As I mentioned yesterday, my favorite name for God is "I AM", Exodus 3:14, but there are so many wonderful descriptions and names for Him in the Bible. We have a poster in our living room of the many names of Jesus as well. "The Way, the Truth, and the Life" from John 14:6, has been special to me over the years since I love discovering truth.
Take some time to re-familiarize yourself with a few today. What are some of your favorites?
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Having Bad Days
One of the many things I am grateful to God for is His compassion on us. Even though God the Father has never experienced one for Himself, He understands we have bad days. Sometimes as Christians, there are days where our old sin nature is lurking very close to the surface. Perhaps it is a desire to succumb to an old addiction, behave in a way we thought we had abandoned, give up on something we know God had called us to, or just give up period. There are even the very bad days when we give in, too.
Recently, God brought to mind a verse as I was struggling with a bad day. In Matthew 11:28-19 Jesus says, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.” We look at these verses as a call to come to Jesus for salvation, but they can also be a balm for we who believe and need encouragement.
The Father knows we are not little Energizer bunnies who keep going and going, and the Son is offering us rest through Him. Let's take Him up on that.
Take the time to get some sweet rest in Jesus.
Recently, God brought to mind a verse as I was struggling with a bad day. In Matthew 11:28-19 Jesus says, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.” We look at these verses as a call to come to Jesus for salvation, but they can also be a balm for we who believe and need encouragement.
The Father knows we are not little Energizer bunnies who keep going and going, and the Son is offering us rest through Him. Let's take Him up on that.
Take the time to get some sweet rest in Jesus.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Do You Love Hobert?
My youngest child, Elijah, thrilled his father that he has loved Star Wars from a very early age. None of our other children cared much for it, so this last shot turned out to please my husband greatly. When Elijah was three, he started pretending on his own that he was different Star Wars characters and would play in his room for hours of intense drama. He use to be very serious about imagining, so that if I tried to come in and watch, he would stop and tell me it wasn't real. I tried to explain that I knew that and just wanted to play with him, but he always wanted to be alone. I think he was embarrassed, but thankfully has grown out of that.
Because of not being able to watch his play, I would ask him later on who he had pretended to be that day, and he most always said Hobert. Now, I'm not an avid fan, but I do know there are no characters named “Hobert”. I could never get Elijah to describe him to me and was beginning to think it was someone he made up even though he insisted it wasn't.
One day he was so intent on his playing that he came into the living room during a seemingly intense light saber battle. I could tell Luke and Hobert were fighting, and then I heard, “Hhhoooo-berrrrt, Hhhoooo-berrrrt. Luke, I'm your father!” It was all I could do to run down the hall and shut the bedroom door before bursting out laughing. Hobert was Vader! Elijah had assumed that his name was the sound effect he was always making while breathing.
We have had so much fun calling Vader “Hobert” over the last few years that I unfortunately just call him that now. It was particularly funny when he excitedly told everyone for his 5th and 6th birthday's that he was having a Hobert cake and even got a Hobert suit one time! He knows now that his real name is Darth Vader, but it's become a family name.
This started me thinking the other day about how we view God. Do we know few things about God and call Him only by those names, or have we learned about as much of who He is as humanly possible. Elijah only knew Vader by the sound he made and that he was a bad guy. In reality (Or as as close as you can get considering it is just a story), he is a good little boy named Anakin who grows up with too much bad influence and pride in his life. He then becomes Darth Vader, who actually does come around to the right side at the very end.
Please understand, I am not saying God is like Darth Vader: Nothing even close! My question is, do we know so little of God that we can't effectively share Him with others? Do we only understand individual natures of His? Compassion... Judge... Father... Son... Spirit... Master... Savior.... Sustainer... Creator... or any one of the many others. God can not be simplified as only one or two of these. He is ALL and so much more. I think that is why my favorite name for God is I AM. To me that covers everything.
Take some time today to think about the different attributes of God. Do you only talk and think about God? Jesus? The Holy Spirit? Or do you have a fairly well balance idea of who the God you serve is? Remember, Genesis 1:26, “Then God said, 'Let Us make...'”
Because of not being able to watch his play, I would ask him later on who he had pretended to be that day, and he most always said Hobert. Now, I'm not an avid fan, but I do know there are no characters named “Hobert”. I could never get Elijah to describe him to me and was beginning to think it was someone he made up even though he insisted it wasn't.
One day he was so intent on his playing that he came into the living room during a seemingly intense light saber battle. I could tell Luke and Hobert were fighting, and then I heard, “Hhhoooo-berrrrt, Hhhoooo-berrrrt. Luke, I'm your father!” It was all I could do to run down the hall and shut the bedroom door before bursting out laughing. Hobert was Vader! Elijah had assumed that his name was the sound effect he was always making while breathing.
We have had so much fun calling Vader “Hobert” over the last few years that I unfortunately just call him that now. It was particularly funny when he excitedly told everyone for his 5th and 6th birthday's that he was having a Hobert cake and even got a Hobert suit one time! He knows now that his real name is Darth Vader, but it's become a family name.
This started me thinking the other day about how we view God. Do we know few things about God and call Him only by those names, or have we learned about as much of who He is as humanly possible. Elijah only knew Vader by the sound he made and that he was a bad guy. In reality (Or as as close as you can get considering it is just a story), he is a good little boy named Anakin who grows up with too much bad influence and pride in his life. He then becomes Darth Vader, who actually does come around to the right side at the very end.
Please understand, I am not saying God is like Darth Vader: Nothing even close! My question is, do we know so little of God that we can't effectively share Him with others? Do we only understand individual natures of His? Compassion... Judge... Father... Son... Spirit... Master... Savior.... Sustainer... Creator... or any one of the many others. God can not be simplified as only one or two of these. He is ALL and so much more. I think that is why my favorite name for God is I AM. To me that covers everything.
Take some time today to think about the different attributes of God. Do you only talk and think about God? Jesus? The Holy Spirit? Or do you have a fairly well balance idea of who the God you serve is? Remember, Genesis 1:26, “Then God said, 'Let Us make...'”
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
It's Time For Us To Mow... Again.
It's amazing how much the Lord teaches me when I mow the lawn. One reason is because He has me alone for a few hour while I am mowing. There is nothing else I can do. It's a great time to just listen to what the Lord has to say to me. Since God has me outside, He tends to teach me using what I see out there, which usually means – grass.
Because I have been so busy lately with school starting, I haven't mowed as much as needed. In fact, it was quite high. Knowing that if I mowed it on the current setting it would constantly choke the mower, I decided to raise it up a notch or two. Even raising the bar there were a few areas it was difficult to get through. However, I kept thinking about how it really wasn't mowed down to the level it should be, meaning I would have to mow again sooner than normal. I had done what I could for the time being, but in the long run it wouldn't be enough.
Once again, the Spirit prodded my heart: That grass is like our sins. It is something we are always having to cut back, and there are times when we let it grow way too high. When that happens, it may be necessary for us to cut it down with more frequent mowings at gradually lower levels.
Let's say that Christians are the ones with mowed yards, and the unsaved have wild fields. When someone decides to follow Christ and “start mowing their yard”, we can't send them out there with our little push-mowers on their low settings. They'd never make it. That's not to say that Jesus doesn't come with His big ole' bush whacker to clear the field sometimes. He may. But even with that, there are a lot of thorns and wild plants who have to be mowed over many times before they die away.
So what does that mean to Christians? Ease up on each other. Jesus said we are to forgive 70 x's 7 (Matthew 18:22), and remember: You have your own yard to mow. That isn't saying we should never speak up when there is “unmowed” sin going on. The same passage tells us in Matthew 18:15-20 that we are to privately confront our siblings in Christ when they have sinned against you. Don't spread the fact and don't harbor it.
I'm going to ask you to pray to the Lord and listen to Him for more than just a moment. Ask Him to guide your heart on the very narrow path of compassion, grace, righteousness, and holiness. I think the definition of all these qualities have been taken to unhealthy extremes in our society, and it is our job to find the balance God desires from us. Take time to define each and find their good qualities and how, perhaps, we as humans have misinterpreted them.
Because I have been so busy lately with school starting, I haven't mowed as much as needed. In fact, it was quite high. Knowing that if I mowed it on the current setting it would constantly choke the mower, I decided to raise it up a notch or two. Even raising the bar there were a few areas it was difficult to get through. However, I kept thinking about how it really wasn't mowed down to the level it should be, meaning I would have to mow again sooner than normal. I had done what I could for the time being, but in the long run it wouldn't be enough.
Once again, the Spirit prodded my heart: That grass is like our sins. It is something we are always having to cut back, and there are times when we let it grow way too high. When that happens, it may be necessary for us to cut it down with more frequent mowings at gradually lower levels.
Let's say that Christians are the ones with mowed yards, and the unsaved have wild fields. When someone decides to follow Christ and “start mowing their yard”, we can't send them out there with our little push-mowers on their low settings. They'd never make it. That's not to say that Jesus doesn't come with His big ole' bush whacker to clear the field sometimes. He may. But even with that, there are a lot of thorns and wild plants who have to be mowed over many times before they die away.
So what does that mean to Christians? Ease up on each other. Jesus said we are to forgive 70 x's 7 (Matthew 18:22), and remember: You have your own yard to mow. That isn't saying we should never speak up when there is “unmowed” sin going on. The same passage tells us in Matthew 18:15-20 that we are to privately confront our siblings in Christ when they have sinned against you. Don't spread the fact and don't harbor it.
I'm going to ask you to pray to the Lord and listen to Him for more than just a moment. Ask Him to guide your heart on the very narrow path of compassion, grace, righteousness, and holiness. I think the definition of all these qualities have been taken to unhealthy extremes in our society, and it is our job to find the balance God desires from us. Take time to define each and find their good qualities and how, perhaps, we as humans have misinterpreted them.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Human
How do you deal with others? Do you view them as good or bad? Nice or mean? Saved or lost?
While I think that Christians should always be telling others about the Gospel of Christ, and seeking to save the lost, I wonder if we spend too much time debating the fine points. It's not up to us. It is between them and God. Our responsibility is to tell them the Truth and show them love - even if it is tough love sometimes. I believe it's good for us to remember that we can save no one. We just point them in the right direction and practice what we preach as much as possible. When we do mess up, we need to then teach and exemplify true repentance and grace.
Sometimes I think we make it too hard. The only way we can know the right balance of grace and correction is by the guidance of the Spirit. When faced with a difficult situation, the first thing we need to do is pray: Not for ourselves, but for the wisdom to know how to best serve the individual we are concerned about.
That is a trait I know I need to practice more often instead of jumping to conclusions. I often joke with the Lord that the reason I have been through and done so much wrong is so that I can't get prideful when someone makes mistakes. Sometimes I just have to say, "It's wrong. But, been there and done that. Move on to repentance and watch the Lord redeem!"
While I think that Christians should always be telling others about the Gospel of Christ, and seeking to save the lost, I wonder if we spend too much time debating the fine points. It's not up to us. It is between them and God. Our responsibility is to tell them the Truth and show them love - even if it is tough love sometimes. I believe it's good for us to remember that we can save no one. We just point them in the right direction and practice what we preach as much as possible. When we do mess up, we need to then teach and exemplify true repentance and grace.
Sometimes I think we make it too hard. The only way we can know the right balance of grace and correction is by the guidance of the Spirit. When faced with a difficult situation, the first thing we need to do is pray: Not for ourselves, but for the wisdom to know how to best serve the individual we are concerned about.
That is a trait I know I need to practice more often instead of jumping to conclusions. I often joke with the Lord that the reason I have been through and done so much wrong is so that I can't get prideful when someone makes mistakes. Sometimes I just have to say, "It's wrong. But, been there and done that. Move on to repentance and watch the Lord redeem!"
Monday, August 24, 2009
God's Blessing or Satan's Tempting
I have a bit of a dilemma right now. I am sitting at my house writing this blog and will be able to post it as soon as I'm done with it.
I have been praying for the Lord to help me afford the Internet so that I don't have to drive a half hour into town in order to post my blogs, but it hasn't happened yet. It's not going to stop me if I don't get it, but it would sure make it easier since I do most of my writing in the evening.
This evening as I started my computer to write, it automatically connected to a very weak, yet present, wi-fi in my area. For those of you who don't know, I live in the country, but there are a fair number of homes here. Now, I don't know much about anything technical, so I'm not sure if it is from a local business (the closest on being almost a mile away), or from a personal residence. I would statistically go with the personal residence theory, but have no idea how to find out. If that is the case, is it ethical, as a Christian, to use it if there is no password protection. Hmm. Probably not, huh?
So here I sit, typing my fingers off before it disappears. Not a good sign that it's the right thing, is it? What do you do in these situations? When you are given something you have been praying for, yet it comes through a grey area, what do you do? I've been praying for months now and the cheapest I've found for us is about $60 a month in our area. Ouch. Not possible yet.
I'm going to be doing a lot of praying about this...
...and will most likely be posting from yet another coffee shop where I don't drink coffee.
I have been praying for the Lord to help me afford the Internet so that I don't have to drive a half hour into town in order to post my blogs, but it hasn't happened yet. It's not going to stop me if I don't get it, but it would sure make it easier since I do most of my writing in the evening.
This evening as I started my computer to write, it automatically connected to a very weak, yet present, wi-fi in my area. For those of you who don't know, I live in the country, but there are a fair number of homes here. Now, I don't know much about anything technical, so I'm not sure if it is from a local business (the closest on being almost a mile away), or from a personal residence. I would statistically go with the personal residence theory, but have no idea how to find out. If that is the case, is it ethical, as a Christian, to use it if there is no password protection. Hmm. Probably not, huh?
So here I sit, typing my fingers off before it disappears. Not a good sign that it's the right thing, is it? What do you do in these situations? When you are given something you have been praying for, yet it comes through a grey area, what do you do? I've been praying for months now and the cheapest I've found for us is about $60 a month in our area. Ouch. Not possible yet.
I'm going to be doing a lot of praying about this...
...and will most likely be posting from yet another coffee shop where I don't drink coffee.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Curiosity Can't Kill The Cat In Heaven
It's fun to occasionally take a few moments to ponder about the spiritual realm, as well as the new heaven and earth.
There are no answers to these – they are just fun to think of. I may post some questions/thoughts on weekends for a little fun and a break. Please, if you have any to share, email them to me! tkgodbey@gmail.com
Here are a few I have wondered about recently:
Do angels yawn? And if so, do they catch them from us?
Is annoying any form of sin? If so, what will gnats and flies be like?
If Jesus was perfect here on this earth, and yet His disciples did not recognize Him at times after the resurrection (Remember the road to Emmaus?), then I'll probably look completely different!
Will there be rainbows? God will never flood the new earth in anger, so is His sign of that promise still going to be present and remind us of our sinful past? (And perpetually around His head from Revelation doesn't count.)
There are no answers to these – they are just fun to think of. I may post some questions/thoughts on weekends for a little fun and a break. Please, if you have any to share, email them to me! tkgodbey@gmail.com
Is annoying any form of sin? If so, what will gnats and flies be like?
If Jesus was perfect here on this earth, and yet His disciples did not recognize Him at times after the resurrection (Remember the road to Emmaus?), then I'll probably look completely different!
Will there be rainbows? God will never flood the new earth in anger, so is His sign of that promise still going to be present and remind us of our sinful past? (And perpetually around His head from Revelation doesn't count.)
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