I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (Ps. 119:11 NIV)
This is so important today. In today's society we can get Gods word in so many forms. We can get different translations, we can get it on CD, on our phone & calendars just to name a few. What a blessing, because not everyone has that availability to Gods holy word. Just because we have that today does not always mean that that will be the case. Or it could be that we don't have one with us when we need it. The key is to hide it in your heart that way it's always there & no one can take it from you. Also if you spend enough time to hide it in your heart, it will take over your life. When you're going through something difficult, god will bring His word to your mind. When you need guidance in something, again Gods word will be there to give you that guidance. Knowing Gods word & committing it to your life is one of the most important things you can do in your life. So I very much encourage you to spend time in Gods word today & everyday, even if it's just reading this blog. Ask God to reveal His word to you & meditate on it all during the day. It's time well spent.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Today is the Day
This is the day The Lord has made; let us rejoice & be glad in it. (Ps. 118:24 NIV)
Today has you read this, it is probably a pretty normal day. Maybe you are getting ready for work, school, running errands, getting the kids to school, or numerous other activities. Maybe you are in a hurry & running late & you think you'll find time for God later. After all there's important stuff that has to get done now. You check the news while you are getting ready & just more discouraging news. You think "I wish someone would do something to make things better". I want to challenge you today that I think that person is you. That's right if you're reading this, I think you are to he part of the soloution. How far must we get off course before we start standing up & being the difference? Are we guaranteed tomorrow? Are we guaranteed that our freedoms will be here tomorrow? We have relied on political parties, politicians, & other people who we're going to get us back on the right course. Somehow I don't think they have succeeded. It's up to us, the Christian people. I believe we are at a crossroads. Are we going to look at our kids & tell them we couldn't stand when we were needed to. Are we going to say it was someone else's responsibility? Are we going to tell them about how big our God is but this problem was just too big? We have to lead by example. We need to be on our knees in prayer. We need to be leading our families in bible study. We need to be out meeting the needs of others. Are we going to put it off another day? We're needed now. Today is the day. So as you go out today, what are you going to do to be the difference. Quit relying on someone else. God made this day for us to do the work, be the difference, live victoriously, & rejoice in this gift.
Today has you read this, it is probably a pretty normal day. Maybe you are getting ready for work, school, running errands, getting the kids to school, or numerous other activities. Maybe you are in a hurry & running late & you think you'll find time for God later. After all there's important stuff that has to get done now. You check the news while you are getting ready & just more discouraging news. You think "I wish someone would do something to make things better". I want to challenge you today that I think that person is you. That's right if you're reading this, I think you are to he part of the soloution. How far must we get off course before we start standing up & being the difference? Are we guaranteed tomorrow? Are we guaranteed that our freedoms will be here tomorrow? We have relied on political parties, politicians, & other people who we're going to get us back on the right course. Somehow I don't think they have succeeded. It's up to us, the Christian people. I believe we are at a crossroads. Are we going to look at our kids & tell them we couldn't stand when we were needed to. Are we going to say it was someone else's responsibility? Are we going to tell them about how big our God is but this problem was just too big? We have to lead by example. We need to be on our knees in prayer. We need to be leading our families in bible study. We need to be out meeting the needs of others. Are we going to put it off another day? We're needed now. Today is the day. So as you go out today, what are you going to do to be the difference. Quit relying on someone else. God made this day for us to do the work, be the difference, live victoriously, & rejoice in this gift.
Monday, October 28, 2013
Don't be timid
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, & of self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7 NIV)
So tonight I just got back from a meeting about how to improve the school. I was thankful to be able to attend & for a chance for people to have their voice heard. In today's society that is discouraged oftentimes because you're not supposed to disagree with those in a position of power. In our small group was the father of a student who had committed suicide. As I sit & try to put myself in his position I just can't because there is no way to understand how that must feel. As I watched him express his concern, fight for his son, & try to keep that from happening to someone else's child it gave me a thought. Christians have become a timid people & we need to be standing for the things God calls each of us to do. We need to stand even if we're the only one. The time for timidity has long past. But it goes on to say we need to have a spirit of power, love, & self-discipline. We can stand in the power of Almighty God, while doing it in love. The love we should have for people should make us want to stand for those who can't, to stand for Gods word, & for our voices to be heard. If we let timidity take us over, we could very well wait to stand till it's too late. This dad tonight was fighting against bullying for his son who is already gone, other parents were fighting for their kids who are still here. Maybe it was a wake up call for all of us & I believe we as Christians have been receiving one as well. It's time to overcome our timidity & take a stand before it's too late.
So tonight I just got back from a meeting about how to improve the school. I was thankful to be able to attend & for a chance for people to have their voice heard. In today's society that is discouraged oftentimes because you're not supposed to disagree with those in a position of power. In our small group was the father of a student who had committed suicide. As I sit & try to put myself in his position I just can't because there is no way to understand how that must feel. As I watched him express his concern, fight for his son, & try to keep that from happening to someone else's child it gave me a thought. Christians have become a timid people & we need to be standing for the things God calls each of us to do. We need to stand even if we're the only one. The time for timidity has long past. But it goes on to say we need to have a spirit of power, love, & self-discipline. We can stand in the power of Almighty God, while doing it in love. The love we should have for people should make us want to stand for those who can't, to stand for Gods word, & for our voices to be heard. If we let timidity take us over, we could very well wait to stand till it's too late. This dad tonight was fighting against bullying for his son who is already gone, other parents were fighting for their kids who are still here. Maybe it was a wake up call for all of us & I believe we as Christians have been receiving one as well. It's time to overcome our timidity & take a stand before it's too late.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Keep Going
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders & the sin that so easily entangles, & let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Heb. 12:1NIV)
Today was a neat experience for me. I had gotten a call earlier this week to speak at the last church my grandpa was pastor at. I hadn't been in that church in years. It's a small church with some great people at it who like many churches are struggling with low numbers right now. As I walked in I met people who were there when my grandpa was, I saw the pastors study, & stood behind the same pulpit my grandpa had, delivering Gods message. As I spoke, I paused a couple of times & smiled as I thought back to many years ago when my grandpa had been in that spot. As I thought about that, I thought about this verse. I thought about him & my grandma in that great cloud of witnesses smiling & cheering me to keep going. That was my message to this church & all "small" churches out there, keep going. It's hard & it can be a struggle & discouraging sometimes but we have a great message to tell the world. We have a big God who can work with just a few faithful people. The world needs the message we have & those who have gone on before us are cheering us on. They were faithful to the work God gave them & now it's our turn. We need to be faithful to do that work for those who come after us. So today was a neat day & an encouraging day. Today I want to encourage you that no matter how small or insignificant that you might feel, keep going. Listen to that "great cloud of witnesses" and stay faithful to the work God has given you to do. I might not have had anyone to preach to today if my grandparents had not been faithful to their work. I hope someday
Today was a neat experience for me. I had gotten a call earlier this week to speak at the last church my grandpa was pastor at. I hadn't been in that church in years. It's a small church with some great people at it who like many churches are struggling with low numbers right now. As I walked in I met people who were there when my grandpa was, I saw the pastors study, & stood behind the same pulpit my grandpa had, delivering Gods message. As I spoke, I paused a couple of times & smiled as I thought back to many years ago when my grandpa had been in that spot. As I thought about that, I thought about this verse. I thought about him & my grandma in that great cloud of witnesses smiling & cheering me to keep going. That was my message to this church & all "small" churches out there, keep going. It's hard & it can be a struggle & discouraging sometimes but we have a great message to tell the world. We have a big God who can work with just a few faithful people. The world needs the message we have & those who have gone on before us are cheering us on. They were faithful to the work God gave them & now it's our turn. We need to be faithful to do that work for those who come after us. So today was a neat day & an encouraging day. Today I want to encourage you that no matter how small or insignificant that you might feel, keep going. Listen to that "great cloud of witnesses" and stay faithful to the work God has given you to do. I might not have had anyone to preach to today if my grandparents had not been faithful to their work. I hope someday
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Use Me
Then I heard the voice of The Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I, send me !" (Is. 6:8 NIV)
If you were asked that today what would your response be? If you were in the presence of God & He was asking that question, would you say send me? Or would you scoot back to the back, hoping God found someone else first? Would you say "well I'm not really qualified"? Well the thing is is that He is asking you that question. He is looking for people who will do His work. It might be speaking to that relative or neighbor who needs to know Jesus Christ. It might be standing up for someone who can't stand up for themselves. It might be helping someone who needs a helping hand. Can you be that person? As I'm writing this I am listening to talk about taking "God" out of an oath at a military academy, stories about bullying, and other disturbing news. There is a work for each one of us to be doing. Growing up I know I had a lot of people who answered that question with "Send me!" Now it's our turn to answer that question the same way. Our kids, families, churches, & most of all God are looking to us to step up. We can keep standing on the sidelines as slowly but surely the world gets farther away from God & the things that we thought we would never see become commonplace or we can say "send me!" Use me!" Not the person beside me but me. Hopefully they will be saying the same thing & we as Christians can be that influence that we have been called to be. Question for the day is can God use you!
If you were asked that today what would your response be? If you were in the presence of God & He was asking that question, would you say send me? Or would you scoot back to the back, hoping God found someone else first? Would you say "well I'm not really qualified"? Well the thing is is that He is asking you that question. He is looking for people who will do His work. It might be speaking to that relative or neighbor who needs to know Jesus Christ. It might be standing up for someone who can't stand up for themselves. It might be helping someone who needs a helping hand. Can you be that person? As I'm writing this I am listening to talk about taking "God" out of an oath at a military academy, stories about bullying, and other disturbing news. There is a work for each one of us to be doing. Growing up I know I had a lot of people who answered that question with "Send me!" Now it's our turn to answer that question the same way. Our kids, families, churches, & most of all God are looking to us to step up. We can keep standing on the sidelines as slowly but surely the world gets farther away from God & the things that we thought we would never see become commonplace or we can say "send me!" Use me!" Not the person beside me but me. Hopefully they will be saying the same thing & we as Christians can be that influence that we have been called to be. Question for the day is can God use you!
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
No footholds
And do not give the devil a foothold (Eph. 4:27 NIV)
Too often we do that in life. The verse before this talks about not going to bed angry. I have to admit that I've done that a couple of times. What we forget is that the one were really hurting is ourselves. As a parent I sometimes see things that could be harmful & be pitfalls for my kids & so Itry to warn them. Not because I'm trying to make more rules, take away fun, or for any other reason than I love them & want the best for them. God does that with us. He can see things ahead of us that can harm us & He wants to give us a heads up. Besides unhappiness, health issues, & broken relationships, giving the devil a foothold causes us to be ineffective for Christ. It can harm our relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ. It might be anger, unforgiveness, habit, addiction, fear, or anything that gives Satan a way into our life. It might even be pride. That's why it's important to examine your life daily & give anything holding you back over to God. Let Him fight your battles. Let Him restore. Today, it's time to boot Satan out & get rid of any possible footholds he might have in our lives.
Too often we do that in life. The verse before this talks about not going to bed angry. I have to admit that I've done that a couple of times. What we forget is that the one were really hurting is ourselves. As a parent I sometimes see things that could be harmful & be pitfalls for my kids & so Itry to warn them. Not because I'm trying to make more rules, take away fun, or for any other reason than I love them & want the best for them. God does that with us. He can see things ahead of us that can harm us & He wants to give us a heads up. Besides unhappiness, health issues, & broken relationships, giving the devil a foothold causes us to be ineffective for Christ. It can harm our relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ. It might be anger, unforgiveness, habit, addiction, fear, or anything that gives Satan a way into our life. It might even be pride. That's why it's important to examine your life daily & give anything holding you back over to God. Let Him fight your battles. Let Him restore. Today, it's time to boot Satan out & get rid of any possible footholds he might have in our lives.
Monday, October 21, 2013
Love Each Other
The thing that sets Christians apart is love. Not that others can't love but they can't show the kind of love that comes from Jesus Christ. Today the world is in desperate need of love. There is fighting in every part of the world, hateful words being spoken to anyone who disagrees, with someone, & kids committing suicide because they are being bullied. If we want to make a change, if we want to show people Christ instead of religion, we need to show Christs love. His love allows us to love people who might be hard to love. His love will help us reach out or down to someone in need. His love will show us someone who is hopeless who just needs a touch of Gods love. You see there is a hurting world out there, there are people who are proud of hurting others, and all of those people need Christians to step up & show Christs love. Christ loves us even at our most unloveable. He loved us even before we were & if were Gods children & were to love as He loves us, we need to look for people needing that love. We need to find those hurting kids. We need to look for someone who we can encourage & lift up. If we will show Christs love, people will see the way to a relationship with a loving Savior.
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