August 31, 2010
John 1:6-18
V 14 …and we have seen his glory
Recently in our Sisters class we discussed Martha and Mary. Now this verse has absolutely nothing to do with Martha or Mary I realize that. However, during my studying I discovered how close these two sisters were to Jesus. The Bible says that “Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus (John 11:5)”. They knew his glory. They looked at him and knew he was more than a man. They knew that when he spoke his words were more than mere talk but he was speaking from his Father. I often wonder what that might have been like to “have seen his glory.”
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
A Bright Light in a Dark World...
August 30, 2010
John 1:1-5
V 5 The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.
This is my Savior. He willingly came to earth to a people who would hate and revile Him; in order to offer to those that are His, eternal life. In a world full of darkness, He was the only light, is the only light. What more can I add?
John 1:1-5
V 5 The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.
This is my Savior. He willingly came to earth to a people who would hate and revile Him; in order to offer to those that are His, eternal life. In a world full of darkness, He was the only light, is the only light. What more can I add?
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Friday, August 27, 2010
Big Things come in Little Packages...
August 27, 2010
1 Thessalonians 5:20-28
V 28 He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it
There are two little words in this verse that I love. There not the main focus of the verse yet, nevertheless they are very important. Is and Will, can you imagine this verse without those words. Would this verse give to you the same since of confidence, rest and peace if they were missing; I think not. God is faithful; He doesn’t leave us or forsake us. He will complete His will for us in our lives. He doesn’t just bring us to paths and decisions for no reason. There is a plan, His plan and He is always faithful to complete it.
Well, that's it for 1 Thessalonians, I think I'm off to John tomorrow!!
1 Thessalonians 5:20-28
V 28 He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it
There are two little words in this verse that I love. There not the main focus of the verse yet, nevertheless they are very important. Is and Will, can you imagine this verse without those words. Would this verse give to you the same since of confidence, rest and peace if they were missing; I think not. God is faithful; He doesn’t leave us or forsake us. He will complete His will for us in our lives. He doesn’t just bring us to paths and decisions for no reason. There is a plan, His plan and He is always faithful to complete it.
Well, that's it for 1 Thessalonians, I think I'm off to John tomorrow!!
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Thursday, August 26, 2010
Can't have Your Cake and Eat it too....
August 26, 2010
1 Thessalonians 5:18-19
V 19 Do not quench the spirit
To quench is to subdue or destroy. Doesn’t sound too great when your applying it to the Spirits control of your life does it? However, this is the result of habitual unrepentant sin in our lives. Luke 16:13 puts it like this “No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other…”. In a more secular way, “you can’t have your cake and eat it too!” If we desire the Holy Spirits control over our lives then we must be willing to give up the pet sins that plague us. We must be willing to daily evaluate our lives to see if we are in anyway “grieving the Spirit” as a result of our sins. We must be willing to “die” to our flesh daily. Doesn’t sound fun does it? But it is rewarding!
1 Thessalonians 5:18-19
V 19 Do not quench the spirit
To quench is to subdue or destroy. Doesn’t sound too great when your applying it to the Spirits control of your life does it? However, this is the result of habitual unrepentant sin in our lives. Luke 16:13 puts it like this “No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other…”. In a more secular way, “you can’t have your cake and eat it too!” If we desire the Holy Spirits control over our lives then we must be willing to give up the pet sins that plague us. We must be willing to daily evaluate our lives to see if we are in anyway “grieving the Spirit” as a result of our sins. We must be willing to “die” to our flesh daily. Doesn’t sound fun does it? But it is rewarding!
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Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Prayer...A Never Ending Process
August 25, 2010
1 Thessalonians 5:16-17
V 17 pray without ceasing
I was just praying for a specific need in my life this morning. It’s a need that’s dear to me and at the moment sort of consumes me. I was unsure how I should proceed; then I read this verse. “Pray without ceasing” this is how I am to accomplish this task set before me. This is how God answered my prayer. That if I am to be successful at what I have been called to do…I must pray at all time. Ceasing is defined as “to put a stop to or end to”. There is to never be an end to my praying because when I cease to pray I start trying to handle things on my own and that never works out!
1 Thessalonians 5:16-17
V 17 pray without ceasing
I was just praying for a specific need in my life this morning. It’s a need that’s dear to me and at the moment sort of consumes me. I was unsure how I should proceed; then I read this verse. “Pray without ceasing” this is how I am to accomplish this task set before me. This is how God answered my prayer. That if I am to be successful at what I have been called to do…I must pray at all time. Ceasing is defined as “to put a stop to or end to”. There is to never be an end to my praying because when I cease to pray I start trying to handle things on my own and that never works out!
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Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Never Having to Wish...
August 24, 2010
“Reckless faith isn’t fake. It doesn’t pretend. It feels deeply and lives fully. It ask questions, cries out, and tests boundaries. It has dynamic conversations with God. It molds its understanding as it encounters new situations. God has a plan is not a cliché. God has a plan is a mantra for a way of life that says you don’t have to have all the answers to proceed. You can throw yourself toward the Red Sea and believe if it parts, praise God you knew it would!” –Beth Guckenberger
I read this in an email this morning sent to me from a family who is on their way to South Korea, simply because God called them to. I was impressed by this quote; then my second thought was “oh, to have that kind of faith”. I was immediately upset with myself because there is no reason why I can’t have that kind of faith. To say that I “wish” is just giving me the excuse not to pursue it. For the truth of the matter is this, it is much easier to “wish” than to pursue because in the wishing there never has to be any change. I can still travel along in my little box and never step out of my comfort zone; never attempt anything that the world would find unusual or strange; there is no fear in the never trying. “He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” Mark 4:40.
“Reckless faith isn’t fake. It doesn’t pretend. It feels deeply and lives fully. It ask questions, cries out, and tests boundaries. It has dynamic conversations with God. It molds its understanding as it encounters new situations. God has a plan is not a cliché. God has a plan is a mantra for a way of life that says you don’t have to have all the answers to proceed. You can throw yourself toward the Red Sea and believe if it parts, praise God you knew it would!” –Beth Guckenberger
I read this in an email this morning sent to me from a family who is on their way to South Korea, simply because God called them to. I was impressed by this quote; then my second thought was “oh, to have that kind of faith”. I was immediately upset with myself because there is no reason why I can’t have that kind of faith. To say that I “wish” is just giving me the excuse not to pursue it. For the truth of the matter is this, it is much easier to “wish” than to pursue because in the wishing there never has to be any change. I can still travel along in my little box and never step out of my comfort zone; never attempt anything that the world would find unusual or strange; there is no fear in the never trying. “He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” Mark 4:40.
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Monday, August 23, 2010
Have you Rejoiced lately?
August 23, 2010
1 Thessalonians 5:16
V 16 Rejoice always
For a verse of only two words this is a very difficult one to obey and accomplish. For all this verse says there are some things it doesn’t say. For instance, it doesn’t say: if your happy, if you’re getting your way, if you’re having fun. Nope, no matter how hard we look, we won’t find any qualifiers in this verse. God is saying here, that we are to always rejoice no matter the circumstance. Whether we are happy, sad, mad, or just average we are called to rejoice. Rejoice is defined as to be glad, to take delight in, to make joyful, and gladden. Perhaps we must examine our lives to see if we are rejoicing at all times.
1 Thessalonians 5:16
V 16 Rejoice always
For a verse of only two words this is a very difficult one to obey and accomplish. For all this verse says there are some things it doesn’t say. For instance, it doesn’t say: if your happy, if you’re getting your way, if you’re having fun. Nope, no matter how hard we look, we won’t find any qualifiers in this verse. God is saying here, that we are to always rejoice no matter the circumstance. Whether we are happy, sad, mad, or just average we are called to rejoice. Rejoice is defined as to be glad, to take delight in, to make joyful, and gladden. Perhaps we must examine our lives to see if we are rejoicing at all times.
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Friday, August 20, 2010
Finding the Pause Button...
August 20, 2010
1 Thessalonians 4:9-5:15
V 5:15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil…
What a battle of the flesh this is? Right. How easy it is to hit first, whether with words or actual physical blows, then ask questions later. Our lives would be so much eaiser if we only had a pause button. We could hit this button; then calm down for a moment, then react biblically. However, this is not how we were designed. Instead, we have the Holy Spirit who is constantly counseling us on how to conduct ourselves in the faith, and through this we can learn how to pause ourselves. We can learn how to stop, then react; no matter what the circumstance. That feeling we all get when we know that we have reacted unbiblicaliy is a terrible one; we are guilty because one we have disobeyed God and for another we have lost an opportunity to be a witness to a lost world. Never doubt that how we react to situations shows others to depth of God’s love for us.
1 Thessalonians 4:9-5:15
V 5:15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil…
What a battle of the flesh this is? Right. How easy it is to hit first, whether with words or actual physical blows, then ask questions later. Our lives would be so much eaiser if we only had a pause button. We could hit this button; then calm down for a moment, then react biblically. However, this is not how we were designed. Instead, we have the Holy Spirit who is constantly counseling us on how to conduct ourselves in the faith, and through this we can learn how to pause ourselves. We can learn how to stop, then react; no matter what the circumstance. That feeling we all get when we know that we have reacted unbiblicaliy is a terrible one; we are guilty because one we have disobeyed God and for another we have lost an opportunity to be a witness to a lost world. Never doubt that how we react to situations shows others to depth of God’s love for us.
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My Journey
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Knowing God More and More...
August 19, 2010
1 Thessalonians 3:13-4:8
V 4:1 …that you do so more and more
I think that Paul is telling the Thessalonians and us that we can never know too much about God. We can never get to a spot where we can say I know enough; I don’t need to do anything else. It’s easy to get into a routine…our time with God can easily become automatic. We get up, we pray the “same” sort of prayer each day and then we read a passage, and we think were set. We think we have enough to deal with all that will be thrown at us that day. It’s been my experience that when my time with God becomes routine, I can no longer deal with my frustrations in a way that’s pleasing to God or me really. I find that I slip into the sins that often plague me. In order to just deal with life, I must seek to know God “…more and more.”
1 Thessalonians 3:13-4:8
V 4:1 …that you do so more and more
I think that Paul is telling the Thessalonians and us that we can never know too much about God. We can never get to a spot where we can say I know enough; I don’t need to do anything else. It’s easy to get into a routine…our time with God can easily become automatic. We get up, we pray the “same” sort of prayer each day and then we read a passage, and we think were set. We think we have enough to deal with all that will be thrown at us that day. It’s been my experience that when my time with God becomes routine, I can no longer deal with my frustrations in a way that’s pleasing to God or me really. I find that I slip into the sins that often plague me. In order to just deal with life, I must seek to know God “…more and more.”
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My Journey
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
To Love or Not to Love...There is No Question....
August 18, 2010
1 Thessalonians 3:4-12
V 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all…
We can’t deny that God wants us to love our fellow man, both the believer and the unbeliever, and how hard that is sometimes. Our heart is a selfish creature that is only and always looking out for itself. This, of course, is contrary to what scripture is calling us to do; God’s word says that the second greatest commandment is to “love one another.” No matter how hard you look you will not find the words “as long as they haven’t done anything to you…”, there just not there. Unfortunately, God didn’t put any stipulations on this commandment; He simply said to love. I assume that’s one of the reasons Paul says “may the Lord make you increase…” because he knew that this wasn’t something that anyone can do on their own.
1 Thessalonians 3:4-12
V 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all…
We can’t deny that God wants us to love our fellow man, both the believer and the unbeliever, and how hard that is sometimes. Our heart is a selfish creature that is only and always looking out for itself. This, of course, is contrary to what scripture is calling us to do; God’s word says that the second greatest commandment is to “love one another.” No matter how hard you look you will not find the words “as long as they haven’t done anything to you…”, there just not there. Unfortunately, God didn’t put any stipulations on this commandment; He simply said to love. I assume that’s one of the reasons Paul says “may the Lord make you increase…” because he knew that this wasn’t something that anyone can do on their own.
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My Journey
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