Hey, Y'all,
Today's RST is short but solid; gotta remember to make it a point to remember, 'cause Lord knows we're prone to amnesia (or maybe it's just me again :-)
"Take heed, and guard your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen and lest they depart from your mind and heart all the days of your life. Teach them to your children and your children's children..."
Deuteronomy 4:9
There are so many things to chew on in this passage--here're a few:
"Guard your soul diligently" -- half-hearted (or actual disregard in my) efforts will not suffice as we do have an Adversary and his greatest joy is our misery.
"Take heed...lest you forget" -- yeah, 'cause that never happens.
"Lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen and lest they depart from your mind and heart" -- this is the crux of the matter: He's been mighty good to me, I've seen it with my own eyes, yet how often does that fact "depart from my mind and heart" (interesting too how it addresses both my logical and emotional ways of remembering).
"Teach them to your children and your children's children..." -- no greater joy, no greater responsibility.
So there you go--any thoughts?
"Take heed, and guard your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen and lest they depart from your mind and heart all the days of your life. Teach them to your children and your children's children..."
You've been prayed for today...
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Action, Not Words
Hey, Y'all,
Today's RST is based on a powerful thought of Max Lucado's -- I'd never thought of this passage in quite this way before.
Genesis 3:21 has been called 'the first gospel sermon,' preached not by preachers, but by God himself. And not in words, but in symbol and action.
'The LORD God made clothes from animal skins for the man and his wife and clothed them.'
God covered them. He protected them.
Love always does.
Made me think immediately of Psalm 91 -- to say nothing of the innumerable other passages describing the Lord's relentless love and actual affection for us, yes, even to the point of covering us and our shortcomings. Reminds me yet again --I don't get tired of this visual -- of the prodigal's father and His reaction to his son's appearance on the horizon (Luke 15:20):
'But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.'
Yep, consistent is our God; it's 'the first gospel sermon,' reiterated, and again, not in words, but in powerful symbol and unmistakable action. God is entirely too good to me, to you.
You've been prayed for today...
Today's RST is based on a powerful thought of Max Lucado's -- I'd never thought of this passage in quite this way before.
Genesis 3:21 has been called 'the first gospel sermon,' preached not by preachers, but by God himself. And not in words, but in symbol and action.
'The LORD God made clothes from animal skins for the man and his wife and clothed them.'
God covered them. He protected them.
Love always does.
Made me think immediately of Psalm 91 -- to say nothing of the innumerable other passages describing the Lord's relentless love and actual affection for us, yes, even to the point of covering us and our shortcomings. Reminds me yet again --I don't get tired of this visual -- of the prodigal's father and His reaction to his son's appearance on the horizon (Luke 15:20):
'But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.'
Yep, consistent is our God; it's 'the first gospel sermon,' reiterated, and again, not in words, but in powerful symbol and unmistakable action. God is entirely too good to me, to you.
You've been prayed for today...
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Delight, Petitions
Hey, Y'all,
So I ran across this text and a funny thing happened: I read it, but it didn't sit well with me; so I read it again, and interestingly, I heard something different when I read it that second time.
Here's the text:
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."
Psalm 37:4
In all honesty it annoyed me a little bit that first time through. I think we're all big boys and girls and know that it's patently absurd to chronically expect to get what we want; sounded a little too "God is Santa Claus" to me. So I read it again (a couple of times :-) and this is what it sounded like:
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will change the desires of your heart."
So I read it again:
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will change the desires of your heart."
And once more:
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will change the desires of your heart."
That kind of made me sit up a little straighter. He will, wait, He has, He does, give me the desires of my heart. It's entirely possible that if I'm still thinking that I'd be better off with a giant estate or a better car, I can't quite see it that way. Maybe my desires need refining (or outright correction).
Another version of the text says that He'll give me "the secret petitions of my heart" if I find in Him my delight. Which got me thinking: what does that look like? How do I delight myself in the Lord? And is it possible that I've already received those "petitions of my heart" (and more) but I am only truly aware of it when He's actively influencing my understanding of "reality"? And what do I have rattling around in that part of my heart? What do I need to discuss further with Him? What (else) does He need to be made Lord over?
How 'bout you? Anything come to mind?
You've been prayed for today...
So I ran across this text and a funny thing happened: I read it, but it didn't sit well with me; so I read it again, and interestingly, I heard something different when I read it that second time.
Here's the text:
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."
Psalm 37:4
In all honesty it annoyed me a little bit that first time through. I think we're all big boys and girls and know that it's patently absurd to chronically expect to get what we want; sounded a little too "God is Santa Claus" to me. So I read it again (a couple of times :-) and this is what it sounded like:
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will change the desires of your heart."
So I read it again:
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will change the desires of your heart."
And once more:
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will change the desires of your heart."
That kind of made me sit up a little straighter. He will, wait, He has, He does, give me the desires of my heart. It's entirely possible that if I'm still thinking that I'd be better off with a giant estate or a better car, I can't quite see it that way. Maybe my desires need refining (or outright correction).
Another version of the text says that He'll give me "the secret petitions of my heart" if I find in Him my delight. Which got me thinking: what does that look like? How do I delight myself in the Lord? And is it possible that I've already received those "petitions of my heart" (and more) but I am only truly aware of it when He's actively influencing my understanding of "reality"? And what do I have rattling around in that part of my heart? What do I need to discuss further with Him? What (else) does He need to be made Lord over?
How 'bout you? Anything come to mind?
You've been prayed for today...
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
In The Arena?
Hey, Y'all,
Today's thought is not, at first blush, obviously spiritual, but I'm reminded of the quote that states that "Truth is Truth, even if you find it waiting for you in an unlikely place." I'm convinced that our God is big enough to reach us in unconventional ways. So here we go -- words to live by indeed:
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place will never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
Theodore Roosevelt
Reminded me of something we discussed in church this past Sabbath -- the principle that rarely (if ever) does anything of any real significance come about by happenstance; nothing meaningful ever happens by accident. We must be deliberate, we must be intentional, if we expect to achieve anything of value, and this is doubly so in the spiritual arena where we are at all times (aware of it or not) in conflict with an Adversary whose primary goal is to disrupt our pursuit of genuine and meaningful interaction, of relationship if you will, with Our God.
Today's thought is not, at first blush, obviously spiritual, but I'm reminded of the quote that states that "Truth is Truth, even if you find it waiting for you in an unlikely place." I'm convinced that our God is big enough to reach us in unconventional ways. So here we go -- words to live by indeed:
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place will never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
Theodore Roosevelt
Reminded me of something we discussed in church this past Sabbath -- the principle that rarely (if ever) does anything of any real significance come about by happenstance; nothing meaningful ever happens by accident. We must be deliberate, we must be intentional, if we expect to achieve anything of value, and this is doubly so in the spiritual arena where we are at all times (aware of it or not) in conflict with an Adversary whose primary goal is to disrupt our pursuit of genuine and meaningful interaction, of relationship if you will, with Our God.
So that's the deal; are you going to strive valiantly, yes, even erring and coming up short again and again? Or are you going to sleepwalk, or sit on the sidelines, or worse still, be one who critiques those in the arena? You are either one, or the other. Make your choice.
You've been prayed for today...
Thursday, August 28, 2008
The Human Whisperer
Hey, Y'all,
Today's RST comes to us from the newer (and much cuter :-) half of this blog's writing tandem. Enjoy!
So one day I was at home doing laundry and I had an RST because of a bulldog on TV. It's true. I was watching the Dog Whisperer. For those of you who don't know about him, he's that guy on the National Geographic Channel (Cesar Millan) who is able to make 'death-row' dogs behave in shockingly short amounts of time and with methods that wouldn't occur to us average, non-dog-whisperer types.
On this particular show, The Dog Whisperer took a whacked-out Bulldog (who was snarling and nipping at everyone, even his family, for no good reason) and had him whipped in one day. He didn't put the dog on a chain and jerk him around. He didn't even kick him. He just forced him to the ground and held him still a few times whenever he got out of line. That's it.
The Dog Whisperer is surprisingly philosophical about what he does. He explained what he did for the dog by saying: 'The dog doesn't want to be out of control. He doesn't like that feeling. When I remind him that I am above him by holding him down and keeping him still, he becomes secure and calms down.'
What The Dog Whisperer said reminded me of the way some of my newborn patients fuss and cry--for no good reason--until I swaddle them up tight: then they fall right to sleep or start to quietly look around. They weren't hungry or in need of a diaper change. They just needed to feel right.
So...what about me? If dogs need a pack leader and babies need to feel held, what do I need in order to feel right? I think it's easy to negate and minimize the parameters that God puts on us; like keeping one day just for Him, not being fake, not being immoral...yet I'm starting to realize that all of those things (there are only 10 anyway) are exactly what we need to feel...well...swaddled.
It might be appropriate for us (like the bulldog) to realize that there's someone above us. We don't have to. But maybe, just maybe, He said (and did) what he said (and did) because he knows us like the Dog Whisperer knows dogs. Guess that makes God the Human Whisperer?
"Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the Lord Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. You shall therefore keep His statutes and His commandments which I command you today, that it may go well with you and your children after you..." Deuteronomy 4:39, 40
You've been prayed for today...
Today's RST comes to us from the newer (and much cuter :-) half of this blog's writing tandem. Enjoy!
So one day I was at home doing laundry and I had an RST because of a bulldog on TV. It's true. I was watching the Dog Whisperer. For those of you who don't know about him, he's that guy on the National Geographic Channel (Cesar Millan) who is able to make 'death-row' dogs behave in shockingly short amounts of time and with methods that wouldn't occur to us average, non-dog-whisperer types.
On this particular show, The Dog Whisperer took a whacked-out Bulldog (who was snarling and nipping at everyone, even his family, for no good reason) and had him whipped in one day. He didn't put the dog on a chain and jerk him around. He didn't even kick him. He just forced him to the ground and held him still a few times whenever he got out of line. That's it.
The Dog Whisperer is surprisingly philosophical about what he does. He explained what he did for the dog by saying: 'The dog doesn't want to be out of control. He doesn't like that feeling. When I remind him that I am above him by holding him down and keeping him still, he becomes secure and calms down.'
What The Dog Whisperer said reminded me of the way some of my newborn patients fuss and cry--for no good reason--until I swaddle them up tight: then they fall right to sleep or start to quietly look around. They weren't hungry or in need of a diaper change. They just needed to feel right.
So...what about me? If dogs need a pack leader and babies need to feel held, what do I need in order to feel right? I think it's easy to negate and minimize the parameters that God puts on us; like keeping one day just for Him, not being fake, not being immoral...yet I'm starting to realize that all of those things (there are only 10 anyway) are exactly what we need to feel...well...swaddled.
It might be appropriate for us (like the bulldog) to realize that there's someone above us. We don't have to. But maybe, just maybe, He said (and did) what he said (and did) because he knows us like the Dog Whisperer knows dogs. Guess that makes God the Human Whisperer?
"Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the Lord Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. You shall therefore keep His statutes and His commandments which I command you today, that it may go well with you and your children after you..." Deuteronomy 4:39, 40
You've been prayed for today...
Saturday, August 16, 2008
The Law Of The Garbage Truck
Hey, Y'all,
Today's thought arrives to us via Dena (thanks!) and, as usual, I'm quite sure it only applies to me (he says, tongue firmly in cheek :-)
How often do you let other people affect your mood negatively? Do you let a bad driver, a rude waiter, a curt boss (or an insensitive employee) ruin your day? Unless you're a robot, for at least an instant you're probably set back on your heels. However, the mark of a godly person is how quickly she/he can get back her/his focus on what's truly important.
Five years ago I vividly (re)learned this lesson in the back of a taxi in Chicago. I hopped in the cab and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and just missed the other car by mere inches!
At this point, the driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us (and showing us the one-fingered salute). My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. I mean, he was really, honestly, friendly. So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!' This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'
He explained, 'Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage--full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people. Just leave it and move on.'
Sounds a lot like the second half of Romans 12 which is chock-full of practical advice on how we ought to live with one another (here's a taste, but check it out for yourself!):
Love must be sincere.
Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another.
Honor one another above yourselves.
Share with God's people who are in need.
Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be proud...do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil.
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you,
live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my friends...On the contrary:
If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink...
And it concludes with my second-favorite verse (v.21) of this passage, a killer summary statement if ever there was one:
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Oh, and you were wondering about my favorite verse here? It's v.12--also words to live by if ever there were any, especially in the application of this lesson:
Be joyful in hope,
patient in affliction,
faithful in prayer.
You've been prayed for today...
Today's thought arrives to us via Dena (thanks!) and, as usual, I'm quite sure it only applies to me (he says, tongue firmly in cheek :-)
How often do you let other people affect your mood negatively? Do you let a bad driver, a rude waiter, a curt boss (or an insensitive employee) ruin your day? Unless you're a robot, for at least an instant you're probably set back on your heels. However, the mark of a godly person is how quickly she/he can get back her/his focus on what's truly important.
Five years ago I vividly (re)learned this lesson in the back of a taxi in Chicago. I hopped in the cab and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and just missed the other car by mere inches!
At this point, the driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us (and showing us the one-fingered salute). My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. I mean, he was really, honestly, friendly. So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!' This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'
He explained, 'Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage--full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people. Just leave it and move on.'
Sounds a lot like the second half of Romans 12 which is chock-full of practical advice on how we ought to live with one another (here's a taste, but check it out for yourself!):
Love must be sincere.
Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another.
Honor one another above yourselves.
Share with God's people who are in need.
Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be proud...do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil.
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you,
live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my friends...On the contrary:
If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink...
And it concludes with my second-favorite verse (v.21) of this passage, a killer summary statement if ever there was one:
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Oh, and you were wondering about my favorite verse here? It's v.12--also words to live by if ever there were any, especially in the application of this lesson:
Be joyful in hope,
patient in affliction,
faithful in prayer.
You've been prayed for today...
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
More Interested In My Character
Hey, Y'all,
Today's thought is from PurposeDrivenLife.com and reminds me of something I recently read and saved (to follow as another post, of course :-)
"Much confusion in the Christian life comes from ignoring the simple truth that God is far more interested in building your character than He is in anything else. Sadly, a quick review of many popular Christian books reveals that many believers have abandoned living for God's great purposes and settle for so-called personal fulfillment and emotional stability. That is narcissism, not discipleship. Jesus did not die on the cross just so we could live comfortable lives. His purpose is far deeper: He wants to make us like Himself before He returns. This is our greatest privilege, our immediate responsibility, and our ultimate destiny."
Kind of gets you thinking: He is far more interested in building my (eternal) character than in my (short-term) comfort. Hmmm...
You've been prayed for today...
Today's thought is from PurposeDrivenLife.com and reminds me of something I recently read and saved (to follow as another post, of course :-)
"Much confusion in the Christian life comes from ignoring the simple truth that God is far more interested in building your character than He is in anything else. Sadly, a quick review of many popular Christian books reveals that many believers have abandoned living for God's great purposes and settle for so-called personal fulfillment and emotional stability. That is narcissism, not discipleship. Jesus did not die on the cross just so we could live comfortable lives. His purpose is far deeper: He wants to make us like Himself before He returns. This is our greatest privilege, our immediate responsibility, and our ultimate destiny."
Kind of gets you thinking: He is far more interested in building my (eternal) character than in my (short-term) comfort. Hmmm...
You've been prayed for today...
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Knowing Is Not Enough
Hey, Y'all,
Today's is another short and powerful thought:
"Knowing is not enough; we must apply.
Willing is not enough; we must do."
--Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Hmmm..."Knowing is not enough...we must do." Yikes! Think about that for a minute. Words to live by...yep, words to live by.
You've been prayed for today...
Today's is another short and powerful thought:
"Knowing is not enough; we must apply.
Willing is not enough; we must do."
--Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Hmmm..."Knowing is not enough...we must do." Yikes! Think about that for a minute. Words to live by...yep, words to live by.
You've been prayed for today...
Sunday, July 20, 2008
You Play How You Practice
Hey, Y'all,
Today's RST is short and sweet, but as tends to be the case, it's potent despite (because of? :-) its brevity. Art sent this little gem my way a while back (thanks, mi he'mano):
The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.
--Muhammad Ali
Made me think of something we remind each other of frequently in men's group: you play how you practice. Kind of gets you thinkin', huh? Doesn't matter what you're talking about: you play how you practice.
You've been prayed for today...
Today's RST is short and sweet, but as tends to be the case, it's potent despite (because of? :-) its brevity. Art sent this little gem my way a while back (thanks, mi he'mano):
The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.
--Muhammad Ali
Made me think of something we remind each other of frequently in men's group: you play how you practice. Kind of gets you thinkin', huh? Doesn't matter what you're talking about: you play how you practice.
You've been prayed for today...
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Talking Down or Coming Down?
Hey, Y'all,
So today we're kind of picking up where we left off last time (although this thought actually preceded that one). A few weeks ago in men's group we were discussing James 4 and paused at verses 11 and 12:
Don't speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters...Who are you to judge your neighbor?
The commentary we're reading from added this (my paraphrase):
James' admonition 'Do not speak evil against' is, more specifically, 'do not defame' or 'do not denigrate.' A defamatory word may be perfectly true; we do not have to tell lies in order to defame. But the fact that it is true gives us no right to say it. True or false, it puts us in a position of (supposed) superiority from which we can not but 'talk down' to them. If we profess to humbly bow low before our Lord, our Savior, how can we possibly be in a position to 'talk down' to anyone?
Suppose I do know something to someone's discredit; be it ever so true, my task is not to publicize it, nor even privately to berate him with it, but to go where he is and lift him up. I must be the Samaritan to him; he is my neighbor. There is no room for talking down but only for coming down to where the one in need is, identifying with the need and abandoning self-interest so as to meet it. We are, after all, professing to follow His example, are we not?
Words to live by...
You've been prayed for today.
So today we're kind of picking up where we left off last time (although this thought actually preceded that one). A few weeks ago in men's group we were discussing James 4 and paused at verses 11 and 12:
Don't speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters...Who are you to judge your neighbor?
The commentary we're reading from added this (my paraphrase):
James' admonition 'Do not speak evil against' is, more specifically, 'do not defame' or 'do not denigrate.' A defamatory word may be perfectly true; we do not have to tell lies in order to defame. But the fact that it is true gives us no right to say it. True or false, it puts us in a position of (supposed) superiority from which we can not but 'talk down' to them. If we profess to humbly bow low before our Lord, our Savior, how can we possibly be in a position to 'talk down' to anyone?
Suppose I do know something to someone's discredit; be it ever so true, my task is not to publicize it, nor even privately to berate him with it, but to go where he is and lift him up. I must be the Samaritan to him; he is my neighbor. There is no room for talking down but only for coming down to where the one in need is, identifying with the need and abandoning self-interest so as to meet it. We are, after all, professing to follow His example, are we not?
Words to live by...
You've been prayed for today.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Gentle, Humble, Patient, Bearing
Hey, Y'all,
Ran across today's thought (based on a message by Jon Walker on PurposeDrivenLife.com) and I was again struck by the (re-)realization that we're supposed to be treating each other well as a central tenet of our Christianity (as opposed to...). So how does this hit you?
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."
Ephesians 4:2
Humorist Dave Barry says, "A perfect parent is a person with excellent child-rearing theories and no actual children." The same could be said of a perfect world or a perfect family; there's one sure way to mess things up: people!
Living with imperfect people requires patience, and you -- now, I say this as a friend -- are one of those imperfect people who requires patience. Oh, and BTW, I'm an imperfect person too. Patience means putting up with me when you'd rather lose your temper; it means forgiving me when you'd rather nurture a grudge. Patience is love in action because "love is patient" (1 Corinthians 13:4).
Now hear this: patience and a critical spirit are mutually exclusive. Even when your complaints are justified, it is patience that pulls (or pushes :-) you toward forgiving and forgetting: "A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense" (Proverbs 19:11).
Being patient may try our patience, but we become stronger when we learn to love imperfect people. And that's where the first part of this passage comes in to play -- being completely humble and gentle -- because you can be no other way when truly you realize that you too are in need of being borne with in love.
More on this next post, but in the meantime,
you've been prayed for today...
Ran across today's thought (based on a message by Jon Walker on PurposeDrivenLife.com) and I was again struck by the (re-)realization that we're supposed to be treating each other well as a central tenet of our Christianity (as opposed to...). So how does this hit you?
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."
Ephesians 4:2
Humorist Dave Barry says, "A perfect parent is a person with excellent child-rearing theories and no actual children." The same could be said of a perfect world or a perfect family; there's one sure way to mess things up: people!
Living with imperfect people requires patience, and you -- now, I say this as a friend -- are one of those imperfect people who requires patience. Oh, and BTW, I'm an imperfect person too. Patience means putting up with me when you'd rather lose your temper; it means forgiving me when you'd rather nurture a grudge. Patience is love in action because "love is patient" (1 Corinthians 13:4).
Now hear this: patience and a critical spirit are mutually exclusive. Even when your complaints are justified, it is patience that pulls (or pushes :-) you toward forgiving and forgetting: "A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense" (Proverbs 19:11).
Being patient may try our patience, but we become stronger when we learn to love imperfect people. And that's where the first part of this passage comes in to play -- being completely humble and gentle -- because you can be no other way when truly you realize that you too are in need of being borne with in love.
More on this next post, but in the meantime,
you've been prayed for today...
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Dear Dad
(Someone shared this idea with me today--thank you!)
Been thinking a lot about you today, Dad...
Unless the Lord builds a house,
the work of the builders is wasted.
Unless the Lord protects a city,
guarding it with sentries will do no good.
It is useless for you to work so hard
from early morning until late at night,
anxiously working for food to eat;
for God gives rest to his loved ones.
Children are a gift from the Lord;
they are a reward from him.
Children born to a young man
are like arrows in a warrior's hands.
How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!
He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.
Psalm 127
Yeah...I gotta say thank you (again :-)
Thank you for making it known, consistently, that God is the head of our house. Thank you for making it clear to me that I am a reward from Him to you. Thank you, Dad...more than I can say.
Now, receive the blessing, the real rest, that He has promised you (and have a happy Fathers' Day).
You've been prayed for today--dads especially...
Been thinking a lot about you today, Dad...
Unless the Lord builds a house,
the work of the builders is wasted.
Unless the Lord protects a city,
guarding it with sentries will do no good.
It is useless for you to work so hard
from early morning until late at night,
anxiously working for food to eat;
for God gives rest to his loved ones.
Children are a gift from the Lord;
they are a reward from him.
Children born to a young man
are like arrows in a warrior's hands.
How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!
He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.
Psalm 127
Yeah...I gotta say thank you (again :-)
Thank you for making it known, consistently, that God is the head of our house. Thank you for making it clear to me that I am a reward from Him to you. Thank you, Dad...more than I can say.
Now, receive the blessing, the real rest, that He has promised you (and have a happy Fathers' Day).
You've been prayed for today--dads especially...
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Service, Purpose
Hey, Y'all,
Today's RST I've also been pondering for a while. Several months ago mi hermano Art shared this pearl with me--Acts 13:36--and it's been rattling around my mind ever since...
"For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep..."
In another version it sounds like this...
"For David, after he had served his own generation in the will of God, fell asleep..."
Guess I've been thinking: what is God's purpose for me? How am I to serve my own generation? Am I honoring my particular shape, that peculiar combination of abilities (and ineptitudes :-), of passions and pet peeves, and my unique sphere of influence?
Lest anyone get too smug prematurely, what about you? There are people you touch and influence, people you can serve that I'll never even come close to meeting...So how 'bout it? What is your purpose? What are you shaped for? How will you serve?
You've been prayed for today...
Today's RST I've also been pondering for a while. Several months ago mi hermano Art shared this pearl with me--Acts 13:36--and it's been rattling around my mind ever since...
"For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep..."
In another version it sounds like this...
"For David, after he had served his own generation in the will of God, fell asleep..."
Guess I've been thinking: what is God's purpose for me? How am I to serve my own generation? Am I honoring my particular shape, that peculiar combination of abilities (and ineptitudes :-), of passions and pet peeves, and my unique sphere of influence?
Lest anyone get too smug prematurely, what about you? There are people you touch and influence, people you can serve that I'll never even come close to meeting...So how 'bout it? What is your purpose? What are you shaped for? How will you serve?
You've been prayed for today...
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Where Were You?
Hey, Y'all,
Pardon the interruption :-) These past couple-three weeks have really made me think... In fact it's been the work of several days to put this RST together (and I still can't say I've got it all down the way I'd like). Been ruminating on all sorts of things--interestingly, they've been mostly common yet devastatingly profound things...
Sunlight.
Hard rain.
Providence.
Coincidence?
The restless ocean.
Vast desert panoramas.
Colossal mountains.
Wide open plains.
The inscrutable night sky.
The past.
The future?
Weddings.
Funerals.
Births.
Love.
Change.
Can't really say precisely how these are tied together, but they certainly are in my head and heart. The experience has, I think, changed me, grown me, opened my eyes a bit more. And most importantly lent me some perspective.
I've often thought these last couple of weeks of God's non-answer to Job's questioning--it starts out like this:
Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions?
Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone--
while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?
I find myself staggered, literally, to my knees, reminded again that God is God, and I truly know nothing. I find myself answering, like Job: "I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer...Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to comprehend...I repent in dust and ashes."
Yep, as we've discussed (well, especially with one of you :-) real prayer is totally positional--it's how I know, how I learn, my place. And I find this to be a very good thing, because He said I should have no other gods before Him, and I keep dethroning Him.
So, you've been prayed for today...
Even as I put my hand over my mouth, reverently...
For surely I speak of things I do not truly understand,
things too wonderful for me to comprehend.
Pardon the interruption :-) These past couple-three weeks have really made me think... In fact it's been the work of several days to put this RST together (and I still can't say I've got it all down the way I'd like). Been ruminating on all sorts of things--interestingly, they've been mostly common yet devastatingly profound things...
Sunlight.
Hard rain.
Providence.
Coincidence?
The restless ocean.
Vast desert panoramas.
Colossal mountains.
Wide open plains.
The inscrutable night sky.
The past.
The future?
Weddings.
Funerals.
Births.
Love.
Change.
Can't really say precisely how these are tied together, but they certainly are in my head and heart. The experience has, I think, changed me, grown me, opened my eyes a bit more. And most importantly lent me some perspective.
I've often thought these last couple of weeks of God's non-answer to Job's questioning--it starts out like this:
Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions?
Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone--
while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?
I find myself staggered, literally, to my knees, reminded again that God is God, and I truly know nothing. I find myself answering, like Job: "I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer...Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to comprehend...I repent in dust and ashes."
Yep, as we've discussed (well, especially with one of you :-) real prayer is totally positional--it's how I know, how I learn, my place. And I find this to be a very good thing, because He said I should have no other gods before Him, and I keep dethroning Him.
So, you've been prayed for today...
Even as I put my hand over my mouth, reverently...
For surely I speak of things I do not truly understand,
things too wonderful for me to comprehend.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
"Gracious Uncertainty"
Hey, Y'all,
Today's RST comes to us courtesy of Sharon (thanks!) and is for me a (relatively :-) gentle reminder of what I ought to be striving toward...'course I'm sure it's just me (oh, and Sharon of course LOL!). Check it out...
Came across this in "My Utmost for His Highest" for April 29th. Thought you might appreciate it...it reminded me of our conversation about being "still" [ed.: not an easy thing, at all].
"Our natural inclination is to be so precise--trying always to forecast accurately what will happen next--that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing. We think we must reach some predetermined goal, but that is not the nature of the spiritual life. The nature of the spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty...Certainty is the mark of the commonsense life--gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life...We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God...We are not uncertain of God, just uncertain of of what He is going to do next. If our certainty is only in our beliefs, we develop a sense of self righteousness, become overly critical, and are limited by the view that our beliefs are complete and settled. But, when we have the right relationship with God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy."
Someone passed this along too:
"A simple life....a simple faith...an uncluttered mind."
Oh how life could be if we didn't have all these grandiose plans and expectations. If we exercised that good "uncertainty" we might actually achieve greater plans and expectations.
Just thought I would share.
Words to live by, Sharon--not easy by any stretch, but words to live by nonetheless. Thanks for the reminder. You (and the rest of the list) have been prayed for today...
Today's RST comes to us courtesy of Sharon (thanks!) and is for me a (relatively :-) gentle reminder of what I ought to be striving toward...'course I'm sure it's just me (oh, and Sharon of course LOL!). Check it out...
Came across this in "My Utmost for His Highest" for April 29th. Thought you might appreciate it...it reminded me of our conversation about being "still" [ed.: not an easy thing, at all].
"Our natural inclination is to be so precise--trying always to forecast accurately what will happen next--that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing. We think we must reach some predetermined goal, but that is not the nature of the spiritual life. The nature of the spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty...Certainty is the mark of the commonsense life--gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life...We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God...We are not uncertain of God, just uncertain of of what He is going to do next. If our certainty is only in our beliefs, we develop a sense of self righteousness, become overly critical, and are limited by the view that our beliefs are complete and settled. But, when we have the right relationship with God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy."
Someone passed this along too:
"A simple life....a simple faith...an uncluttered mind."
Oh how life could be if we didn't have all these grandiose plans and expectations. If we exercised that good "uncertainty" we might actually achieve greater plans and expectations.
Just thought I would share.
Words to live by, Sharon--not easy by any stretch, but words to live by nonetheless. Thanks for the reminder. You (and the rest of the list) have been prayed for today...
Monday, April 28, 2008
Slow
Hey, Y'all,
Meant to get this out while at NAF El Centro a couple of days ago (yes, it was time once again to visit "The Pearl of the Desert") but it turned out to be a crazy busy couple of days. Nevertheless, here we go...
So, maybe you're thinking the Bible is just an outdated collection of random weird stories...maybe you're thinking it has nothing to say to somewhat jaded 21st-century people who've seen it all and heard it all before...
Check this out (it's based on a couple of conversations I've had recently well as a thought from PurposeDrivenLife.com).
The Bible says we should be quick to listen (and slow to speak). In fact, here's what it says in James 1:19 -- "...Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry …." Hmmm...kinda thinkin' that it'd be nice if I kept that little tidbit handy a little more often, eh?
Here are three things that hinder our ability to hear what others are saying:
1) Presumption is when you think you already know what the other person is going to say. Yet, the Bible says, "He who answers before listening–-that is his folly and his shame." Proverbs 18:13
2) Impatience is when you interrupt and jump to conclusions: "There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking." Proverbs 29:20
3) Pride is when you become defensive and unteachable: "The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice." Proverbs 12:15
And here's the parting shot for today--yep, yet another irrelevant word: "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Proverbs 15:1
Hmmm...so how true were those?!?
You've been prayed for today...
Meant to get this out while at NAF El Centro a couple of days ago (yes, it was time once again to visit "The Pearl of the Desert") but it turned out to be a crazy busy couple of days. Nevertheless, here we go...
So, maybe you're thinking the Bible is just an outdated collection of random weird stories...maybe you're thinking it has nothing to say to somewhat jaded 21st-century people who've seen it all and heard it all before...
Check this out (it's based on a couple of conversations I've had recently well as a thought from PurposeDrivenLife.com).
The Bible says we should be quick to listen (and slow to speak). In fact, here's what it says in James 1:19 -- "...Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry …." Hmmm...kinda thinkin' that it'd be nice if I kept that little tidbit handy a little more often, eh?
Here are three things that hinder our ability to hear what others are saying:
1) Presumption is when you think you already know what the other person is going to say. Yet, the Bible says, "He who answers before listening–-that is his folly and his shame." Proverbs 18:13
2) Impatience is when you interrupt and jump to conclusions: "There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking." Proverbs 29:20
3) Pride is when you become defensive and unteachable: "The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice." Proverbs 12:15
And here's the parting shot for today--yep, yet another irrelevant word: "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Proverbs 15:1
Hmmm...so how true were those?!?
You've been prayed for today...
Friday, April 18, 2008
He's Awake, And He's Working
Hey, Y'all,
You know, I was just thinking that I seem to be in an "Amplified Bible" kind of mood today, and then I realized that evidently I've also got Philippians on the brain (though admittedly in an oddly inverted fashion, as you'll see)...funny how these things come together. And BTW, ya gotta love the Amplified Bible version--it might seem a little clumsy to read occasionally, but I love how it fleshes out the meaning of key words and sometimes puts them in a brand new light for me. Anyway, here are today's thoughts...
I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient but only in Christ's sufficiency].
Philippians 4:13
I love that thought: that thanks to His empowerment I am up to meeting anything that comes my way--'cause things happen (or maybe it's just me again? :-)
It is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and delight.
Philippians 2:13
I love this thought: God is constantly, effectually, at work in me, creating in me both the actual want and the ability to please Him. He meets me WAY more than half-way: He not only gives me the strength, He gives me the very desire to seek His way, to seek Him. Now, how cool is that?
And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.
Phil 1:6
I really love this as the parting thought: our God isn't a half-way God, He isn't a "gonna-leave-me-hangin' now-you're-on-your-own" kind of God. He who began this good work in us neither slumbers nor sleeps (a tip o' the hat to one of my favorite Psalms--121--check it out :-) He who began that good work in you, whatever it may be, will faithfully bring it to full completion...
It occurs to me (yet again) that God is good, and that's the truth.
You've been prayed for today...
You know, I was just thinking that I seem to be in an "Amplified Bible" kind of mood today, and then I realized that evidently I've also got Philippians on the brain (though admittedly in an oddly inverted fashion, as you'll see)...funny how these things come together. And BTW, ya gotta love the Amplified Bible version--it might seem a little clumsy to read occasionally, but I love how it fleshes out the meaning of key words and sometimes puts them in a brand new light for me. Anyway, here are today's thoughts...
I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient but only in Christ's sufficiency].
Philippians 4:13
I love that thought: that thanks to His empowerment I am up to meeting anything that comes my way--'cause things happen (or maybe it's just me again? :-)
It is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and delight.
Philippians 2:13
I love this thought: God is constantly, effectually, at work in me, creating in me both the actual want and the ability to please Him. He meets me WAY more than half-way: He not only gives me the strength, He gives me the very desire to seek His way, to seek Him. Now, how cool is that?
And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.
Phil 1:6
I really love this as the parting thought: our God isn't a half-way God, He isn't a "gonna-leave-me-hangin' now-you're-on-your-own" kind of God. He who began this good work in us neither slumbers nor sleeps (a tip o' the hat to one of my favorite Psalms--121--check it out :-) He who began that good work in you, whatever it may be, will faithfully bring it to full completion...
It occurs to me (yet again) that God is good, and that's the truth.
You've been prayed for today...
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
"Between His Shoulders"
Hey, Y'all,
Today's RST is one of those whose very simplicity makes it unexpectedly powerful, sublime. It's found in Deuteronomy 33 (verse 12) where Moses' final blessings and prophecies regarding the Twelve Tribes of Israel are recorded. Funny...actually, I think of this verse fairly often, and must say that, without fail, I experience the same sense of wonder, of peace and reassurance, as the first time I heard it; like a cool breeze in the middle of an oppressively hot day, like that first gulp of cool water then you're utterly parched...funny too how Psalm 42's "As a deer pants (or longs) for streams of water, so my soul longs for You, O Lord," comes immediately to mind.
Anyway, it goes like this:
"Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him,
for He shields him all day long,
and the one the LORD loves
rests between His shoulders."
There's something about that phrase, "The one the LORD loves rests between His shoulders," that soothes me...probably 'cause they're mighty big shoulders, and consequently I can see myself resting secure there. How 'bout you?
You've been prayed for today...
Today's RST is one of those whose very simplicity makes it unexpectedly powerful, sublime. It's found in Deuteronomy 33 (verse 12) where Moses' final blessings and prophecies regarding the Twelve Tribes of Israel are recorded. Funny...actually, I think of this verse fairly often, and must say that, without fail, I experience the same sense of wonder, of peace and reassurance, as the first time I heard it; like a cool breeze in the middle of an oppressively hot day, like that first gulp of cool water then you're utterly parched...funny too how Psalm 42's "As a deer pants (or longs) for streams of water, so my soul longs for You, O Lord," comes immediately to mind.
Anyway, it goes like this:
"Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him,
for He shields him all day long,
and the one the LORD loves
rests between His shoulders."
There's something about that phrase, "The one the LORD loves rests between His shoulders," that soothes me...probably 'cause they're mighty big shoulders, and consequently I can see myself resting secure there. How 'bout you?
You've been prayed for today...
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
"God Lives Under The Bed"
Hey, Y'all,
This is "a nice reminder of the importance of having a simple God-filled life...that's all you ever really need (or matters)." Thank you--you know who you are :-)
God Lives Under The Bed
I envy Kevin. My brother Kevin thinks God lives under his bed. At least that's what I heard him say one night.
He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped to listen, 'Are you there, God?' he said. 'Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed...'
I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room. Kevin's unique perspectives are often a source of amusement. But that night something else lingered long after the humor I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in.
He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2), there are few ways in which he is an adult.
He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old, and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them.
I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different. Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life? Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the
disabled, home to walk our cocker spaniel, return to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for dinner, and later to bed. nnThe only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child.
He does not seem dissatisfied.
He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple work. He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day's laundry chores.
And Saturdays-oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That's the day my Dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculates loudly on the destination of each passenger inside. 'That one's goin' to Chi-car-go!' Kevin shouts as he claps his hands. His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights.
And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips. He doesn't know what it means to be discontent. His life is simple.
He will never know the entanglements of wealth of power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. His needs have always been met, and he never worries that one day they may not be.
His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy as when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in it. He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not leave a job until it is finished. But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax.
He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others. His heart is pure. He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue.
Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere. And he trusts God.
Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child. Kevin seems to know God -- to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an 'educated' person to grasp. God seems like his closest companion.
In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith. It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions.
It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances - they all become disabilities when I do not trust them to God's care.
Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn? After all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark and soaking up the
goodness and love of God.
And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I'll realize that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed.
And Kevin? He won't be surprised at all!
You've been prayed for today...
This is "a nice reminder of the importance of having a simple God-filled life...that's all you ever really need (or matters)." Thank you--you know who you are :-)
God Lives Under The Bed
I envy Kevin. My brother Kevin thinks God lives under his bed. At least that's what I heard him say one night.
He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped to listen, 'Are you there, God?' he said. 'Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed...'
I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room. Kevin's unique perspectives are often a source of amusement. But that night something else lingered long after the humor I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in.
He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2), there are few ways in which he is an adult.
He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old, and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them.
I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different. Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life? Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the
disabled, home to walk our cocker spaniel, return to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for dinner, and later to bed. nnThe only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child.
He does not seem dissatisfied.
He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple work. He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day's laundry chores.
And Saturdays-oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That's the day my Dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculates loudly on the destination of each passenger inside. 'That one's goin' to Chi-car-go!' Kevin shouts as he claps his hands. His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights.
And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips. He doesn't know what it means to be discontent. His life is simple.
He will never know the entanglements of wealth of power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. His needs have always been met, and he never worries that one day they may not be.
His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy as when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in it. He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not leave a job until it is finished. But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax.
He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others. His heart is pure. He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue.
Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere. And he trusts God.
Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child. Kevin seems to know God -- to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an 'educated' person to grasp. God seems like his closest companion.
In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith. It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions.
It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances - they all become disabilities when I do not trust them to God's care.
Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn? After all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark and soaking up the
goodness and love of God.
And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I'll realize that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed.
And Kevin? He won't be surprised at all!
You've been prayed for today...
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Sustained, Not Shaken...
Hey, Y'all,
Got this from Michelle (pointing out how "coincidences" happen where God is)--thanks for sharing it with the list...
"I went on a walk today to spend some time with The Lord and I was just pouring out my heart and talking to him because lately I have been in a funk. After my morning walk I came home and opened my email and this was the verse for the day. It was perfect...EXACTLY what I needed. I thought others would enjoy knowing that God wants to hear about our problems and desires to be there for us. He is in love with us! Then I thought, well I am not perfect and mess up all the time and maybe He is unhappy with me...Then the thought flooded in, 'It's not because of who you are--it's because of who He is!' And we can meditate on that and come boldly before Him in prayer--knowing we don't deserve it--and thank Him for loving us while we were yet sinners. That's a pretty amazing concept. He made everything and knows about everything that is happening in the world and yet--He still has the longing (and ability) to talk one on one with each of us. Now this is LOVE..."
Cast your burdens upon the LORD and He will sustain you;
He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
Psalm 55:22
(Thanks, Michelle)
You've been prayed for today...
Got this from Michelle (pointing out how "coincidences" happen where God is)--thanks for sharing it with the list...
"I went on a walk today to spend some time with The Lord and I was just pouring out my heart and talking to him because lately I have been in a funk. After my morning walk I came home and opened my email and this was the verse for the day. It was perfect...EXACTLY what I needed. I thought others would enjoy knowing that God wants to hear about our problems and desires to be there for us. He is in love with us! Then I thought, well I am not perfect and mess up all the time and maybe He is unhappy with me...Then the thought flooded in, 'It's not because of who you are--it's because of who He is!' And we can meditate on that and come boldly before Him in prayer--knowing we don't deserve it--and thank Him for loving us while we were yet sinners. That's a pretty amazing concept. He made everything and knows about everything that is happening in the world and yet--He still has the longing (and ability) to talk one on one with each of us. Now this is LOVE..."
Cast your burdens upon the LORD and He will sustain you;
He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
Psalm 55:22
(Thanks, Michelle)
You've been prayed for today...
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Growing Through The Motions: "Faint Not"
Hey, Y'all,
Pardon the interruption :-) minor home network issues slowin' me down some, but fret not, we're back. Today's thought is by Joel Kibble (yes, one of the guys in Take 6)--it's a little longer than usual, but it's a great story with a great point, and besides, I know y'all are big boys and girls :-). So, here we go...
"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Galatians 6:9
Most of the people who have known me for a long time know that I have always been a swimmer. Between the ages of 7 and 14, I swam for various swim teams in Alabama, finally joining a Junior Olympic team in Huntsville.
The swimming schedule was hectic. Every afternoon during the school year, I would leave school at 3 p.m. and head directly to swimming practice for two to two-and-a-half hours. The remainder of the evening would be devoted to doing homework until bedtime. Twice a week, I would be required to attend early morning training before school for an hour and a half, rising at 4:30 a.m. to be on time. When school let out for the summer and most kids departed for vacation fun, training for me was increased to every morning and every afternoon. Needless to say, it seemed as though there wasn't enough time in the day to do what I wanted to do before I had to return to the swimming pool.
In practice, most of the workout was devoted to technique and muscle training, spending large amounts of time exploding from the starting blocks and speeding up our flip turns at the other end. I can't forget to mention the drudgery of long distance swimming, and the lung-burning sprints. We were required to swim with floats positioned between our legs, while our feet were bound together to strengthen our arms. Then we kicked for miles holding on to a kickboard to strengthen our legs. Day in and day out, summer after school year, school year after summer, this was my schedule.
It is an understatement to say that I was bored to tears at times. The possibility of hanging out with friends and getting to know girls often gave way to that perpetual black line at the bottom of the pool. I hated the fact that I didn't have much of a social life, and while my body was in training, my mind was often somewhere else. Many times, I felt that my heart wasn't into it. I was just going through the motions, and because of that, I felt like I was simply "faking it." I often questioned myself. "If my heart isn't into the grueling swimming practices," I thought, "shouldn't I just quit and find something else that excites me? Why should I continue to go through the motions?" "I'm not accomplishing anything!"
Well, going through the motions does accomplish something. The truth of the matter is that all the instances of "going through the motions," whether my heart was in it or not, taught my muscles proper muscle response that only consistency could. Long afternoons of endless distance stroking I could have done asleep…that's how much I repeated the same motions; but those same motions were being committed to muscle memory every morning before school and every afternoon following school. When the big swimming competitions came, I simply needed to allow my body to do what it had been trained to do for years. I could then focus on doing my best rather than focusing on executing technique. Proper technique had been firmly entrenched into my soul during the drudgery of the many hours of practice I had logged over the years. Interestingly enough, I owe the blue ribbons, trophies and victories to the process of, you guessed it, "going through the motions."
It's funny then, that I've since decided that, in life, going through the motions has been less than noble. The process of going through the right motions is not fruitless, no matter how monotonous.
There have been a thousand times since that I've found myself going through the motions with marriage, child rearing, Take 6, ministry, family duties, finances, health issues, interpersonal relationships, etc. I can truly say that my heart has been in and out of each of these commitments; but the reason God admonishes us not to "be weary in well-doing" is because quite often, we may not be "feeling it." At times, "doing well" may feel like nothing more than going through the motions, but the right motions do accomplish something.
If you feel that you are going through the motions in some aspect of your life, take courage. "Feeling it" is not a requirement in doing God's will; but obedience is. Your heart will return if you are faithful to God and "faint not." No matter what you are feeling or not feeling, with God, you'll find that while going though the motions, you've been growing through the motions…right into what He wants you to be.
Amen to that, huh? Now mind you, I don't believe God created us for perpetual drudgery, but it's good to know that in God's economy, nothing is ever wasted--not even those stretches where all you can do is breathe in, breathe out, and put one foot in front of the other. God is good, and that's the truth.
You've been prayed for today...
Pardon the interruption :-) minor home network issues slowin' me down some, but fret not, we're back. Today's thought is by Joel Kibble (yes, one of the guys in Take 6)--it's a little longer than usual, but it's a great story with a great point, and besides, I know y'all are big boys and girls :-). So, here we go...
"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Galatians 6:9
Most of the people who have known me for a long time know that I have always been a swimmer. Between the ages of 7 and 14, I swam for various swim teams in Alabama, finally joining a Junior Olympic team in Huntsville.
The swimming schedule was hectic. Every afternoon during the school year, I would leave school at 3 p.m. and head directly to swimming practice for two to two-and-a-half hours. The remainder of the evening would be devoted to doing homework until bedtime. Twice a week, I would be required to attend early morning training before school for an hour and a half, rising at 4:30 a.m. to be on time. When school let out for the summer and most kids departed for vacation fun, training for me was increased to every morning and every afternoon. Needless to say, it seemed as though there wasn't enough time in the day to do what I wanted to do before I had to return to the swimming pool.
In practice, most of the workout was devoted to technique and muscle training, spending large amounts of time exploding from the starting blocks and speeding up our flip turns at the other end. I can't forget to mention the drudgery of long distance swimming, and the lung-burning sprints. We were required to swim with floats positioned between our legs, while our feet were bound together to strengthen our arms. Then we kicked for miles holding on to a kickboard to strengthen our legs. Day in and day out, summer after school year, school year after summer, this was my schedule.
It is an understatement to say that I was bored to tears at times. The possibility of hanging out with friends and getting to know girls often gave way to that perpetual black line at the bottom of the pool. I hated the fact that I didn't have much of a social life, and while my body was in training, my mind was often somewhere else. Many times, I felt that my heart wasn't into it. I was just going through the motions, and because of that, I felt like I was simply "faking it." I often questioned myself. "If my heart isn't into the grueling swimming practices," I thought, "shouldn't I just quit and find something else that excites me? Why should I continue to go through the motions?" "I'm not accomplishing anything!"
Well, going through the motions does accomplish something. The truth of the matter is that all the instances of "going through the motions," whether my heart was in it or not, taught my muscles proper muscle response that only consistency could. Long afternoons of endless distance stroking I could have done asleep…that's how much I repeated the same motions; but those same motions were being committed to muscle memory every morning before school and every afternoon following school. When the big swimming competitions came, I simply needed to allow my body to do what it had been trained to do for years. I could then focus on doing my best rather than focusing on executing technique. Proper technique had been firmly entrenched into my soul during the drudgery of the many hours of practice I had logged over the years. Interestingly enough, I owe the blue ribbons, trophies and victories to the process of, you guessed it, "going through the motions."
It's funny then, that I've since decided that, in life, going through the motions has been less than noble. The process of going through the right motions is not fruitless, no matter how monotonous.
There have been a thousand times since that I've found myself going through the motions with marriage, child rearing, Take 6, ministry, family duties, finances, health issues, interpersonal relationships, etc. I can truly say that my heart has been in and out of each of these commitments; but the reason God admonishes us not to "be weary in well-doing" is because quite often, we may not be "feeling it." At times, "doing well" may feel like nothing more than going through the motions, but the right motions do accomplish something.
If you feel that you are going through the motions in some aspect of your life, take courage. "Feeling it" is not a requirement in doing God's will; but obedience is. Your heart will return if you are faithful to God and "faint not." No matter what you are feeling or not feeling, with God, you'll find that while going though the motions, you've been growing through the motions…right into what He wants you to be.
Amen to that, huh? Now mind you, I don't believe God created us for perpetual drudgery, but it's good to know that in God's economy, nothing is ever wasted--not even those stretches where all you can do is breathe in, breathe out, and put one foot in front of the other. God is good, and that's the truth.
You've been prayed for today...
Friday, February 29, 2008
Watching Wind, Staring At Clouds
Hey, Y'all,
Found this in my Inbox the other day and been thinking about it off and on since--thanks! (you know who you are :-) It's Ecclesiastes 11:4-6...
He who watches the wind will not sow
and he who looks at the clouds will not reap.
Just as you do not know the path of the wind
and how bones are formed
in the womb of the pregnant woman,
so you do not know the activity of God
Who makes all things.
Sow your seed in the morning
and do not be idle in the evening,
for you do not know
whether the morning or evening sowing will succeed,
or whether both of them alike will be good.
Here it is in another version...
When the clouds are full of water, it rains.
When the wind blows down a tree, it lies where it falls.
Don't sit there watching the wind. Do your own work.
Don't stare at the clouds. Get on with your life.
Just as you'll never understand the mystery
of life forming in a pregnant woman,
So you'll never understand
the mystery at work in all that God does.
Go to work in the morning
and stick to it until evening
without watching the clock.
You never know
from moment to moment
how your work will turn out in the end.
Think about it for a minute...Now, ain't that the truth? Ya just gotta love Solomon...and his God--yours and mine as well :-)
You've been prayed for today, BTW.
Found this in my Inbox the other day and been thinking about it off and on since--thanks! (you know who you are :-) It's Ecclesiastes 11:4-6...
He who watches the wind will not sow
and he who looks at the clouds will not reap.
Just as you do not know the path of the wind
and how bones are formed
in the womb of the pregnant woman,
so you do not know the activity of God
Who makes all things.
Sow your seed in the morning
and do not be idle in the evening,
for you do not know
whether the morning or evening sowing will succeed,
or whether both of them alike will be good.
Here it is in another version...
When the clouds are full of water, it rains.
When the wind blows down a tree, it lies where it falls.
Don't sit there watching the wind. Do your own work.
Don't stare at the clouds. Get on with your life.
Just as you'll never understand the mystery
of life forming in a pregnant woman,
So you'll never understand
the mystery at work in all that God does.
Go to work in the morning
and stick to it until evening
without watching the clock.
You never know
from moment to moment
how your work will turn out in the end.
Think about it for a minute...Now, ain't that the truth? Ya just gotta love Solomon...and his God--yours and mine as well :-)
You've been prayed for today, BTW.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Intercede --- Gently, Carefully.
Hey, Y'all,
Today's RST is short and sweet (but as usual, not a little thought-provoking). In his classic devotional My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers said:
"God never allows us to see another person at fault so we may criticize them, but only that we might intercede."
Made me think of Galatians 6:2, "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." How true is that? 'Course, in the process of checking out the context, verse 1 practically leapt out at me: "Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted."
Hmmm..."gently"..."carefully"...is that your style?
You've been prayed for today.
Today's RST is short and sweet (but as usual, not a little thought-provoking). In his classic devotional My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers said:
"God never allows us to see another person at fault so we may criticize them, but only that we might intercede."
Made me think of Galatians 6:2, "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." How true is that? 'Course, in the process of checking out the context, verse 1 practically leapt out at me: "Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted."
Hmmm..."gently"..."carefully"...is that your style?
You've been prayed for today.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Reply To "Let Nothing Perturb You" -- "Send Faith"
Hey, Y'all,
Heard back re: this recent RST from a good friend who I value not only for his sense of humor but for his depth--thanks, brother, for passing this on.
I am always impressed with the use of the word 'buttress', and you used it as a verb! You are the man!
Since learning the Serenity Prayer about 7 years ago, I have often used it to forcefully buttress my own faith. I often use it to remind myself to focus on acceptance when I am angry about something beyond my control. I more frequently repeat it as a kind of meditation when I am scared silly or very nervous. It can have a calming effect because most of my fear is about something outside of me that I cannot change or something I can change but just need some courage to do it.
There is a short saying that I really like that demonstrates the effect of the Serenity Prayer on my fear. "Fear knocked at the door. When Faith opened the door, there was nobody there." The Serenity Prayer reminds me to quit freaking out when Fear knocks at the door and to send Faith to answer the knock.
Words to live by..."Send Faith to answer the knock."
You've been prayed for today...
Heard back re: this recent RST from a good friend who I value not only for his sense of humor but for his depth--thanks, brother, for passing this on.
I am always impressed with the use of the word 'buttress', and you used it as a verb! You are the man!
Since learning the Serenity Prayer about 7 years ago, I have often used it to forcefully buttress my own faith. I often use it to remind myself to focus on acceptance when I am angry about something beyond my control. I more frequently repeat it as a kind of meditation when I am scared silly or very nervous. It can have a calming effect because most of my fear is about something outside of me that I cannot change or something I can change but just need some courage to do it.
There is a short saying that I really like that demonstrates the effect of the Serenity Prayer on my fear. "Fear knocked at the door. When Faith opened the door, there was nobody there." The Serenity Prayer reminds me to quit freaking out when Fear knocks at the door and to send Faith to answer the knock.
Words to live by..."Send Faith to answer the knock."
You've been prayed for today...
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Love
The simple elegance of this passage makes any poor introduction or discussion on my part utterly superfluous;
1 Corinthians 13 says...
If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing.
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when full understanding comes, these partial things will become useless.
When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.
Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—
and the greatest of these is love.
Thank God for that.
You've been prayed for today...
1 Corinthians 13 says...
If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing.
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when full understanding comes, these partial things will become useless.
When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.
Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—
and the greatest of these is love.
Thank God for that.
You've been prayed for today...
Monday, February 11, 2008
The One Principle
Hey, Y'all,
Happy Monday (ahhh, sweet irony... :-)
Today, a short story.
So I'm in Anaheim last night, waiting for the train to take me back to SD after a great day of enjoying the company of friends (family, really) and especially one of my favorite little birthday girls (Stella-Bella!). We'd just gotten done talking in church the day before about reclaiming and redeeming these little "waiting" fragments of time--in line at the grocery store, in traffic, at the train station. So since we're reading James in men's group I gave it a quick gander and then let my mind wander--or, as we learned yesterday (thanks, Chip!) opened up my mind to His prompting as I meditated on the passage. Got to thinking about and praying for some of you, my people, dealing with the stuff you're dealing with.
So the train arrives, and I clamber aboard--long day--and grab a seat on the West side ('course no ocean to be seen 'cause barely a sliver of a new moon, oh well, still, it's the principle of the thing). So the train gets going again and the Lord and I do as well, once again just staring out of the window and mentally meandering through the James 1 stuff again--trials, joy, maturity, baseline lack of wisdom and God's generosity in supplementing it, doubting and not, standing firm versus getting tossed about, and then right back to my people and prayer. Funny, 'cause the very next thought after that prayer was clear as a bell, a quote I hadn't seen in a while but which came to mind with startling clarity (check out John 14:26 for more on that phenomenon--thanks Ellis!). Some of this we've talked about before here, but it's been a while, and the last line is what leapt out at me this time and stuck with me all the way home where I looked it up and started this thought. (Aside: to quote our brother Kirk Franklin: "To all my people in the struggle--here's some pain medicine." Righteous).
Worry is blind and cannot discern the future; but Jesus sees the end from the beginning. In every difficulty He has His way prepared to bring relief.
"No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11). Our heavenly Father has a thousand ways to provide for us of which we know nothing.
Those who accept the one principle of making the service of God supreme, will find perplexities vanish and a plain path before their feet.
(Ministry of Healing p.480)
"Perplexities vanish and a plain path before their feet"...yeah, that sounds like a plan. Seek first...perplexities vanish. Seek first...plain path appears. Now if I can just remember that one little detail--seek first, "accept the one principle..." Anything you're seeking first that isn't "the one principle" or is it just me again? :-)
You've been prayed for today...
Happy Monday (ahhh, sweet irony... :-)
Today, a short story.
So I'm in Anaheim last night, waiting for the train to take me back to SD after a great day of enjoying the company of friends (family, really) and especially one of my favorite little birthday girls (Stella-Bella!). We'd just gotten done talking in church the day before about reclaiming and redeeming these little "waiting" fragments of time--in line at the grocery store, in traffic, at the train station. So since we're reading James in men's group I gave it a quick gander and then let my mind wander--or, as we learned yesterday (thanks, Chip!) opened up my mind to His prompting as I meditated on the passage. Got to thinking about and praying for some of you, my people, dealing with the stuff you're dealing with.
So the train arrives, and I clamber aboard--long day--and grab a seat on the West side ('course no ocean to be seen 'cause barely a sliver of a new moon, oh well, still, it's the principle of the thing). So the train gets going again and the Lord and I do as well, once again just staring out of the window and mentally meandering through the James 1 stuff again--trials, joy, maturity, baseline lack of wisdom and God's generosity in supplementing it, doubting and not, standing firm versus getting tossed about, and then right back to my people and prayer. Funny, 'cause the very next thought after that prayer was clear as a bell, a quote I hadn't seen in a while but which came to mind with startling clarity (check out John 14:26 for more on that phenomenon--thanks Ellis!). Some of this we've talked about before here, but it's been a while, and the last line is what leapt out at me this time and stuck with me all the way home where I looked it up and started this thought. (Aside: to quote our brother Kirk Franklin: "To all my people in the struggle--here's some pain medicine." Righteous).
Worry is blind and cannot discern the future; but Jesus sees the end from the beginning. In every difficulty He has His way prepared to bring relief.
"No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11). Our heavenly Father has a thousand ways to provide for us of which we know nothing.
Those who accept the one principle of making the service of God supreme, will find perplexities vanish and a plain path before their feet.
(Ministry of Healing p.480)
"Perplexities vanish and a plain path before their feet"...yeah, that sounds like a plan. Seek first...perplexities vanish. Seek first...plain path appears. Now if I can just remember that one little detail--seek first, "accept the one principle..." Anything you're seeking first that isn't "the one principle" or is it just me again? :-)
You've been prayed for today...
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Let Nothing Perturb You
Hey, Y'all,
A few days ago I was telling someone ('sup, E :-) about this incredibly powerful little poem called "Nada Te Turbe" ("Let Nothing Perturb You") written by Teresa de Avila (also known as Teresa de Jesus--something to aspire to, no? :-), a Carmelite nun who lived in Spain in the 1500s. I read it years ago in a Spanish literature class and I don't think it would be overstating things to say that it changed my life--it's one of those seemingly insignificant little things that has surprisingly forcefully buttressed my faith through the fierce storms of doubt and impatience that we go through...'course I'm sure that it's just me who goes through 'em :-)
God is good, and that's the truth.
"Nada te turbe,
nada te espante,
todo se pasa;
Dios no se muda.
La paciencia
todo lo alcanza.
Quien a Dios tiene,
nada le falta.
Sólo Dios basta."
(Let nothing perturb you,
Nothing dismay you,
All things pass;
God never changes.
Patience achieves all.
Whoever has God
lacks nothing.
He alone is enough.)
You've been prayed for today...
A few days ago I was telling someone ('sup, E :-) about this incredibly powerful little poem called "Nada Te Turbe" ("Let Nothing Perturb You") written by Teresa de Avila (also known as Teresa de Jesus--something to aspire to, no? :-), a Carmelite nun who lived in Spain in the 1500s. I read it years ago in a Spanish literature class and I don't think it would be overstating things to say that it changed my life--it's one of those seemingly insignificant little things that has surprisingly forcefully buttressed my faith through the fierce storms of doubt and impatience that we go through...'course I'm sure that it's just me who goes through 'em :-)
God is good, and that's the truth.
"Nada te turbe,
nada te espante,
todo se pasa;
Dios no se muda.
La paciencia
todo lo alcanza.
Quien a Dios tiene,
nada le falta.
Sólo Dios basta."
(Let nothing perturb you,
Nothing dismay you,
All things pass;
God never changes.
Patience achieves all.
Whoever has God
lacks nothing.
He alone is enough.)
You've been prayed for today...
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Would Choose To Be Led, If...
Nothing like a birthday to get one contemplative, huh? :-)
Today's RST is short but powerful...
God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led, if they could see the end from the beginning and discern the glory of the purpose which they are fulfilling as coworkers with Him.
Desire of Ages, pp. 224, 225.
You've been prayed for today...
Today's RST is short but powerful...
God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led, if they could see the end from the beginning and discern the glory of the purpose which they are fulfilling as coworkers with Him.
Desire of Ages, pp. 224, 225.
You've been prayed for today...
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Just Do It!
Hey, Y'all,
Today's RST is related to a passage in James (the book we're discussing in men's group).
Ran across this...
Do what the Lord bids you,
where He bids you,
as He bids you,
as long as He bids you,
and do it at once.
--Charles Spurgeon
Which reminded me of this...
"Do not merely listen to the word,
and so deceive yourselves.
Do what it says."
--James 1:22
Walk the walk.
You've been prayed for today...
Today's RST is related to a passage in James (the book we're discussing in men's group).
Ran across this...
Do what the Lord bids you,
where He bids you,
as He bids you,
as long as He bids you,
and do it at once.
--Charles Spurgeon
Which reminded me of this...
"Do not merely listen to the word,
and so deceive yourselves.
Do what it says."
--James 1:22
Walk the walk.
You've been prayed for today...
Thursday, January 24, 2008
"Is anything too hard for me?"
Hey, Y'all,
Greetings from "The Pearl Of The Desert" NAF El Centro, part-time home of the Blue Angels (who happen to be in town and practicing)--you know, sometimes I really, really love this job :-).
I actually ran across today's RST several weeks ago and saved it 'cause it literally jumped out of the page at me--for some reason it's been rattling around my brain since last night:
"I am the LORD, the God of all mankind.
Is anything too hard for me?"
Jeremiah 32:27
The context was kind of difficult for Israel--you'll recall Jeremiah wasn't exactly a "happy-happy-joy-joy" prophet--maybe that's part of why this text leapt out at me. As we've often discussed in men's group (and at church in general): God is God--I am (very much) not. I don't have all the facts; I am incapable of seeing the big picture (not to mention the really big picture)--so why do I worry when I have apparently suffered a setback?
Did not Christ Himself promise to meet all my needs and never leave me nor forsake me (in innumerable Old and New Testament passages)? Am I not promised His comfort and care (and ultimate triumph) as I am passing through the deep waters and fires of this life? (see Isaiah 43:2 among other places in, again, the New and Old Testaments). Repeatedly Jeremiah himself records God's reassurance--29:11 ring a bell? "I have plans for you...to give you hope and a future." Paul and James remind us that ALL things work to our benefit when He is allowed to show us how.
A couple of quotes of Ellen White's spring to mind where she joins the chorus of (also-innumerable) more-contemporary Christian writers who reiterate the promise: Our heavenly Father has a thousand ways to provide for us of which we know nothing; We will someday look over our lives and see that moments we experienced as great disappointments were in fact, unbeknownst to us, moments of great blessing. No wonder David couldn't help but exclaim: "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits..."
You've been prayed for today...
Greetings from "The Pearl Of The Desert" NAF El Centro, part-time home of the Blue Angels (who happen to be in town and practicing)--you know, sometimes I really, really love this job :-).
I actually ran across today's RST several weeks ago and saved it 'cause it literally jumped out of the page at me--for some reason it's been rattling around my brain since last night:
"I am the LORD, the God of all mankind.
Is anything too hard for me?"
Jeremiah 32:27
The context was kind of difficult for Israel--you'll recall Jeremiah wasn't exactly a "happy-happy-joy-joy" prophet--maybe that's part of why this text leapt out at me. As we've often discussed in men's group (and at church in general): God is God--I am (very much) not. I don't have all the facts; I am incapable of seeing the big picture (not to mention the really big picture)--so why do I worry when I have apparently suffered a setback?
Did not Christ Himself promise to meet all my needs and never leave me nor forsake me (in innumerable Old and New Testament passages)? Am I not promised His comfort and care (and ultimate triumph) as I am passing through the deep waters and fires of this life? (see Isaiah 43:2 among other places in, again, the New and Old Testaments). Repeatedly Jeremiah himself records God's reassurance--29:11 ring a bell? "I have plans for you...to give you hope and a future." Paul and James remind us that ALL things work to our benefit when He is allowed to show us how.
A couple of quotes of Ellen White's spring to mind where she joins the chorus of (also-innumerable) more-contemporary Christian writers who reiterate the promise: Our heavenly Father has a thousand ways to provide for us of which we know nothing; We will someday look over our lives and see that moments we experienced as great disappointments were in fact, unbeknownst to us, moments of great blessing. No wonder David couldn't help but exclaim: "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits..."
"I am the LORD, the God of all mankind.
Is anything too hard for me?"
You've been prayed for today...
Monday, January 21, 2008
God Is Love: Therefore We...
Hey, Y'all,
Ran across this passage a few days ago, been rattling around in my head ever since. We just started discussing the book of James in our men's group and in chapter 1 (verses 22-27) it says:
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
What jumped out at me was the similarity of that message with that of Isaiah 1:11-18--basically this: "Stop merely doing stuff 'cause you think it appeases me as if I was some heathen God that needed appeasing. I AM Love; my Way is Love; my followers ought to manifest this trait above all others--including 'being right' and 'doing the right things'" (for more on that see all of 1 Corinthians 13 but especially verses 1-3 as well as 1 John 4 especially verses 7-8 and 19-21). Here's the Isaiah passage:
"The multitude of your sacrifices—
what are they to me?" says the LORD.
"I have more than enough of burnt offerings,
of rams and the fat of fattened animals;
I have no pleasure
in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
"When you come to appear before me,
who has asked this of you,
this trampling of my courts?
"Stop bringing meaningless offerings!
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—
I cannot bear your evil assemblies.
Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts
my soul hates.
They have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
"When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even if you offer many prayers,
I will not listen.
Your hands are full of blood;
wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds
out of my sight!
"Stop doing wrong,
learn to do right!
Seek justice,
encourage the oppressed.
Defend the cause of the fatherless,
plead the case of the widow.
"Come now, let us reason together,"
says the LORD.
"Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool."
God IS Love, therefore we, His professed followers...what?
You've been prayed for today...
Ran across this passage a few days ago, been rattling around in my head ever since. We just started discussing the book of James in our men's group and in chapter 1 (verses 22-27) it says:
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
What jumped out at me was the similarity of that message with that of Isaiah 1:11-18--basically this: "Stop merely doing stuff 'cause you think it appeases me as if I was some heathen God that needed appeasing. I AM Love; my Way is Love; my followers ought to manifest this trait above all others--including 'being right' and 'doing the right things'" (for more on that see all of 1 Corinthians 13 but especially verses 1-3 as well as 1 John 4 especially verses 7-8 and 19-21). Here's the Isaiah passage:
"The multitude of your sacrifices—
what are they to me?" says the LORD.
"I have more than enough of burnt offerings,
of rams and the fat of fattened animals;
I have no pleasure
in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
"When you come to appear before me,
who has asked this of you,
this trampling of my courts?
"Stop bringing meaningless offerings!
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—
I cannot bear your evil assemblies.
Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts
my soul hates.
They have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
"When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even if you offer many prayers,
I will not listen.
Your hands are full of blood;
wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds
out of my sight!
"Stop doing wrong,
learn to do right!
Seek justice,
encourage the oppressed.
Defend the cause of the fatherless,
plead the case of the widow.
"Come now, let us reason together,"
says the LORD.
"Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool."
God IS Love, therefore we, His professed followers...what?
You've been prayed for today...
Monday, January 14, 2008
Pascal On Our "Miseries"
Hey, Y'all,
First, a small piece of housekeeping: it was pointed out to me (gracias, Mai!) that I did indeed forget one of the Angelas--my sweet cousin Chuchia (sorry, primita :-)
OK, now, on to the RST: it's a thought from the 17th century French mathematician, physicist, and philosopher, Blaise Pascal--see if this doesn't strike you as true of the human condition, of our search for Truth and Good...
It is in vain, O men, that you seek within yourselves the cure for your miseries. All your insight only leads you to the knowledge that it is not in yourselves that you will discover The True and The Good. The philosophers promised them to you and have not been able to keep their promises...Your principal maladies are pride, which cuts you off from God, and sensuality, which binds you to the earth, and they [philosophers] have done nothing but foster at least one of these maladies. If they have given you God for your object, it has only been to pander to your pride; they have made you think that you were like Him and resembled Him by your nature. And those who have grasped the vanity of such a pretension have cast you down into the other abyss by making you believe that your nature was like that of the beasts of the field, and have led you to seek your good in lust, which is the lot of animals.
Hmmm..."It is in vain, O men, that you seek within yourselves the cure for your miseries. All your insight only leads you to the knowledge that it is not in yourselves that you will discover The True and The Good...Your principal maladies are pride, which cuts you off from God, and sensuality, which binds you to the earth..." Kind of gets you thinking, huh?
You've been prayed for today...
First, a small piece of housekeeping: it was pointed out to me (gracias, Mai!) that I did indeed forget one of the Angelas--my sweet cousin Chuchia (sorry, primita :-)
OK, now, on to the RST: it's a thought from the 17th century French mathematician, physicist, and philosopher, Blaise Pascal--see if this doesn't strike you as true of the human condition, of our search for Truth and Good...
It is in vain, O men, that you seek within yourselves the cure for your miseries. All your insight only leads you to the knowledge that it is not in yourselves that you will discover The True and The Good. The philosophers promised them to you and have not been able to keep their promises...Your principal maladies are pride, which cuts you off from God, and sensuality, which binds you to the earth, and they [philosophers] have done nothing but foster at least one of these maladies. If they have given you God for your object, it has only been to pander to your pride; they have made you think that you were like Him and resembled Him by your nature. And those who have grasped the vanity of such a pretension have cast you down into the other abyss by making you believe that your nature was like that of the beasts of the field, and have led you to seek your good in lust, which is the lot of animals.
Hmmm..."It is in vain, O men, that you seek within yourselves the cure for your miseries. All your insight only leads you to the knowledge that it is not in yourselves that you will discover The True and The Good...Your principal maladies are pride, which cuts you off from God, and sensuality, which binds you to the earth..." Kind of gets you thinking, huh?
You've been prayed for today...
Saturday, January 5, 2008
The Greatest
Hey, Y'all,
First of all, happy new year (albeit a bit belatedly :-) and hello from Palo Alto; I'm here (along with an actual herd of loved ones) for my prima Anya's wedding. In doing the myriad introductions one does at these things I came to the realization that there are at least 4 Angelas (of which the bride is one) among my cousins, hence the genesis of the differentiating nicknames Anya, Guidis, Papia, Joha (man, hope I'm not forgetting anyone, these Ortiz women are no joke--for sure they'll get me if I did :-) 'Course then there are all of us non-Angelas who (as I suspect is the case in many families) also have nicknames, engendered and used in affection. Doing a quick head count there were at least 50 of us from my cousin's side of the family at the rehearsal dinner last night (which BTW I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that Alex'--the VERY fortunate :-) groom's--parents very generously invited everyone to--awesome :-)
Got me thinking: we just got done spending a few days with great friends several hours away before heading up here for the wedding. Why did we do that? What motive would bring us all here, across the many miles, taking planes, trains, and automobiles, and of course time away from home and work? And it hit me: love. Not that mushy stuff that can be a bit flighty; I mean that deep, inexorable affection that binds us together, indifferent to the years and miles--and which gets new life (literally) breathed into it at milestone events like this. I mean of course my Tios and Primos are here, but I also met a couple of new Primos--there are 4 new kids among the cousins--and incredibly, as we all know but would do well to ponder, the love is not diluted, it's multiplied! What a riot of laughter and paparazzi-shaming flashes and, well, love. Made me think of Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 13 in a whole new light: "Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love." I think I understand it differently today than I did yesterday; the whole passage is worth re-examining:
If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing.
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when full understanding comes, these partial things will become useless.
When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.
Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
It's easy to forget, as we scramble about doing the things we "have" to do, that there are really only a few important things in life, and a very few truly eternal ones--but the greatest of these is love.
You've been prayed for today...
First of all, happy new year (albeit a bit belatedly :-) and hello from Palo Alto; I'm here (along with an actual herd of loved ones) for my prima Anya's wedding. In doing the myriad introductions one does at these things I came to the realization that there are at least 4 Angelas (of which the bride is one) among my cousins, hence the genesis of the differentiating nicknames Anya, Guidis, Papia, Joha (man, hope I'm not forgetting anyone, these Ortiz women are no joke--for sure they'll get me if I did :-) 'Course then there are all of us non-Angelas who (as I suspect is the case in many families) also have nicknames, engendered and used in affection. Doing a quick head count there were at least 50 of us from my cousin's side of the family at the rehearsal dinner last night (which BTW I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that Alex'--the VERY fortunate :-) groom's--parents very generously invited everyone to--awesome :-)
Got me thinking: we just got done spending a few days with great friends several hours away before heading up here for the wedding. Why did we do that? What motive would bring us all here, across the many miles, taking planes, trains, and automobiles, and of course time away from home and work? And it hit me: love. Not that mushy stuff that can be a bit flighty; I mean that deep, inexorable affection that binds us together, indifferent to the years and miles--and which gets new life (literally) breathed into it at milestone events like this. I mean of course my Tios and Primos are here, but I also met a couple of new Primos--there are 4 new kids among the cousins--and incredibly, as we all know but would do well to ponder, the love is not diluted, it's multiplied! What a riot of laughter and paparazzi-shaming flashes and, well, love. Made me think of Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 13 in a whole new light: "Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love." I think I understand it differently today than I did yesterday; the whole passage is worth re-examining:
If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing.
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when full understanding comes, these partial things will become useless.
When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.
Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
It's easy to forget, as we scramble about doing the things we "have" to do, that there are really only a few important things in life, and a very few truly eternal ones--but the greatest of these is love.
You've been prayed for today...
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