If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
James 1:5-8 NKJV
How do I get from one place to another? Obviously, I have to know where I want to go. If I want to go from Texas to Missouri, I have to decide which course I will take. I have to plan and prepare all these things. What will be my mode of travel? How much time will it take - how much money to buy gas or to pay for a ticket - how much food will I need to purchase along the way - all factors that will help to determine what course I plan to take.
Praying in faith - without doubting - is a planned course of action. Faith is not actionless. Contrary to what some folks think, it is not living in denial, refusing to acknowledge what's going on around us. If we have faith, we are following a plan. We're following our course. We're not moved by what we see or hear because we are focused on following the plan. We've filed our intent with the powers that be to specifically follow the course laid out by the God of heaven...the only course that WILL get us to our destination.
I believe in spontaneous prayer and/or praise, but I also think there needs to be intentional prayer and/or praise. We can NOT count as prayer the worried thoughts thrown somewhere in the general direction of the sky any more than we can throw our boots in the oven and bake them and expect a biscuit when the timer goes off.
Have you paid attention lately to the tenor of your prayers? No, not tenor like Domingo or Pavarotti, but tenor meaning the settled or prevailing or habitual course of a person's life. We're talking about intentional. Settled. Prevailing. Habitual. The course of a person's prayer life. Planned.
If I ask God for wisdom to live my life, and I am not intentional about believing He will give it to me according to His Word (the plan), then I would be drifting like a wave of the sea. And just like it is dangerous to be adrift on the sea, powerless, without an anchor, it is infinitely more dangerous to be adrift in the sea of life.
Merriam-Webster defines adrift as:
1 : without motive power and without anchor or mooring
<a boat adrift on the sea>
2 : without ties, guidance, or security
<people morally adrift>
3 : free from restraint or support
And while not being restrained may seem like a good thing to lots of people, no support is a bad thing (there is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of that way is death...Proverbs 14:12). Without God's motivating power, without the Cross as our anchor or mooring, without the ties, guidance or security of our relationship with Christ, His Word, His people, we are unstable in all our ways.
How do we build relationship with Christ? We talk to Him. We get to know Him. We find out about things He's done. Things He's going to do. (Prayer, praise and pursuit).
So do we just want to drift along or do we want to plan our course?
Prayer:
Father,
According to Your Word in Psalm 141:4, Don’t let me drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness. Don’t let me share in the delicacies of those who do wrong. I need Your wisdom to plot my course in life and to follow Your plan. Let everything I do and everything I say be intentionally faithful to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Friday, March 23, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
In the Middle *
Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.
Isaiah 28:16 NLT
What comes to your mind when you think about the middle layer? An Oreo cookie? Peanut butter cracker? Strawberry shortcake? (hmmmm... I must be hungry this morning...) When it comes to food - the middle layer is usually the good stuff. The makers of Oreos have built an entire ad campaign around it. That's all well and good in the food business, but it won't carry any weight in the building industry.
In order to build to last, to withstand the test of time, there must be a strong foundation. What is a sure foundation? One that can carry the weight of whatever the plan is to build on it. If it's off, even just a little, it is magnified in the end. The best example of that is known worldwide - the Piazza dei Miracoli, better known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Obviously, there were some great marketing people back then, too. I'm sure they didn't plan to call it the Leaning Tower of Pisa... but it did not have a sure foundation.
As Christians, we love the verse that is our text today. We know Christ is the solid rock. He is our firm foundation. King James calls Him a tried stone. One that is proven. We do know that He is safe to build on.
However, did you know, this particular verse is the middle layer? It's the good stuff. The verse before it reads, You boast, “We have struck a bargain to cheat death and have made a deal to dodge the grave. The coming destruction can never touch us, for we have built a strong refuge made of lies and deception.” And the one after it reads, "I will test you with the measuring line of justice and the plumb line of righteousness. Since your refuge is made of lies, a hailstorm will knock it down. Since it is made of deception, a flood will sweep it away."
It's rather like the Leaning Tower of Pisa...You may think it's lasted a long time. They have built an entire tourist industry around it. Those are the facts. But the Truth is, at some point, it will come down. When we take our mistakes and cover them up with a grand marketing scheme, the Truth is, we're only deluding ourselves. We must build our lives on a solid foundation or at some point, it will all come crumbling down around us.
When we are measured with the measuring line of God's justice and the plumb line of His righteousness, we'd better be standing on that verse in the middle - Jesus Christ is our only sure foundation.
Prayer:
Father,
I love how You cause us to think outside the box. Keep us sharp, Lord. Keep us ever looking toward You, the Author and Finisher of our Faith. Even in that, we are in the middle of You as our Beginning and our End. Our Alpha and Omega. Our sure foundation. Keep us inside Your lines of justice and righteousness, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.
Isaiah 28:16 NLT
What comes to your mind when you think about the middle layer? An Oreo cookie? Peanut butter cracker? Strawberry shortcake? (hmmmm... I must be hungry this morning...) When it comes to food - the middle layer is usually the good stuff. The makers of Oreos have built an entire ad campaign around it. That's all well and good in the food business, but it won't carry any weight in the building industry.
In order to build to last, to withstand the test of time, there must be a strong foundation. What is a sure foundation? One that can carry the weight of whatever the plan is to build on it. If it's off, even just a little, it is magnified in the end. The best example of that is known worldwide - the Piazza dei Miracoli, better known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Obviously, there were some great marketing people back then, too. I'm sure they didn't plan to call it the Leaning Tower of Pisa... but it did not have a sure foundation.
As Christians, we love the verse that is our text today. We know Christ is the solid rock. He is our firm foundation. King James calls Him a tried stone. One that is proven. We do know that He is safe to build on.
However, did you know, this particular verse is the middle layer? It's the good stuff. The verse before it reads, You boast, “We have struck a bargain to cheat death and have made a deal to dodge the grave. The coming destruction can never touch us, for we have built a strong refuge made of lies and deception.” And the one after it reads, "I will test you with the measuring line of justice and the plumb line of righteousness. Since your refuge is made of lies, a hailstorm will knock it down. Since it is made of deception, a flood will sweep it away."
It's rather like the Leaning Tower of Pisa...You may think it's lasted a long time. They have built an entire tourist industry around it. Those are the facts. But the Truth is, at some point, it will come down. When we take our mistakes and cover them up with a grand marketing scheme, the Truth is, we're only deluding ourselves. We must build our lives on a solid foundation or at some point, it will all come crumbling down around us.
When we are measured with the measuring line of God's justice and the plumb line of His righteousness, we'd better be standing on that verse in the middle - Jesus Christ is our only sure foundation.
Prayer:
Father,
I love how You cause us to think outside the box. Keep us sharp, Lord. Keep us ever looking toward You, the Author and Finisher of our Faith. Even in that, we are in the middle of You as our Beginning and our End. Our Alpha and Omega. Our sure foundation. Keep us inside Your lines of justice and righteousness, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Mud Slinging +
There, undisciplined and dissipated, he wasted everything he had. After he had gone through all his money, there was a bad famine all through that country and he began to hurt. He signed on with a citizen there who assigned him to his fields to slop the pigs. He was so hungry he would have eaten the corncobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any.
Luke 15:13-16 The Message
When we think of mud-slinging, we usually think politics. Who can find the dirt - who can sling it with the most effect. It gets ugly real fast - to the point that people are driven away from the political arena because they don't want to hear the trash. And it would seem logical to me that those who want to sling the mud don't want me to look at them too closely which is part of the ploy. If I'm busy looking at the mud, I might miss the obvious about the mud slinger...which could be worse than the mud slingee. Slinger wants to make himself look good by making Slingee look bad.
When I was a kid, I remember one time seeing someone slinging mud at the back of his car. I couldn’t figure out what he was doing, so I wandered closer and asked. He told me the tags were out on the car and he didn’t have the money to get them renewed so he was covering up the sticker with a little mud, but wanted to make it look as “natural” as possible. "That way, I don't look like a lawbreaker, I just look like someone who doesn't wash his car." I'm sure I don't need to tell anyone all the reasons that was wrong...I can't even go there, but it's typical of a compromised life.
We run into those same kinds of people who have known who Christ is, who have walked with Him but then have decided - for whatever reason - that they want to live their life the way THEY want to. So they start justifying. Slinging mud...that way they don't look so bad when compared to the mud. We need to pray that - like the prodigal son - they will wake up to the Truth that they are living in the equivalent of pig slop and waste. After all...a pigsty is a great place for finding mud to sling.
But God has called us to be holy. To be pure and undefiled. Christ is coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle. You CAN get there - even if you come from a pigsty. Come out and sling off that mud.
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for Your Word that instructs us in detail regarding our walk with You. Write Your instructions on our hearts. Let any mud in our lives be only what is used to heal blinded eyes. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Luke 15:13-16 The Message
When we think of mud-slinging, we usually think politics. Who can find the dirt - who can sling it with the most effect. It gets ugly real fast - to the point that people are driven away from the political arena because they don't want to hear the trash. And it would seem logical to me that those who want to sling the mud don't want me to look at them too closely which is part of the ploy. If I'm busy looking at the mud, I might miss the obvious about the mud slinger...which could be worse than the mud slingee. Slinger wants to make himself look good by making Slingee look bad.
When I was a kid, I remember one time seeing someone slinging mud at the back of his car. I couldn’t figure out what he was doing, so I wandered closer and asked. He told me the tags were out on the car and he didn’t have the money to get them renewed so he was covering up the sticker with a little mud, but wanted to make it look as “natural” as possible. "That way, I don't look like a lawbreaker, I just look like someone who doesn't wash his car." I'm sure I don't need to tell anyone all the reasons that was wrong...I can't even go there, but it's typical of a compromised life.
We run into those same kinds of people who have known who Christ is, who have walked with Him but then have decided - for whatever reason - that they want to live their life the way THEY want to. So they start justifying. Slinging mud...that way they don't look so bad when compared to the mud. We need to pray that - like the prodigal son - they will wake up to the Truth that they are living in the equivalent of pig slop and waste. After all...a pigsty is a great place for finding mud to sling.
But God has called us to be holy. To be pure and undefiled. Christ is coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle. You CAN get there - even if you come from a pigsty. Come out and sling off that mud.
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for Your Word that instructs us in detail regarding our walk with You. Write Your instructions on our hearts. Let any mud in our lives be only what is used to heal blinded eyes. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Monday, March 19, 2012
* Reminded
For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
I know I have used this verse many times in writing the Promise for Today...but there are many times that I need to be reminded of what He said. Reminded that God is not a man, so He does not lie. He is not human, so He does not change. Has He ever spoken and failed to act? Has He ever promised and not carried it through? (Numbers 23:19). Reminded that His thoughts are not my thoughts. His ways are not my ways. Both His ways and His thoughts are so much higher than mine - than ours, according to Isaiah 55.
Reminded that in Isaiah 46: 9-11, God declares of Himself:
9 Remember the things I have done in the past.
For I alone am God!
I am God, and there is none like me.
10 Only I can tell you the future
before it even happens.
Everything I plan will come to pass,
for I do whatever I wish.
11 I will call a swift bird of prey from the east—
a leader from a distant land to come and do my bidding.
I have said what I would do,
and I will do it.
Albert Einstein - one of the most brilliant minds of our time - once said, "God Almighty does not throw dice." When it comes to God, there is nothing left to chance. For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Did you need to be reminded?
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for Your Word - thank You for giving it to men to write down for those times that we need to be reminded. Help us to be ever mindful of You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
I know I have used this verse many times in writing the Promise for Today...but there are many times that I need to be reminded of what He said. Reminded that God is not a man, so He does not lie. He is not human, so He does not change. Has He ever spoken and failed to act? Has He ever promised and not carried it through? (Numbers 23:19). Reminded that His thoughts are not my thoughts. His ways are not my ways. Both His ways and His thoughts are so much higher than mine - than ours, according to Isaiah 55.
Reminded that in Isaiah 46: 9-11, God declares of Himself:
9 Remember the things I have done in the past.
For I alone am God!
I am God, and there is none like me.
10 Only I can tell you the future
before it even happens.
Everything I plan will come to pass,
for I do whatever I wish.
11 I will call a swift bird of prey from the east—
a leader from a distant land to come and do my bidding.
I have said what I would do,
and I will do it.
Albert Einstein - one of the most brilliant minds of our time - once said, "God Almighty does not throw dice." When it comes to God, there is nothing left to chance. For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Did you need to be reminded?
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for Your Word - thank You for giving it to men to write down for those times that we need to be reminded. Help us to be ever mindful of You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Take His Peace *
Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] John 14:27 The Amplified Bible
Peace I bequeath to you, My own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give, this is My gift to you. John 14:27 The Jerusalem Bible
What do we do when troubles seem to come from every side? What do we do when our minds cannot even begin to understand? What do we do when faced with something so catastrophic or reprehensible that there is no way to get our mind around it? In our hearts is the soliloquy of one-liners that reads like a hymnal index of first lines as we seek comfort from the only One who knows the hearts and minds of mankind and yet laid His life down for us anyway.
Today, I offer encouragement from brilliant wordsmith, Gloria Gaither.
When the whirlwinds of doubt churn their way into your soul,
Take His peace.
When your world's reduced to ashes, leaving nothing firm and whole,
Take His peace.
There amidst the broken wreckage in the midnight of your day
In the apex of the stormcloud, He's the quiet place to stay.
Take His peace. Take His peace.
When your mind gropes for answers to the questions that you face,
Take His peace.
When your past comes back to haunt you and you need amazing grace,
Take His peace.
There's an answer beyond question, it's the truth for which you yearn;
There's forgiveness without merit, there's a love you needn't earn,
Take His peace. Take His peace.
When you're weary of the struggle and you need a place to rest,
Take His peace.
When you lose more than you're winning and you're failing every test
Take His peace.
There's no need to win a battle that's been fought and won before;
You can lay back in His Victory, freely share His boundless store
Take His peace. Take His peace.
Prayer:
Father,
Continuing with the words to the song You gave to the Gaithers, I pray. Gentle Shepherd, come and lead us, for we need You to help us find our way. Gentle Shepherd, come and feed us, for we need Your strength from day to day. There's no other we can turn to who can help us face another day. Gentle Shepherd, come and lead us for we need You to help us find our way. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Peace I bequeath to you, My own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give, this is My gift to you. John 14:27 The Jerusalem Bible
What do we do when troubles seem to come from every side? What do we do when our minds cannot even begin to understand? What do we do when faced with something so catastrophic or reprehensible that there is no way to get our mind around it? In our hearts is the soliloquy of one-liners that reads like a hymnal index of first lines as we seek comfort from the only One who knows the hearts and minds of mankind and yet laid His life down for us anyway.
Today, I offer encouragement from brilliant wordsmith, Gloria Gaither.
When the whirlwinds of doubt churn their way into your soul,
Take His peace.
When your world's reduced to ashes, leaving nothing firm and whole,
Take His peace.
There amidst the broken wreckage in the midnight of your day
In the apex of the stormcloud, He's the quiet place to stay.
Take His peace. Take His peace.
When your mind gropes for answers to the questions that you face,
Take His peace.
When your past comes back to haunt you and you need amazing grace,
Take His peace.
There's an answer beyond question, it's the truth for which you yearn;
There's forgiveness without merit, there's a love you needn't earn,
Take His peace. Take His peace.
When you're weary of the struggle and you need a place to rest,
Take His peace.
When you lose more than you're winning and you're failing every test
Take His peace.
There's no need to win a battle that's been fought and won before;
You can lay back in His Victory, freely share His boundless store
Take His peace. Take His peace.
Prayer:
Father,
Continuing with the words to the song You gave to the Gaithers, I pray. Gentle Shepherd, come and lead us, for we need You to help us find our way. Gentle Shepherd, come and feed us, for we need Your strength from day to day. There's no other we can turn to who can help us face another day. Gentle Shepherd, come and lead us for we need You to help us find our way. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
For or Against +
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.
John 13:34-35 NLT
The King James Bible states today's Scripture like this; By this ALL WILL KNOW that you are My disciples, if you have love FOR one another (emphasis mine).
The world is well aware of what we as Christians are against. My question is this. Do they know what we are FOR?
There are some great organizations that have been founded in order to give Christians a voice - in the world, in politics, in the workplace. Most people are aware of the Christian stand against abortion and sexual immorality and pornography and same-sex marriage, etc. These are all battle-worthy and we will stay in the battle, but are we also ready to love?
The question in my mind today is not whether those around me know I am a Christian, but rather HOW do they know? What reasons would THEY give for telling someone they know I am a Christian. Is it because I have love FOR or because of what I stand against?
Prayer:
Father,
Our hearts cry out to be free from distrust. Teach us to love each other with a holy love like You do and teach us to love You as You desire to be loved. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
John 13:34-35 NLT
The King James Bible states today's Scripture like this; By this ALL WILL KNOW that you are My disciples, if you have love FOR one another (emphasis mine).
The world is well aware of what we as Christians are against. My question is this. Do they know what we are FOR?
There are some great organizations that have been founded in order to give Christians a voice - in the world, in politics, in the workplace. Most people are aware of the Christian stand against abortion and sexual immorality and pornography and same-sex marriage, etc. These are all battle-worthy and we will stay in the battle, but are we also ready to love?
The question in my mind today is not whether those around me know I am a Christian, but rather HOW do they know? What reasons would THEY give for telling someone they know I am a Christian. Is it because I have love FOR or because of what I stand against?
Prayer:
Father,
Our hearts cry out to be free from distrust. Teach us to love each other with a holy love like You do and teach us to love You as You desire to be loved. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Friday, March 9, 2012
*A Lifetime Guarantee
No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.
Joshua 1:5
You probably know the story - Twelve men go to spy out the land - one from each of the tribes of Israel. Did I mention that it was to the Promised Land they were going? Promised...by God.
God Himself said, "I will give it to you." So, twelve men go to check it out. Ten come back and say, "No way, no how, not ever, not now."
Joshua and Caleb stand and say, "We are well able to take the land."
Who did the people believe? They believed the report of the ten. The ten who reported the facts, not the two who reported the Truth. Facts may be true, but God's Word - His Truth - ALWAYS overrides facts when we choose to believe Him. What the ten reported about the land was all true. But Joshua and Caleb reported God's Truth - reported through the eyes of faith in Him. "We are well able to take the land."
God said He would give them the land. For Joshua and Caleb, strong and courageous, that was enough. As a result, from the original group of Jews (over the age of twenty) who left Egypt, Joshua and Caleb were the only two to enter the Promised Land.
Right before Moses died, God summoned Moses and Joshua to the mountain and laid out the plan. He told them how the people would rebel, but Joshua was to lead them anyway. God told him, (Deuteronomy 31:23), "I will be with you." Joshua believed His Truth.
Moses delivered the Word of the Lord to the people and instructed them to, Take to heart all the words of warning I have given you today. Pass them on as a command to your children so they will obey every word of these instructions. These instructions are not empty words—they are your life! By obeying them you will enjoy a long life...
If you read the story in Deuteronomy and in Joshua, you'll find very interesting details. The bottom line - God said it. It's enough. Yes, there will be battles. Yes, there will be trials. Yes, you will have to be brave and courageous. But He said it. He promised. Do what He says and He'll always be with you. Old Testament - New Testament. The Promise is there. Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age... A Lifetime Guarantee.
Prayer:
Father,
Open our hearts to receive Your Word. Open our ears to hear Your Truth no matter what else we see or hear. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Joshua 1:5
You probably know the story - Twelve men go to spy out the land - one from each of the tribes of Israel. Did I mention that it was to the Promised Land they were going? Promised...by God.
God Himself said, "I will give it to you." So, twelve men go to check it out. Ten come back and say, "No way, no how, not ever, not now."
Joshua and Caleb stand and say, "We are well able to take the land."
Who did the people believe? They believed the report of the ten. The ten who reported the facts, not the two who reported the Truth. Facts may be true, but God's Word - His Truth - ALWAYS overrides facts when we choose to believe Him. What the ten reported about the land was all true. But Joshua and Caleb reported God's Truth - reported through the eyes of faith in Him. "We are well able to take the land."
God said He would give them the land. For Joshua and Caleb, strong and courageous, that was enough. As a result, from the original group of Jews (over the age of twenty) who left Egypt, Joshua and Caleb were the only two to enter the Promised Land.
Right before Moses died, God summoned Moses and Joshua to the mountain and laid out the plan. He told them how the people would rebel, but Joshua was to lead them anyway. God told him, (Deuteronomy 31:23), "I will be with you." Joshua believed His Truth.
Moses delivered the Word of the Lord to the people and instructed them to, Take to heart all the words of warning I have given you today. Pass them on as a command to your children so they will obey every word of these instructions. These instructions are not empty words—they are your life! By obeying them you will enjoy a long life...
If you read the story in Deuteronomy and in Joshua, you'll find very interesting details. The bottom line - God said it. It's enough. Yes, there will be battles. Yes, there will be trials. Yes, you will have to be brave and courageous. But He said it. He promised. Do what He says and He'll always be with you. Old Testament - New Testament. The Promise is there. Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age... A Lifetime Guarantee.
Prayer:
Father,
Open our hearts to receive Your Word. Open our ears to hear Your Truth no matter what else we see or hear. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Words to Live By *
The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. And in this place I will bring peace. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!
Haggai 2:9 NLT
I am fascinated by words and people's ability to put them together in such a way that those around them feel they are worth recording and repeating. I like to read quotes. They are words that we as a society tend to live by.
A few of my favorites:
Garrison Keillor said, God writes a lot of comedy... the trouble is,
He's stuck with so many bad actors who don't know how to play
funny.
Thomas Edison has one of the best ever for maintaining the right
attitude in the face of adversity. The world's opinion of his many
attempts to invent was that he was a failure. He told them:
I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that won't work.
Galileo, who said, I do not feel obliged to believe that same God
who endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect had intended
for us to forego their use. Amen, brother!
Famed comedian, Milton Berle quipped,
I'd rather be a Could-Be if I cannot be an Are;
because a Could-Be is a Maybe who is reaching for a star.
I'd rather be a Has-Been than a Might-Have-Been, by far;
for a Might-Have-Been has never been,
but a Has was once an Are.
Of course those are somewhat sardonic, but I'm always amazed at how this person or that person is credited for wise sayings, when the basis of their truths are Scriptural. For instance, Anton Chekhov is credited with, Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out. Alice Roosevelt Longworth said, I have a simple philosophy: Fill what's empty. Empty what's full. These are based in biblical truths.
One of my all-time favorites that I rediscovered recently is, Never let your memories be greater than your dreams.
It so reminds me of our text for today. Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the remnant of God's people hearkened to the voice of Haggai and finally began to rebuild the temple. It surely had taken them long enough! They had previously set out to do it, but got caught up in their day-to-day lives. The temple before had been such a glorious structure - all the gold and silver overlay and craftsmanship. Do you remember the story in the Old Testament? And because it had been so glorious, their attempts to rebuild seemed paltry in comparison. They got discouraged.
Don't we get like that? We want to quit because it doesn't seem like it's ever going to be as good as it once was in the good ol' days! Isn't it easier to rest on our laurels (another famous quote), than try to forge ahead into the unknown?
In times of trouble, we tend to be able to see more clearly into the past and what we knew that WAS than to look toward the future with hope. However, I'll tell you there is no faith in looking back at what once was unless we're using it as a foundation on which to build our faith.
Adlin Sinclair, accomplished businessman and creator of the infomercial media format, is recorded as saying, The tears of faithfulness to your beliefs cleanse your spirit to envision the road ahead. Everything is possible for the person who believes. I believe the direct quote is in Mark 9:23, where Jesus said, All things are possible to him who believes. Hmmmm...what Jesus said. True words to live by.
Prayer:
Father,
Keep our eyes focused on You - the Author and Finisher of our faith. You started it. You'll finish it. You are the Alpha and Omega, beginning and the end. Words we can live by. You Word is alive - quick and powerful, rightly dividing between soul and spirit. Keep us by Your Words. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Haggai 2:9 NLT
I am fascinated by words and people's ability to put them together in such a way that those around them feel they are worth recording and repeating. I like to read quotes. They are words that we as a society tend to live by.
A few of my favorites:
Garrison Keillor said, God writes a lot of comedy... the trouble is,
He's stuck with so many bad actors who don't know how to play
funny.
Thomas Edison has one of the best ever for maintaining the right
attitude in the face of adversity. The world's opinion of his many
attempts to invent was that he was a failure. He told them:
I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that won't work.
Galileo, who said, I do not feel obliged to believe that same God
who endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect had intended
for us to forego their use. Amen, brother!
Famed comedian, Milton Berle quipped,
I'd rather be a Could-Be if I cannot be an Are;
because a Could-Be is a Maybe who is reaching for a star.
I'd rather be a Has-Been than a Might-Have-Been, by far;
for a Might-Have-Been has never been,
but a Has was once an Are.
Of course those are somewhat sardonic, but I'm always amazed at how this person or that person is credited for wise sayings, when the basis of their truths are Scriptural. For instance, Anton Chekhov is credited with, Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out. Alice Roosevelt Longworth said, I have a simple philosophy: Fill what's empty. Empty what's full. These are based in biblical truths.
One of my all-time favorites that I rediscovered recently is, Never let your memories be greater than your dreams.
It so reminds me of our text for today. Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the remnant of God's people hearkened to the voice of Haggai and finally began to rebuild the temple. It surely had taken them long enough! They had previously set out to do it, but got caught up in their day-to-day lives. The temple before had been such a glorious structure - all the gold and silver overlay and craftsmanship. Do you remember the story in the Old Testament? And because it had been so glorious, their attempts to rebuild seemed paltry in comparison. They got discouraged.
Don't we get like that? We want to quit because it doesn't seem like it's ever going to be as good as it once was in the good ol' days! Isn't it easier to rest on our laurels (another famous quote), than try to forge ahead into the unknown?
In times of trouble, we tend to be able to see more clearly into the past and what we knew that WAS than to look toward the future with hope. However, I'll tell you there is no faith in looking back at what once was unless we're using it as a foundation on which to build our faith.
Adlin Sinclair, accomplished businessman and creator of the infomercial media format, is recorded as saying, The tears of faithfulness to your beliefs cleanse your spirit to envision the road ahead. Everything is possible for the person who believes. I believe the direct quote is in Mark 9:23, where Jesus said, All things are possible to him who believes. Hmmmm...what Jesus said. True words to live by.
Prayer:
Father,
Keep our eyes focused on You - the Author and Finisher of our faith. You started it. You'll finish it. You are the Alpha and Omega, beginning and the end. Words we can live by. You Word is alive - quick and powerful, rightly dividing between soul and spirit. Keep us by Your Words. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
* You Did This On Purpose?
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13 NIV
A little of this, some of this, a LOT of that, and a little more of the other - throw in a breath and voila! There you are. God made you. He designed who you would look like. He laid the groundwork for your personality. He formed you - gave you all the parts you would need - lined up your days and set it all in motion.
Psalm 139, verse 16 reads, All my days were ordained before one of them even came to be. There are days that thought is a cause for tremendous celebration. There are other days when it's not exactly a warm fuzzy. Keeping in mind that God's ways are NOT our ways and His thoughts are NOT our thoughts, let's shed a little light on some things.
Let's try a new way of thinking to provide an opportunity to give God praise in everything...even if you have your father's wide feet and Aunt Bertha's hinder part.
Have you ever noticed how we seem to have no problem finding and then focusing on the negative in ourselves, in another person or in a situation? For instance:
Ephesians 4:15-16 - Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
It is beyond our finite minds to intelligently question an infinite God. You did this on purpose? Oh, yes, You did! Thank you!
Prayer:
Father,
Truly, we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Help us to see it and to give You praise because You did this on purpose. Cause us to fulfill Your purpose - what You've equipped us to be able to do. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Psalm 139:13 NIV
A little of this, some of this, a LOT of that, and a little more of the other - throw in a breath and voila! There you are. God made you. He designed who you would look like. He laid the groundwork for your personality. He formed you - gave you all the parts you would need - lined up your days and set it all in motion.
Psalm 139, verse 16 reads, All my days were ordained before one of them even came to be. There are days that thought is a cause for tremendous celebration. There are other days when it's not exactly a warm fuzzy. Keeping in mind that God's ways are NOT our ways and His thoughts are NOT our thoughts, let's shed a little light on some things.
Let's try a new way of thinking to provide an opportunity to give God praise in everything...even if you have your father's wide feet and Aunt Bertha's hinder part.
Have you ever noticed how we seem to have no problem finding and then focusing on the negative in ourselves, in another person or in a situation? For instance:
That child is so strong-willed! It can be very trying for the one trying to raise such a child. However, if a strong will is properly trained, that child can become a great leader!
How about this one?
You have the audacity to speak to me like that? Properly trained, raised in Christ - it is the ability to speak before kings and leaders.
Or Why are you crying over that...? A tender heart, full of compassion.
You are SO bull-headed!! Properly guided - it's the ability to focus on a goal and get it done!Look for the good in how God has made you. Does that make sense? Look for the strength and ability instead of what could be conceived as the downside to your attributes.
Ephesians 4:15-16 - Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
It is beyond our finite minds to intelligently question an infinite God. You did this on purpose? Oh, yes, You did! Thank you!
Prayer:
Father,
Truly, we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Help us to see it and to give You praise because You did this on purpose. Cause us to fulfill Your purpose - what You've equipped us to be able to do. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Seed Sown, Seed Grown *
It's resurrection, resurrection, always resurrection, that undergirds what I do and say, the way I live. If there's no resurrection, "We eat, we drink, the next day we die," and that's all there is to it. But don't fool yourselves. Don't let yourselves be poisoned by this anti-resurrection loose talk.
1st Corinthians 15:32b-33a The Message
Continuing...Some skeptic is sure to ask, "Show me how resurrection works. Give me a diagram; draw me a picture. What does this 'resurrection body' look like?" If you look at this question closely, you realize how absurd it is. There are no diagrams for this kind of thing. We do have a parallel experience in gardening. You plant a "dead" seed; soon there is a flourishing plant. There is no visual likeness between seed and plant. You could never guess what a tomato would look like by looking at a tomato seed. What we plant in the soil and what grows out of it don't look anything alike. The dead body that we bury in the ground and the resurrection body that comes from it will be dramatically different.
You will notice that the variety of bodies is stunning. Just as there are different kinds of seeds, there are different kinds of bodies—humans, animals, birds, fish—each unprecedented in its form. You get a hint at the diversity of resurrection glory by looking at the diversity of bodies not only on earth but in the skies—sun, moon, stars—all these varieties of beauty and brightness. And we're only looking at pre-resurrection "seeds"—who can imagine what the resurrection "plants" will be like!
This image of planting a dead seed and raising a live plant is a mere sketch at best, but perhaps it will help in approaching the mystery of the resurrection body—but only if you keep in mind that when we're raised, we're raised for good, alive forever! The corpse that's planted is no beauty, but when it's raised, it's glorious. Put in the ground weak, it comes up powerful. The seed sown is natural; the seed grown is supernatural—same seed, same body, but what a difference from when it goes down in physical mortality to when it is raised up in spiritual immortality!
I need to emphasize, friends, that our natural, earthy lives don't in themselves lead us by their very nature into the kingdom of God. Their very "nature" is to die, so how could they "naturally" end up in the Life kingdom?
But let me tell you something wonderful, a mystery I'll probably never fully understand. We're not all going to die—but we are all going to be changed. You hear a blast to end all blasts from a trumpet, and in the time that you look up and blink your eyes—it's over. On signal from that trumpet from heaven, the dead will be up and out of their graves, beyond the reach of death, never to die again. At the same moment and in the same way, we'll all be changed. In the resurrection scheme of things, this has to happen: everything perishable taken off the shelves and replaced by the imperishable, this mortal replaced by the immortal.
With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don't hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort.
1st Corinthians 15: Verses 35-44, 50-54a, 58
1st Thessalonians 4:18 tells us to encourage one another with these words. THIS is NOT all there is...
Prayer:
Father,
Forgive us for getting caught up in the cares of the world. Help us to stay focused on the prize - Heaven and eternity with You. Help us to bring as many with us as we can. Be with those who have lost loved ones and are still grieving. Strengthen them, Father. Let them be encouraged with Your Words. We look to You the Author and Finisher of our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Monday, March 5, 2012
* Where Ya Goin'?
When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Isaiah 43:2-3a NLT
Have you ever been lost? Somehow, you got turned around and couldn't remember how you got there? Or you remember exactly how you got there, and you know where you're going, but you forgot just one of the directions - zigged when you should have zagged - and so you say, I have to go back to where I started... And you head back. Oh yeah, there's the library. Okay, there's the park. Un hunh, that's the post office. Now, I remember, I need to go this way. And we take note of the landmarks that identify the direction we need to go.
Sometimes, in our Christian walk, we zig when we should have zagged. We get turned around. We wind up in some deep water and are not sure how to get out. I encourage you to look for your landmarks to get your bearings.
See that? That's where God saw my desperation and revealed Himself as my Counselor, my Comforter. Oh yeah - over there is when I was falsely accused and He showed up as my Advocate. And there's the place where I stumbled and fell because I wasn't walking in His footsteps, and I was face down in the muck, head down...ashamed, then He showed up according to Psalm 3:3 and lifted my head. Yes, I remember now.
Look! There in the distance. There's the Cross. I know exactly where I am now. We just have to follow the path He set before us to get where we're supposed to go. We need to use the guide book He gave us to avoid the detours of life. No, don't worry about it - there are rest areas strategically placed along the way. Great places to eat and get refueled and also to dump any trash we've accumulated. Wait till you see where we're going! We're almost there.
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for the landmarks in our lives that help to guide us to You and back to You when we can't seem to find our way. You are a truly awesome God and we worship You! Please give us the oil of the Holy Spirit to keep our lights burning so we can find our way home. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Isaiah 43:2-3a NLT
Have you ever been lost? Somehow, you got turned around and couldn't remember how you got there? Or you remember exactly how you got there, and you know where you're going, but you forgot just one of the directions - zigged when you should have zagged - and so you say, I have to go back to where I started... And you head back. Oh yeah, there's the library. Okay, there's the park. Un hunh, that's the post office. Now, I remember, I need to go this way. And we take note of the landmarks that identify the direction we need to go.
Sometimes, in our Christian walk, we zig when we should have zagged. We get turned around. We wind up in some deep water and are not sure how to get out. I encourage you to look for your landmarks to get your bearings.
See that? That's where God saw my desperation and revealed Himself as my Counselor, my Comforter. Oh yeah - over there is when I was falsely accused and He showed up as my Advocate. And there's the place where I stumbled and fell because I wasn't walking in His footsteps, and I was face down in the muck, head down...ashamed, then He showed up according to Psalm 3:3 and lifted my head. Yes, I remember now.
Look! There in the distance. There's the Cross. I know exactly where I am now. We just have to follow the path He set before us to get where we're supposed to go. We need to use the guide book He gave us to avoid the detours of life. No, don't worry about it - there are rest areas strategically placed along the way. Great places to eat and get refueled and also to dump any trash we've accumulated. Wait till you see where we're going! We're almost there.
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for the landmarks in our lives that help to guide us to You and back to You when we can't seem to find our way. You are a truly awesome God and we worship You! Please give us the oil of the Holy Spirit to keep our lights burning so we can find our way home. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Friday, March 2, 2012
He is I Am *
I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
Psalm 18:1-2 KJV
When Moses asked God who he should say sent him to tell Pharoah to release the Israelites from slavery, God replied, Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you (Exodus 3:14). A decade ago, I did a study on the title of I AM. It's amazing how much can be defined by so few letters! How can so little encompass the Creator of the Universe and all that He is?
He is our Rock, our Fortress, our God, our Deliverer. Our Strength. He is trustworthy, our full-body Shield, our Protector and Provider. He is the Author AND the Finisher of our faith. Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God. Everlasting Father. Prince of Peace. Holy One. Righteous. Lamb of God, Lion of Judah. The root of David, the Word of Life. Our Advocate. Our very breath.
He is the Way, the Truth and the Light of the world. He is the King of kings. Lord of lords. Alpha Omega, Lord of all. Messiah, Jehovah, Chief Cornerstone. Our righteous judge, the Morning Star. Bread of heaven. Resurrection and Life - just to name a few...
He is Emmanuel. God with us. All that we need. More than enough. He is I AM.
Prayer:
Father,
We stand in awe of You. In Your all-consuming love and passion, put us in the proper perspective of Your greatness and Your power. Give us a true revelation of all that You are. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Psalm 18:1-2 KJV
When Moses asked God who he should say sent him to tell Pharoah to release the Israelites from slavery, God replied, Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you (Exodus 3:14). A decade ago, I did a study on the title of I AM. It's amazing how much can be defined by so few letters! How can so little encompass the Creator of the Universe and all that He is?
He is our Rock, our Fortress, our God, our Deliverer. Our Strength. He is trustworthy, our full-body Shield, our Protector and Provider. He is the Author AND the Finisher of our faith. Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God. Everlasting Father. Prince of Peace. Holy One. Righteous. Lamb of God, Lion of Judah. The root of David, the Word of Life. Our Advocate. Our very breath.
He is the Way, the Truth and the Light of the world. He is the King of kings. Lord of lords. Alpha Omega, Lord of all. Messiah, Jehovah, Chief Cornerstone. Our righteous judge, the Morning Star. Bread of heaven. Resurrection and Life - just to name a few...
He is Emmanuel. God with us. All that we need. More than enough. He is I AM.
Prayer:
Father,
We stand in awe of You. In Your all-consuming love and passion, put us in the proper perspective of Your greatness and Your power. Give us a true revelation of all that You are. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
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