you.
don't know who this is for, but felt nudged to repeat these 2 verses for someone out there.
it's all about trust, ya know.
That's what these last 19 months here in Blairsville have been all about.
God continues to say "wait" & "trust Me".
So I'm not speaking from what I've read or observed.
I'm speaking from where I'm living right now.
What choice do we have?
Yes, we can take control of our lives, but my experience with doing that hasn't worked out well for me.
So, I choose to trust, even when I cannot see what's goin' on, or what's ahead.
Jeremy Camp has a pretty cool song about that - "I will walk by faith"
Travel steadily along His path.
He will honor you, giving you the land.
vs 5 Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust Him & He will help you.
don't know who this is for, but felt nudged to repeat these 2 verses for someone out there.
it's all about trust, ya know.
That's what these last 19 months here in Blairsville have been all about.
God continues to say "wait" & "trust Me".
So I'm not speaking from what I've read or observed.
I'm speaking from where I'm living right now.
What choice do we have?
Yes, we can take control of our lives, but my experience with doing that hasn't worked out well for me.
So, I choose to trust, even when I cannot see what's goin' on, or what's ahead.
Jeremy Camp has a pretty cool song about that - "I will walk by faith"
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
word
Sometimes I can got days w/o anything coming up off the page that speaks to me. I get something each day to write in this blog. Today, I got something for us both.
All these were for me today, but I think there's those of you out there that they're for, too.
Psalm 37
vs 3 Trust in the Lord & do good
Then you will live safely in the land & prosper.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
& He will give you your hearts desires.
5 Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust Him & He will help you.
7 Be still in the presence of the Lord,
& wait patiently for Him to act.
8 Stop your anger!
Stop your rage!
Don't envy others - it only leads to harm.
23 The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord.
He delights in every detail of their lives,
24 Though they stumble, they will not fall
for the Lord holds them by the hand.
34 Don't be impatient for the Lord to act!
Travel steadily along His path.
He will honor you, giving you the Land.
All these were for me today, but I think there's those of you out there that they're for, too.
Psalm 37
vs 3 Trust in the Lord & do good
Then you will live safely in the land & prosper.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
& He will give you your hearts desires.
5 Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust Him & He will help you.
7 Be still in the presence of the Lord,
& wait patiently for Him to act.
8 Stop your anger!
Stop your rage!
Don't envy others - it only leads to harm.
23 The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord.
He delights in every detail of their lives,
24 Though they stumble, they will not fall
for the Lord holds them by the hand.
34 Don't be impatient for the Lord to act!
Travel steadily along His path.
He will honor you, giving you the Land.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
vastness
In the summer of 2000 I worked as a music assistant at Camp Crestridge. It was during that summer the worship team, & the staff, awakened me to the world of contemporary Christian worship music. I've never been the same since. It became my worship music of choice - an amazingly hilarious thing considering my age at the time, & my age now.
One of the songs we did a lot from that summer used these words from Psalm 36.I can still hear the guitars, the sharp joyous sound of the djembe, & singular voices of the worship team & the staff, as they sang this psalm.
I'll be forever grateful for the new worship expression they lovingly drew me into that summer, & in which I've remained as joyously ever since.
Psalm 36
5 Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your justice like the ocean depths.
You care for people and animals alike, O LORD.
7 How precious is your unfailing love, O God!
All humanity finds shelter
in the shadow of your wings.
8 You feed them from the abundance of your own house,
letting them drink from your river of delights.
9 For you are the fountain of life,
the light by which we see.
One of the songs we did a lot from that summer used these words from Psalm 36.I can still hear the guitars, the sharp joyous sound of the djembe, & singular voices of the worship team & the staff, as they sang this psalm.
I'll be forever grateful for the new worship expression they lovingly drew me into that summer, & in which I've remained as joyously ever since.
Psalm 36
5 Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your justice like the ocean depths.
You care for people and animals alike, O LORD.
7 How precious is your unfailing love, O God!
All humanity finds shelter
in the shadow of your wings.
8 You feed them from the abundance of your own house,
letting them drink from your river of delights.
9 For you are the fountain of life,
the light by which we see.
Monday, March 19, 2012
1 way
1 Corinthians 8
5 According to some people, there are many so-called gods & many lords, both in heaven & earth. 6 But we know that there is only one God, the Father, who created everything, & we exist for Him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom God made everything & through whom we have been given life.
We hear a lot of people say there are many ways to God - Jesus, Buddha, Allah, Vishnu, Joseph Smith - just to name a few.
It looks like what Paul is saying here pokes a few holes in that thinking.
I know that it's very uncomfortable for some to think that Jesus the only way to the Father.
If that were true, then we'd have to take seriously everything He said - and obey them.
And our world today is VERY uncomfortable with many of the things He said.
Jesus kinda narrowed it down when He said to Martha (Lazarus' sister) in John 14:6, "I am the Way, the Truth, the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
1 way - by faith in Jesus' sacrifice for each of us.
simple...
free...
always available.
5 According to some people, there are many so-called gods & many lords, both in heaven & earth. 6 But we know that there is only one God, the Father, who created everything, & we exist for Him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom God made everything & through whom we have been given life.
We hear a lot of people say there are many ways to God - Jesus, Buddha, Allah, Vishnu, Joseph Smith - just to name a few.
It looks like what Paul is saying here pokes a few holes in that thinking.
I know that it's very uncomfortable for some to think that Jesus the only way to the Father.
If that were true, then we'd have to take seriously everything He said - and obey them.
And our world today is VERY uncomfortable with many of the things He said.
Jesus kinda narrowed it down when He said to Martha (Lazarus' sister) in John 14:6, "I am the Way, the Truth, the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
1 way - by faith in Jesus' sacrifice for each of us.
simple...
free...
always available.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
chock full
Sometimes a psalm or a chapter I'm reading just has a lot of good stuff in it. Here's what I saw this morning in Psalm 34...
Psalm 34
vs 2b ...let all who are discouraged take heart.
vs 4 I prayed to the Lord, & He answered me, freeing me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
vs 6 I cried out to the Lord in my suffering, & He heard me. He set me from from all my fears.
vs 8 Taste & see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who trust in Him!
vs 10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will never lack any good thing.
vs 14 Turn away from evil & do good. Work hard at living in peace with others.
vs 18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those who are crushed in spirit.
vs 19 The righteous face many troubles, but the Lord rescues them from each & every one.
Psalm 34
vs 2b ...let all who are discouraged take heart.
vs 4 I prayed to the Lord, & He answered me, freeing me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
vs 6 I cried out to the Lord in my suffering, & He heard me. He set me from from all my fears.
vs 8 Taste & see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who trust in Him!
vs 10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will never lack any good thing.
vs 14 Turn away from evil & do good. Work hard at living in peace with others.
vs 18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those who are crushed in spirit.
vs 19 The righteous face many troubles, but the Lord rescues them from each & every one.
Friday, March 16, 2012
guidance
Sometimes I'm speechless in what God lets me see & know.
Just sit & soak in the amazing truth of this verse...
Psalm 32:8 The Lord says,
"I will guide you along the best pathway for you life.
"I will advise you & watch over you."
Give Me Faith - Elevation Worship
Verse: I need you to soften my heart
To break me apart
I need you to open my eyes
To see that You're shaping my life
Pre-Chorus: All I am, I surrender
Chorus: Give me faith to trust what you say
That you're good and your love is great
I'm broken inside,
I give you my life
Verse 2: I need you to soften my heart
To break me apart
I need you pierce through the dark
And cleanse every part of me
Chorus
Bridge: I may be weak
Your spirit strong in me
My flesh may fail
My God you never will (repeat)
Just sit & soak in the amazing truth of this verse...
Psalm 32:8 The Lord says,
"I will guide you along the best pathway for you life.
"I will advise you & watch over you."
Give Me Faith - Elevation Worship
Verse: I need you to soften my heart
To break me apart
I need you to open my eyes
To see that You're shaping my life
Pre-Chorus: All I am, I surrender
Chorus: Give me faith to trust what you say
That you're good and your love is great
I'm broken inside,
I give you my life
Verse 2: I need you to soften my heart
To break me apart
I need you pierce through the dark
And cleanse every part of me
Chorus
Bridge: I may be weak
Your spirit strong in me
My flesh may fail
My God you never will (repeat)
Thursday, March 15, 2012
word
Sometimes, I just want to share the verses that come up off the page as I'm reading each morning. Some or all of these may help you today, or speak to something that may be going on in your life. I hope so.
Isaiah 30:18 But the Lord still waits for you to come to Him so He can show you His love & compassion.
For the Lord is a faithful God.
Blessed are those who wait for Him to help them.
Psalm 31:17 I am overcome w/ joy because of Your unfailing love,
for You have seen my troubles,
& You care about the anguish of my soul.
vs 24 So be strong & take courage,
all you who put your hope in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 4:20 For the Kingdom of God is not just fancy talk;
it is living by God's power.
Isaiah 30:18 But the Lord still waits for you to come to Him so He can show you His love & compassion.
For the Lord is a faithful God.
Blessed are those who wait for Him to help them.
Psalm 31:17 I am overcome w/ joy because of Your unfailing love,
for You have seen my troubles,
& You care about the anguish of my soul.
vs 24 So be strong & take courage,
all you who put your hope in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 4:20 For the Kingdom of God is not just fancy talk;
it is living by God's power.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
success
1 Corinthians 3
4 When one of you says, "I am a follower of Paul," and another says, "I follow Apollos," aren't you acting just like people of the world?
5 After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God's servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us.
6 I planted the seed in your hearts,
and Apollos watered it,
but it was God who made it grow.
7 It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering.
What's important is that God makes the seed grow.
8 The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose.
And both will be rewarded for their own hard work.
9 For we are both God's workers.
And you are God's field.
You are God's building.
We're so success oriented.
We feel like if we're not the "harvester" in a situation , we were ineffective, or not important.
I grew up on a farm, surrounded by farms.
For decades I watched someone cultivate a field. This usually took a few visits.
Then someone else plant the seeds. This was usually a one shot deal.
Then someone else would come along MANY TIMES & run a cultivator through the field to keep the weeds under control until the planted crop had grown big enough to take care of itself.
Finally, someone would come along & harvest the ripe plants in the field. The harvester usually was a single occurrence.
Every step of the work in growing crops was important. The weed guy's numerous visits was the most numerous, & the hottest, since it was done during the growing period, which was usually in the warmest part of the summer.
But be that as it may, each person's part in the growing of a crop was necessary.
I get the feeling sometimes that we're supposed to all be harvesters when it comes to winning people over to become Christ followers. It's that success orientation popping out.
God has each of us playing a part in someone's life as they walk toward belief. Some of us will never know our impact untill we get to heaven. But each of our parts in the leading of someone to Jesus is just as important as the other.
And who do you think usually has the most satisfaction at harvest time? The weed guy
It's because he spent the most time with the crop.
Just saying...
4 When one of you says, "I am a follower of Paul," and another says, "I follow Apollos," aren't you acting just like people of the world?
5 After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God's servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us.
6 I planted the seed in your hearts,
and Apollos watered it,
but it was God who made it grow.
7 It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering.
What's important is that God makes the seed grow.
8 The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose.
And both will be rewarded for their own hard work.
9 For we are both God's workers.
And you are God's field.
You are God's building.
We're so success oriented.
We feel like if we're not the "harvester" in a situation , we were ineffective, or not important.
I grew up on a farm, surrounded by farms.
For decades I watched someone cultivate a field. This usually took a few visits.
Then someone else plant the seeds. This was usually a one shot deal.
Then someone else would come along MANY TIMES & run a cultivator through the field to keep the weeds under control until the planted crop had grown big enough to take care of itself.
Finally, someone would come along & harvest the ripe plants in the field. The harvester usually was a single occurrence.
Every step of the work in growing crops was important. The weed guy's numerous visits was the most numerous, & the hottest, since it was done during the growing period, which was usually in the warmest part of the summer.
But be that as it may, each person's part in the growing of a crop was necessary.
I get the feeling sometimes that we're supposed to all be harvesters when it comes to winning people over to become Christ followers. It's that success orientation popping out.
God has each of us playing a part in someone's life as they walk toward belief. Some of us will never know our impact untill we get to heaven. But each of our parts in the leading of someone to Jesus is just as important as the other.
And who do you think usually has the most satisfaction at harvest time? The weed guy
It's because he spent the most time with the crop.
Just saying...
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
out of our minds ;-)
1 Corinthians 2
1 When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn't use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God's secret plan. 2 For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. 4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit.5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.
6 Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. 7 No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God - his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. 8 But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. 9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
for those who love him."
10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person's thoughts except that person's own spirit, and no one can know God's thoughts except God's own Spirit. 12 And we have received God's Spirit (not the world's spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.
13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths. 14 But people who aren't spiritual* can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 15 Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. 16 For,
"Who can know the LORD's thoughts?
Who knows enough to teach him?"
But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard" & "Who can know the Lord's thoughts?" are often quoted. The former verse come from Isaiah 64 & the latter from Isaiah 40.
But I think we miss the point here. Paul isn't saying that we're kinda wandering in the dark about things. He's saying here that if we follow God, & are filled with His Holy Spirit, our thinking is being changed in such a dynamic way that we begin to think like Jesus.
Iow, we start to think like God does.
Iow, we can begin to understand life, people, situations, the past, the present, the future like God does.
We start to think like the God of the universes.
That's pretty huge.
What do you think? Is that what Paul's saying here?
Is that true?
And what does it mean if it's true?
How then should we live?
1 When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn't use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God's secret plan. 2 For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. 4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit.5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.
6 Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. 7 No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God - his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. 8 But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. 9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
for those who love him."
10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person's thoughts except that person's own spirit, and no one can know God's thoughts except God's own Spirit. 12 And we have received God's Spirit (not the world's spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.
13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths. 14 But people who aren't spiritual* can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 15 Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. 16 For,
"Who can know the LORD's thoughts?
Who knows enough to teach him?"
But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard" & "Who can know the Lord's thoughts?" are often quoted. The former verse come from Isaiah 64 & the latter from Isaiah 40.
But I think we miss the point here. Paul isn't saying that we're kinda wandering in the dark about things. He's saying here that if we follow God, & are filled with His Holy Spirit, our thinking is being changed in such a dynamic way that we begin to think like Jesus.
Iow, we start to think like God does.
Iow, we can begin to understand life, people, situations, the past, the present, the future like God does.
We start to think like the God of the universes.
That's pretty huge.
What do you think? Is that what Paul's saying here?
Is that true?
And what does it mean if it's true?
How then should we live?
Saturday, March 10, 2012
just absorb this
Colossians 3
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves,
you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy,
kindness,
humility,
gentleness,
and patience.
13 Make allowance for each other's faults,
and forgive anyone who offends you.
Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love,
which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.
For as members of one body you are called to live in peace.
And always be thankful.
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives.
Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives.
Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks through him to God the Father.
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves,
you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy,
kindness,
humility,
gentleness,
and patience.
13 Make allowance for each other's faults,
and forgive anyone who offends you.
Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love,
which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.
For as members of one body you are called to live in peace.
And always be thankful.
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives.
Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives.
Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks through him to God the Father.
Friday, March 9, 2012
this is for someone out there
Don't know who this is for this morning. Who ever it is, all I can say is "Take heart".
I know there's a lot of verses here. Read 'em all - it's ok - you'll survive ;-)
**********
Psalm 25
1 O LORD, I give my life to you.
2 I trust in you, my God!
Do not let me be disgraced,
or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.
3a No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,
4 Show me the right path, O LORD;
point out the road for me to follow.
5 Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you.
6 Remember, O LORD, your compassion and unfailing love,
which you have shown from long ages past.
7 Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.
Remember me in the light of your unfailing love,
for you are merciful, O LORD.
8 The LORD is good and does what is right;
he shows the proper path to those who go astray.
9 He leads the humble in doing right,
teaching them his way.
10 The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness
all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.
11 For the honor of your name, O LORD,
forgive my many, many sins.
12 Who are those who fear the LORD?
He will show them the path they should choose.
13 They will live in prosperity,
and their children will inherit the land.
14 The LORD is a friend to those who fear him.
He teaches them his covenant.
15 My eyes are always on the LORD,
for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies.
16 Turn to me and have mercy,
for I am alone and in deep distress.
17 My problems go from bad to worse.
Oh, save me from them all!
18 Feel my pain and see my trouble.
Forgive all my sins.
19 See how many enemies I have
and how viciously they hate me!
20 Protect me! Rescue my life from them!
Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge.
21 May integrity and honesty protect me,
for I put my hope in you.
********
Colossians 2
6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
8 Don't let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. 9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
11 When you came to Christ, you were "circumcised," but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.
13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.
20 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world.
I know there's a lot of verses here. Read 'em all - it's ok - you'll survive ;-)
**********
Psalm 25
1 O LORD, I give my life to you.
2 I trust in you, my God!
Do not let me be disgraced,
or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.
3a No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,
4 Show me the right path, O LORD;
point out the road for me to follow.
5 Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you.
6 Remember, O LORD, your compassion and unfailing love,
which you have shown from long ages past.
7 Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.
Remember me in the light of your unfailing love,
for you are merciful, O LORD.
8 The LORD is good and does what is right;
he shows the proper path to those who go astray.
9 He leads the humble in doing right,
teaching them his way.
10 The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness
all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.
11 For the honor of your name, O LORD,
forgive my many, many sins.
12 Who are those who fear the LORD?
He will show them the path they should choose.
13 They will live in prosperity,
and their children will inherit the land.
14 The LORD is a friend to those who fear him.
He teaches them his covenant.
15 My eyes are always on the LORD,
for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies.
16 Turn to me and have mercy,
for I am alone and in deep distress.
17 My problems go from bad to worse.
Oh, save me from them all!
18 Feel my pain and see my trouble.
Forgive all my sins.
19 See how many enemies I have
and how viciously they hate me!
20 Protect me! Rescue my life from them!
Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge.
21 May integrity and honesty protect me,
for I put my hope in you.
********
Colossians 2
6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
8 Don't let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. 9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
11 When you came to Christ, you were "circumcised," but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.
13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.
20 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
holy & blameless
Colossians 1
15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
16 for through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can't see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.
17 He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together.
18 Christ is also the head of the church,
which is his body.
He is the beginning,
supreme over all who rise from the dead.
So he is first in everything.
19 For God in all his fullness
was pleased to live in Christ,
20 and through him God reconciled
everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
by means of Christ's blood on the cross.
21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.
15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
16 for through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can't see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.
17 He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together.
18 Christ is also the head of the church,
which is his body.
He is the beginning,
supreme over all who rise from the dead.
So he is first in everything.
19 For God in all his fullness
was pleased to live in Christ,
20 and through him God reconciled
everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
by means of Christ's blood on the cross.
21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
things I'm learning in this season
Here’s some of the things I’m learning during this season of waiting that Lynn & I find ourselves in right now. It’s not a complete list, by any means. And notice I said that they are things I’m “learning” – iow, these are active processes, not things I’ve learned completely.
NUMBER 1 - God has given me the two things I need the most to make it through this season – His Holy Spirit, & my wife, Lynn.
The rest are listed in no particular order of sequence or importance.
1. READ THE BIBLE EVERY DAY, WITHOUT FAIL!!!
You knew I was gonna say that ;-)
2. Ask God to give you some verses to hang on to – you’ll need them - & you’ll find you’ll have a death grip on each one.
God gave me 5 passages for this season – trust me, I would have lost my mind, most than once, if I hadn’t had these gifts of His truth.
3. We are the project – no matter where we are or what we’re doing, we are the project.
I don’t care who you are or what you’re about, we are the project – iow, God’s always using our circumstances to shape us into the His likeness. (Doesn’t that sound holy?! Usually it hurts like… well, you know what it hurts like.)
4. No matter what you think or feel, the most important thing to God is that you obey Him.
Our thinking & feelings will change. God will take care of those thoughts & feelings. He wants us to obey Him. We’re in a good place, no matter what it may seem, as long as we obey.
5. Find a hobby or something to do with your hands or yourself – it’ll help fill the time while you’re waiting.
I’ve started knitting with a vengeance – I have enough skill caps to clothe 2 football teams & their cheerleaders ;-)
I’m pulling out my 4 looms & starting to create projects with them.
We’re volunteering at the food pantry a couple of days a week. It’s good.
And we have an RV park across the road from us. Those peeps find us very confusing ;-)
We don’t think the economy is getting any better, so we’re preparing the meadow to be a vegetable garden so we can have veggies & plenty to share.
6. The only people who REALLY understand your situation are the people who lived through it too.
I can see it in people’s faces all the time – they think I got it wrong, I’m doing something wrong, I’m being lazy, or any number of things. They just don’t get it. Don’t judge them or get frustrated with them – many of them can’t help it. They just don’t understand.
Lean on, & depend on, those people who’ve lived your situation & understand. They’ll feed your soul more than a million of the aforementioned peeps.
7. Keep your heart open.
It’s so easy to let frustration, worry, cluelessness, confusion, or whatever to harden your heart. Keep it open & vulnerable to whatever God may say to you or lead you to.
8. Be cautious of the person who readily & glibly quotes “they that wait upon the Lord” – chances are they never have waited on the Lord for anything.
Anyone who’s been in God’s waiting room is often reluctant to consign others to it.
9. Exercise.
There’s a real danger we can get indolent – stay in shape & keep moving – it also helps dispel depression.
10. Social media is a gift from God.
Text, Facebook, email, Skype, whatever, to keep in contact with people – it will bring you out of your circumstances & help you focus on something beside yourself.
11. NEVER underestimate the power & necessity of having people in your life who know how to pray & intercede for you on a daily basis.
There are lots of folks I know who have said they’re praying for us. Two that come immediately to mind are Sheila Hayslip & Gina Mosley. They pray all the time for us & I trust what they’re hearing & feeling when they pray for us. They’re helped me from despairing sometimes & going crazier than I am anyway ;-)
12. When a person says yes to the “ ‘ever’s ”, better be prepared just for that –whatever, whoever, whenever, wherever, however.
Being open to anything God may choose to implement in our lives means we are open to anything g God may choose to implement in our lives. And most of the time, those aren’t things we’d choose or have thought of. God is very creative.
13. Sometimes it’s okay to be clueless.
I’ve finally gotten comfortable w/ not knowing what’s going on or what’s ahead. Look – this whole “move to N GA & Blairsville was God’s idea – He’s therefore in charge of it. When He’s ready to give me a clue, I’m ready to listen. Until, I’m not responsible for the consequences of my obedience – He is.
14. Try to not think about yourself & your situation ALL the time – thinking about others is healthy.
It’s easy to become self-absorbed. Don’t. Keep thinking about the people around you, most of who live desperately somewhere in their lives. They need to receive God’s love channeled through you.
15. Anyone who says, “All I want to be is ‘a servant of the Lord’ has never been one.
Sometimes being a servant stinks, because we have to do what we’re told. Iow, we’re not in control. Sometimes it’s uncomfortable &/or scary. No one would choose to be a servant except as a response to God’s unimaginable love & grace.
16. I’ve been SO guilty of passing out to people in tough times 10 cents worth of scriptures & glib spiritual fix-its.
As I’ve had so many folks trying to fix my situation or explain it away, I’ve been so convicted about the times I’ve glibly & flippantly handed out “words of wisdom”.
17. It’s very easy to “trust in the Lord” when a person making a VERY comfortable living than when they’re bringing in a third of that.
I can’t elaborate on that. When you’ve got that much of a cash flow net, sure, you can trust the Lord.
18. Sometimes God places us in a beautiful place to live so we can bear up under the strain of tough times.
Living in this beautiful place has been such a sustaining gift during this season.
20. Find the beauty in the place you’ve been placed.
There’s always something beautiful about the physical place we’re placed during any season, whether it’s easy, wonderful, or tough.
21. Satan may not be able to derail us, but he can certainly distract us.
There have been so many things that have happened in the last year+ that we can only explain as the devil trying to run us crazy.
22. Demonic influence is real.
I’m genetically predisposed to depression. Demons play on that in y thought life. They know my thought life is a place they can have a field day.
I learned when I was at Asbury College that I felt demons or suspected their influence, I should say, “In the name of Jesus & by His blood I command you to be gone.”
I’ve prolly said that a gajillion times over the last year+.
That may sound a little too mystical for you – that’s ok – it works for me.
23. Sometimes all we can do is just keep moving forward.
If we’re on the road in a rainstorm, we rarely if ever pull over because we know if we keep moving forward, even if it’s really slowly, we will eventually come out of it.
24. There may not seem to be a “light at the end of the tunnel” but there is Someone walking with you in the dark.
I know it may not seem like anyone’s there with you, but it doesn’t matter if it doesn’t seem so – God’s still with you.
25. It’s ok to be mad as hell – God can handle it.
Last winter, I was just mad – mad that we’d stuck our neck out, left people, lives, ministries, & the familiar, & moved to N GA, & then came to a screeching halt.
I got over it, mostly because God was patient with me as I exhausted my frustration.
26. Sometimes what is going on may not have anything to do with you & everything to do with what God is setting up.
God may be working out the details of what’s ahead & that person or place isn’t ready or is just being bullheaded.
27. And it’s all about whether we trust Him, or not.
I hope this helps somebody, someway, to learn some of the stuff I’m learning the hard way right now.
thanks
Don't think about the personal disqualifiers you have with this passage, nor think about the usual "yeah, but..." that we think of. Just take it for what it says & think about what it can mean if we REALLY believe this...
Philippians 4
6 Don't worry about anything;
instead, pray about everything.
Tell God what you need,
& thank Him for all He has done.
If you do this,
you will experience God's peace,
which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.
His peace will guard your hearts & minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
vs 13 For I can do everything w/ the help of Christ, who gives me the strength I need.
vs 19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which has been given to us in Christ Jesus.
Now what would happen if we told God everything we need & then thanked Him for taking care of it before He did it?
I heard a long time ago that God is more interested in our thanks than in our constant petitions. Iow, He's responds to us better if we thank Him for taking care of something rather than constantly nagging Him in repetitive petitioning.
Hmmmmmmmm...
So, instead of wrangling about our present situation & season, it would make better sense, & show more faith, if we just thanked Him for His provision for where we are as well as thank Him for what's ahead in His plans for the next season?
Philippians 4
6 Don't worry about anything;
instead, pray about everything.
Tell God what you need,
& thank Him for all He has done.
If you do this,
you will experience God's peace,
which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.
His peace will guard your hearts & minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
vs 13 For I can do everything w/ the help of Christ, who gives me the strength I need.
vs 19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which has been given to us in Christ Jesus.
Now what would happen if we told God everything we need & then thanked Him for taking care of it before He did it?
I heard a long time ago that God is more interested in our thanks than in our constant petitions. Iow, He's responds to us better if we thank Him for taking care of something rather than constantly nagging Him in repetitive petitioning.
Hmmmmmmmm...
So, instead of wrangling about our present situation & season, it would make better sense, & show more faith, if we just thanked Him for His provision for where we are as well as thank Him for what's ahead in His plans for the next season?
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
keeping on
Philippians 3
9b I no longer count on my own goodness or my ability to obey God's law, but I trust Christ to save me. For God's way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.
We all trust in our own goodness to "get us in" or "make us worthy" of God's love & guidance, don't we?
But our :getting in" depends on 1 thing, & 1 thing only - depending on (read: faith) on Jesus to be enough to bridge the gap between us & God
13b Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Paul was a murderer. He persecuted & killed many of the new Christians. And yet Jesus forgave him & used him in many ways that He did use anyone else.
So I guess then there's hope for you & me?
9b I no longer count on my own goodness or my ability to obey God's law, but I trust Christ to save me. For God's way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.
We all trust in our own goodness to "get us in" or "make us worthy" of God's love & guidance, don't we?
But our :getting in" depends on 1 thing, & 1 thing only - depending on (read: faith) on Jesus to be enough to bridge the gap between us & God
13b Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Paul was a murderer. He persecuted & killed many of the new Christians. And yet Jesus forgave him & used him in many ways that He did use anyone else.
So I guess then there's hope for you & me?
Monday, March 5, 2012
stuff from this morning
Psalm 21:7 For the king trusts the Lord. The unfailing love of the Most High will keep him from stumbling. (dan note: this applies to all of us - not just to the king)
Philippians 2:4 Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others too, & what they are doing.
Philippians 2:13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey Him,& the power to do what pleases Him.
Philippians 2:4 Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others too, & what they are doing.
Philippians 2:13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey Him,& the power to do what pleases Him.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
protection
Ephesians 6
10 Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
11 Put on all of God's armor
so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
12 For we* are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies,
but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world,
against mighty powers in this dark world,
and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor
so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil.
Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.
14 Stand your ground,
putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness.
15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News
so that you will be fully prepared.
16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.
17 Put on salvation as your helmet,
and take the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God.
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.
Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
10 Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
11 Put on all of God's armor
so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
12 For we* are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies,
but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world,
against mighty powers in this dark world,
and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor
so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil.
Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.
14 Stand your ground,
putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness.
15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News
so that you will be fully prepared.
16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.
17 Put on salvation as your helmet,
and take the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God.
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.
Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Friday, March 2, 2012
imitate
Ephesians 5
1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do,
because you are his dear children.
2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.
He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us,
a pleasing aroma to God.
15 So be careful how you live.
Don't live like fools,
but like those who are wise.
16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
17 Don't act thoughtlessly,
but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
18 Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life.
Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,
19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves,
and making music to the Lord in your hearts.
20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do,
because you are his dear children.
2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.
He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us,
a pleasing aroma to God.
15 So be careful how you live.
Don't live like fools,
but like those who are wise.
16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
17 Don't act thoughtlessly,
but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
18 Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life.
Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,
19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves,
and making music to the Lord in your hearts.
20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
a life worthy
Ephesians 4
1b ...lead a life worthy of your calling,
for you have been called by God.
2 Always be humble and gentle.
Be patient with each other,
making allowance for each other's faults
because of your love.
3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Holy Spirit,
binding yourselves together with peace.
4 For there is one body and one Spirit,
just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.
5 There is one Lord,
one faith,
one baptism,
6 and one God and Father,
who is over all
and in all
and living through all.
1b ...lead a life worthy of your calling,
for you have been called by God.
2 Always be humble and gentle.
Be patient with each other,
making allowance for each other's faults
because of your love.
3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Holy Spirit,
binding yourselves together with peace.
4 For there is one body and one Spirit,
just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.
5 There is one Lord,
one faith,
one baptism,
6 and one God and Father,
who is over all
and in all
and living through all.
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