John 14:12 anyone one who believes in Me will do the same works I have done, & even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.
even greater works?
Monday, June 7, 2010
Sunday, June 6, 2010
plans
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14a I will be found by you,” says the Lord. (NLT)
God's got plans for us. The trick is to not try to make them happen, to stay out of the way, to walk when we feel like running.
It's just amazing that the God of the universes has plans for you & me, & is all about making them happen for us.
Our responsibility is to stay surrendered to whatever.
Then the fullness of those plans is released.
As Lynn & I watch & listen out for our "next", it's amazing what holding on to these verses has done for us.
God's got plans for us. The trick is to not try to make them happen, to stay out of the way, to walk when we feel like running.
It's just amazing that the God of the universes has plans for you & me, & is all about making them happen for us.
Our responsibility is to stay surrendered to whatever.
Then the fullness of those plans is released.
As Lynn & I watch & listen out for our "next", it's amazing what holding on to these verses has done for us.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
following = going
John 12:25 Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.(dan note: iow, don't cling to your life) 26 Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.
If we follow Jesus, doesn't that mean we go with Him?
If we follow Jesus, doesn't that mean we go with Him?
Friday, June 4, 2010
strength
Psalm 110:3c ...your vigor will be renewed each day like the morning dew.
This summer, I'll turn 60.
That's a lot younger age to me, now that it's here.
But, I have to say that my energy reserves are not quite what they used to me. Well, there's not much about me that is the way it used to be! ;-)
As I walk the walk with our Abba, being whatever it is He wants me to be, I find something interesting.
These days, I can always tell when I'm trying to do something in my own strength.
I get tired.
But if I just depend on Him to give me the strength to be whatever it is He's needing me to be, I seem to have enough energy reserves to carry it off.
I wish I learned this lesson 30 years ago.
Don't be as stupid as I was.
Ask God to give you the strength you need to be all He wants you to be.
He "will renew (us) each day, like the morning dew".
This summer, I'll turn 60.
That's a lot younger age to me, now that it's here.
But, I have to say that my energy reserves are not quite what they used to me. Well, there's not much about me that is the way it used to be! ;-)
As I walk the walk with our Abba, being whatever it is He wants me to be, I find something interesting.
These days, I can always tell when I'm trying to do something in my own strength.
I get tired.
But if I just depend on Him to give me the strength to be whatever it is He's needing me to be, I seem to have enough energy reserves to carry it off.
I wish I learned this lesson 30 years ago.
Don't be as stupid as I was.
Ask God to give you the strength you need to be all He wants you to be.
He "will renew (us) each day, like the morning dew".
Thursday, June 3, 2010
fullness
John 10:10 The thief purpose is to steal, kill, & destroy. My prupose is to give life in all its fullness. NLT
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. NIV
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. NASB
A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. The Message
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). Amplified
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. ESV
A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest. CEV
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. NKJV
No matter how we translate it, Jesus promises us a like far more than we imagine.
So why is it, when He's transitioning us from one season of our lives to another, we always mistrust Him, figuring the "next" will be worse than the "now"?
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. NIV
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. NASB
A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. The Message
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). Amplified
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. ESV
A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest. CEV
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. NKJV
No matter how we translate it, Jesus promises us a like far more than we imagine.
So why is it, when He's transitioning us from one season of our lives to another, we always mistrust Him, figuring the "next" will be worse than the "now"?
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
being & doing
Psalm 108:13 With God's help we will do mighty things, for He will trample down our foes.
John 9:4 (Jesus is the one talking here) All of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the One who sent Me, because there is so little time left before the night falls & all work comes to an end.
In the Psalm 108 verse, the operative words there are "with God's help."
I won't go into how many times in my life I've done what I thought was what God wanted me to do, but did it under my own steam, not His.
I like it a whole lot better now that I'm relying more on His strength than my own.
In the John verse, there's 2 things:
1) the use of the word, "quickly" doesn't mean like in a rush - what I think it means is to not lolly-gag around - iow, be about the things He has for us to be about.
2) "assigned us" just reiterates the fact that God actually did dream a BIG life for us, which includes things that are designated for us to be & do.
This isn't busy work for God. It's all a part of His overarching plan.
And there no such thing as a small part in this plan. We may think it's a small part, but God doesn't think so. (Remind me of this in the days ahead ;-)
Ya know, I was an idiot for waiting until I was 52 1/2 before I started getting up & reading the Bible every day.
John 9:4 (Jesus is the one talking here) All of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the One who sent Me, because there is so little time left before the night falls & all work comes to an end.
In the Psalm 108 verse, the operative words there are "with God's help."
I won't go into how many times in my life I've done what I thought was what God wanted me to do, but did it under my own steam, not His.
I like it a whole lot better now that I'm relying more on His strength than my own.
In the John verse, there's 2 things:
1) the use of the word, "quickly" doesn't mean like in a rush - what I think it means is to not lolly-gag around - iow, be about the things He has for us to be about.
2) "assigned us" just reiterates the fact that God actually did dream a BIG life for us, which includes things that are designated for us to be & do.
This isn't busy work for God. It's all a part of His overarching plan.
And there no such thing as a small part in this plan. We may think it's a small part, but God doesn't think so. (Remind me of this in the days ahead ;-)
Ya know, I was an idiot for waiting until I was 52 1/2 before I started getting up & reading the Bible every day.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
direction
John 8:12 Jesus said to the people, "I am the Light of the world. If you follow Me, you won't be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the Light that leads to life."
So, iow, we won't be blindly wandering clueless?
We'll eventually know the direction He has for us in any given season & what it's all about?
That's where I am these days. I'm not stumbling - I'm just waiting for the picture to become clearer, the direction to become more specific, & all the details to be worked out.
I'm trying to follow what I think is His direction(s) for the "next" in Lynn & my life. It was good to be reassured this morning that if I purpose to follow Him, He's gonna show me the way - I won't be wandering around like a blind sow in a rye patch.
I kinda feel that way sometimes. It's good to know that even though I may feel that way, in the end, He's gonna show me the way.
So, iow, we won't be blindly wandering clueless?
We'll eventually know the direction He has for us in any given season & what it's all about?
That's where I am these days. I'm not stumbling - I'm just waiting for the picture to become clearer, the direction to become more specific, & all the details to be worked out.
I'm trying to follow what I think is His direction(s) for the "next" in Lynn & my life. It was good to be reassured this morning that if I purpose to follow Him, He's gonna show me the way - I won't be wandering around like a blind sow in a rye patch.
I kinda feel that way sometimes. It's good to know that even though I may feel that way, in the end, He's gonna show me the way.
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