Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
A Pilgrim's progress (Day 7)
Lord, keep me humble, reminding me to give you the glory in all things.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
A Pilgrim's progress (Day 2)
One of my favorite sports movies is "For Love of the Game". Kevin Costner plays the role of Billy Chapel, a pitcher well past his prime. He is working on pitching the perfect game. As he gets up on the mound and leans in for the sign from his catcher, you hear his thoughts as he tells himself to "clear the mechanism". Instantly, all of the crowd noise is gone and he is in a state of total concentration. It's just him and his catcher.
Today I am praying for God to "clear the mechanism".
Lord, in the midst of all of today's noise, let me focus on you. Clear the junk from my heart and mind so that I can concentrate on you and what you have to say to me.
Today I am praying for God to "clear the mechanism".
Lord, in the midst of all of today's noise, let me focus on you. Clear the junk from my heart and mind so that I can concentrate on you and what you have to say to me.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
A Pilgrim's progress (Day 1)
I have come to a crossroads.
Have you ever been here?
A place where there are only two options:
Left
Or
Right
The left road is safe and smooth, and if I went that way it would take me straight back home. Nobody would even know that I came to that crossroads. My life would not change at all. I would still be the person I am right now…..and comfortable.
The road to the right is not safe. If I went this direction it would not take me back home. This way would change me. It would change my family. I spoke to a man the other day that lives on this road and he assured me that there would be days on this road that would be easy and downhill and there would be days that would require an amazing amount of help just to keep going……uncomfortable days.
I choose comfortable because I am human and selfish by nature. But what if you heard the unmistakable voice of God at the end of the road to the right calling you to be uncomfortable? Does that change things for you?
I am going to do something different on this blog. I am going to make daily entries for the next week and a half stating what I am praying for that day. If anyone reads this and would like to pray along side of me that would be awesome.
Have you ever been here?
A place where there are only two options:
Left
Or
Right
The left road is safe and smooth, and if I went that way it would take me straight back home. Nobody would even know that I came to that crossroads. My life would not change at all. I would still be the person I am right now…..and comfortable.
The road to the right is not safe. If I went this direction it would not take me back home. This way would change me. It would change my family. I spoke to a man the other day that lives on this road and he assured me that there would be days on this road that would be easy and downhill and there would be days that would require an amazing amount of help just to keep going……uncomfortable days.
I choose comfortable because I am human and selfish by nature. But what if you heard the unmistakable voice of God at the end of the road to the right calling you to be uncomfortable? Does that change things for you?
I am going to do something different on this blog. I am going to make daily entries for the next week and a half stating what I am praying for that day. If anyone reads this and would like to pray along side of me that would be awesome.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Withered hands
Matthew 12:13
Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one!
3 really cool things that I learned today as I read the verse above:
1.) Jesus talks to us
Back in Jesus' day, people with deformities were shunned. They were thought to be deformed because of something they had done or perhaps something that their parents had done to offend God. People would often switch to the other side of the road if they saw someone who had a noticeable deformity heading their way.
Not Jesus.
He stopped. He got close to this man. Close enough to touch.
No matter how messed up you are. No matter what is going on in your life. If you feel cold, alone, rejected by society, please hear this……. Nothing, nothing, nothing can separate you from the love of Jesus.
He wants to talk with you.
2.) He requires action on our part ("stretch forth thy hand")
I love that Jesus tells this man to hold his hand out. Here is the creator of the universe, who could heal this man's hand without touching it or even seeing it, yet he asks the man to perform an action.
Once we come into contact with Jesus, and we have decided that we are going to give Him the reigns of our life and ask Him to lead us, we must follow that with action. He requires action from us. It is unacceptable to proclaim that he is the leader of our lives while we sit on our hands and watch other people do all the work. If we have truly come into contact with Jesus and decided to follow Him, inaction is not an option. We must be "do-ers" of the Word and not just "hear-ers".
3.) Obedience equals restoration
And this is my favorite part of the verse. The man listened, put his hand out there and Jesus heals it. I love this parts because I know that if I have enough faith to just be obedient to Him, then He can use me for some amazing things. If I listen to Him when I hear Him talking to me, I can hear Him telling me to stretch forth my hand. I can give Him all of the junk in my life and by doing so, I can be restored.
We are withered hands.
Will you listen to Him? He wants to talk with you. He wants a relationship with you. Are you willing to trust Him and throw yourself at His feet. I can promise you that if you are willing to do that, He can then do what He so desperately wants to do…….He will make you new.
Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one!
3 really cool things that I learned today as I read the verse above:
1.) Jesus talks to us
Back in Jesus' day, people with deformities were shunned. They were thought to be deformed because of something they had done or perhaps something that their parents had done to offend God. People would often switch to the other side of the road if they saw someone who had a noticeable deformity heading their way.
Not Jesus.
He stopped. He got close to this man. Close enough to touch.
No matter how messed up you are. No matter what is going on in your life. If you feel cold, alone, rejected by society, please hear this……. Nothing, nothing, nothing can separate you from the love of Jesus.
He wants to talk with you.
2.) He requires action on our part ("stretch forth thy hand")
I love that Jesus tells this man to hold his hand out. Here is the creator of the universe, who could heal this man's hand without touching it or even seeing it, yet he asks the man to perform an action.
Once we come into contact with Jesus, and we have decided that we are going to give Him the reigns of our life and ask Him to lead us, we must follow that with action. He requires action from us. It is unacceptable to proclaim that he is the leader of our lives while we sit on our hands and watch other people do all the work. If we have truly come into contact with Jesus and decided to follow Him, inaction is not an option. We must be "do-ers" of the Word and not just "hear-ers".
3.) Obedience equals restoration
And this is my favorite part of the verse. The man listened, put his hand out there and Jesus heals it. I love this parts because I know that if I have enough faith to just be obedient to Him, then He can use me for some amazing things. If I listen to Him when I hear Him talking to me, I can hear Him telling me to stretch forth my hand. I can give Him all of the junk in my life and by doing so, I can be restored.
We are withered hands.
Will you listen to Him? He wants to talk with you. He wants a relationship with you. Are you willing to trust Him and throw yourself at His feet. I can promise you that if you are willing to do that, He can then do what He so desperately wants to do…….He will make you new.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Finding joy
Our family was out at the park a couple of weeks ago, and Kirsten and I were doing our best to keep our eyes on all 3 kids as they played on the jungle gym. By the way…..it's nearly impossible. About 20 minutes into playing, our daughter, who just turned 2, had climbed up the metal steps to a platform where a slide was. Naturally, I went over to the slide so I could catch her as she came down. I was excited for her to slide down, knowing how she was going to enjoy it, but that’s when it happened. I saw in her eyes that she started to doubt that it was going to be fun. She began to abort her mission, and she started walking slowly backwards.
Two things happened in that moment.
Two things happened in that moment.
1.) I was disappointed because I knew that if she came to me down the slide, she would have had so much fun that she would have wanted to do it over and over again.
2.) I was aware of the danger behind her (the end of the metal platform) because I could see more than she could from my vantage point.
My daughter fell face first down the metal steps and ended up with a really nice bruise.
The same holds true for us in our lives. Whenever we go the opposite way God wants us to, someone always gets bruised. The Lord knows what is best for you. People tend to think that if they choose to follow Jesus that He will just steal their joy, and nothing could be further from the truth. He is aware of the dangers in this world that surround us. He has a much better vantage point then we do, and He is calling us to a life of joy. Not every day will be a happy day when you run to Him, but everyday can be one of pure joy in just knowing that on the other side of this life, lies an eternity with our Creator. God does not want to steal your joy, He wants to give it to you.
Don't you want to go down the slide?
Monday, August 3, 2009
Just thinking.....
Matthew 8:14 "Now when Jesus had come into Peter's house, He saw his wife's mother laying sick with a fever."
Perhaps Peter was so quick to leave everything and follow Jesus because his mother-in-law was living with him?
Perhaps Peter was so quick to leave everything and follow Jesus because his mother-in-law was living with him?
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