Ok, I am a little hesitant to use this phrase - not sure why, but I think it's because of the old PTL club thing. But I was reading in the last Psalm today, Psalm 150 - and it says that we should give God PRAISE! Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord! So just here to say - I want to praise Him today! He's the one that has given me breath . . .and so much more.
I mentioned this to a group of 20 leaders today, and they praised the Lord too! That's fun. Join with me today and let's praise our Creator.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Monday, January 22, 2007
A better Father than me
I love my children beyond what I can explain. But what is incredible to me, is my Father in heaven loves me more than I can love my children. His ability to fulfill needs is infinitely beyond what I can do for my children. He loves me with love that I could never attain. Today in Matthew 7: 7-8 I read that he wants me to ask, seek and knock - and I will receive, find and have an opening - but it's all because of Him. What an awesome Father I have.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Of Giants and Grasshoppers
"And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight." (Numbers 13:33)
This is a classic example of unbelief, set in the arena of giants and grasshoppers. These spies, who represented the thinking of the people all too accurately, did not really believe God was with them. If they had, they would have set the example on how to face giants, rather than leave that to king David (1 Sam. 17). Instead, these 12 leaders chose to forget the plagues, the highway through the Sea, the burst of water from the rock, and even the daily snow of sweet manna. They focused on the bigness of the giants, their own smallness, and nothing else. They were not prepared for the unpleasant surprise of difficulty, so they were easy victims to the unbelief that was on the throne of their hearts. It took over their conversation, attitudes, and decisions. Unfortunately, the result was that they sentenced an entire generation to a dry and dusty death.
It is this unbelief that scares me, for it has so much power to destroy.
Who doesn't face obstacles? They typically stand before us like giants and in their shadows we immediately notice our feebleness. They seem so much bigger than us! So, when this happens, how do we think? If we have been feeding our souls on the doctrines of God's greatness and reminding ourselves of His wonderful acts in the past, our thinking will be level-headed. We will not panic. We will not freeze. We will not fly.
Is there giant situation facing you today? Does it make you feel like a vulnerable little insect? Is it a family matter that has pinned you to the wall, or a painful memory that keeps swatting the peace out of your day? If so, let's learn from a grasshopper who defeated his giant. Young David recognized his feeble strength and disadvantage, but forgot them in his confidence in Jehovah. He kept his eyes looking higher than the giant and his grasshopper faith was more than enough to win!
The ten spies ignored the fact that the sons of Anak were also grasshoppers (Is. 40:22). They may have been a bit larger, but they were grasshoppers, just the same. We are all grasshoppers in the sight of Almighty God!
But if our eyes are properly fixed on Him, we can do anything we should do.
From our friend Andy B in Spain
This is a classic example of unbelief, set in the arena of giants and grasshoppers. These spies, who represented the thinking of the people all too accurately, did not really believe God was with them. If they had, they would have set the example on how to face giants, rather than leave that to king David (1 Sam. 17). Instead, these 12 leaders chose to forget the plagues, the highway through the Sea, the burst of water from the rock, and even the daily snow of sweet manna. They focused on the bigness of the giants, their own smallness, and nothing else. They were not prepared for the unpleasant surprise of difficulty, so they were easy victims to the unbelief that was on the throne of their hearts. It took over their conversation, attitudes, and decisions. Unfortunately, the result was that they sentenced an entire generation to a dry and dusty death.
It is this unbelief that scares me, for it has so much power to destroy.
Who doesn't face obstacles? They typically stand before us like giants and in their shadows we immediately notice our feebleness. They seem so much bigger than us! So, when this happens, how do we think? If we have been feeding our souls on the doctrines of God's greatness and reminding ourselves of His wonderful acts in the past, our thinking will be level-headed. We will not panic. We will not freeze. We will not fly.
Is there giant situation facing you today? Does it make you feel like a vulnerable little insect? Is it a family matter that has pinned you to the wall, or a painful memory that keeps swatting the peace out of your day? If so, let's learn from a grasshopper who defeated his giant. Young David recognized his feeble strength and disadvantage, but forgot them in his confidence in Jehovah. He kept his eyes looking higher than the giant and his grasshopper faith was more than enough to win!
The ten spies ignored the fact that the sons of Anak were also grasshoppers (Is. 40:22). They may have been a bit larger, but they were grasshoppers, just the same. We are all grasshoppers in the sight of Almighty God!
But if our eyes are properly fixed on Him, we can do anything we should do.
From our friend Andy B in Spain
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Blow up, blow hard and blow out!
Colossians 4
Verse 6 - Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (ESV)
Ever just blow up at someone? - and then think to yourself "man, where did that come from?" Ever make excuses like I do and say "I'm just tired, or hungry or had a bad day," you fill in the blank. I know I make excuses sometimes after a blow out and say "wow, I feel better!" But you know what, does the other person(s) feel better? Or are they filled with holes like a from a shotgun?
This verse is a rebuke to me. Reminds me that my heart is desparately wicked and hard to really know. Because out of abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
I really need to make sure my words are "seasoned with salt" by first getting my heart right.
Verse 6 - Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (ESV)
Ever just blow up at someone? - and then think to yourself "man, where did that come from?" Ever make excuses like I do and say "I'm just tired, or hungry or had a bad day," you fill in the blank. I know I make excuses sometimes after a blow out and say "wow, I feel better!" But you know what, does the other person(s) feel better? Or are they filled with holes like a from a shotgun?
This verse is a rebuke to me. Reminds me that my heart is desparately wicked and hard to really know. Because out of abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
I really need to make sure my words are "seasoned with salt" by first getting my heart right.
I know I have to wait sometimes
Psalms 130
Verse 1 - Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! (ESV)
Verse 5 - I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope. (ESV)
Waiting is so hard to do! Especially in this world of fast everything - the faster the better! Internet, food, cars, passing kidney stones, etc. But the Lord doesn't always move fast - like a Father, he likes to be asked for things - and enjoys the sweet fellowship of his children (like us when we have our child in our arms making them repeat themselves just so they stay in our arms longer). He also doesn't hide from me what He wants me to do - He really wants me to know His will. But I still say to myself "why can't I know right now!"
"Patience!" He whispers in my ear - "be patient"
I know based on verse 5 that it's all in His timing. I really want my house to sell and for really good reasons - but He is in control. I will wait . . . .
Verse 1 - Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! (ESV)
Verse 5 - I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope. (ESV)
Waiting is so hard to do! Especially in this world of fast everything - the faster the better! Internet, food, cars, passing kidney stones, etc. But the Lord doesn't always move fast - like a Father, he likes to be asked for things - and enjoys the sweet fellowship of his children (like us when we have our child in our arms making them repeat themselves just so they stay in our arms longer). He also doesn't hide from me what He wants me to do - He really wants me to know His will. But I still say to myself "why can't I know right now!"
"Patience!" He whispers in my ear - "be patient"
I know based on verse 5 that it's all in His timing. I really want my house to sell and for really good reasons - but He is in control. I will wait . . . .
My Family's Key Verse
I Samuel 12:24 - Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. (ESV)
This truly is the desire of my heart for me and my family.
This truly is the desire of my heart for me and my family.
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