Psalm 130:1–5 (NIV84)
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
2 O Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
3 If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness;
therefore you are feared.
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
Boy do I resonate with this today! When there is a desperation that so many things could come crashing down, you really cry out to the Lord! You think about how many times you have behaved in a sinful manner, whether commission or omission and think am I reaping what I have sown? Yet, He does NOT keep a record of our sins, nor does He treat us as we deserve according to our sins, but treats us according to His righteousness and mercy! Where else can we put our hope? My soul is waiting!
I just wrote a song about my personal tough times. It sounded like a country/pop song that would depress anybody! Then I remembered David and how he wrote. The verse talked about my trouble and my fears, but the chorus said:
I believe, I believe, I believe Lord
I believe you'll supply for me Lord
I believe, I believe, I believe Lord
That your love will supply for me Lord
May that be the end of our thoughts, and the last thought at the end of our day. I trust your Word Lord - bring it to pass in my life!
Monday, August 8, 2011
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Aug 7
2 Chronicles 10:8 (NIV84)
8 But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him.
God gives us wonderful counselors and advisors who have much wisdom and many years of life under their belt (not to mention grey hair). Rehoboam rejected the wisdom of the elders and ask his buddies (even though they were serving him), for advice. I know that we can think of ourselves at a younger age, and we can think of some young people who are doing the same thing - rejecting the advice of elders, but I think us old people do the same thing from time to time because we do "what seems right to us", just like Rehoboam did. Rehoboam had pride. I am sure the decision to have more for himself and to dominate the people came from a heart of lust as well. Our decisions to reject the advice of our elders can come from a heart of pride - this we have to watch out for. Sometimes we say, "everyone is wrong but me, I have heard from God". That could be true, but it reminds me of a woman who is engaged or deeply involved with man who her parents and others don't like. She thinks knows best in her head and goes ahead with the marriage and is now caught in a trap of vexing proportions, only to look back and say, "I wish I would have listened".
There is one thing that Rehoboam did right the some fail to do at all, he sought advice! The danger sign in our lives is when we will NOT seek or hear ANY advice for certain areas of our lives. Maybe it is marriage, maybe it is finances or maybe it is childrearing, the fact that we avoid all advice is a tell tale sign that we have more pride than Rehoboam did.
James 4:10 (NIV84)
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
8 But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him.
God gives us wonderful counselors and advisors who have much wisdom and many years of life under their belt (not to mention grey hair). Rehoboam rejected the wisdom of the elders and ask his buddies (even though they were serving him), for advice. I know that we can think of ourselves at a younger age, and we can think of some young people who are doing the same thing - rejecting the advice of elders, but I think us old people do the same thing from time to time because we do "what seems right to us", just like Rehoboam did. Rehoboam had pride. I am sure the decision to have more for himself and to dominate the people came from a heart of lust as well. Our decisions to reject the advice of our elders can come from a heart of pride - this we have to watch out for. Sometimes we say, "everyone is wrong but me, I have heard from God". That could be true, but it reminds me of a woman who is engaged or deeply involved with man who her parents and others don't like. She thinks knows best in her head and goes ahead with the marriage and is now caught in a trap of vexing proportions, only to look back and say, "I wish I would have listened".
There is one thing that Rehoboam did right the some fail to do at all, he sought advice! The danger sign in our lives is when we will NOT seek or hear ANY advice for certain areas of our lives. Maybe it is marriage, maybe it is finances or maybe it is childrearing, the fact that we avoid all advice is a tell tale sign that we have more pride than Rehoboam did.
James 4:10 (NIV84)
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Aug 6
Ecclesiastes 12:13 (NIV84)
13Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man.
After many ramblings and interesting thoughts penned by Solomon, he ends with a resounding verse that has echoed through the ages. This is the conclusion of all of life for the people of the earth. Fear God and keep his commandments!
My life's composition is so much more that what I do everyday, how much I earn, how I supply my family's needs, how much fun and enjoyment I have and the rest I get at night. It is a direct and second by second communing with the Creator of the Universe that CANNOT be compartmentalized to Sundays, Wednesdays or any other day in which there is "spiritual" activity. Fearing God is a moment by moment way of life that leaves Him out of nothing, but more than takes Him into account, it reckons Him our entire account for life! It is easy for all of us to segment our lives into spiritual and non spiritual, areas God has access to and areas that either I don't need Him involved with or areas I don't want Him involved in.
David Crowder has a great song that we should listen to - Wholly Yours. It's chorus talks about God's holiness. He ends the song with this refrain:
So here I am, all of me
Finally everything
Wholly, wholly, wholly
I am wholly, wholly, wholly
I am wholly, wholly, wholly Yours
May that be our life refrain.
13Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man.
After many ramblings and interesting thoughts penned by Solomon, he ends with a resounding verse that has echoed through the ages. This is the conclusion of all of life for the people of the earth. Fear God and keep his commandments!
My life's composition is so much more that what I do everyday, how much I earn, how I supply my family's needs, how much fun and enjoyment I have and the rest I get at night. It is a direct and second by second communing with the Creator of the Universe that CANNOT be compartmentalized to Sundays, Wednesdays or any other day in which there is "spiritual" activity. Fearing God is a moment by moment way of life that leaves Him out of nothing, but more than takes Him into account, it reckons Him our entire account for life! It is easy for all of us to segment our lives into spiritual and non spiritual, areas God has access to and areas that either I don't need Him involved with or areas I don't want Him involved in.
David Crowder has a great song that we should listen to - Wholly Yours. It's chorus talks about God's holiness. He ends the song with this refrain:
So here I am, all of me
Finally everything
Wholly, wholly, wholly
I am wholly, wholly, wholly
I am wholly, wholly, wholly Yours
May that be our life refrain.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Aug 5
Psalm 150:6 (NIV84)
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.
This root (praise) connotes being sincerely and deeply thankful for and/or satisfied in lauding a superior quality(ies) or great, great act(s) of the object. The Psalm itself interprets this type of “praise” and states that it is done with instruments of all kinds, it is done with dancing, and in other Psalms it is done with shouting, and generally a off the charts type of demonstration of what is going on inside the worshipper. In other words, I am so thankful, so satisfied that the God of the universe who created everything, who is awesome in His power and all that He does, loves me, pays attention to me, delights in me, that I will use everything I can get my hands on to praise Him. In addition, I will use every part of my body to praise Him too! Nothing is going to stop me from praising him and I will not be “controlled” or “held back” by myself or anybody else in how I praise Him! Of course there is a time and place for things, the Spirit will tell you that, but don’t let anyone contain the praise you HAVE in your heart and soul for God! Go all out, be exuberant – Jesus was and still is for you!
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.
This root (praise) connotes being sincerely and deeply thankful for and/or satisfied in lauding a superior quality(ies) or great, great act(s) of the object. The Psalm itself interprets this type of “praise” and states that it is done with instruments of all kinds, it is done with dancing, and in other Psalms it is done with shouting, and generally a off the charts type of demonstration of what is going on inside the worshipper. In other words, I am so thankful, so satisfied that the God of the universe who created everything, who is awesome in His power and all that He does, loves me, pays attention to me, delights in me, that I will use everything I can get my hands on to praise Him. In addition, I will use every part of my body to praise Him too! Nothing is going to stop me from praising him and I will not be “controlled” or “held back” by myself or anybody else in how I praise Him! Of course there is a time and place for things, the Spirit will tell you that, but don’t let anyone contain the praise you HAVE in your heart and soul for God! Go all out, be exuberant – Jesus was and still is for you!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Aug 4
2 John 8 (NIV84)
8 Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.
To watch people nearly throw away all of their lives with God for pleasures is depressing to me. Later John writes that his heart is encouraged by people who stay faithful to the truth, and I agree. Many people start their path with God – their walk with God - with vim and vigor. They go hard after God and throw themselves into His life. Inevitably things come up to “call” people back to the way they used to live. It is inviting and attractive to some and they “feel” as though they cannot avoid the lure. They are attracted to it as a fish to something shiny in the water. They bite and then they are ensnared, taken captive and reeled in to a certain death, whether that death is a complete death, a rejection of all of God (or whether that can happen at all), there is a death of the things that God has done. It is as if you have made it to 5th grade and then you lose all your knowledge and skills and when you return, it is back to kindergarten. There is a death though that cannot not be illustrated in this simple metaphor, that drags your soul to the place of ugliness that God had given you victory over.
WATCH OUT or it will happen to you! You will lose the reward that you have already attained! I am not saying you will lose your salvation, but you will lose your victories and deliverances. You will lose your confidence and you will feel horrible about yourself, lost in the guilt that you were once cleansed from. Soon you will recognize that you have returned to the pig pen that you have been saved and cleansed from, and that realization will motivate you to come back or it will depress you and drag you into the mud to a deeper level. DON’T DO IT – IT IS NOT WORTH IT! The pleasure of sin can never be compared to the pleasure of pleasing God and working to advance His Kingdom! I implore you, don’t lose what you have attained – don’t lose your reward! Don’t think that you can play around with worldliness and not become it’s slave – you most certainly will. Your reward is worth your sacrifice! Live like you are wholly His – that is what you were made to do!
8 Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.
To watch people nearly throw away all of their lives with God for pleasures is depressing to me. Later John writes that his heart is encouraged by people who stay faithful to the truth, and I agree. Many people start their path with God – their walk with God - with vim and vigor. They go hard after God and throw themselves into His life. Inevitably things come up to “call” people back to the way they used to live. It is inviting and attractive to some and they “feel” as though they cannot avoid the lure. They are attracted to it as a fish to something shiny in the water. They bite and then they are ensnared, taken captive and reeled in to a certain death, whether that death is a complete death, a rejection of all of God (or whether that can happen at all), there is a death of the things that God has done. It is as if you have made it to 5th grade and then you lose all your knowledge and skills and when you return, it is back to kindergarten. There is a death though that cannot not be illustrated in this simple metaphor, that drags your soul to the place of ugliness that God had given you victory over.
WATCH OUT or it will happen to you! You will lose the reward that you have already attained! I am not saying you will lose your salvation, but you will lose your victories and deliverances. You will lose your confidence and you will feel horrible about yourself, lost in the guilt that you were once cleansed from. Soon you will recognize that you have returned to the pig pen that you have been saved and cleansed from, and that realization will motivate you to come back or it will depress you and drag you into the mud to a deeper level. DON’T DO IT – IT IS NOT WORTH IT! The pleasure of sin can never be compared to the pleasure of pleasing God and working to advance His Kingdom! I implore you, don’t lose what you have attained – don’t lose your reward! Don’t think that you can play around with worldliness and not become it’s slave – you most certainly will. Your reward is worth your sacrifice! Live like you are wholly His – that is what you were made to do!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Aug 3
Ecclesiastes 2:10 (NIV84)
10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my work,
and this was the reward for all my labor.
I really love this book! It has such great things to say and so many viewpoints of life. If you look beyond the depression of a great man, (in the beginning of the book) you will see so much life and wisdom!
In verse 10 a key is found to unhappiness. Solomon got whatever he wanted. All that he did was FOR HIM! We dream about being able to buy whatever we want, but he was a man who did and came up empty! His wisdom wasn’t kicking in! He didn’t even want to leave it to his son, he was completely self absorbed. Lesson: rich or poor, if you are self absorbed, you will be unhappy and even depressed. Here is a key verse:
Ecclesiastes 2:25 (NIV84)
25 for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?
The him is God. This is so right, but Solomon wasn’t applying it to his life and his quest for attainment. People, without the purposes of God working in your life, whatever you attain will NEVER satisfy you. We only find our being and purpose in Him. In all of life there is much to enjoy, but that enjoyment disappears as soon as it comes. Vacations are great until they are over and you are back to work, then the enjoyment of it flitters away. However, in Christ our work (of enjoyment or toil) lasts forever. It has meaning and we enjoy building for others as much as we do for ourselves as it is in the plan of God. In Him we live and move and have our being.
10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my work,
and this was the reward for all my labor.
I really love this book! It has such great things to say and so many viewpoints of life. If you look beyond the depression of a great man, (in the beginning of the book) you will see so much life and wisdom!
In verse 10 a key is found to unhappiness. Solomon got whatever he wanted. All that he did was FOR HIM! We dream about being able to buy whatever we want, but he was a man who did and came up empty! His wisdom wasn’t kicking in! He didn’t even want to leave it to his son, he was completely self absorbed. Lesson: rich or poor, if you are self absorbed, you will be unhappy and even depressed. Here is a key verse:
Ecclesiastes 2:25 (NIV84)
25 for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?
The him is God. This is so right, but Solomon wasn’t applying it to his life and his quest for attainment. People, without the purposes of God working in your life, whatever you attain will NEVER satisfy you. We only find our being and purpose in Him. In all of life there is much to enjoy, but that enjoyment disappears as soon as it comes. Vacations are great until they are over and you are back to work, then the enjoyment of it flitters away. However, in Christ our work (of enjoyment or toil) lasts forever. It has meaning and we enjoy building for others as much as we do for ourselves as it is in the plan of God. In Him we live and move and have our being.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Aug 2
1 John 4:11–12 (NIV84)
11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
There are couples in this world who claim to love one another. They have pledged themselves to one another and have given one another a commitment of relationship, however when you watch them operate, you see displays of pent up aggression, you hear the sharpness in their speech and you feel the disunity at times. I can think of people who I haven’t seen a tender touch or a sincerely tender word back and forth between them. They may have commitment, but they don’t have love. How can I judge? Like the empire says, “I calls em’ as I sees em’”. Love MUST been seen – yes even in public!
Over and over in this book of 1 John it talks about loving one another. It is the marker of whether God lives in us or not. How in the world can you tell that someone loves another unless they demonstrate it – publically – like The Father and Jesus have done? Again, it IS THE marker of whether God lives in us or we are a phony Christian!
It is obvious that we “ought” to have love for one another because God loves us – all of us. If He loves everyone, then we ought to love everyone because He has valued them enough for His love. There is this thought, really a principle in verse 12; if we are a lover of people (especially the brethren as this book refers to), then God’s love is working in us and through us. In fact it has been made complete in us! That is crazy to think about. The way we love others is directly related to the way we allow and understand God’s love for us. That is something to meditate on!
11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
There are couples in this world who claim to love one another. They have pledged themselves to one another and have given one another a commitment of relationship, however when you watch them operate, you see displays of pent up aggression, you hear the sharpness in their speech and you feel the disunity at times. I can think of people who I haven’t seen a tender touch or a sincerely tender word back and forth between them. They may have commitment, but they don’t have love. How can I judge? Like the empire says, “I calls em’ as I sees em’”. Love MUST been seen – yes even in public!
Over and over in this book of 1 John it talks about loving one another. It is the marker of whether God lives in us or not. How in the world can you tell that someone loves another unless they demonstrate it – publically – like The Father and Jesus have done? Again, it IS THE marker of whether God lives in us or we are a phony Christian!
It is obvious that we “ought” to have love for one another because God loves us – all of us. If He loves everyone, then we ought to love everyone because He has valued them enough for His love. There is this thought, really a principle in verse 12; if we are a lover of people (especially the brethren as this book refers to), then God’s love is working in us and through us. In fact it has been made complete in us! That is crazy to think about. The way we love others is directly related to the way we allow and understand God’s love for us. That is something to meditate on!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Aug 1
Psalm 13:1 (NIV84)
1 How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
Psalm 13:5–6 (NIV84)
5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD,
for he has been good to me.
This is one of those golden Psalms that I just love! David, a man after God’s own heart and full of passion for life and God, is one of those guys that is absolutely straight up with how he is feeling. He is not just “in touch” with what is going on inside of him, but he can express it without feeling like he is breaking some kind of positive confession rule.
Here he describes his soul as it is, feeling distance and forgotten because of the trouble he is in. King David knew trouble and here he is crying out and asking God what we all want to ask Him when we are in that type of place – WHERE ARE YOU GOD?! Simple, truthful and to the point David describes the ache inside and shows a desperation of need.
The beauty of David is in verses 5 and 6. He nearly, if not always ends like this when he pens his emotions of wondering. He remains confident in God and often declares that although he may not feel particularly vindicated or freed from his circumstance, he will trust in, rejoice in, sing to, declare and think about God’s goodness. Oh let me take up his example. That in the middle of it all, I sing to the Lord of His goodness and give heartfelt thanks for my salvation. I am sure that David had learned that this was how you got out of these types of situations although his life may be still being sought. What I mean is even though the physical situation hasn’t changed, the inward situation has. Be honest with God with how you feel about your life at every moment, then finish it off with the confession of a heart that believes in His deliverance.
1 How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
Psalm 13:5–6 (NIV84)
5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD,
for he has been good to me.
This is one of those golden Psalms that I just love! David, a man after God’s own heart and full of passion for life and God, is one of those guys that is absolutely straight up with how he is feeling. He is not just “in touch” with what is going on inside of him, but he can express it without feeling like he is breaking some kind of positive confession rule.
Here he describes his soul as it is, feeling distance and forgotten because of the trouble he is in. King David knew trouble and here he is crying out and asking God what we all want to ask Him when we are in that type of place – WHERE ARE YOU GOD?! Simple, truthful and to the point David describes the ache inside and shows a desperation of need.
The beauty of David is in verses 5 and 6. He nearly, if not always ends like this when he pens his emotions of wondering. He remains confident in God and often declares that although he may not feel particularly vindicated or freed from his circumstance, he will trust in, rejoice in, sing to, declare and think about God’s goodness. Oh let me take up his example. That in the middle of it all, I sing to the Lord of His goodness and give heartfelt thanks for my salvation. I am sure that David had learned that this was how you got out of these types of situations although his life may be still being sought. What I mean is even though the physical situation hasn’t changed, the inward situation has. Be honest with God with how you feel about your life at every moment, then finish it off with the confession of a heart that believes in His deliverance.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
July 31
1 John 2:11 (NIV84)
11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.
There is a darkness that can and will invade the soul. This darkness comes by us “joining” with darkness in dark activity. This particular activity is hatred (a strong dislike with the implication of aversion – or avoiding) of a fellow Christian. Yes the word could mean wanting to kill somebody or have bad things happen to them, but it doesn’t need to go that far to be hatred. When we avoid a person because we dislike them, we have hatred for them. We all know and agree that this type of attitude is wrong and should not be among us as Christians – right? There are NO exceptions!
The revelation of this verse is darkness and how it operates. Once darkness has a place in you, (in this case hatred), you begin at that point to walk around in darkness! How dark and to what extent we don’t exactly know, but what we clearly see is that the person who has accepted ANY darkness, especially hatred as defined above, does not KNOW where they are going! They are blind! Darkness affects your whole life! When we participate in the deeds of darkness, (gossip, judgmentalism, back-biting, deception…), we open our souls to being blind in many areas if not all areas of our life! We will be taken to more darkness and perhaps believe that we are doing right. Why? Because we are blind! Darkness knows no bounds and will stop for nothing but the light!
11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.
There is a darkness that can and will invade the soul. This darkness comes by us “joining” with darkness in dark activity. This particular activity is hatred (a strong dislike with the implication of aversion – or avoiding) of a fellow Christian. Yes the word could mean wanting to kill somebody or have bad things happen to them, but it doesn’t need to go that far to be hatred. When we avoid a person because we dislike them, we have hatred for them. We all know and agree that this type of attitude is wrong and should not be among us as Christians – right? There are NO exceptions!
The revelation of this verse is darkness and how it operates. Once darkness has a place in you, (in this case hatred), you begin at that point to walk around in darkness! How dark and to what extent we don’t exactly know, but what we clearly see is that the person who has accepted ANY darkness, especially hatred as defined above, does not KNOW where they are going! They are blind! Darkness affects your whole life! When we participate in the deeds of darkness, (gossip, judgmentalism, back-biting, deception…), we open our souls to being blind in many areas if not all areas of our life! We will be taken to more darkness and perhaps believe that we are doing right. Why? Because we are blind! Darkness knows no bounds and will stop for nothing but the light!
Saturday, July 30, 2011
July 30
Psalm 96:1 (NIV84)
1 Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth.
This is the 2nd time this week in which the Psalmist started off with the line – “sing to the Lord a new song”. I think the Spirit is trying to tell us something.
I love new songs! In fact, I would like to introduce a new song – even 2 new songs at church every week! New songs to me give me a chance to say the same thing a different way to a different tune. I like it! There is a freshness to new songs but I am not sure that the Spirit means that exactly. Bringing that up, there will be many who like “the old songs”, ones that they know and love. I think the reason for that is because when you learned that song, or sung it at a certain time in life, it was really meaningful. (Although some just like the familiar things of life).
The Psalmist here isn’t just talking about getting the new Jesus Culture CD, but is talking about a “fresh” song to the Lord. This type of praise comes right out of our hearts and is sung to God as a great offering! It is something that we create for Him. Lest you think He is the only creator, He lives in us and has given us creative abilities – all of us! You have the capacity to create new songs to Him everyday! If His mercies are new everyday, there must be something new to sign about everyday. Whether you can create a song that has verses and a chorus or one that rhymes, it doesn’t matter! If you can’t sing well, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that we sacrifice the fruit of our lips, our praises that are due to the creator who loves us and sing Him a song out of our hearts. Try it! Start with a thank you song and move on from there! Create something for Him and give it to Him as a present.
1 Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth.
This is the 2nd time this week in which the Psalmist started off with the line – “sing to the Lord a new song”. I think the Spirit is trying to tell us something.
I love new songs! In fact, I would like to introduce a new song – even 2 new songs at church every week! New songs to me give me a chance to say the same thing a different way to a different tune. I like it! There is a freshness to new songs but I am not sure that the Spirit means that exactly. Bringing that up, there will be many who like “the old songs”, ones that they know and love. I think the reason for that is because when you learned that song, or sung it at a certain time in life, it was really meaningful. (Although some just like the familiar things of life).
The Psalmist here isn’t just talking about getting the new Jesus Culture CD, but is talking about a “fresh” song to the Lord. This type of praise comes right out of our hearts and is sung to God as a great offering! It is something that we create for Him. Lest you think He is the only creator, He lives in us and has given us creative abilities – all of us! You have the capacity to create new songs to Him everyday! If His mercies are new everyday, there must be something new to sign about everyday. Whether you can create a song that has verses and a chorus or one that rhymes, it doesn’t matter! If you can’t sing well, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that we sacrifice the fruit of our lips, our praises that are due to the creator who loves us and sing Him a song out of our hearts. Try it! Start with a thank you song and move on from there! Create something for Him and give it to Him as a present.
Friday, July 29, 2011
July 29
2 Peter 3:14 (NIV84)
14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
Sometimes we need a snap back to reality because we indulge a little too much. When we were young, it was our parents that gave us the “reality check”, but we are adults now. Who is there to bring us back to living like we are the people of God? That is not to say that we shouldn’t have fun or be able to have a great time, but you know what I am talking about, those boundaries that we sometimes push and know that we shouldn’t go there, but we do. At times it is about a “partying” mentality and at other times it is about letting yourself go, saying what you want, and still other times it is about ignoring what you are being ask by God to do in favor of “nothing”. It is this chapter and those like it that give us a check up because the reality of this fleeting life that will be over sooner than we think and eternity when the day of God’s redemption and wrath will come, helps us “re-adjust” our life path. Make every effort to do what you are called to do, knock out those things that are keeping you from that, those non-sense actions, and live in peace with God, which is difficult when you are pushing the boundaries of what you know to be right.
Look forward to the day when God burns up the earth and heavens to create new ones for us as in a cheerful expectation. Not only that, but look forward to it as in keep it in sight. It is helpful to keep us on the right track.
14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
Sometimes we need a snap back to reality because we indulge a little too much. When we were young, it was our parents that gave us the “reality check”, but we are adults now. Who is there to bring us back to living like we are the people of God? That is not to say that we shouldn’t have fun or be able to have a great time, but you know what I am talking about, those boundaries that we sometimes push and know that we shouldn’t go there, but we do. At times it is about a “partying” mentality and at other times it is about letting yourself go, saying what you want, and still other times it is about ignoring what you are being ask by God to do in favor of “nothing”. It is this chapter and those like it that give us a check up because the reality of this fleeting life that will be over sooner than we think and eternity when the day of God’s redemption and wrath will come, helps us “re-adjust” our life path. Make every effort to do what you are called to do, knock out those things that are keeping you from that, those non-sense actions, and live in peace with God, which is difficult when you are pushing the boundaries of what you know to be right.
Look forward to the day when God burns up the earth and heavens to create new ones for us as in a cheerful expectation. Not only that, but look forward to it as in keep it in sight. It is helpful to keep us on the right track.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
July 28
Psalm 98:4–5 (NIV84)
4 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;
5 make music to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of singing,
This Psalm describes a type of worship only enjoined and enjoyed by true worshippers. You have to get past yourself in order to enter in to this type of passionate worship. Worship with a heart adoration and hands held at half mask is good, but this Psalm is describing something far beyond that. Shouting, bursting and jubilance along with music and instruments and creativity are penned here because God is WORTH it! Only when you come out of your own self and truly embrace all that God is can you release yourself into this kind of worship. This may not be the most appealing worship as viewed by the world – it may look a little over the top, but why are you worshipping and who are we considering? We worship the great lover, the great creator who has brought us a great salvation! We are His loyal people who come before Him not with pomp and circumstance, but with heartfelt, exuberant and passionate worship that exudes from a heart that is so thankful and in awe of all He is and all He has done for us!
4 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;
5 make music to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of singing,
This Psalm describes a type of worship only enjoined and enjoyed by true worshippers. You have to get past yourself in order to enter in to this type of passionate worship. Worship with a heart adoration and hands held at half mask is good, but this Psalm is describing something far beyond that. Shouting, bursting and jubilance along with music and instruments and creativity are penned here because God is WORTH it! Only when you come out of your own self and truly embrace all that God is can you release yourself into this kind of worship. This may not be the most appealing worship as viewed by the world – it may look a little over the top, but why are you worshipping and who are we considering? We worship the great lover, the great creator who has brought us a great salvation! We are His loyal people who come before Him not with pomp and circumstance, but with heartfelt, exuberant and passionate worship that exudes from a heart that is so thankful and in awe of all He is and all He has done for us!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
July 27
2 Peter 1:3–4 (NIV84)
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
Do you have everything you need? If you are like me, without this bible verse in front of you, you may be tempted to say no I don’t. Alas, with this Word from God in front of you, you would, as I would, say absolutely yes! Isn’t it interesting that when confronted with the truth of the Word we are more disposed to answer in faith? Especially when you throw in the rich truth of these two verses! We have a divine nature in Christ to overcome anything! There are so many truths that I could preach a series sermons, but today I want to draw your attention to 3 great truths:
#1 You have everything you need
#2 It is through our knowledge of Him that we have everything we need
#3 When you read this verse your faith was encouraged to believe for more than you can see!
The Word of God is what you need to reach out and see the things that aren’t in your hands yet that you need. Without the Word you and I will stumble around “hoping” we have what it takes, but with the Word, we will confidently stride from victory to victory. I know it is not as easy as I just put it, but please understand that the Word is where we get faith from!
Romans 10:17 (NIV84)
17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
Do you have everything you need? If you are like me, without this bible verse in front of you, you may be tempted to say no I don’t. Alas, with this Word from God in front of you, you would, as I would, say absolutely yes! Isn’t it interesting that when confronted with the truth of the Word we are more disposed to answer in faith? Especially when you throw in the rich truth of these two verses! We have a divine nature in Christ to overcome anything! There are so many truths that I could preach a series sermons, but today I want to draw your attention to 3 great truths:
#1 You have everything you need
#2 It is through our knowledge of Him that we have everything we need
#3 When you read this verse your faith was encouraged to believe for more than you can see!
The Word of God is what you need to reach out and see the things that aren’t in your hands yet that you need. Without the Word you and I will stumble around “hoping” we have what it takes, but with the Word, we will confidently stride from victory to victory. I know it is not as easy as I just put it, but please understand that the Word is where we get faith from!
Romans 10:17 (NIV84)
17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
July 26
1 Peter 5:2–3 (NIV84)
2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
I was in a conference recently and it was said that we (as shepherds) cannot strive to grow the church in order to prosper financially. In other words, I can’t have as a motivation for church growth, the church’s or my own financial security or growth in finances. There are a few poignant verses in the Word about shepherds and this is one of them. It is the motives of the heart that God is looking for – as always.
There are many people who want to be leaders, teachers and speakers in the church. This verse is written to them as well. My counsel is this, if you don’t care about the sheep when you are not with them (Sundays or Wednesdays or whenever), then you aren’t qualified to teach or lead. If you just want to “teach and run” then you are not qualified to teach. If you want to lead because you like to be in charge, you aren’t qualified. If you look out for your own interests first, you aren’t qualified to shepherd. If your ministry is about YOU, then scrap it until you get a heart for the people. God is looking for leaders who care deeply for the people who they are leading, who lead, teach and disciple because they love it and not just because “they are called”.
From one who has given his life for the sheep, it is worth it. I haven’t paid the ultimate price like Jesus did, but I have paid a price that most know nothing about. I would do it again – pay the price. I am eager to serve you when I return from vacation this week – I miss you all.
2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
I was in a conference recently and it was said that we (as shepherds) cannot strive to grow the church in order to prosper financially. In other words, I can’t have as a motivation for church growth, the church’s or my own financial security or growth in finances. There are a few poignant verses in the Word about shepherds and this is one of them. It is the motives of the heart that God is looking for – as always.
There are many people who want to be leaders, teachers and speakers in the church. This verse is written to them as well. My counsel is this, if you don’t care about the sheep when you are not with them (Sundays or Wednesdays or whenever), then you aren’t qualified to teach or lead. If you just want to “teach and run” then you are not qualified to teach. If you want to lead because you like to be in charge, you aren’t qualified. If you look out for your own interests first, you aren’t qualified to shepherd. If your ministry is about YOU, then scrap it until you get a heart for the people. God is looking for leaders who care deeply for the people who they are leading, who lead, teach and disciple because they love it and not just because “they are called”.
From one who has given his life for the sheep, it is worth it. I haven’t paid the ultimate price like Jesus did, but I have paid a price that most know nothing about. I would do it again – pay the price. I am eager to serve you when I return from vacation this week – I miss you all.
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