"The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"-John 1:29
Let's just remember the reality of this truth. So often we look for things in our lives to fix problems, ease heartache, and fulfill emptiness. Praise the Lord we can stop looking for "whats" and start casting our eyes on the one and only "who" that is capable of saving us from ourselves and giving us love, hope, and life!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Don't Touch the Hot Stove
"For the LORD gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
guarding the paths of justice
and watching over the way of his saints." -Proverbs 2:6-8
The book of Proverbs is all about wisdom and chapter two, fittingly in the beginning of the book, is about the "Value of Wisdom." It's such a dense chapter and I would be remiss to suggest that this post is a summery of it, so read it! Having said this, there is a theme.
#1.) Wisdom comes from God and he willingly provides it to us. Maybe we don't appreciate that as much as we should because we don't understand the purpose of wisdom sometimes. Maybe we think wisdom is just something that old people get over time and it means they can skillfully dial up those old cliches on the spot just when you don't want to hear them. You know, there's always someone "wise" around right when you're about to buy that sweet, new gadget, wagging their wrinkly finger and saying, "a penny saved is a penny earned." Or when something really lame has happened in your life....there they are again, suggesting you "look at both side of the coin." No....Godly, biblical wisdom is far more than the ability to make youngsters roll their eyes at trite verbiage delivered with a plastic smile and prideful tone.
#2.) Wisdom is for our protection. If you go through Proverbs 2 and circle all of the verbs that describe the acitions of the LORD in response to our willingness to accept wisdom, it's quite telling. He is "guarding," "watching," and "delivering."
It's only appropriate I end this post with a cliched analogy. Just like when mom or dad told you back when you were a little tot not to touch the stove because they wanted to protect you, our heavenly Father loves us so much as to offer wisdom, understanding, and knowledge of Him and his commandments....not because he wants us to grow prideful in our ourselves or because he wants us to live boring, risk-less lives, but so that we may be guarded from evil as we carry his name.
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
guarding the paths of justice
and watching over the way of his saints." -Proverbs 2:6-8
The book of Proverbs is all about wisdom and chapter two, fittingly in the beginning of the book, is about the "Value of Wisdom." It's such a dense chapter and I would be remiss to suggest that this post is a summery of it, so read it! Having said this, there is a theme.
#1.) Wisdom comes from God and he willingly provides it to us. Maybe we don't appreciate that as much as we should because we don't understand the purpose of wisdom sometimes. Maybe we think wisdom is just something that old people get over time and it means they can skillfully dial up those old cliches on the spot just when you don't want to hear them. You know, there's always someone "wise" around right when you're about to buy that sweet, new gadget, wagging their wrinkly finger and saying, "a penny saved is a penny earned." Or when something really lame has happened in your life....there they are again, suggesting you "look at both side of the coin." No....Godly, biblical wisdom is far more than the ability to make youngsters roll their eyes at trite verbiage delivered with a plastic smile and prideful tone.
#2.) Wisdom is for our protection. If you go through Proverbs 2 and circle all of the verbs that describe the acitions of the LORD in response to our willingness to accept wisdom, it's quite telling. He is "guarding," "watching," and "delivering."
It's only appropriate I end this post with a cliched analogy. Just like when mom or dad told you back when you were a little tot not to touch the stove because they wanted to protect you, our heavenly Father loves us so much as to offer wisdom, understanding, and knowledge of Him and his commandments....not because he wants us to grow prideful in our ourselves or because he wants us to live boring, risk-less lives, but so that we may be guarded from evil as we carry his name.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
When the earth quakes....
"For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains." -Mark 13:8
Jesus goes on in verse 10 in saying "And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations." Friends, every day we get closer to the return of Jesus....are we ready for it?
Jesus goes on in verse 10 in saying "And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations." Friends, every day we get closer to the return of Jesus....are we ready for it?
Monday, August 22, 2011
A Double Dog Sized Dare
"Then David said to Solomon his son, 'Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the LORD God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.'" - 1 Chronicles 28:20
The definition of courage according to the dictionary is:
the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear.
Needless to say, the need for courage implies that a situation or task or calling is going to be difficult and even scary. If I told you that someone was drowning and needed rescuing but didn't give you the tools you needed to go save them (location, a boat, a life vest or one of those life saver tubes), just told you to be brave, maybe you wouldn't go. That's not at all what God's asking of us. I love how Solomon goes on immediately after commanding David to be courageous about the God who will accompany him. We're called to be courageous, but are given the ultimate tool....the God of the universe who will go before us and guide our path.
Where is God asking you to be courageous today in your life? Maybe there are new and uncomfortable situations or unreached people who need to hear about Jesus from you. Expect it to be scarier than a double dog sized dare, but realize that you will not be alone, and go where he has called with courage!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Standing in Awe
"On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness"-Psalm 145:5-7a
When was the last time we were stunned by the power and love of our heavenly Father? And what's more, he actually allows us to partake in glorifying him...what an honor. Louie Giglio puts this in perspective:
When was the last time we were stunned by the power and love of our heavenly Father? And what's more, he actually allows us to partake in glorifying him...what an honor. Louie Giglio puts this in perspective:
Saturday, August 20, 2011
What are we really asking?
"For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land." -Psalm 37:9
Have you ever prayed for patience? I got to thinking the other day that when I pray for patience, many times, it's not really a peace about waiting that I want. What my heart is often after is that what I am waiting for comes more quickly. Earnestly seeking patience through prayer means that we rejoice when God makes us wait because it develops that patience further, right? Let's make it our goal to seek God's peace and hope through seasons in our lives wherein he has us waiting on him, that's patience! And patience in the Lord is never fruitless.
While I'm Waiting- John Waller
Have you ever prayed for patience? I got to thinking the other day that when I pray for patience, many times, it's not really a peace about waiting that I want. What my heart is often after is that what I am waiting for comes more quickly. Earnestly seeking patience through prayer means that we rejoice when God makes us wait because it develops that patience further, right? Let's make it our goal to seek God's peace and hope through seasons in our lives wherein he has us waiting on him, that's patience! And patience in the Lord is never fruitless.
While I'm Waiting- John Waller
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Aiming to be Mistaken
"to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."-Ephesians 4:12-13
What a life goal it is to seek to attain to the measure of Christ!! So are we continually maturing in the faith? And is everything that we do best for reflecting Jesus? I think that people who realize that they are ransomed and redeemed aim to "be mistaken for Jesus."
Mistaken by Warren Barfield
What a life goal it is to seek to attain to the measure of Christ!! So are we continually maturing in the faith? And is everything that we do best for reflecting Jesus? I think that people who realize that they are ransomed and redeemed aim to "be mistaken for Jesus."
Mistaken by Warren Barfield
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