Okay, so we profess ourselves to be Christians but we won't preach in the streets, it's even hard to say the name of Jesus in the workplace. I'm guilty of all these thing; I keep to myself on the bus, and I won't tell a co-worker about Jesus unless they ask. What is the problem with me? With a lot of Christians?
"For we were not given a spirit of timidity; but a spirit of power, of love and self discipline" 2 timothy 1:7
I feel like a runner that got stuck in the block. My eyes want to go but my feet won't carry me. I don't know why I won't step out of my comfort zone. I have nothing to fear , not even death can hold me. Is this something that everyone experiences? I know I'm not old in the faith but neither were the disciples.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
A time for what?
It seems like January has an effect on me which causes me to rethink what my motives are for where I am and what they are for where I'm going. Thankfully I found the answer in the bible and not within my own sinful motives. Micah 6:1-8
1 Listen to what the LORD says:
"Stand up, plead your case before the mountains;
let the hills hear what you have to say.
2 Hear, O mountains, the LORD's accusation;
listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth.
For the LORD has a case against his people;
he is lodging a charge against Israel.
3 "My people, what have I done to you?
How have I burdened you? Answer me.
4 I brought you up out of Egypt
and redeemed you from the land of slavery.
I sent Moses to lead you,
also Aaron and Miriam.
5 My people, remember
what Balak king of Moab counseled
and what Balaam son of Beor answered.
Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal,
that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD."
6 With what shall I come before the LORD
and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
It's not like we are still offering rams, but it doesn't mean we aren't trying to appease our own conscience with works. God has done everything for us! He put the breathe in our lungs, the food in our stomaches. The best thing we can do before the Lord is humble ourselves in everything we do. If there is no pride in us then there is room for God. Put off yourself and seek him alone.
1 Listen to what the LORD says:
"Stand up, plead your case before the mountains;
let the hills hear what you have to say.
2 Hear, O mountains, the LORD's accusation;
listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth.
For the LORD has a case against his people;
he is lodging a charge against Israel.
3 "My people, what have I done to you?
How have I burdened you? Answer me.
4 I brought you up out of Egypt
and redeemed you from the land of slavery.
I sent Moses to lead you,
also Aaron and Miriam.
5 My people, remember
what Balak king of Moab counseled
and what Balaam son of Beor answered.
Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal,
that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD."
6 With what shall I come before the LORD
and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
It's not like we are still offering rams, but it doesn't mean we aren't trying to appease our own conscience with works. God has done everything for us! He put the breathe in our lungs, the food in our stomaches. The best thing we can do before the Lord is humble ourselves in everything we do. If there is no pride in us then there is room for God. Put off yourself and seek him alone.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Fanatic
25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. Ezekiel 36:25
This verse should define what God has done in your life. Am I being cleansed? Is my past dirtier than my present? One way of telling if your walk with God is progressing is to look back on it and check if you are being cleansed. As we move forward in our walk we should be putting off more things that detract from our relationship with God. Anything that is binding you to the earth should be out under the microscope, even sports or tv easily become idols. I want to be a fanatic. To be separated from anything that would lump me in with the world.
Yes we believe Jesus saves us from hell, but do we believe he changes everything else about our life?
" In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven" Matthew 5:16
Set yourself apart.
This verse should define what God has done in your life. Am I being cleansed? Is my past dirtier than my present? One way of telling if your walk with God is progressing is to look back on it and check if you are being cleansed. As we move forward in our walk we should be putting off more things that detract from our relationship with God. Anything that is binding you to the earth should be out under the microscope, even sports or tv easily become idols. I want to be a fanatic. To be separated from anything that would lump me in with the world.
Yes we believe Jesus saves us from hell, but do we believe he changes everything else about our life?
" In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven" Matthew 5:16
Set yourself apart.
Monday, January 14, 2008
The Thesis
My life is not my own. My life is a gift from God, who has shown me grace and redeemed me from sin. With this in mind I want to make my life a prayer to God. The means with which I will be used I cannot fathom. In the meantime I must be emptied of all self to make room for God to work. So I'm left as vessel for God and nothing less than that will do.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Meditate on this
Psalm 19
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard. [a]
4 Their voice [b] goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,
5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
11 By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard. [a]
4 Their voice [b] goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,
5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
11 By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Thank God with your time instead of for it.
Well it was nice to have two weeks off for Christmas and spend time with Andrea and my siblings. Towards the end of the time I could not get rid of a weight that had sat upon my shoulders. I knew exactly what I'd done, I greedily accepted my free time without using it to benefit my relationship with God. I could feel the disconnect but yet my hardened heart made me avoid the regenerate solace that I needed.
Today there was a special day of prayer at church for the missionaries in our conference. As usual seeing all the reports on the missionaries made me rethink my position in life. I feel like I've hit an early mid-life crisis, or my comprehension of one anyway.
I've told myself that my training time would also be a time of biblical training as well as culinary. I've got jitters now. I want God to rock my life in a new direction, I want to hear the call and drop everything. I'm not to sure why I'm telling all of you this, but feel free to give it to me straight.
Today there was a special day of prayer at church for the missionaries in our conference. As usual seeing all the reports on the missionaries made me rethink my position in life. I feel like I've hit an early mid-life crisis, or my comprehension of one anyway.
I've told myself that my training time would also be a time of biblical training as well as culinary. I've got jitters now. I want God to rock my life in a new direction, I want to hear the call and drop everything. I'm not to sure why I'm telling all of you this, but feel free to give it to me straight.
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