Have you realized that you were meant for something more and you're just staring at the wall?
My realization came the last time I fasted.
God said... "You know it's nice that you can give up food...but when did you schedule time for Me?
When is our time? Not just when you can... but My time... when is it?"
He continued,"Don't just "Fit me in" to your life. Find life in Me and I will fill you."
...and I'm just looking at Him like a moron like I don't know what to do - you know like men do when women have just told them they have an issue with them?
A big blank stare.
It's just that we hear God and don't move... least I do... I mean I've moved to Houston and I've done this and that but really is that one thing enough? Is just one move all He is looking for?
It's like playing chess with a Gary Kasperov... and He sets you up for a monumental upset. You will win a chess match you have no business winning - let alone being a part of - but here you are in the position to win. He knows it and you know it. What's even more amazing is the champion is pulling for you. He looks at you with a smile and says, "Your move."
And you do nothing.
Just a big blank stare.
You could win the un-winable battle and you do nothing.
See life is like that. A battle we couldn't win - one we shouldn't be a part of, but here we are... in the position to win.
God is looking for a REAL TRANSFORMED life and so many of us don't move...
A transformed life is
- not just being kind to others.
- not just worshipping on Sunday.
- not just reading the Word throughout the week.
...but a REAL amazing DISTRACTING to others change... you know?... like what the heck happened to you?
I want to be that...
I want to be that kind of changed when someone meets you they say, "What was that?" and the only response is "Jesus is in that person." Jesus must be real 'cause look at how they live their life.
My bible says that signs will accompany His believers and I want those signs to accompany me...
Mark 16:15-18 15He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
I want to drive out demons.
I want to pick up snakes.
I want poison to not hurt me.
I want to place my hands on the sick and them get well - not for my glory, but for HIS because I am HIS!
This is what I mean...
God is calling us to more and we're just dipping our feet in the shallow
That's what He's saying...
He's saying "What more do I have to do for you to have that kind of faith?
You have seen and heard... so BE."
"Your move..."
Showing posts with label Thought for the day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thought for the day. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Coming of the Lord
This week we've talked about Lot's wife. We've also listened to a song about Heaven from Phil Wickham. These tie together so nicely. What? How...
This is a good read... Take some time :-)
Luke 17:20-35
The Coming of the Kingdom of God
20 Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, 21 nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."
22 Then he said to his disciples, "The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. 23 Men will tell you, 'There he is!' or 'Here he is!' Do not go running off after them. 24 For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
26 "Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.
28 "It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29 But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.
30 "It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. 32 Remember Lot's wife! 33 Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35 Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left."
There is nothing here that you need.
We need to remember Lot's wife and look forward to the coming of Jesus with a renewed hope and joy each day.
Let us not look back as we would be consumed by fire.
Let us not look back to our old lives of sin as we would be consumed by fire.
Let us not glamorize the old patterns of life - they will destroy us.
Do not let your life be fill with regret, but we should all repent and be filled with hope for the new day that will accompany Christ when He comes.
Have a blessed weekend.
This is a good read... Take some time :-)
Luke 17:20-35
The Coming of the Kingdom of God
20 Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, 21 nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."
22 Then he said to his disciples, "The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. 23 Men will tell you, 'There he is!' or 'Here he is!' Do not go running off after them. 24 For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
26 "Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.
28 "It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29 But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.
30 "It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. 32 Remember Lot's wife! 33 Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35 Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left."
There is nothing here that you need.
We need to remember Lot's wife and look forward to the coming of Jesus with a renewed hope and joy each day.
Let us not look back as we would be consumed by fire.
Let us not look back to our old lives of sin as we would be consumed by fire.
Let us not glamorize the old patterns of life - they will destroy us.
Do not let your life be fill with regret, but we should all repent and be filled with hope for the new day that will accompany Christ when He comes.
Have a blessed weekend.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Don't look back
I feel like we spend too much time looking and what we should have done rather that what God has for us.
Does that make sense?
So many should have's, could have's and would have's make your day into a shoulda-coulda-woulda day.
No one enjoys those. Regret is not of God. It is basically incomplete repentance.
Here is a definition of repentance....
To Repent
(intransitive) To feel pain, sorrow, or regret for what one has done or omitted to do.
(intransitive) To change one's mind, or the course of conduct, on account of regret or dissatisfaction.
(transitive) To feel pain on account of; to remember with sorrow.
(transitive) To cause to have sorrow or regret.
Regretting something is only part of repentance. You are going to feel sorrow for what you have done, but don't look back.
Change your mind and behavior and look forward to what God has for you. God doesn't want us to dwell in the past and in thesorrow. He wants to renew us and for us to rise above the hurt. He wants to deliver us from a place of despair.
Look at Lot's wife in Genesis.
Here's Genesis 19:15-17 (New International Version)
15 With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, "Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished." 16 When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them. 17 As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, "Flee for your lives! Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!"
Let's continue on with Genesis 19:24-26 (New International Version)
24 Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. 25 Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land. 26 But Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
God tried to deliver them all, but it didn't happen. He even sent angels to pull Lot up by the hand. Lot had to pull his own daughters up. And even though Lot's wife ran, she looked back. There was something in her heart that hadn't left Sodom and Gomorrah.
When we leave sin - when we repent - we cannot turn back. Regret is leaving. Repentance is leaving and not looking back.
Don't look back. There is nothing for us there. Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face.
... and the things of Earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.
Have a blessed day.
Does that make sense?
So many should have's, could have's and would have's make your day into a shoulda-coulda-woulda day.
No one enjoys those. Regret is not of God. It is basically incomplete repentance.
Here is a definition of repentance....
To Repent
(intransitive) To feel pain, sorrow, or regret for what one has done or omitted to do.
(intransitive) To change one's mind, or the course of conduct, on account of regret or dissatisfaction.
(transitive) To feel pain on account of; to remember with sorrow.
(transitive) To cause to have sorrow or regret.
Regretting something is only part of repentance. You are going to feel sorrow for what you have done, but don't look back.
Change your mind and behavior and look forward to what God has for you. God doesn't want us to dwell in the past and in thesorrow. He wants to renew us and for us to rise above the hurt. He wants to deliver us from a place of despair.
Look at Lot's wife in Genesis.
Here's Genesis 19:15-17 (New International Version)
15 With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, "Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished." 16 When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them. 17 As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, "Flee for your lives! Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!"
Let's continue on with Genesis 19:24-26 (New International Version)
24 Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. 25 Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land. 26 But Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
God tried to deliver them all, but it didn't happen. He even sent angels to pull Lot up by the hand. Lot had to pull his own daughters up. And even though Lot's wife ran, she looked back. There was something in her heart that hadn't left Sodom and Gomorrah.
When we leave sin - when we repent - we cannot turn back. Regret is leaving. Repentance is leaving and not looking back.
Don't look back. There is nothing for us there. Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face.
... and the things of Earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.
Have a blessed day.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Trials
I was talking with a friend of mine about the trials we each are going through.
It is so easy to ask God, "Why? Why is this happening to me?"
Maybe instead of asking, "Why?" - maybe we should be saying to God, "Thank you for strengthening me."
God's word says he has a plan for us - most of us know Jeremiah 29:11 - but do we know the context?
Here is the context of this passage...
Jeremiah 29:10-14
10 This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."
When I read this passage, it becomes a promise of Heaven. We are in exile on this Earth and through Jesus we will be saved. Hosanna! God has great plans for us, but we have to hold fast to his promises... We have to seek Him with all our heart!
Look at 1 Peter 1:3-9
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
He is coming for you. Whatever pain you are feeling - whatever hurt you are going through... Praise God and store that treasure in heaven! He is refining your faith so Jesus may be glorified when He is revealed. Hallelujah!
I love these verses.
Praise God for our trials.
I know it is hard to do - but nothing changes that He loves us, and that He is watching over us.
If that is true, than what do we have to be afraid of?
God is strengthening us, and He will restore us.
He is always faithful to His promises.
If you are in an awful place today, know that God is near.
He has plans to prosper you.
He has plans to restore you.
He has plans to refine you.
He has plans to save you.
Do you trust Him?
It is so easy to ask God, "Why? Why is this happening to me?"
Maybe instead of asking, "Why?" - maybe we should be saying to God, "Thank you for strengthening me."
God's word says he has a plan for us - most of us know Jeremiah 29:11 - but do we know the context?
Here is the context of this passage...
Jeremiah 29:10-14
10 This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."
When I read this passage, it becomes a promise of Heaven. We are in exile on this Earth and through Jesus we will be saved. Hosanna! God has great plans for us, but we have to hold fast to his promises... We have to seek Him with all our heart!
Look at 1 Peter 1:3-9
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
He is coming for you. Whatever pain you are feeling - whatever hurt you are going through... Praise God and store that treasure in heaven! He is refining your faith so Jesus may be glorified when He is revealed. Hallelujah!
I love these verses.
Praise God for our trials.
I know it is hard to do - but nothing changes that He loves us, and that He is watching over us.
If that is true, than what do we have to be afraid of?
God is strengthening us, and He will restore us.
He is always faithful to His promises.
If you are in an awful place today, know that God is near.
He has plans to prosper you.
He has plans to restore you.
He has plans to refine you.
He has plans to save you.
Do you trust Him?
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Not Feeling Close to God
How many times have you not felt close to God?
That happens too often, doesn't it.
We're like that moth who can't resist the bug zapper. Drawn by the purple light that really means swift electrical death...
We think things are shiny and pretty but we can't see the real damage these things will cause.
We take our eyes off of the one thing that will really save us...
and we get zapped.
So, after we're damaged
...and hurt
...and less than we were before
...when we finally turn, has God wandered away?
Did he leave because He was bored?
...or because he had other important things to do?
...or because we're not worth it anymore?
No.
He waits for us patiently. He's just waiting for us to come back to him. He wants us that much.
But, how do we do this? How do we return?
It is the same as any relationship. We must throw our ugly pride away and start talking again. We have start by saying how sorry we are and how much we really need Him. But the great thing is He's just waiting for us to come back to him. He wants us that much. But...
we have to keep talking.
If you don't talk to God, or listen to him, how can your relationship grow? James 4:8 says, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you..." The more you draw near, the more he will draw near to you.
If you are feeling far away from God today, take a step closer. That's all you have to do. Pray. Read a little scripture. Make an effort. Keep reading James 4. Its a good place to start.
You won't believe the difference it will make.
That happens too often, doesn't it.
We're like that moth who can't resist the bug zapper. Drawn by the purple light that really means swift electrical death...
We think things are shiny and pretty but we can't see the real damage these things will cause.
We take our eyes off of the one thing that will really save us...
and we get zapped.
So, after we're damaged
...and hurt
...and less than we were before
...when we finally turn, has God wandered away?
Did he leave because He was bored?
...or because he had other important things to do?
...or because we're not worth it anymore?
No.
He waits for us patiently. He's just waiting for us to come back to him. He wants us that much.
But, how do we do this? How do we return?
It is the same as any relationship. We must throw our ugly pride away and start talking again. We have start by saying how sorry we are and how much we really need Him. But the great thing is He's just waiting for us to come back to him. He wants us that much. But...
we have to keep talking.
If you don't talk to God, or listen to him, how can your relationship grow? James 4:8 says, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you..." The more you draw near, the more he will draw near to you.
If you are feeling far away from God today, take a step closer. That's all you have to do. Pray. Read a little scripture. Make an effort. Keep reading James 4. Its a good place to start.
You won't believe the difference it will make.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Perseverance
You know it is tough to write blogs... (1) When you can't type fast. (2) When you can't type accurately and (3) When you feel like you have so much bearing down on you that you can't think straight. However, I read a thought for the day in my Quiet Moments for Worship Leaders Book (Thank you Marty Parks!), and I know what I should be doing.
I'm going to list the Scripture,Prayer and Thought that goes with this quiet time...
Scripture Psalm 9:10 - Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Prayer Lord, many times I feel surrounded by enemies that threaten my life in physical and spiritual ways. These attackers presume to destroy my very relationship with you. At these times, Father, be my refuge, my stronghold, my comfort, and my deliverer. And I, like David, will praise you forever and ever. In your Son's name I pray. Amen.
Thought for the Day:God has always protected His worshipers.
When things get tough, the Lord is tougher. He is my comfort and strength. My joy is in the Lord and He is my strong tower. I trust in you, Lord.
He is there for you.
I'm going to list the Scripture,Prayer and Thought that goes with this quiet time...
Scripture Psalm 9:10 - Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Prayer Lord, many times I feel surrounded by enemies that threaten my life in physical and spiritual ways. These attackers presume to destroy my very relationship with you. At these times, Father, be my refuge, my stronghold, my comfort, and my deliverer. And I, like David, will praise you forever and ever. In your Son's name I pray. Amen.
Thought for the Day:God has always protected His worshipers.
When things get tough, the Lord is tougher. He is my comfort and strength. My joy is in the Lord and He is my strong tower. I trust in you, Lord.
He is there for you.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Today I want to to say, "Just be Happy."
God has done so much for us - even when the road is amazingly dark there is a light that is burning brightly calling us to Him. Today - what =ever circumstance you might find yourself in, know that you have a new hope in a living God. One day, there will be no more sadness - no more sickness - no more cancer - no more hate - no more child abuse - no more war - and no more pain.
Jesus is coming.
Yes.
Jesus is coming.
Yes.
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