I Know Why...

This is a beautiful illustration of a way God may have worked during Creation. Even though I do not believe in all of it, I love watching this and praising Him the whole time!

Watch till the very end's statement...

Big Bang Theory

"He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts, but man cannot discover the work God has done form beginning to end."
Ecclesiastes 3:11

An Underlined Day

Some days there is just so much going on physically, spiritually, and/or emotionally that there is just no sorting it out. Those are "Underlined Days".

What are you suppose to do?

1.   Get out the Bible you use most often, or find one that you use to use a lot, but haven't since you got the new version.
2.   Open it to where the binding is the weakest.
3.   Start looking for the verses you have underlined or specially marked in the past and read only those.
4.   As you read, see if you can remember why it was marked. What did God have to say to you then?
5.   If a verse reminds you of troubled times past, praise God for His faithfulness in bringing you through. If it brings to mind happier moments, ask Him to comfort you now and rekindle the joy of your salvation even in troubled times.
6.   If you have no clue as to why you marked it, thank Him that His Word is alive. It never changes, but it often comes like a fresh wave. (Don't be sad it's low tide now, just get prepared for high tide later!)

Dear Father in heaven, thank you for my Bible and a good, sharp pencil...

Crowns

Yesterday I had to go to the dentist and get a crown. Well, actually, I was given a temporary one until the real one comes in. The worst part was all the drilling and even getting to the tooth; of course it was one of the ones in the very back. There's nothing quite like lying there with two sets of hands prying open your jaw while your head vibrates from drilling and at the same time having to breath in the burnt bone smell coming from your own mouth.

I don't like going to the dentist.

Later on as I reflected on the fact that I could actually will myself to be still and let strangers do that to me, a thought came to mind: Being a Christian who is living life fully for God is not easy either. Not only do we come up against resistance from the world, but we also have a God  who loves us enough to discipline us (Hebrews 12:5-8). And what will we recieve for enduring this life as His servants?
The crown of life.


"Blessed is a man who endures trials, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that He has promised to those who love Him." James 1:12


I only have my temporary right now in that area as well - His Promise - but one day I will meet my Savior face to face and He will give me my permanent one.

How Are These Verses Good?

I haven't been feeling very well since late Sunday night, so I'd just like to leave you with one of my favorite sets of verses. The odd thing is, I'm not really sure why they are some of my favorite or why they encourage me so.

What do you think?

"For with much wisdom is much sorrow; as knowledge increases, grief increases.


...But beyond these, my son, be warned: there is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body. When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is: fear God and keep His commands, because this is for all humanity. For God will bring every act to judgement, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil."
Ecclesiastes 1:18, 12:12-14

Josiah's And Your Peace

I've been reading about Judah's King Josiah and am amazed at what the Bible has to say about this man though we seldom hear of him. He reigned from approximately 640 B.C. to 608 B.C., and his grandfather was King Manasseh who was rebuked by the Lord for the evil he did. Josiah was also the father of King Jehoiakim, who reigned when the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar first conquered Jerusalem.

Though there are about two chapters written in 2 Kings about all that Josiah did, a small passage written at the end of his life spoke heavily to me:

"The king commanded all the people, 'Keep the Passover of the LORD your God as written in the book of covenant.' No such Passover had ever been kept from the time of the judges who judged Israel through the entire time of the kings of Israel and Judah.... Before him there was no king like him who turned to the LORD with all his mind and with all his heart and with all his strength according to all the law of Moses, and no one like him arose after him.
In spite of all that, the LORD did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath and anger, which burned against Judah because of all the provocations Manasseh had provoked Him with."  2 Kings 23:21-22, 25-26

Josiah did all that he could do and was loved by the Lord, but His wrath must be satisfied. God did allowed him to reign 31 years and die in the first battle leading to Jerusalem's eventual capture, but it still had to come in order to accomplish the fulfillment of His words. Even the Word of God says there was no king like Josiah - not before of after him - who turned so completely to the Lord, yet even his two sons who reigned did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and his people were captured.

So why bother? Because the promise of the Lord is Good and True. Josiah sent priests to a prophetess named Huldah, who spoke a message to him from the Lord - "...because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and because you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I Myself have heard you - declares the LORD. Therefore I will indeed gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster that I am bringing on this place..." 2 Kings 22:19-20

The Lord promised Josiah that he would not see all the disaster and would die in peace, but read 2 Kings 23:29. "During his reign, Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt marched up to the king of Assyria at the Euphrates river. King Josiah went to confront him, and at the Megiddo when Neco saw him he killed him" So what happened to dieing in peace? I believe that the peace the Lord promised to Josiah was in his spirit - not just in his physical realm. God promised him shâlôm - peace, just as Christ promised it to us. Jesus said to His disciples in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful."

This is the peace I believe Josiah had. This is the peace available to all who will believe: The peace of a trouble free and fearless heart - In the midst of a city, country, and world gripped by the chaotic consequences of sin.

Yes, things will go terribly wrong in life, but we've been given Peace.

Jesus Wants the Rose

... shouldn't we?

If so, why do we say it and not act upon it enough?

"And in the same way, wasn't Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by a different route? For just as the body without the Spirit is dead, so also is faith without works dead."
James 2:25-26

Hmmm...

I wonder what Jesus thought the first time He had a bad headache?
...And how many He had during His ministry?

Giving

This is a sermon from Andy Stanley which he preached earlier this month. Please take some time to watch it while eating leftovers today. It is well worth the 30 minutes, and an excellent message for any time of the year, but particularly the season.

Andy Stanley 9.8.09

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

"And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful."  Colossians 3:15

One Thing I Am Not Thankful For

If Thanksgiving is to be about "Giving Thanks" why do we stress so much about preparations and buying? We can't even be all that thankful when it's over because Black Friday looms to herald in the Christmas Credit Crunch.

Please take some time this Thanksgiving to stop, relax, and thank God for His bountiful blessings. If you can't think of any, ask Him - and then listen.
Then be thankful that He listens and answers!

What Is Love?

"You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you... For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don't even the tax collectors do the same?"   Matthew 5:43-44, 46


"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." Mark 12:30-31


"Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold."  Matthew 24:12


"I give you a new commandment: love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."  John13:34-35


"Love must be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor."  Romans 12:9-10


"Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law." Romans 13:10


"Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love."  1 Corinthians 13:13


"But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head -- Christ. From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part."  Ephesians 4:15-16


"Above all, [put on] love -- the perfect bond of unity."  Colossians 3:14


"And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, "  Philippians 1:9


"And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone, just as we also do for you. "  1 Thessalonians 3:12


"Above all, keep your love for one another at full strength, since love covers a multitude of sins. "  1 Peter 4:8


"This is how God's children -- and the Devil's children -- are made evident.Whoever does not do what is right is not of God, especially the one who does not love his brother."   1 John 3:10


"Little children, we must not love in word or speech, but in deed and truth;"  1 John 3:18


"We love because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19


All these are to remind us to pray we will hear this: 
"I know your works -- your love, faithfulness, service, and endurance. Your last works are greater than the first." Revelation 2:19 


...and not this.  
 "But I have this against you: you have abandoned the love [you had] at first." Revelation 2:4 

So Out Of My Box There Was No Shape

I had an amazing experience in worship yesterday morning! 

Never have I felt the presence of the Lord so strongly for such a distinct period of time. There was a very limited portion of the message where His presence was so strong and pressing, I could hardly breathe. Tears came to my eyes and I had to gasp a few times for breath. If I hadn't been raised Baptist and been in a Baptist church, I would have fallen on the floor prostrate: I almost did anyway! How I should have!

The Lord spoke very boldly to me through this. It was not necessarily an audible voice. The best way I can describe it is by saying I was sitting in a room infused with His jelly of Truth. It was so thick and so obvious, I can find no other was to explain it. And just as quickly as it came, it went away. It was so powerful that I couldn't even comprehend it until later. I had no idea why He was there in that way, or what He was trying to say, but I do now. The Spirit wants to help us understand! And so He explained it to me. And I'm excitedly frightened. That just seems to be His way at times, isn't it?

Have you ever experienced the overwhelming presence of your Lord and Savior? If so, don't forget the lesson or comfort He was giving you. If you haven't, ask Him for it. Day and night seek Him. I don't believe that it is something to be experienced on demand, or very often, but it is a blessing I believe He desires to bestow upon us. Trust me, if He can be so gracious to me, He certainly can to you!

The Reality of Life Here

Often, this is the way life goes...

Life in 3 Seconds

The question is how do you handle it?

" For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us."  Romans 8:18

A Leaf On The Wind

There is a line from a movie that I love: "I'm a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar."

So often, we see only the first part of that statement evident in our lives. There are so many twists and turns which come up, that we feel bounced around and chaotic. Life seems as though we are high in the air with nothing under our feet.

But as Christians we need to understand that the Spirit is the wind which guides us. John 3:8 says "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." To have a vibrant testimony, we need to have confidence in our God that He knows what He is doing. The Spirit is not tossing us around to torture or tease us, but to lift us up in order to amaze those around us who do not believe. He enables you to soar.

So, soar.

The Sifting Process

This is a comment I wrote on a friend's blog after she had a difficult day. She said I could share it with you, and I pray it encourages you!


As I read...(your blog), I couldn't help but remember both Peter and Job. Satan asked God's permission to test them, and God allowed it. There is always a reason. Jesus told Peter, "Simon, Simon, look out! Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." I feel God has allowed Satan to whisper the "What If's" to you so that you will recognize and begin to answer some of these questions. Honestly, WHAT IF? Nothing drastic happened this time- praise God! Perhaps He is allowing you to enter into this realm so that you will learn a deeper dependence on Him. If something horrible had happened, God is still Holy and Just. It would have been the right thing, no matter how little sense it made to us. He has our days numbered, and there is no changing them. What a blessing that He is trusting you with this deeper level of love and trust in Him! Are we right to question? Never. But we always do. All of us. And He knows He must build us up slowly to lead and live powerful lives of testimony for Him. I am so grateful that your friend is OK; Miraculously so! But I am also grateful for the growing pains you are receiving. And doing well in acknowledging and handling I might add :) Love ya sis!


And I truly love you all too: Even those I won't meet until heaven!