Jeremiah 29:11-14
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."
Right in the middle of the weekend at Acquire the Fire, there was a really exciting speaker. His name is Nick Vujicic. Specifically, this might have been the best part for me. When you hear his story you'll know exactly why...
You see, Nick has no arms and no legs. He only has a "drumstick" as he calls it to keep him somewhat standing off the ground. He was born this way and he really had to adapt to it at first. It was something that baffled the doctors because they had never seen anything like this. Nick didn't think he had a promising future. He was depressed and on the brink of suicide at a young age, but by the time he was fifteen he got an answer from God, seven years after his prayer. He was made for a reason and his purpose was known. The fact that he has no arms and legs is something that he's going to have to live with for the rest of his life.
He goes all over the world to tell his story and to inspire others. He said he has spoken to 3 billion people, 1/10 of the world, from those in India to Panama. I can see why too; he's a true calling from God and it's amazing to see what God has taught him in this. He's probably the most inspiring figure I've ever heard and he speaks loud and strong as well!
What's amazing is his modifications in his routines compared to ours. Something as simple as opening the door is a challenge but he has learned how to most efficiently do a chores that you and I take for granted.
Nick said, "If God doesn't deliver you from your circumstances, it's because he's going to use them."
I'll show you a video of him tomorrow, but in the meantime I leave you with the song "Father Will You Come" by Unhindered. The words are nice and soft and will be forever instilled in my mind.
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, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Build Others Up with Your Words.
Ephesians 4:29
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.
The first night of Acquire the Fire, besides the worship with Unhindered, and the talk about needs vs. wants that I mentioned yesterday, we had the first concert out of three during the weekend. Building 429 took the stage first and they rocked. They have so many good songs, but I also learned some new ones because those are the ones they primarily played.
The lyrics are so encouraging. It's no coincidence for the name of the band either. "429" comes from Ephesians 4:29 which I have provided to you today. Notice how "building up others" is also mentioned in the passage. What's even more amazing is that today is 4/29. This was totally unplanned in that regard, apparently not by God!
Still, things got even more exciting. Since there was some room closer to the front from where we were sitting, I went down the steps to where there was a railing. Many others from my group did too. This was a good spot to be that much closer to the band, without being completely on the floor. When the concert was over, the lead singer, Jason, ran around and gave high fives. He mostly got the people down the aisles on the ground level, but he came around and gave others high fives too, including me! I was so excited when I realized that they were such an encouraging group already, and to add to that fact, they gave me a high five!
Who will you encourage today with your words and actions? Hey, you could even encourage someone by giving them a high five and show that you care about them. Go ahead and give someone a spiritual high five if you feel called!
Watch the video with the encouraging video with the song "Always" by Building 429.
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.
If you want to hear the whole song, which I recommend, watch this:
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.
The first night of Acquire the Fire, besides the worship with Unhindered, and the talk about needs vs. wants that I mentioned yesterday, we had the first concert out of three during the weekend. Building 429 took the stage first and they rocked. They have so many good songs, but I also learned some new ones because those are the ones they primarily played.
The lyrics are so encouraging. It's no coincidence for the name of the band either. "429" comes from Ephesians 4:29 which I have provided to you today. Notice how "building up others" is also mentioned in the passage. What's even more amazing is that today is 4/29. This was totally unplanned in that regard, apparently not by God!
Still, things got even more exciting. Since there was some room closer to the front from where we were sitting, I went down the steps to where there was a railing. Many others from my group did too. This was a good spot to be that much closer to the band, without being completely on the floor. When the concert was over, the lead singer, Jason, ran around and gave high fives. He mostly got the people down the aisles on the ground level, but he came around and gave others high fives too, including me! I was so excited when I realized that they were such an encouraging group already, and to add to that fact, they gave me a high five!
Who will you encourage today with your words and actions? Hey, you could even encourage someone by giving them a high five and show that you care about them. Go ahead and give someone a spiritual high five if you feel called!
Watch the video with the encouraging video with the song "Always" by Building 429.
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.
If you want to hear the whole song, which I recommend, watch this:
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Replacing Wants with Needs.
James 4:1
1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?
During the Acquire the Fire conference one of the lead speakers was a guy named Mike. He had some good points when it came to talking about the wants and needs of human beings. Wants can devastate you. They certainly won't satisfy you completely, at least in the end.
Whether it is the possession of the nicest car on the block or the best fashion in town, those are really just wants. Do you need them in life? No. You need things like food, water, shelter, and clothes in general.
Don't miss the not-so-obvious needs such as God. He will certainly satisfy you whenever you need him...all the time. Forget the two day craze that accompanies the new game systems. If you truly have a need for God and you understand that he is by your side, then the craze will be longer-lived and hopefully something that will stick with you forever.
Putting a want before a need just isn't good. Mike used an analogy that went something like this: Imagine you're scuba diving. You don't need to scuba dive, but you want to scuba dive. You do it anyway. If you ran out of oxygen (which is a need) chances are you wouldn't stay under water. It's just not natural for us to do that. We should do the same with God. Don't let our wants get in the way so much that we drown right before our needs. Prioritize the important things in life, such as God, and you will go far!
Once you realize that you need the Lord for everything in life and you're ready to recognize him...give you glory as you sing the song, "No Other Name" by Unhindered with the video provided 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.
1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?
During the Acquire the Fire conference one of the lead speakers was a guy named Mike. He had some good points when it came to talking about the wants and needs of human beings. Wants can devastate you. They certainly won't satisfy you completely, at least in the end.
Whether it is the possession of the nicest car on the block or the best fashion in town, those are really just wants. Do you need them in life? No. You need things like food, water, shelter, and clothes in general.
Don't miss the not-so-obvious needs such as God. He will certainly satisfy you whenever you need him...all the time. Forget the two day craze that accompanies the new game systems. If you truly have a need for God and you understand that he is by your side, then the craze will be longer-lived and hopefully something that will stick with you forever.
Putting a want before a need just isn't good. Mike used an analogy that went something like this: Imagine you're scuba diving. You don't need to scuba dive, but you want to scuba dive. You do it anyway. If you ran out of oxygen (which is a need) chances are you wouldn't stay under water. It's just not natural for us to do that. We should do the same with God. Don't let our wants get in the way so much that we drown right before our needs. Prioritize the important things in life, such as God, and you will go far!
Once you realize that you need the Lord for everything in life and you're ready to recognize him...give you glory as you sing the song, "No Other Name" by Unhindered with the video provided 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.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Acquire the Fire 2009!
Matthew 18:20
20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
I hope your weekend was great. I had a blast on Friday night and all day Saturday at a Christian conference called Acquire the Fire in Tampa. It was a very powerful experience and I'm won't be able to stop thinking about what went on there for some time...good stuff let me tell you!
There were thousands of people...as for the exact number oh, I don't really know. There may have been 2,000 or 3,000 people, but definitely more than 1,000 (I don't do well with estimating numbers that large!) Plus I wasn't concentrated on the numbers so much, I just knew God was there the whole time, for he says "where two or three [and certainly more] come together in my name, there am I with them."
We had wonderful talks by wonderful speakers, great worship and great bands who played. It was simply incredible especially when you see everyone jumping up and down excited about God...knowing that he's real, knowing that he's graceful, knowing that he's merciful, knowing that he's forgiving, knowing that he's loving. Truly the Holy Spirit was working in that arena this weekend!
I leave you today thinking about the huge room full of teenagers on fire for Christ (I being one of them). Pray for them. Let the fire never cease in their hearts which they acquired this weekend! Expect more discussion throughout the week about this event.
"His center is everywhere, His circumference is nowhere." -Henery Law
I'm going to also try this week to have videos up for you of the worship songs we sang. Unhindered was the group who led our worship. I'll start off the week with an exciting song, "Light This World" by Unhindered, sung at a similar event!
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.
20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
I hope your weekend was great. I had a blast on Friday night and all day Saturday at a Christian conference called Acquire the Fire in Tampa. It was a very powerful experience and I'm won't be able to stop thinking about what went on there for some time...good stuff let me tell you!
There were thousands of people...as for the exact number oh, I don't really know. There may have been 2,000 or 3,000 people, but definitely more than 1,000 (I don't do well with estimating numbers that large!) Plus I wasn't concentrated on the numbers so much, I just knew God was there the whole time, for he says "where two or three [and certainly more] come together in my name, there am I with them."
We had wonderful talks by wonderful speakers, great worship and great bands who played. It was simply incredible especially when you see everyone jumping up and down excited about God...knowing that he's real, knowing that he's graceful, knowing that he's merciful, knowing that he's forgiving, knowing that he's loving. Truly the Holy Spirit was working in that arena this weekend!
I leave you today thinking about the huge room full of teenagers on fire for Christ (I being one of them). Pray for them. Let the fire never cease in their hearts which they acquired this weekend! Expect more discussion throughout the week about this event.
"His center is everywhere, His circumference is nowhere." -Henery Law
I'm going to also try this week to have videos up for you of the worship songs we sang. Unhindered was the group who led our worship. I'll start off the week with an exciting song, "Light This World" by Unhindered, sung at a similar event!
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, April 25, 2009
God Works Things Out.
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Twice a year, my church hosts two popular community events where a couple thousand people come out to each. We have a Fall Festival and an Easter Eggstravaganza. They're both fun for the community...giving kids the opportunity to jump in bounce houses, make crafts, and get their faces painted. It's all free too! Of course we don't leave out Jesus! Knowing that he died for us is priceless, so the least we can do is teach and share with others. For some people, it's the only taste of Jesus they get all year. It's just a reality of the world. Some people just never go to church.
Rain or shine we're out there during these two events. I wasn't in town for the Eggstravaganza, but there was plenty of support from the church. You see, God has an idea and he doesn't care about Mother Nature - whether it rains or not. We've done these events in the rain before. He wants to touch many lives and he will let things happen...if they're meant to be and if they coincide with his will.
If you have any doubts, pray to God. He'll always be there for you!
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Twice a year, my church hosts two popular community events where a couple thousand people come out to each. We have a Fall Festival and an Easter Eggstravaganza. They're both fun for the community...giving kids the opportunity to jump in bounce houses, make crafts, and get their faces painted. It's all free too! Of course we don't leave out Jesus! Knowing that he died for us is priceless, so the least we can do is teach and share with others. For some people, it's the only taste of Jesus they get all year. It's just a reality of the world. Some people just never go to church.
Rain or shine we're out there during these two events. I wasn't in town for the Eggstravaganza, but there was plenty of support from the church. You see, God has an idea and he doesn't care about Mother Nature - whether it rains or not. We've done these events in the rain before. He wants to touch many lives and he will let things happen...if they're meant to be and if they coincide with his will.
If you have any doubts, pray to God. He'll always be there for you!
Friday, April 24, 2009
Christians Undergoing Growth.
Jude 1:20-21
20 But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, 21 and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.
Part of life's purpose is growth. Technically, I guess it's a life-long process that never stops. An infant develops into a toddler, then a child, then a pre-teen, then a teen, then a young adult, and then an adult.
Your spiritual life is very much the same. Except you set the stages...it's not as natural as human growth. You basically determine how much you grow by your actions and words, and everything in between, the amount in which you grow. You can even lose some of your spiritual motivation. You'll have some really good days and some really bad days. Hopefully you will have more good days than bad days and the general trend of your spiritual life will be growth and not decline.
Nonetheless, it's still a never ending process. It's a relationship with God. As you grow, you definitely become more in tune and in focus with God; you also love him more and more. It's a great ability and he wants to see it happen. He may know you already, but he wants to you more and be right beside you...wherever you go!
I pray that you are growing in faith.
20 But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, 21 and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.
Part of life's purpose is growth. Technically, I guess it's a life-long process that never stops. An infant develops into a toddler, then a child, then a pre-teen, then a teen, then a young adult, and then an adult.
Your spiritual life is very much the same. Except you set the stages...it's not as natural as human growth. You basically determine how much you grow by your actions and words, and everything in between, the amount in which you grow. You can even lose some of your spiritual motivation. You'll have some really good days and some really bad days. Hopefully you will have more good days than bad days and the general trend of your spiritual life will be growth and not decline.
Nonetheless, it's still a never ending process. It's a relationship with God. As you grow, you definitely become more in tune and in focus with God; you also love him more and more. It's a great ability and he wants to see it happen. He may know you already, but he wants to you more and be right beside you...wherever you go!
I pray that you are growing in faith.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
A Call to Holy Living.
1 Peter 1:13-16
13 So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
Can you say an adjective that describes Jesus? I would say amazing? Wouldn't you hope he could say the same thing about us. Well, it takes some work but all you have to do is do some holy living!
When you look at Jesus, he's part God, part man. It's simply amazing to see a God in flesh. Jesus is God! If you're not sure if God likes what you're doing, then look at Jesus. Would Jesus think hurting someone is holy, for example? No, so then God wouldn't be happy if you hurt someone. If you loved your worst enemy, for example, would Jesus consider that holy? Since the answer is yes, God is beaming.
He showed us the way. He showed us what was right. You don't have to question what God expects from you. Therefore, imitate God and Jesus!
Suggestions on how to imitate God and Jesus:
-Pray in an isolated place WITH God.
-Read, know, and learn the scripture.
-Be grateful for what you have.
-Be caring and loving to everyone around you.
-Speak the truth
Do those and you're well on your way! It's really important. In fact, look back at September 17 where I talked about the same thing. You may be reminded of some points I didn't bring up here. Happy Holy Living! God Bless and Good Luck!
"Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it." ~William Penn
13 So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
Can you say an adjective that describes Jesus? I would say amazing? Wouldn't you hope he could say the same thing about us. Well, it takes some work but all you have to do is do some holy living!
When you look at Jesus, he's part God, part man. It's simply amazing to see a God in flesh. Jesus is God! If you're not sure if God likes what you're doing, then look at Jesus. Would Jesus think hurting someone is holy, for example? No, so then God wouldn't be happy if you hurt someone. If you loved your worst enemy, for example, would Jesus consider that holy? Since the answer is yes, God is beaming.
He showed us the way. He showed us what was right. You don't have to question what God expects from you. Therefore, imitate God and Jesus!
Suggestions on how to imitate God and Jesus:
-Pray in an isolated place WITH God.
-Read, know, and learn the scripture.
-Be grateful for what you have.
-Be caring and loving to everyone around you.
-Speak the truth
Do those and you're well on your way! It's really important. In fact, look back at September 17 where I talked about the same thing. You may be reminded of some points I didn't bring up here. Happy Holy Living! God Bless and Good Luck!
"Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it." ~William Penn
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Find the Golden Charm in You.
1 Samuel 16:7
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
When you wear a costume, whether it be a dog or a dancer, what's different about you? You may look like a dog or a dancer, but is that what you really are? You might want to be a dog. Even if you were, that's just your appearance. Okay, so maybe you can bark, but so what! No matter how much you try you won't truly be a dog. The key point is that your appearance may change when you wear a costume (and maybe your abilities!) but your insides won't.
Similarly, you can't dress up as a Christian because that means you aren't one if you aren't truly one. You can go to church every Sunday, use "Sunday School" language if you will, but is that your true identity? So what if you don't think that you're attractive. Don't worry about what the world considers to be attractive. God loves you exactly the way you are! Remember, it's what's on the inside - in your heart - that matters. That should be where the shiny, golden charm is in you!
Be Godly in all your ways!
Meanwhile, have you ever seen America's Got Talent? Well there's also a show overseas called Britain's Got Talent. There was a contestant on there who recently shocked the judges. She's an older lady. She doesn't fit the part of being a "singer." Her insides do however. She can sing! My friend, this is where the world is all wrong...judging and sterotyping and so on. Listen to the video by copying and pasting the link below...*At last check more than 37 million views and there are many other sources where people watched this!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY
Happy Earth Day! Be Godly in regard to the Earth as well.
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
When you wear a costume, whether it be a dog or a dancer, what's different about you? You may look like a dog or a dancer, but is that what you really are? You might want to be a dog. Even if you were, that's just your appearance. Okay, so maybe you can bark, but so what! No matter how much you try you won't truly be a dog. The key point is that your appearance may change when you wear a costume (and maybe your abilities!) but your insides won't.
Similarly, you can't dress up as a Christian because that means you aren't one if you aren't truly one. You can go to church every Sunday, use "Sunday School" language if you will, but is that your true identity? So what if you don't think that you're attractive. Don't worry about what the world considers to be attractive. God loves you exactly the way you are! Remember, it's what's on the inside - in your heart - that matters. That should be where the shiny, golden charm is in you!
Be Godly in all your ways!
Meanwhile, have you ever seen America's Got Talent? Well there's also a show overseas called Britain's Got Talent. There was a contestant on there who recently shocked the judges. She's an older lady. She doesn't fit the part of being a "singer." Her insides do however. She can sing! My friend, this is where the world is all wrong...judging and sterotyping and so on. Listen to the video by copying and pasting the link below...*At last check more than 37 million views and there are many other sources where people watched this!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY
Happy Earth Day! Be Godly in regard to the Earth as well.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Watch the Lies.
Psalm 34:12-14
12 Does anyone want to live a life
that is long and prosperous?
13 Then keep your tongue from speaking evil
and your lips from telling lies!
14 Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
You always hear Christians talking about the "truth." The Bible is the word of truth and so on. Well I'm here to say...I believe in that. I gain knowledge by reading the Bible. I know it's true because of what I see around me every single day. It's just...Oh that loving feeling! Not only that it's just amazing :)
Okay so believe what you want to believe. You may know your neighbor and he or she may have a completely different faith system...which is something that we trust and believe is true. You'll never know what they experienced. However, for me I'm trying to convince you that God is the truth, the light, and the way.
Contrast that with the lies that we say. Simply speaking, since God is the truth, the light, and the way, every part of our life should be free of lies if we're Christians. It's tempting, but it's just the devil playing games with you. Don't let him pull you away from the truth literally! He's deceiving you.
Continue believing what you believe. I hope I'm not confusing you; I just pray that everyone who reads this will know that God is the truth. He's real. He sent his Son to die for us. This is what history has told us all along and the Bible is the primary source for that.
"When you want to fool the world, tell the truth." ~Otto von Bismarck
"The truth that makes men free is for the most part the truth which men prefer not to hear." ~Herbert Agar
Here's a great song, "Amazing Love" to remind us of the truth.
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 Does anyone want to live a life
that is long and prosperous?
13 Then keep your tongue from speaking evil
and your lips from telling lies!
14 Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
You always hear Christians talking about the "truth." The Bible is the word of truth and so on. Well I'm here to say...I believe in that. I gain knowledge by reading the Bible. I know it's true because of what I see around me every single day. It's just...Oh that loving feeling! Not only that it's just amazing :)
Okay so believe what you want to believe. You may know your neighbor and he or she may have a completely different faith system...which is something that we trust and believe is true. You'll never know what they experienced. However, for me I'm trying to convince you that God is the truth, the light, and the way.
Contrast that with the lies that we say. Simply speaking, since God is the truth, the light, and the way, every part of our life should be free of lies if we're Christians. It's tempting, but it's just the devil playing games with you. Don't let him pull you away from the truth literally! He's deceiving you.
Continue believing what you believe. I hope I'm not confusing you; I just pray that everyone who reads this will know that God is the truth. He's real. He sent his Son to die for us. This is what history has told us all along and the Bible is the primary source for that.
"When you want to fool the world, tell the truth." ~Otto von Bismarck
"The truth that makes men free is for the most part the truth which men prefer not to hear." ~Herbert Agar
Here's a great song, "Amazing Love" to remind us of the truth.
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, April 20, 2009
He is Alive (And I Am Too!)
1 Corinthians 15:20-22
20 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.
21 So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. 22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.
Hey! I hope you didn't forget about my blog :) I hope you had a Happy Easter! I know I did as I spent about a week's worth of time with my sister and family up in Tennessee. It's always good to spend time with family. I take any opportunity I can get! Now it's time to get back into the swing of things. By the way, we were fortunate to escape the path of the tornadoes and severe weather up there. I pray for those in Murfreesboro and other areas around the country that have been affected by Mother Nature's wrath.
So it may be more than a week after Easter Sunday, but it's still worth mentioning that...
even though the battle continues as we fight the worldly forces on a daily basis, we have succeeded; this is because Jesus helped to fasten and tighten the seal. He has allowed us to GAIN HIM and LOSE SIN!
On that first Easter morning when Jesus resurrected, it was a huge promise. As Paul says in this verse, "everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life."
Ya know, just because Jesus died and rose again (for us) doesn't mean that we won't have hard times. As Christians, sometimes we do make a nose dive, head first, into the worldly ground after being brought into Christianity with a false mind: there is no trouble. I would be very careful in what you tell non-believers or followers. Jesus may not be the happy remedy all the time (what possibly could please us humans), but he does promise a miraculous eternal life if we live in his name. That's basically the bottom line! The fact is by Jesus' resurrection, we've been resurrected as well...reborn and revived into a new, more secure life -- eternal life.
For the upcoming year, make the whole idea of the "Resurrection of Jesus Christ" a simpler concept...that is not mis-leading. Try to find a way to convince others that it's not all about the Easter eggs, but Christ who died for us. Bring the good news down to simpler terms...terms that are convincing and news that you mean with your whole heart.
In the meantime, thank God for his awesome power in following through with this deed. In the end, Jesus was resurrected and this allows you to be resurrected too!
"The cross is the victory, the resurrection is the triumph...The resurrection is the public display of the victory, the triumph of the crucified one." ~Eric Sauer
"Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won't stay there." ~Clarence W. Hall
20 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.
21 So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. 22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.
Hey! I hope you didn't forget about my blog :) I hope you had a Happy Easter! I know I did as I spent about a week's worth of time with my sister and family up in Tennessee. It's always good to spend time with family. I take any opportunity I can get! Now it's time to get back into the swing of things. By the way, we were fortunate to escape the path of the tornadoes and severe weather up there. I pray for those in Murfreesboro and other areas around the country that have been affected by Mother Nature's wrath.
So it may be more than a week after Easter Sunday, but it's still worth mentioning that...
even though the battle continues as we fight the worldly forces on a daily basis, we have succeeded; this is because Jesus helped to fasten and tighten the seal. He has allowed us to GAIN HIM and LOSE SIN!
On that first Easter morning when Jesus resurrected, it was a huge promise. As Paul says in this verse, "everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life."
Ya know, just because Jesus died and rose again (for us) doesn't mean that we won't have hard times. As Christians, sometimes we do make a nose dive, head first, into the worldly ground after being brought into Christianity with a false mind: there is no trouble. I would be very careful in what you tell non-believers or followers. Jesus may not be the happy remedy all the time (what possibly could please us humans), but he does promise a miraculous eternal life if we live in his name. That's basically the bottom line! The fact is by Jesus' resurrection, we've been resurrected as well...reborn and revived into a new, more secure life -- eternal life.
For the upcoming year, make the whole idea of the "Resurrection of Jesus Christ" a simpler concept...that is not mis-leading. Try to find a way to convince others that it's not all about the Easter eggs, but Christ who died for us. Bring the good news down to simpler terms...terms that are convincing and news that you mean with your whole heart.
In the meantime, thank God for his awesome power in following through with this deed. In the end, Jesus was resurrected and this allows you to be resurrected too!
"The cross is the victory, the resurrection is the triumph...The resurrection is the public display of the victory, the triumph of the crucified one." ~Eric Sauer
"Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won't stay there." ~Clarence W. Hall
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Happy Easter!
Mark 16:4
4 But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside.
Today is the day that Christ resurrected. It is a day that is to be celebrated for this reason and this is why you are seeing a post on a Sunday. Why not on such a special day?
Anyways, the question that is asked here is by Mary, the mother of James, and Salome as they go to anoint the body of Jesus. It is a practical questions because how are they supposed to anoint the body if the stone is still there?
Then they realize that the large, heavy stone has already moved. They don't have to do anything. So what has the ability to move or roll away in our life? What are we too weak to do even though we may have faith, strength, and courage?
I'm not sure I quite understand what happened to Mary but I'll move on from there. Nonetheless, the Almighty God allows the stone in our life to roll away, something that the world can artifically remove at the most.
Try not to focus so much on the Easter eggs this year. Read Matthew 27 and 28 to help you with this focus. Happy Easter!
"The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances." ~Robert Flatt
Watch the song "Hosanna" by Hillsong. It's a great way to go into Easter.
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 But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside.
Today is the day that Christ resurrected. It is a day that is to be celebrated for this reason and this is why you are seeing a post on a Sunday. Why not on such a special day?
Anyways, the question that is asked here is by Mary, the mother of James, and Salome as they go to anoint the body of Jesus. It is a practical questions because how are they supposed to anoint the body if the stone is still there?
Then they realize that the large, heavy stone has already moved. They don't have to do anything. So what has the ability to move or roll away in our life? What are we too weak to do even though we may have faith, strength, and courage?
I'm not sure I quite understand what happened to Mary but I'll move on from there. Nonetheless, the Almighty God allows the stone in our life to roll away, something that the world can artifically remove at the most.
Try not to focus so much on the Easter eggs this year. Read Matthew 27 and 28 to help you with this focus. Happy Easter!
"The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances." ~Robert Flatt
Watch the song "Hosanna" by Hillsong. It's a great way to go into Easter.
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, April 11, 2009
A New Beginning is on the Way.
Matthew 27:46
46 At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
It is now the day before Easter and Jesus Christ is resting before he resurrects.
I can't think of a better example of love than Jesus dying on the cross for our sins. The best part about it is that he suffered and died willingly for you and me. It's incredible!
Could you imagine being a witness or being Mary Magdelene? Worse yet, what would it be like to be Jesus? It is really terrifying when he said, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?"
When Jesus said that, he was quoting Psalm 22:1...My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help?
This Psalm was written by David and it discusses many of the experiences Jesus was faced with, including mockery. This was a statement that brought about a new beginning! Jesus' statement as he was dying was hopeful indeed. Tomorrow is a big day and hopefully it will be when the reality of this hope sinks in for you!
P.S. There will be a post tomorrow because of Easter!
46 At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
It is now the day before Easter and Jesus Christ is resting before he resurrects.
I can't think of a better example of love than Jesus dying on the cross for our sins. The best part about it is that he suffered and died willingly for you and me. It's incredible!
Could you imagine being a witness or being Mary Magdelene? Worse yet, what would it be like to be Jesus? It is really terrifying when he said, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?"
When Jesus said that, he was quoting Psalm 22:1...My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help?
This Psalm was written by David and it discusses many of the experiences Jesus was faced with, including mockery. This was a statement that brought about a new beginning! Jesus' statement as he was dying was hopeful indeed. Tomorrow is a big day and hopefully it will be when the reality of this hope sinks in for you!
P.S. There will be a post tomorrow because of Easter!
Friday, April 10, 2009
At the Foot of the Cross.
Matthew 26:53-54
53 Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands[a] of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? 54 But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?”
It is now three days before Easter and today is known as Good Friday. It's a bit of a misnomer when you first think about it because what was done to Jesus was not good. However, the results of Christ's death for our sins is what makes it a good day!
It's a bit of a solemn day as we think about what Christ endured. On Good Friday, Christians are asked to go to the foot of the cross. We are to have our minds on Jesus throughout the day as we remember his suffering, and ultimately his death.
Despite all this suffering, divine love reflects off Jesus' body and the cross. The living God can be seen in Jesus and thus we are connected to Christ.
Doesn't this baffle your mind a little bit? It's okay. As long as we know that Jesus is God. Jesus was human and did have the chance to escape death. Who knows, maybe he could have destroyed all the Earth? But...that wasn't the case, thank goodness. He wanted to sacrifice his love so that he could claim responsibility for our sins. That's a beautiful thing! He knows what we deal with on a daily basis. He lost blood, tears, and his life for us. Let's live like Christ did. Remember you can never stop growing in your relationship with Christ!
Watch the song "We Fall Down" by Chris Tomlin. I love it!
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.
53 Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands[a] of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? 54 But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?”
It is now three days before Easter and today is known as Good Friday. It's a bit of a misnomer when you first think about it because what was done to Jesus was not good. However, the results of Christ's death for our sins is what makes it a good day!
It's a bit of a solemn day as we think about what Christ endured. On Good Friday, Christians are asked to go to the foot of the cross. We are to have our minds on Jesus throughout the day as we remember his suffering, and ultimately his death.
Despite all this suffering, divine love reflects off Jesus' body and the cross. The living God can be seen in Jesus and thus we are connected to Christ.
Doesn't this baffle your mind a little bit? It's okay. As long as we know that Jesus is God. Jesus was human and did have the chance to escape death. Who knows, maybe he could have destroyed all the Earth? But...that wasn't the case, thank goodness. He wanted to sacrifice his love so that he could claim responsibility for our sins. That's a beautiful thing! He knows what we deal with on a daily basis. He lost blood, tears, and his life for us. Let's live like Christ did. Remember you can never stop growing in your relationship with Christ!
Watch the song "We Fall Down" by Chris Tomlin. I love it!
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, April 9, 2009
Wash, Serve, and Teach.
John 13:4-15
4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.
6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”
8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”
Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”
9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”
10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.
We are more than halfway through Holy Week (the week that leads up to Easter) and today is Maundy Thursday. Maundy comes from the latin word "command." The command that Jesus gives to his disciples was to join him in celebration of Passover, known as the Last Supper, and that they should faithfully love and serve each other.
Jesus was always a good example. Here, he shows this by kneeling down and washing the feet of his disciples. Peter can't stand the thought of this. However, Jesus responds by saying that as humans we need to have our feet washed and we need to serve each other because he wants us to know that we shouldn't worry about convenience and dignity when we have the chance to help someone out.
Jesus is betrayed by Judas on this night, and this is when he shares the bread and wine with his disciples and said the well-known phrase "Do this in remembrance of me."
Because Jesus washed and served a meal, as Christians, we see this as a loving characteristic. He will never let us go!
As you feed others, wash others, and teach others, just as Jesus, you are clearly loving one another. By doing this you can realize that the love of God is residing right beside you and waiting for you to feed off it and celebrate.
How can you better follow the examples of Jesus Christ?
4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.
6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”
8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”
Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”
9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”
10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.
We are more than halfway through Holy Week (the week that leads up to Easter) and today is Maundy Thursday. Maundy comes from the latin word "command." The command that Jesus gives to his disciples was to join him in celebration of Passover, known as the Last Supper, and that they should faithfully love and serve each other.
Jesus was always a good example. Here, he shows this by kneeling down and washing the feet of his disciples. Peter can't stand the thought of this. However, Jesus responds by saying that as humans we need to have our feet washed and we need to serve each other because he wants us to know that we shouldn't worry about convenience and dignity when we have the chance to help someone out.
Jesus is betrayed by Judas on this night, and this is when he shares the bread and wine with his disciples and said the well-known phrase "Do this in remembrance of me."
Because Jesus washed and served a meal, as Christians, we see this as a loving characteristic. He will never let us go!
As you feed others, wash others, and teach others, just as Jesus, you are clearly loving one another. By doing this you can realize that the love of God is residing right beside you and waiting for you to feed off it and celebrate.
How can you better follow the examples of Jesus Christ?
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Fan Mail from God.
Luke 12:6-7
6 “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. 7 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.
Many people have a celebrity, star, or somebody in the limelight who they like. They are fans. It may be Tiger Woods or Nicole Kidman, nonetheless it's someone they like. Maybe this means they know everything about them including his or her birthday, hometown, and even what kind of car they drive. A lot of this information can be found on the internet or in a magazine, and as a fan, that's what people to do to see what makes their superstars tick.
Then Luke tells us that God knows "the very hairs on your head and they are all numbered." I'm pretty sure you don't know how many hairs are on the head of your favorite celebrity. God is your biggest fan. Imagine counting hairs...that would take a long long time. God did it (even though he probably doesn't have to do much work) because he loves you.
God is your fan. He loves and adores you. He may not find out information about you on the internet or in a magazine, because he's God of course, but he's still amazing. God knows everything about you, yet he longs for you.
Just as you might like it if you ran into a celebrity, God likes it when you run into him. This happens through prayer. It lets you connect with him and know more about him. Never leave him!
6 “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. 7 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.
Many people have a celebrity, star, or somebody in the limelight who they like. They are fans. It may be Tiger Woods or Nicole Kidman, nonetheless it's someone they like. Maybe this means they know everything about them including his or her birthday, hometown, and even what kind of car they drive. A lot of this information can be found on the internet or in a magazine, and as a fan, that's what people to do to see what makes their superstars tick.
Then Luke tells us that God knows "the very hairs on your head and they are all numbered." I'm pretty sure you don't know how many hairs are on the head of your favorite celebrity. God is your biggest fan. Imagine counting hairs...that would take a long long time. God did it (even though he probably doesn't have to do much work) because he loves you.
God is your fan. He loves and adores you. He may not find out information about you on the internet or in a magazine, because he's God of course, but he's still amazing. God knows everything about you, yet he longs for you.
Just as you might like it if you ran into a celebrity, God likes it when you run into him. This happens through prayer. It lets you connect with him and know more about him. Never leave him!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
God Doesn't Play Favorites.
Deuteronomy 7:7-9
7 “The Lord did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! 8 Rather, it was simply that the Lord loves you, and he was keeping the oath he had sworn to your ancestors. That is why the Lord rescued you with such a strong hand from your slavery and from the oppressive hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. 9 Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.
When you think about it, we haven't done anything to earn God's love. God's love shouldn't be imagined as something we earn, rather something that is free, unconditional and just priceless! God's love for us is like a balloon that never pops. The helium in the balloon stays in there if we don't pop it and this makes it similar to God's love. It will never pop over us. It may run low (just as a balloon does when it sits for a while); however God will keep blowing up balloons and sending them to you until you realize that he will always love you and even after this point he will send more. We're always going to have moments where we lose this thought.
The best thing is that everyone gets the balloons! He doesn't send more balloons to any one person. He doesn't show love more to any one person. It's all EQUAL. We've got all the love he can possibly give us, and even though we mess up, he still loves us.
If there is one thing that you can do for God, it is to demonstrate that love he has for you, back to him (and others).
"Since everyone is worthy of God's love, no one is worthless." ~Author Unknown
"God keeps a 1,000 page book on every person who has ever lived.
You see your name on the cover of one of the books and open it --
Wrongs Done by You One page...and the page is blank.
Wrongs Done to You One page...and the page is blank.
My Love for You Nine hundred ninety-eight pages... in small print."
~From Early Morning Conversation
7 “The Lord did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! 8 Rather, it was simply that the Lord loves you, and he was keeping the oath he had sworn to your ancestors. That is why the Lord rescued you with such a strong hand from your slavery and from the oppressive hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. 9 Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.
When you think about it, we haven't done anything to earn God's love. God's love shouldn't be imagined as something we earn, rather something that is free, unconditional and just priceless! God's love for us is like a balloon that never pops. The helium in the balloon stays in there if we don't pop it and this makes it similar to God's love. It will never pop over us. It may run low (just as a balloon does when it sits for a while); however God will keep blowing up balloons and sending them to you until you realize that he will always love you and even after this point he will send more. We're always going to have moments where we lose this thought.
The best thing is that everyone gets the balloons! He doesn't send more balloons to any one person. He doesn't show love more to any one person. It's all EQUAL. We've got all the love he can possibly give us, and even though we mess up, he still loves us.
If there is one thing that you can do for God, it is to demonstrate that love he has for you, back to him (and others).
"Since everyone is worthy of God's love, no one is worthless." ~Author Unknown
"God keeps a 1,000 page book on every person who has ever lived.
You see your name on the cover of one of the books and open it --
Wrongs Done by You One page...and the page is blank.
Wrongs Done to You One page...and the page is blank.
My Love for You Nine hundred ninety-eight pages... in small print."
~From Early Morning Conversation
Monday, April 6, 2009
God's Delights.
Mark 1:9-11
9 One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. 10 As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”
What do you do when someone says "I'm disappointed in you?" We know we need criticism, but just that is not constructive criticism. In a way it hurts and doesn't help. They could have said "I'm disappointed because...Next time you should..."
We all know we like approval and praise. Contrasted with above the following statement is said: "I'm so proud of you."
How would you react if "I'm so proud of you" was said not just by your parents or friends, but by God? It did happen to Jesus when he was baptized. Imagine such a voice that thundered above. That would be incredible!
Why did this happen? He decided to be a part of God's family by being baptized. He chose to dedicate his life and serve the Lord.
If you were baptized, you are also in God's family. Don't think you'll be missing out on that voice either (you just may have to listen way more than you think). Every time you dedicate your time toward God, God is more than delighted with you. He is delighted that you are taking time right now to study his word. He is delighted when you sing to him throughout the day. He is delighted when you speak to him in prayer. Don't worry if you're not baptized either. Try finding a church you love (if you haven't already) and talk to the Pastor.
"The self-appointed spokesmen for God incline to shout; He, Himself, speaks only in whispers." ~Martin H. Fischer
9 One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. 10 As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”
What do you do when someone says "I'm disappointed in you?" We know we need criticism, but just that is not constructive criticism. In a way it hurts and doesn't help. They could have said "I'm disappointed because...Next time you should..."
We all know we like approval and praise. Contrasted with above the following statement is said: "I'm so proud of you."
How would you react if "I'm so proud of you" was said not just by your parents or friends, but by God? It did happen to Jesus when he was baptized. Imagine such a voice that thundered above. That would be incredible!
Why did this happen? He decided to be a part of God's family by being baptized. He chose to dedicate his life and serve the Lord.
If you were baptized, you are also in God's family. Don't think you'll be missing out on that voice either (you just may have to listen way more than you think). Every time you dedicate your time toward God, God is more than delighted with you. He is delighted that you are taking time right now to study his word. He is delighted when you sing to him throughout the day. He is delighted when you speak to him in prayer. Don't worry if you're not baptized either. Try finding a church you love (if you haven't already) and talk to the Pastor.
"The self-appointed spokesmen for God incline to shout; He, Himself, speaks only in whispers." ~Martin H. Fischer
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Need for Workers in a Worn Out World.
Matthew 9:35-38
35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”
We talked about mocking this week and I want to remind you to that God created everything that you see - he is smarter and wiser than you. If you realize this he will share his wisdom.
Now for today, talking about Jesus as he journeyed from town to town, teaching, preaching, and healing. The crowd that followed and supported him grew larger and larger. As he looked back at the people, his heart released a rush of compassion. They were "confused and helpless." All in all, they were needy.
How can we apply this to people today? I can tell you for a fact that the world includes hungry and hurting and needy people. It doesn't even have to be thousands of miles away in Africa, for example, there's definitely hunger Stateside as well.
Christ looked at the crowd of followers with compassion, and better yet he constantly looks at YOU in the same manner. It's okay to let him love you. Let him in. Make sure you give the compassion to the troubled and hurting people you see...the same kind that you received from Christ. It may very well be a blessing to someone specifically!
Think about what happens when you let love in and share it with the world. Are your problems as big as they were before? Pray that God sends workers into the fields to work the harvest everywhere. When you have the opportunity to go out into the world and share that compassion and generosity, thank him for letting that be possible.
“It is lack of love for ourselves that inhibits our compassion toward others. If we make friends [love] with ourselves, then there is no obstacle to opening our hearts and minds to others.” ~Author Unknown
Have a great weekend!
35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”
We talked about mocking this week and I want to remind you to that God created everything that you see - he is smarter and wiser than you. If you realize this he will share his wisdom.
Now for today, talking about Jesus as he journeyed from town to town, teaching, preaching, and healing. The crowd that followed and supported him grew larger and larger. As he looked back at the people, his heart released a rush of compassion. They were "confused and helpless." All in all, they were needy.
How can we apply this to people today? I can tell you for a fact that the world includes hungry and hurting and needy people. It doesn't even have to be thousands of miles away in Africa, for example, there's definitely hunger Stateside as well.
Christ looked at the crowd of followers with compassion, and better yet he constantly looks at YOU in the same manner. It's okay to let him love you. Let him in. Make sure you give the compassion to the troubled and hurting people you see...the same kind that you received from Christ. It may very well be a blessing to someone specifically!
Think about what happens when you let love in and share it with the world. Are your problems as big as they were before? Pray that God sends workers into the fields to work the harvest everywhere. When you have the opportunity to go out into the world and share that compassion and generosity, thank him for letting that be possible.
“It is lack of love for ourselves that inhibits our compassion toward others. If we make friends [love] with ourselves, then there is no obstacle to opening our hearts and minds to others.” ~Author Unknown
Have a great weekend!
Friday, April 3, 2009
It's Not Worth It.
Proverbs 9:12
12 If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit.
If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.
Mocking is no good because it always hurts one in the end. Eventually one probably regrets ever mocking move they make.
What am I trying to say? Don't waste your time mocking others. Nobody likes to be mocked. You'll be punished by society (and God) every time you find a new way to make someone suffer and bring someone down.
Where will that get you? It will only get your further and further away from getting the rewards and benefits that God has to offer and his promises of eternal life. If you have wisdom, you will get those rewards. Life becomes easier, happier, and you get more out of it by taking the path of wisdom. It's no longer useless. It's a big difference I'd say!
When was the last time you benefited from a reward from God? Let that motivate and encourage you not to mock others from this point forward.
“...Mocking [comes from] a devil that despairs.” ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
12 If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit.
If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.
Mocking is no good because it always hurts one in the end. Eventually one probably regrets ever mocking move they make.
What am I trying to say? Don't waste your time mocking others. Nobody likes to be mocked. You'll be punished by society (and God) every time you find a new way to make someone suffer and bring someone down.
Where will that get you? It will only get your further and further away from getting the rewards and benefits that God has to offer and his promises of eternal life. If you have wisdom, you will get those rewards. Life becomes easier, happier, and you get more out of it by taking the path of wisdom. It's no longer useless. It's a big difference I'd say!
When was the last time you benefited from a reward from God? Let that motivate and encourage you not to mock others from this point forward.
“...Mocking [comes from] a devil that despairs.” ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Thursday, April 2, 2009
A Contradiction Regarding Mocking?
Proverbs 3:34
34 The Lord mocks the mockers
but is gracious to the humble.
What?!?!?! Yes, you read that correctly, my friend. God does mock. You ask why? How is that possible since God is like so Holy. Well, the best way to answer is that we are no match to him anyways. He will always be more powerful than we are. We will never be a God!
Let's think about it, if one mocks God, this reveals one thing about them: arrogance. However, the same cannot be said about God because he is the Heavenly and Almighty Father.
On the other side of the coin, God is gracious when we are humble. If you can't fathom his vast size compared to yours, God will intervene and show you in various ways until you get it (if you keep that open heart!)
How did this idea change your perspective of mocking? Is it scary to be mocked by God, the creator of human beings and all living things? Pray that God will make you live humbly in his name.
34 The Lord mocks the mockers
but is gracious to the humble.
What?!?!?! Yes, you read that correctly, my friend. God does mock. You ask why? How is that possible since God is like so Holy. Well, the best way to answer is that we are no match to him anyways. He will always be more powerful than we are. We will never be a God!
Let's think about it, if one mocks God, this reveals one thing about them: arrogance. However, the same cannot be said about God because he is the Heavenly and Almighty Father.
On the other side of the coin, God is gracious when we are humble. If you can't fathom his vast size compared to yours, God will intervene and show you in various ways until you get it (if you keep that open heart!)
How did this idea change your perspective of mocking? Is it scary to be mocked by God, the creator of human beings and all living things? Pray that God will make you live humbly in his name.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Mockers Don't Like to be Corrected.
Proverbs 9:8
8 So don’t bother correcting mockers;
they will only hate you.
But correct the wise,
and they will love you.
Mockers are those who thrive off ridiculing basically everything and everyone in the book. They even mock God. Mockers find a delight out of making others feel stupid.
Have you fallen into this trap? You can tell if you are a mocker in the way that you handle being corrected. Mockers can not stand being corrected. This is especially true if a loved one corrects them. That can be a huge problem. They see it as someone turning their backs toward them.
Mockers also don't go to those who are wise to get advice. They're so darn stubborn! They think of themselves as the wisest one. Are they all about my way? No. Your way? No. Their way? Yes.
How do you react when someone corrects you? Do you appreciate it or do you get angry? Ask God to help you be open-minded so that you can hear advice from others and not be a mocker.
8 So don’t bother correcting mockers;
they will only hate you.
But correct the wise,
and they will love you.
Mockers are those who thrive off ridiculing basically everything and everyone in the book. They even mock God. Mockers find a delight out of making others feel stupid.
Have you fallen into this trap? You can tell if you are a mocker in the way that you handle being corrected. Mockers can not stand being corrected. This is especially true if a loved one corrects them. That can be a huge problem. They see it as someone turning their backs toward them.
Mockers also don't go to those who are wise to get advice. They're so darn stubborn! They think of themselves as the wisest one. Are they all about my way? No. Your way? No. Their way? Yes.
How do you react when someone corrects you? Do you appreciate it or do you get angry? Ask God to help you be open-minded so that you can hear advice from others and not be a mocker.
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