Luke 17:50 Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid. Just trust me..."
That's what He's been saying to me for the last 2 years.
Jairus did, even when some of his servants came to tell him his sick daughter had died.
Jesus went with him to his home.
And raised Jairus' daughter from the dead.
If we trust Him, won't He raise our lives back from a life that feels dead?
Don't be afraid. Just trust Me.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
plans
Proverbs 16
vs 1 We gather our thoughts, but the Lord give the right answer.
vs 3 Commit your work to the Lord & then your plans will succeed.
vs 33 We may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fall.
So, it all well & good to know these verses, but what's the practical application?
So many of us, me included, think of things to be & do, figure out how to be & do them, & then put those plans into motion, hoping that the Lord will bless them.
We really do expect this kind of thing to work, don't we? I mean, we're Christ followers, so we're only trying to be & do what we think God would have us be & do.
And besides, "God helps those who help themselves" - right?
"God helps those who help themselves" ain't in the Bible.
Nope, not there.
Judging from what I've seen, & what others have told me, & from what I see happening in the lives of people in the Bible, I think here's how it's supposed to work...
We walk along in the journey with the Lord, surrendered to His leading & guidance - being & doing whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however He indicates.
It has been my observation in the lives of others, & in my own life, if we're surrendered to the "...ever's", God is quite capable & will regularly tell us what to be & do on a regular basis.
And He will tell us to be & do stuff that we'd NEVER think of to be & do.
Is it scary sometimes?
Yes.
Does it makes sense?
Most of the time, but sometimes not.
It is risky?
Yep.
Will people understand us?
Sometimes, but sometimes not.
You see, we think, especially in America, that as Christ followers, it's all about success.
The older I get,the more I think it's about being a servant.
Iow, it's about doing what were told & led to be & do.
Sometimes we get to see the why of everything,we get to see the results of our efforts, & we get to bask in the glory & wonder of it all.
Sometimes, there's no explanation.
Sometimes, it doesn't make sense.
Sometimes, we don't get to see any of the results.
Sometimes, all we get is to simply be someone who is serving the Lord in whatever it is He's up to.
And one day, when we're with Him forever, we'll get to see what it's all about.
Don't like that?
Which would we rather be - someone in charge of our life & responsible for its outcome?
Or would we rather be depending on the God of the universes to not only lead us into what we should be & do to fit into His overarching plans for humankind & let Him be responsible for its outcome?
Think about it...
vs 1 We gather our thoughts, but the Lord give the right answer.
vs 3 Commit your work to the Lord & then your plans will succeed.
vs 33 We may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fall.
So, it all well & good to know these verses, but what's the practical application?
So many of us, me included, think of things to be & do, figure out how to be & do them, & then put those plans into motion, hoping that the Lord will bless them.
We really do expect this kind of thing to work, don't we? I mean, we're Christ followers, so we're only trying to be & do what we think God would have us be & do.
And besides, "God helps those who help themselves" - right?
"God helps those who help themselves" ain't in the Bible.
Nope, not there.
Judging from what I've seen, & what others have told me, & from what I see happening in the lives of people in the Bible, I think here's how it's supposed to work...
We walk along in the journey with the Lord, surrendered to His leading & guidance - being & doing whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however He indicates.
It has been my observation in the lives of others, & in my own life, if we're surrendered to the "...ever's", God is quite capable & will regularly tell us what to be & do on a regular basis.
And He will tell us to be & do stuff that we'd NEVER think of to be & do.
Is it scary sometimes?
Yes.
Does it makes sense?
Most of the time, but sometimes not.
It is risky?
Yep.
Will people understand us?
Sometimes, but sometimes not.
You see, we think, especially in America, that as Christ followers, it's all about success.
The older I get,the more I think it's about being a servant.
Iow, it's about doing what were told & led to be & do.
Sometimes we get to see the why of everything,we get to see the results of our efforts, & we get to bask in the glory & wonder of it all.
Sometimes, there's no explanation.
Sometimes, it doesn't make sense.
Sometimes, we don't get to see any of the results.
Sometimes, all we get is to simply be someone who is serving the Lord in whatever it is He's up to.
And one day, when we're with Him forever, we'll get to see what it's all about.
Don't like that?
Which would we rather be - someone in charge of our life & responsible for its outcome?
Or would we rather be depending on the God of the universes to not only lead us into what we should be & do to fit into His overarching plans for humankind & let Him be responsible for its outcome?
Think about it...
Sunday, July 29, 2012
loving
Luke 6:27 "But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. 30 Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don't try to get them back. 31 Do to others as you would like them to do to you.
32 "If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! 33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! 34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.
35 "Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. 36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.
I think this includes loving people without the agenda that they must love you back.
32 "If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! 33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! 34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.
35 "Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. 36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.
I think this includes loving people without the agenda that they must love you back.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
musical chairs
Luke 5:27 Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector's booth. "Follow me and be my disciple," Jesus said to him. 28 So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.
29 Later, Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi's fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them. 30 But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus' disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with such scum?"
31 Jesus answered them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor—sick people do. 32 I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent."
Most of the time, churches play musical chairs.
Iow, when they grow, they usually just get people who already are going to church to come to theirs.
For the last 12+ years, I've been a part of a church that's far more interested in drawing from a much, much, MUCH larger group of people - those who don't go to church - people we label with all kinds of names, most of which are demeaning. Iow, we're talking about people who haven't established a relationship / connection with God through Jesus.
Up until coming to Christ Chapel, Macon, most of the people I knew were "church folks". Not so since then.
According to the census bureau, Lynn & I live in a county where over half the people have no denominational affiliation. Those are the people Lynn & I are interested in being around, sharing our lives with, & gathering together to point to God. We really, really hope we get to be & do that more & more as time goes by in this beautiful place.
29 Later, Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi's fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them. 30 But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus' disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with such scum?"
31 Jesus answered them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor—sick people do. 32 I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent."
Most of the time, churches play musical chairs.
Iow, when they grow, they usually just get people who already are going to church to come to theirs.
For the last 12+ years, I've been a part of a church that's far more interested in drawing from a much, much, MUCH larger group of people - those who don't go to church - people we label with all kinds of names, most of which are demeaning. Iow, we're talking about people who haven't established a relationship / connection with God through Jesus.
Up until coming to Christ Chapel, Macon, most of the people I knew were "church folks". Not so since then.
According to the census bureau, Lynn & I live in a county where over half the people have no denominational affiliation. Those are the people Lynn & I are interested in being around, sharing our lives with, & gathering together to point to God. We really, really hope we get to be & do that more & more as time goes by in this beautiful place.
Friday, July 27, 2012
lemme know whatcha think
No matter what happens,
always
be thankful,
for this is God's will for who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
No matter what happens...
if we truly lived this verse, what would our lives be like?
I'd really like to know what you think.
always
be thankful,
for this is God's will for who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
No matter what happens...
if we truly lived this verse, what would our lives be like?
I'd really like to know what you think.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
yeah...
Hebrews 10:35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord,
no matter what happens.
Remember the great reward it brings you.
36 Patient endurance is what you need now,
so that you will continue to do God's will.
Then you will receive all that He has promised.
no matter what happens.
Remember the great reward it brings you.
36 Patient endurance is what you need now,
so that you will continue to do God's will.
Then you will receive all that He has promised.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
word
These are verses God's given me. The Isaiah 41 verses He gave me on April 13, 2010. The rest came on March 31, 2012.
I get the feeling somebody(s) else needs to hear these this morning, too. I know I did. Lemme know if that was you & how they helped.
Isaiah 41:9b For I have chosen you & will not throw you away.
10 Don't be afraid, for I am with you.
Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you.
I will help you.
I will uphold you with My victorious right hand.
2 Corinthians 4:1Since God in His mercy has given us this wonderful ministry, we never give up.
vs 7 this precious treasure - this light & power that now shine within 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 16 That is why we never give up.
Though our bodies are dying,our spirits are being renewed ever day. 17 For our present troubles are quite small & won't last very long.
vs 18 So we don't look at the troubles we can see right now:
rather, we look forward to what we have not see.
For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.
I get the feeling somebody(s) else needs to hear these this morning, too. I know I did. Lemme know if that was you & how they helped.
Isaiah 41:9b For I have chosen you & will not throw you away.
10 Don't be afraid, for I am with you.
Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you.
I will help you.
I will uphold you with My victorious right hand.
2 Corinthians 4:1Since God in His mercy has given us this wonderful ministry, we never give up.
vs 7 this precious treasure - this light & power that now shine within 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 16 That is why we never give up.
Though our bodies are dying,our spirits are being renewed ever day. 17 For our present troubles are quite small & won't last very long.
vs 18 So we don't look at the troubles we can see right now:
rather, we look forward to what we have not see.
For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.
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