Matt. 21:28 "What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' 29 And he answered, 'I will not,' but afterward he changed his mind and went. 30 And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, 'I go, sir,' but did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.
Jesus is being questioned by the Pharisees, as they are trying to trip Him up in His answer. He has already silenced them in the last question, but He is going to push a bit farther and deeper. He is going to hit them right between the eyes.
This paragraph is proof that God resists the proud. The Pharisees has more outward "righteousness" than anyone in their time. They prided themselves in everything they did "for God". Jesus shows them how much He appreciates their "righteous acts".
Jesus also tells us, in the section, that as long as the heart still breaks there is hope. There are many who profess repentance, but then never really get anywhere past professing. There are others who are reluctant to jump right out and tell everyone that they are now Christians, in fact they might tell you that they think you are stupid for believing. God starts to draw them and they start to walk. He starts to change them and pretty soon they are really different people.
Those of us who have walked a long time without coming to Christ are the "tax collectors and prostitutes" Jesus is referring to here. He didn't come to save the self righteous, but the UNrighteous. We must always remember that we have no good thing to bring to Him. All of our righteousness is as filthy rags and yet He draws our dirty selves to Him, makes us clean through the blood of Christ and then seats us with Him in Heavenly places.
What a transformation He has wrought in those who He has saved. Only He can do this work. Pray for those around you that are still walking in darkness, that might see a great light. He can and does change the hearts of "tax collectors and prostitutes" even when we are old. Don't give up on The Hope.
Friday, February 27, 2009
No Shame in Following God
Ps 119:73 Your hands have made and fashioned me;
give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
74 Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,
because I have hoped in your word.
75 I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous,
and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76 Let your steadfast love comfort me
according to your promise to your servant.
77 Let your mercy come to me, that I may live;
for your law is my delight.
78 Let the insolent be put to shame,
because they have wronged me with falsehood;
as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
79 Let those who fear you turn to me,
that they may know your testimonies.
80 May my heart be blameless in your statutes,
that I may not be put to shame!
David understands that Creator God has formed him and fashioned him and that He knows everything about Him. This took great faith, as he didn't have nearly as much written Revelation as we do. He also knew that since God knew everything about him, God could also instruct him on exactly what he needed to know and that He could do this instructing better because He is the initiator, and completer of everything. Without God there is nothing.
God's people are encouraged by the faith and hope of other believers. We must display both the struggles and the victories along the way, so others can see our progress. Not so we might be glorified, but that others would know that we only have faith because of Christ's work on our behalf.
David didn't run away from trial or affliction, because He knew that everything was from God and that includes trials. He knew that God's Word is true and that God Himself is faithful to bring us exactly what he needed. Even though those trials are difficult, they are necessary to bring us closer to Him.
The comfort that we have, as believers, can't be compared to anything apart from God. There is no resting without God's promises for us to run to. His is Love and He is Faithfulness. There is none like Him.
His mercies, that are new every morning, give us life and hope. We find our strength for each day in the "pantry" of His Word. The Fountain brings refreshment like nothing else.
The world mocks and scoffs at His children, but He is faithful. We need not worry about what they are doing or saying, but we must run to His Word and put our hope in The Hope. There is no shame in trusting Him.
Again, David gives encouragement for us to live our lives in such a way that others may see our good deeds and glorify our Father who is in Heaven. He says in a sense, "look at my life, and learn from me as I learn from God. He is faithful to change you, just like He has changed me".
A pure heart and a clean conscience come from following God's Word. We can be pure vessels for the King to use, but we must follow His instructions.
The overriding message of this section seems to be that there is no shame in following God's Word, others will look to us and be encouraged along the way as they see us looking only to Christ and God is faithful to keep His Word.
give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
74 Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,
because I have hoped in your word.
75 I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous,
and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76 Let your steadfast love comfort me
according to your promise to your servant.
77 Let your mercy come to me, that I may live;
for your law is my delight.
78 Let the insolent be put to shame,
because they have wronged me with falsehood;
as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
79 Let those who fear you turn to me,
that they may know your testimonies.
80 May my heart be blameless in your statutes,
that I may not be put to shame!
David understands that Creator God has formed him and fashioned him and that He knows everything about Him. This took great faith, as he didn't have nearly as much written Revelation as we do. He also knew that since God knew everything about him, God could also instruct him on exactly what he needed to know and that He could do this instructing better because He is the initiator, and completer of everything. Without God there is nothing.
God's people are encouraged by the faith and hope of other believers. We must display both the struggles and the victories along the way, so others can see our progress. Not so we might be glorified, but that others would know that we only have faith because of Christ's work on our behalf.
David didn't run away from trial or affliction, because He knew that everything was from God and that includes trials. He knew that God's Word is true and that God Himself is faithful to bring us exactly what he needed. Even though those trials are difficult, they are necessary to bring us closer to Him.
The comfort that we have, as believers, can't be compared to anything apart from God. There is no resting without God's promises for us to run to. His is Love and He is Faithfulness. There is none like Him.
His mercies, that are new every morning, give us life and hope. We find our strength for each day in the "pantry" of His Word. The Fountain brings refreshment like nothing else.
The world mocks and scoffs at His children, but He is faithful. We need not worry about what they are doing or saying, but we must run to His Word and put our hope in The Hope. There is no shame in trusting Him.
Again, David gives encouragement for us to live our lives in such a way that others may see our good deeds and glorify our Father who is in Heaven. He says in a sense, "look at my life, and learn from me as I learn from God. He is faithful to change you, just like He has changed me".
A pure heart and a clean conscience come from following God's Word. We can be pure vessels for the King to use, but we must follow His instructions.
The overriding message of this section seems to be that there is no shame in following God's Word, others will look to us and be encouraged along the way as they see us looking only to Christ and God is faithful to keep His Word.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Rough Parenting Stages
Teresa and I were privileged to take a parenting class, what seems like a really long time ago. One of the things they talked about was the stages of relationship between the parent and the child. I don't remember every one of them but here's a stab at it. This is going to be pretty rough, sorry.
When they are infants we are basically nurturing them and caring for their every need. There is almost no discipline, except for things like extending the times between feeding and letting them cry a little longer. This helps them to understand that they are not the center of the universe.
As they get just a little older we can give them some choices, but with those choices come consequences. For example; they don't get to decide what they want to eat at every meal. Mom is not a short order cook. So if they refuse to eat the meal she has prepared, then they don't get to eat until the next meal. Guess what. They will appreciate their next meal all the more. And if they refuse that one, because of their stubborn little hearts, well then they will be all the more hungry the next time. It seems cruel, but as adults we don't get to make decisions on a lot of things that go on in our lives. There is a lot of discipline going on in these years.
As the child reaches their middle years there are even more choices for them to make. With those choice should come child/parent discussion on what the outcome of the choice will potentially look like. They are generally not ready to make every decision, but they are going to have to make a lot of decisions pretty soon, so we need to give them the tools to make God honoring decisions. This is really like being a coach. We have trained them in practice for many hours to make the right decision and then we have to sit back and watch them go out and either succeed or fail. When there is a break in the action then it is time to coach some more. "I noticed you did this in this situation. Do you think now that was the best choice, or would you do something different looking back on it now?" Those types of questions and discussions.
The final stage is friendship. Often parents try to get to friendship way too quickly and it blows up in their face. When all the nurturing, discipline and coaching is completed, then you are able to have a real friendship relationship with your child. This is really rewarding, as they can be great friends.
These stages include both spiritual and physical training. If you do the first stages really well, then the latter ones are much easier. If you neglect the first ones, you are in for a long haul.
Be encouraged. God can and does bring our children to Himself and He can give us godly children in spite of our imperfect parenting. My kids are proof positive of this. I have not been a great dad to them and yet He has blessed Teresa and I with 3 friends that we like to be with, and that others like to be with as well. He has taken my parenting neglect and turned it into 3 kids who are trusting and following Him.
As Ryan said, "Work like it all depends on you, pray like it all depends on God".
Please keep us updated on the progress of your child's walk.
A little more encouragement. One of the girls in the small group that meets at our house professed first time repentance on Monday night. We have been praying for her for quite a while and God chose to bring her into Him family.
When they are infants we are basically nurturing them and caring for their every need. There is almost no discipline, except for things like extending the times between feeding and letting them cry a little longer. This helps them to understand that they are not the center of the universe.
As they get just a little older we can give them some choices, but with those choices come consequences. For example; they don't get to decide what they want to eat at every meal. Mom is not a short order cook. So if they refuse to eat the meal she has prepared, then they don't get to eat until the next meal. Guess what. They will appreciate their next meal all the more. And if they refuse that one, because of their stubborn little hearts, well then they will be all the more hungry the next time. It seems cruel, but as adults we don't get to make decisions on a lot of things that go on in our lives. There is a lot of discipline going on in these years.
As the child reaches their middle years there are even more choices for them to make. With those choice should come child/parent discussion on what the outcome of the choice will potentially look like. They are generally not ready to make every decision, but they are going to have to make a lot of decisions pretty soon, so we need to give them the tools to make God honoring decisions. This is really like being a coach. We have trained them in practice for many hours to make the right decision and then we have to sit back and watch them go out and either succeed or fail. When there is a break in the action then it is time to coach some more. "I noticed you did this in this situation. Do you think now that was the best choice, or would you do something different looking back on it now?" Those types of questions and discussions.
The final stage is friendship. Often parents try to get to friendship way too quickly and it blows up in their face. When all the nurturing, discipline and coaching is completed, then you are able to have a real friendship relationship with your child. This is really rewarding, as they can be great friends.
These stages include both spiritual and physical training. If you do the first stages really well, then the latter ones are much easier. If you neglect the first ones, you are in for a long haul.
Be encouraged. God can and does bring our children to Himself and He can give us godly children in spite of our imperfect parenting. My kids are proof positive of this. I have not been a great dad to them and yet He has blessed Teresa and I with 3 friends that we like to be with, and that others like to be with as well. He has taken my parenting neglect and turned it into 3 kids who are trusting and following Him.
As Ryan said, "Work like it all depends on you, pray like it all depends on God".
Please keep us updated on the progress of your child's walk.
A little more encouragement. One of the girls in the small group that meets at our house professed first time repentance on Monday night. We have been praying for her for quite a while and God chose to bring her into Him family.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Fight For Your Kids Souls
Last night Teresa had a very sad yet revealing discussion. A young lady has been displaying her heart for all the world to see. Posting all kinds of PDA and language on her web page. We have heard she is dabbling in some drugs and alcohol, so Teresa called to talk to her mother.
This is where the sadness comes in. Her mom asked Teresa to talk to the young lady and give her some Bible verses, because "she doesn't know her Bible that well". Mom knows this is not the way she wants her daughter to go, but doesn't want to make waves or set boundaries and lay down the law. She is just letting her do whatever she wants.
For sure it is up to God to draw our kids to Himself. But for sure we are stewards of their young souls. We need to do everything we can to bring them to Him and He has to do the work of saving them, but WE NEED TO WORK AND FIGHT FOR THEM!!
This young lady went to the movies and her father picked her up and she kissed her boyfriend on departure.
Dads are the gate keepers for their children, especially the daughters. As dads we had better make it very difficult for some young man to get physically connected with our daughters. We can't make it impossible for them to get away with anything, but they should have to openly rebel, and show their spiritual deadness, in order to be pleasing the lust that is crouching at their heart's door. Young men should be very afraid of over stepping their bounds when it comes to the hearts and bodies of our daughters.
Parents, don't waste all you have learned from when you were younger. Remember what you did and how you did it and use that as ammo to fight for the hearts of your kids. We are in a battle for the hearts of our kids. When you are in a battle and people are shooting at you, there is no time for sleep, no time to relax and no taking days off. Sin and the evil one don't take time off and they are trying to take your kids hearts away from them. Be sober, be vigilant!!
The spiritual health of our kids depends on how we engage in this fight. Be warriors. Ask for help. Be nosy. Make them uncomfortable, if that what it takes, but get in the middle of their lives and stay there. Pray for their salvation everyday.
This is where the sadness comes in. Her mom asked Teresa to talk to the young lady and give her some Bible verses, because "she doesn't know her Bible that well". Mom knows this is not the way she wants her daughter to go, but doesn't want to make waves or set boundaries and lay down the law. She is just letting her do whatever she wants.
For sure it is up to God to draw our kids to Himself. But for sure we are stewards of their young souls. We need to do everything we can to bring them to Him and He has to do the work of saving them, but WE NEED TO WORK AND FIGHT FOR THEM!!
This young lady went to the movies and her father picked her up and she kissed her boyfriend on departure.
Dads are the gate keepers for their children, especially the daughters. As dads we had better make it very difficult for some young man to get physically connected with our daughters. We can't make it impossible for them to get away with anything, but they should have to openly rebel, and show their spiritual deadness, in order to be pleasing the lust that is crouching at their heart's door. Young men should be very afraid of over stepping their bounds when it comes to the hearts and bodies of our daughters.
Parents, don't waste all you have learned from when you were younger. Remember what you did and how you did it and use that as ammo to fight for the hearts of your kids. We are in a battle for the hearts of our kids. When you are in a battle and people are shooting at you, there is no time for sleep, no time to relax and no taking days off. Sin and the evil one don't take time off and they are trying to take your kids hearts away from them. Be sober, be vigilant!!
The spiritual health of our kids depends on how we engage in this fight. Be warriors. Ask for help. Be nosy. Make them uncomfortable, if that what it takes, but get in the middle of their lives and stay there. Pray for their salvation everyday.
Help me Please
This is from a parent who posted a comment on the blog.
I have heard people say, "It is not my job to assure my child of their salvation, it is the Holy Spirit's job." How do you do this with a young teen, who is professing faith? How do you encourage them, yet not give them a false sense of security if you are not sure of their salvation yourself?
This was my reply to her question, but I want you all to add or subtract anything that is necessary. We are to be about making disciples, even if we never meet them on earth. It would be good of God to use us in some small way to help others make disciples. Please comment.
"I hope that some of our other staff will chime in on this as well.
We need to be very careful when reassuring others salvation. The cost is too great to be wrong.
When searching for fruit we should not be looking for things that can be done in the flesh, like being pleasant or helpful, but we should look for things like selflessness, a desire for spiritual things and a love for the Word. Not perfection but direction. Look at where they were last month and are they growing?
Our kids/students need to be challenged in their walk. They don't need to have some easy believism taught to them. The Christian life requires that we are willing to give up all that we are and have to follow Christ. Do you see that willingness? If so, there is your encouragement.
We all want to see our kids walking with the Lord, but we certainly don't want to give them assurance when we are questioning their salvation ourselves.
Who do they hang around with? The cool kids or the godly kids? Those generally are not the same. Do they have a web page of some sort? You can see their fruit and their friends by reading those. It may make you cry to read what is in their hearts, but better to ask the hard questions, in love, now than be too late. They want you to be concerned and ask them, even though they may squirm and act mad. In the end if they know you love them enough to be uncomfortable yet ask anyway, that will speak volumes to them.
God gives us those instincts for a reason. Pray that He would give you the right words, at the right time and with the right heart and go talk. It may be the hardest, best thing you will ever do for them.
We will pray for you. God is BIG and He draws those He loves to Himself. We are stewards of many things, including our kids."
I have heard people say, "It is not my job to assure my child of their salvation, it is the Holy Spirit's job." How do you do this with a young teen, who is professing faith? How do you encourage them, yet not give them a false sense of security if you are not sure of their salvation yourself?
This was my reply to her question, but I want you all to add or subtract anything that is necessary. We are to be about making disciples, even if we never meet them on earth. It would be good of God to use us in some small way to help others make disciples. Please comment.
"I hope that some of our other staff will chime in on this as well.
We need to be very careful when reassuring others salvation. The cost is too great to be wrong.
When searching for fruit we should not be looking for things that can be done in the flesh, like being pleasant or helpful, but we should look for things like selflessness, a desire for spiritual things and a love for the Word. Not perfection but direction. Look at where they were last month and are they growing?
Our kids/students need to be challenged in their walk. They don't need to have some easy believism taught to them. The Christian life requires that we are willing to give up all that we are and have to follow Christ. Do you see that willingness? If so, there is your encouragement.
We all want to see our kids walking with the Lord, but we certainly don't want to give them assurance when we are questioning their salvation ourselves.
Who do they hang around with? The cool kids or the godly kids? Those generally are not the same. Do they have a web page of some sort? You can see their fruit and their friends by reading those. It may make you cry to read what is in their hearts, but better to ask the hard questions, in love, now than be too late. They want you to be concerned and ask them, even though they may squirm and act mad. In the end if they know you love them enough to be uncomfortable yet ask anyway, that will speak volumes to them.
God gives us those instincts for a reason. Pray that He would give you the right words, at the right time and with the right heart and go talk. It may be the hardest, best thing you will ever do for them.
We will pray for you. God is BIG and He draws those He loves to Himself. We are stewards of many things, including our kids."
Scared to Death of Death
1 Cor. 15:21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 55 "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Phil. 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.
To the world, death is a scary thing. Many may claim they are not afraid of death, but I think it is because they don't think about it, or they don't think it is going to happen to them any time soon. What about you?
I was talking to Teresa yesterday about death. I told her I had been driving along behind a truck that had a bunch of rebar on the trailer and some was sticking way out the back, with little red flags on it. I thought, "If that truck stops really fast, I will be skewered". Some people would not drive behind a truck like that any longer than they absolutely need to, because they are afraid of pain, maybe, but probably death. I truly thought to myself, if God wants me home then He will take me, and I'm ready to go, but until he does I want to be available for Him in whatever way He chooses to use me.
Paul wasn't afraid of death, because he knew that it was a promotion, but he also knew that there was work left for him to do as long as he was alive on earth. He went from talking about the "sting of death" to "always abounding in the WORK of the Lord". Why do you suppose that is? Paul had a freedom in this life, because he knew that to die was better, but since God gave him life here on earth, He still had a plan, He still had some work for him to complete before it's time to go home.
This understanding of why we are here gives courage, boldness and freedom to go after it. How can we be afraid to talk to people about Christ when the best thing they could do is kill us? There are many here on earth that are "scared to death of death". If others around us are afraid of the future, and of death, shouldn't we be the calming force in their lives? When death comes up, or the uncertainty of the future, shouldn't we be the "steadfast, immovable" ones they can look to for comfort? We are Christ to the world. The only Christ they will see is us, living it out. If we are afraid, and we have the hope of Christ, where does that leave them?
I am truly ready to go home, maybe more excited than I should be. I need to have Paul's love of the work here. Paul didn't love the world, or the things in the world, but he loved the people and the Lord's work.
"As long as I breath, I will praise You Lord,
As long as I can sing, I will sing Your praise.
Wherever You lead me, I will follow You.
As long as I have breath, I will praise You Lord."
This is a choir song, but I don't know the writer.
A few questions;
Are you really ready to die?
Am I known as being other worldly, or just worldly?
Are you REALLY ready to die?
While God gives breath, He gives work. How am I doing on the work He has for me here?
Am I living in such a way that others are drawn to Christ?
Lord, may You give us courage to live in light of eternity. You have placed eternity in our hearts, not to fear it, but to cherish the life to come more than this one here on earth. May our hope be evident to all. May we go about your work here with fervor. Give us joy in our toil, because we know that our labor is not in vain and You only will leave us here while You have work for us to do. May we be looking toward Heaven and the prize that awaits, but looking for ways we can minister to the needs and struggles of others.
Give me a love for others that only You can give. Make my purpose Your glory. Slow me down enough to see the needs of others and then give me the heart to ask the right questions. You are Big and I am not. Take my hand and guide me where You want me to go. Give me a trust in You that can't be broken. This has to come from You, but You delight in growing and changing Your people. Change me into a vessel that You can use, for whatever purpose You choose.
Phil. 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.
To the world, death is a scary thing. Many may claim they are not afraid of death, but I think it is because they don't think about it, or they don't think it is going to happen to them any time soon. What about you?
I was talking to Teresa yesterday about death. I told her I had been driving along behind a truck that had a bunch of rebar on the trailer and some was sticking way out the back, with little red flags on it. I thought, "If that truck stops really fast, I will be skewered". Some people would not drive behind a truck like that any longer than they absolutely need to, because they are afraid of pain, maybe, but probably death. I truly thought to myself, if God wants me home then He will take me, and I'm ready to go, but until he does I want to be available for Him in whatever way He chooses to use me.
Paul wasn't afraid of death, because he knew that it was a promotion, but he also knew that there was work left for him to do as long as he was alive on earth. He went from talking about the "sting of death" to "always abounding in the WORK of the Lord". Why do you suppose that is? Paul had a freedom in this life, because he knew that to die was better, but since God gave him life here on earth, He still had a plan, He still had some work for him to complete before it's time to go home.
This understanding of why we are here gives courage, boldness and freedom to go after it. How can we be afraid to talk to people about Christ when the best thing they could do is kill us? There are many here on earth that are "scared to death of death". If others around us are afraid of the future, and of death, shouldn't we be the calming force in their lives? When death comes up, or the uncertainty of the future, shouldn't we be the "steadfast, immovable" ones they can look to for comfort? We are Christ to the world. The only Christ they will see is us, living it out. If we are afraid, and we have the hope of Christ, where does that leave them?
I am truly ready to go home, maybe more excited than I should be. I need to have Paul's love of the work here. Paul didn't love the world, or the things in the world, but he loved the people and the Lord's work.
"As long as I breath, I will praise You Lord,
As long as I can sing, I will sing Your praise.
Wherever You lead me, I will follow You.
As long as I have breath, I will praise You Lord."
This is a choir song, but I don't know the writer.
A few questions;
Are you really ready to die?
Am I known as being other worldly, or just worldly?
Are you REALLY ready to die?
While God gives breath, He gives work. How am I doing on the work He has for me here?
Am I living in such a way that others are drawn to Christ?
Lord, may You give us courage to live in light of eternity. You have placed eternity in our hearts, not to fear it, but to cherish the life to come more than this one here on earth. May our hope be evident to all. May we go about your work here with fervor. Give us joy in our toil, because we know that our labor is not in vain and You only will leave us here while You have work for us to do. May we be looking toward Heaven and the prize that awaits, but looking for ways we can minister to the needs and struggles of others.
Give me a love for others that only You can give. Make my purpose Your glory. Slow me down enough to see the needs of others and then give me the heart to ask the right questions. You are Big and I am not. Take my hand and guide me where You want me to go. Give me a trust in You that can't be broken. This has to come from You, but You delight in growing and changing Your people. Change me into a vessel that You can use, for whatever purpose You choose.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
quote of the week
Teresa and I talking about a touchy subject at work;
"It's not like you're going to egg shell around".
"It's not like you're going to egg shell around".
Learning and Affliction go hand in hand.
Ps. 119: 65 You have dealt well with your servant,
O LORD, according to your word.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
for I believe in your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I keep your word.
68 You are good and do good;
teach me your statutes.
69 The insolent smear me with lies,
but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;
70 their heart is unfeeling like fat,
but I delight in your law.
71 It is good for me that I was afflicted,
that I might learn your statutes.
72 The law of your mouth is better to me
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
We are servants of the King and yet He calls us friends. The King has dealt more than graciously with us as His servant. Though I bring no resume, no work ethic and no ability He still lets me come to work everyday, He still teaches me and He still pays me much more than I deserve. He should fire me, but instead He lets me feast at His table. We can know we are His children when He deals so kindly with us.
He is always instructing, always teaching and always training, that we might be more complete in Him. His method of training is often affliction, and it is a very good teacher. He will not spare any form of instruction so that in the end we are pure vessels fit for His Kingdom.
It doesn't matter what other say or do, my delight is in His Word. He keeps me in it and makes it fresh and alive that I might want to be in it.
"It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes." is something that I need always to remember. When my life is over and I reach Heaven and the only thing I have learned is the character of God, then that is more than enough. If He chooses to teach me through trials and affliction my heart should rejoice in the fact that He actually chooses to teach me anything.
There is no money or treasure that can compare to knowing Him. If I have to choose between having anything, or everything, here on earth and Christ, He is the Pearl of Greatest Price. He is the Treasure and His Word is the map to find Him. Many have left all to seek out buried treasure, but to no avail. He promises that when we seek Him with our whole heart we will find Him.
O LORD, according to your word.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
for I believe in your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I keep your word.
68 You are good and do good;
teach me your statutes.
69 The insolent smear me with lies,
but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;
70 their heart is unfeeling like fat,
but I delight in your law.
71 It is good for me that I was afflicted,
that I might learn your statutes.
72 The law of your mouth is better to me
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
We are servants of the King and yet He calls us friends. The King has dealt more than graciously with us as His servant. Though I bring no resume, no work ethic and no ability He still lets me come to work everyday, He still teaches me and He still pays me much more than I deserve. He should fire me, but instead He lets me feast at His table. We can know we are His children when He deals so kindly with us.
He is always instructing, always teaching and always training, that we might be more complete in Him. His method of training is often affliction, and it is a very good teacher. He will not spare any form of instruction so that in the end we are pure vessels fit for His Kingdom.
It doesn't matter what other say or do, my delight is in His Word. He keeps me in it and makes it fresh and alive that I might want to be in it.
"It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes." is something that I need always to remember. When my life is over and I reach Heaven and the only thing I have learned is the character of God, then that is more than enough. If He chooses to teach me through trials and affliction my heart should rejoice in the fact that He actually chooses to teach me anything.
There is no money or treasure that can compare to knowing Him. If I have to choose between having anything, or everything, here on earth and Christ, He is the Pearl of Greatest Price. He is the Treasure and His Word is the map to find Him. Many have left all to seek out buried treasure, but to no avail. He promises that when we seek Him with our whole heart we will find Him.
It's Cool to talk about Spiritual Things.
In Jr. high and high school I attended a Christian school, where my dad was the principle, most of the time. I remember part of the self evaluation portion of our report card was a list of things such as, "Gets along well with others", "Does not talk in class", as well as "talks about spiritual things". This morning I was just thinking about my own kids, and some of the students in our ministry.
First off, let me say that I always talked too much in class, so a couple of my kids now will know who to thank for that character trait. I always got along well with the people I liked, but not so much with those I didn't. And I never talked about spiritual things unless a teacher brought it up. Being a pagan certainly doesn't lend itself to a desire for spiritual things. And that is the point of this post.
Not until very recently have I had a desire to talk about spiritual things. God draws His children to Himself and also gives us the desire to be in His Word and in prayer. If He doesn't give that desire it will be a long grind and often end in failure of the relationship, unless we keep begging Him for those desires. I think that most people give up and walk away when the "desert walk" is too long. Pray that He would give a desire for fellowship everyday. Pray for rain to water the seeds that are planted, so that they will spring up, get leaves, branches, blossom and then bear fruit. He will do it, we just have to be disciplined to keep begging Him.
When God works in us and changes our desires, even and maybe mostly, through trials, we can have an assurance of salvation. God wouldn't give you a desire to be in His Word, pray, have fellowship with other believers and to meditate and talk about spiritual things if you are not saved. The desire would go away and you would go back to settling for lesser loves and joys. So if this is you, thank God for His work in your life. If it is not you, keep begging He would change you. Ask someone you trust to hold you accountable in your walk. When was the last time someone asked you, "How's your Bible reading going?" "What are you learning?" Are you known as a person who talks about spiritual things often, or do you change the subject when spiritual things are brought up, because it makes you uncomfortable? We should be "at home" talking about the One we love the most.
So, on to the kids. God has given us 3 great kids with our earthly genetics and a bunch of great kids with our spiritual genetics. Kimmy, Grant and Garrett are not perfect children, as they all are related to me, this could not happen. But, they are 3 kids that God has drawn and is drawing to Himself, and it is evident from the fruit in their lives. As parents we are called to be fruit inspectors, especially in our children. We need to help them inspect their own fruit and where the fruit is evident, give encouragement of salvation and where there is no fruit talk with them about it. You can say to your kids, "You know, I am not seeing much of a love for the Word. Are you reading your Bible and does it seem like a lot of work, or is it your joy?" Questions like this are good for us to ask, and great for our kids to answer. Encourage them when you see areas of growth.
Help them to choose friends that spur them on to love and good deeds. Encourage them to choose their friends very wisely. Friends that will talk about spiritual things, ask hard questions and pray for them, are the friends we want our kids to hang with. Mutual edification is a good thing.
What about the kids who don't have a heart for spiritual things? Who will minister to them? You and your kids. When there is a party, make it at your house and tell the spiritual leaders before hand they should spark the conversation and direct it in a spiritual direction. When leaders lead toward spiritual things, then it just might be considered "cool" to talk about spiritual things. We are to be salt and light, but that means we actually have to be salt and light.
Some practical things to think about;
1. Are you personally interested in spiritual things?
2. Do you have someone you trust that helps to keep you accountable?
3. Are you helping or hurting others desire to talk about spiritual things?
4. Are you inspecting your own fruit, and is someone else giving you feedback?
5. If you have kids, are you inspecting their fruit?
6. Are you asking them the hard questions?
Remember to encourage where you see growth and ask hard questions when you don't. MySpace and FaceBook pages are a great indicator where hearts truly are. Is there any mention of spiritual things there, for all the world to see, or is it just like every other one? Example, if you see lots of skin, foul language, course jesting, and PDA, there is a good possibility that spiritual fruit is not coming any time soon.
Oh Lord, may we be children of Your Word and children who love to talk to You. Give us the desire and the will to be "other worldly". Make Yourself our greatest joy and treasure. May You be our first and best thought, by day or by night. May we think about You often, meditate on Your Word and be in prayer continually. May we desire to tell others of the One who gave Himself up for us; the One who has given us life. Give us joy here, today, that others would see our love for You and be drawn to You. Give us companions that encourage our walk toward godliness. Protect our kids from the evil one. Give them a love for You. May they see You in us and be drawn to You because of it. You have to work all these things in us. Please do Your great work and we will rejoice when You start because we know that You finish what You start.
First off, let me say that I always talked too much in class, so a couple of my kids now will know who to thank for that character trait. I always got along well with the people I liked, but not so much with those I didn't. And I never talked about spiritual things unless a teacher brought it up. Being a pagan certainly doesn't lend itself to a desire for spiritual things. And that is the point of this post.
Not until very recently have I had a desire to talk about spiritual things. God draws His children to Himself and also gives us the desire to be in His Word and in prayer. If He doesn't give that desire it will be a long grind and often end in failure of the relationship, unless we keep begging Him for those desires. I think that most people give up and walk away when the "desert walk" is too long. Pray that He would give a desire for fellowship everyday. Pray for rain to water the seeds that are planted, so that they will spring up, get leaves, branches, blossom and then bear fruit. He will do it, we just have to be disciplined to keep begging Him.
When God works in us and changes our desires, even and maybe mostly, through trials, we can have an assurance of salvation. God wouldn't give you a desire to be in His Word, pray, have fellowship with other believers and to meditate and talk about spiritual things if you are not saved. The desire would go away and you would go back to settling for lesser loves and joys. So if this is you, thank God for His work in your life. If it is not you, keep begging He would change you. Ask someone you trust to hold you accountable in your walk. When was the last time someone asked you, "How's your Bible reading going?" "What are you learning?" Are you known as a person who talks about spiritual things often, or do you change the subject when spiritual things are brought up, because it makes you uncomfortable? We should be "at home" talking about the One we love the most.
So, on to the kids. God has given us 3 great kids with our earthly genetics and a bunch of great kids with our spiritual genetics. Kimmy, Grant and Garrett are not perfect children, as they all are related to me, this could not happen. But, they are 3 kids that God has drawn and is drawing to Himself, and it is evident from the fruit in their lives. As parents we are called to be fruit inspectors, especially in our children. We need to help them inspect their own fruit and where the fruit is evident, give encouragement of salvation and where there is no fruit talk with them about it. You can say to your kids, "You know, I am not seeing much of a love for the Word. Are you reading your Bible and does it seem like a lot of work, or is it your joy?" Questions like this are good for us to ask, and great for our kids to answer. Encourage them when you see areas of growth.
Help them to choose friends that spur them on to love and good deeds. Encourage them to choose their friends very wisely. Friends that will talk about spiritual things, ask hard questions and pray for them, are the friends we want our kids to hang with. Mutual edification is a good thing.
What about the kids who don't have a heart for spiritual things? Who will minister to them? You and your kids. When there is a party, make it at your house and tell the spiritual leaders before hand they should spark the conversation and direct it in a spiritual direction. When leaders lead toward spiritual things, then it just might be considered "cool" to talk about spiritual things. We are to be salt and light, but that means we actually have to be salt and light.
Some practical things to think about;
1. Are you personally interested in spiritual things?
2. Do you have someone you trust that helps to keep you accountable?
3. Are you helping or hurting others desire to talk about spiritual things?
4. Are you inspecting your own fruit, and is someone else giving you feedback?
5. If you have kids, are you inspecting their fruit?
6. Are you asking them the hard questions?
Remember to encourage where you see growth and ask hard questions when you don't. MySpace and FaceBook pages are a great indicator where hearts truly are. Is there any mention of spiritual things there, for all the world to see, or is it just like every other one? Example, if you see lots of skin, foul language, course jesting, and PDA, there is a good possibility that spiritual fruit is not coming any time soon.
Oh Lord, may we be children of Your Word and children who love to talk to You. Give us the desire and the will to be "other worldly". Make Yourself our greatest joy and treasure. May You be our first and best thought, by day or by night. May we think about You often, meditate on Your Word and be in prayer continually. May we desire to tell others of the One who gave Himself up for us; the One who has given us life. Give us joy here, today, that others would see our love for You and be drawn to You. Give us companions that encourage our walk toward godliness. Protect our kids from the evil one. Give them a love for You. May they see You in us and be drawn to You because of it. You have to work all these things in us. Please do Your great work and we will rejoice when You start because we know that You finish what You start.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Godliness is our Spiritual Beauty
"Godliness is to the soul what the light is to the world: to illustrate and adorn it. It is not greatness which sets us off in God's eye but goodness. What is the beauty of the angels but their sanctity? Godliness is the intricate embroidery and workmanship of the Holy Ghost. A soul furnished with godliness is damasked with beauty, it is enameled with purity. This is the clothing of wrought gold which makes the King of heaven fall in love with us. Were there no excellence in holiness, the hypocrite would never try to paint it. Godliness sheds a glory and luster on the saints." Thomas Watson
1 Tim. 4:6 If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
We are called to a life of godliness, to train ourselves, work toward it and strive after it. All of these actions are not traits of the slothful, but of the disciplined. But it is our duty, on one side, and should be our joy, on the other.
In this first paragraph, the statement, "which makes the King of heaven fall in love with us", blows me away. Can there really be anything that would make the King of Heaven fall in love with me? If so, how can this be? I have nothing to love, except He gives it, yet if I am godly He falls in love with me.
This is why godliness should be our joy, as the fruit of godliness is a relationship with our Heavenly Love. When we are far away from godliness, we are far away from His love.
Oh, that I might be more godly tomorrow than I was today.
1 Tim. 4:6 If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
We are called to a life of godliness, to train ourselves, work toward it and strive after it. All of these actions are not traits of the slothful, but of the disciplined. But it is our duty, on one side, and should be our joy, on the other.
In this first paragraph, the statement, "which makes the King of heaven fall in love with us", blows me away. Can there really be anything that would make the King of Heaven fall in love with me? If so, how can this be? I have nothing to love, except He gives it, yet if I am godly He falls in love with me.
This is why godliness should be our joy, as the fruit of godliness is a relationship with our Heavenly Love. When we are far away from godliness, we are far away from His love.
Oh, that I might be more godly tomorrow than I was today.
Workers in the Vineyard
Matt. 20:1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and to them he said, 'You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.' 5 So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?' 7 They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You go into the vineyard too.' 8 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.' 9 And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. 10 Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. 11 And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, 12 saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' 13 But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?' 16 So the last will be first, and the first last."
Last night 5 people were baptized at our church. Normally there are quite a few younger kids, but this time there were some more mature people.
God is amazing how He allows some to see the truth of His Word and moves them in repentance at an early age, and others He allows to go a long time w/o true repentance. The younger ones should not grumble that they have HAD to work all these years while the elder people were going along in sin. The younger should be thrilled that God spared them from so many evil things.
God's gift of eternal life is free to all and it is the same to all. Whether you come to true repentance when you are 6 of 96, God saves those He wants to save and He gives the Prize to all equally.
Let us not despise the kindness of the Lord toward others, but rejoice in their salvation, and ours.
Last night 5 people were baptized at our church. Normally there are quite a few younger kids, but this time there were some more mature people.
God is amazing how He allows some to see the truth of His Word and moves them in repentance at an early age, and others He allows to go a long time w/o true repentance. The younger ones should not grumble that they have HAD to work all these years while the elder people were going along in sin. The younger should be thrilled that God spared them from so many evil things.
God's gift of eternal life is free to all and it is the same to all. Whether you come to true repentance when you are 6 of 96, God saves those He wants to save and He gives the Prize to all equally.
Let us not despise the kindness of the Lord toward others, but rejoice in their salvation, and ours.
Trials. Who Needs 'em?
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Do Not Grow Weary
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
"My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives."
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
Ps. 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I keep your word.
71 It is good for me that I was afflicted,
that I might learn your statutes.
I have had the opportunity quite a few times this last week to talk about Grant's story with people coming through our home show booth. Some of these people are old friends who hadn't heard about his event, others we have just met and we started talking about kids and one thing led to another.
Grant's event has produced many different things in me personally, and in others as well. As I have shared in these postings, it has better prepared me for today's economy and to really trust God much more.
But why trials, afflictions and testings? Why does God allow us to go through these kind of times? When we are saved He could make it so that our salvation is the end of our suffering on earth and we would begin to receive the rewards of following Him right away. To some Christians that may happen, but I don't think it is the case most often. So why would anyone ever want trials? Previously I never wanted trials, but God is changing my thinking.
Trials produce so many good things in our lives, that without them we are but a small portion of the Christian we would be, in so many areas, if God chose to allow us to go on the easier road. Much of the following reflections are from Thomas Watson's book, The Godly Man's Picture, though not in his exact language.
When God chooses to bring trials into our lives, we can know that He cares for us. If we have no trials, we should be looking closely at why He is not bringing them. Is He allowing us to go on our own path w/o any correction? If so, then are you really His child, if He disciplines the ones He loves? Trials bring assurance of His love for us.
I personally have found that trials produce much more fervent prayers. When everything is going good I, most often, am not driven to my knees to cry out to God for His help. I work hard and try to be a nice guy and then take the credit for it. But when I am being tested, I quickly see that this has nothing to do with me, and it is God who is doing the work. Whether the work is stopping and starting Grant's heart, or bringing in business at PG, it is still all of God's doing, not mine. God is glorified when we are begging Him to deliver us, not from the testing as much as from our lack of seeing our utter need of Him in every situation. When life if "good", I totally miss that. Trials give us a longing to pray.
When life if "good" it has been easy for me to get caught up in the affairs of this world and to try to find all of my happiness, success and value in what I am doing. But when trials come it makes me look at everything this world has to offer and evaluate just what I am accomplishing in the grind. In the end there is nothing left that compares to the life to come, but if life here is easy I would totally miss the fact that Heaven is my home and would not be focused on the Prize. Watson said, and I paraphrase, "If there are apples and flowers along the way, our journey is slowed because of the enjoyment of those things. But if a child is afraid along the path, then the trip is much faster because they can't wait to get home". How true this is. When we have everything we need here on earth, why would we want to leave? But when life is hard here on earth, why would we want to stay? Trials give us a longing for Heaven.
Since Jesus is the Great Physician and grace is His medicine, would we ever know the richness of grace and the curing power of that grace if we were never "sick". Our trials drive us to our knees begging for His grace and when those trials are severe He then lavishes His mercy and grace on us the most. With small trials come small graces, with large trials graces flows like a river over us, to heal us. Trials bring great grace.
Trials enable us to endure things which are difficult, so down the road, when we face another difficult situation, we have been tested and we can look back and say, "God brought me through this trial last time and He will be faithful to do it again". Once we have gone through one difficult situation, we are then better prepared for the next one. Trials produce patience.
When the road is rough and the weather is nasty, we can look down the road to see a glorious Kingdom, we can have hope that all of this craziness of life is but a breath and we will soon be with our Lord, the Sweet Shepherd, reigning with Him. People travel over many rough and windy roads to get to some remote place to smell the air, take a picture, put their feet in the water or sand, and then turn right back around to go home again to the grind. Well this trip on earth is one of rough and windy roads, but when we reach what is truly paradise, we won't ever have to leave again. Trials bring a glorious ending and a glorious reward.
Lord, please bring us trials that we may trust in Your care. You give us exactly what we need for our completion and You also give us the grace to endure the trial. You have given us faith to trust, grace to encourage our hearts, patience to endure, Your Word to light our path, and prayer to comfort. May we rejoice in our trial, even though they are hard, they bring about the fruit of righteousness and bring us closer to You, which is where we want to be.
Do Not Grow Weary
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
"My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives."
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
Ps. 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I keep your word.
71 It is good for me that I was afflicted,
that I might learn your statutes.
I have had the opportunity quite a few times this last week to talk about Grant's story with people coming through our home show booth. Some of these people are old friends who hadn't heard about his event, others we have just met and we started talking about kids and one thing led to another.
Grant's event has produced many different things in me personally, and in others as well. As I have shared in these postings, it has better prepared me for today's economy and to really trust God much more.
But why trials, afflictions and testings? Why does God allow us to go through these kind of times? When we are saved He could make it so that our salvation is the end of our suffering on earth and we would begin to receive the rewards of following Him right away. To some Christians that may happen, but I don't think it is the case most often. So why would anyone ever want trials? Previously I never wanted trials, but God is changing my thinking.
Trials produce so many good things in our lives, that without them we are but a small portion of the Christian we would be, in so many areas, if God chose to allow us to go on the easier road. Much of the following reflections are from Thomas Watson's book, The Godly Man's Picture, though not in his exact language.
When God chooses to bring trials into our lives, we can know that He cares for us. If we have no trials, we should be looking closely at why He is not bringing them. Is He allowing us to go on our own path w/o any correction? If so, then are you really His child, if He disciplines the ones He loves? Trials bring assurance of His love for us.
I personally have found that trials produce much more fervent prayers. When everything is going good I, most often, am not driven to my knees to cry out to God for His help. I work hard and try to be a nice guy and then take the credit for it. But when I am being tested, I quickly see that this has nothing to do with me, and it is God who is doing the work. Whether the work is stopping and starting Grant's heart, or bringing in business at PG, it is still all of God's doing, not mine. God is glorified when we are begging Him to deliver us, not from the testing as much as from our lack of seeing our utter need of Him in every situation. When life if "good", I totally miss that. Trials give us a longing to pray.
When life if "good" it has been easy for me to get caught up in the affairs of this world and to try to find all of my happiness, success and value in what I am doing. But when trials come it makes me look at everything this world has to offer and evaluate just what I am accomplishing in the grind. In the end there is nothing left that compares to the life to come, but if life here is easy I would totally miss the fact that Heaven is my home and would not be focused on the Prize. Watson said, and I paraphrase, "If there are apples and flowers along the way, our journey is slowed because of the enjoyment of those things. But if a child is afraid along the path, then the trip is much faster because they can't wait to get home". How true this is. When we have everything we need here on earth, why would we want to leave? But when life is hard here on earth, why would we want to stay? Trials give us a longing for Heaven.
Since Jesus is the Great Physician and grace is His medicine, would we ever know the richness of grace and the curing power of that grace if we were never "sick". Our trials drive us to our knees begging for His grace and when those trials are severe He then lavishes His mercy and grace on us the most. With small trials come small graces, with large trials graces flows like a river over us, to heal us. Trials bring great grace.
Trials enable us to endure things which are difficult, so down the road, when we face another difficult situation, we have been tested and we can look back and say, "God brought me through this trial last time and He will be faithful to do it again". Once we have gone through one difficult situation, we are then better prepared for the next one. Trials produce patience.
When the road is rough and the weather is nasty, we can look down the road to see a glorious Kingdom, we can have hope that all of this craziness of life is but a breath and we will soon be with our Lord, the Sweet Shepherd, reigning with Him. People travel over many rough and windy roads to get to some remote place to smell the air, take a picture, put their feet in the water or sand, and then turn right back around to go home again to the grind. Well this trip on earth is one of rough and windy roads, but when we reach what is truly paradise, we won't ever have to leave again. Trials bring a glorious ending and a glorious reward.
Lord, please bring us trials that we may trust in Your care. You give us exactly what we need for our completion and You also give us the grace to endure the trial. You have given us faith to trust, grace to encourage our hearts, patience to endure, Your Word to light our path, and prayer to comfort. May we rejoice in our trial, even though they are hard, they bring about the fruit of righteousness and bring us closer to You, which is where we want to be.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
What is the Cost of Discipleship?
Matt. 16:24 Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
What does it mean to deny one self? What about taking up our cross? Jesus can't mean for us to actually carry a literal cross today, can He? How do we really follow Christ, since He is not walking in front of us, like He was with the disciples? How do you lose your life, when you actually are alive right now?
"Come after me" is talking about being disciples of Christ; a Christian. Being a "disciple", or "come after me", would have had the same meaning to the people listening to Jesus; a follower.
"Deny yourself" has the idea of knowing that we are totally inadequate on our own, in our flesh, to come and follow Christ. We have no ability to desire Christ above the world's pleasure. We are lost, without hope, dead, without power to save ourselves and we must look to Christ for His work in our lives to make us alive. Deny any ability on our own for salvation.
"Take up you cross" would have had a very poignant meaning for them, as many Jews had been crucified by the Roman government. This would have a clear meaning of an instrument of death to them. I often think about a literal cross, but Jesus was speaking more of a means of death to ourselves. I am much better at the big "crosses" than the little ones. I can see the big ones as important, but the little ones are more of an inconvenience, rather than something that I have to be willing to die to. Yet these small ones all add up to the weight of our daily, hourly, minutely, struggle in dying to ourselves.
So when we have finally reached the point of seeing our need to follow Christ, through His leading, and understand that none of this comes from within us, but it's all of Christ's work in us, on our behalf, when we are finally willing to joyfully follow Christ's example of self denial, as He demonstrated for us by leaving Heaven and coming to earth to die for the ones He created, then, and only then, are we ready to say we are ready to become Christians; Disciples of Christ; His Followers. Until then, we are trying to gain without going through pain, we are trying to have both the treasure and the easy life here on earth. This is not the path to Heaven as Jesus is lining out for us.
Jesus is saying that if we want to gain eternal life in Heaven with Him, we need to be willing and ready to suffer for His name, like He suffered here on earth. There is no gaining w/o losing. He MAY chose to bless us here on earth, but there is no guarantee of that physical/material blessing, and we need to be wary of earthly wealth; as He tells us it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter Heaven. Does He say that we can't have earthly riches? No. But He is saying that we need to be willing to not have even a place to lay our heads, on earth, if that what it takes to follow Him completely.
In the end, what have we gained if we have possessed the entire world's treasures, for our short time, and have traded that for an eternity w/o God and in Hell? We haven't gained at all, but we have made the worst investment possible. We have traded being rich for "a day", for being poor for "a lifetime".
Does being rich on earth gain you anything in the pursuit of the salvation of our souls? No, all souls are valued the same and are bought with the exact same price; Christ's blood on the cross. The question is, are you really willing to trade?
The thought of the trade may be more painful that the actual trade, because like the rich young ruler, there is a potentially great cost. I say "potentially" because again, God may chose to allow you to have much of what we have already acquired here on earth, but the pain comes in asking yourself if you are really willing to give it all up, if that is what He requires. Are you willing to leave everything you have received, all by His goodness in the first place, for the possibility of having nothing but Him while you remain on earth? There is where the pain comes from. This is not easy believism.
This is from an unknown author, but seems to sum up what Christ is saying about denying ourselves.
"Suppose you have been neglected or unforgiven. You sting with the hurt of the insult from such an oversight, but your heart is happy because you have been counted worthy to suffer for Christ. That is what dying to self is all about.
When your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, and your opinions ridiculed, and yet you refuse to let anger rise in your heart or try to defend yourself, you are practicing dying to self. When you lovingly and patiently stand face to face with folly and spiritual insensitivity, and endure it as Jesus did, you have died to self.
When you are content with any food, money, clothing, climate, society, solitude, or interruption by the will of God, you have died to self. When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation, record your own good works, or desire commendation from others, you are dying to self. When you can honestly rejoice with a brother who has prospered and had his needs met, and never feel any envy though your needs are greater and still unmet, you have practiced dying to self.
When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself, and humbly admit he's right with no resentment or rebellion in your heart, you have died to self. Are you dead yet?"
From this list, I have a long way to go. I am encouraged that Christ has begun the work, and I pray that He would continue it, as I don't have the will, nor the capacity, to do this w/o Him doing it in me.
What does it mean to deny one self? What about taking up our cross? Jesus can't mean for us to actually carry a literal cross today, can He? How do we really follow Christ, since He is not walking in front of us, like He was with the disciples? How do you lose your life, when you actually are alive right now?
"Come after me" is talking about being disciples of Christ; a Christian. Being a "disciple", or "come after me", would have had the same meaning to the people listening to Jesus; a follower.
"Deny yourself" has the idea of knowing that we are totally inadequate on our own, in our flesh, to come and follow Christ. We have no ability to desire Christ above the world's pleasure. We are lost, without hope, dead, without power to save ourselves and we must look to Christ for His work in our lives to make us alive. Deny any ability on our own for salvation.
"Take up you cross" would have had a very poignant meaning for them, as many Jews had been crucified by the Roman government. This would have a clear meaning of an instrument of death to them. I often think about a literal cross, but Jesus was speaking more of a means of death to ourselves. I am much better at the big "crosses" than the little ones. I can see the big ones as important, but the little ones are more of an inconvenience, rather than something that I have to be willing to die to. Yet these small ones all add up to the weight of our daily, hourly, minutely, struggle in dying to ourselves.
So when we have finally reached the point of seeing our need to follow Christ, through His leading, and understand that none of this comes from within us, but it's all of Christ's work in us, on our behalf, when we are finally willing to joyfully follow Christ's example of self denial, as He demonstrated for us by leaving Heaven and coming to earth to die for the ones He created, then, and only then, are we ready to say we are ready to become Christians; Disciples of Christ; His Followers. Until then, we are trying to gain without going through pain, we are trying to have both the treasure and the easy life here on earth. This is not the path to Heaven as Jesus is lining out for us.
Jesus is saying that if we want to gain eternal life in Heaven with Him, we need to be willing and ready to suffer for His name, like He suffered here on earth. There is no gaining w/o losing. He MAY chose to bless us here on earth, but there is no guarantee of that physical/material blessing, and we need to be wary of earthly wealth; as He tells us it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter Heaven. Does He say that we can't have earthly riches? No. But He is saying that we need to be willing to not have even a place to lay our heads, on earth, if that what it takes to follow Him completely.
In the end, what have we gained if we have possessed the entire world's treasures, for our short time, and have traded that for an eternity w/o God and in Hell? We haven't gained at all, but we have made the worst investment possible. We have traded being rich for "a day", for being poor for "a lifetime".
Does being rich on earth gain you anything in the pursuit of the salvation of our souls? No, all souls are valued the same and are bought with the exact same price; Christ's blood on the cross. The question is, are you really willing to trade?
The thought of the trade may be more painful that the actual trade, because like the rich young ruler, there is a potentially great cost. I say "potentially" because again, God may chose to allow you to have much of what we have already acquired here on earth, but the pain comes in asking yourself if you are really willing to give it all up, if that is what He requires. Are you willing to leave everything you have received, all by His goodness in the first place, for the possibility of having nothing but Him while you remain on earth? There is where the pain comes from. This is not easy believism.
This is from an unknown author, but seems to sum up what Christ is saying about denying ourselves.
"Suppose you have been neglected or unforgiven. You sting with the hurt of the insult from such an oversight, but your heart is happy because you have been counted worthy to suffer for Christ. That is what dying to self is all about.
When your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, and your opinions ridiculed, and yet you refuse to let anger rise in your heart or try to defend yourself, you are practicing dying to self. When you lovingly and patiently stand face to face with folly and spiritual insensitivity, and endure it as Jesus did, you have died to self.
When you are content with any food, money, clothing, climate, society, solitude, or interruption by the will of God, you have died to self. When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation, record your own good works, or desire commendation from others, you are dying to self. When you can honestly rejoice with a brother who has prospered and had his needs met, and never feel any envy though your needs are greater and still unmet, you have practiced dying to self.
When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself, and humbly admit he's right with no resentment or rebellion in your heart, you have died to self. Are you dead yet?"
From this list, I have a long way to go. I am encouraged that Christ has begun the work, and I pray that He would continue it, as I don't have the will, nor the capacity, to do this w/o Him doing it in me.
Drawn to His Word
Ps. 119: 57 The LORD is my portion;
I promise to keep your words.
58 I entreat your favor with all my heart;
be gracious to me according to your promise.
59 When I think on my ways,
I turn my feet to your testimonies;
60 I hasten and do not delay
to keep your commandments.
61 Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me,
I do not forget your law.
62 At midnight I rise to praise you,
because of your righteous rules.
63 I am a companion of all who fear you,
of those who keep your precepts.
64 The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love;
teach me your statutes!
There is nothing I desire here on earth but the Lord, and He is my portion, but I can't promise, on my own, to keep His Word. There is too much evil in me to promise to do good, there is too much running away for me to promise always to run toward. But He has given me an attraction that I have never had before, and by His drawing I desire to be being conformed to His Word and in turn Christ likeness.
He has been gracious to me according to His promise. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; much more pleasant than I deserve. He has blessed me beyond what is required, and if He chooses to bless me more, that is totally up to His goodness, not because of any worth on my part. I would ask that He continue to bless, so that He might be shown even more gracious, not that I may have comfort.
When I think of my ways, I am not as David is here, I am "prone to wander, prone to leave the God I love", but He is able to "take my heart and seal it", to chain me to His Word, so that I might be ready "for His courts above".
He is working in my heart moment by moment to give me the desire to run toward His Word, to remember it, to meditate on it, to think about it even in the late watches of the night. When I wake up too early, or am awake too late, His Word is near me, shaping my thoughts, hammering the sin, and water the seeds of righteousness that have been planted that they may grow and produce fruit. He is the seed and the water and it is Him that causes the growth. He is worthy of my praise, may I give it freely. May I be overflowing with praise for Him, every moment of every day. May His praise be continually on my lips.
He has worked and is still working to change my heart to love His people. On my own, it is not all who fear Him that I am inclined toward, but if He can change my heart from a heart of stone to a heart of flesh, He can bring this about in me. His people are my best friends in life, but it should be that it is ALL His people, not just some of His people. He will continue to work.
The whole of the earth can't contain all if His love, but it is filled to overflowing with it. If I choose to think about it, everywhere I look I can be reminded of His steadfast love for all His children, long suffering toward the wicked and sustaining grace for all of creation. Give to me the desire Great God of love, mercy and compassion.
I want to know all His Statutes. I want His Word to be the food that I long for more than physical food. I want to eat His Word, that I might be strong in Him and ready for the battle. He gives the appetite, the desire, and then He gives the growth and more desire from the growth.
Oh Lord, do not take away the desire from me. Give an over abundance. Make me a glutton for Your Word that I might be spiritually fat. May I be consumed with consuming Your Word and may it be the feast I long to have every meal. This is only possible when You give it and when You sustain it. There is nothing in me that is drawn to good, except You put it there. Please keep putting it in me, so I will continue to be shaped and fashioned by it. After You have finished Your perfect work in me, may all who see the change know that it is You that has done this, and not me. Glorify Yourself by the change in me.
I promise to keep your words.
58 I entreat your favor with all my heart;
be gracious to me according to your promise.
59 When I think on my ways,
I turn my feet to your testimonies;
60 I hasten and do not delay
to keep your commandments.
61 Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me,
I do not forget your law.
62 At midnight I rise to praise you,
because of your righteous rules.
63 I am a companion of all who fear you,
of those who keep your precepts.
64 The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love;
teach me your statutes!
There is nothing I desire here on earth but the Lord, and He is my portion, but I can't promise, on my own, to keep His Word. There is too much evil in me to promise to do good, there is too much running away for me to promise always to run toward. But He has given me an attraction that I have never had before, and by His drawing I desire to be being conformed to His Word and in turn Christ likeness.
He has been gracious to me according to His promise. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; much more pleasant than I deserve. He has blessed me beyond what is required, and if He chooses to bless me more, that is totally up to His goodness, not because of any worth on my part. I would ask that He continue to bless, so that He might be shown even more gracious, not that I may have comfort.
When I think of my ways, I am not as David is here, I am "prone to wander, prone to leave the God I love", but He is able to "take my heart and seal it", to chain me to His Word, so that I might be ready "for His courts above".
He is working in my heart moment by moment to give me the desire to run toward His Word, to remember it, to meditate on it, to think about it even in the late watches of the night. When I wake up too early, or am awake too late, His Word is near me, shaping my thoughts, hammering the sin, and water the seeds of righteousness that have been planted that they may grow and produce fruit. He is the seed and the water and it is Him that causes the growth. He is worthy of my praise, may I give it freely. May I be overflowing with praise for Him, every moment of every day. May His praise be continually on my lips.
He has worked and is still working to change my heart to love His people. On my own, it is not all who fear Him that I am inclined toward, but if He can change my heart from a heart of stone to a heart of flesh, He can bring this about in me. His people are my best friends in life, but it should be that it is ALL His people, not just some of His people. He will continue to work.
The whole of the earth can't contain all if His love, but it is filled to overflowing with it. If I choose to think about it, everywhere I look I can be reminded of His steadfast love for all His children, long suffering toward the wicked and sustaining grace for all of creation. Give to me the desire Great God of love, mercy and compassion.
I want to know all His Statutes. I want His Word to be the food that I long for more than physical food. I want to eat His Word, that I might be strong in Him and ready for the battle. He gives the appetite, the desire, and then He gives the growth and more desire from the growth.
Oh Lord, do not take away the desire from me. Give an over abundance. Make me a glutton for Your Word that I might be spiritually fat. May I be consumed with consuming Your Word and may it be the feast I long to have every meal. This is only possible when You give it and when You sustain it. There is nothing in me that is drawn to good, except You put it there. Please keep putting it in me, so I will continue to be shaped and fashioned by it. After You have finished Your perfect work in me, may all who see the change know that it is You that has done this, and not me. Glorify Yourself by the change in me.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Illumination & Revelation
Matt. 16: 13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" 14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
Jesus tells His disciples, and us, that there is no illumination without divine revelation. This doesn't mean that we are to keep our "findings" to ourselves, we are still to "Go and make disciple of all the nations".
We don't seek unless we are given the ability to seek, we can't see w/o our eyes being opened by The Father, we can't find w/o Him leading us to the Truth, and yet we are still to "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling".
This shows the responsibility on man's side and the ability on God's. God gave it so Peter got it. If God has illumined us, we are to be "illuminating others" by your walk?
Jesus tells His disciples, and us, that there is no illumination without divine revelation. This doesn't mean that we are to keep our "findings" to ourselves, we are still to "Go and make disciple of all the nations".
We don't seek unless we are given the ability to seek, we can't see w/o our eyes being opened by The Father, we can't find w/o Him leading us to the Truth, and yet we are still to "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling".
This shows the responsibility on man's side and the ability on God's. God gave it so Peter got it. If God has illumined us, we are to be "illuminating others" by your walk?
Gold Purification
Malachi 3;1 "Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD.
If you want to refine gold today, you need a bunch of permits, you should be a chemist, you should also have a nice, safe lab to work out of and a list of chemicals that are both dangerous and hard to pronounce. You also need a very hot fire, some 2000-ish degrees.
I was thinking and then doing a little reading about refining. The articles say things like, "this will achieve 99.4-99.5 percent pure gold, but if more purification is required..." Some even say, "this will achieve 99.9% but if more purification is required".
I was thinking about this process because I was thinking about the process in my own life and how I want to be refined, but often I am creating a lot of extra work in the process.
Imagine the Refiner working, heating up the gold, adding chemicals at just the right time, letting it cool down, washing it with this other chemical, heating it up again with a different solution added this time; all the while having to make sure that the pollutant don't get into the atmosphere, because they are very harmful, and then imagine ME in the process throwing more dirt into the mix every time I can.
This is how it is with our sin. God is refining us, taking away the impurities a little at a time, carefully extracting the junk away, painstakingly looking for every bit of impurity, so that we might be 100% pure gold, no just 99.4%. The usefulness, and subsequent value, of 100% pure gold is so much higher than the 99.4%, yet every time I have an opportunity to add some more dirt, I go back to my sin, that He just purified out of me, and throw it back into the mix.
We need for God to show us our sin and then we need to get rid of it once and for all. It is His desire that we are pure gold. It is His desire that we are pure, so we can be used for whatever He deems best. He is the only One who can keep us turned toward the cross so that we might run away from sin and cling to joy.
Refine us Lord. Make us pure gold, so we can be used for Your honor and Your glory. Show us our sin and make us hate it, as we grow in our love for You. May we be pure and holy as You are pure and holy. Do this work in us.
If you want to refine gold today, you need a bunch of permits, you should be a chemist, you should also have a nice, safe lab to work out of and a list of chemicals that are both dangerous and hard to pronounce. You also need a very hot fire, some 2000-ish degrees.
I was thinking and then doing a little reading about refining. The articles say things like, "this will achieve 99.4-99.5 percent pure gold, but if more purification is required..." Some even say, "this will achieve 99.9% but if more purification is required".
I was thinking about this process because I was thinking about the process in my own life and how I want to be refined, but often I am creating a lot of extra work in the process.
Imagine the Refiner working, heating up the gold, adding chemicals at just the right time, letting it cool down, washing it with this other chemical, heating it up again with a different solution added this time; all the while having to make sure that the pollutant don't get into the atmosphere, because they are very harmful, and then imagine ME in the process throwing more dirt into the mix every time I can.
This is how it is with our sin. God is refining us, taking away the impurities a little at a time, carefully extracting the junk away, painstakingly looking for every bit of impurity, so that we might be 100% pure gold, no just 99.4%. The usefulness, and subsequent value, of 100% pure gold is so much higher than the 99.4%, yet every time I have an opportunity to add some more dirt, I go back to my sin, that He just purified out of me, and throw it back into the mix.
We need for God to show us our sin and then we need to get rid of it once and for all. It is His desire that we are pure gold. It is His desire that we are pure, so we can be used for whatever He deems best. He is the only One who can keep us turned toward the cross so that we might run away from sin and cling to joy.
Refine us Lord. Make us pure gold, so we can be used for Your honor and Your glory. Show us our sin and make us hate it, as we grow in our love for You. May we be pure and holy as You are pure and holy. Do this work in us.
Friday, February 20, 2009
You have made me Hope in Your Word
Ps. 119:49 Remember your word to your servant,
in which you have made me hope.
50 This is my comfort in my affliction,
that your promise gives me life.
51 The insolent utterly deride me,
but I do not turn away from your law.
52 When I think of your rules from of old,
I take comfort, O LORD.
53 Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked,
who forsake your law.
54 Your statutes have been my songs
in the house of my sojourning.
55 I remember your name in the night, O LORD,
and keep your law.
56 This blessing has fallen to me,
that I have kept your precepts.
Would God have us to hope in His Word and then leave that hope empty? He is not the God of disappointment. He puts hope in our hearts from His Word, for His working, and He makes those hopes come to life. His promises do give us life and light in our afflictions, because we are able to recount all the times He has kept His Word and this makes our affliction light and momentary, as we know that in His time, He will make all things beautiful as He works all things together for our good, as we love Him and are called according to His purpose.
In the night, when there is nothing to do but sleep or lay there thinking, He is my comfort. When I start to worry, He reminds me of what He has done for me already. He is so good to give me His Word that I can meditate on in the late watches of the night.
There are blessings when we follow His Word in obedience. Sometimes those come right away and some will come when we reach Heaven, but there are blessings for those who love His Word. All blessings come from Him and He loves to care for the righteous. He in turn makes the righteous love righteousness more, as we obey.
Oh Fulfiller of all hopes, Rewarder of the righteous, may I love Your Word most, may I be drawn to it like the wicked are to money and pleasure. May all my hopes be focused on You and Your goodness. Don't disappoint as I hope in Your promises, but don't let me have so much that I forget where the blessings come from.
in which you have made me hope.
50 This is my comfort in my affliction,
that your promise gives me life.
51 The insolent utterly deride me,
but I do not turn away from your law.
52 When I think of your rules from of old,
I take comfort, O LORD.
53 Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked,
who forsake your law.
54 Your statutes have been my songs
in the house of my sojourning.
55 I remember your name in the night, O LORD,
and keep your law.
56 This blessing has fallen to me,
that I have kept your precepts.
Would God have us to hope in His Word and then leave that hope empty? He is not the God of disappointment. He puts hope in our hearts from His Word, for His working, and He makes those hopes come to life. His promises do give us life and light in our afflictions, because we are able to recount all the times He has kept His Word and this makes our affliction light and momentary, as we know that in His time, He will make all things beautiful as He works all things together for our good, as we love Him and are called according to His purpose.
In the night, when there is nothing to do but sleep or lay there thinking, He is my comfort. When I start to worry, He reminds me of what He has done for me already. He is so good to give me His Word that I can meditate on in the late watches of the night.
There are blessings when we follow His Word in obedience. Sometimes those come right away and some will come when we reach Heaven, but there are blessings for those who love His Word. All blessings come from Him and He loves to care for the righteous. He in turn makes the righteous love righteousness more, as we obey.
Oh Fulfiller of all hopes, Rewarder of the righteous, may I love Your Word most, may I be drawn to it like the wicked are to money and pleasure. May all my hopes be focused on You and Your goodness. Don't disappoint as I hope in Your promises, but don't let me have so much that I forget where the blessings come from.
The Lord Hears When I Call
Psalm 4
1 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have given me relief when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!
2 O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
How long will you love vain words and seek after lies?
3 But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;
the LORD hears when I call to him.
4 Be angry, and do not sin;
ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.
5 Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the LORD.
6 There are many who say, "Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!"
7 You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.
8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
I started reading "Confessions" by Augustine and he wrote something that made me think about this chapter.
Who am I that God should listen when I call and then answer? Why would He answer me and not another? I can not call on Him unless He draws me to call. He doesn't need me, yet He wants me to call on Him, so He can answer. He answers the righteous, and yet I have no inclination to righteousness unless He puts it in me, as I am only inclined to evil.
Why does God need me to call on Him, when He needs nothing? Why would He want to show mercy and kindness to me, when He gives me all that is good in me in the first place? There is no wisdom in me that He did not put there, and yet He wants me to talk to Him. I have nothing to add to the conversation.
The only thing God gets from a relationship with me is a dependent, needy, sinful person, who left to my own devices would run away as fast as I can back to the sin that so easily besets me. Why does He want a relationship with another needy person?
What wondrous love is this, Oh my soul, Oh my soul. He shows me love and compassion when the only thing I deserve is His wrath. He seeks me out, even when there is nothing lost from His sight. He cares for every one of His sheep, even when we wander back into danger, in love He brings us back to Himself. He never looses one of His children.
He has put joy in my heart more than those whose barns are full and banks are overflowing, because I have Him. When I have Him, there is nothing I lack. He is the provider of all good things, even when those things are trials. I have seen Him using trials to draw me to Himself, which is the best place to be. He takes what seems like "bad" and turns it into what is best for me.
Oh Lord, maker of Heaven and earth, Creator and Sustainer of every thing. Provider of food for every bird of the air and fish of the sea, provider of each heart beat we have and of every breath we take. You are great and glorious and yet You seek me out. You answer when I call to You in my distress, yet if I truly trusted You there would be no distress in my life, because I would always be trusting. Give me faith when I call to You. Remind me of Your mighty works You have done over and over again, that I may not lose heart. I am weak and the "sword" is heavy that I need to carry to fight off the wickedness of the world around me. Give me strength and courage to fight hard, but may I also know that You are the one fighting, not me. Great and marvelous are You, Oh King of the Ancients. Who shall not fear You oh Lord, and bring glory to You name? For You have done great deeds in the land, You have scattered nations who rise up against You and You have sustained Your people even when they have turned their backs on You. You still call them to Yourself. Give courage to Your fearful servant. Make Your name great and crush those who stand against You. Let them see that You are The God of all gods, the King of all kings. There is none beside You.
Thank you for hearing my call and drawing me to Yourself. Keep drawing me and don't let my feet slip. Keep me close to you so that I am not afraid. Keep my love for You hot so there is no distractions that will take my eyes off of You. You are my all in all, and I want nothing beside You. Don't let me go away from Your presence. Hide not Your face from me, for in Your presence there is fullness of joy.
1 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have given me relief when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!
2 O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
How long will you love vain words and seek after lies?
3 But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;
the LORD hears when I call to him.
4 Be angry, and do not sin;
ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.
5 Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the LORD.
6 There are many who say, "Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!"
7 You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.
8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
I started reading "Confessions" by Augustine and he wrote something that made me think about this chapter.
Who am I that God should listen when I call and then answer? Why would He answer me and not another? I can not call on Him unless He draws me to call. He doesn't need me, yet He wants me to call on Him, so He can answer. He answers the righteous, and yet I have no inclination to righteousness unless He puts it in me, as I am only inclined to evil.
Why does God need me to call on Him, when He needs nothing? Why would He want to show mercy and kindness to me, when He gives me all that is good in me in the first place? There is no wisdom in me that He did not put there, and yet He wants me to talk to Him. I have nothing to add to the conversation.
The only thing God gets from a relationship with me is a dependent, needy, sinful person, who left to my own devices would run away as fast as I can back to the sin that so easily besets me. Why does He want a relationship with another needy person?
What wondrous love is this, Oh my soul, Oh my soul. He shows me love and compassion when the only thing I deserve is His wrath. He seeks me out, even when there is nothing lost from His sight. He cares for every one of His sheep, even when we wander back into danger, in love He brings us back to Himself. He never looses one of His children.
He has put joy in my heart more than those whose barns are full and banks are overflowing, because I have Him. When I have Him, there is nothing I lack. He is the provider of all good things, even when those things are trials. I have seen Him using trials to draw me to Himself, which is the best place to be. He takes what seems like "bad" and turns it into what is best for me.
Oh Lord, maker of Heaven and earth, Creator and Sustainer of every thing. Provider of food for every bird of the air and fish of the sea, provider of each heart beat we have and of every breath we take. You are great and glorious and yet You seek me out. You answer when I call to You in my distress, yet if I truly trusted You there would be no distress in my life, because I would always be trusting. Give me faith when I call to You. Remind me of Your mighty works You have done over and over again, that I may not lose heart. I am weak and the "sword" is heavy that I need to carry to fight off the wickedness of the world around me. Give me strength and courage to fight hard, but may I also know that You are the one fighting, not me. Great and marvelous are You, Oh King of the Ancients. Who shall not fear You oh Lord, and bring glory to You name? For You have done great deeds in the land, You have scattered nations who rise up against You and You have sustained Your people even when they have turned their backs on You. You still call them to Yourself. Give courage to Your fearful servant. Make Your name great and crush those who stand against You. Let them see that You are The God of all gods, the King of all kings. There is none beside You.
Thank you for hearing my call and drawing me to Yourself. Keep drawing me and don't let my feet slip. Keep me close to you so that I am not afraid. Keep my love for You hot so there is no distractions that will take my eyes off of You. You are my all in all, and I want nothing beside You. Don't let me go away from Your presence. Hide not Your face from me, for in Your presence there is fullness of joy.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Desperately needy, yet lacking nothing.
James 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
I have been asking God to not let me be satisfied with lesser joys. When we have too much, it is easy to think that we are not dependent on God for everything we have. I really don't want to get to that spot again, as I lived in that neighborhood for pretty much the first 45 years of my life. I don't want to move back there.
The trials of life keep me chained to Him. I feel like a little boy who wants to be right next to his dad, because dad will take care of everything. It's scary and comforting. I am supposed to be the one who is in control, yet I know I don't have a clue what will happen even tomorrow. I think that this is where He wants me to be.
I want to submit- voluntarily line up under- Him, because I know He has it all covered and I don't have to worry about anything when He is in control, but that doesn't make it easy to just let go, after trying to run my own life for 45 years.
It seems that I have been praying according to His will, because He is keeping me in a very dependent state. It is grueling, being so dependent, but it is where I really want to be. It's hard but best. I am needy yet lacking nothing.
I have been asking God to not let me be satisfied with lesser joys. When we have too much, it is easy to think that we are not dependent on God for everything we have. I really don't want to get to that spot again, as I lived in that neighborhood for pretty much the first 45 years of my life. I don't want to move back there.
The trials of life keep me chained to Him. I feel like a little boy who wants to be right next to his dad, because dad will take care of everything. It's scary and comforting. I am supposed to be the one who is in control, yet I know I don't have a clue what will happen even tomorrow. I think that this is where He wants me to be.
I want to submit- voluntarily line up under- Him, because I know He has it all covered and I don't have to worry about anything when He is in control, but that doesn't make it easy to just let go, after trying to run my own life for 45 years.
It seems that I have been praying according to His will, because He is keeping me in a very dependent state. It is grueling, being so dependent, but it is where I really want to be. It's hard but best. I am needy yet lacking nothing.
What do you mean, "Don't tell anyone"?
Matt. 9: 27 And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, "Have mercy on us, Son of David." 28 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." 29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you." 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, "See that no one knows about it." 31 But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.
When Jesus changes our lives, through salvation, it should be that there is no shutting us up. There should be no way to keep us silent. We should be telling others, all the time, what God has done and is doing in our lives.
These men were blind and Jesus heals them. He then tells them, "See that no one knows about it." I think I would have said, "What, can I not say anything? Everyone is going to know that this morning I was blind and now I can see, and You don't want me to let anyone know?" How is it that Jesus changes our lives so drastically, in salvation, and yet we are still the same in so many ways that no one notices?
Unless we are being conformed to His likeness, through His Word and prayer, we will remain the same as we were previously. Pray that He would give us that desire. If you currently have it, pray that He would continue that work in you, until you are complete in Him.
Oh what a blessed day when we will see our Savior and we start to get a real glimpse of how great He is. When we can see for the first time what He has been trying to tell us about Himself and of Heaven. We will probably be walking around saying, "I had no idea".
Lord, give us a glimpse of Your glory and splendor here, today, so we would be encouraged by the Prize and remain in the race. Don't let us lose heart, for You are the only prize worth running after. Give us endurance for the race today. May we run with joy, because You are our prize and we desire You more than anything else. Give us other worldly thoughts, other worldly loves and other worldly vision.
When Jesus changes our lives, through salvation, it should be that there is no shutting us up. There should be no way to keep us silent. We should be telling others, all the time, what God has done and is doing in our lives.
These men were blind and Jesus heals them. He then tells them, "See that no one knows about it." I think I would have said, "What, can I not say anything? Everyone is going to know that this morning I was blind and now I can see, and You don't want me to let anyone know?" How is it that Jesus changes our lives so drastically, in salvation, and yet we are still the same in so many ways that no one notices?
Unless we are being conformed to His likeness, through His Word and prayer, we will remain the same as we were previously. Pray that He would give us that desire. If you currently have it, pray that He would continue that work in you, until you are complete in Him.
Oh what a blessed day when we will see our Savior and we start to get a real glimpse of how great He is. When we can see for the first time what He has been trying to tell us about Himself and of Heaven. We will probably be walking around saying, "I had no idea".
Lord, give us a glimpse of Your glory and splendor here, today, so we would be encouraged by the Prize and remain in the race. Don't let us lose heart, for You are the only prize worth running after. Give us endurance for the race today. May we run with joy, because You are our prize and we desire You more than anything else. Give us other worldly thoughts, other worldly loves and other worldly vision.
Consider Your Calling
1 Cor. 1:26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
"Humility is the doorway into repentance. The door is small and narrow..." John MacArthur
There is no way that a tall, wide person can go through a short, narrow door. God wants us to be small, so He can be shown off as Great. He is great whether we are small or not, but His greatness is all the more evident when He works great things through His people and they are foolish and small.
God chooses to use the foolish things of this world as His instruments, so that in the end there is no way that any of us can boast of our accomplishments. I am proof that He doesn't pick the sharpest tool in the shed. I am very thankful that He doesn't select His children by what they can bring to the table, as there would be a long list much more qualified than I am. But His ways are not our ways and He gets the most glory out of using some insignificant tool to do any work.
Lord, use me today to show off Your great power, not so I can boast even that You have used me, but that Your power and grace would be seen by those who know how weak and frail I am. Many know of my weakness and yet if You choose to work through me, they would be encouraged that if You use me, and do any sort of work, then there is hope that You would use other weak vessels as well.
God, it is Your power that works in me, it is You that gives me strength to continue, faith to believe and love for others. Don't let me be put to shame, or let my enemies triumph over me. You are my Shield and Stronghold, don't let me be consumed. Show Your strength, by allowing me to be victorious. There are no victories w/o You. The fight is surely lost, before it is begun, if You are not in it.
Thank you for choosing to use me in some small way to bring about Your plan. Open doors so I know where You want me to go and then give me understanding in things I know nothing about to enter and show You off. God, You are mighty. There is none like You and You have chosen me. May I reflect Your image today and rejoice in knowing that I am chosen by the King. May I represent You in a way that all would know that it is You that is the reason I am here and it is you that has changed me.
"Humility is the doorway into repentance. The door is small and narrow..." John MacArthur
There is no way that a tall, wide person can go through a short, narrow door. God wants us to be small, so He can be shown off as Great. He is great whether we are small or not, but His greatness is all the more evident when He works great things through His people and they are foolish and small.
God chooses to use the foolish things of this world as His instruments, so that in the end there is no way that any of us can boast of our accomplishments. I am proof that He doesn't pick the sharpest tool in the shed. I am very thankful that He doesn't select His children by what they can bring to the table, as there would be a long list much more qualified than I am. But His ways are not our ways and He gets the most glory out of using some insignificant tool to do any work.
Lord, use me today to show off Your great power, not so I can boast even that You have used me, but that Your power and grace would be seen by those who know how weak and frail I am. Many know of my weakness and yet if You choose to work through me, they would be encouraged that if You use me, and do any sort of work, then there is hope that You would use other weak vessels as well.
God, it is Your power that works in me, it is You that gives me strength to continue, faith to believe and love for others. Don't let me be put to shame, or let my enemies triumph over me. You are my Shield and Stronghold, don't let me be consumed. Show Your strength, by allowing me to be victorious. There are no victories w/o You. The fight is surely lost, before it is begun, if You are not in it.
Thank you for choosing to use me in some small way to bring about Your plan. Open doors so I know where You want me to go and then give me understanding in things I know nothing about to enter and show You off. God, You are mighty. There is none like You and You have chosen me. May I reflect Your image today and rejoice in knowing that I am chosen by the King. May I represent You in a way that all would know that it is You that is the reason I am here and it is you that has changed me.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
The "BE" Attitudes
Matt. 5:2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8" Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9" Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Jesus' first sermon, His first words that were audible for all to hear, are contained right here. It is interesting that He starts by telling us what we are to BE, inwardly, not DO outwardly. He doesn't start with a bunch of rules.
The Pharisees would have been there, listening but not liking what they were hearing. They were all about outward compliance and didn't put really any thought toward inward qualities. Jesus tells them, and us, what is most important.
"Blessed" also means happy or joyful. If we want to be truly happy then BE these things. Then He gives a list of things that we can't be. At least not on our own. These are all fruit of the Spirit. He then gives a reward for each of them. The greatest reward we can have, even if we never get anything here on earth, is that we would receive Heaven when we are finished with the race. The reward for many of the things on the list is "The Kingdom of Heaven". If we are these things, and we have these attitudes, we will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.
Lord, give us an appetite for You Word and all that You are. Give us hearts that want to conform to it. May we love it, seek truths in it, hunger for it and be consumed by following it. As You do this work in us may we have these attitudes that You want for us to have, so that in the end, You would be glorified and we would have an inheritance in Your Kingdom. Give us this eternal perspective and may we not settle for anything less than Your highest good for us. Work in us, so that we can be these people.
3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8" Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9" Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Jesus' first sermon, His first words that were audible for all to hear, are contained right here. It is interesting that He starts by telling us what we are to BE, inwardly, not DO outwardly. He doesn't start with a bunch of rules.
The Pharisees would have been there, listening but not liking what they were hearing. They were all about outward compliance and didn't put really any thought toward inward qualities. Jesus tells them, and us, what is most important.
"Blessed" also means happy or joyful. If we want to be truly happy then BE these things. Then He gives a list of things that we can't be. At least not on our own. These are all fruit of the Spirit. He then gives a reward for each of them. The greatest reward we can have, even if we never get anything here on earth, is that we would receive Heaven when we are finished with the race. The reward for many of the things on the list is "The Kingdom of Heaven". If we are these things, and we have these attitudes, we will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.
Lord, give us an appetite for You Word and all that You are. Give us hearts that want to conform to it. May we love it, seek truths in it, hunger for it and be consumed by following it. As You do this work in us may we have these attitudes that You want for us to have, so that in the end, You would be glorified and we would have an inheritance in Your Kingdom. Give us this eternal perspective and may we not settle for anything less than Your highest good for us. Work in us, so that we can be these people.
Pray for Grant
Grant is speaking tonight in 128, our youth ministry, so pray for him. Pray that God would use him in a mighty way. That He would reward him for all the study he has done by being comfortable as he speaks. Pray that the students would be changed by the Word.
Also, on a different note. Grant has been working for a friend of ours, doing some demo in their house. The wife noticed that Grant was often flush as he worked, so she thought he should have his BP checked. Grant went to a pharmacy, to pick up his meds, and Teresa told him while he was there to check it on the machine. It was 150 over 80. This is higher than it was in the hospital. Pray that Teresa would rest in God's care for Grant and that the doctors would know what to do, if anything. He has so many things that happen to him all the time that it is hard for him to discern whether this thing or that is important enough to say anything about. He really is a trooper.
Also, on a different note. Grant has been working for a friend of ours, doing some demo in their house. The wife noticed that Grant was often flush as he worked, so she thought he should have his BP checked. Grant went to a pharmacy, to pick up his meds, and Teresa told him while he was there to check it on the machine. It was 150 over 80. This is higher than it was in the hospital. Pray that Teresa would rest in God's care for Grant and that the doctors would know what to do, if anything. He has so many things that happen to him all the time that it is hard for him to discern whether this thing or that is important enough to say anything about. He really is a trooper.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Gratitude
I was thinking that we often complain about not having enough rain followed closely by "too much rain", not warm enough and then "it's too warm", ask for sunshine then complain "I need to get to some shade"; and that is just the weather.
God controls and brings what we get and He knows what we need. He often gives us what we want, rather than just provide for our needs.
We need to practice our thankfulness, even when He doesn't give us exactly what we ask for, as He knows what is best.
I want to be a thankful servant of the King, quick to praise Him for what ever He brings. He allows are needs to bring us closer to Himself, so we remember our dependence on Him. Oh that we would remember w/o being complainers.
Gratitude
Nichole Nordeman
Send some rain, would You send some rain?
'Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade
Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?
Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down
Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid
But maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .
(Chorus)
We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If You never send us rain
Daily bread, give us daily bread
Bless our bodies, keep our children fed
Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight
Wrap us up and warm us through
Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs
Let us slumber safe from danger's view this time
Or maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .
(Chorus)
We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
A lesson learned to hunger after You
That a starry sky offers a better view if no roof is overhead And if we never taste that bread
Oh, the differences that often are between
Everything we want and what we really need
So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight
Or maybe not, not today
Peace might be another world away
And if that's the case . . .
(Chorus)
We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to trust in You
That we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream
In abundance or in need
And if You never grant us peace
But Jesus, would You please . . .
God controls and brings what we get and He knows what we need. He often gives us what we want, rather than just provide for our needs.
We need to practice our thankfulness, even when He doesn't give us exactly what we ask for, as He knows what is best.
I want to be a thankful servant of the King, quick to praise Him for what ever He brings. He allows are needs to bring us closer to Himself, so we remember our dependence on Him. Oh that we would remember w/o being complainers.
Gratitude
Nichole Nordeman
Send some rain, would You send some rain?
'Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade
Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?
Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down
Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid
But maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .
(Chorus)
We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If You never send us rain
Daily bread, give us daily bread
Bless our bodies, keep our children fed
Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight
Wrap us up and warm us through
Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs
Let us slumber safe from danger's view this time
Or maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .
(Chorus)
We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
A lesson learned to hunger after You
That a starry sky offers a better view if no roof is overhead And if we never taste that bread
Oh, the differences that often are between
Everything we want and what we really need
So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight
Or maybe not, not today
Peace might be another world away
And if that's the case . . .
(Chorus)
We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to trust in You
That we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream
In abundance or in need
And if You never grant us peace
But Jesus, would You please . . .
Poor In Spirit
Matt. 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
What does it mean to be "poor in spirit"?
Poor, means to be begging, impoverished, having nothing to claim as ones own.
Spirit, is speaking of our spiritual life, or our souls.
So put together, it would means that we see our dependency on another for our spiritual well being or, we see our inability to bring anything to the table spiritually.
Personally, I want to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Right now I want Heaven more than anything else. I don't want that to change as times get better, if they do. I want to always be thinking about how much better it will be in Heaven than it will be here. I am concerned that if God gives, like He has before, I will get caught in the trap of "working as unto myself", and forget that He is the Provider.
I want to always be tasting the "honey" from His Word and Who He is, rather than trying to find sweetness in the world. I want to always be drinking from the living fountain, and not go back to dry cisterns.
The pull of the world is strong and sin is enticing. I must be vigilant in killing sin. I must be vigilant in repenting. I must remember that in and of myself I have nothing to bring to the table and that Christ is my only hope for inheriting the Kingdom of Heaven. I don't want to ever find myself with my head in a dry cistern.
Lord, continue to show me my sin and my abject need of all that You are. Bring joy in repenting from that sin. Don't let me love anything here, but keep my affections hot for You and for the things of Heaven. Thank You for letting me taste of Your sweetness and remind me often of how sweet You are compared to the bitterness of the world. You will not lose one of Your own, so keep me close to You. Guard me with Your strong right arm and beat down all the things this world tries to replace You with. Show me Your glory in ways that only You can, so I will never want to go away from my first Love. Let me be satisfied in You and only You, so I will have true joy.
What does it mean to be "poor in spirit"?
Poor, means to be begging, impoverished, having nothing to claim as ones own.
Spirit, is speaking of our spiritual life, or our souls.
So put together, it would means that we see our dependency on another for our spiritual well being or, we see our inability to bring anything to the table spiritually.
Personally, I want to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Right now I want Heaven more than anything else. I don't want that to change as times get better, if they do. I want to always be thinking about how much better it will be in Heaven than it will be here. I am concerned that if God gives, like He has before, I will get caught in the trap of "working as unto myself", and forget that He is the Provider.
I want to always be tasting the "honey" from His Word and Who He is, rather than trying to find sweetness in the world. I want to always be drinking from the living fountain, and not go back to dry cisterns.
The pull of the world is strong and sin is enticing. I must be vigilant in killing sin. I must be vigilant in repenting. I must remember that in and of myself I have nothing to bring to the table and that Christ is my only hope for inheriting the Kingdom of Heaven. I don't want to ever find myself with my head in a dry cistern.
Lord, continue to show me my sin and my abject need of all that You are. Bring joy in repenting from that sin. Don't let me love anything here, but keep my affections hot for You and for the things of Heaven. Thank You for letting me taste of Your sweetness and remind me often of how sweet You are compared to the bitterness of the world. You will not lose one of Your own, so keep me close to You. Guard me with Your strong right arm and beat down all the things this world tries to replace You with. Show me Your glory in ways that only You can, so I will never want to go away from my first Love. Let me be satisfied in You and only You, so I will have true joy.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Pray for our Elders
Col. 3:12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in ONE BODY. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
This is my prayer for our elders this week.
This is my prayer for our elders this week.
I Love Your Commandments
Ps. 119:41 Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD,
your salvation according to your promise;
42 then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me,
for I trust in your word.
43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
for my hope is in your rules.
44 I will keep your law continually,
forever and ever,
45 and I shall walk in a wide place,
for I have sought your precepts.
46 I will also speak of your testimonies before kings
and shall not be put to shame,
47 for I find my delight in your commandments,
which I love.
48 I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,
and I will meditate on your statutes.
Something I notice immediately in this section is that David loves God's Word. He wants God to bring it to him and leave it there. He knows that the reason he has answers for the questions is because of The Word.
"Walking in a wide place" gives the meaning that our lives are unencumbered by sin, so we are free to run wide on the path, rather than walking on a very tight and slippery slope. We are free from the chains of sin as we seek His precepts. They direct us to do what is right, rather than the law requiring, and forcing, us to do what is right. Doing what is right now becomes our delight, not our duty.
David was a man who loved God's Word, consumed God's Word, meditated on God's Word and that Word changed His life.
May I love Your Word more than silver or gold. May I speak boldly of Your Word because of the change it is making in me. May it be my source of comfort, wisdom and encouragement and may I never want to be w/o it.
your salvation according to your promise;
42 then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me,
for I trust in your word.
43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
for my hope is in your rules.
44 I will keep your law continually,
forever and ever,
45 and I shall walk in a wide place,
for I have sought your precepts.
46 I will also speak of your testimonies before kings
and shall not be put to shame,
47 for I find my delight in your commandments,
which I love.
48 I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,
and I will meditate on your statutes.
Something I notice immediately in this section is that David loves God's Word. He wants God to bring it to him and leave it there. He knows that the reason he has answers for the questions is because of The Word.
"Walking in a wide place" gives the meaning that our lives are unencumbered by sin, so we are free to run wide on the path, rather than walking on a very tight and slippery slope. We are free from the chains of sin as we seek His precepts. They direct us to do what is right, rather than the law requiring, and forcing, us to do what is right. Doing what is right now becomes our delight, not our duty.
David was a man who loved God's Word, consumed God's Word, meditated on God's Word and that Word changed His life.
May I love Your Word more than silver or gold. May I speak boldly of Your Word because of the change it is making in me. May it be my source of comfort, wisdom and encouragement and may I never want to be w/o it.
Dust and Ashes or Restoration?
Since God loves a broken and contrite heart, Ps. 51:17, and He also want us to be joyful in every circumstance, thankful for all that He has done, and is doing, in our lives and He wants us to be holy even as He is holy, there seems to be some overlap of attitude and character here.
I often fall into the trap of thinking that I need to be broken for a long time over my sin for God to see that I am actually contrite and repentant. Is this what God really wants from me? After giving it some thought, I don't think that is the case.
The Bible gives us many examples of people turning from sin, and also people remaining in their sin. David was a man after God's own heart, so his repentance and restoration would be a good model to follow.
There were many times he was in "dust and ashes" over his sin. He would have seen his sin for what it truly was and been desirous to turn from it, back to true joy. I think the part I dwell on too long is the "dust and ashes". God wants us to be serious about sin, just like He is, but He also wants us to be restored to fellowship quickly with Him and not be thinking about that sin over and over again.
Repentance is turning from sin, toward true joy, but the turn should be quick. As soon as we are shown our sin, we need to recognize it for what it is and then get right back into fellowship with the One who allows us to see our sin, created the relationship in the first place, and has paid the price for our sin so we can actually have a relationship.
If you tell your kids to do something and they disobey, what has just happened? They have broken the relationship. You have not done anything wrong, they have. So when you show them the error of their way, what do you want them to do about it? Is it helpful for your relationship for them to be saddened over their sin for days; to walk around defeated? No. Your desire for them is that they see their sin, quickly acknowledge the sin for what it is and then restore the relationship you just had back to where it was so you both can have joy again.
Lord, may we love our relationship with You so much that we guard it from the sin, that steals our joy in You, with all we have. Please show us our sin, so that there is nothing that comes between us. Please help us to see how You want us to be, in repentance and forgiveness, so that we would not be out of fellowship with You any longer than is necessary. Give us joy inexpressible when the relationship is right. Give us peace indescribable when we are resting in You. Give us love overflowing as we interact with others and they witness Your power in us. You can do this in us, we have no power on our own, so please make us children of the Light, that want to walk in the Light as You are our Light.
I often fall into the trap of thinking that I need to be broken for a long time over my sin for God to see that I am actually contrite and repentant. Is this what God really wants from me? After giving it some thought, I don't think that is the case.
The Bible gives us many examples of people turning from sin, and also people remaining in their sin. David was a man after God's own heart, so his repentance and restoration would be a good model to follow.
There were many times he was in "dust and ashes" over his sin. He would have seen his sin for what it truly was and been desirous to turn from it, back to true joy. I think the part I dwell on too long is the "dust and ashes". God wants us to be serious about sin, just like He is, but He also wants us to be restored to fellowship quickly with Him and not be thinking about that sin over and over again.
Repentance is turning from sin, toward true joy, but the turn should be quick. As soon as we are shown our sin, we need to recognize it for what it is and then get right back into fellowship with the One who allows us to see our sin, created the relationship in the first place, and has paid the price for our sin so we can actually have a relationship.
If you tell your kids to do something and they disobey, what has just happened? They have broken the relationship. You have not done anything wrong, they have. So when you show them the error of their way, what do you want them to do about it? Is it helpful for your relationship for them to be saddened over their sin for days; to walk around defeated? No. Your desire for them is that they see their sin, quickly acknowledge the sin for what it is and then restore the relationship you just had back to where it was so you both can have joy again.
Lord, may we love our relationship with You so much that we guard it from the sin, that steals our joy in You, with all we have. Please show us our sin, so that there is nothing that comes between us. Please help us to see how You want us to be, in repentance and forgiveness, so that we would not be out of fellowship with You any longer than is necessary. Give us joy inexpressible when the relationship is right. Give us peace indescribable when we are resting in You. Give us love overflowing as we interact with others and they witness Your power in us. You can do this in us, we have no power on our own, so please make us children of the Light, that want to walk in the Light as You are our Light.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Heart Breaking & Heart Revealing
Prov. 4:23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you crooked speech,
and put devious talk far from you.
I was saddened tonight when we returned home from church. Teresa was reading some of the student's conversations on some web site and found that some of them are using fowl language as they write each other. I guess I was hoping that if they were going to use filthy language they would at least try to keep it out of print, but this truly reveals their hearts.
Pray for our students that they would not be lured away by the world and their friends, who apparently don't care about purity or decency. "Out of the heart the mouth speaks" and this is certainly true of our youth. Pray that God would crush their cold, stone, hearts and give them a heart of flesh.
We are in a battle for the souls of our students and we need to be in prayer for them, as sin doesn't wake up tired and the evil one would love to capture them for himself early on.
for from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you crooked speech,
and put devious talk far from you.
I was saddened tonight when we returned home from church. Teresa was reading some of the student's conversations on some web site and found that some of them are using fowl language as they write each other. I guess I was hoping that if they were going to use filthy language they would at least try to keep it out of print, but this truly reveals their hearts.
Pray for our students that they would not be lured away by the world and their friends, who apparently don't care about purity or decency. "Out of the heart the mouth speaks" and this is certainly true of our youth. Pray that God would crush their cold, stone, hearts and give them a heart of flesh.
We are in a battle for the souls of our students and we need to be in prayer for them, as sin doesn't wake up tired and the evil one would love to capture them for himself early on.
Willingly Waiting
Ps. 130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.
What does it actually mean to wait for the Lord. Since we are unable to do anything on our own, aren't we forced to wait for Him. Is waiting on the Lord saying, "Well, He is in charge and I can't do anything about it, so I'm just waiting on Him"?
First off; shouldn't we be more than willing to wait for Him, as He has waited so long for our repentance? We are willing to wait for all kinds of things that are but a breath of time when they arrive, and yet we push to hurry God's timing. Whatever we are waiting for may not be on our time table, but it certainly is not out of God's timing.
Second; Waiting suggests patience in trials. "Patience is a cheerful submission of our will to God: 'The will of the Lord be done' (Acts 21:14). A godly man acquiesces in what God does, as being not only good but best for himself. The great quarrel between God and us is, Whose will shall stand? Now the regenerate will falls in with the will of God." Thomas Watson.
Can we just say that we have to be patient and have that still be patience? It seems like we don't have any choice, and patience is willingly lining up under God, not forced. What does it say if we submit while being whipped? Nothing, except that we were smart enough not to push back any more, so we are no longer being whipped. It reveals much more about our hearts when we have the choice to do whatever we want, yet we choose to wait for God to direct us. This clearly says we want to follow Christ.
It is easy to say that we need to be patient, but much harder to do. Likewise, saying "Be still and know that I am God", or "Wait patiently for the Lord", is much easier to say than to put into practice. When God allows trials in our lives, we are still to be patient. When He takes away something, or someone, we love, we are still to be patient. Thomas Watson said, "He never takes something away from us without giving us something better to replace it".
Let us practice waiting on the Lord, and watch Him work everything for our good. Hope in God and just wait to see what He does to show off His goodness. He is faithful, kind and good and He wants what is best for us.
and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.
What does it actually mean to wait for the Lord. Since we are unable to do anything on our own, aren't we forced to wait for Him. Is waiting on the Lord saying, "Well, He is in charge and I can't do anything about it, so I'm just waiting on Him"?
First off; shouldn't we be more than willing to wait for Him, as He has waited so long for our repentance? We are willing to wait for all kinds of things that are but a breath of time when they arrive, and yet we push to hurry God's timing. Whatever we are waiting for may not be on our time table, but it certainly is not out of God's timing.
Second; Waiting suggests patience in trials. "Patience is a cheerful submission of our will to God: 'The will of the Lord be done' (Acts 21:14). A godly man acquiesces in what God does, as being not only good but best for himself. The great quarrel between God and us is, Whose will shall stand? Now the regenerate will falls in with the will of God." Thomas Watson.
Can we just say that we have to be patient and have that still be patience? It seems like we don't have any choice, and patience is willingly lining up under God, not forced. What does it say if we submit while being whipped? Nothing, except that we were smart enough not to push back any more, so we are no longer being whipped. It reveals much more about our hearts when we have the choice to do whatever we want, yet we choose to wait for God to direct us. This clearly says we want to follow Christ.
It is easy to say that we need to be patient, but much harder to do. Likewise, saying "Be still and know that I am God", or "Wait patiently for the Lord", is much easier to say than to put into practice. When God allows trials in our lives, we are still to be patient. When He takes away something, or someone, we love, we are still to be patient. Thomas Watson said, "He never takes something away from us without giving us something better to replace it".
Let us practice waiting on the Lord, and watch Him work everything for our good. Hope in God and just wait to see what He does to show off His goodness. He is faithful, kind and good and He wants what is best for us.
Plants and Pillars
Ps. 144:12 May our sons in their youth
be like plants full grown,
our daughters like corner pillars
cut for the structure of a palace;
13 may our granaries be full,
providing all kinds of produce;
may our sheep bring forth thousands
and ten thousands in our fields;
14 may our cattle be heavy with young,
suffering no mishap or failure in bearing;
may there be no cry of distress in our streets!
15 Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall!
Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!
Our children are a heritage from the Lord; each one a blessing from His hand. They are the generation that will either build and grow on our faith, or fall away, as the generation of the Israelites did after coming into the Promised Land.
May our young men be strong in their faith, bold in their proclamation of the Gospel and planted in His Word that they would continue to grow through the years to come.
It is interesting that the daughter are the pillars holding up the palace, rather than the sons. Our daughters can keep family ties strong and tight; they can be a grace to our homes and churches as they grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Oh that the Lord would continue to bless our families and grow our children into the men and women He would have them to be. May He give fruit for our labor and increase of faith as we watch Him work in the lives of our off spring. May our barns be full, as He gives the increase. May we be content to live and love as He provides.
Lord, You have blessed me with so much more than I deserve. You have blessed me with great kids of my own, and surrounded them with other young men and women who love You and want to pursue You above everything else. May they love Your portion, seek You first, love Your Word and grow to be strong examples of Your grace in a life spent pursuing You. Bless them for following You. Give them fruit for their labor enough to keep them encouraged, but not so much as to become proud. May they be the leaders of tomorrow's churches and families that You would have them to be. Root them deep in Your Word and then from that deep foundation, make them as giant trees in the land that others can come for food, shelter and protection.
be like plants full grown,
our daughters like corner pillars
cut for the structure of a palace;
13 may our granaries be full,
providing all kinds of produce;
may our sheep bring forth thousands
and ten thousands in our fields;
14 may our cattle be heavy with young,
suffering no mishap or failure in bearing;
may there be no cry of distress in our streets!
15 Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall!
Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!
Our children are a heritage from the Lord; each one a blessing from His hand. They are the generation that will either build and grow on our faith, or fall away, as the generation of the Israelites did after coming into the Promised Land.
May our young men be strong in their faith, bold in their proclamation of the Gospel and planted in His Word that they would continue to grow through the years to come.
It is interesting that the daughter are the pillars holding up the palace, rather than the sons. Our daughters can keep family ties strong and tight; they can be a grace to our homes and churches as they grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Oh that the Lord would continue to bless our families and grow our children into the men and women He would have them to be. May He give fruit for our labor and increase of faith as we watch Him work in the lives of our off spring. May our barns be full, as He gives the increase. May we be content to live and love as He provides.
Lord, You have blessed me with so much more than I deserve. You have blessed me with great kids of my own, and surrounded them with other young men and women who love You and want to pursue You above everything else. May they love Your portion, seek You first, love Your Word and grow to be strong examples of Your grace in a life spent pursuing You. Bless them for following You. Give them fruit for their labor enough to keep them encouraged, but not so much as to become proud. May they be the leaders of tomorrow's churches and families that You would have them to be. Root them deep in Your Word and then from that deep foundation, make them as giant trees in the land that others can come for food, shelter and protection.
Plastic and Fabric
1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Matt. 4:8 The devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." 10 Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written,
"'You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.'"
I wonder what it must have looked like, to Jesus, to look at the world from the perspective Satan was trying to give Him. Was it even remotely a temptation to accept his offer when Jesus created the world, knows the flaws it has, after sin, knows the final outcome and has seen the immeasurable differences of Heaven. Was this really a temptation when He had already tasted Heaven?
If we could just get a glimpse of Heaven many of our issues, sins and earthly loves would just go away, because we would see how foolish these small joys are compared to what is coming.
Little girls play with dolls. This is a good thing for them, so they can learn what it is like to "love" this little entrusted to their care. Soon after they get this dolly they are hugging, kissing and talking to this piece of plastic and fabric. When they grow up and become real moms they do the same thing to their actually babies, but they never seem to go back with the same affection to the doll. Why do you suppose that is? Because now they have tasted the true joy and love from the real thing.
When we start to see Heaven as our prize, then all that this life has doesn't compare. All the things we work and plan to get are like a little plastic and fabric dolly, yet we spend most of our lives working to get a new and better dolly.
"The world rings changes. It is never constant except in its disappointments. How quickly we may remove our lodgings and make our pillow in the dust! The world is but a great inn where we are to stay a night or two and be gone. What madness it is so to set our heart upon our inn as to forget our home!" Thomas Watson.
Lord, give us a glimpse of Heaven that we might truly see what we are running after here. Give us a taste of Your feast so we would know and never be completely satisfied with what we are chasing here on earth. Make Heaven our passion. Make Your Presence our highest aim. Give us other worldly loves. Of our selves, we are weak and want cheap trappings that satisfy for but a breath. Help us to see the futility and look for eternal things. You can change our loves and our hearts. Please do that, so we may be more like Your Son. May we love You most of all.
Matt. 4:8 The devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." 10 Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written,
"'You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.'"
I wonder what it must have looked like, to Jesus, to look at the world from the perspective Satan was trying to give Him. Was it even remotely a temptation to accept his offer when Jesus created the world, knows the flaws it has, after sin, knows the final outcome and has seen the immeasurable differences of Heaven. Was this really a temptation when He had already tasted Heaven?
If we could just get a glimpse of Heaven many of our issues, sins and earthly loves would just go away, because we would see how foolish these small joys are compared to what is coming.
Little girls play with dolls. This is a good thing for them, so they can learn what it is like to "love" this little entrusted to their care. Soon after they get this dolly they are hugging, kissing and talking to this piece of plastic and fabric. When they grow up and become real moms they do the same thing to their actually babies, but they never seem to go back with the same affection to the doll. Why do you suppose that is? Because now they have tasted the true joy and love from the real thing.
When we start to see Heaven as our prize, then all that this life has doesn't compare. All the things we work and plan to get are like a little plastic and fabric dolly, yet we spend most of our lives working to get a new and better dolly.
"The world rings changes. It is never constant except in its disappointments. How quickly we may remove our lodgings and make our pillow in the dust! The world is but a great inn where we are to stay a night or two and be gone. What madness it is so to set our heart upon our inn as to forget our home!" Thomas Watson.
Lord, give us a glimpse of Heaven that we might truly see what we are running after here. Give us a taste of Your feast so we would know and never be completely satisfied with what we are chasing here on earth. Make Heaven our passion. Make Your Presence our highest aim. Give us other worldly loves. Of our selves, we are weak and want cheap trappings that satisfy for but a breath. Help us to see the futility and look for eternal things. You can change our loves and our hearts. Please do that, so we may be more like Your Son. May we love You most of all.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Home Show
Ps. 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.
We start the home show today. It's 9 days of meeting people, visiting and making friends. Some of those friends turn into clients.
We need God to bring us the people He wants us to meet, that are ready to begin a project and like what we have to offer. We are at His mercy and grace in this endeavor, as we are at every place else in our lives.
Lord, give us grace for the hearers today, and for the week, that we might be a light to this dark world, even at the home show. Bring us the work You have for us to do Lord, and let us rest in you care. Don't let me be anxious about show traffic and what others are saying is happening to them, but let me look only to You, as You are more than able to accomplish what concerns me today. Thanks for our abundant provision already, on our behalf, and for the markers You have given us along the way that we might remember them and then remember Your goodness to us. You are great and worthy to be praised and we look forward with great anticipation for the day when we will be perfectly rejoicing in front of Your throne. Oh, for that day!
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.
We start the home show today. It's 9 days of meeting people, visiting and making friends. Some of those friends turn into clients.
We need God to bring us the people He wants us to meet, that are ready to begin a project and like what we have to offer. We are at His mercy and grace in this endeavor, as we are at every place else in our lives.
Lord, give us grace for the hearers today, and for the week, that we might be a light to this dark world, even at the home show. Bring us the work You have for us to do Lord, and let us rest in you care. Don't let me be anxious about show traffic and what others are saying is happening to them, but let me look only to You, as You are more than able to accomplish what concerns me today. Thanks for our abundant provision already, on our behalf, and for the markers You have given us along the way that we might remember them and then remember Your goodness to us. You are great and worthy to be praised and we look forward with great anticipation for the day when we will be perfectly rejoicing in front of Your throne. Oh, for that day!
My Valentine
Song of Solomon 4:9 You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride;
you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes,
with one jewel of your necklace.
10 How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride!
How much better is your love than wine,
and the fragrance of your oils than any spice!
11 Your lips drip nectar, my bride;
honey and milk are under your tongue;
the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.
My sweet Teresa. You are the love of my life, even though there are certainly times I don't express that to you. You are my helper and completer, more than you know.
Before Kimmy was born it was hard for you to think about staying home and "Just being a mom", but as soon as she arrived she changed your heart. Thanks for being willing to be a great mom to our kids. They are so much better for your investment in them. Thanks for taking up the slack that I left while I was at work.
Thanks for your heart for working hard, both in side and outside. You are an encouragement to so many people as you just stop by a weed a little patch, or plant some little tree. You are spreading your "branches of generosity" wide.
Thanks for being willing to share our home with so many others. It is always a lot of work, but you are willing to minister to others in this way.
Thanks for your tender heart. You are compassionate and caring, and want to carry others' burdens with them.
Teresa is;
Pasture- a place to go in order to be refreshed and filled with good things.
Partner- both to me and others as we work towards Christ-likeness.
Philanthropy- always giving of herself for others.
Peace Maker- always wanting everyone to get along.
Pace Setter- especially when it comes to gardening.
Predictably- unpredictable.
Phun- always looks at the lighter side.
Thanks for being my Valentine for all these years.
you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes,
with one jewel of your necklace.
10 How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride!
How much better is your love than wine,
and the fragrance of your oils than any spice!
11 Your lips drip nectar, my bride;
honey and milk are under your tongue;
the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.
My sweet Teresa. You are the love of my life, even though there are certainly times I don't express that to you. You are my helper and completer, more than you know.
Before Kimmy was born it was hard for you to think about staying home and "Just being a mom", but as soon as she arrived she changed your heart. Thanks for being willing to be a great mom to our kids. They are so much better for your investment in them. Thanks for taking up the slack that I left while I was at work.
Thanks for your heart for working hard, both in side and outside. You are an encouragement to so many people as you just stop by a weed a little patch, or plant some little tree. You are spreading your "branches of generosity" wide.
Thanks for being willing to share our home with so many others. It is always a lot of work, but you are willing to minister to others in this way.
Thanks for your tender heart. You are compassionate and caring, and want to carry others' burdens with them.
Teresa is;
Pasture- a place to go in order to be refreshed and filled with good things.
Partner- both to me and others as we work towards Christ-likeness.
Philanthropy- always giving of herself for others.
Peace Maker- always wanting everyone to get along.
Pace Setter- especially when it comes to gardening.
Predictably- unpredictable.
Phun- always looks at the lighter side.
Thanks for being my Valentine for all these years.
Evangelism
Matt. 28:16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Evangelism; what kind of things just popped into your head? Was it Billy Graham, a guy standing on the street corner on a milk box, some fanatical people in a stadium that for sure were not there to watch the game or a couple of guys walking around knocking on doors? All of these are forms of evangelism, but is this what Jesus had in mind, inclusively?
I don't think that is what Jesus was trying to get across to His disciples that day. There are times when these forms of evangelism work, but Jesus was talking about making disciples "as you go". As you go to the grocery store, as you go about your work, as you go riding in the car, as you go visit with your friends, as you go talking to clients and whatever else it is that you do every day- make disciples.
You might say, "I can't do that, it's too scary", or "God hasn't given me the gift of evangelism". I might say "Really?", in a sarcastic tone of voice:)
I am not the greatest evangelist, but every one of us has a platform for making disciples that is different then the next. If you're a stay at home mom with 5 little kids, first of all- praise God for allowing you to fulfill His command for your life- and second- you have a very different platform than your husband does, who might be running some fortune 500 company. The people who are watching you are very different than those watching your husband, but people ARE watching both of you. There is no way the women around you are going to listen to your husband the same way they are going to listen to you. Your husband has a great opportunity where he is working, but it is very different than yours.
Why am I posting this? Well if we are here "On Purpose- For A Purpose" and Jesus' final instructions for His disciples was "As you are going, make disciples" then shouldn't we all be making disciples?
Moms, you are making disciples when you tell your kids what God is doing, and has done, in your life. This way when they are older they will remember the good things that God has done and want to serve Him.
Dads, you are making disciples when you live out Christ in front of your families, so they will know what it is like to have a kind, gentle and serving father. When they see you living out Christ, they will want Him more than anything this world can offer.
Children, you are making disciple as you honor your parents. When many of the kids around you are not honoring their parents you will have a platform for evangelism as you share the joy that God gives when we are obedient to His Word.
Bosses, you are making disciples when you work as unto the Lord, giving God the glory in every situation and letting Him direct your business. When your employees fall on hard times they will come to you and ask about the hope that is in you.
Employees, you are making disciple when you, also, work as unto the Lord. Your fellow employees, and your boss, will see that you are different. Someday they will ask you why you work so hard and you will have a platform for evangelism.
Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven, Matt 5:16. We are to be salt and light, not 24 grit sand paper, as we go through this life. People are looking for something to hope in, and Jesus is the Only Hope.
As we go, take the time to tell the people you have a relationship with of the Hope that is in you. If God gives you a bigger platform for evangelism, then that is great. But for right now, practice your evangelism by loving others as only Christ can love, and tell them about the change repentance towards joy has brought in your life.
Lord, give us love for others, love for Your Word and courage to speak of Your goodness as we go. May our lives be fountains where others want to come to be refreshed. May we always tell of Your greatness and faithfulness. May this be the praise of our hearts, our main point, the focus of our lives and the joy of our hearts. May You be the song that we are always singing. Give us opportunities and then give us boldness. You are our greatest love and highest prize, may we want to share the best we have with others.
Evangelism; what kind of things just popped into your head? Was it Billy Graham, a guy standing on the street corner on a milk box, some fanatical people in a stadium that for sure were not there to watch the game or a couple of guys walking around knocking on doors? All of these are forms of evangelism, but is this what Jesus had in mind, inclusively?
I don't think that is what Jesus was trying to get across to His disciples that day. There are times when these forms of evangelism work, but Jesus was talking about making disciples "as you go". As you go to the grocery store, as you go about your work, as you go riding in the car, as you go visit with your friends, as you go talking to clients and whatever else it is that you do every day- make disciples.
You might say, "I can't do that, it's too scary", or "God hasn't given me the gift of evangelism". I might say "Really?", in a sarcastic tone of voice:)
I am not the greatest evangelist, but every one of us has a platform for making disciples that is different then the next. If you're a stay at home mom with 5 little kids, first of all- praise God for allowing you to fulfill His command for your life- and second- you have a very different platform than your husband does, who might be running some fortune 500 company. The people who are watching you are very different than those watching your husband, but people ARE watching both of you. There is no way the women around you are going to listen to your husband the same way they are going to listen to you. Your husband has a great opportunity where he is working, but it is very different than yours.
Why am I posting this? Well if we are here "On Purpose- For A Purpose" and Jesus' final instructions for His disciples was "As you are going, make disciples" then shouldn't we all be making disciples?
Moms, you are making disciples when you tell your kids what God is doing, and has done, in your life. This way when they are older they will remember the good things that God has done and want to serve Him.
Dads, you are making disciples when you live out Christ in front of your families, so they will know what it is like to have a kind, gentle and serving father. When they see you living out Christ, they will want Him more than anything this world can offer.
Children, you are making disciple as you honor your parents. When many of the kids around you are not honoring their parents you will have a platform for evangelism as you share the joy that God gives when we are obedient to His Word.
Bosses, you are making disciples when you work as unto the Lord, giving God the glory in every situation and letting Him direct your business. When your employees fall on hard times they will come to you and ask about the hope that is in you.
Employees, you are making disciple when you, also, work as unto the Lord. Your fellow employees, and your boss, will see that you are different. Someday they will ask you why you work so hard and you will have a platform for evangelism.
Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven, Matt 5:16. We are to be salt and light, not 24 grit sand paper, as we go through this life. People are looking for something to hope in, and Jesus is the Only Hope.
As we go, take the time to tell the people you have a relationship with of the Hope that is in you. If God gives you a bigger platform for evangelism, then that is great. But for right now, practice your evangelism by loving others as only Christ can love, and tell them about the change repentance towards joy has brought in your life.
Lord, give us love for others, love for Your Word and courage to speak of Your goodness as we go. May our lives be fountains where others want to come to be refreshed. May we always tell of Your greatness and faithfulness. May this be the praise of our hearts, our main point, the focus of our lives and the joy of our hearts. May You be the song that we are always singing. Give us opportunities and then give us boldness. You are our greatest love and highest prize, may we want to share the best we have with others.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Let Us Not Forget To Praise Him!!
My Offering
Nicole Nordeman
If You made me like the grass that is green
Growing tall; covering the hills above me
Maybe I would pray for sunshine and a little rain
To fall now and then to make me lovely
I could be a place where sheep could graze
Or barefoot feet could play
And I would grow and grow and hope You'd bend down low
To hear me sing my offering
Open up the heavens, open up the skies
All of Your creation wants to testify
I have a song so let the earth sing along
'Cause I just want to praise You
If You made me to be a cloud in the sky
Found the perfect place way up high where I could hover
Maybe I would pray for skies that were blue
Or a sunset or two to show Your colors
Or maybe I might be
A mountain strong and steep
But I would try and stand as tall as I can
And I would sing my offering
Open up the heavens, open up the skies
All of Your creation wants to testify
I have a song so let the earth sing along
'Cause I just want to praise You
And the sun every morning can not wait to shine
And the stars every evening are all standing by to light the sky
Give the rocks and the stones voices of their own
If we forget to sing praises to our King
So open up the heavens, open up the skies
All of Your creation wants to testify
Hallelujah
We just want to praise you
We just want to praise you
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Lift up your voice and with us sing
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
I have a song so let the earth sing along
'Cause I just want to praise You
Nicole Nordeman
If You made me like the grass that is green
Growing tall; covering the hills above me
Maybe I would pray for sunshine and a little rain
To fall now and then to make me lovely
I could be a place where sheep could graze
Or barefoot feet could play
And I would grow and grow and hope You'd bend down low
To hear me sing my offering
Open up the heavens, open up the skies
All of Your creation wants to testify
I have a song so let the earth sing along
'Cause I just want to praise You
If You made me to be a cloud in the sky
Found the perfect place way up high where I could hover
Maybe I would pray for skies that were blue
Or a sunset or two to show Your colors
Or maybe I might be
A mountain strong and steep
But I would try and stand as tall as I can
And I would sing my offering
Open up the heavens, open up the skies
All of Your creation wants to testify
I have a song so let the earth sing along
'Cause I just want to praise You
And the sun every morning can not wait to shine
And the stars every evening are all standing by to light the sky
Give the rocks and the stones voices of their own
If we forget to sing praises to our King
So open up the heavens, open up the skies
All of Your creation wants to testify
Hallelujah
We just want to praise you
We just want to praise you
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Lift up your voice and with us sing
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
I have a song so let the earth sing along
'Cause I just want to praise You
Triple Reminder
Joshua 1:6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
Joshua must have been a pretty smart guy, he was Moses' successor, leading God's chosen people. Joshua was the brave one who told Moses that the people on the other side could be beaten, when all the others said they were giants. Yet it is interesting that 3 times in 4 verses God tells him to "Be strong and courageous". Did God think that he didn't hear Him the first time, like when you tell your kids something 3 times really fast. Did God think he was dull or stupid? Not if He had chosen him to lead His people. Then why would God tell him so many times?
God knows how weak we can be. He knows that we may be strong and courageous one minute and the next we are total wimps. This was not new to Joshua, but God wanted to remind him, so there was no way he could forget when times were scary.
I love how God has written these stories down for our encouragement. If He reminds His chosen leaders 3 times in 4 versus, then I guess it is pretty normal for me to mess up and have to be reminded as well.
God also gave Joshua, and us, a formula for guaranteed success in His economy; follow His Word, meditate on it day and night, don't turn to the right or to the left and do everything that God has commanded us to do. Then, and only then, will He give us success and make our way prosperous.
God is so patient with us. We need to trust Him in every circumstance, but He knows He will have to remind us again in just a little while. But He keeps sharpening the dull tools, so that when He wants to use them again they are better than the lst time.
Joshua must have been a pretty smart guy, he was Moses' successor, leading God's chosen people. Joshua was the brave one who told Moses that the people on the other side could be beaten, when all the others said they were giants. Yet it is interesting that 3 times in 4 verses God tells him to "Be strong and courageous". Did God think that he didn't hear Him the first time, like when you tell your kids something 3 times really fast. Did God think he was dull or stupid? Not if He had chosen him to lead His people. Then why would God tell him so many times?
God knows how weak we can be. He knows that we may be strong and courageous one minute and the next we are total wimps. This was not new to Joshua, but God wanted to remind him, so there was no way he could forget when times were scary.
I love how God has written these stories down for our encouragement. If He reminds His chosen leaders 3 times in 4 versus, then I guess it is pretty normal for me to mess up and have to be reminded as well.
God also gave Joshua, and us, a formula for guaranteed success in His economy; follow His Word, meditate on it day and night, don't turn to the right or to the left and do everything that God has commanded us to do. Then, and only then, will He give us success and make our way prosperous.
God is so patient with us. We need to trust Him in every circumstance, but He knows He will have to remind us again in just a little while. But He keeps sharpening the dull tools, so that when He wants to use them again they are better than the lst time.
What's On Your List Today?
He
Ps. 119:33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes;
and I will keep it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
and observe it with my whole heart.
35 Lead me in the path of your commandments,
for I delight in it.
36 Incline my heart to your testimonies,
and not to selfish gain!
37 Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
and give me life in your ways.
38 Confirm to your servant your promise,
that you may be feared.
39 Turn away the reproach that I dread,
for your rules are good.
40 Behold, I long for your precepts;
in your righteousness give me life!
David has many requests in this section. Teach, give, lead, incline, turn, confirm and turn away. He wants to be changed by the Word.
David is humble. He is looking, longing and desiring that God would give him all these things. It is interesting that none of them are things you would necessarily put on your Christmas list, but they are the best things we could ever receive.
Oh that our list would be filled with the things of God, rather than things that are worthless. Oh, that we might desire things that give life, rather than things that make our lives void of true value. If only we loved the things of Heaven as much as we love the things that steal our joy, rob our time, distract us from the important and give us self importance. Then and only then will His righteousness give us life.
Look ONLY to Christ.
Ps. 119:33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes;
and I will keep it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
and observe it with my whole heart.
35 Lead me in the path of your commandments,
for I delight in it.
36 Incline my heart to your testimonies,
and not to selfish gain!
37 Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
and give me life in your ways.
38 Confirm to your servant your promise,
that you may be feared.
39 Turn away the reproach that I dread,
for your rules are good.
40 Behold, I long for your precepts;
in your righteousness give me life!
David has many requests in this section. Teach, give, lead, incline, turn, confirm and turn away. He wants to be changed by the Word.
David is humble. He is looking, longing and desiring that God would give him all these things. It is interesting that none of them are things you would necessarily put on your Christmas list, but they are the best things we could ever receive.
Oh that our list would be filled with the things of God, rather than things that are worthless. Oh, that we might desire things that give life, rather than things that make our lives void of true value. If only we loved the things of Heaven as much as we love the things that steal our joy, rob our time, distract us from the important and give us self importance. Then and only then will His righteousness give us life.
Look ONLY to Christ.
On Purpose - For a Purpose
Sometimes I am writing and something just goes onto the page. I read it and think, "How did that get there?"
In all of this craziness I have actually been thinking about God's using me to encourage others. On my own, I am not the most encouraging person. It is actually strange to me that God would want to use me, in any sort of a way to encourage others, but He is like that I guess.
As I am in the middle of my fight for joy, faith building, big waves and a small boat, praying like crazy that God would show me what He wants me to do and be, I am really amazed at how He works.
I have wondered why He leaves me here when we are created to be with Him. Why we really need all this trouble and sin around us when He could just take us home and we would be able to rest forever. But I am reminded that He leaves us here on purpose and for a purpose.
If He wanted to be finished with this dull tool and put it on the "shelf" He would just do that. But if you are reading this, and since I am still writing, He is not finished using us.
Dull tools are not great to work with. If you have ever worked with dull tools you know exactly what I'm talking about. Sawing through the tomatoes, mowing the lawn at 5 different settings, cutting hair a couple of strands at a time are all really fun exercises in patience.
So why does God choose to work with a dull tool like me? He could do it so much better without my "help". He would use less patience. It's like watching your 5 year old make cookies for the first time. You could have it done in 1/10th the time with 1/50th of the mess, but we must train them.
Well maybe, just maybe, that is what God is trying to get across to me. He could do it easier, cleaner and much more efficiently w/o me, but He actually wants to use this dull tool so He can show off what He has done with such a useless instrument.
You know what, I am good with being an instrument that He wants to use. I am good with Him using me until He decides that I should be put on the shelf. I just am NOT good with being dull because of some sort of slackness on my part. I want to be as sharp as I am able, through the power of His might, so that when He does decide to use me it won't be such a test of His patience.
When He is finished I want Him to say, "Well done good and faithful one, enter into the joy of my rest, and by the way, you've been a nice tool to use along the way".
It is exciting to see the transformation from that first batch of cookies to batch 100. How efficient the kids get, how much cleaner they are and how much better the cookies taste when they have learned how to follow instructions.
We have been given the "recipe book" for how to be a useful and sharp tool. May we want to be sharp, not for our own glory, but that God would be pleased to use us as He wills.
In all of this craziness I have actually been thinking about God's using me to encourage others. On my own, I am not the most encouraging person. It is actually strange to me that God would want to use me, in any sort of a way to encourage others, but He is like that I guess.
As I am in the middle of my fight for joy, faith building, big waves and a small boat, praying like crazy that God would show me what He wants me to do and be, I am really amazed at how He works.
I have wondered why He leaves me here when we are created to be with Him. Why we really need all this trouble and sin around us when He could just take us home and we would be able to rest forever. But I am reminded that He leaves us here on purpose and for a purpose.
If He wanted to be finished with this dull tool and put it on the "shelf" He would just do that. But if you are reading this, and since I am still writing, He is not finished using us.
Dull tools are not great to work with. If you have ever worked with dull tools you know exactly what I'm talking about. Sawing through the tomatoes, mowing the lawn at 5 different settings, cutting hair a couple of strands at a time are all really fun exercises in patience.
So why does God choose to work with a dull tool like me? He could do it so much better without my "help". He would use less patience. It's like watching your 5 year old make cookies for the first time. You could have it done in 1/10th the time with 1/50th of the mess, but we must train them.
Well maybe, just maybe, that is what God is trying to get across to me. He could do it easier, cleaner and much more efficiently w/o me, but He actually wants to use this dull tool so He can show off what He has done with such a useless instrument.
You know what, I am good with being an instrument that He wants to use. I am good with Him using me until He decides that I should be put on the shelf. I just am NOT good with being dull because of some sort of slackness on my part. I want to be as sharp as I am able, through the power of His might, so that when He does decide to use me it won't be such a test of His patience.
When He is finished I want Him to say, "Well done good and faithful one, enter into the joy of my rest, and by the way, you've been a nice tool to use along the way".
It is exciting to see the transformation from that first batch of cookies to batch 100. How efficient the kids get, how much cleaner they are and how much better the cookies taste when they have learned how to follow instructions.
We have been given the "recipe book" for how to be a useful and sharp tool. May we want to be sharp, not for our own glory, but that God would be pleased to use us as He wills.
Tom and Tami
I asked yesterday if Tom and Tami would be encouraged if I stopped by to see them in the hospital. I haven't met them yet.
Apparently their daughter has just finished with her 2nd chemo treatment and she is pretty sick and Tami was not felling well either, so they asked if I would stop by another day.
I don't know too much at the stage, but will probably have a better idea when I actually do meet them in person.
Also, my friend sent them to this blog and they were encouraged enough to start their own blog to keep others posted as to what is going on in their lives. As soon as I get that info I will give you all the link so you don't have to wait for me to know something and then post.
Thanks for your prayers for them. God is using many people to change lives. We need to be clean vessels for His use.
Apparently their daughter has just finished with her 2nd chemo treatment and she is pretty sick and Tami was not felling well either, so they asked if I would stop by another day.
I don't know too much at the stage, but will probably have a better idea when I actually do meet them in person.
Also, my friend sent them to this blog and they were encouraged enough to start their own blog to keep others posted as to what is going on in their lives. As soon as I get that info I will give you all the link so you don't have to wait for me to know something and then post.
Thanks for your prayers for them. God is using many people to change lives. We need to be clean vessels for His use.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
What do we have to look forward to?
There is a higher throne
Than all this world has known,
Where faithful ones from ev'ry tongue
Will one day come.
Before the Son we'll stand,
Made faultless through the Lamb;
Believing hearts find promised grace—
Salvation comes.
REFRAIN
Hear heaven's voices sing;
Their thund'rous anthem rings
Through em'rald courts and sapphire skies.
Their praises rise.
All glory, wisdom, pow'r,
Strength, thanks, and honor are
To God our King, who reigns on high
Forevermore.
And there we'll find our home,
Our life before the throne;
We'll honor Him in perfect song
Where we belong.
He'll wipe each tear-stained eye
As thirst and hunger die.
The Lamb becomes our Shepherd King;
We'll reign with Him.
Keith & Kristyn Getty
I printed this song off today before I left the house and sang it most of the day while driving. Some of the things that really hit me are;
"The faithful ones"- What a title, what a privilege, can this actually be me?
"Before the Son we'll stand",- we get to stand before the Son, what a day that will be, what an eternity that will be.
"Made faultless through the Lamb"- I still am having a hard time getting my mind around being faultless.
"Believing hearts find promised grace—Salvation comes"- We have to be believing to find the promised grace and then salvation comes.
Songs, anthems, emeralds, sapphire skies; what singing there will be when we get there and all for the King in His courts forever.
"And there we'll find our home, Our life before the throne" we will be home, before the throne, what sweetness for eternity.
"We'll honor Him in perfect song Where we belong"- perfect song as we honor our King, exactly where we belong.
"He'll wipe each tear-stained eye as thirst and hunger die"- no more tears, no thirst or hunger, only Our Lord with us.
"The Lamb becomes our Shepherd King we'll reign with Him" How does the Lamb become the Shepherd? What a glorious time it will be and it will be glorious forever.
Than all this world has known,
Where faithful ones from ev'ry tongue
Will one day come.
Before the Son we'll stand,
Made faultless through the Lamb;
Believing hearts find promised grace—
Salvation comes.
REFRAIN
Hear heaven's voices sing;
Their thund'rous anthem rings
Through em'rald courts and sapphire skies.
Their praises rise.
All glory, wisdom, pow'r,
Strength, thanks, and honor are
To God our King, who reigns on high
Forevermore.
And there we'll find our home,
Our life before the throne;
We'll honor Him in perfect song
Where we belong.
He'll wipe each tear-stained eye
As thirst and hunger die.
The Lamb becomes our Shepherd King;
We'll reign with Him.
Keith & Kristyn Getty
I printed this song off today before I left the house and sang it most of the day while driving. Some of the things that really hit me are;
"The faithful ones"- What a title, what a privilege, can this actually be me?
"Before the Son we'll stand",- we get to stand before the Son, what a day that will be, what an eternity that will be.
"Made faultless through the Lamb"- I still am having a hard time getting my mind around being faultless.
"Believing hearts find promised grace—Salvation comes"- We have to be believing to find the promised grace and then salvation comes.
Songs, anthems, emeralds, sapphire skies; what singing there will be when we get there and all for the King in His courts forever.
"And there we'll find our home, Our life before the throne" we will be home, before the throne, what sweetness for eternity.
"We'll honor Him in perfect song Where we belong"- perfect song as we honor our King, exactly where we belong.
"He'll wipe each tear-stained eye as thirst and hunger die"- no more tears, no thirst or hunger, only Our Lord with us.
"The Lamb becomes our Shepherd King we'll reign with Him" How does the Lamb become the Shepherd? What a glorious time it will be and it will be glorious forever.
What Does God Require of Us?
Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
I have been questioning God as to what He wants from me. I truly think I am willing to give Him everything as long as I can have Him. My heart is deceitful and so I want to make sure this is the case, but I think it is.
I am searching to see if there is something that I an holding back; is there something that is "off limits"? My desire is that He would be my first and only Love. Is there something that I can give more than this? "He doesn't delight in more sacrifice, or I would give it". He wants what is best for me and He gives it.
So what can I give to the Lord that He doesn't already have? As this verse says, He requires that I am just, that I love kindness and that I would walk humbly before Him. It seems too simple, yet this is what the verse says.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, yet I can do nothing on my own. Lord make me this man. Make me be just, love kindness and give me humility as I walk.
Lord, You know my heart. You can see if there is any wicked way in me. You know every word I speak before it is on my tongue. You created me and You sustain me with every breath and every heart beat. Let me delight in Your Word, rest in it, drink from the Living Water that never runs dry. Let me find all of my strength and joy in You. Renew my spirit within me, that I might be an encouragement to others around me. Don't let me see the waves around me, but keep me focused on You and all that You are. God, You know what I need today and I want to trust You will give it, but my flesh gets in the way. Give me the heart of a lion in times of worry, that others may see and know that this is from You. Give me the courage of David to stand in front of giants and not be afraid. I have nothing if I don't have You and there is nothing I desire except being with You. Be near me today Lord. Let me know Your presence, for then I can rest.
and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
I have been questioning God as to what He wants from me. I truly think I am willing to give Him everything as long as I can have Him. My heart is deceitful and so I want to make sure this is the case, but I think it is.
I am searching to see if there is something that I an holding back; is there something that is "off limits"? My desire is that He would be my first and only Love. Is there something that I can give more than this? "He doesn't delight in more sacrifice, or I would give it". He wants what is best for me and He gives it.
So what can I give to the Lord that He doesn't already have? As this verse says, He requires that I am just, that I love kindness and that I would walk humbly before Him. It seems too simple, yet this is what the verse says.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, yet I can do nothing on my own. Lord make me this man. Make me be just, love kindness and give me humility as I walk.
Lord, You know my heart. You can see if there is any wicked way in me. You know every word I speak before it is on my tongue. You created me and You sustain me with every breath and every heart beat. Let me delight in Your Word, rest in it, drink from the Living Water that never runs dry. Let me find all of my strength and joy in You. Renew my spirit within me, that I might be an encouragement to others around me. Don't let me see the waves around me, but keep me focused on You and all that You are. God, You know what I need today and I want to trust You will give it, but my flesh gets in the way. Give me the heart of a lion in times of worry, that others may see and know that this is from You. Give me the courage of David to stand in front of giants and not be afraid. I have nothing if I don't have You and there is nothing I desire except being with You. Be near me today Lord. Let me know Your presence, for then I can rest.
Barnacles
Ps. 119:25 My soul clings to the dust;
give me life according to your word!
26 When I told of my ways, you answered me;
teach me your statutes!
27 Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
28 My soul melts away for sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word!
29 Put false ways far from me
and graciously teach me your law!
30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
I set your rules before me.
31 I cling to your testimonies, O LORD;
let me not be put to shame!
32 I will run in the way of your commandments
when you enlarge my heart!
"My soul clings the dust" might be better thought of as "dust clings to me and holds me down". I read a few commentaries on this and the illustration used frequently is that our greatest joy is when we are soaring spiritually but there are times when the trials of life cling to us like barnacles and they weigh us down so we are not able to soar.
The balance of the verse is "give me life according to Your Word". There is no other place to turn for life than His Word.
The rest of this paragraph is about meditating, clinging, being taught by, understanding, and basically being surrounded on every side by God's Word. This is the Rock that we can cling to; the place where we can take shelter from the cares of this world. The is the chisel that knocks off the barnacles to weigh us down and enables us to soar.
I want to have my heart enlarged. I want to be so full of His Word that it is my constant thought, my constant hope and my greatest joy.
Lord work Your will in my life. Don't let me go without encouragement, Provide, as You always do, what I need for today. Set Your face in front of me so I can't possibly look any other place but into Your eyes. Give me a courageous heart and I will praise You for it is only You that can do this in me.
give me life according to your word!
26 When I told of my ways, you answered me;
teach me your statutes!
27 Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
28 My soul melts away for sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word!
29 Put false ways far from me
and graciously teach me your law!
30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
I set your rules before me.
31 I cling to your testimonies, O LORD;
let me not be put to shame!
32 I will run in the way of your commandments
when you enlarge my heart!
"My soul clings the dust" might be better thought of as "dust clings to me and holds me down". I read a few commentaries on this and the illustration used frequently is that our greatest joy is when we are soaring spiritually but there are times when the trials of life cling to us like barnacles and they weigh us down so we are not able to soar.
The balance of the verse is "give me life according to Your Word". There is no other place to turn for life than His Word.
The rest of this paragraph is about meditating, clinging, being taught by, understanding, and basically being surrounded on every side by God's Word. This is the Rock that we can cling to; the place where we can take shelter from the cares of this world. The is the chisel that knocks off the barnacles to weigh us down and enables us to soar.
I want to have my heart enlarged. I want to be so full of His Word that it is my constant thought, my constant hope and my greatest joy.
Lord work Your will in my life. Don't let me go without encouragement, Provide, as You always do, what I need for today. Set Your face in front of me so I can't possibly look any other place but into Your eyes. Give me a courageous heart and I will praise You for it is only You that can do this in me.
Thanks for the encouragement
I just read a comment back to one of the posts, and I was struck by something said. "It's hard to complain when your 27 year old friend has just lost her husband". This comment was in the context of being an encouragement to me for enduring in the trial.
I haven't been thinking of worry as complaining. I know it's a sin, for not trusting God, but I hadn't given it too much thought previous to this.
I don't want to be a complainer, especially to God who gives so many good things. It must be true that worry is complaining in a backdoor sort of way. If I am worrying about what is going to happen tomorrow then I must be complaining inside about the way it's going right now. Complaining that God doesn't know what He's doing as He continues His work in my life.
Would God be working on someone He didn't have a plan for? Well, then I should be thankful that He is working.
Thanks for the kick in the pants LB. SKH needs to comment on the "reason God didn't create us to be perfect on earth" illustration. I heard it was very good.
I haven't been thinking of worry as complaining. I know it's a sin, for not trusting God, but I hadn't given it too much thought previous to this.
I don't want to be a complainer, especially to God who gives so many good things. It must be true that worry is complaining in a backdoor sort of way. If I am worrying about what is going to happen tomorrow then I must be complaining inside about the way it's going right now. Complaining that God doesn't know what He's doing as He continues His work in my life.
Would God be working on someone He didn't have a plan for? Well, then I should be thankful that He is working.
Thanks for the kick in the pants LB. SKH needs to comment on the "reason God didn't create us to be perfect on earth" illustration. I heard it was very good.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Small Group
I just want to say that we have an awesome small group (man family).
We talked about real issues; Bible reading successes and struggles, prayer time, what some of the guys are looking to do/be when they graduate shortly and a host of other things.
We ended in prayer for about 10-15 minutes and when we were done the guys said our 2 hours went way too fast. One said we need a 3 hour small group and another said we could go the entire day.
We don't play games at all. We read the Word and pray together and have grown up discussions, talking about what we are learning.
How can a young man keep his way pure, by being in the Word.
God is working in the lives of His children because they are being faithful to their time with Him.
Pray for the guys that they would continue in His Word and prayer and they would stay faithful. God is SOOO Good.
We talked about real issues; Bible reading successes and struggles, prayer time, what some of the guys are looking to do/be when they graduate shortly and a host of other things.
We ended in prayer for about 10-15 minutes and when we were done the guys said our 2 hours went way too fast. One said we need a 3 hour small group and another said we could go the entire day.
We don't play games at all. We read the Word and pray together and have grown up discussions, talking about what we are learning.
How can a young man keep his way pure, by being in the Word.
God is working in the lives of His children because they are being faithful to their time with Him.
Pray for the guys that they would continue in His Word and prayer and they would stay faithful. God is SOOO Good.
Weak Hands and Feeble Knees
Ps. 94:19 When the cares of my heart are many,
your consolations cheer my soul.
Ps. 55: 22 Cast your burden on the LORD,
and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
the righteous to be moved.
Matt. 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Ps. 72:12 For he delivers the needy when he calls,
the poor and him who has no helper.
13 He has pity on the weak and the needy,
and saves the lives of the needy.
Is. 35:3 Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
4 Say to those who have an anxious heart,
"Be strong; fear not!
Behold, your God
will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
He will come and save you."
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
For waters break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
Heb. 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Do Not Grow Weary
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
"My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives."
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.
Today I allowed worry to steal my joy and it is so irritating. These verses are a reminder for me, but I am happy to share them with you.
I can't believe how easily I go from seeing how good things are to thinking there is no light at the end of the tunnel. I know that worry only steals my joy, that it does no good, there is no problem too big for God and everything else, but it just creeps in. AHHH!
I am encouraged that David is soaring with the eagles one time and the next time his bones are wasting away. I totally get that, but it is so frustrating. I don't want to worry about the future of PG and it doesn't do any good, but it just jumps in.
I had to come home this afternoon and get more of His Word, it's my only remedy. The cares of this life are so small compared to how big God is, but they are right in front of me all the time.
Lord, give me faith to trust Your promises, hope for the future that is filled with You, joy in the trials, as I know You take me through them and a vision for the prize of heaven with You. God forgive me for not trusting You in every situation. I want to believe, please help my unbelief.
The burden is too heavy for me to carry. Strengthen my weak heart. I want to find rest for my soul in You. I want to feed in green pastures, beside still waters. Please, Good Shepherd, restore my soul. Make me to know joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice.
your consolations cheer my soul.
Ps. 55: 22 Cast your burden on the LORD,
and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
the righteous to be moved.
Matt. 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Ps. 72:12 For he delivers the needy when he calls,
the poor and him who has no helper.
13 He has pity on the weak and the needy,
and saves the lives of the needy.
Is. 35:3 Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
4 Say to those who have an anxious heart,
"Be strong; fear not!
Behold, your God
will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
He will come and save you."
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
For waters break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
Heb. 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Do Not Grow Weary
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
"My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives."
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.
Today I allowed worry to steal my joy and it is so irritating. These verses are a reminder for me, but I am happy to share them with you.
I can't believe how easily I go from seeing how good things are to thinking there is no light at the end of the tunnel. I know that worry only steals my joy, that it does no good, there is no problem too big for God and everything else, but it just creeps in. AHHH!
I am encouraged that David is soaring with the eagles one time and the next time his bones are wasting away. I totally get that, but it is so frustrating. I don't want to worry about the future of PG and it doesn't do any good, but it just jumps in.
I had to come home this afternoon and get more of His Word, it's my only remedy. The cares of this life are so small compared to how big God is, but they are right in front of me all the time.
Lord, give me faith to trust Your promises, hope for the future that is filled with You, joy in the trials, as I know You take me through them and a vision for the prize of heaven with You. God forgive me for not trusting You in every situation. I want to believe, please help my unbelief.
The burden is too heavy for me to carry. Strengthen my weak heart. I want to find rest for my soul in You. I want to feed in green pastures, beside still waters. Please, Good Shepherd, restore my soul. Make me to know joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice.
Abba Father
Ps. 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep
Yesterday morning I was looking at next weeks install schedule and was talking with our production manager as to why we have some really good jobs on the board that aren't ready to be scheduled. So we have days available to us to install but nothing is ready to go in, which means we can't include this in our sales for the month.
I was thinking about God being the Provider, vs. me being the "provider". It is wearing to be the family provider. This is our role as men, but there can be a lot of pressure when things aren't going as we plan. The wife is to submit to her husband. The kids are to also submit and all are supposed to be content in what is provided. But what about my role?
I saw, for the first time, that I am really not the provider, but that God is THE Provider. I'm a little thick. As the head of my family and PG I am to submit to God's provision, whatever that may be, and let Him carry the weight that I have felt. After all, I am not providing anything anyway. He is the Giver of everything, so what am I doing? I often want to "help" God by doing my part. What is my part other than to work as unto Him and to trust that He will continue to provide? Nothing.
I got this lesson a little bit more yesterday evening. It's funny how God can emphasize a point.
Kimmy and a friend were doing some errands before meeting us at Garrett's last BB game. She called just about the time we left the driveway and said she had been rear ended. She quickly sad that everyone, including those in the other cars, we ok, but she didn't know exactly what she should do. She was calling her dad to get instructions and to let him make the decision. She needed to know that I was there for her and that she was doing the right thing. She was submitting herself to my care and provision. She was calling out "ABBA FATHER" which means "daddy, daddy".
After thinking about this some more, I think this is really what God wants from us, even dads. He wants to take our burdens. He wants to be the SOLE Provider. He wants us to look to Him for our daily bread, for our snacks, for our for our everything. And when He does provide, as He has done so faithfully over every generation, we should be the most thankful people.
What would we have if He did not give it? What will we get that He doesn't give it? What should we want that is not of Him? What will He withhold that we truly need? NOTHING!
Have we ever gone w/o something we needed? Has He ever left us to face life on our own? If He hasn't left us without before, will He start now? If He has always Been there for us, will He change now? NO!
Father I want to see my dependence on You. I don't want to try to carry the burden of being the provider when You want to take it from me. You are the Giver and I want to acknowledge and thank You for what You have provided. Thank you for allowing me to see that You are the One who does provide, the One who loves to have me call out "Abba Father". You are there to supply all my needs, according to Your riches in glory. Your ability to provide is so infinitely higher than mine and yet You give because You love Your children. It is not a burden to You to give. You give and Your supply is not diminished. Your storehouses are full of the best things. Please give us to day what we need for today, and Lord help me be content with Your provision and to be looking to and trusting in Your care for those who You have entrusted to me.
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep
Yesterday morning I was looking at next weeks install schedule and was talking with our production manager as to why we have some really good jobs on the board that aren't ready to be scheduled. So we have days available to us to install but nothing is ready to go in, which means we can't include this in our sales for the month.
I was thinking about God being the Provider, vs. me being the "provider". It is wearing to be the family provider. This is our role as men, but there can be a lot of pressure when things aren't going as we plan. The wife is to submit to her husband. The kids are to also submit and all are supposed to be content in what is provided. But what about my role?
I saw, for the first time, that I am really not the provider, but that God is THE Provider. I'm a little thick. As the head of my family and PG I am to submit to God's provision, whatever that may be, and let Him carry the weight that I have felt. After all, I am not providing anything anyway. He is the Giver of everything, so what am I doing? I often want to "help" God by doing my part. What is my part other than to work as unto Him and to trust that He will continue to provide? Nothing.
I got this lesson a little bit more yesterday evening. It's funny how God can emphasize a point.
Kimmy and a friend were doing some errands before meeting us at Garrett's last BB game. She called just about the time we left the driveway and said she had been rear ended. She quickly sad that everyone, including those in the other cars, we ok, but she didn't know exactly what she should do. She was calling her dad to get instructions and to let him make the decision. She needed to know that I was there for her and that she was doing the right thing. She was submitting herself to my care and provision. She was calling out "ABBA FATHER" which means "daddy, daddy".
After thinking about this some more, I think this is really what God wants from us, even dads. He wants to take our burdens. He wants to be the SOLE Provider. He wants us to look to Him for our daily bread, for our snacks, for our for our everything. And when He does provide, as He has done so faithfully over every generation, we should be the most thankful people.
What would we have if He did not give it? What will we get that He doesn't give it? What should we want that is not of Him? What will He withhold that we truly need? NOTHING!
Have we ever gone w/o something we needed? Has He ever left us to face life on our own? If He hasn't left us without before, will He start now? If He has always Been there for us, will He change now? NO!
Father I want to see my dependence on You. I don't want to try to carry the burden of being the provider when You want to take it from me. You are the Giver and I want to acknowledge and thank You for what You have provided. Thank you for allowing me to see that You are the One who does provide, the One who loves to have me call out "Abba Father". You are there to supply all my needs, according to Your riches in glory. Your ability to provide is so infinitely higher than mine and yet You give because You love Your children. It is not a burden to You to give. You give and Your supply is not diminished. Your storehouses are full of the best things. Please give us to day what we need for today, and Lord help me be content with Your provision and to be looking to and trusting in Your care for those who You have entrusted to me.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Open My Eyes That I may See.
Ps. 119
Gimel
17 Deal bountifully with your servant,
that I may live and keep your word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of your law.
19 I am a sojourner on the earth;
hide not your commandments from me!
20 My soul is consumed with longing
for your rules at all times.
21 You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones,
who wander from your commandments.
22 Take away from me scorn and contempt,
for I have kept your testimonies.
23 Even though princes sit plotting against me,
your servant will meditate on your statutes.
24 Your testimonies are my delight;
they are my counselors.
The blessings that God gives us should make us be such a thankful people that the only thing we would be concerned with is pleasing the One who Keeps His Word from generation to generation.
I like the "open my eyes" part. I want God to open my eyes to reveal more of Who He is to me. I am blind on my own, but when He gives light and insight into His Word, it just comes to life. The other side of this is that He can hide his commandments from us. If He does hide His Word from us are strangers here on earth, blindly going through life w/o a guide. We need His counsel to guide us through.
When we are consumed by a longing for His Word it really does change our lives. When we hunger and thirst for righteousness, that can only be found in Him, we are then satisfied, Matt. 5:6. How amazing it is to be satisfied by the King of Kings.
Those who don't care about keeping His commandments He rebukes. He states this both positively and negatively so we are sure to understand that those who keep His commands are blessed and those who don't, are NOT.
God can give us a good testimony among those around us. In today's world a Christian who is walking in the Spirit looks so much different than the rest of society. We are to have joy in God and shine His light into this world. We can only be walking in the Spirit as we take in His Word, pray and have fellowship with other saints around us.
His testimonies are a delight to those who take time to read and meditate on them. They are the wise counsel we need to get us through this life. I find myself begging God to impart wisdom to me, as I am so far over my head.
Oh, may I love Your Word over every other thing in this life. Show me Your paths that I could walk in them. Make the way clear that You want me to walk in, so I don't get lost or make the wrong decision. You, Oh Lord, are my guide and counselor. You are Wisdom and Truth. Continue to work in my life that I would love You Word and be meditating on it through all watches of the day and night. I am not able to be or do any of this on my own. Please do this for me, that I would be the light You want me to be.
Gimel
17 Deal bountifully with your servant,
that I may live and keep your word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of your law.
19 I am a sojourner on the earth;
hide not your commandments from me!
20 My soul is consumed with longing
for your rules at all times.
21 You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones,
who wander from your commandments.
22 Take away from me scorn and contempt,
for I have kept your testimonies.
23 Even though princes sit plotting against me,
your servant will meditate on your statutes.
24 Your testimonies are my delight;
they are my counselors.
The blessings that God gives us should make us be such a thankful people that the only thing we would be concerned with is pleasing the One who Keeps His Word from generation to generation.
I like the "open my eyes" part. I want God to open my eyes to reveal more of Who He is to me. I am blind on my own, but when He gives light and insight into His Word, it just comes to life. The other side of this is that He can hide his commandments from us. If He does hide His Word from us are strangers here on earth, blindly going through life w/o a guide. We need His counsel to guide us through.
When we are consumed by a longing for His Word it really does change our lives. When we hunger and thirst for righteousness, that can only be found in Him, we are then satisfied, Matt. 5:6. How amazing it is to be satisfied by the King of Kings.
Those who don't care about keeping His commandments He rebukes. He states this both positively and negatively so we are sure to understand that those who keep His commands are blessed and those who don't, are NOT.
God can give us a good testimony among those around us. In today's world a Christian who is walking in the Spirit looks so much different than the rest of society. We are to have joy in God and shine His light into this world. We can only be walking in the Spirit as we take in His Word, pray and have fellowship with other saints around us.
His testimonies are a delight to those who take time to read and meditate on them. They are the wise counsel we need to get us through this life. I find myself begging God to impart wisdom to me, as I am so far over my head.
Oh, may I love Your Word over every other thing in this life. Show me Your paths that I could walk in them. Make the way clear that You want me to walk in, so I don't get lost or make the wrong decision. You, Oh Lord, are my guide and counselor. You are Wisdom and Truth. Continue to work in my life that I would love You Word and be meditating on it through all watches of the day and night. I am not able to be or do any of this on my own. Please do this for me, that I would be the light You want me to be.
The Call
Matt. 4:18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Jesus' ministry on earth is just about to start. He has just been baptized, by John the Baptizer, and from here he is tempted by Satan after fasting and praying for 40 days and nights. The angels come and minister to Him. Except for the baptism, it doesn't appear that there is any human audience for the rest of these things.
So when Jesus comes to call His disciples and they immediately leave all they have ever known to follow Him, what is it about Jesus that drew them to Him? He hadn't performed any miracles yet, so what was it in Him that caused these hardened fishermen to be willing to leave it all?
I don't know the answer to that question, but what about today? We have all read about His miracles in the Word; are we willing to leave it all for Christ today?
There is something about the call on our lives that draws us to Him. Abandon it all for the sake of the call. There's more to life than fishing, and there is certainly more to life than whatever else we are doing currently. The "more" is what He gives us to do along the way. "Fishing while you work" should be our calling. How are you doing in telling others about our Good God along the way? Today, tell someone about something really great that God is doing in your life. They will be encouraged, your faith will be strengthen and God will get the glory.
The Sake of the Call
Steven Curtis Chapman
Nobody stood and applauded them
So they knew from the start
This road would not lead to fame
All they really knew for sure was Jesus had called to them
He said "Come follow me" and they came
With reckless abandon they came
Empty nets lying there at the waters edge
Told a story that few could believe and none could explain
How some crazy fishermen agreed to go where Jesus lead
With no thought for what they would gain
For Jesus had called them by name and they answered
CHORUS
We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all but the sake of the call
Wholly devoted to live and to die
For the sake of the call
Drawn like the rivers are drawn to the sea
No turning back for the water cannot help but flow
Once we hear the Savior's call we'll follow wherever he leads
Because of the love He has shown
And because he has called us to go we will answer
We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all but the sake of the call
Wholly devoted to live and to die
BRIDGE
Not for the sake of a creed or a cause
Not for a dream or a promise
Simply because it is Jesus who calls
And if we believe we'll obey
Jesus' ministry on earth is just about to start. He has just been baptized, by John the Baptizer, and from here he is tempted by Satan after fasting and praying for 40 days and nights. The angels come and minister to Him. Except for the baptism, it doesn't appear that there is any human audience for the rest of these things.
So when Jesus comes to call His disciples and they immediately leave all they have ever known to follow Him, what is it about Jesus that drew them to Him? He hadn't performed any miracles yet, so what was it in Him that caused these hardened fishermen to be willing to leave it all?
I don't know the answer to that question, but what about today? We have all read about His miracles in the Word; are we willing to leave it all for Christ today?
There is something about the call on our lives that draws us to Him. Abandon it all for the sake of the call. There's more to life than fishing, and there is certainly more to life than whatever else we are doing currently. The "more" is what He gives us to do along the way. "Fishing while you work" should be our calling. How are you doing in telling others about our Good God along the way? Today, tell someone about something really great that God is doing in your life. They will be encouraged, your faith will be strengthen and God will get the glory.
The Sake of the Call
Steven Curtis Chapman
Nobody stood and applauded them
So they knew from the start
This road would not lead to fame
All they really knew for sure was Jesus had called to them
He said "Come follow me" and they came
With reckless abandon they came
Empty nets lying there at the waters edge
Told a story that few could believe and none could explain
How some crazy fishermen agreed to go where Jesus lead
With no thought for what they would gain
For Jesus had called them by name and they answered
CHORUS
We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all but the sake of the call
Wholly devoted to live and to die
For the sake of the call
Drawn like the rivers are drawn to the sea
No turning back for the water cannot help but flow
Once we hear the Savior's call we'll follow wherever he leads
Because of the love He has shown
And because he has called us to go we will answer
We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all but the sake of the call
Wholly devoted to live and to die
BRIDGE
Not for the sake of a creed or a cause
Not for a dream or a promise
Simply because it is Jesus who calls
And if we believe we'll obey
A Store House of God's Word.
Ps. 119
Beth
9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
10 With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
11I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
12Blessed are you, O LORD;
teach me your statutes!
13With my lips I declare
all the rules of your mouth.
14In the way of your testimonies I delight
as much as in all riches.
15I will meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your ways.
16I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.
This sections continue on in the same vein as the previous one. We are to be in God's Word, storing up His promises and commands and learning His truths, in order that we might gain a heart of wisdom.
In v12 he tells of the blessedness of the Lord and asked again to have The Lord teach him His statutes. We need God to teach us all that He would have us to learn so we are prepared. He knows what is ahead and He knows perfectly His Word, so what better teacher could we ask for.
He speaks the Word so as to remind himself of the the truths he has learned. We are not only to read and memorize the Word, but as we recite it to ourselves and others, then all will be encouraged to walk in His Truth.
Only God can enable us to delight in His Word more than riches. The pull of the world is strong and we are enticed on every side to run after riches, fame and pleasures, but in the end, and even today, His Word is more valuable than gold. May He give us the delight of our hearts and may that be Him.
He goes back to meditation on the Word as an aid to fixing his eyes on the Way of the Lord. When we are reading and meditating on Scripture our eyes will be focused on what is most important and we will not want to walk in the way of the world, but we will delight in God's Word and He will enable us to not forget all that He is teaching us.
Oh Lord, may we desire Your Word over everything that is trying to steal our joy. Give us a heart and desire for Your Truth, may it be the light that illumines our dark hearts, and because of that light may we be lights in this dark world. Use us to encourage others with Your Truth, to turn sinners to repentance and to shepherd the flock You have given us charge over. God, we want to be vessels fit for Your use. I want to be a pure vessel that You love to use, in whatever way You see fit. You are the One who makes me pure, and You are the One who chooses to use one vessel over another.
Much is happening in the world around me that is capable of stealing my joy. Please let me focus on You and take all the cares of this world, that might rob my joy, and handle them. I want to be a joyous person, but that is beyond my ability. You can change my vision and my heart and transform me to that person You want me to be. God please do that work.
You are Good and You have shown Yourself faithful to all generations. Help me to trust You for today and not worry about what may, or may not, happen tomorrow.
Beth
9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
10 With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
11I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
12Blessed are you, O LORD;
teach me your statutes!
13With my lips I declare
all the rules of your mouth.
14In the way of your testimonies I delight
as much as in all riches.
15I will meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your ways.
16I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.
This sections continue on in the same vein as the previous one. We are to be in God's Word, storing up His promises and commands and learning His truths, in order that we might gain a heart of wisdom.
In v12 he tells of the blessedness of the Lord and asked again to have The Lord teach him His statutes. We need God to teach us all that He would have us to learn so we are prepared. He knows what is ahead and He knows perfectly His Word, so what better teacher could we ask for.
He speaks the Word so as to remind himself of the the truths he has learned. We are not only to read and memorize the Word, but as we recite it to ourselves and others, then all will be encouraged to walk in His Truth.
Only God can enable us to delight in His Word more than riches. The pull of the world is strong and we are enticed on every side to run after riches, fame and pleasures, but in the end, and even today, His Word is more valuable than gold. May He give us the delight of our hearts and may that be Him.
He goes back to meditation on the Word as an aid to fixing his eyes on the Way of the Lord. When we are reading and meditating on Scripture our eyes will be focused on what is most important and we will not want to walk in the way of the world, but we will delight in God's Word and He will enable us to not forget all that He is teaching us.
Oh Lord, may we desire Your Word over everything that is trying to steal our joy. Give us a heart and desire for Your Truth, may it be the light that illumines our dark hearts, and because of that light may we be lights in this dark world. Use us to encourage others with Your Truth, to turn sinners to repentance and to shepherd the flock You have given us charge over. God, we want to be vessels fit for Your use. I want to be a pure vessel that You love to use, in whatever way You see fit. You are the One who makes me pure, and You are the One who chooses to use one vessel over another.
Much is happening in the world around me that is capable of stealing my joy. Please let me focus on You and take all the cares of this world, that might rob my joy, and handle them. I want to be a joyous person, but that is beyond my ability. You can change my vision and my heart and transform me to that person You want me to be. God please do that work.
You are Good and You have shown Yourself faithful to all generations. Help me to trust You for today and not worry about what may, or may not, happen tomorrow.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Ps. 119 Aleph
Psalm 119
Aleph
1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD!
2Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
who seek him with their whole heart,
3who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways!
4You have commanded your precepts
to be kept diligently.
5Oh that my ways may be steadfast
in keeping your statutes!
6 Then I shall not be put to shame,
having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
7I will praise you with an upright heart,
when I learn your righteous rules.
8I will keep your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me!
Oh to be blameless; to have no charge against me. I am glad this is not perfection, but direction, or I would be crushed under the weight of "Blameless", "Whole heart" and "Do no wrong".
I desire to have all of these said of me, but I can't do this under my own power and really would have no desire to do it without the Holy Spirit moving me. I want my way to be steadfast and to diligently keep His statutes and to have my eyes fixed on His commandments, but I am a long way from there right now.
It seems that the point is not that we are perfect, but that we are walking and meditating on His commandments, so when we are tempted they are the first thing that come to mind and these are what guide our steps, not our own decisions.
He will finish what He has started and I am thankful that He has started the work in me. As I work out my own salvation with fear and trembling He works in me up to completion.
Isn't it great that we bring nothing to the table, but need, and yet when He is finished we leave with the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven. Thank You Lord for Your grace.
Lord, make me want to follow Your Word. Give me the desire to be more like You every day. Don't let me make decisions that will cause me and others harm, but show me Your way, with the clearest of vision, that I might walk uprightly and not stumble. Thanks You for Your Word and the instruction it gives. Let me not quench Your Holy Spirit as He works in my heart to make me conformed to Your image. When You have finished Your work in me, I will rejoice that You have taken me from being dead and changed me to being alive in You. You can do this and You want to do it, so keep me out of the way and do Your will.
Aleph
1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD!
2Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
who seek him with their whole heart,
3who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways!
4You have commanded your precepts
to be kept diligently.
5Oh that my ways may be steadfast
in keeping your statutes!
6 Then I shall not be put to shame,
having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
7I will praise you with an upright heart,
when I learn your righteous rules.
8I will keep your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me!
Oh to be blameless; to have no charge against me. I am glad this is not perfection, but direction, or I would be crushed under the weight of "Blameless", "Whole heart" and "Do no wrong".
I desire to have all of these said of me, but I can't do this under my own power and really would have no desire to do it without the Holy Spirit moving me. I want my way to be steadfast and to diligently keep His statutes and to have my eyes fixed on His commandments, but I am a long way from there right now.
It seems that the point is not that we are perfect, but that we are walking and meditating on His commandments, so when we are tempted they are the first thing that come to mind and these are what guide our steps, not our own decisions.
He will finish what He has started and I am thankful that He has started the work in me. As I work out my own salvation with fear and trembling He works in me up to completion.
Isn't it great that we bring nothing to the table, but need, and yet when He is finished we leave with the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven. Thank You Lord for Your grace.
Lord, make me want to follow Your Word. Give me the desire to be more like You every day. Don't let me make decisions that will cause me and others harm, but show me Your way, with the clearest of vision, that I might walk uprightly and not stumble. Thanks You for Your Word and the instruction it gives. Let me not quench Your Holy Spirit as He works in my heart to make me conformed to Your image. When You have finished Your work in me, I will rejoice that You have taken me from being dead and changed me to being alive in You. You can do this and You want to do it, so keep me out of the way and do Your will.
Spiritual Snowflakes
We had a missionary come to our church yesterday. He spoke on worry in the morning message and then gave an update, in the evening, on what God is doing in Ukraine.
All very good stuff, and of course any who have been reading this know I don't have to work on worry at all:)
I was struck by something he said that I'm sure he didn't intend to be directed at the guys. He was talking about what his wife does and what her ministry is, in Ukraine. She is not a gifted teacher, but is a helper and loves to be with the grandmas. She is very hospitable.
That got me thinking about my life and spiritual giftedness. God gives each of us a very unique set of gifts that are intended to be used for His glory and to further The Kingdom. Does God give us gifts and then frustrate us by not giving us either the resources to carry them out, or the opportunity to practice them? I don't think so. I think that He gives us these gifts and expects us to hone them, to work on them, and then use them for His glory.
What does that mean to us? If God has given you the gift of teaching, you should be working in that area to be a more gifted teacher. If He has given you the gift of giving, then you should always be looking for opportunities to meet a need. If He has given you the gift of mercy, then you should be listening for people who are hurting and be His light into their world.
I believe that God gives each one of us all of these gifts to some degree. The missionary said that we are all spiritual snow flakes; snow in consecutive posts. If your gift is primarily teaching but you also have a merciful heart then you are able to speak to someone that is hurting, where if another has the gift of teaching but God has not taken them through something to give them that mercy yet, they would have less compassion than the first.
Sorry for the mess up way of trying to get the point across. Hopefully you can get the it.
When we have gone through things, like our family and Grant's event, that prepares us for events in the future that we would have no platform to speak about because we hadn't ever gone through that kind of a circumstance. Many are posting a comment on Andrew and Grace's blog who have gone, or are going, through similar situations. They have gained new insight, and care, they would have never had previous to God taking them through their trials.
It is not easy going through this things, I am preaching to myself, but when God gives us trials it is best to look at them as Him making us more useful down the road, perfecting us for the future, rather than whining about how hard it is right now. I have had so many opportunities to share Christ because of Grant's event; opportunities I never would have had previous to it.
Embrace the trials and try to see what blessing God is preparing you for in the future. Easy to say, harder to do. His strength is perfect, when ours is small. We can't do this on our own, but He wants us to be this way.
All very good stuff, and of course any who have been reading this know I don't have to work on worry at all:)
I was struck by something he said that I'm sure he didn't intend to be directed at the guys. He was talking about what his wife does and what her ministry is, in Ukraine. She is not a gifted teacher, but is a helper and loves to be with the grandmas. She is very hospitable.
That got me thinking about my life and spiritual giftedness. God gives each of us a very unique set of gifts that are intended to be used for His glory and to further The Kingdom. Does God give us gifts and then frustrate us by not giving us either the resources to carry them out, or the opportunity to practice them? I don't think so. I think that He gives us these gifts and expects us to hone them, to work on them, and then use them for His glory.
What does that mean to us? If God has given you the gift of teaching, you should be working in that area to be a more gifted teacher. If He has given you the gift of giving, then you should always be looking for opportunities to meet a need. If He has given you the gift of mercy, then you should be listening for people who are hurting and be His light into their world.
I believe that God gives each one of us all of these gifts to some degree. The missionary said that we are all spiritual snow flakes; snow in consecutive posts. If your gift is primarily teaching but you also have a merciful heart then you are able to speak to someone that is hurting, where if another has the gift of teaching but God has not taken them through something to give them that mercy yet, they would have less compassion than the first.
Sorry for the mess up way of trying to get the point across. Hopefully you can get the it.
When we have gone through things, like our family and Grant's event, that prepares us for events in the future that we would have no platform to speak about because we hadn't ever gone through that kind of a circumstance. Many are posting a comment on Andrew and Grace's blog who have gone, or are going, through similar situations. They have gained new insight, and care, they would have never had previous to God taking them through their trials.
It is not easy going through this things, I am preaching to myself, but when God gives us trials it is best to look at them as Him making us more useful down the road, perfecting us for the future, rather than whining about how hard it is right now. I have had so many opportunities to share Christ because of Grant's event; opportunities I never would have had previous to it.
Embrace the trials and try to see what blessing God is preparing you for in the future. Easy to say, harder to do. His strength is perfect, when ours is small. We can't do this on our own, but He wants us to be this way.
Moon Struck Snow
Is. 55:10 "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
This morning I awakened to a very bright full moon, or at least close to a full moon. I like it when it is this way because the moon rays, I guess there is such a thing, come through the glass and cast some really cool looking shadows. It is bright and dark at the same time. But this morning there was also a light dusting of snow on the ground, which made the moonlight even brighter. I thought as first it was frost, because when the moon is bright it needs to be clear, but apparently it has snow just a bit and then cleared up.
I went to this passage looking for the "snow" but was quickly reminded of the intention of the passage. God's Word does not return empty. How great it is to know that as we are faithful to speak and teach His Word, both to ourselves and to others, that He brings the harvest. It may not happen right away, it might not happen in this decade, but His Word does not return void. He is faithful to keep His promises, so we need to be faithful to His Word. His purposes will be completed.
This is especially true as I think back on the S/R. There are many kids who have not repented, yet they heard a lot of Scripture in the 5 days there. God will bring that back to bear His purpose down the road. He will get glory from His Word going out, even if that is hardening the hearts who reject His Word.
As a high school student I wasn't a Christian. I went to a Christin school. We went to church twice on Sunday and again on Wed. night. In school, in order to play sports, you had to keep up on your Scripture memory for the month. As far away as high school is from me now, I still can be reading along, in my Bible, and remember entire passages that we memorized. Verses just pop into my mind that God has let sprout up and bear fruit.
Pray for the students that they would not let the fire die. That they would have zeal for Christ, His Word, pray and His people like they have never had before and that God would keep that zeal going. Pray that this would be the case in each one of us.
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
This morning I awakened to a very bright full moon, or at least close to a full moon. I like it when it is this way because the moon rays, I guess there is such a thing, come through the glass and cast some really cool looking shadows. It is bright and dark at the same time. But this morning there was also a light dusting of snow on the ground, which made the moonlight even brighter. I thought as first it was frost, because when the moon is bright it needs to be clear, but apparently it has snow just a bit and then cleared up.
I went to this passage looking for the "snow" but was quickly reminded of the intention of the passage. God's Word does not return empty. How great it is to know that as we are faithful to speak and teach His Word, both to ourselves and to others, that He brings the harvest. It may not happen right away, it might not happen in this decade, but His Word does not return void. He is faithful to keep His promises, so we need to be faithful to His Word. His purposes will be completed.
This is especially true as I think back on the S/R. There are many kids who have not repented, yet they heard a lot of Scripture in the 5 days there. God will bring that back to bear His purpose down the road. He will get glory from His Word going out, even if that is hardening the hearts who reject His Word.
As a high school student I wasn't a Christian. I went to a Christin school. We went to church twice on Sunday and again on Wed. night. In school, in order to play sports, you had to keep up on your Scripture memory for the month. As far away as high school is from me now, I still can be reading along, in my Bible, and remember entire passages that we memorized. Verses just pop into my mind that God has let sprout up and bear fruit.
Pray for the students that they would not let the fire die. That they would have zeal for Christ, His Word, pray and His people like they have never had before and that God would keep that zeal going. Pray that this would be the case in each one of us.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Fighting for Joy!
How are you all doing in your fight for JOY?
In our small group today, our family of high school guys and "Papa Chuck", we talked about how to keep the fire burning after the snow retreat is over and life is back to normal. Some of the guys are doing very well in their Bible reading and prayer and others are struggling.
Why is it a fight? If it were easy then Christianity would be easy. We are in a war for our souls and the enemy does not sleep. Sin doesn't wake up tired- thanks Micah. When we fight sin, sleepiness, laziness, lack of discipline and every other thing that keeps us from our time with the Lord, we are fighting against those negative things, for sure, but we are also, and I now think more importantly, fighting to keep our joy and zeal hot.
When we physically exercise it takes work to get started and work to keep it going. You work to lose pounds maybe, but you also work out because when you do, you feel a lot better. If you only focus on the pounds you will soon stop. But when you focus on the long term positive benefits, then it is easier to sustain.
Our Christian life and walk is much the same. It takes work to fight for our joy, BUT it is worth it. The long term and the short term benefits are huge. Don't let the evil one steal your joy while you're sleeping. Don't let him steal your joy while you worry about something that may or may not happen. Fight for it, because God is the Giver of Joy and He is worth the fight. He will give you joy inexpressible. He always keeps His promises.
Just a little reminder to you, but mostly to myself. Please LMK how you're doing in your battle.
In our small group today, our family of high school guys and "Papa Chuck", we talked about how to keep the fire burning after the snow retreat is over and life is back to normal. Some of the guys are doing very well in their Bible reading and prayer and others are struggling.
Why is it a fight? If it were easy then Christianity would be easy. We are in a war for our souls and the enemy does not sleep. Sin doesn't wake up tired- thanks Micah. When we fight sin, sleepiness, laziness, lack of discipline and every other thing that keeps us from our time with the Lord, we are fighting against those negative things, for sure, but we are also, and I now think more importantly, fighting to keep our joy and zeal hot.
When we physically exercise it takes work to get started and work to keep it going. You work to lose pounds maybe, but you also work out because when you do, you feel a lot better. If you only focus on the pounds you will soon stop. But when you focus on the long term positive benefits, then it is easier to sustain.
Our Christian life and walk is much the same. It takes work to fight for our joy, BUT it is worth it. The long term and the short term benefits are huge. Don't let the evil one steal your joy while you're sleeping. Don't let him steal your joy while you worry about something that may or may not happen. Fight for it, because God is the Giver of Joy and He is worth the fight. He will give you joy inexpressible. He always keeps His promises.
Just a little reminder to you, but mostly to myself. Please LMK how you're doing in your battle.
Thank you for praying, please don't stop
I wanted to give you an update on PG.
We had a nice January, not a record by any stretch, but a nice month. The guys worked hard to install everything that was ready. Often the clients sign up but aren't ready until some other things are finished, beyond our control. We had sales that almost equaled our installed dollars, so that was really good of God to give us those contacts in a crazy market.
This first week of Feb. has started the month off very well. This is the biggest week of sales we have had for quite some time. We are getting leads from many different avenues and I am always amazed at how God brings us people that there is no way they could get to us except that He brings them.
Please continue to pray for PG. He has totally blessed us along the way and He is the ONLY One who can keep it going. I told the guys last week that it certainly could be a week to week struggle to keep us going for a long time, but God promises to give us our daily bread, not our weekly, monthly or yearly bread. We will try to rest in His provision one day at a time. We really do relish the fact that so many of you are praying for us.
Thank you for lifting us up and thanks be to OUR GREAT GOD for answered prayer.
We had a nice January, not a record by any stretch, but a nice month. The guys worked hard to install everything that was ready. Often the clients sign up but aren't ready until some other things are finished, beyond our control. We had sales that almost equaled our installed dollars, so that was really good of God to give us those contacts in a crazy market.
This first week of Feb. has started the month off very well. This is the biggest week of sales we have had for quite some time. We are getting leads from many different avenues and I am always amazed at how God brings us people that there is no way they could get to us except that He brings them.
Please continue to pray for PG. He has totally blessed us along the way and He is the ONLY One who can keep it going. I told the guys last week that it certainly could be a week to week struggle to keep us going for a long time, but God promises to give us our daily bread, not our weekly, monthly or yearly bread. We will try to rest in His provision one day at a time. We really do relish the fact that so many of you are praying for us.
Thank you for lifting us up and thanks be to OUR GREAT GOD for answered prayer.
Spiritual Gluttony
Ps. 107:8 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
9 For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
What does a hungry, or longing, soul look like?
We talked a little yesterday, in our staff meeting, about gluttony. There have been times in my life that I have eaten way too much; much more than I needed. It does seem strange that the more we eat the more we want to eat, even though there is no way we could possibly be hungry.
So with that in mind; when we "eat" the Word more and pray more, our appetite for the things of God increases. What used to feel like "eating" an entire spiritual Thanksgiving dinner now seems like we are hungry for more shortly after we are finished. The difference here is that "spiritual gluttony" is the best thing for us. The more we consume, the more we want; the more we want, the more we are given; the more we are given, the more we are changed; the more we are changed, the more we are like Christ.
His Word is true. He does satisfy the longing soul and fills the hungry with good things. Both of those are filled with ALL the He is.
Give thanks to Him when He does these things in your life and ask Him to continue to give you the desire for Him.
You are Good Lord and You want to bless us with all the You are; You want us to find all of our cravings in You. You satisfy more than anything else we could long for, You are the best of everything we desire. There is nothing on earth that compares to You and yet often we look at the things here and focus on them, rather than You. Let us taste Your sweetness. Let us see Your goodness. Let us hear ourselves and others telling of Your wondrous acts, so when we lose focus on You we are drawn back by all that You have allowed us to enjoy previously. Give us a heart of thanksgiving. Give us ONLY a desire for all that Your are. Allow us to turn our eyes toward You, that we may look into Your wonderful face, so that the things here on earth grow dim compared to the light of Your glory and grace. You love us to have this attitude, so please give it to us that we may be a pleasing sacrifice to You.
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
9 For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
What does a hungry, or longing, soul look like?
We talked a little yesterday, in our staff meeting, about gluttony. There have been times in my life that I have eaten way too much; much more than I needed. It does seem strange that the more we eat the more we want to eat, even though there is no way we could possibly be hungry.
So with that in mind; when we "eat" the Word more and pray more, our appetite for the things of God increases. What used to feel like "eating" an entire spiritual Thanksgiving dinner now seems like we are hungry for more shortly after we are finished. The difference here is that "spiritual gluttony" is the best thing for us. The more we consume, the more we want; the more we want, the more we are given; the more we are given, the more we are changed; the more we are changed, the more we are like Christ.
His Word is true. He does satisfy the longing soul and fills the hungry with good things. Both of those are filled with ALL the He is.
Give thanks to Him when He does these things in your life and ask Him to continue to give you the desire for Him.
You are Good Lord and You want to bless us with all the You are; You want us to find all of our cravings in You. You satisfy more than anything else we could long for, You are the best of everything we desire. There is nothing on earth that compares to You and yet often we look at the things here and focus on them, rather than You. Let us taste Your sweetness. Let us see Your goodness. Let us hear ourselves and others telling of Your wondrous acts, so when we lose focus on You we are drawn back by all that You have allowed us to enjoy previously. Give us a heart of thanksgiving. Give us ONLY a desire for all that Your are. Allow us to turn our eyes toward You, that we may look into Your wonderful face, so that the things here on earth grow dim compared to the light of Your glory and grace. You love us to have this attitude, so please give it to us that we may be a pleasing sacrifice to You.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Perfect Peace
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee.
When shadows fall and darkness comes, He giveth perfect peace.
Oh, He is my only resting place, He giveth perfect peace.
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee.(Based on Isaiah 26:3)
Today our friend, Andrew, went home to be with the Lord. This is such a hard thing to comprehend, that a 28 year old would get tongue cancer, w/o ever chewing tobacco, then fight for more than a year, to succumb to this terrible killer and leave behind his young wife and 2 small children. But God knows what He is doing in EVERY situation and we must trust His care.
I also found out today that Tom and Tami's little 6 month old daughter is struggling to get set up for chemo treatment and all that goes with having Leukemia. As a dad, I know personally that this is really difficult, as I wanted to switch places with Grant when he was having his event, but we aren't in charge; God is.
There are no words that I can say to these people that will make this go away, or take away the pain. There is no one who is immune to this type of pain. But God does Absolutely loves us and He wants us to be drawn to Himself.
Please pray for these 2 families. The pain is real, the trial is hard and the fire is hot, yet Our Lord knows exactly where each one of us are right now and He will not let one of His sheep stray too long.
Lord, work in each of our lives that we might be a light to this dark world. May we have Your Words to share when we need them, may we take the time to care for those that are hurting. God, keep these families trusting in You. Show them Yourself in the sweetest way, that they might be drawn closer to you, rather than be upset or mad because we can't see Your perfect plan. Comfort them as only You can. Make Your promises real to them today. Bless them as they follow You and Your Word.
God, You are good and we want to trust You, but our faith is small and weak, and our loves are settled on lesser things much of the time. Gives us eyes and hearts for You and our final home. Give us peace as only You can.
When shadows fall and darkness comes, He giveth perfect peace.
Oh, He is my only resting place, He giveth perfect peace.
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee.(Based on Isaiah 26:3)
Today our friend, Andrew, went home to be with the Lord. This is such a hard thing to comprehend, that a 28 year old would get tongue cancer, w/o ever chewing tobacco, then fight for more than a year, to succumb to this terrible killer and leave behind his young wife and 2 small children. But God knows what He is doing in EVERY situation and we must trust His care.
I also found out today that Tom and Tami's little 6 month old daughter is struggling to get set up for chemo treatment and all that goes with having Leukemia. As a dad, I know personally that this is really difficult, as I wanted to switch places with Grant when he was having his event, but we aren't in charge; God is.
There are no words that I can say to these people that will make this go away, or take away the pain. There is no one who is immune to this type of pain. But God does Absolutely loves us and He wants us to be drawn to Himself.
Please pray for these 2 families. The pain is real, the trial is hard and the fire is hot, yet Our Lord knows exactly where each one of us are right now and He will not let one of His sheep stray too long.
Lord, work in each of our lives that we might be a light to this dark world. May we have Your Words to share when we need them, may we take the time to care for those that are hurting. God, keep these families trusting in You. Show them Yourself in the sweetest way, that they might be drawn closer to you, rather than be upset or mad because we can't see Your perfect plan. Comfort them as only You can. Make Your promises real to them today. Bless them as they follow You and Your Word.
God, You are good and we want to trust You, but our faith is small and weak, and our loves are settled on lesser things much of the time. Gives us eyes and hearts for You and our final home. Give us peace as only You can.
What Kind of Tree are You?
Ps. 92:12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree
and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13They are planted in the house of the LORD;
they flourish in the courts of our God.
In our culture today, green products are very vogue, meaning they are trendy. Green products are things that are easily produced or very sustainable. Green products, like trees, grow fast and yet produce a good amount of product. An oak tree would not be considered green because it takes too long to grow. Bamboo is, because it grows quickly.
Quite possibly you have driven by a field of trees that are being grown for pulp. They are trees that are planted like corn, only they get 50-60' tall in 10-15 years. Sometimes when the winters are hard these trees get laden with snow or ice and they bend and break, because they grow quickly and the wood is not strong enough to hold additional weight, except for the leaves and small branches of the tree itself.
There are also trees that grow with very shallow root systems and when the wind blows they are easily knocked over because the roots have not gone deep enough in the ground to allow them to stay upright.
You can probably see the direction I am going here. We often want to be ready for trials that come along, but we want to be ready right now. We want to be able to hold others up when we can barely hold our own "leaves" up. We want to be able to withstand strong winds, but our roots are not deep enough yet.
I am encouraged, and want to encourage you also, that God is the Master Gardener who can grow us, make our roots deep, and make us strong in adversity. He can take His Word and plant it deep in us so that when the storms of life hit we are ready with that Scripture and He brings it back to remind us. The longer we walk with Him the stronger we are because He is strong. We can have faith that He will do the work in us, not because of what we have done, but because of Who He is.
Lord may I love Your Word and dwell in It so much that when I speak it is Your Word that comes out of my mouth. May Your Truth be deeply planted in my life so when trials come I would be able to stand upright and not be shaken because You have made me strong. I desire this, not so I would be honored but so others would be able to see that it is only You who could have done this in me and would glorify You because of what You have done. Grow me for Your purposes. Use me as You will. Produce fruit in me that brings You delight.
Ps. 1:3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13They are planted in the house of the LORD;
they flourish in the courts of our God.
In our culture today, green products are very vogue, meaning they are trendy. Green products are things that are easily produced or very sustainable. Green products, like trees, grow fast and yet produce a good amount of product. An oak tree would not be considered green because it takes too long to grow. Bamboo is, because it grows quickly.
Quite possibly you have driven by a field of trees that are being grown for pulp. They are trees that are planted like corn, only they get 50-60' tall in 10-15 years. Sometimes when the winters are hard these trees get laden with snow or ice and they bend and break, because they grow quickly and the wood is not strong enough to hold additional weight, except for the leaves and small branches of the tree itself.
There are also trees that grow with very shallow root systems and when the wind blows they are easily knocked over because the roots have not gone deep enough in the ground to allow them to stay upright.
You can probably see the direction I am going here. We often want to be ready for trials that come along, but we want to be ready right now. We want to be able to hold others up when we can barely hold our own "leaves" up. We want to be able to withstand strong winds, but our roots are not deep enough yet.
I am encouraged, and want to encourage you also, that God is the Master Gardener who can grow us, make our roots deep, and make us strong in adversity. He can take His Word and plant it deep in us so that when the storms of life hit we are ready with that Scripture and He brings it back to remind us. The longer we walk with Him the stronger we are because He is strong. We can have faith that He will do the work in us, not because of what we have done, but because of Who He is.
Lord may I love Your Word and dwell in It so much that when I speak it is Your Word that comes out of my mouth. May Your Truth be deeply planted in my life so when trials come I would be able to stand upright and not be shaken because You have made me strong. I desire this, not so I would be honored but so others would be able to see that it is only You who could have done this in me and would glorify You because of what You have done. Grow me for Your purposes. Use me as You will. Produce fruit in me that brings You delight.
Ps. 1:3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
Guard my Lips/Fingers
Ps. 141:3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;
keep watch over the door of my lips!
I was awaken this morning by thoughts of not knowing exactly what I had commented on another blog yesterday. I don't always remember exactly what I write and most of the time, lately, I have been praying as I read some portion of Scripture and then am just writing down what I think as I go along.
What I was awakened because I am not sure of my sensitivity in my post, so I wanted to go back and read it. I am not sure that I will ever know the answer to my sleeplessness in this matter, as the post was not on the site. I often pray, in many circumstances now, that God would open and close doors so that where I was supposed to go is blatantly clear and so I am hoping His has shielded what was mot meant to get there.
What I am not so clearly trying to say is, I hope that if I was insensitive, God has blocked the comment from getting to the person/persons who were not supposed to read it. I am also reminding myself not to speak/write too quickly and especially to be praying for God's guidance over each thing I say, in whatever form. If I am to be a blessing and encouragement to others it can only be because He is allowing it and I can easily misspeak w/o going to Him first.
I pray that I have not posted anything that has been insensitive to you readers and to God's grace in my life. If I have please forgive me and know that He is still working on me. God, please guard my lips and fingers as I go through this time, that I may be an encouragement, rather than a curse, to those around me. Give me the exact words you want me to say, and if I push through anyway, block it from being seen or heard. You can do this.
keep watch over the door of my lips!
I was awaken this morning by thoughts of not knowing exactly what I had commented on another blog yesterday. I don't always remember exactly what I write and most of the time, lately, I have been praying as I read some portion of Scripture and then am just writing down what I think as I go along.
What I was awakened because I am not sure of my sensitivity in my post, so I wanted to go back and read it. I am not sure that I will ever know the answer to my sleeplessness in this matter, as the post was not on the site. I often pray, in many circumstances now, that God would open and close doors so that where I was supposed to go is blatantly clear and so I am hoping His has shielded what was mot meant to get there.
What I am not so clearly trying to say is, I hope that if I was insensitive, God has blocked the comment from getting to the person/persons who were not supposed to read it. I am also reminding myself not to speak/write too quickly and especially to be praying for God's guidance over each thing I say, in whatever form. If I am to be a blessing and encouragement to others it can only be because He is allowing it and I can easily misspeak w/o going to Him first.
I pray that I have not posted anything that has been insensitive to you readers and to God's grace in my life. If I have please forgive me and know that He is still working on me. God, please guard my lips and fingers as I go through this time, that I may be an encouragement, rather than a curse, to those around me. Give me the exact words you want me to say, and if I push through anyway, block it from being seen or heard. You can do this.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Please Pray
I received a phone call this afternoon from a friend of mine; he told me that his really good friends, Tom and Tami, just found out that his 6 MONTH old daughter has just be diagnosed with Leukemia. She will be admitted to Children's Hospital tonight at 10.
I am not sure of the spiritual statues of the parents, but no matter what that is, it would still be very difficult to bring all this into perspective.
Please pray for the family that God would work mightily in their lives and that we would be able to be an encouragement to them in whatever way God sees fit.
I remember one of the speakers at the Shepherd's Conference last year saying that his friend had called some of his friends around America to come and pray for him when he was deathly ill. He said that it really humbled him to know that he would have to be the one who was the "righteous man" whose prayers were heard by God. How righteous is righteous enough for God to hear our prayers? Am I righteous enough to stand in the gap and pray for someone in this sort of situation?
Lord refine us and make us pure vessels that we would be ready to speak to You on behalf of this sick and dying world. May we know Your heart enough to be requesting Your will in every situation. Use us to be lights and encouragement to those around us that are hurting, they are many, and we are weak and frail vessels one our own, and we need Your strength and wisdom in every situation of every day. Thanks You for Your love and care for each one of us.
I am not sure of the spiritual statues of the parents, but no matter what that is, it would still be very difficult to bring all this into perspective.
Please pray for the family that God would work mightily in their lives and that we would be able to be an encouragement to them in whatever way God sees fit.
I remember one of the speakers at the Shepherd's Conference last year saying that his friend had called some of his friends around America to come and pray for him when he was deathly ill. He said that it really humbled him to know that he would have to be the one who was the "righteous man" whose prayers were heard by God. How righteous is righteous enough for God to hear our prayers? Am I righteous enough to stand in the gap and pray for someone in this sort of situation?
Lord refine us and make us pure vessels that we would be ready to speak to You on behalf of this sick and dying world. May we know Your heart enough to be requesting Your will in every situation. Use us to be lights and encouragement to those around us that are hurting, they are many, and we are weak and frail vessels one our own, and we need Your strength and wisdom in every situation of every day. Thanks You for Your love and care for each one of us.
Deep Valleys, High Mountains
Ps.90:15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
and for as many years as we have seen evil.
"Great trial enables us to bear great joy, and may be regarded as the herald of extraordinary grace. God's dealings are according to scale; small lives are small throughout; and great histories are great both in sorrow and happiness. Where there are high hills there are also deep valleys.
If we have fierce afflictions we may look for overflowing delights, and our faith may boldly ask for them. God who is great in justice when He chastens will not be little in mercy when He blesses, He will be great all through: let us appeal to Him with unstaggering faith." C.H. Spurgeon.
When I read this verse I had to see what Spurgeon said about it. What an encouragement to be reminded that our trials enable us to find joy in all things, and that God's grace is equally sufficient to bring trials and joy in the trials. I haven't been doing as well as I should be in that.
I like "great histories are great in sorrow and happiness". Truly when we walk through deep valleys the mountains tops are much more beautiful when we finally arrive.
"Unstaggering faith". Hum, I still am not doing so well here, but God is continuing to show Himself more than faithful, so sooner or later I, hopefully, will get it. I have noticed that the more I am in His Word and in prayer the more, in faith, I am able to see His hand working in the events around me and this really has then increased my faith. I just have to look through the lens of His Word and His precious promises so I am reminded constantly, or I forget.
Lord, work in my life and work on my life. Enable me to see the events You are orchestrating that I might see Your faithfulness with clarity and with that clarity praise You with all my heart. Don't let me be un-thankful. I often miss the joy in the trial because I am focused on the trial and not the joy. Change me. I know You are working on me, and though it is hard to have the hammer pounding, You are the Master Craftsman and You have something planned. Please give me the grace and strength the endure and just a glimpse along the way to keep me excited about the process. You have ordained each of my steps, You know the path You have for me, so place each one of my footsteps exactly where You want them to be, don't let me step anywhere You don't want me to step. Keep my feet from stumbling and make my footing sure. Light my path with the light of Your Word, and make it straight and smooth, but keep it steep as I ascend toward You. When I am weary and wore, carry me safely in Your arms.
Thanks for the incredible blessings along the way and for giving me a new perspective on the life that You have called me to LIVE.
Incessant Praise
Ps. 34: 1 I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2My soul makes its boast in the LORD;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt his name together!
Verse 1 has been convicting to me as of late. Do I really bless the Lord at ALL times and is His praise CONTINUALLY in my mouth?
God has blessed me with so many blessings, some I don't even notice, and yet it is easy for me to get wrapped up in the things right in front of me and not give Him praise along the way.
I want to give some examples of things that deserve His praise that I often miss and maybe this will encourage all of us to be praising Him more often. He is worthy of our praise.
In reading the Mark's blog I have been reminded that I need to be praising Him for waking me up with my wife every morning. He has given us helpmates to be just that, praise God.
When was the last time I was thankful for my health? That seems like a last resort answer, but really, we have no health or sustenance at all unless He gives it, praise the Lord.
Employment can be forgotten in the grind of life, but there are many who are not working and would love to have any sort of job, praise the Lord for an opportunity to work as unto Him.
Personally in the PG world I have not been nearly thankful enough, until just very recently, that God really is the provider of every lead and every conversion of a lead to a sale, that allows us to keep going and keeps cash flow where it has to be. I don't ever want to be insincere in my praise, but I am truly understanding that when a client chooses to call or drive into PG, it is from God. Why would they choose us and not someone else? Only because God directed them to hear about us, often in some crazy way, and then they decided to take the drive up to PG. That is of God and He deserves to get the praise for it every time.
I am sure you can put this into practice, personally, and we all should encourage each other by verbally saying "Praise the Lord" or "Praise God" when He does show Himself faithful. He loves a thankful people!
When we boast only in Him, we will automatically become more humble because we are recognizing our dependence on Him. He is the Sole Provider and He wants and deserves to be recognized as such.
Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt his name together!
Ps. 89:15 Blessed are the people who know the festal shout,
who walk, O LORD, in the light of your face,
16who exult in your name all the day
and in your righteousness are exalted.
17For you are the glory of their strength;
by your favor our horn is exalted.
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2My soul makes its boast in the LORD;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt his name together!
Verse 1 has been convicting to me as of late. Do I really bless the Lord at ALL times and is His praise CONTINUALLY in my mouth?
God has blessed me with so many blessings, some I don't even notice, and yet it is easy for me to get wrapped up in the things right in front of me and not give Him praise along the way.
I want to give some examples of things that deserve His praise that I often miss and maybe this will encourage all of us to be praising Him more often. He is worthy of our praise.
In reading the Mark's blog I have been reminded that I need to be praising Him for waking me up with my wife every morning. He has given us helpmates to be just that, praise God.
When was the last time I was thankful for my health? That seems like a last resort answer, but really, we have no health or sustenance at all unless He gives it, praise the Lord.
Employment can be forgotten in the grind of life, but there are many who are not working and would love to have any sort of job, praise the Lord for an opportunity to work as unto Him.
Personally in the PG world I have not been nearly thankful enough, until just very recently, that God really is the provider of every lead and every conversion of a lead to a sale, that allows us to keep going and keeps cash flow where it has to be. I don't ever want to be insincere in my praise, but I am truly understanding that when a client chooses to call or drive into PG, it is from God. Why would they choose us and not someone else? Only because God directed them to hear about us, often in some crazy way, and then they decided to take the drive up to PG. That is of God and He deserves to get the praise for it every time.
I am sure you can put this into practice, personally, and we all should encourage each other by verbally saying "Praise the Lord" or "Praise God" when He does show Himself faithful. He loves a thankful people!
When we boast only in Him, we will automatically become more humble because we are recognizing our dependence on Him. He is the Sole Provider and He wants and deserves to be recognized as such.
Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt his name together!
Ps. 89:15 Blessed are the people who know the festal shout,
who walk, O LORD, in the light of your face,
16who exult in your name all the day
and in your righteousness are exalted.
17For you are the glory of their strength;
by your favor our horn is exalted.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Thief in the house
Prov. 9:17 "Stolen water is sweet,
and bread eaten in secret is pleasant."
You will have to ask my wife for now and later I might be able to tell you the rest of the story:)
and bread eaten in secret is pleasant."
You will have to ask my wife for now and later I might be able to tell you the rest of the story:)
Teach me your way, O LORD
Ps. 86:10 For you are great and do wondrous things;
you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.
12I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your steadfast love toward me;
you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
SKH challenged the staff and students at snow retreat to keep our zeal going, even after the week has ended. He then gave some tips to keep it up. It is easy to be on a spiritual high when everyone else around you is reading their Bible and praying. But it is yet another thing to keep it up when they have all gone home.
I asked one of the guys in my cabin if he had been reading his Bible since he returned. He admitted he had been pretty slack. I encouraged him that he needed to push past the laziness of sleep and get up and read. He did this morning and said it was hard but worth it.
It seems like spiritual disciplines are much the same a physical disciplines. It is hard to start, but after you have worked through the initial portion then you want to be disciplined. The great part about spiritual discipline is when we ask God to make us hunger and thirst for His Word and time in prayer, He loves to bless us with an answer.
Pray that He would teach you to walk in His Truth. He wants you to, and you want you to. When we ask according to His will, He hears us and will do it. Then when He has answered and has given you the desire to meet with Him, listen to His Word and talk with Him in prayer, thank Him for the marvelous work He is producing in your life.
He can and does do miracles in our hearts. Ask Him to make you love the time with Him; then you will grow closer to Him.
you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.
12I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your steadfast love toward me;
you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
SKH challenged the staff and students at snow retreat to keep our zeal going, even after the week has ended. He then gave some tips to keep it up. It is easy to be on a spiritual high when everyone else around you is reading their Bible and praying. But it is yet another thing to keep it up when they have all gone home.
I asked one of the guys in my cabin if he had been reading his Bible since he returned. He admitted he had been pretty slack. I encouraged him that he needed to push past the laziness of sleep and get up and read. He did this morning and said it was hard but worth it.
It seems like spiritual disciplines are much the same a physical disciplines. It is hard to start, but after you have worked through the initial portion then you want to be disciplined. The great part about spiritual discipline is when we ask God to make us hunger and thirst for His Word and time in prayer, He loves to bless us with an answer.
Pray that He would teach you to walk in His Truth. He wants you to, and you want you to. When we ask according to His will, He hears us and will do it. Then when He has answered and has given you the desire to meet with Him, listen to His Word and talk with Him in prayer, thank Him for the marvelous work He is producing in your life.
He can and does do miracles in our hearts. Ask Him to make you love the time with Him; then you will grow closer to Him.
The Star of the Show.
Ps. 84:1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD of hosts!
2My soul longs, yes, faints
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
to the living God.
3Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
ever singing your praise!
I have seen a few of my friends go home to be with the Lord in the last year or so. I have never really thought as much about Heaven as I have lately. With Andrew's condition worsening it has renewed my thoughts of Heaven again.
I know that Heaven is going to have amazing stones. Stones that look like glass they are so perfect. Brilliant colors, much better than HD or Blue Ray could ever produce. The Light of Heaven is God and the sun pales in comparison to Him. I'm not sure about buildings and water or anything like that, but I do know that as beautiful as Heaven itself is, it will not be the Star of the Show. The Star is God. We will be so enthralled with looking at our Redeemer that everything else will be supporting cast.
The hard surfaces of Heaven will make singing to our Lord amazing; like singing in the shower with millions of perfect voices. Our rest will be the best rest we can remember, like when we were children, with no cares in the world, but in perfect health. Our relationships will be perfect. Our loves will be focused on the Lamb. Our faith will have been perfected. Our Joy will be in front of us for us to behold. Our Peace will have broken down every wall. Our strength will be renewed like the eagle that flies over head. Our gifts will be laid, with joy inexpressible, at Jesus' feet. We will be Home at Last.
O LORD of hosts!
2My soul longs, yes, faints
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
to the living God.
3Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
ever singing your praise!
I have seen a few of my friends go home to be with the Lord in the last year or so. I have never really thought as much about Heaven as I have lately. With Andrew's condition worsening it has renewed my thoughts of Heaven again.
I know that Heaven is going to have amazing stones. Stones that look like glass they are so perfect. Brilliant colors, much better than HD or Blue Ray could ever produce. The Light of Heaven is God and the sun pales in comparison to Him. I'm not sure about buildings and water or anything like that, but I do know that as beautiful as Heaven itself is, it will not be the Star of the Show. The Star is God. We will be so enthralled with looking at our Redeemer that everything else will be supporting cast.
The hard surfaces of Heaven will make singing to our Lord amazing; like singing in the shower with millions of perfect voices. Our rest will be the best rest we can remember, like when we were children, with no cares in the world, but in perfect health. Our relationships will be perfect. Our loves will be focused on the Lamb. Our faith will have been perfected. Our Joy will be in front of us for us to behold. Our Peace will have broken down every wall. Our strength will be renewed like the eagle that flies over head. Our gifts will be laid, with joy inexpressible, at Jesus' feet. We will be Home at Last.
He is my Portion
Ps. 73: 23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
24You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Oh, how encouraging it is to know that God is continually with those who love Him. As a father would comfort his little child with his nearness and physical touch, so our Heavenly Father holds our hand.
There is no knowledge in me that He has not given, no insight into things that I have no understanding that He has not imparted and everyday I am reminded how much I need His counsel. He knows what will happen today and beyond and it is a huge comfort to know He is in control of all of the details of my life. And after my life is finished He will receive me in Glory.
What a day it will be,
when my Jesus I shall,
When I look into His face,
the One who saved me by His grace,
When He takes me by the hand
and leads me through the Promised Land
What a Day, Glorious Day, that will be.
Whom have I in Heaven but You? I can finally say that there is nothing on earth I desire beside You. My flesh is weak, my heart is tired, I cry for your grace and you answer, I plead for your provision and You provide. You are my portion, both here and in Heaven, there is nothing lacking in You and You supply all my needs. All that I need is You, and I need you every minute of every hour. Give me strength to be who you want me to be today, give me joy in sharing Who You are when You give me opportunities to share. Give me peace to rest in Your care and provision, I can not rest w/o You giving me faith to trust Your perfect timing. On my own I don't have faith, but You give faith to those who follow after You, help me to follow Only You. You are my light and my Salvation, of whom, or what, shall I be afraid.
you hold my right hand.
24You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Oh, how encouraging it is to know that God is continually with those who love Him. As a father would comfort his little child with his nearness and physical touch, so our Heavenly Father holds our hand.
There is no knowledge in me that He has not given, no insight into things that I have no understanding that He has not imparted and everyday I am reminded how much I need His counsel. He knows what will happen today and beyond and it is a huge comfort to know He is in control of all of the details of my life. And after my life is finished He will receive me in Glory.
What a day it will be,
when my Jesus I shall,
When I look into His face,
the One who saved me by His grace,
When He takes me by the hand
and leads me through the Promised Land
What a Day, Glorious Day, that will be.
Whom have I in Heaven but You? I can finally say that there is nothing on earth I desire beside You. My flesh is weak, my heart is tired, I cry for your grace and you answer, I plead for your provision and You provide. You are my portion, both here and in Heaven, there is nothing lacking in You and You supply all my needs. All that I need is You, and I need you every minute of every hour. Give me strength to be who you want me to be today, give me joy in sharing Who You are when You give me opportunities to share. Give me peace to rest in Your care and provision, I can not rest w/o You giving me faith to trust Your perfect timing. On my own I don't have faith, but You give faith to those who follow after You, help me to follow Only You. You are my light and my Salvation, of whom, or what, shall I be afraid.
Fiery Trials
"When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply:
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine"
Many of the people who regularly read this blog, read another blog from a friend of ours who the husband may have lost his fight with cancer even a I post. He is a young father, 30-ish with a lovely young wife and 2 young children.
They have been an encouragement to many over the last year and half, or so, in how they have endured this extreme trial in their lives. When I read the post this morning that they were in the ambulance going back to the hospital and that it look like the end was very close, this hymn came to my mind.
I actually have been thinking about the "fire" around me for a couple of days now. The Refiner chooses to refine those He loves. His purpose for refining is that we might be pure and complete when He is finished with us. The impurities are not going to come out if the temperature is not hot, and the hotter it gets the more pure we will be. BUT, that doesn't make the heat less hot. I was thinking about that fact yesterday and was so encouraged by the thought that He knows exactly what temperature each of needs to be purified, and how much heat we can take. He will only give us what we need and can handle. Even more encouraging than that, He also is the One who gives us strength to endure it. He gives us both the trial and the power to endure the trial. "All" we have to do is let Him do His perfect work in us and trust that He will do what is best for us.
Please pray for Grace, the kids and the family that they would have strength in this refining time, that God's peace would be so evident in their lives to all around them and that Andrew would finish strong, as He goes to be with his Savior.
Andrew has been through so much pain the past year or so and if today is his home-going what a blessed time it will be for him. No more sickness, pain, or chemo and the cares of this life will be over as he sits at the feet of Jesus and looks into the eyes of the One who endured the shame and disgrace of the ones He created to die on the cross that this moment would be possible for those who trust in Him.
Hallelujah, what a Savior.
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply:
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine"
Many of the people who regularly read this blog, read another blog from a friend of ours who the husband may have lost his fight with cancer even a I post. He is a young father, 30-ish with a lovely young wife and 2 young children.
They have been an encouragement to many over the last year and half, or so, in how they have endured this extreme trial in their lives. When I read the post this morning that they were in the ambulance going back to the hospital and that it look like the end was very close, this hymn came to my mind.
I actually have been thinking about the "fire" around me for a couple of days now. The Refiner chooses to refine those He loves. His purpose for refining is that we might be pure and complete when He is finished with us. The impurities are not going to come out if the temperature is not hot, and the hotter it gets the more pure we will be. BUT, that doesn't make the heat less hot. I was thinking about that fact yesterday and was so encouraged by the thought that He knows exactly what temperature each of needs to be purified, and how much heat we can take. He will only give us what we need and can handle. Even more encouraging than that, He also is the One who gives us strength to endure it. He gives us both the trial and the power to endure the trial. "All" we have to do is let Him do His perfect work in us and trust that He will do what is best for us.
Please pray for Grace, the kids and the family that they would have strength in this refining time, that God's peace would be so evident in their lives to all around them and that Andrew would finish strong, as He goes to be with his Savior.
Andrew has been through so much pain the past year or so and if today is his home-going what a blessed time it will be for him. No more sickness, pain, or chemo and the cares of this life will be over as he sits at the feet of Jesus and looks into the eyes of the One who endured the shame and disgrace of the ones He created to die on the cross that this moment would be possible for those who trust in Him.
Hallelujah, what a Savior.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Do I love my job?
The question has been asked of me lately "Do you still love your job?".
The reason someone would ask me this, if you don't know me, is that I have said, very often, that I did. Even when I was with Les Schwab, working hard in the tire business, I really did love my job. The things I really enjoy about both of these 2 positions is the people. The people are also the biggest challenge. Sometime it is my own staff that are the challenge, but most of the time it is clients. I really enjoy talking and sharing with both groups, especially now that I really have something important to talk about.
BUT, do I love my job? I think that God is really starting to change my heart in this area. I don't think I have been necessarily a greedy or serious hoarder of material things, though I do have too many clothes. I have never really wanted to have lots of toys, I guess I'm a little boring, but currently I do have way more than I deserve or need. Back to the question; I guess my desire to "get ahead" has diminished considerably in the past 6 months or so. It's not that I'm not trying to be a slacker, it is just that there are now things that are much more important to me than there were before.
So, I enjoy the job God has given me, I want to be a great steward of what He has entrusted to me, I want to impact the world for Him, and I think this is a great place for influence that others might not have, even internationally, but I don't love my job like I used to. I want to be the best Christian employer I can be, and the best granite company around, and make some really nice friends along the way that in the end I will be able to share Christ with because of Who they see in me.
I have been praying very earnestly that God would not let me be satisfied with lesser loves and lesser joys. I do have a great platform for ministry and that is what I am trying to use work for now.
I hope this makes sense, and that it doesn't seem like I'm trying to skirt the question. I am just not entirely sure where my heart really is. Our hearts are deceitful and I do want to be naive about what is going on.
The reason someone would ask me this, if you don't know me, is that I have said, very often, that I did. Even when I was with Les Schwab, working hard in the tire business, I really did love my job. The things I really enjoy about both of these 2 positions is the people. The people are also the biggest challenge. Sometime it is my own staff that are the challenge, but most of the time it is clients. I really enjoy talking and sharing with both groups, especially now that I really have something important to talk about.
BUT, do I love my job? I think that God is really starting to change my heart in this area. I don't think I have been necessarily a greedy or serious hoarder of material things, though I do have too many clothes. I have never really wanted to have lots of toys, I guess I'm a little boring, but currently I do have way more than I deserve or need. Back to the question; I guess my desire to "get ahead" has diminished considerably in the past 6 months or so. It's not that I'm not trying to be a slacker, it is just that there are now things that are much more important to me than there were before.
So, I enjoy the job God has given me, I want to be a great steward of what He has entrusted to me, I want to impact the world for Him, and I think this is a great place for influence that others might not have, even internationally, but I don't love my job like I used to. I want to be the best Christian employer I can be, and the best granite company around, and make some really nice friends along the way that in the end I will be able to share Christ with because of Who they see in me.
I have been praying very earnestly that God would not let me be satisfied with lesser loves and lesser joys. I do have a great platform for ministry and that is what I am trying to use work for now.
I hope this makes sense, and that it doesn't seem like I'm trying to skirt the question. I am just not entirely sure where my heart really is. Our hearts are deceitful and I do want to be naive about what is going on.
Quick Update
The senior girl I told you about yesterday has informed us that her dad is keeping her from school, at least today, to take her to a psychiatrist to have her evaluated.
Pray that she would be wise in her answers and that God would show His power by turning the heart of the interrogator towards Himself. He can and does do miracles.
Pray that she would be wise in her answers and that God would show His power by turning the heart of the interrogator towards Himself. He can and does do miracles.
Overcome
1 John 5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. 5Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
This passage has so much in it that I can't even begin to write about them all, but there are a few things that stick out to me here.
There are some key words that pop out of this paragraph, so God must want us to pay attention to them. They are "Everyone", "love", "God" and "commandments". Even if you don't add any more word to these 4 you can really get the idea. "Everyone who loves God keeps His commandments". The opposite must then also be true. Everyone who does NOT love God does NOT keep His commandments. We need to examine our lives, personally, to see if we are truly obeying His commandments.
I love the statement, "His commandments are not burdensome". For those who love Him this is totally true, but for those who don't, His commandments are a lot of work. This should also help you to test your faith and love for Him. Are His commandments burdensome for you, or are they your joy and rest? Is it a chore for you to read and pray, or is it your delight? We are to make our calling and election sure and this is a good way to examine your faith.
The last thing is, "Faith is the victory that overcomes the world". It is hard to have our faith tested, especially if it seems like the trial keep coming. BUT, when God is the One who gives the trial and He is the One who gives us the faith to endure the trial-with joy- it is then that we can see His working in our lives and this builds our faith even more and gives us confidence that He is working all things together for our good.
If God is giving you trials right now that you can't handle, thank Him because He is the One who has to get you through them anyway and now you have to depend on Him, instead of trying to do it on your own. He works in our lives for our good and because He loves us. It's not easy, but it is possible because of Him.
Father, keep working in our lives that we might see Your love for us in all that You have for us. Though the burning away of the dross is painful now, we can rejoice that You love us enough to take the time to purify us. Give us grace to endure, joy to show the world Your goodness, faith to trust and love for others as we share all that You are with them.
Another quick thing. Consciously take the time to tell of His work in your life today. Don't keep His working to yourself, many will be encouraged by your testimony and then give Him praise for what He has done. Live out loud.
This passage has so much in it that I can't even begin to write about them all, but there are a few things that stick out to me here.
There are some key words that pop out of this paragraph, so God must want us to pay attention to them. They are "Everyone", "love", "God" and "commandments". Even if you don't add any more word to these 4 you can really get the idea. "Everyone who loves God keeps His commandments". The opposite must then also be true. Everyone who does NOT love God does NOT keep His commandments. We need to examine our lives, personally, to see if we are truly obeying His commandments.
I love the statement, "His commandments are not burdensome". For those who love Him this is totally true, but for those who don't, His commandments are a lot of work. This should also help you to test your faith and love for Him. Are His commandments burdensome for you, or are they your joy and rest? Is it a chore for you to read and pray, or is it your delight? We are to make our calling and election sure and this is a good way to examine your faith.
The last thing is, "Faith is the victory that overcomes the world". It is hard to have our faith tested, especially if it seems like the trial keep coming. BUT, when God is the One who gives the trial and He is the One who gives us the faith to endure the trial-with joy- it is then that we can see His working in our lives and this builds our faith even more and gives us confidence that He is working all things together for our good.
If God is giving you trials right now that you can't handle, thank Him because He is the One who has to get you through them anyway and now you have to depend on Him, instead of trying to do it on your own. He works in our lives for our good and because He loves us. It's not easy, but it is possible because of Him.
Father, keep working in our lives that we might see Your love for us in all that You have for us. Though the burning away of the dross is painful now, we can rejoice that You love us enough to take the time to purify us. Give us grace to endure, joy to show the world Your goodness, faith to trust and love for others as we share all that You are with them.
Another quick thing. Consciously take the time to tell of His work in your life today. Don't keep His working to yourself, many will be encouraged by your testimony and then give Him praise for what He has done. Live out loud.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Administrative stuff
Just a couple of notes for those who are following.
I had to change the colors, because there are so many nice colors I can't keep just using the same ones:)
Please feel free to post a comment, as it does encourage others when you share your thoughts, even if you don't want to have your own blog, you can just post on mine when you want to. Thanks to those of you who are posting comments.
I am writing down my thoughts for my own soul food, as it is therapeutic for me, and if others are encouraged along the way, Praise God who is working through me. I could not be doing this if He was not working on my heart.
Share your joys and struggles along the way. You really don't know who will be challenged and encouraged.
Go live it out!
I had to change the colors, because there are so many nice colors I can't keep just using the same ones:)
Please feel free to post a comment, as it does encourage others when you share your thoughts, even if you don't want to have your own blog, you can just post on mine when you want to. Thanks to those of you who are posting comments.
I am writing down my thoughts for my own soul food, as it is therapeutic for me, and if others are encouraged along the way, Praise God who is working through me. I could not be doing this if He was not working on my heart.
Share your joys and struggles along the way. You really don't know who will be challenged and encouraged.
Go live it out!
Tree Houses
Ps. 62:5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
7On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
8 Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.
It seems like lately there have been many times when I am waiting in silence for God, because I am speechless, afraid and have nowhere else to turn but Him. I want to say something, but can't. I guess that is a great place to be, since He is the only One who is truly my refuge, but I desire to have the right words to say, I desire to be strong in The Lord, and in the power of His Might, but in my flesh I am weak. I can only rest and wait on Him.
I love the word pictures that are fostered with, "rock", "fortress" and "refuge". He is all of those places that as a little child we would run and take comfort in knowing we are in a safe place; like the tree house. He is our grown up fort, where we can spend the time getting away from the cares of this world and just meditate and dwell on Who He is, with no distractions. It is in those times when I can start to pour out my heart to Him and He answers in the sweetest ways. I don't hear audible words, but He brings Scripture, His Word, to my mind as I am talking with Him. Sometimes an hour or 2 later the answer will come in some form of encouragement that He is certainly orchestrating.
I really have no answers of my own anymore, though it would be arrogant to think that I had any previously, He has just been able to change my heart and show me I didn't have any in the first place. It is so comforting to know we can run to the Rock that is higher than we are and He loves us to stay there with Him. He comforts in so many ways.
Lord, may You hide me in Your holiness, protect me from the sin that so easily besets me, change me to be unshaken it situations that I am normally shakeable, take me in Your arms and cover me from the rains that beat so hard around me, that I may have joy in the trials, not just endure them, that You would show Your glory to the world around me as I walk with, and trust in, You, and that they may know for sure that it is You that I find my joy, comfort, rest and confidence. I am weak and tired, the world around me is dark and terrifying, and the only place I want to be is right next to You. Keep me close to Your side and keep me desiring to be near You. Don't let me be satisfied with lesser loves and lesser joys. Make me to look only to You and be focused on Your face. You can do this in me and You delight in Your servant's praising you when You have done it. Thank You for the changes You have brought in me and for the will to want to change.
Work Your mighty hand in our lives. Plow deep that our hearts might be fertile to Your teaching. Convict us of our sin and bring us to the joy of our salvation once again. Make Your Word fresh to us and in so doing may we be refreshing to the dieing world around us. Guide us, direct us, show us the path You have for us to take, close the doors tight You don't want us to go through, and open wide those that You have for us, that we make no mistakes. Be our Light and our Encouragement. As we walk through this valley of the shadow of death, we desire to fear no evil, but we are weak. Comfort us with the rod of discipline, as it is then we know that you love us, and your staff which brings us back to Your side. You are Our God and there is NONE like You. Thanks for Your great and precious promises.
for my hope is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
7On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
8 Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.
It seems like lately there have been many times when I am waiting in silence for God, because I am speechless, afraid and have nowhere else to turn but Him. I want to say something, but can't. I guess that is a great place to be, since He is the only One who is truly my refuge, but I desire to have the right words to say, I desire to be strong in The Lord, and in the power of His Might, but in my flesh I am weak. I can only rest and wait on Him.
I love the word pictures that are fostered with, "rock", "fortress" and "refuge". He is all of those places that as a little child we would run and take comfort in knowing we are in a safe place; like the tree house. He is our grown up fort, where we can spend the time getting away from the cares of this world and just meditate and dwell on Who He is, with no distractions. It is in those times when I can start to pour out my heart to Him and He answers in the sweetest ways. I don't hear audible words, but He brings Scripture, His Word, to my mind as I am talking with Him. Sometimes an hour or 2 later the answer will come in some form of encouragement that He is certainly orchestrating.
I really have no answers of my own anymore, though it would be arrogant to think that I had any previously, He has just been able to change my heart and show me I didn't have any in the first place. It is so comforting to know we can run to the Rock that is higher than we are and He loves us to stay there with Him. He comforts in so many ways.
Lord, may You hide me in Your holiness, protect me from the sin that so easily besets me, change me to be unshaken it situations that I am normally shakeable, take me in Your arms and cover me from the rains that beat so hard around me, that I may have joy in the trials, not just endure them, that You would show Your glory to the world around me as I walk with, and trust in, You, and that they may know for sure that it is You that I find my joy, comfort, rest and confidence. I am weak and tired, the world around me is dark and terrifying, and the only place I want to be is right next to You. Keep me close to Your side and keep me desiring to be near You. Don't let me be satisfied with lesser loves and lesser joys. Make me to look only to You and be focused on Your face. You can do this in me and You delight in Your servant's praising you when You have done it. Thank You for the changes You have brought in me and for the will to want to change.
Work Your mighty hand in our lives. Plow deep that our hearts might be fertile to Your teaching. Convict us of our sin and bring us to the joy of our salvation once again. Make Your Word fresh to us and in so doing may we be refreshing to the dieing world around us. Guide us, direct us, show us the path You have for us to take, close the doors tight You don't want us to go through, and open wide those that You have for us, that we make no mistakes. Be our Light and our Encouragement. As we walk through this valley of the shadow of death, we desire to fear no evil, but we are weak. Comfort us with the rod of discipline, as it is then we know that you love us, and your staff which brings us back to Your side. You are Our God and there is NONE like You. Thanks for Your great and precious promises.
Monday, February 2, 2009
How Sure Are You?
2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Peter is telling us exactly what we need to make sure our calling, to salvation and Christ. He gives us a list of things we should practice, though we will not get them perfected until we reach Heaven.
We need to look at our lives and evaluate these marks. Pray that God would allow you to see your heart for where it is, as our hearts are deceitful.
Peter is telling us exactly what we need to make sure our calling, to salvation and Christ. He gives us a list of things we should practice, though we will not get them perfected until we reach Heaven.
We need to look at our lives and evaluate these marks. Pray that God would allow you to see your heart for where it is, as our hearts are deceitful.
Please Help me understand.
Ps. 52:6 The righteous shall see and fear,
and shall laugh at him, saying,
7"See the man who would not make
God his refuge,
but trusted in the abundance of his riches
and sought refuge in his own destruction!"
I am having a hard time with vs.6. I don't want to make myself out to be overly compassionate, as I have a long way to go in this area, but it does seem a little rude, or in poor form, to be laughing at someone who has not been shown grace. There are many times that David is praying for the destruction of his enemies and I am wondering if this is what God desired for him. I really don't know the answer to this.
Matt. 5:43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
How do we reconcile this with many of the Psalms of David? In my flesh it would be easy for me to pray harm toward my enemies, but I don't think this is what God wants for me.
Please give me some of your understanding.
and shall laugh at him, saying,
7"See the man who would not make
God his refuge,
but trusted in the abundance of his riches
and sought refuge in his own destruction!"
I am having a hard time with vs.6. I don't want to make myself out to be overly compassionate, as I have a long way to go in this area, but it does seem a little rude, or in poor form, to be laughing at someone who has not been shown grace. There are many times that David is praying for the destruction of his enemies and I am wondering if this is what God desired for him. I really don't know the answer to this.
Matt. 5:43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
How do we reconcile this with many of the Psalms of David? In my flesh it would be easy for me to pray harm toward my enemies, but I don't think this is what God wants for me.
Please give me some of your understanding.
A Broken and Contrite Spirit
Ps. 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
How is it that God is pleased with us when we are broken? The world would want us strong, like the leader the Jewish people were waiting for as Messiah. They would want us full of pride and self worth. They would want us to have a high self-esteem.
But God's values are much different than man's values. His ways are not our ways. He loves us to come to Him broken and contrite- bruised or mourning over our sin. What does He gain from this? When we see our sin for what it truly is, an affront to Our Christ, then we can finally understand our desperate need of Our Savior and this will in turn make our praise and thanksgiving all the more glorious in His ears.
He wants to be praised for all His wondrous works, Ps. 50:23 The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;
to one who orders his way rightly
I will show the salvation of God!"
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
How is it that God is pleased with us when we are broken? The world would want us strong, like the leader the Jewish people were waiting for as Messiah. They would want us full of pride and self worth. They would want us to have a high self-esteem.
But God's values are much different than man's values. His ways are not our ways. He loves us to come to Him broken and contrite- bruised or mourning over our sin. What does He gain from this? When we see our sin for what it truly is, an affront to Our Christ, then we can finally understand our desperate need of Our Savior and this will in turn make our praise and thanksgiving all the more glorious in His ears.
He wants to be praised for all His wondrous works, Ps. 50:23 The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;
to one who orders his way rightly
I will show the salvation of God!"
Who Shall Seperate Us From the Love Of Christ?
Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36As it is written,
"For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I never thought I would write this in America.
We have some students that go to our school whose family is Hindu. The father's greatest concern, when he enrolled the kids in school, was that they would be converted to Christianity. The 2 younger siblings repented from their sins previous to the snow retreat, and the staff and friends of the senior daughter have been praying fervently for her repentance, towards true joy in salvation, for a long time.
Well at the S/R the older sister repented for the first time. She was broken and got up and told everyone of her decision. What a glorious day to speak of the Gospel of Christ.
Well apparently, since the other 2 kids were already saved, the older sister thought that they should tell their parents of their decisions. The father told them that if they didn't recant that they would either have to go to the public school or they were going to be sent back to India.
My heart breaks for the kids, but I know that God has an amazing plan in all this.
Please, please pray for the kids!
Pray that they would have courage. They want to honor their father and their family and this has to be very difficult. The son is in 8th grade and the other daughter is in 9th.
Pray that God would give them boldness to share their faith with their father. Pray that God would break his heart and bring him to repentance.
Pray that the students of GA would rally in prayer to Our Great God, and that their lives would be greatly impacted by this.
Pray for the leaders of the school that they would have wisdom.
Pray that God would work mightily in all of our lives as we live out our own faith in front of a sick and dark world, right here in America.
"For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I never thought I would write this in America.
We have some students that go to our school whose family is Hindu. The father's greatest concern, when he enrolled the kids in school, was that they would be converted to Christianity. The 2 younger siblings repented from their sins previous to the snow retreat, and the staff and friends of the senior daughter have been praying fervently for her repentance, towards true joy in salvation, for a long time.
Well at the S/R the older sister repented for the first time. She was broken and got up and told everyone of her decision. What a glorious day to speak of the Gospel of Christ.
Well apparently, since the other 2 kids were already saved, the older sister thought that they should tell their parents of their decisions. The father told them that if they didn't recant that they would either have to go to the public school or they were going to be sent back to India.
My heart breaks for the kids, but I know that God has an amazing plan in all this.
Please, please pray for the kids!
Pray that they would have courage. They want to honor their father and their family and this has to be very difficult. The son is in 8th grade and the other daughter is in 9th.
Pray that God would give them boldness to share their faith with their father. Pray that God would break his heart and bring him to repentance.
Pray that the students of GA would rally in prayer to Our Great God, and that their lives would be greatly impacted by this.
Pray for the leaders of the school that they would have wisdom.
Pray that God would work mightily in all of our lives as we live out our own faith in front of a sick and dark world, right here in America.
Oh Lord, Don't Delay
Ps. 40:16 But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
say continually, "Great is the LORD!"
17As for me, I am poor and needy,
but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
do not delay, O my God!
Coming off of the snow retreat there are many who have made decisions concerning repentance, either for the first time or with renewed fervor. Please pray that those who are seeking Him would rejoice in Him. He is the One who brings the increase, He is the One who can take our loves and turn them toward Him and He is the One who enables us to love salvation in Him. Please grant that to us Lord. We want to be glad in all that You are. We desire to have Your song of salvation on our lips and in our hearts, but You must put it there.
In one of the messages from the S/R SKH said "All we have is need". I love this truth and v17 is a great reminder of that. Not that in my flesh I love being poor and needy, but in my heart I know that I have no good of my own. I have a hard time believing that God can be my help, because helping me would insinuate that I bring something for Him to add to. I don't have any wisdom or strength, on my own, so how can He help me, He has to do it all. I once heard it said, "God is not my crutch, He is my stretcher". How true that is.
But I love that David follows "poor and needy" with "The Lord takes thought for me". Why would He do that, except that He loves me? There is no part of me that is deserving of this love, or thought. There is nothing I have that He hasn't given to me, so why would He love me? The only thing He gets from this relationship is a poor and needy beggar, and yet He thinks of me. WOW.
He is my Strong Deliver, an every present Help in trouble, the Rock I cling to, the Shelter in the time of storm, the living fountain that doesn't run dry, my Shepherd and Pasture, Teacher, Wisdom Giver, Life, Health and greatest, truest Joy. He is the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last and yet He takes thought for me.
Lord, that I would see and rejoice in your salvation, that I would forsake all other "joys" for the true joy that is only in You. Encourage me where I need to be encouraged and discipline me where I need repentance. Don't let me dwell long in my sin and luke-warmness. Give me the desire to be zealous for You. You can do all this in me, don't delay. Work on my heart today that I might see Your hand in all of this and sing "Great is the Lord" because of what You have done in my heart. I will not desire any of this on my own, so change my loves, change my passions, change my desires to all be You and only You. Thank you for the work that You have started and for not being a quitter. You promise to complete the work You start, so continue to mold and shape me to what ever it is that You want me to be.
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
say continually, "Great is the LORD!"
17As for me, I am poor and needy,
but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
do not delay, O my God!
Coming off of the snow retreat there are many who have made decisions concerning repentance, either for the first time or with renewed fervor. Please pray that those who are seeking Him would rejoice in Him. He is the One who brings the increase, He is the One who can take our loves and turn them toward Him and He is the One who enables us to love salvation in Him. Please grant that to us Lord. We want to be glad in all that You are. We desire to have Your song of salvation on our lips and in our hearts, but You must put it there.
In one of the messages from the S/R SKH said "All we have is need". I love this truth and v17 is a great reminder of that. Not that in my flesh I love being poor and needy, but in my heart I know that I have no good of my own. I have a hard time believing that God can be my help, because helping me would insinuate that I bring something for Him to add to. I don't have any wisdom or strength, on my own, so how can He help me, He has to do it all. I once heard it said, "God is not my crutch, He is my stretcher". How true that is.
But I love that David follows "poor and needy" with "The Lord takes thought for me". Why would He do that, except that He loves me? There is no part of me that is deserving of this love, or thought. There is nothing I have that He hasn't given to me, so why would He love me? The only thing He gets from this relationship is a poor and needy beggar, and yet He thinks of me. WOW.
He is my Strong Deliver, an every present Help in trouble, the Rock I cling to, the Shelter in the time of storm, the living fountain that doesn't run dry, my Shepherd and Pasture, Teacher, Wisdom Giver, Life, Health and greatest, truest Joy. He is the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last and yet He takes thought for me.
Lord, that I would see and rejoice in your salvation, that I would forsake all other "joys" for the true joy that is only in You. Encourage me where I need to be encouraged and discipline me where I need repentance. Don't let me dwell long in my sin and luke-warmness. Give me the desire to be zealous for You. You can do all this in me, don't delay. Work on my heart today that I might see Your hand in all of this and sing "Great is the Lord" because of what You have done in my heart. I will not desire any of this on my own, so change my loves, change my passions, change my desires to all be You and only You. Thank you for the work that You have started and for not being a quitter. You promise to complete the work You start, so continue to mold and shape me to what ever it is that You want me to be.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Where are your Loves?
Psalm 16
1Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. 2I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you."
3As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight.
4The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names on my lips.
5The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
7I bless the LORD who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the LORD always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
9Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
10For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.
11You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
How do I know if I love Christ? What are the marks of someone who is other worldly? If we are in the world but not of the world what does that look like?
In the past I have said "I love my job" many times. I have been thinking about this quite a bit lately and have come to the conclusion that God is changing me in this area. On my own I probably would always be one who was very focused on work, even when not at work. I believe we are to work hard and be good stewards of our responsibilities, but where does that become an idol? If we are to be the best dominion takers and desire God above everything where is the balance?
If I think about work all the time, how I can make something better, "how we can be more efficient?", "how we can be more profitable and how we can take better care of our clients?", none of this is bad, UNLESS there is no time remaining for the One who has given me the resources and abilities to actually do all these things. If my time with The Lord is replaced with thinking about work, or whatever else is your idol, then I have taken God off of the throne of my heart and replaced Him with something of much lesser value. Some examples of this might be children, homes, relaxation, clothes, cars, video games and you can add to this.
Balance is always a challenge, as I have to spend a good deal of time doing my work, but where does my heart long to be? Is it my greatest joy to be thinking about work, or am I communing with God while I work, and seeking His wisdom and direction in all my decisions as I work? Is the pull on my heart toward God, or toward the other things?
As a man, I can't speak to the ladies on this, it is easy to think that I should fix this thing and just go at it w/o looking to Christ for He understanding of the situation. What I am trying to say, so inarticulately, is that when we live with Christ at the center and are seeking His will, in every situation, every minute of every day, then we will start to draw near to the Throne Room with confidence and He will strengthen our faith, give us endurance in trials, a love for others, boldness because we have watched Him work mightily through us, change our loves from fading to lasting and use us in some way to effect the lives of others around us.
I am convicted that I have loved earthly things too much, but God is really starting to change that in me. I honestly don't know how He is doing that, except that He is giving me a love for Him and His Word that I have never had before, and made it so I can't ignore the hole in my heart that can only be filled with all that He is. This is certainly not of my doing, except that He has given me a desire to pray that He would change me.
I want to encourage others to ask Him for wisdom and to change you into His image. You might not desire it right now, but pray for it anyway. He will change you, because He wants us all to come to true repentance, and to love Him above all. Pray that He would give you other worldly loves and wisdom to balance those with your responsibilities here. Pray that, even if you don't have it now, He would give you a love for His Word, prayer and others. If He can change me, He can certainly change you. The greatest part in all this is that this is what He wants to do in us and through us. Pray and believe He will do it.
1Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. 2I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you."
3As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight.
4The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names on my lips.
5The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
7I bless the LORD who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the LORD always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
9Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
10For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.
11You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
How do I know if I love Christ? What are the marks of someone who is other worldly? If we are in the world but not of the world what does that look like?
In the past I have said "I love my job" many times. I have been thinking about this quite a bit lately and have come to the conclusion that God is changing me in this area. On my own I probably would always be one who was very focused on work, even when not at work. I believe we are to work hard and be good stewards of our responsibilities, but where does that become an idol? If we are to be the best dominion takers and desire God above everything where is the balance?
If I think about work all the time, how I can make something better, "how we can be more efficient?", "how we can be more profitable and how we can take better care of our clients?", none of this is bad, UNLESS there is no time remaining for the One who has given me the resources and abilities to actually do all these things. If my time with The Lord is replaced with thinking about work, or whatever else is your idol, then I have taken God off of the throne of my heart and replaced Him with something of much lesser value. Some examples of this might be children, homes, relaxation, clothes, cars, video games and you can add to this.
Balance is always a challenge, as I have to spend a good deal of time doing my work, but where does my heart long to be? Is it my greatest joy to be thinking about work, or am I communing with God while I work, and seeking His wisdom and direction in all my decisions as I work? Is the pull on my heart toward God, or toward the other things?
As a man, I can't speak to the ladies on this, it is easy to think that I should fix this thing and just go at it w/o looking to Christ for He understanding of the situation. What I am trying to say, so inarticulately, is that when we live with Christ at the center and are seeking His will, in every situation, every minute of every day, then we will start to draw near to the Throne Room with confidence and He will strengthen our faith, give us endurance in trials, a love for others, boldness because we have watched Him work mightily through us, change our loves from fading to lasting and use us in some way to effect the lives of others around us.
I am convicted that I have loved earthly things too much, but God is really starting to change that in me. I honestly don't know how He is doing that, except that He is giving me a love for Him and His Word that I have never had before, and made it so I can't ignore the hole in my heart that can only be filled with all that He is. This is certainly not of my doing, except that He has given me a desire to pray that He would change me.
I want to encourage others to ask Him for wisdom and to change you into His image. You might not desire it right now, but pray for it anyway. He will change you, because He wants us all to come to true repentance, and to love Him above all. Pray that He would give you other worldly loves and wisdom to balance those with your responsibilities here. Pray that, even if you don't have it now, He would give you a love for His Word, prayer and others. If He can change me, He can certainly change you. The greatest part in all this is that this is what He wants to do in us and through us. Pray and believe He will do it.
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