John 3:3
3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
Halt! Where has the year gone? It seems like every year is just passing by more and more quickly. At this rate, I guess it's not going to stop, huh?!?!
We all know that the New Year can be good because we can make goals and resoultions. However, what good will they be if we don't do anything about it? Don't just make a goal. Make your dream come true.
Hopefully, you have a spiritual goal lined up for yourself. Do you want to spend ten more minutes with God each day? Do you want to read at least one chapter from the Bible everyday? Those are some decent ideas to start.
As we close out the year, sure you're going to remember the good things and the bad things...the achievements and the failures, but try to get past everything and look straight ahead this upcoming year. Take it day by day. Try to work for the Kingdom of God everyday. As the sun comes up every morning, God has new hope and promises waiting for us everyday because he dwells within us.
Start fresh this year and let God's love and grace boost your hope as you trust the Lord to carry out his will for you each day. God Bless and Seasons Greetings on this Last Day of 2009 and end of the decade!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Taking Advantage of Christ's Presence.
John 1:11
11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
Jesus was nice enough to come to Earth to save us from our sins. He's here for us to come to every single day. He doesn't take any vacations no matter what time of year it is. We just have to follow the two "p" rules: 1) be patient and 2) be persistent. We don't usually follow those rules though. We get tired of waiting and we do everything but receive the love and grace of God.
I think all too often we have ideals already in our mind. That is, we have dreams and goals that sound good to us and often become blinded by them. Thus, we close our minds from Christ and don't do as he wants from us. Jesus comes to us all the time and we're not ready.
Those infomercials that say "don't wait to purchase our product any longer. In fact, we'll give you a free ___________ if you call now." As far as surrendering to Jesus, that seems pretty relevant. We're missing Jesus' free comfort and more if we ignore him.
Generally, the more you do something, the easier it becomes. The same goes for God. The more we push him away, the easier it is, and the more harmful it can be for our spiritual lives.
Take time to soften your heart and receive God's grace and love today. You can wait until the New Year or you can renew your commitment with God today! Let Jesus lead the way. Now go follow his ways and let him make you into the person he wants you to become.
11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
Jesus was nice enough to come to Earth to save us from our sins. He's here for us to come to every single day. He doesn't take any vacations no matter what time of year it is. We just have to follow the two "p" rules: 1) be patient and 2) be persistent. We don't usually follow those rules though. We get tired of waiting and we do everything but receive the love and grace of God.
I think all too often we have ideals already in our mind. That is, we have dreams and goals that sound good to us and often become blinded by them. Thus, we close our minds from Christ and don't do as he wants from us. Jesus comes to us all the time and we're not ready.
Those infomercials that say "don't wait to purchase our product any longer. In fact, we'll give you a free ___________ if you call now." As far as surrendering to Jesus, that seems pretty relevant. We're missing Jesus' free comfort and more if we ignore him.
Generally, the more you do something, the easier it becomes. The same goes for God. The more we push him away, the easier it is, and the more harmful it can be for our spiritual lives.
Take time to soften your heart and receive God's grace and love today. You can wait until the New Year or you can renew your commitment with God today! Let Jesus lead the way. Now go follow his ways and let him make you into the person he wants you to become.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Jesus is the Window to God.
John 1:18
18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.
Have you ever thought about what the greatest evidence that God exists is? Sure it can be through other people. I think an important clue is through Jesus. Jesus was sent by a loving yet sacrificial God down to Earth to save the sinners. He is God in flesh. If anyone knows, Jesus knows the struggles we go through first hand. Jesus makes God's presence known by declaring grace and love that only a true God could have. Jesus is the one who can truly tell us who God is because he is one in God.
When we see Jesus, we see God. It can be in someone else or in nature. God is all around and it's hard not to find evidence that he's here. Although, we can be stubborn sometimes and think he's ignoring our life.
There are many times that Jesus taught and ministered to others. It is our job to bless others as well. Jesus is our guiding light to God. We need to be the guiding light to Jesus and thus God for others. He will lead us there and he can teach us through the Word to let us know and understand God better.
I touched on it yesterday, but get to know Jesus and God better. Read the gospels like Matthew, Mark, and Luke to get to know Jesus so that you can become familiar with God. Let us follow him more passionately.
P.S. There is another feature that I added to my blog that I forgot to tell you about yesterday. On the top right hand corner of any page, you'll notice a google toolbar. You can search for something that I've written about in all my past posts. Whether it's a Bible verse or something that may be occurring in your life, type it in the space provided and search. Maybe you'll find something I wrote about it. It seems like there's a bit of a glitch, however. If I type in Philippians 4:9, for example it doesn't seem to find anything, so you'd be better off typing the name of the book and just the chapter (Philippians 4). You can also search the web from the google toolbar. Just type anything in, hit enter, and click "the web" tab.
18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.
Have you ever thought about what the greatest evidence that God exists is? Sure it can be through other people. I think an important clue is through Jesus. Jesus was sent by a loving yet sacrificial God down to Earth to save the sinners. He is God in flesh. If anyone knows, Jesus knows the struggles we go through first hand. Jesus makes God's presence known by declaring grace and love that only a true God could have. Jesus is the one who can truly tell us who God is because he is one in God.
When we see Jesus, we see God. It can be in someone else or in nature. God is all around and it's hard not to find evidence that he's here. Although, we can be stubborn sometimes and think he's ignoring our life.
There are many times that Jesus taught and ministered to others. It is our job to bless others as well. Jesus is our guiding light to God. We need to be the guiding light to Jesus and thus God for others. He will lead us there and he can teach us through the Word to let us know and understand God better.
I touched on it yesterday, but get to know Jesus and God better. Read the gospels like Matthew, Mark, and Luke to get to know Jesus so that you can become familiar with God. Let us follow him more passionately.
P.S. There is another feature that I added to my blog that I forgot to tell you about yesterday. On the top right hand corner of any page, you'll notice a google toolbar. You can search for something that I've written about in all my past posts. Whether it's a Bible verse or something that may be occurring in your life, type it in the space provided and search. Maybe you'll find something I wrote about it. It seems like there's a bit of a glitch, however. If I type in Philippians 4:9, for example it doesn't seem to find anything, so you'd be better off typing the name of the book and just the chapter (Philippians 4). You can also search the web from the google toolbar. Just type anything in, hit enter, and click "the web" tab.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Motivation to Change.
Matthew 2:12-16
12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. 13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." 14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."
16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.
I'm back from Tennessee after an enjoyable time with my sister, her husband, and my niece and nephews. It is always exciting to go out of town and spend time with them as I head north from Florida with my parents. The time can never be long enough though because I miss them as soon as I leave. Nonetheless, I had a wonderful and adventurous Christmas. I certainly hope you had a blessed one too!
Anyways, now that Christmas is over, sometimes it passes rapidly along with our spiritual life. If we're proactive however, we will carry our spiritual experience from the advent season into the new year, which is quickly approaching.
Take King Herod for example, who didn't want anything to do with the birth of Jesus Christ. After all, it meant big changes for him regarding the political structure of Israel since Christ was the King.
I think sometimes we get tired of the over-emphasis of Jesus' birth. This makes us weary of the changes we have to make and the goals we have to accomplish in order to have a strengthening relationship with God after Christmas.
Those changes we have to make may be unpopular, like attending Christian fellowship events or reading the Bible everyday. If that's what you're thinking, then it's something you have to get out of your mind. If you know Christ is your Savior, then you do everything in your power to get closer to him.
Whatever changes you feel that you're called to make, is an effort for God to make you more God-like in everything you do. Do you feel the strength to making any changes in your spiritual life?
P.S. Just so you know I added something to my posts everyday. You can now react to each post anonymously without leaving a comment. It's at the bottom of each post under "reactions." You can "agree" "disagree" or "so what" my posts. Hopefully I will learn a lot about my readers from this and it can give me some clues on what I need to improve upon or make more understandable.
12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. 13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." 14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."
16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.
I'm back from Tennessee after an enjoyable time with my sister, her husband, and my niece and nephews. It is always exciting to go out of town and spend time with them as I head north from Florida with my parents. The time can never be long enough though because I miss them as soon as I leave. Nonetheless, I had a wonderful and adventurous Christmas. I certainly hope you had a blessed one too!
Anyways, now that Christmas is over, sometimes it passes rapidly along with our spiritual life. If we're proactive however, we will carry our spiritual experience from the advent season into the new year, which is quickly approaching.
Take King Herod for example, who didn't want anything to do with the birth of Jesus Christ. After all, it meant big changes for him regarding the political structure of Israel since Christ was the King.
I think sometimes we get tired of the over-emphasis of Jesus' birth. This makes us weary of the changes we have to make and the goals we have to accomplish in order to have a strengthening relationship with God after Christmas.
Those changes we have to make may be unpopular, like attending Christian fellowship events or reading the Bible everyday. If that's what you're thinking, then it's something you have to get out of your mind. If you know Christ is your Savior, then you do everything in your power to get closer to him.
Whatever changes you feel that you're called to make, is an effort for God to make you more God-like in everything you do. Do you feel the strength to making any changes in your spiritual life?
P.S. Just so you know I added something to my posts everyday. You can now react to each post anonymously without leaving a comment. It's at the bottom of each post under "reactions." You can "agree" "disagree" or "so what" my posts. Hopefully I will learn a lot about my readers from this and it can give me some clues on what I need to improve upon or make more understandable.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Let the Christ Candle Shine in You.
Isaiah 60:1
1 "Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
I wanted to send a shout-out from Southeastern Tennessee. I had hoped to have a post for you last Saturday but my preparations to leave took a little longer than I expected. I headed out of town with my family to see my sister on Friday night.
Today's passage is perfect for the coming of Jesus Christ tomorrow. Think about all of the holiday lights you've seen this season. I know I saw some pretty incredible light displays across Florida. Many of us enjoy the lights each Christmas season. We can thank Jesus for the beautiful lights. Still, there's a great deal of people who experience a vast amount of darkness each Christmas sometimes because of a devastating loss. It's your job to bring everyone to the light whether they are a believer or not.
Make it your goal to let others see the light in you. Keep in mind, it may be the only light you see. How strong is your light? Does it flicker in an annoying manner? Or does it stay constant as you bring one person after another to the light.
It's not easy to keep your light from flickering. The world definitely is the source of the not so steady light. However, even if you have a small light in a big and dark world you can help those who are struggling and those who are lost in a difficult world.
I know it's a little late to work on this, but try to spend the day gearing up for Christmas, preparing yourself to become closer to Christ. His light began in the manger a very long time ago. Notice how he wasn't risen in a home of a ceremonious king and queen. Instead, he was placed in the unpolished, yet humble home of Mary and Joseph. From there Christ's light was spread all over the world.
Surely God has shown you some beautiful light lately in which you can appreciate. Pray for others who don't necessarily see the same light as you. Also pray and that you can show them the way with your very own light from Christ. As today's verse from Isaiah suggests...let the light and glory of God arise and shine in you!
I hope you have a very Merry Christmas! Please be safe. Take time tomorrow to remember the very special occasion - the birth of Christ! Expect the posts to return on Monday.
1 "Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
I wanted to send a shout-out from Southeastern Tennessee. I had hoped to have a post for you last Saturday but my preparations to leave took a little longer than I expected. I headed out of town with my family to see my sister on Friday night.
Today's passage is perfect for the coming of Jesus Christ tomorrow. Think about all of the holiday lights you've seen this season. I know I saw some pretty incredible light displays across Florida. Many of us enjoy the lights each Christmas season. We can thank Jesus for the beautiful lights. Still, there's a great deal of people who experience a vast amount of darkness each Christmas sometimes because of a devastating loss. It's your job to bring everyone to the light whether they are a believer or not.
Make it your goal to let others see the light in you. Keep in mind, it may be the only light you see. How strong is your light? Does it flicker in an annoying manner? Or does it stay constant as you bring one person after another to the light.
It's not easy to keep your light from flickering. The world definitely is the source of the not so steady light. However, even if you have a small light in a big and dark world you can help those who are struggling and those who are lost in a difficult world.
I know it's a little late to work on this, but try to spend the day gearing up for Christmas, preparing yourself to become closer to Christ. His light began in the manger a very long time ago. Notice how he wasn't risen in a home of a ceremonious king and queen. Instead, he was placed in the unpolished, yet humble home of Mary and Joseph. From there Christ's light was spread all over the world.
Surely God has shown you some beautiful light lately in which you can appreciate. Pray for others who don't necessarily see the same light as you. Also pray and that you can show them the way with your very own light from Christ. As today's verse from Isaiah suggests...let the light and glory of God arise and shine in you!
I hope you have a very Merry Christmas! Please be safe. Take time tomorrow to remember the very special occasion - the birth of Christ! Expect the posts to return on Monday.
Friday, December 18, 2009
God Turns Things Around.
Luke 1:26-38
26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God."
38 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.
Notice how God makes the impossible possible. A woman who's a virgin and isn't married is presented in this passage with surprising news.
God must send angels for us all as he talks about here. I love verse 28. Read Gabriel's words a few times. It's so encouraging!!!
God is not going to show you the same news as he did Mary. However, he hopes to shape and inspire. He wants to let us know that he's the way.
As you live a life with God, you find yourself believing the impossible. Oftentimes we struggle because God is trying to mold and/or he wants to redefine his purpose in our lives.
Mary trusted God to make the impossible possible. Mary's response in verse 38 was a good choice. She changed the world because of this decision. She's a great example for all of us to follow.
Part of faith is believing the unseen. Sometimes what God tells you seems absolutely insane and ridiculous! That's what faith is all about, my friend.
As we get closer and closer to Jesus' birth, try to be open to God's word and invitations. If you believe that God can turn the impossible into a possible scenario, then that is certainly a joyous and encouraging thought for the day.
26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God."
38 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.
Notice how God makes the impossible possible. A woman who's a virgin and isn't married is presented in this passage with surprising news.
God must send angels for us all as he talks about here. I love verse 28. Read Gabriel's words a few times. It's so encouraging!!!
God is not going to show you the same news as he did Mary. However, he hopes to shape and inspire. He wants to let us know that he's the way.
As you live a life with God, you find yourself believing the impossible. Oftentimes we struggle because God is trying to mold and/or he wants to redefine his purpose in our lives.
Mary trusted God to make the impossible possible. Mary's response in verse 38 was a good choice. She changed the world because of this decision. She's a great example for all of us to follow.
Part of faith is believing the unseen. Sometimes what God tells you seems absolutely insane and ridiculous! That's what faith is all about, my friend.
As we get closer and closer to Jesus' birth, try to be open to God's word and invitations. If you believe that God can turn the impossible into a possible scenario, then that is certainly a joyous and encouraging thought for the day.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Pointing to the Light.
John 1:6-12
6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
I find John the Baptist somewhat easy to relate to. He easily dealt with some of the same situations as we do despite his highly respected religious status. He believed in God. Yet, other people thought he was crazy for worshiping God. John the Baptist's greatest challenge was showing others the way to the light of Jesus Christ, as a result.
How do you react when something works in your favor? Do you jump up and down or do you give the credit to God? Throughout this passage, John wants others to know about Jesus. He tells others who Jesus is and the role he can have in their life.
The power of God is to be revealed to others as the source of light. John the Baptist was a prime example. He tells people that God loved you so much he sacrificed his son out of love for you.
We all know that when we receive a gift it allows us to be joyful. We often beam inside out of appreciation. As Christians, we all have different callings to show others the way to light and the way to joy. What are you giving to Jesus this Christmas to give others that same joy you have surely experienced?
6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
I find John the Baptist somewhat easy to relate to. He easily dealt with some of the same situations as we do despite his highly respected religious status. He believed in God. Yet, other people thought he was crazy for worshiping God. John the Baptist's greatest challenge was showing others the way to the light of Jesus Christ, as a result.
How do you react when something works in your favor? Do you jump up and down or do you give the credit to God? Throughout this passage, John wants others to know about Jesus. He tells others who Jesus is and the role he can have in their life.
The power of God is to be revealed to others as the source of light. John the Baptist was a prime example. He tells people that God loved you so much he sacrificed his son out of love for you.
We all know that when we receive a gift it allows us to be joyful. We often beam inside out of appreciation. As Christians, we all have different callings to show others the way to light and the way to joy. What are you giving to Jesus this Christmas to give others that same joy you have surely experienced?
Monday, December 14, 2009
Adding Joy to Someone's Life.
Isaiah 61:1-3
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.
It's the third week of Advent which is all about joy.
I heard a story a while ago of an elderly man who always had an oil can with him. He never left without it. If he noticed a door that was squeaky he would put oil on the hinges. Whatever this man did, he always made things easier for others.
How many times do we run into people who are really struggling? Sometimes it's our job to help someone out. Many times we can either worsen one's problems by avoiding them and just making them feel horrible or we can apply oil on their lives by giving them the joy of Christ.
We know ourselves that sometimes we feel like giving up. At times, we can feel like life is defeating us. If we add one or two drops of "oil" (joy) into one's life, that can go along way in giving them more hope.
Think about the reason why we have the Holy Spirit of God exists. The Holy Spirit is within us so that we can bless others. Be ready to apply God's oil to restore the joy of those who are struggling.
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.
It's the third week of Advent which is all about joy.
I heard a story a while ago of an elderly man who always had an oil can with him. He never left without it. If he noticed a door that was squeaky he would put oil on the hinges. Whatever this man did, he always made things easier for others.
How many times do we run into people who are really struggling? Sometimes it's our job to help someone out. Many times we can either worsen one's problems by avoiding them and just making them feel horrible or we can apply oil on their lives by giving them the joy of Christ.
We know ourselves that sometimes we feel like giving up. At times, we can feel like life is defeating us. If we add one or two drops of "oil" (joy) into one's life, that can go along way in giving them more hope.
Think about the reason why we have the Holy Spirit of God exists. The Holy Spirit is within us so that we can bless others. Be ready to apply God's oil to restore the joy of those who are struggling.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Light Compared to Darkness.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
1 Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Christ's coming and birth is rapidly getting closer. Yesterday was the two week mark before Christmas is here. It's passing by so quickly.
This passage expresses images of light and darkness to describe life with Christ. Obviously, lightness is directly associated with Jesus and God's love for his people, while darkness is the complete opposite.
God isn't just for you or me - or those who have a relationship with him. Jesus died for us so that we wouldn't have to experience the pain of the world alone and that we can have salvation. We all need God's grace. Even Christians fall into some of the worldly behavior. God understands that as it is part of being a human being.
This is where the 'light that shines in darkness' comes into play. No matter how dark things become, God's light is always readily available.
Jesus knows we need all the help we can get because remaining strong in faith is difficult. It's hard to refrain from being doubtful, having negative thoughts, and being sinful. Let Paul's words replay in your head when you come into darkness. Don't let any period of darkness overcome you!
1 Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Christ's coming and birth is rapidly getting closer. Yesterday was the two week mark before Christmas is here. It's passing by so quickly.
This passage expresses images of light and darkness to describe life with Christ. Obviously, lightness is directly associated with Jesus and God's love for his people, while darkness is the complete opposite.
God isn't just for you or me - or those who have a relationship with him. Jesus died for us so that we wouldn't have to experience the pain of the world alone and that we can have salvation. We all need God's grace. Even Christians fall into some of the worldly behavior. God understands that as it is part of being a human being.
This is where the 'light that shines in darkness' comes into play. No matter how dark things become, God's light is always readily available.
Jesus knows we need all the help we can get because remaining strong in faith is difficult. It's hard to refrain from being doubtful, having negative thoughts, and being sinful. Let Paul's words replay in your head when you come into darkness. Don't let any period of darkness overcome you!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Comfort for God's People.
Isaiah 40:1-11
1 Comfort, comfort my people,
says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the LORD's hand
double for all her sins.
3 A voice of one calling:
"In the desert prepare
the way for the LORD;
make straight in the wilderness
a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
and all mankind together will see it.
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
6 A voice says, "Cry out."
And I said, "What shall I cry?"
"All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the LORD blows on them.
Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God stands forever."
9 You who bring good tidings to Zion,
go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem,
lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
say to the towns of Judah,
"Here is your God!"
10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power,
and his arm rules for him.
See, his reward is with him,
and his recompense accompanies him.
11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.
Happy Friday! I find this passage very interesting as begin to wrap up the second week of Advent. My favorite verse is 8. It's simple, concise, and so true. Throughout today's passage we hear about God's promise to save his children.
I love the analogies that are presented...the grass, the wind, etc. What this is saying is that things become old and so do people. Most importantly, people change perhaps because of something that is occurring in their life which distracts them. Not to mention, there's so little time in a day for.....
In verse 6, God's people's faithfulness is described. It sounds like we're not very constant in our faith. However, I think what it's saying is the fact that God knows every little detail. He know all the blades of grass and even the hairs on your head. God desires for his blessed children to be safe in his holy name. God does what he has to do in many cases to make his promise known. God is the provider of our strength and peace.
So, all in all, people may be like grass blowing in the wind. That doesn't mean God isn't God. Our God is the Lord of all Lords. He can still follow through with his promises because he cares enough about us. God is the comforter of one and all: the strong, the weak, and those stuck on the middle road.
1 Comfort, comfort my people,
says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the LORD's hand
double for all her sins.
3 A voice of one calling:
"In the desert prepare
the way for the LORD;
make straight in the wilderness
a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
and all mankind together will see it.
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
6 A voice says, "Cry out."
And I said, "What shall I cry?"
"All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the LORD blows on them.
Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God stands forever."
9 You who bring good tidings to Zion,
go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem,
lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
say to the towns of Judah,
"Here is your God!"
10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power,
and his arm rules for him.
See, his reward is with him,
and his recompense accompanies him.
11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.
Happy Friday! I find this passage very interesting as begin to wrap up the second week of Advent. My favorite verse is 8. It's simple, concise, and so true. Throughout today's passage we hear about God's promise to save his children.
I love the analogies that are presented...the grass, the wind, etc. What this is saying is that things become old and so do people. Most importantly, people change perhaps because of something that is occurring in their life which distracts them. Not to mention, there's so little time in a day for.....
In verse 6, God's people's faithfulness is described. It sounds like we're not very constant in our faith. However, I think what it's saying is the fact that God knows every little detail. He know all the blades of grass and even the hairs on your head. God desires for his blessed children to be safe in his holy name. God does what he has to do in many cases to make his promise known. God is the provider of our strength and peace.
So, all in all, people may be like grass blowing in the wind. That doesn't mean God isn't God. Our God is the Lord of all Lords. He can still follow through with his promises because he cares enough about us. God is the comforter of one and all: the strong, the weak, and those stuck on the middle road.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Safety in God.
Psalm 27:4
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evil men advance against me
to devour my flesh,
when my enemies and my foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then will I be confident.
4 One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.
The writer wants to live in God's house and temple. They absolutely long for the Lord! He wants security from God and it's not surprising because of the discussion about the enemies devouring flesh. Also, a war breaks out against him.
I don't think anyone has to be told that the world isn't very safe. We're not safe from anything, such as death, injury, or illness. We can also lose our dreams, hopes, and goals in an instant.
As a Christian, you are safe in the Lord though. The Lord saves people from their enemies. The Lord saves us from our fears.
Remember, the Lord is coming! That safety and security will quickly follow too. I hope that you can understand today that as God's children we have to hang on to him so that we can be safe in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. He will absolutely bless you. Accept it! Thank God for being our safety net.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evil men advance against me
to devour my flesh,
when my enemies and my foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then will I be confident.
4 One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.
The writer wants to live in God's house and temple. They absolutely long for the Lord! He wants security from God and it's not surprising because of the discussion about the enemies devouring flesh. Also, a war breaks out against him.
I don't think anyone has to be told that the world isn't very safe. We're not safe from anything, such as death, injury, or illness. We can also lose our dreams, hopes, and goals in an instant.
As a Christian, you are safe in the Lord though. The Lord saves people from their enemies. The Lord saves us from our fears.
Remember, the Lord is coming! That safety and security will quickly follow too. I hope that you can understand today that as God's children we have to hang on to him so that we can be safe in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. He will absolutely bless you. Accept it! Thank God for being our safety net.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
The Gift of Peace and Inheritance.
John 14:27
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
When someone dies, sometimes they have a will that leaves a list giving ownership of something to someone else. An example (a little out there), is a antique piece of jewelry which may be given the son or daughter of whoever died. The ownership of that piece of jewelry has shifted and the son or daughter has inherited something.
As a Christian, peace is our inheritance as a result of Jesus Christ. It was in God's will for that to happen. This verse sates "I do not give to you as the world gives." In another words, peace is ours forever, no matter what happens. Isn't that great?!? Nothing can get in the way of our peace with Christ.
Many say "I have to go on vacation and get out of here in order to have peace." Actually, I don't think you do. You don't have to go half a world away to find peace. God tells us he will give us peace in our most challenging times. This is because of the relationship you have with God. He is always working hard to master his creation -- YOU! So, sit tight and wait for God to bring you through to the other side.
Don't worry about anything. Rest assured, your peace will be granted. It's all thanks to God who rests within you as a believer.
“To be at one with God is to be at peace ... peace is to be found only within, and unless one finds it there he will never find it at all. Peace lies not in the external world. It lies within one's own soul.” ~Ralph Waldo Trine quotes
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
When someone dies, sometimes they have a will that leaves a list giving ownership of something to someone else. An example (a little out there), is a antique piece of jewelry which may be given the son or daughter of whoever died. The ownership of that piece of jewelry has shifted and the son or daughter has inherited something.
As a Christian, peace is our inheritance as a result of Jesus Christ. It was in God's will for that to happen. This verse sates "I do not give to you as the world gives." In another words, peace is ours forever, no matter what happens. Isn't that great?!? Nothing can get in the way of our peace with Christ.
Many say "I have to go on vacation and get out of here in order to have peace." Actually, I don't think you do. You don't have to go half a world away to find peace. God tells us he will give us peace in our most challenging times. This is because of the relationship you have with God. He is always working hard to master his creation -- YOU! So, sit tight and wait for God to bring you through to the other side.
Don't worry about anything. Rest assured, your peace will be granted. It's all thanks to God who rests within you as a believer.
“To be at one with God is to be at peace ... peace is to be found only within, and unless one finds it there he will never find it at all. Peace lies not in the external world. It lies within one's own soul.” ~Ralph Waldo Trine quotes
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Somber Days Have Light.
Psalm 34:14
14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
It's nearly winter in many parts of the country. It may not really ever be winter in Florida (where I am), but still this season tends to be filled with more and more gloomy days, even in Florida. Sometimes it can reflect and transform into our own life. Certain days we feel that it isn't going to be a good day at all based on the weather.
Too often we'll get ourselves wrapped up in these unhappy and gloomy times. Don't let a bad day get the best of you. Instead, go to the Lord and pray.
Whether it's blustery winds that perturb you, snow and ice that antagonize and slow you down, or gray skies that bring you dismay, expect hard times to arrive in your life. Not everything is going to be easy. Take advantage of this such a "down" time and allow it to comfort you. You want these bitterly cold days to give you a renewed hope and energetic attitude.
These somber "events" that are occurring around you may just indicate that God's telling you to slow down and reflect on the time that he has given you along with all the peace he has to offer. Don't look at the dark parts of your life as stressful. Instead, look at it as beneficial in the long run.
God will be with you this winter season as your brave the "cold." Whenever you feel lost and lonely, run to God's peace. We should all be honored to have that privilege. Trust me, you don't have to look very hard to see God's peace!
14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
It's nearly winter in many parts of the country. It may not really ever be winter in Florida (where I am), but still this season tends to be filled with more and more gloomy days, even in Florida. Sometimes it can reflect and transform into our own life. Certain days we feel that it isn't going to be a good day at all based on the weather.
Too often we'll get ourselves wrapped up in these unhappy and gloomy times. Don't let a bad day get the best of you. Instead, go to the Lord and pray.
Whether it's blustery winds that perturb you, snow and ice that antagonize and slow you down, or gray skies that bring you dismay, expect hard times to arrive in your life. Not everything is going to be easy. Take advantage of this such a "down" time and allow it to comfort you. You want these bitterly cold days to give you a renewed hope and energetic attitude.
These somber "events" that are occurring around you may just indicate that God's telling you to slow down and reflect on the time that he has given you along with all the peace he has to offer. Don't look at the dark parts of your life as stressful. Instead, look at it as beneficial in the long run.
God will be with you this winter season as your brave the "cold." Whenever you feel lost and lonely, run to God's peace. We should all be honored to have that privilege. Trust me, you don't have to look very hard to see God's peace!
Monday, December 7, 2009
A Peaceful Kingdom of God.
Isaiah 11:6-9
6 The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.
7 The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 The infant will play near the hole of the cobra,
and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest.
9 They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD
as the waters cover the sea.
It's week two of advent and we're talking about peace!
Do you find anything unusual about this passage? Notice how the animals that we commonly think of as predators are lying down with a harmless animal like the lamb or little child. However, that's the way it should be, right? Everything should coexist in nature.
Do you have a fear of any animal? I know I'm not too fond of bugs especially when I see them in my room. They seem pretty pointless to me because all they like to do is hide as soon as you go after them. Then you never know when they'll pop up and scare you next. I also feel like bugs are very dirty. They're not in my ideal environment.
It seems like this passage is trying to tell the reader that our expectations and experiences on earth will not be met in heaven. Things will be far different, which is a good thing. Perhaps insects will be cleaner animals and they won't have that negative vibe about them!
Maybe this is a wake-up call for me. It's a reminder that we can call out to God when we are in afraid or if we're in trouble. Thank God for helping to make things so comfortable for us. We can only imagine how peaceful things will be in heaven.
6 The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.
7 The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 The infant will play near the hole of the cobra,
and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest.
9 They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD
as the waters cover the sea.
It's week two of advent and we're talking about peace!
Do you find anything unusual about this passage? Notice how the animals that we commonly think of as predators are lying down with a harmless animal like the lamb or little child. However, that's the way it should be, right? Everything should coexist in nature.
Do you have a fear of any animal? I know I'm not too fond of bugs especially when I see them in my room. They seem pretty pointless to me because all they like to do is hide as soon as you go after them. Then you never know when they'll pop up and scare you next. I also feel like bugs are very dirty. They're not in my ideal environment.
It seems like this passage is trying to tell the reader that our expectations and experiences on earth will not be met in heaven. Things will be far different, which is a good thing. Perhaps insects will be cleaner animals and they won't have that negative vibe about them!
Maybe this is a wake-up call for me. It's a reminder that we can call out to God when we are in afraid or if we're in trouble. Thank God for helping to make things so comfortable for us. We can only imagine how peaceful things will be in heaven.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
God Doesn't Give Up.
Joel 3:16
16 The LORD will roar from Zion
and thunder from Jerusalem;
the earth and the sky will tremble.
But the LORD will be a refuge for his people,
a stronghold for the people of Israel.
I'm wrapping up this first week of Advent with the Bible verse above. I'm going to emphasize one more reason why we should be hopeful.
Have you ever had enough with someone? They may let you down time and time again. Then, one day, you say enough is enough and give up on trying to establish a descent relationship with that person.
The good news is God doesn't give up on us. He doesn't give up on us even when we disappoint him. We repent and he restores us!
What should this tell us? God is completely different from us. God isn't just reasonable or fair, he's GRACIOUS, LOVING, and MERCIFUL on a whole different level than we could ever be. He gives us much more than we normally deserve and doesn't judge us. He stays the same even if you have repeated rebellions. Because of his sacrifice, we can give our life to God allowing us to be more hopeful. We no longer have to be shameful.
A bit short and sweet today!
Listen to "Wait and See" by Brandon Heath:
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
16 The LORD will roar from Zion
and thunder from Jerusalem;
the earth and the sky will tremble.
But the LORD will be a refuge for his people,
a stronghold for the people of Israel.
I'm wrapping up this first week of Advent with the Bible verse above. I'm going to emphasize one more reason why we should be hopeful.
Have you ever had enough with someone? They may let you down time and time again. Then, one day, you say enough is enough and give up on trying to establish a descent relationship with that person.
The good news is God doesn't give up on us. He doesn't give up on us even when we disappoint him. We repent and he restores us!
What should this tell us? God is completely different from us. God isn't just reasonable or fair, he's GRACIOUS, LOVING, and MERCIFUL on a whole different level than we could ever be. He gives us much more than we normally deserve and doesn't judge us. He stays the same even if you have repeated rebellions. Because of his sacrifice, we can give our life to God allowing us to be more hopeful. We no longer have to be shameful.
A bit short and sweet today!
Listen to "Wait and See" by Brandon Heath:
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
Friday, December 4, 2009
A World of Pain.
Psalm 10:17-18
17 You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted;
you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.
The world is accompanied by a great deal of pain. Certain things are never pleasing. Certain circumstances are hard to cope with. No matter where you live, from the United States to New Zealand to Finland, hard times exist. Of course depending on the location pain is different. Also, everyone experiences a varying type of pain. Generally though, pain still occurs for the same reasons no matter your location.
Frequently, our pain is caused by hopelessness. When we hear something deeply concerning it stays in our mind for a while. It can be very challenging to heal from certain situations. It can be even more difficult to come out of a negative situation when another wave of trouble washes over us. The world seems to be the bearer of bad news.
Our world is painful because of human violence, natural destruction, and personal relationship struggles filled with sorrow. These discouraging messages makes it hard not to be hopeless. Remember, it happens to everyone, not just you.
Take a deep breath when you have a feeling of anguish. That, along with prayer, is the best way to clear your mind. Think about it: If we keep all the pain inside of us, then it prevents us from hearing God, a vital thing in our relationships with the Lord. Spend some time taking deep breaths if you're going through a rough part of your life.
Now listen to "Come to Jesus" by Chris Rice and tell me if it isn't a touching a song. I haven't heard it in a long time, but it's so comforting to you know that Jesus is not that far away. He's there for you through thick and thin.
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
17 You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted;
you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.
The world is accompanied by a great deal of pain. Certain things are never pleasing. Certain circumstances are hard to cope with. No matter where you live, from the United States to New Zealand to Finland, hard times exist. Of course depending on the location pain is different. Also, everyone experiences a varying type of pain. Generally though, pain still occurs for the same reasons no matter your location.
Frequently, our pain is caused by hopelessness. When we hear something deeply concerning it stays in our mind for a while. It can be very challenging to heal from certain situations. It can be even more difficult to come out of a negative situation when another wave of trouble washes over us. The world seems to be the bearer of bad news.
Our world is painful because of human violence, natural destruction, and personal relationship struggles filled with sorrow. These discouraging messages makes it hard not to be hopeless. Remember, it happens to everyone, not just you.
Take a deep breath when you have a feeling of anguish. That, along with prayer, is the best way to clear your mind. Think about it: If we keep all the pain inside of us, then it prevents us from hearing God, a vital thing in our relationships with the Lord. Spend some time taking deep breaths if you're going through a rough part of your life.
Now listen to "Come to Jesus" by Chris Rice and tell me if it isn't a touching a song. I haven't heard it in a long time, but it's so comforting to you know that Jesus is not that far away. He's there for you through thick and thin.
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Hope and Confidence.
Romans 15:12-13
12 And again, Isaiah says,
"The Root of Jesse will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
the Gentiles will hope in him."
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Do you ever feel like a bump on a log? A hopeless fool? This may mean we approach something in a manner that we shouldn't. We may be full of fear for absolutely no reason.
I think the whole idea about fear is true when we approach God. It's the strangest thing. There is so much evidence as to why God brings hope. There has to be something around you right now, perhaps light, shelter, and food, are worth mentioning. Yes, you are supposed to fear God, but not so much so that it sucks the life out of you.
Better yet, many times we come to God lacking confidence that he will answer our calls and prayers. I'm pretty sure that God has answered prayers so many times you couldn't keep track. However, we still get stuck in a rut. We focus so much on what brings us down, that we go to God without acknowledging his awesome power.
Seek God today trusting that he will take care of you. You just have to let whatever go of whatever is holding you back. Be confident that God will show you blessings everyday through the power of his wonderful Holy Spirit.
Please feel free to listen to "God of Wonders" by Chris Tomlin because we truly do have a God of wonders.
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
12 And again, Isaiah says,
"The Root of Jesse will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
the Gentiles will hope in him."
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Do you ever feel like a bump on a log? A hopeless fool? This may mean we approach something in a manner that we shouldn't. We may be full of fear for absolutely no reason.
I think the whole idea about fear is true when we approach God. It's the strangest thing. There is so much evidence as to why God brings hope. There has to be something around you right now, perhaps light, shelter, and food, are worth mentioning. Yes, you are supposed to fear God, but not so much so that it sucks the life out of you.
Better yet, many times we come to God lacking confidence that he will answer our calls and prayers. I'm pretty sure that God has answered prayers so many times you couldn't keep track. However, we still get stuck in a rut. We focus so much on what brings us down, that we go to God without acknowledging his awesome power.
Seek God today trusting that he will take care of you. You just have to let whatever go of whatever is holding you back. Be confident that God will show you blessings everyday through the power of his wonderful Holy Spirit.
Please feel free to listen to "God of Wonders" by Chris Tomlin because we truly do have a God of wonders.
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Coming into the Light.
Isaiah 9:2
2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.
As I mentioned on Monday, the main purpose of Advent is to prepare ourselves for Christmas, when Jesus Christ was born. For it is through him we can see the spirit in flesh all around us every single day. This season is certainly a time to celebrate as the Almighty God is beside us and transforms our earthly lives into a spiritual life through his divine intervention.
I must say, while this seems promising, the same cannot be said in all parts of the world. Some areas and certainly some people have yet to see Christ's light shine brightly in their lives. Some children don't get Christmas presents, for example. They barely even survive with the necessities. Nonetheless, don't feel guilty. That doesn't accomplish anything.
We need to appreciate the promises of new life that Jesus brings, who is the provider of hope through his love. Thus, Jesus is the primary source of light and We are the secondary source of that light. That's how we can help turn darkness into light. That's how we can lead others to Jesus.
However, maybe you feel like you're in the dark and that God's light isn't shining all around you. If that's the case, don't worry. You won't have to wait long before you'll notice even the smallest dash of hope.
Something with God's light is sure to come to you, but you have to keep your eyes, hearts, and minds open with a great deal of hope. The two questions that I have for you today are as follows: Are you ready to see Jesus today? Do you have an open mind to see that light he provides?
"Often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us." ~Helen Keller
Here's a perfect song for today: "Days of Elijah"
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.
As I mentioned on Monday, the main purpose of Advent is to prepare ourselves for Christmas, when Jesus Christ was born. For it is through him we can see the spirit in flesh all around us every single day. This season is certainly a time to celebrate as the Almighty God is beside us and transforms our earthly lives into a spiritual life through his divine intervention.
I must say, while this seems promising, the same cannot be said in all parts of the world. Some areas and certainly some people have yet to see Christ's light shine brightly in their lives. Some children don't get Christmas presents, for example. They barely even survive with the necessities. Nonetheless, don't feel guilty. That doesn't accomplish anything.
We need to appreciate the promises of new life that Jesus brings, who is the provider of hope through his love. Thus, Jesus is the primary source of light and We are the secondary source of that light. That's how we can help turn darkness into light. That's how we can lead others to Jesus.
However, maybe you feel like you're in the dark and that God's light isn't shining all around you. If that's the case, don't worry. You won't have to wait long before you'll notice even the smallest dash of hope.
Something with God's light is sure to come to you, but you have to keep your eyes, hearts, and minds open with a great deal of hope. The two questions that I have for you today are as follows: Are you ready to see Jesus today? Do you have an open mind to see that light he provides?
"Often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us." ~Helen Keller
Here's a perfect song for today: "Days of Elijah"
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
God Draws Us In.
Exodus 2:1-10
1 Now a man of the house of Levi married a Levite woman, 2 and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. 3 But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. 4 His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.
5 Then Pharaoh's daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the river bank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her slave girl to get it. 6 She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. "This is one of the Hebrew babies," she said.
7 Then his sister asked Pharaoh's daughter, "Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?"
8 "Yes, go," she answered. And the girl went and got the baby's mother. 9 Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you." So the woman took the baby and nursed him. 10 When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh's daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, "I drew him out of the water."
This is a beautiful display of God's work! He is so good. God can create not just a perfect baby, but a beautiful baby. In addition, the woman was used by God to nurse the child. God created such a beautiful child later named Moses to sustain the faith of his parents.
Do you ever try to have control over something until one day you realize there's nothing more you can do? You're only option at that point is to turn things over to God using faith. God was reaching out to Moses' parents. If you have a good deal of faith you can trust God completely. It takes some getting used to, in a way, because you can't necessarily see God. However, he's there! You can certainly tell by all the blessings he bestows upon us.
By verse 7, you can see that the parents had done everything to provide an affectionate and caring atmosphere for the child, out of the King's request. They had to do their best to preserve their child's life. By putting their trust God, they put safety into his hands. They gave Moses to God!
Moses was then resurrected like Christ by the Princess of Egypt who rose him from the dead and put him in a high place.
When we are giving into the world and sin, God lifts us up. Just like Moses was drawn out of the water, God does all he can to bring us close to him whenever we drift too far away. He reels back in on his fishing line. Thank God for his mercy!
Listen to the words of the song: "Draw Me Close To You."
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
1 Now a man of the house of Levi married a Levite woman, 2 and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. 3 But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. 4 His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.
5 Then Pharaoh's daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the river bank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her slave girl to get it. 6 She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. "This is one of the Hebrew babies," she said.
7 Then his sister asked Pharaoh's daughter, "Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?"
8 "Yes, go," she answered. And the girl went and got the baby's mother. 9 Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you." So the woman took the baby and nursed him. 10 When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh's daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, "I drew him out of the water."
This is a beautiful display of God's work! He is so good. God can create not just a perfect baby, but a beautiful baby. In addition, the woman was used by God to nurse the child. God created such a beautiful child later named Moses to sustain the faith of his parents.
Do you ever try to have control over something until one day you realize there's nothing more you can do? You're only option at that point is to turn things over to God using faith. God was reaching out to Moses' parents. If you have a good deal of faith you can trust God completely. It takes some getting used to, in a way, because you can't necessarily see God. However, he's there! You can certainly tell by all the blessings he bestows upon us.
By verse 7, you can see that the parents had done everything to provide an affectionate and caring atmosphere for the child, out of the King's request. They had to do their best to preserve their child's life. By putting their trust God, they put safety into his hands. They gave Moses to God!
Moses was then resurrected like Christ by the Princess of Egypt who rose him from the dead and put him in a high place.
When we are giving into the world and sin, God lifts us up. Just like Moses was drawn out of the water, God does all he can to bring us close to him whenever we drift too far away. He reels back in on his fishing line. Thank God for his mercy!
Listen to the words of the song: "Draw Me Close To You."
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Kicking Off the Advent Season.
Exodus 1:15-22
15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, 16 "When you help the Hebrew women in childbirth and observe them on the delivery stool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live." 17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. 18 Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, "Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?"
19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, "Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive."
20 So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.
22 Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: "Every boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live."
If all goes well, I plan on spending the next month or so talking about Advent. Yesterday marked the first week of the season, the fourth week before Christmas lasting through the holiday. It's a beautiful season and sometimes we forget what it's all about. So I'm going to give you a little history about it.
Advent of course is one of the seasons in the Christian calendar. The other primary season is Lent, which occurs around the time of Easter. They are similar seasons in that it offers us a time to prepare for the Lord's second coming. However, in Advent, we usually recognize Jesus Christ's birth. Every year on the first Sunday of Advent, my church calls it "Hanging of the Greens" Sunday. It's a time when kids sing favorite songs to the congregation and some of the kids give us the inside scoop on things like the meaning of candy canes and what a Christmas tree symbolizes. It is also a time where the church brings in a wreath from home and hangs it up on the wall.
So why wreaths you ask? Wreaths symbolize God's eternal love for us and its indefinite end - he loves us forever and ever and ever - and, well, he has no beginning or end. The thorns on holly are remarkably similar to the crown of thorns that was worn for us and for our salvation.
Finally, candles are a symbol for Jesus being the light of the world. The four candles, one for each week in Advent, represent hope, peace, joy, and love. Thus, this week I will talk about hope.
As far as today's Scripture is concerned, relate it to this scenario:
You borrow someone's CD or mp3 player. You want to listen to some songs because your friend said they were fabulous. If you return that CD or mp3 to them in the same condition then chances are they'll let you borrow something from them again in the future. I know I would. I enjoy getting something back 'unscratched.' This shows respect for one's property and in turn, and you can be trusted.
I would call that a reward. Just because you're courteous and respectful, you have the offer to borrow something again. Similarly, God rewarded the midwives of Egypt because they did not kill the children. They may not have obeyed the government, but they certainly obeyed God (and you know the government isn't good when they command such evil).
We all know that children are a part of God's beautiful creation. It would be so unworthy do anything to hurt anything that belongs to God. As a result, the bottom line here is that if you take care of God's belongings, he will ALWAYS take care of you! Remember that the next time you ask to borrow something.
15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, 16 "When you help the Hebrew women in childbirth and observe them on the delivery stool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live." 17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. 18 Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, "Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?"
19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, "Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive."
20 So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.
22 Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: "Every boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live."
If all goes well, I plan on spending the next month or so talking about Advent. Yesterday marked the first week of the season, the fourth week before Christmas lasting through the holiday. It's a beautiful season and sometimes we forget what it's all about. So I'm going to give you a little history about it.
Advent of course is one of the seasons in the Christian calendar. The other primary season is Lent, which occurs around the time of Easter. They are similar seasons in that it offers us a time to prepare for the Lord's second coming. However, in Advent, we usually recognize Jesus Christ's birth. Every year on the first Sunday of Advent, my church calls it "Hanging of the Greens" Sunday. It's a time when kids sing favorite songs to the congregation and some of the kids give us the inside scoop on things like the meaning of candy canes and what a Christmas tree symbolizes. It is also a time where the church brings in a wreath from home and hangs it up on the wall.
So why wreaths you ask? Wreaths symbolize God's eternal love for us and its indefinite end - he loves us forever and ever and ever - and, well, he has no beginning or end. The thorns on holly are remarkably similar to the crown of thorns that was worn for us and for our salvation.
Finally, candles are a symbol for Jesus being the light of the world. The four candles, one for each week in Advent, represent hope, peace, joy, and love. Thus, this week I will talk about hope.
As far as today's Scripture is concerned, relate it to this scenario:
You borrow someone's CD or mp3 player. You want to listen to some songs because your friend said they were fabulous. If you return that CD or mp3 to them in the same condition then chances are they'll let you borrow something from them again in the future. I know I would. I enjoy getting something back 'unscratched.' This shows respect for one's property and in turn, and you can be trusted.
I would call that a reward. Just because you're courteous and respectful, you have the offer to borrow something again. Similarly, God rewarded the midwives of Egypt because they did not kill the children. They may not have obeyed the government, but they certainly obeyed God (and you know the government isn't good when they command such evil).
We all know that children are a part of God's beautiful creation. It would be so unworthy do anything to hurt anything that belongs to God. As a result, the bottom line here is that if you take care of God's belongings, he will ALWAYS take care of you! Remember that the next time you ask to borrow something.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Grace and Glory.
Psalm 23:2-3
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
This scripture reading is accompanied by an abundance of cheerful and pastoral imagery. It's cheerful because it's reassuring, pastoral because it's peaceful.
I've been working on a Spanish project over the last few days. I, along with a group of friends, had to create a commercial for a Spanish-speaking country. We decided to do Ecuador. One of the things that many sources said was that many areas in Ecuador, especially along the coast, are quiet and tranquil. Still, there's some areas that are popular tourist attractions, of course.
While we didn't go to Ecuador to film this commercial, we filmed it at the beach here and it was a gorgeous day. The weather was comfortable, the sky was clear, and the water was calm.
It's those peaceful moments that sometimes go unnoticed. We don't slow down enough from our normal routine to pay attention to the pristine parts of the world. Essentially, we become selfish and unappreciative of God's creations. That's why the Lord, our Shepherd, tells us to take it easy sometimes. This may involve laying down and absorbing our surroundings.
The Lord knows that we need comfort and relief and he wants us to find those "green pastures" and "quiet waters." Once we are comforted by his beauty, he guides us to "paths of righteousness." He wants us to experience holiness. Therefore, God's priorities are GRACE followed by GLORY. He is more concerned that we notice the comforting beauty to and fro...for then it is easier to be righteous and holy.
I couldn't find the official video, but nonetheless here's a beautiful song that goes along with today's devotion: "Holiness." (The lyrics are below)
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
Here's the lyrics if you want to sing along:
Holiness, holiness is what I long for
Holiness is what I need
Holiness, holiness is what You
Want from me
So, take my heart and form it
Take my mind and transform it
Take my will and conform it
To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord
To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord
Righteousness is what I long for
Righteousness is what I need
Righteousness, Righteousness is what
You want from me
So, take my heart and form it
Take my mind and transform it
Take my will and conform it
To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord
To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord
Faithfulness is what I long for
Faithfulness is what I need
Faithfulness, Faithfulness is what
You want from me
So, take my heart and form it
Take my mind and transform it
Take my will and conform it
To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord
To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
This scripture reading is accompanied by an abundance of cheerful and pastoral imagery. It's cheerful because it's reassuring, pastoral because it's peaceful.
I've been working on a Spanish project over the last few days. I, along with a group of friends, had to create a commercial for a Spanish-speaking country. We decided to do Ecuador. One of the things that many sources said was that many areas in Ecuador, especially along the coast, are quiet and tranquil. Still, there's some areas that are popular tourist attractions, of course.
While we didn't go to Ecuador to film this commercial, we filmed it at the beach here and it was a gorgeous day. The weather was comfortable, the sky was clear, and the water was calm.
It's those peaceful moments that sometimes go unnoticed. We don't slow down enough from our normal routine to pay attention to the pristine parts of the world. Essentially, we become selfish and unappreciative of God's creations. That's why the Lord, our Shepherd, tells us to take it easy sometimes. This may involve laying down and absorbing our surroundings.
The Lord knows that we need comfort and relief and he wants us to find those "green pastures" and "quiet waters." Once we are comforted by his beauty, he guides us to "paths of righteousness." He wants us to experience holiness. Therefore, God's priorities are GRACE followed by GLORY. He is more concerned that we notice the comforting beauty to and fro...for then it is easier to be righteous and holy.
I couldn't find the official video, but nonetheless here's a beautiful song that goes along with today's devotion: "Holiness." (The lyrics are below)
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
Here's the lyrics if you want to sing along:
Holiness, holiness is what I long for
Holiness is what I need
Holiness, holiness is what You
Want from me
So, take my heart and form it
Take my mind and transform it
Take my will and conform it
To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord
To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord
Righteousness is what I long for
Righteousness is what I need
Righteousness, Righteousness is what
You want from me
So, take my heart and form it
Take my mind and transform it
Take my will and conform it
To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord
To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord
Faithfulness is what I long for
Faithfulness is what I need
Faithfulness, Faithfulness is what
You want from me
So, take my heart and form it
Take my mind and transform it
Take my will and conform it
To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord
To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord
Friday, November 27, 2009
Taming the Tongue Part II.
James 3:9-12
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
I hope you had a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving wherever you may be reading this. I might add, thank you, for taking the time out of your busy day, no matter if this is your first time or your 300th time reading my posts! I'm just so thankful I can keep this project going.
Yesterday was Thanksgiving and I talked about the obvious: being thankful. Meanwhile, on Wednesday I introduced to you the beginning of James 3. I mentioned how our tongue is one of the hardest things to train. We can boast with our tongue, lie with our tongue, hurt others with our tongue, and praise others with our tongue.
That leads us today's part of the passage. Verses 9 and 10 are very powerful and I was astonished when I heard them. I thought, "man this is so true." We can be minding our own business when all of a sudden we give someone a compliment. Then, not even five minutes have passed and we're cursing others by our discouraging words or just being downright evil. Yet, we do all this despite the fact that everyone is perfectly made according to "God's likeness."
It's so easy to do, but it's so wrong. This ties into hypocrisy: we're two-faced a lot of times. We act one way one minute, then the complete opposite the next minute.
With that said, it's highly important to work on "taming our tongue." We have to be careful what we say. Here's where the old phrase "if you have nothing nice to say don't say it all" comes in handy. I mean there's a difference between being honest and nice about something - and being honest and rude about something. You can still tell the truth, by saying it in a nice way. We have to think before we speak because quite frankly, we can't take away the words that slip off our tongue. James tells us that we can't tame our tongues, so therefore pray that God will work with you on the words that come out! The goal here is to sound like a Christian all the time, not just some of the time, or when you feel like it.
"I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet". ~Anonymous
I know it's a little late, but here's a funny video on Thanksgiving thanks to the Skit Guys; it should get the point across though
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
I hope you had a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving wherever you may be reading this. I might add, thank you, for taking the time out of your busy day, no matter if this is your first time or your 300th time reading my posts! I'm just so thankful I can keep this project going.
Yesterday was Thanksgiving and I talked about the obvious: being thankful. Meanwhile, on Wednesday I introduced to you the beginning of James 3. I mentioned how our tongue is one of the hardest things to train. We can boast with our tongue, lie with our tongue, hurt others with our tongue, and praise others with our tongue.
That leads us today's part of the passage. Verses 9 and 10 are very powerful and I was astonished when I heard them. I thought, "man this is so true." We can be minding our own business when all of a sudden we give someone a compliment. Then, not even five minutes have passed and we're cursing others by our discouraging words or just being downright evil. Yet, we do all this despite the fact that everyone is perfectly made according to "God's likeness."
It's so easy to do, but it's so wrong. This ties into hypocrisy: we're two-faced a lot of times. We act one way one minute, then the complete opposite the next minute.
With that said, it's highly important to work on "taming our tongue." We have to be careful what we say. Here's where the old phrase "if you have nothing nice to say don't say it all" comes in handy. I mean there's a difference between being honest and nice about something - and being honest and rude about something. You can still tell the truth, by saying it in a nice way. We have to think before we speak because quite frankly, we can't take away the words that slip off our tongue. James tells us that we can't tame our tongues, so therefore pray that God will work with you on the words that come out! The goal here is to sound like a Christian all the time, not just some of the time, or when you feel like it.
"I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet". ~Anonymous
I know it's a little late, but here's a funny video on Thanksgiving thanks to the Skit Guys; it should get the point across though
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving!
Colossians 3:17
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
In one of my classes this week, the teacher actually gave us time to stop and think of what we were thankful for. In fact, we wrote down three things that we're thankful for. I wrote five down because I made a turkey by tracing my hand and put the five points on the 'fingers.' Being a senior in high school, teachers don't normally give us the chance to reflect on Thanksgiving, like we did in elementary school. Therefore, I took advantage of this opportunity.
In general, the lack of time to think about Thanksgiving in school coincides with how ungrateful we tend to become in life. So many things vary little from our everyday routine, so we give those activities little thought or appreciation.
That is a foolish decision on our part. Think about how well off we are compared to many other people. Millions are in poverty-stricken conditions. Millions do not have food on their table everyday. Millions do not have a home. It is unprecedented to see exactly how much we take for granted sometimes.
Each day, try to take time and thank God for all you have. Keep in mind we're not guaranteed anything and we can easily lose our home, for example, in a quick instant. Remember to pray today for those who aren't as fortunate as you.
Have a very happy Thanksgiving! Be safe.
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
In one of my classes this week, the teacher actually gave us time to stop and think of what we were thankful for. In fact, we wrote down three things that we're thankful for. I wrote five down because I made a turkey by tracing my hand and put the five points on the 'fingers.' Being a senior in high school, teachers don't normally give us the chance to reflect on Thanksgiving, like we did in elementary school. Therefore, I took advantage of this opportunity.
In general, the lack of time to think about Thanksgiving in school coincides with how ungrateful we tend to become in life. So many things vary little from our everyday routine, so we give those activities little thought or appreciation.
That is a foolish decision on our part. Think about how well off we are compared to many other people. Millions are in poverty-stricken conditions. Millions do not have food on their table everyday. Millions do not have a home. It is unprecedented to see exactly how much we take for granted sometimes.
Each day, try to take time and thank God for all you have. Keep in mind we're not guaranteed anything and we can easily lose our home, for example, in a quick instant. Remember to pray today for those who aren't as fortunate as you.
Have a very happy Thanksgiving! Be safe.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Taming the Tongue Part I.
James 3:1-8
1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
This is a very powerful passage from the book of James, especially starting at verse 5. It's so true. We can control most things. Take for example: our hand and what we write with using our hands. If we're writing and we don't like the way it was written we can either: delete it if it was typed, erase it if it was with a pencil, or cross it out if it was with a pen. We have control over what we say through our writing.
However, it's a bit trickier when it comes via word of mouth. Our mouth is very hard to train. Many times we can get so wrapped up in the moment that we blurt out negative, hurtful, illusive remarks. The problem is we speak before we think, instead of the other way around. Therefore, think now: not later!
When this scripture says "the tongue makes great boasts," it's so true. Anything can come out of our mouth and most of it is believable if we use just the right words. I'm not trying to pick on President Obama, but I believe he's a prime example of a "tongue that makes great boasts." He gave all of these promises in his campaign speech in the last year or so since he was inaugurated (and even before). He said he's all about "change." He said he would create more jobs and get America out of this financial crisis. Not much has changed, in my opinion.
These words sounded like "grand speeches" as the NLT version of the Bible describes it in verse 5. Obama seemed like a great leader for many and the result of much needed change across the country. I mean c'mon if he speaks very well, that must mean he's the perfect president. That's precisely where we, as Americans, went wrong in this whole situation.
I'm not saying that having any other president in office would have been better for the economic situation of the United States. I'm not saying Obama is a bad person. He does have excellent leadership skills. He's just not the most effective individual. Nobody can ever be perfect. Plus, in his defense, Obama's only been in office for 10 months now. However, I do strongly believe that Americans jumped the gun. They saw that Obama was an excellent speaker. Some voted for him just because of that characteristic without thinking of what it might mean for the country.
This is a lesson for all of us today. Don't be fooled just by someone's speeches. Words can be deceiving, among other things. Meanwhile, don't let your tongue chatter away dangerously or else it will put you in a bind. Hold back those angry, hurtful words as well. Ask God to help you control your tongue so that you don't condemn God or fool anyone. Finally, let grace and appreciation flow from your tongue as we go into the Thanksgiving holiday.
I'll finish up this discussion on "Taming the tongue" on Friday. Tomorrow I want to talk about something more Thanksgiving-like as a whole.
"A major key to a joy filled life is using your tongue as an instrument of good instead of an instrument of evil." ~Pastor Greg from Hopewell Baptist Church
1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
This is a very powerful passage from the book of James, especially starting at verse 5. It's so true. We can control most things. Take for example: our hand and what we write with using our hands. If we're writing and we don't like the way it was written we can either: delete it if it was typed, erase it if it was with a pencil, or cross it out if it was with a pen. We have control over what we say through our writing.
However, it's a bit trickier when it comes via word of mouth. Our mouth is very hard to train. Many times we can get so wrapped up in the moment that we blurt out negative, hurtful, illusive remarks. The problem is we speak before we think, instead of the other way around. Therefore, think now: not later!
When this scripture says "the tongue makes great boasts," it's so true. Anything can come out of our mouth and most of it is believable if we use just the right words. I'm not trying to pick on President Obama, but I believe he's a prime example of a "tongue that makes great boasts." He gave all of these promises in his campaign speech in the last year or so since he was inaugurated (and even before). He said he's all about "change." He said he would create more jobs and get America out of this financial crisis. Not much has changed, in my opinion.
These words sounded like "grand speeches" as the NLT version of the Bible describes it in verse 5. Obama seemed like a great leader for many and the result of much needed change across the country. I mean c'mon if he speaks very well, that must mean he's the perfect president. That's precisely where we, as Americans, went wrong in this whole situation.
I'm not saying that having any other president in office would have been better for the economic situation of the United States. I'm not saying Obama is a bad person. He does have excellent leadership skills. He's just not the most effective individual. Nobody can ever be perfect. Plus, in his defense, Obama's only been in office for 10 months now. However, I do strongly believe that Americans jumped the gun. They saw that Obama was an excellent speaker. Some voted for him just because of that characteristic without thinking of what it might mean for the country.
This is a lesson for all of us today. Don't be fooled just by someone's speeches. Words can be deceiving, among other things. Meanwhile, don't let your tongue chatter away dangerously or else it will put you in a bind. Hold back those angry, hurtful words as well. Ask God to help you control your tongue so that you don't condemn God or fool anyone. Finally, let grace and appreciation flow from your tongue as we go into the Thanksgiving holiday.
I'll finish up this discussion on "Taming the tongue" on Friday. Tomorrow I want to talk about something more Thanksgiving-like as a whole.
"A major key to a joy filled life is using your tongue as an instrument of good instead of an instrument of evil." ~Pastor Greg from Hopewell Baptist Church
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
A Grieivng Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 4:29-32
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Today's particular scripture reading relates to the Holy Spirit and how the words that come out of our mouth can make the Holy Spirit sad, as indicated by the word "grieve." What does the Holy Spirit get sad about? When we use profane language, hand gestures, saying God's name in vain, etc. Think about it, would it be appropriate for a preacher to use bad language? No, it never has been right. Therefore, we shouldn't speak in such a way publicly, and for that matter privately.
The other thing that turns off the Holy Spirit around us is bitterness, rage, and anger. If we're bitter, we refuse to "compensate to one another, and forgive one another." Instead, don't refuse to do that. It's so important to obey God's word.
Some people use obscene language because they seem to enjoy conflict. Do your best to live without conflict. Also forgive and repent. Otherwise, there will be major problems if you let all your conflicts slip past you. Don't keep them bottled up inside either.
Lastly, to keep it short and sweet, use your words to HELP someone, not HURT someone.
Make sure you come back tomorrow. It should be a pretty interesting post.
The last band from WayFest was Casting Crowns. They were my favorite as expected. Here's one of their many songs..."Slow Fade."
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Today's particular scripture reading relates to the Holy Spirit and how the words that come out of our mouth can make the Holy Spirit sad, as indicated by the word "grieve." What does the Holy Spirit get sad about? When we use profane language, hand gestures, saying God's name in vain, etc. Think about it, would it be appropriate for a preacher to use bad language? No, it never has been right. Therefore, we shouldn't speak in such a way publicly, and for that matter privately.
The other thing that turns off the Holy Spirit around us is bitterness, rage, and anger. If we're bitter, we refuse to "compensate to one another, and forgive one another." Instead, don't refuse to do that. It's so important to obey God's word.
Some people use obscene language because they seem to enjoy conflict. Do your best to live without conflict. Also forgive and repent. Otherwise, there will be major problems if you let all your conflicts slip past you. Don't keep them bottled up inside either.
Lastly, to keep it short and sweet, use your words to HELP someone, not HURT someone.
Make sure you come back tomorrow. It should be a pretty interesting post.
The last band from WayFest was Casting Crowns. They were my favorite as expected. Here's one of their many songs..."Slow Fade."
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
Monday, November 23, 2009
The Lord's Name in Vain.
Exodus 20:7
7 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
I mentioned a couple weeks ago that I was going to talk about our choice of language last week. However, I got a little side tracked. So here it is for the next few days...
What a strong statement mentioned in today's verse! This just shows that we have to be careful what we say because we could end up paying the consequences in the end. This verse is one of the ten commandments, and states that we must not use the Lord's name in vain. This doesn't just have to be with our mouth, however. It can also include our actions.
If you think about it, if we even just let God down, we're using his name in vain, such as if we worship him without any meaning. Such false promises are a devastating blow to God's name.
The obvious way of using his name in vain is by violently swearing for no reason. It's never good to curse God's name because what did he do to you? Nothing. He's loved you all this time. There's no reason we should lash out and destroy God's beautiful name.
Finally, we should not use his name lightly or without sincere meaning. God has power and he deserves, at the very least, to be recognized properly.
As a sinner, you may see yourself as guiltless when using God's name in vain. He does forgive us, right? Honestly, this is where I'm a little shaky on explaining it. I do gather that using his name in such an ungodly manner is a serious issue. He wants us to know that we will go to him when our time comes. Everyone will be judged by God. He will avenge those who use his name in vain, and being that God is living, those who commit this wrongdoing will be fearful of God. I guess if we do make the mistake we have to be sure and not do that again!
Meanwhile, I'm finishing up the series of songs today and tomorrow from the groups who were at Way Fest last weekend.
Here's Matt Redman's "Blessed Be Your Name!"
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
7 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
I mentioned a couple weeks ago that I was going to talk about our choice of language last week. However, I got a little side tracked. So here it is for the next few days...
What a strong statement mentioned in today's verse! This just shows that we have to be careful what we say because we could end up paying the consequences in the end. This verse is one of the ten commandments, and states that we must not use the Lord's name in vain. This doesn't just have to be with our mouth, however. It can also include our actions.
If you think about it, if we even just let God down, we're using his name in vain, such as if we worship him without any meaning. Such false promises are a devastating blow to God's name.
The obvious way of using his name in vain is by violently swearing for no reason. It's never good to curse God's name because what did he do to you? Nothing. He's loved you all this time. There's no reason we should lash out and destroy God's beautiful name.
Finally, we should not use his name lightly or without sincere meaning. God has power and he deserves, at the very least, to be recognized properly.
As a sinner, you may see yourself as guiltless when using God's name in vain. He does forgive us, right? Honestly, this is where I'm a little shaky on explaining it. I do gather that using his name in such an ungodly manner is a serious issue. He wants us to know that we will go to him when our time comes. Everyone will be judged by God. He will avenge those who use his name in vain, and being that God is living, those who commit this wrongdoing will be fearful of God. I guess if we do make the mistake we have to be sure and not do that again!
Meanwhile, I'm finishing up the series of songs today and tomorrow from the groups who were at Way Fest last weekend.
Here's Matt Redman's "Blessed Be Your Name!"
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Light Shining on a Dark Path.
Psalm 119:105
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path.
I don't know what it is, but whenever we get something new we often 'play with it' for only a short amount of time, maybe a month, and then we get tired of it and get sucked back into our own ways. Those of us that have been Christians for a number of years, we know we have received countless blessings from the Lord, and we can't appreciate them because we're not grateful enough or our perspective may change. We're so caught up in our current interests that we don't match that up with our purpose.
Have you ever thought about how you can identify and clarify your values and true purpose in life with a lack of fundamental truth? Without a defined purpose, you're not going very far.
Take for example, the role of maps, compasses, and GPS devices in our life today. What would it be like if we didn't have those, even if you have a very keen sense of direction? What if there's just one time that you get lost and you have no type of navigation system or a map? You would certainly get lost and confused. An additional example is waking up during the middle of the night feeling confused and lost. I still do that every now and then, especially when I sleep in a place other than home. I quickly realize, after a few seconds, where I am and then fall back asleep. Sometimes it probably relates to confusion earlier in the day.
Such disorientation, even to the slightest degree, doesn't have to occur. With God, we don't need to worry about this issue. You may not have a map handy, but if you have God then he can light our paths when they're full of darkness and guide us home.
The song "Never Alone" by Barlow Girl has some fantastic lyrics
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path.
I don't know what it is, but whenever we get something new we often 'play with it' for only a short amount of time, maybe a month, and then we get tired of it and get sucked back into our own ways. Those of us that have been Christians for a number of years, we know we have received countless blessings from the Lord, and we can't appreciate them because we're not grateful enough or our perspective may change. We're so caught up in our current interests that we don't match that up with our purpose.
Have you ever thought about how you can identify and clarify your values and true purpose in life with a lack of fundamental truth? Without a defined purpose, you're not going very far.
Take for example, the role of maps, compasses, and GPS devices in our life today. What would it be like if we didn't have those, even if you have a very keen sense of direction? What if there's just one time that you get lost and you have no type of navigation system or a map? You would certainly get lost and confused. An additional example is waking up during the middle of the night feeling confused and lost. I still do that every now and then, especially when I sleep in a place other than home. I quickly realize, after a few seconds, where I am and then fall back asleep. Sometimes it probably relates to confusion earlier in the day.
Such disorientation, even to the slightest degree, doesn't have to occur. With God, we don't need to worry about this issue. You may not have a map handy, but if you have God then he can light our paths when they're full of darkness and guide us home.
The song "Never Alone" by Barlow Girl has some fantastic lyrics
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Satan Has Tricks Up His Sleeve.
Jeremiah 6:16
16 This is what the LORD says:
"Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
But you said, 'We will not walk in it.'
Life is exciting everyday. Sometimes it's not necessarily what we would consider to be exciting, but there are many surprises in any given day that tend to catch us off guard.
In general, temptations in life usually catch us by surprise. We'll be following God's ways in life and all of a sudden reach a fork in the road. Temptation is a choice: we can fall for the trap or we ignore the trap. At any rate, we all give into the trap sometimes. Why do we give in to temptation? The answer is simply because our path with God has become old and seemingly routine. Satan tries to intervene by offering you a newer path that he claims to be worth following.
Satan claims that his way is the best. He thinks that his way is the way to immediately gain happiness and success. However, in the long term especially, we learn that there's nothing beneficial from following Satan's ways. Following Satan, steers us away from God and avoids the treasure chests (God's blessings) that would otherwise exist along God's path.
It is our job to do the opposite of what the people did as Jeremiah described as they said: "We will not walk in it." If you do as they did, you will only be at a loss and you will be torn apart.
God, help us stay on your path in exchange for the all too common lure that Satan's path is the source of immediate happiness. Let us see temptation as bringing us to ruins and your ways as fulfilling our much needed peace.
Here's the song "We Live" by Superchick.
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
16 This is what the LORD says:
"Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
But you said, 'We will not walk in it.'
Life is exciting everyday. Sometimes it's not necessarily what we would consider to be exciting, but there are many surprises in any given day that tend to catch us off guard.
In general, temptations in life usually catch us by surprise. We'll be following God's ways in life and all of a sudden reach a fork in the road. Temptation is a choice: we can fall for the trap or we ignore the trap. At any rate, we all give into the trap sometimes. Why do we give in to temptation? The answer is simply because our path with God has become old and seemingly routine. Satan tries to intervene by offering you a newer path that he claims to be worth following.
Satan claims that his way is the best. He thinks that his way is the way to immediately gain happiness and success. However, in the long term especially, we learn that there's nothing beneficial from following Satan's ways. Following Satan, steers us away from God and avoids the treasure chests (God's blessings) that would otherwise exist along God's path.
It is our job to do the opposite of what the people did as Jeremiah described as they said: "We will not walk in it." If you do as they did, you will only be at a loss and you will be torn apart.
God, help us stay on your path in exchange for the all too common lure that Satan's path is the source of immediate happiness. Let us see temptation as bringing us to ruins and your ways as fulfilling our much needed peace.
Here's the song "We Live" by Superchick.
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Give What You Can.
Acts 3:1-7
1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
6 Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong.
I always have to remind myself that as long as I try, that's what counts. Not everything is easy. As long as I try my best in everything, then that's pretty successful.
With that said, Peter gave as much as he could. Therefore, giving is very important. It wasn't even money like you would associate giving to be. Peter gave up his time and skills to help others. Specifically, he could heal a man, an amazing feat!
If you think that's powerful, you don't have to go very far to find more of that power. In reality, just look at your gifts. What can you possibly give? God tells us that we are all to make a contribution to his kingdom. That contribution should be God-given and everyone definitely has one. You can serve, help, teach, evangelize, or lead, for example. There's endless possibilities, but those were a few just to get you thinking. Some people have a musical talent to worship God while others may have a talent to teach others about God. Regardless, evaluate yourself and determine what gifts you have. The key question is: what can you give back to God and others?
"What we are is God's gift to us. what we become is our gift to God." ~Eleanor Powell
Here's the song "Find You Waiting" by DecembeRadio:
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
6 Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong.
I always have to remind myself that as long as I try, that's what counts. Not everything is easy. As long as I try my best in everything, then that's pretty successful.
With that said, Peter gave as much as he could. Therefore, giving is very important. It wasn't even money like you would associate giving to be. Peter gave up his time and skills to help others. Specifically, he could heal a man, an amazing feat!
If you think that's powerful, you don't have to go very far to find more of that power. In reality, just look at your gifts. What can you possibly give? God tells us that we are all to make a contribution to his kingdom. That contribution should be God-given and everyone definitely has one. You can serve, help, teach, evangelize, or lead, for example. There's endless possibilities, but those were a few just to get you thinking. Some people have a musical talent to worship God while others may have a talent to teach others about God. Regardless, evaluate yourself and determine what gifts you have. The key question is: what can you give back to God and others?
"What we are is God's gift to us. what we become is our gift to God." ~Eleanor Powell
Here's the song "Find You Waiting" by DecembeRadio:
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
The Good TImes and Bad.
Romans 12:15
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
If you go to a birthday party or even a Christmas party you know it's going to be fun. Often times, we get to see people who we haven't seen in a very long time. It's a time for "catch up" to figure out what's happened in each other's lives since your last meeting with them.
Meanwhile, there's always going to be the sad and gloomy times. A hospital visit or a nursing home visit can be extremely sad. These situations can be complex and overwhelming. Don't we usually try and keep ourselves occupied just so that we don't focus on anything sad? We'd rather everything was hunky dory, but that's not the case.
A true Christian friend is with you in the good times and bad. I've talked about the "shoulder to try on" before...that would be appropriate here. Even just being a good listener would be helpful to the one who is sad. Someone to talk to makes things much better. Isn't that the case for you?
This healing is because of God. He uses people to heal and help others. I believe everyone would agree that being joyous and celebratory is better than being discouraged. However, God's love is truly present in the difficult times too. It's when someone steps up and cares for us when we realize that God is good.
"Hard To Believe" by VOTA
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
If you go to a birthday party or even a Christmas party you know it's going to be fun. Often times, we get to see people who we haven't seen in a very long time. It's a time for "catch up" to figure out what's happened in each other's lives since your last meeting with them.
Meanwhile, there's always going to be the sad and gloomy times. A hospital visit or a nursing home visit can be extremely sad. These situations can be complex and overwhelming. Don't we usually try and keep ourselves occupied just so that we don't focus on anything sad? We'd rather everything was hunky dory, but that's not the case.
A true Christian friend is with you in the good times and bad. I've talked about the "shoulder to try on" before...that would be appropriate here. Even just being a good listener would be helpful to the one who is sad. Someone to talk to makes things much better. Isn't that the case for you?
This healing is because of God. He uses people to heal and help others. I believe everyone would agree that being joyous and celebratory is better than being discouraged. However, God's love is truly present in the difficult times too. It's when someone steps up and cares for us when we realize that God is good.
"Hard To Believe" by VOTA
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Sin Can Be Paralyzing.
Mark 2:3-12
3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ." He said to the paralytic, 11 "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"
Have you ever asked yourself is Jesus God? The answer is yes! Scripture shows us that Jesus is able to heal, love, and forgive us even as we sin. Wow, now that's authority!
The paralytic in this situation has a disease that inhibits mobility and limits his activities. There's not much that can be done for that. When we sin, we often paralyze ourselves with all our pain. When we continue to sin, it takes a toll on us, devastating us even more. Just as the paralytic couldn't really get rid of his pain. There is nothing we can do with our sins besides give it to God. Also, we need to seek Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
The four friends of the paralytic were perfect role models. Even though they could not successfully carry him through the crowd, they weren't about to give up. They weren't letting anything separate themselves from God.
Now it's your turn. Show someone Jesus, especially if they are going through a difficult time.
Today, listen to the song "More Now" by Seven Glory.
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ." He said to the paralytic, 11 "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"
Have you ever asked yourself is Jesus God? The answer is yes! Scripture shows us that Jesus is able to heal, love, and forgive us even as we sin. Wow, now that's authority!
The paralytic in this situation has a disease that inhibits mobility and limits his activities. There's not much that can be done for that. When we sin, we often paralyze ourselves with all our pain. When we continue to sin, it takes a toll on us, devastating us even more. Just as the paralytic couldn't really get rid of his pain. There is nothing we can do with our sins besides give it to God. Also, we need to seek Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
The four friends of the paralytic were perfect role models. Even though they could not successfully carry him through the crowd, they weren't about to give up. They weren't letting anything separate themselves from God.
Now it's your turn. Show someone Jesus, especially if they are going through a difficult time.
Today, listen to the song "More Now" by Seven Glory.
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Wayfest 2009.
2 Chronicles 5:113
13 The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang:
"He is good;
his love endures forever."
Then the temple of the LORD was filled with a cloud,
This past Saturday I attended the annual wayfest concert that is near me. This was my second year going and it was an inspiration. Besides, seeing a number of people excited to worship God, I was pleased to see many really good Christian bands, such as Sarah Reeves, Seven Glory, VOTA, DecembeRadio, Superchick, Barlow Girl, Matt Redman, and Casting Crowns! Casting Crowns is pretty much my favorite band so that was the main reason I went.
Still, they all have unique voices and wonderful songs. There's always at least one song per artist that touches me. Aside from singing, they're great speakers too. Many times they give a testimony or mini-message during their time on stage. There's always so much to learn from every one of them.
I remember Barlow Girl asked us if we knew who we were as Christians. This kinda ties back to what I discussed last week about just "going through the motions." Honestly, I can't remember too much else of what she said, but I know she had a good message. It's just hard to distinguish between everyone's message, even just a day or so afterward.
Mark Hall, the lead singer for Casting Crowns spoke too. I knew he was good because, although I've never seen a concert, I have heard him speak at a youth conference. I remember more about what he had to say since he was the last one on stage. On Saturday night, he talked about how he feels like he sins all the time, and he's learned that he's not the only one. He stresses the importance of the church, yet says how we need to be cautious that we don't depend on others because they won't always be right there. However, God will be there. He said that in church a lot of times we name off all the people who are sick (which isn't a bad thing) but sometimes we forget to pray for ourselves and others' relationship with God.
One thing Mark said really stood out as he was talking about making a difference in the world and doing good deeds for the Kingdom of God: "Don't think you fail at anything because you can't do everything!"
For the next eight days or so, I plan to show you a song from every one of the artists mentioned above. Hope you enjoy them. Today's is "Sweet Sweet Sound" by Sarah Reeves.
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
13 The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang:
"He is good;
his love endures forever."
Then the temple of the LORD was filled with a cloud,
This past Saturday I attended the annual wayfest concert that is near me. This was my second year going and it was an inspiration. Besides, seeing a number of people excited to worship God, I was pleased to see many really good Christian bands, such as Sarah Reeves, Seven Glory, VOTA, DecembeRadio, Superchick, Barlow Girl, Matt Redman, and Casting Crowns! Casting Crowns is pretty much my favorite band so that was the main reason I went.
Still, they all have unique voices and wonderful songs. There's always at least one song per artist that touches me. Aside from singing, they're great speakers too. Many times they give a testimony or mini-message during their time on stage. There's always so much to learn from every one of them.
I remember Barlow Girl asked us if we knew who we were as Christians. This kinda ties back to what I discussed last week about just "going through the motions." Honestly, I can't remember too much else of what she said, but I know she had a good message. It's just hard to distinguish between everyone's message, even just a day or so afterward.
Mark Hall, the lead singer for Casting Crowns spoke too. I knew he was good because, although I've never seen a concert, I have heard him speak at a youth conference. I remember more about what he had to say since he was the last one on stage. On Saturday night, he talked about how he feels like he sins all the time, and he's learned that he's not the only one. He stresses the importance of the church, yet says how we need to be cautious that we don't depend on others because they won't always be right there. However, God will be there. He said that in church a lot of times we name off all the people who are sick (which isn't a bad thing) but sometimes we forget to pray for ourselves and others' relationship with God.
One thing Mark said really stood out as he was talking about making a difference in the world and doing good deeds for the Kingdom of God: "Don't think you fail at anything because you can't do everything!"
For the next eight days or so, I plan to show you a song from every one of the artists mentioned above. Hope you enjoy them. Today's is "Sweet Sweet Sound" by Sarah Reeves.
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Run for Shelter.
Psalm 91:1
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Imagine it's a summer time heat wave. It's not hard for me to imagine as I live in Florida. Either way, we still get overheated no matter how accustomed we are to heat or not. Where do you go and what do you do when you need to get cooled off? If you have to stay outside the answer is probably underneath a tree or in the shade somewhere. However, if you have the opportunity you'd probably just go indoors and find an air conditioner to hug. Wherever it was, it was probably protective and more refreshing than being directly in the heat.
When it comes to God, if we seek him for shelter and a shadow of protection, he will no doubt comfort us with all we need. This is true even in the 'hottest' and most difficult parts of our lives.
God is the ultimate protector because he prevents Satan from having a complete victory over us. Instead, God has won, and he cares about us so much so that he shelters us from any remote sign of danger.
Just like you can't literally see heat, you might say you can't see God either. The truth is, however, that God can be seen with our faith and trust. In the end, God is at least present to save us from the wrath of the world and his love can definitely be sensed during any time.
“Here and hereafter, You are our Protector. In the womb of the mother, You cherish and nurture the baby.” ~Sri Guru Granth Sahib
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Imagine it's a summer time heat wave. It's not hard for me to imagine as I live in Florida. Either way, we still get overheated no matter how accustomed we are to heat or not. Where do you go and what do you do when you need to get cooled off? If you have to stay outside the answer is probably underneath a tree or in the shade somewhere. However, if you have the opportunity you'd probably just go indoors and find an air conditioner to hug. Wherever it was, it was probably protective and more refreshing than being directly in the heat.
When it comes to God, if we seek him for shelter and a shadow of protection, he will no doubt comfort us with all we need. This is true even in the 'hottest' and most difficult parts of our lives.
God is the ultimate protector because he prevents Satan from having a complete victory over us. Instead, God has won, and he cares about us so much so that he shelters us from any remote sign of danger.
Just like you can't literally see heat, you might say you can't see God either. The truth is, however, that God can be seen with our faith and trust. In the end, God is at least present to save us from the wrath of the world and his love can definitely be sensed during any time.
“Here and hereafter, You are our Protector. In the womb of the mother, You cherish and nurture the baby.” ~Sri Guru Granth Sahib
Friday, November 13, 2009
Losing Faith Because of Complacency.
Hebrews 6:4-6
4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6 if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
The Apostle Paul describes the tendency of Christians as we walk with Christ. In a sense, we become complacent and don't think it's that important to put our hearts into worshiping and understanding God.
If you can, it might help to refer back to my post on September 30 when I talked about the Prodigal Son. In short, the son stole money from his dad and then later went back to his dad while he was scared his family wouldn't accept him anymore. They did accept him and this is exactly what God is willing to do if you steal his time or if you live off a false faith. Therefore, this parable describes the opportunity for all to come back to Christ's open arms, helping to emphasize today's point. You just have to make the effort and catch it fast.
Anyone can be "brought back" to repentance. You can't renew anyone's faith, God is the only one who can do that. When I say "brought back" I don't mean coming back to salvation, because you really be 'unsaved' by God. I believe this scripture means coming back to a more meaningful and true faith, not just going with the flow.
Don't get stuck on what you've done or what good deeds you plan to do (that should just come naturally after a while). Jesus paid the ultimate price! You don't want to slap him in the face by thinking good deeds is what saves you. Also, focus on growing with God everyday, not just remaining at a steady point in your faith.
Still, each time you drift away from God and faith, it's much more difficult to come back stronger. Don't get so excited that salvation is free that you slip through the cracks. Accept that God loves you even when you mess up and continue.
Here's a great song, "The Motions" by Matthew West!
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6 if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
The Apostle Paul describes the tendency of Christians as we walk with Christ. In a sense, we become complacent and don't think it's that important to put our hearts into worshiping and understanding God.
If you can, it might help to refer back to my post on September 30 when I talked about the Prodigal Son. In short, the son stole money from his dad and then later went back to his dad while he was scared his family wouldn't accept him anymore. They did accept him and this is exactly what God is willing to do if you steal his time or if you live off a false faith. Therefore, this parable describes the opportunity for all to come back to Christ's open arms, helping to emphasize today's point. You just have to make the effort and catch it fast.
Anyone can be "brought back" to repentance. You can't renew anyone's faith, God is the only one who can do that. When I say "brought back" I don't mean coming back to salvation, because you really be 'unsaved' by God. I believe this scripture means coming back to a more meaningful and true faith, not just going with the flow.
Don't get stuck on what you've done or what good deeds you plan to do (that should just come naturally after a while). Jesus paid the ultimate price! You don't want to slap him in the face by thinking good deeds is what saves you. Also, focus on growing with God everyday, not just remaining at a steady point in your faith.
Still, each time you drift away from God and faith, it's much more difficult to come back stronger. Don't get so excited that salvation is free that you slip through the cracks. Accept that God loves you even when you mess up and continue.
Here's a great song, "The Motions" by Matthew West!
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
God's Wake Up Call.
Hebrews 10:26-31
26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
As I'm getting more and more involved in my faith, I realize that it's not possible for God to save and redeem everyone if they just say a little prayer asking God into their heart. Still, I don't want you to think that in order to be a Christian you have to follow a laundry list of rules. There's really not much to it. However, you do have to accept God and do as he would do, and do so full heartedly.
Not to scare you, but this passage tells us that God WILL judge us. That judgment can involve either conviction or vindication. The judgment in this particular passage has a connotation of conviction and condemnation. You've heard the saying, it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when...Well, it's not a matter of if a person will be judged by God, but it's a matter if their judgment will lead to conviction or vindication. In the book of Deuteronomy, he says the "wicked will be condemned."
The book of Hebrews indeed mentions that our judgment is in our own hands and the decision is ours: we must, one or the other, accept or reject the Son of God. The tricky part is that we can't just go a little bit one way and a little bit of the other. That means, don't just go to church because it's the right thing to do. Prepare your heart for the experience. Get into the right mindset. Be accepting toward the loving and merciful God so that when you are judged in the end of time, God will justify and support you for living up to his word.
26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
As I'm getting more and more involved in my faith, I realize that it's not possible for God to save and redeem everyone if they just say a little prayer asking God into their heart. Still, I don't want you to think that in order to be a Christian you have to follow a laundry list of rules. There's really not much to it. However, you do have to accept God and do as he would do, and do so full heartedly.
Not to scare you, but this passage tells us that God WILL judge us. That judgment can involve either conviction or vindication. The judgment in this particular passage has a connotation of conviction and condemnation. You've heard the saying, it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when...Well, it's not a matter of if a person will be judged by God, but it's a matter if their judgment will lead to conviction or vindication. In the book of Deuteronomy, he says the "wicked will be condemned."
The book of Hebrews indeed mentions that our judgment is in our own hands and the decision is ours: we must, one or the other, accept or reject the Son of God. The tricky part is that we can't just go a little bit one way and a little bit of the other. That means, don't just go to church because it's the right thing to do. Prepare your heart for the experience. Get into the right mindset. Be accepting toward the loving and merciful God so that when you are judged in the end of time, God will justify and support you for living up to his word.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Godliness in the Last Days.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
There are many people out there who are curious. We see something appealing and we feel the urge to pick it up, when shopping, for example. We pick up despite that says "do not touch!"
Anyways, many people are curious about when God will tell us our time on earth is over. People want to know if there will be any signs from above, such as a big bolt of lightning.
Going back to a book earlier in the new testament, Matthew, Jesus tells us to keep watch that the end would be comparable to that of the big flood. Noah, his wives, and his kids were the only ones saved in the flood. They knew it was coming, so they had to build an ark.
In today's scripture, Paul describes the way people were living in the last days. Ironically, today we continue to have people who are angry, violent, disrespectful, dishonoring, and those who have an overly exaggerated amount of pride. It's not very far off from what was mentioned.
Paul suggests that we "have nothing to do with them." Obviously, the intentions aren't to isolate yourself, but instead avoid giving into the world. That is, don't live as the world would live.
All in all, it's one of those things that you just have to trust God. In the end, he makes the decision and we have no control. The only thing we can do is to keep a grasp on our faith in God and be obedient to God, unlike those in the last days.
On a completely unrelated note, please remember the Veterans today. Pray for those who are overseas along with their families. May God bless them!
Please watch this beautiful tribute to our troops on this Veteran's Day.
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
There are many people out there who are curious. We see something appealing and we feel the urge to pick it up, when shopping, for example. We pick up despite that says "do not touch!"
Anyways, many people are curious about when God will tell us our time on earth is over. People want to know if there will be any signs from above, such as a big bolt of lightning.
Going back to a book earlier in the new testament, Matthew, Jesus tells us to keep watch that the end would be comparable to that of the big flood. Noah, his wives, and his kids were the only ones saved in the flood. They knew it was coming, so they had to build an ark.
In today's scripture, Paul describes the way people were living in the last days. Ironically, today we continue to have people who are angry, violent, disrespectful, dishonoring, and those who have an overly exaggerated amount of pride. It's not very far off from what was mentioned.
Paul suggests that we "have nothing to do with them." Obviously, the intentions aren't to isolate yourself, but instead avoid giving into the world. That is, don't live as the world would live.
All in all, it's one of those things that you just have to trust God. In the end, he makes the decision and we have no control. The only thing we can do is to keep a grasp on our faith in God and be obedient to God, unlike those in the last days.
On a completely unrelated note, please remember the Veterans today. Pray for those who are overseas along with their families. May God bless them!
Please watch this beautiful tribute to our troops on this Veteran's Day.
P.S. If you have trouble with the video stopping and starting, keep the video paused, and let it "buffer" (load) as it's called for a while. You will see the red bar along the bottom advance (speed depends on your Internet connection). Wait until that bar gets pretty far along (I'd say more than halfway) before you play the video and it shouldn't pause.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Hang on to Your Faith and Conscience.
1 Timothy 1:19-20
19 holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. 20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
What is it about humans that we have slip away from something after a while? Anything important we may be able to do for a short amount of time, but when something else, many times less significant, it takes precedence. Something important like exercising can fall through the cracks when you add one little thing onto your day.
The same thing happens with God. We tend to ever so slowly put God on the back burner. That's not such a smart thing to do. In the case of today's scripture, Paul advises Timothy to protect himself from the mistakes of his enemies who have lost, or "shipwrecked" their faith, as it mentions above. Thus, they no longer have a good deal of faith or a good conscience.
Faith lets you put up a fight through the toughest parts of life. If you have a good conscience, it's because you're living truthfully according to faith.
Hymenaeus and Alexander know that God's calling out for them, but they ignore him persistently and stubbornly. How can you reject something that you know is true? How can you reject such a freedom (of grace) just by going against your own conscience? That's what those two men did. As a result, the men were handed over to Satan, without God protecting them. The intentions weren't to destroy the men but to redeem and respect them.
Paul gave Satan these two men in the hopes that they will never blaspheme again because they were going against the truth according to their faith!!! According to Paul, the men will experience misery, but he had the vision of repentance.
“Let us be sure that those who come after will say of us in our time, that in our time we did everything that could be done. We finished the race; we kept them free; we kept the faith.” ~Ronald Reagan
19 holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. 20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
What is it about humans that we have slip away from something after a while? Anything important we may be able to do for a short amount of time, but when something else, many times less significant, it takes precedence. Something important like exercising can fall through the cracks when you add one little thing onto your day.
The same thing happens with God. We tend to ever so slowly put God on the back burner. That's not such a smart thing to do. In the case of today's scripture, Paul advises Timothy to protect himself from the mistakes of his enemies who have lost, or "shipwrecked" their faith, as it mentions above. Thus, they no longer have a good deal of faith or a good conscience.
Faith lets you put up a fight through the toughest parts of life. If you have a good conscience, it's because you're living truthfully according to faith.
Hymenaeus and Alexander know that God's calling out for them, but they ignore him persistently and stubbornly. How can you reject something that you know is true? How can you reject such a freedom (of grace) just by going against your own conscience? That's what those two men did. As a result, the men were handed over to Satan, without God protecting them. The intentions weren't to destroy the men but to redeem and respect them.
Paul gave Satan these two men in the hopes that they will never blaspheme again because they were going against the truth according to their faith!!! According to Paul, the men will experience misery, but he had the vision of repentance.
“Let us be sure that those who come after will say of us in our time, that in our time we did everything that could be done. We finished the race; we kept them free; we kept the faith.” ~Ronald Reagan
Monday, November 9, 2009
God's Reaction to Disobedience.
Psalm 78:35-39
35 They remembered that God was their Rock,
that God Most High was their Redeemer.
36 But then they would flatter him with their mouths,
lying to him with their tongues;
37 their hearts were not loyal to him,
they were not faithful to his covenant.
38 Yet he was merciful;
he forgave their iniquities
and did not destroy them.
Time after time he restrained his anger
and did not stir up his full wrath.
39 He remembered that they were but flesh,
a passing breeze that does not return.
When someone doesn't obey you, it makes you upset, right? It seems that parents have a hard time when their kids don't obey them. Take SuperNanny, for example. On television, the Nanny comes to the rescue when the children become absolutely horrendous and there's no respect at all. She comes in disturbed by the behavior, but works it out with the parents.
We've all been disrespectful at some point. Think about how many times we're disobedient to God. Anytime we are disobedient to him, he says he gets upset. My Bible puts this passage, along with others I'll be mentioning this week under the topic of "backsliding." It states backsliding is "departure from a life of a faith and obedience to God."
Notice that God's people were claiming that he was great and almighty. Then, they curse him with whatever words come out of their mouths (which reminds me of James 3:9...With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.) Isn't that true? We're so contradictory with our words...but that's something to be discussed, perhaps next week.
I don't know about you, but sometimes I forget that God can get mad. I think he's just a happy, smiling God all the time. However, it's in scriptures like these that I find that speculation to be wrong. The Lord despises disobedience and being fake. However, he has a controlled since of anger, unlike us humans sometimes. He's merciful and graceful. Therefore, he is forgiving and understanding of our sinful nature. Thank God for that!
Still, don't go about your day without this affecting you. Let this be a message to you saying to be loyal to God.
35 They remembered that God was their Rock,
that God Most High was their Redeemer.
36 But then they would flatter him with their mouths,
lying to him with their tongues;
37 their hearts were not loyal to him,
they were not faithful to his covenant.
38 Yet he was merciful;
he forgave their iniquities
and did not destroy them.
Time after time he restrained his anger
and did not stir up his full wrath.
39 He remembered that they were but flesh,
a passing breeze that does not return.
When someone doesn't obey you, it makes you upset, right? It seems that parents have a hard time when their kids don't obey them. Take SuperNanny, for example. On television, the Nanny comes to the rescue when the children become absolutely horrendous and there's no respect at all. She comes in disturbed by the behavior, but works it out with the parents.
We've all been disrespectful at some point. Think about how many times we're disobedient to God. Anytime we are disobedient to him, he says he gets upset. My Bible puts this passage, along with others I'll be mentioning this week under the topic of "backsliding." It states backsliding is "departure from a life of a faith and obedience to God."
Notice that God's people were claiming that he was great and almighty. Then, they curse him with whatever words come out of their mouths (which reminds me of James 3:9...With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.) Isn't that true? We're so contradictory with our words...but that's something to be discussed, perhaps next week.
I don't know about you, but sometimes I forget that God can get mad. I think he's just a happy, smiling God all the time. However, it's in scriptures like these that I find that speculation to be wrong. The Lord despises disobedience and being fake. However, he has a controlled since of anger, unlike us humans sometimes. He's merciful and graceful. Therefore, he is forgiving and understanding of our sinful nature. Thank God for that!
Still, don't go about your day without this affecting you. Let this be a message to you saying to be loyal to God.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Don't Flirt with SIn.
Romans 6:13
13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.
Do you ever wonder why we do things sometimes or what our purpose is? Many times, in hindsight, we don't really see a reason for certain things. We think, wow, if I would have done this instead, I could be heading down a completely different path right now.
The Bible tells us our body is like a temple. Therefore, we are to glorify God with what we do with our bodies. Our body is constantly soaking up the sin that invades the world. However, because of Jesus Christ, our dead body from all that sin is transformed into a body that's alive. We have to pull ourselves out of the saturating sin of the world because Christ saved us - he died and rose again!
Those sins that we committed a long time ago, we need to just let blow away in the wind. With Christ, our past shouldn't really matter anymore. In fact, it doesn't! There's always a renewed hope that you can experience. God can help you accept that fact at any time.
If we live in the spirit, we can live in the present, FOR God. That's the least we can do.
Are you attracted to sin in the sense that you can't let it go? If so, ask the gracious God help you forget about it and to help you commit your life to him and to him alone.
13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.
Do you ever wonder why we do things sometimes or what our purpose is? Many times, in hindsight, we don't really see a reason for certain things. We think, wow, if I would have done this instead, I could be heading down a completely different path right now.
The Bible tells us our body is like a temple. Therefore, we are to glorify God with what we do with our bodies. Our body is constantly soaking up the sin that invades the world. However, because of Jesus Christ, our dead body from all that sin is transformed into a body that's alive. We have to pull ourselves out of the saturating sin of the world because Christ saved us - he died and rose again!
Those sins that we committed a long time ago, we need to just let blow away in the wind. With Christ, our past shouldn't really matter anymore. In fact, it doesn't! There's always a renewed hope that you can experience. God can help you accept that fact at any time.
If we live in the spirit, we can live in the present, FOR God. That's the least we can do.
Are you attracted to sin in the sense that you can't let it go? If so, ask the gracious God help you forget about it and to help you commit your life to him and to him alone.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Setting Goals.
Proverbs 16:3
3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
and your plans will succeed.
Have you ever made a goal for yourself, at least in the short term? I'm sure everyone has at some point, even if it involves something as simple as stating what you plan to get done tomorrow.
I constantly make goals, especially short term, and don't always succeed. I tell myself I'm going to get this and this done, when sometimes, I don't quite get there.
In this Proverb, I feel confidence being conveyed. If only I could trust the Lord to help me accomplish everything, then I WILL be successful. Instead, I usually put all the pressure on myself to get the job done. In reality, I'm only making myself more discouraged.
If you glorify God, then you are surrendering to his will. It is impossible to guide ourselves alone, so that's why we need God. God wants to bless our lives with his plan. However, that means we have to set aside our selfish ambitions. He does this so we can eternally benefit.
Lord, let us accept your will so that we can glorify your name. Lead us to your grace!
3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
and your plans will succeed.
Have you ever made a goal for yourself, at least in the short term? I'm sure everyone has at some point, even if it involves something as simple as stating what you plan to get done tomorrow.
I constantly make goals, especially short term, and don't always succeed. I tell myself I'm going to get this and this done, when sometimes, I don't quite get there.
In this Proverb, I feel confidence being conveyed. If only I could trust the Lord to help me accomplish everything, then I WILL be successful. Instead, I usually put all the pressure on myself to get the job done. In reality, I'm only making myself more discouraged.
If you glorify God, then you are surrendering to his will. It is impossible to guide ourselves alone, so that's why we need God. God wants to bless our lives with his plan. However, that means we have to set aside our selfish ambitions. He does this so we can eternally benefit.
Lord, let us accept your will so that we can glorify your name. Lead us to your grace!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Unity in God First.
Psalm 133
1 How good and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in unity!
2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron's beard,
down upon the collar of his robes.
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the LORD bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.
The key word from this chapter, yes that's the whole chapter of Psalm 133, is unity. It's such an important matter. I think we all desire to be in unity at least at some point.
Normally unity makes us content. Close your eyes and think of some of your favorite memories. Chances are, they weren't when you were at home alone. They were probably when you were with your family and friends elsewhere. A sports team really understands the importance of unity. If your team wins, you can see the benefits of unity. Doing something in unity is basically effortless, but if you do the same thing alone, it can be very challenging.
God wants us to live in unity and harmony: think about working in his kingdom as "the body of Christ." When we intermingle and are interconnected in such a way, this also helps to satisfy our inner peace we've been talking about all week.
Of course, God comes first. Therefore, we need to live in unity with God before others. If you can live in unity with God, then it should be easy to live in unity with others. Make sure your relationship with God is strong and everlasting, then strengthen the unity amongst your family and close friends. In order to have unity in others, look in the beauty of God's people, don't look at the differences and shortcomings because that will make it more difficult to arrive at a point of unity.
1 How good and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in unity!
2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron's beard,
down upon the collar of his robes.
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the LORD bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.
The key word from this chapter, yes that's the whole chapter of Psalm 133, is unity. It's such an important matter. I think we all desire to be in unity at least at some point.
Normally unity makes us content. Close your eyes and think of some of your favorite memories. Chances are, they weren't when you were at home alone. They were probably when you were with your family and friends elsewhere. A sports team really understands the importance of unity. If your team wins, you can see the benefits of unity. Doing something in unity is basically effortless, but if you do the same thing alone, it can be very challenging.
God wants us to live in unity and harmony: think about working in his kingdom as "the body of Christ." When we intermingle and are interconnected in such a way, this also helps to satisfy our inner peace we've been talking about all week.
Of course, God comes first. Therefore, we need to live in unity with God before others. If you can live in unity with God, then it should be easy to live in unity with others. Make sure your relationship with God is strong and everlasting, then strengthen the unity amongst your family and close friends. In order to have unity in others, look in the beauty of God's people, don't look at the differences and shortcomings because that will make it more difficult to arrive at a point of unity.
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