From the book Spurgeon Gold:
Now poor sinner, with all your sin about you, take this promise in your hands, go home tonight, or if you can, do it before you get home — go home, I say, up-stairs, alone, down by the bed-side, and pour out thine heart, “O Lord, it is all true that that man said; I am condemned, and Lord I deserve it. O Lord, I have tried to be better, and I have done nothing with it all, but have only grown worse. O Lord, I have slighted your grace, I have despised your gospel: I wonder you have not damned me years ago; Lord, I marvel at myself, that you suffer such a base wretch as I am to live at all. I have despised a mother’s teaching, I have forgotten a father’s prayers. Lord, I have forgotten you; I have broken your Sabbath, taken your name in vain. I have done everything that is wrong, and if you do condemn me, what can I say? Lord, I am dumb before your presence.
I heard a preacher the other day being "very frank" about the true state of mankind. He was preaching judgment for sin and talking about hell, which is rarely heard today. Then he said "You 60 and 70 year old's haven't heard this type of preaching for a long time, but as a kid you heard it all the time." They burst out with big amen's! Wow...it hit me, they really have seen a huge change in what is called Christianity in their lifetime. How sad it must be for our senior citizens to see what our country has become and what "Christianity" has become!
Listen.....can you hear Charles Hadden Spurgeon rolling over in his grave?
Friday, January 25, 2008
Roe v Wade
With everything going on I did not mention Roe v Wade this week. I feel like the old Catholic deep within me feels obligated to say something pro-life...haha....It's actually very serious. Over 1 million babies are aborted every year. Here's the issue. Remember these three words.....What is it.
We must define what that is in the womb.
Pro-choice people will often say it's a fetus.....not a baby?
A beating heart with brain waves at only 6 weeks!
Since today's world seems to protect animals more than life.....
What if there was the "Butterfly Savers of America" organization? They save butterflies, but I happen to be a cocoon smasher. It's my hobby....I love to smash them and feel them squish beneath my feet. Would they come after me? Why....it's not a butterfly. A fetus is not a pre-human, it IS a human! I know I'm preachin' to the choir...but remember what the argument is.
They only want to get out of the "trouble" they have put themselves in with sin. They want to be able to continue in their sin. I know. I do not judge. So what they need is not a "choice" but they need to know the love of God and forgiveness in Christ.
OK I've made my obligatory Pro-life remark....
We must define what that is in the womb.
Pro-choice people will often say it's a fetus.....not a baby?
A beating heart with brain waves at only 6 weeks!
Since today's world seems to protect animals more than life.....
What if there was the "Butterfly Savers of America" organization? They save butterflies, but I happen to be a cocoon smasher. It's my hobby....I love to smash them and feel them squish beneath my feet. Would they come after me? Why....it's not a butterfly. A fetus is not a pre-human, it IS a human! I know I'm preachin' to the choir...but remember what the argument is.
They only want to get out of the "trouble" they have put themselves in with sin. They want to be able to continue in their sin. I know. I do not judge. So what they need is not a "choice" but they need to know the love of God and forgiveness in Christ.
OK I've made my obligatory Pro-life remark....
Thursday, January 24, 2008
I think we have a new option....
The conference call tonight was smaller than I expected but went pretty well. I think I like the idea of a conference call so we could have short discussions or a mini-class if we wanted. Only problem is this....20 people trying to talk at once would be a mess, so I have posted here a dedicated CHAT room where we can type questions and stuff without us all talking over each other. The link is below the archive list on the right of the screen (look for the yellow link). Some will be able to have the chat going while on the conference call, some will not. Either way some good tools here. I think the Lord is slowly building a ministry with our family that has grown into two countries now and roots are spreading out from our lines. I am SO thankful when people come in and we search the scriptures together. I just want us to know the Word and to know God and this could be a great tool for our learning and praying. It's just a little seed....we'll see if God will use it to increase our work.
5 Steps to Change
Often my faith influences how I manage things at work. Here's something from my management file that is very applicable to faith. Hope it's helpful.
Here are 5 steps to change.
We must know the Facts of the Bible first before we can have the Knowledge we need to believe. That belief (faith) affects our attitudes towards God, Life and sin. Those attitudes drive our behavior. Because our life has been affected by the facts of the Bible, others around us may desire to know God. So our behavior is a testimony to the facts. Then they may also seek the facts of the Bible because of what they saw in you.
Look at the list above, where are you right now? If you are at ground zero, start reading to know what the Bible says. If you know what the Bible says grow in your knowledge of the Lord. If you are growing then your faith is growing. If your faith is growing your life is changing. If your life is changing, your life will be a witness of Christ. You might not even know you have been evangelizing....actions speak louder than words! Just be ready to answer and send them to the Words that lead you to action!
Here are 5 steps to change.
- Facts Lead to Knowledge
- Knowledge Influences Belief
- Beliefs Lead to Attitudes
- Attitudes Drive Behavior
- Behavior Influences Behavior of Those Around Us
We must know the Facts of the Bible first before we can have the Knowledge we need to believe. That belief (faith) affects our attitudes towards God, Life and sin. Those attitudes drive our behavior. Because our life has been affected by the facts of the Bible, others around us may desire to know God. So our behavior is a testimony to the facts. Then they may also seek the facts of the Bible because of what they saw in you.
Look at the list above, where are you right now? If you are at ground zero, start reading to know what the Bible says. If you know what the Bible says grow in your knowledge of the Lord. If you are growing then your faith is growing. If your faith is growing your life is changing. If your life is changing, your life will be a witness of Christ. You might not even know you have been evangelizing....actions speak louder than words! Just be ready to answer and send them to the Words that lead you to action!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
The Dot and the Line
Sorry for the crude artwork but I wanted to spend time on the words not the picture. Above the small red dot represents life. The left edge of life represents birth and the right edge represents death. During life what a person has done with Christ determines which eternal path you will live on. Look how small the dot is. Imagine how small that dot must be compared to infinity! What in this life could possibly more important that your ETERNAL destination?We come into the world with nothing and we leave with nothing. What matters in life? You see if life is about "me" than life has NO meaning. Life is fleeting and it will quickly pass with everything in it.
If life is about God and not me, then that changes things. We pray for things, but our heart isn't totally wrapped up in peace, health, wealth, prosperity.... How many Christian's spend their lives misguided? How many are living for the DOT when it's the LINE that matters? It's not about me, but about God. It's not about what will I gain to enjoy and for my own glory in this life. It's about God glorifying Himself throughout history by Himself and for Himself. I am simply a beneficiary of His work.
It's late now I have to get some rest since I have been sick, but be thinking about this a little bit and I will develop it more in the next few days.
It's a paradox really from a human perspective. For a Christian it is better to be dead than alive, yet we want to live to serve our King since our chance to work is so short compared to our eternal rest. On the other hand what if I am not on the path I thought I was? What if I am on the road to eternity in hell? I can tell you this....it won't take but 5 minutes after your death and you will have no doubt in you mind of which path you were on all along.
Here's the other thing. In talking to regular people, no one has ever told me they thought they will go to hell. How many will be shocked and surprised to find out they were wrong! Remember the message on the religion of human achievement? They are living for the dot hoping for the line...... We are living for the line resting in the dot because of the work Christ did for us. I don't mean to say Christians should do nothing....quite the opposite. For a later time though. Here's to eternal life He has purchased for us with His blood! Glory to Lord God Almighty Who was, Who is, Who came and Who will come again!
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Hate the Imaginations Evil Thoughts
I hate my imagination!
Genesis 6:5 and GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually.
Genesis 8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart [is] evil from his youth;
Jeremiah 7:24 but they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels [and] in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.
Jeremiah 11:8 Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart:
Jeremiah 13:10 This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.
Jeremiah 16:12 And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me:
Jeremiah 18:12 And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.
Luke 1:51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
PLEASE LISTEN! Every battle begins in your imagination! What sin have you ever committed willingly that didn't begin in the imagination? We think about it....we dwell on it....sinful thoughts.....then when the opportunity presents itself....our conscience screams at us but like a bungee jump, we gulp....take a deep breath.....and jump.....falling right into the exhilaration of sin! "Weeeeeee......ahhhhh that was fun" Oh, the cord may have caught you this time.....you may be able to cover the sin on your face, but be sure of what scripture says.....Numbers 32:23 "behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out."
I think that verse scares me most...... Am I so foolish to convince myself I can conceive sin in my imagination and even carry it out and no one will find out......(visualize big flashing 'caution' sign here)
Teachers always told me my imagination was my biggest asset. Ha! Biggest curse maybe....but being imaginative in itself is not a sin....it's what happens in your mind you must guard.
Be a disciplined soldier of the Lord!
Just as a hand near a fire feels pain to warn you, your conscience screams at you like the same warning system to stop you. What a strong sinner filled with wickedness who pushes past his or her screaming conscience through the flames of sin into the blissful free fall into the pit of hell.....who can grab on and pull themselves out of the pit?
We MUST take this seriously. I hold no grudge and do not look down my nose at all in any way at anyone who has ever ever sinned in this way. I have done the same thing and even today I will battle my imagination.
The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life works strongly against us.
If not restrained by the Lord what will restrain us..... The Battle is On! Please fight fight fight......sin desires to cause us to commit adultery against our Lord. Every sin is our cheating on the One who DIED for us. It is spitting on Christ as He hung on the cross! OH LORD restrain my heart!!!!!
My own battle is on my mind tonight as I desire to be self-disciplined and a warrior for God. My battle is in my own mind and body.....and so is Yours.
Father-
You must fight this war within us. We are not able. We do not have the strength in and of our self. Without the restraint of the conscience You have placed within us, and most importantly as believers in Christ death for sins, the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. I think of the verses "He who is in you is stronger than he who is in the world" and also "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Lord we are now in a battle with our own mind and flesh. Keep us from committing adultery against You our Lord and Master who died for us. At salvation Lord I made a promise to You. I made a vow to You. I said I will forsake my sin and myself and my selfish desires and make You the Master of my life. I wanted to give my life to You out of love for what You have done for me.
How can I continue in sin knowing the great price You paid for me? How can I continue to sin knowing it is eternity in literal hell You saved me from?
Father we do not keep our commitment to You because just like we sin against each other, we are lovers of self. We do not keep our promises because we are liars. Lord I don't know how people are taking this and I hope they don't think I am thinking of them, because I am not.
I am saying plain and clear....I Jason Younger commit adultery against YOU Lord Jesus. In my mind I willingly conceive sin. In my flesh I willingly carry out sin. As James says, how can I bless the Lord with my mouth and with the same mouth sin. Oh, how the tongue needs to be tamed.....Lord my tongue is simply the mouth of the pitcher that pours out my hearts thoughts and desires.
I want to be starved for Your Word....I want to be starved for prayer and fellowship with You....I want to be hungry for a life of walking in the Spirit. Make me hungry not because I do not seek it, but because the more I seek it, the hungrier I get. If I am a glutton Lord who can not quit, let it be my gluttony of feeding on the teaching of Your Word.
Oh, I am on fire and ready to be the good soldier of the Lord! Let me forsake myself and seek You.....I renew again and still mean as I said on the first day 5 years ago......I pledge my love and my life to You Lord Jesus Christ my KING who died to save me and make me a brother and fellow heir of the kingdom of God.
Strengthen us and make us stronger by testing but maybe many smaller tests we can endure....You know our limits where we will break. Finally Lord...I remember Your promise to us....."No temptation has overtaken you except what's common to man, but God is faithful and will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that You may stand up under it."
Lord I cling to the promise of Your Word and the perfection of the Scriptures. Amen
Genesis 6:5 and GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually.
Genesis 8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart [is] evil from his youth;
Jeremiah 7:24 but they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels [and] in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.
Jeremiah 11:8 Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart:
Jeremiah 13:10 This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.
Jeremiah 16:12 And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me:
Jeremiah 18:12 And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.
Luke 1:51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
PLEASE LISTEN! Every battle begins in your imagination! What sin have you ever committed willingly that didn't begin in the imagination? We think about it....we dwell on it....sinful thoughts.....then when the opportunity presents itself....our conscience screams at us but like a bungee jump, we gulp....take a deep breath.....and jump.....falling right into the exhilaration of sin! "Weeeeeee......ahhhhh that was fun" Oh, the cord may have caught you this time.....you may be able to cover the sin on your face, but be sure of what scripture says.....Numbers 32:23 "behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out."
I think that verse scares me most...... Am I so foolish to convince myself I can conceive sin in my imagination and even carry it out and no one will find out......(visualize big flashing 'caution' sign here)
Teachers always told me my imagination was my biggest asset. Ha! Biggest curse maybe....but being imaginative in itself is not a sin....it's what happens in your mind you must guard.
Be a disciplined soldier of the Lord!
Just as a hand near a fire feels pain to warn you, your conscience screams at you like the same warning system to stop you. What a strong sinner filled with wickedness who pushes past his or her screaming conscience through the flames of sin into the blissful free fall into the pit of hell.....who can grab on and pull themselves out of the pit?
We MUST take this seriously. I hold no grudge and do not look down my nose at all in any way at anyone who has ever ever sinned in this way. I have done the same thing and even today I will battle my imagination.
The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life works strongly against us.
If not restrained by the Lord what will restrain us..... The Battle is On! Please fight fight fight......sin desires to cause us to commit adultery against our Lord. Every sin is our cheating on the One who DIED for us. It is spitting on Christ as He hung on the cross! OH LORD restrain my heart!!!!!
My own battle is on my mind tonight as I desire to be self-disciplined and a warrior for God. My battle is in my own mind and body.....and so is Yours.
Father-
You must fight this war within us. We are not able. We do not have the strength in and of our self. Without the restraint of the conscience You have placed within us, and most importantly as believers in Christ death for sins, the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. I think of the verses "He who is in you is stronger than he who is in the world" and also "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Lord we are now in a battle with our own mind and flesh. Keep us from committing adultery against You our Lord and Master who died for us. At salvation Lord I made a promise to You. I made a vow to You. I said I will forsake my sin and myself and my selfish desires and make You the Master of my life. I wanted to give my life to You out of love for what You have done for me.
How can I continue in sin knowing the great price You paid for me? How can I continue to sin knowing it is eternity in literal hell You saved me from?
Father we do not keep our commitment to You because just like we sin against each other, we are lovers of self. We do not keep our promises because we are liars. Lord I don't know how people are taking this and I hope they don't think I am thinking of them, because I am not.
I am saying plain and clear....I Jason Younger commit adultery against YOU Lord Jesus. In my mind I willingly conceive sin. In my flesh I willingly carry out sin. As James says, how can I bless the Lord with my mouth and with the same mouth sin. Oh, how the tongue needs to be tamed.....Lord my tongue is simply the mouth of the pitcher that pours out my hearts thoughts and desires.
I want to be starved for Your Word....I want to be starved for prayer and fellowship with You....I want to be hungry for a life of walking in the Spirit. Make me hungry not because I do not seek it, but because the more I seek it, the hungrier I get. If I am a glutton Lord who can not quit, let it be my gluttony of feeding on the teaching of Your Word.
Oh, I am on fire and ready to be the good soldier of the Lord! Let me forsake myself and seek You.....I renew again and still mean as I said on the first day 5 years ago......I pledge my love and my life to You Lord Jesus Christ my KING who died to save me and make me a brother and fellow heir of the kingdom of God.
Strengthen us and make us stronger by testing but maybe many smaller tests we can endure....You know our limits where we will break. Finally Lord...I remember Your promise to us....."No temptation has overtaken you except what's common to man, but God is faithful and will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that You may stand up under it."
Lord I cling to the promise of Your Word and the perfection of the Scriptures. Amen
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Press Pause on the Daily Prayers
Just an FYI.... I think I will suspend posting the Daily Prayer for a while, maybe for good.....as the website gets more and more traffic, I am not comfortable sharing our families private prayer requests on a page anyone can view. It will be more for teaching, stories and just kind of a journal on the Christian life. Please don't forget to check back often.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Daily Prayer 1/13/08
Father-
Thank You for a great day of worship! If only my mind could begin to grasp Your greatness and glory!
This week Lord be with Adam and Mindy and little Thad as we await his arrival. We pray for the condition of his heart and his size. I hope he continues to grow and be a big strong boy who is ready to use his strength to heal in case he needs surgery. We right now anticipate surgery, but always hold out hope that You would heal him suddenly so we will know it was a miracle and not slow growth over time that healed his heart. I always look forward to situations where we are cornered and forced to give all the glory to You because there is no other explanation.
There is another man that I love like a brother Father. You know him. I pray that You would place Your Holy Spirit within him. I pray that You would comfort him and also move him to do the right thing. I pray with all my heart that he would be not just a brother by the law, but an eternal brother. Lord, how easily we can slip and fall! Do whatever You must do Lord to change hearts and cause forgiveness, repentance and restoration. Lord, You know how deeply I love him. Please save him from his trouble and keep him near us! You know how much this has bothered me...please hear my prayer.
For all of us, Lord You know the needs within our hearts. Teach us to take care of our souls. Help us to seek You earnestly. We desire to know You Lord, but we have to know Your Word. I know it's a drum I pound over and over, but You have been very clear with us, that to know You and have the peace and joy we seek, we must know You and the salvation of Christ Jesus that comes by faith through the working of Your Word and the Holy Spirit.
This life will soon be over......in light of eternity we must be feeding our souls from Your Word!
Christ, Shepherd us.....make us sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit! Amen.
Thank You for a great day of worship! If only my mind could begin to grasp Your greatness and glory!
This week Lord be with Adam and Mindy and little Thad as we await his arrival. We pray for the condition of his heart and his size. I hope he continues to grow and be a big strong boy who is ready to use his strength to heal in case he needs surgery. We right now anticipate surgery, but always hold out hope that You would heal him suddenly so we will know it was a miracle and not slow growth over time that healed his heart. I always look forward to situations where we are cornered and forced to give all the glory to You because there is no other explanation.
There is another man that I love like a brother Father. You know him. I pray that You would place Your Holy Spirit within him. I pray that You would comfort him and also move him to do the right thing. I pray with all my heart that he would be not just a brother by the law, but an eternal brother. Lord, how easily we can slip and fall! Do whatever You must do Lord to change hearts and cause forgiveness, repentance and restoration. Lord, You know how deeply I love him. Please save him from his trouble and keep him near us! You know how much this has bothered me...please hear my prayer.
For all of us, Lord You know the needs within our hearts. Teach us to take care of our souls. Help us to seek You earnestly. We desire to know You Lord, but we have to know Your Word. I know it's a drum I pound over and over, but You have been very clear with us, that to know You and have the peace and joy we seek, we must know You and the salvation of Christ Jesus that comes by faith through the working of Your Word and the Holy Spirit.
This life will soon be over......in light of eternity we must be feeding our souls from Your Word!
Christ, Shepherd us.....make us sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit! Amen.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Daily Prayer 1/12/08
"A common, mediocre, lukewarm Christian does not honor God!"
Maybe we made new year's resolutions....mine is just to read more and study harder. I have already fallen short of my own expectations, how much more I must have failed God's expectations for my life!
Let me just put my arm around you and say....come on....lets go.....are we getting tired already so early in this years race? Let's work together to keep up a pace that honors God.
Has being a Christian cost you anything? Have You suffered for your faith? Have you died for sins?
We must now let go of whatever is keeping us from becoming His....
Love Jesus more than you love yourself!
I will be the first to step forward and say "I have loved myself more than Jesus." I will now hang my head sorry for my climbing up onto the throne in my heart where He belongs.
I am telling you...He just wants you to love and trust Him!
Father.....we have many needs, but we put them second place tonight behind our prayer to just belong fully to You. Take us and chain us to the Lord so we can not slip away! Keep us on a short leash. We love You and want to be near You.
What every has been keeping us from You we now set aside and give is a lower place than we have been giving You.
In Christ's Name we pray, Amen.
Maybe we made new year's resolutions....mine is just to read more and study harder. I have already fallen short of my own expectations, how much more I must have failed God's expectations for my life!
Let me just put my arm around you and say....come on....lets go.....are we getting tired already so early in this years race? Let's work together to keep up a pace that honors God.
Has being a Christian cost you anything? Have You suffered for your faith? Have you died for sins?
We must now let go of whatever is keeping us from becoming His....
Love Jesus more than you love yourself!
I will be the first to step forward and say "I have loved myself more than Jesus." I will now hang my head sorry for my climbing up onto the throne in my heart where He belongs.
I am telling you...He just wants you to love and trust Him!
Father.....we have many needs, but we put them second place tonight behind our prayer to just belong fully to You. Take us and chain us to the Lord so we can not slip away! Keep us on a short leash. We love You and want to be near You.
What every has been keeping us from You we now set aside and give is a lower place than we have been giving You.
In Christ's Name we pray, Amen.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Daily Prayer 1/11/08
Father, You are SO big our minds can not fully comprehend You. How can our finite minds understand our infinite Father. How can the infinite God of the universe fit in the body of a man? So many Christian paradox's Lord! The way up is down....to be greatest, we must submit to Christ and become least. To get to heaven we can do no good, but must trust that we have done nothing....we must trust in the work of Another for us.
Lord, thank You for our Mother. In many ways she reminds me of Christ....she is always there for us.... she always willingly helps us and always loves us. If we need any kind of help she will meet our needs. What can we do to repay her?
She has done so much more for us than we could ever repay......I am left silent, with nothing I can do to show my love and gratitude....so we are only left with love and thanksgiving. Help us to properly show our Mother that love and thanks giving.
Lord Jesus the only gift of any worth I can give is the greatest gift You have given me....the Gospel.....all riches and wisdom and salvation are in the words of the scriptures for us. Feed our souls and give our family members the eternal gift of salvation that is freely given through faith in Your blood that was shed for the forgiveness of our sins.
Happy Birthday Mom!!!!!! WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!
Lord, thank You for our Mother. In many ways she reminds me of Christ....she is always there for us.... she always willingly helps us and always loves us. If we need any kind of help she will meet our needs. What can we do to repay her?
She has done so much more for us than we could ever repay......I am left silent, with nothing I can do to show my love and gratitude....so we are only left with love and thanksgiving. Help us to properly show our Mother that love and thanks giving.
Lord Jesus the only gift of any worth I can give is the greatest gift You have given me....the Gospel.....all riches and wisdom and salvation are in the words of the scriptures for us. Feed our souls and give our family members the eternal gift of salvation that is freely given through faith in Your blood that was shed for the forgiveness of our sins.
Happy Birthday Mom!!!!!! WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!
Morning Glory
I heard a news story this morning that was about the Middle East, it just briefly mentioned the sea of Galilee where Christ "was said to have walked on water". May seem pretty picky, but it in my mind robbed Christ of His glory. I just thought to myself, no He DID walk on water. To many in the world Christ is just an exaggerated story. It kind of made me sad and Hebrews 1 came to mind.....
Hebrews 1:1-3
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Please note the italics. God who has no beginning or end decided to express Himself. So as He creates and decides to reveal Himself to us, who did He use to speak to us? The eternal third in the Holy Trinity....He has spoken to us in HIS Son....Jesus. Shouldn't we study Jesus more? Who created the world? The One who walked on the water with power over the creation, Jesus. Who is the EXACT representation of the invisible God the Father so that we can know HIM? Jesus.....who is the only One who has made purification of sins? Not us, but Jesus! God who became man to reveal Himself to us so He could be known and we could have our sins forgiven.....we can not pay for our sins and arrive in Heaven, only the One who makes purification of sins.
Father, help me to always lift up Christ and worship Him as Thomas said "My Lord and my God!" May Christ continually be lifted higher by my mouth, my mind and my actions, and may I continually be lowered to a position of humble adoration of this God Man who died for me!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Daily Prayer 1/10/08
Father,
Again life seems to be soo busy. Will you help me, and help all of us as we struggle for time to just take care of all of life's (seemingly) necessary functions and always still have plenty of time to spend seeking You each day.
Lord, it seems I give the day my best and all my energy and then at the end of the day I am just tired and feel too worn out to even pick up my Bible and read. Lord how can I spend so much energy on so much that has no eternal value? Help me to dedicate myself to You. You know Lord You are on my mind through out the day, but will You be there even more?
I know I have studied and learned about You today, but I am not satisfied with my effort. Help me get to know You in Your Word. It is so vital! I feel I have cared for my body and now I will go to bed with a hungry soul.
Lord, thank YOU so much for the growth of Thaddeus! We pray this will strengthen him in case You have heart surgeries ahead of him. I have not yet given up hope, but remember how You have helped improve Thad's heart as he has grown. We still pray it would be healed, but also understand that may not be Your plan.
Be with Adam and Mindy, Jill and Brett, Jena and Matt, Beth and Matt, Victoria and I, and all the married couples close to us. Lord every day we pray for our marriages and pray that Your hand would be upon us. Holy Spirit, bother our conscience if we are behaving in any way that is not only sin, but not showing our spouse proper love that we promised to devote to them. We all need Your help in our marriages, lives, jobs....how can a sinful heart do the right thing apart from Your prompting and protection. Restrain our sin and push us to do what is right and pleasing in Your sight. Give us the grace we need to submit to Christ and let that submission to our LORD then change us as people.
We also pray for the fevers of baby Aubrie and also Casey and Jen's little Matthew. Heal our little ones.
SO Many needs...You know them Lord and while I am being brief tonight, hear our prayers and answer our needs according to Your will for our lives. Remind us of our responsibility to hear and respond and act properly....we will surely give an account for our lives before You. Amen.
Again life seems to be soo busy. Will you help me, and help all of us as we struggle for time to just take care of all of life's (seemingly) necessary functions and always still have plenty of time to spend seeking You each day.
Lord, it seems I give the day my best and all my energy and then at the end of the day I am just tired and feel too worn out to even pick up my Bible and read. Lord how can I spend so much energy on so much that has no eternal value? Help me to dedicate myself to You. You know Lord You are on my mind through out the day, but will You be there even more?
I know I have studied and learned about You today, but I am not satisfied with my effort. Help me get to know You in Your Word. It is so vital! I feel I have cared for my body and now I will go to bed with a hungry soul.
Lord, thank YOU so much for the growth of Thaddeus! We pray this will strengthen him in case You have heart surgeries ahead of him. I have not yet given up hope, but remember how You have helped improve Thad's heart as he has grown. We still pray it would be healed, but also understand that may not be Your plan.
Be with Adam and Mindy, Jill and Brett, Jena and Matt, Beth and Matt, Victoria and I, and all the married couples close to us. Lord every day we pray for our marriages and pray that Your hand would be upon us. Holy Spirit, bother our conscience if we are behaving in any way that is not only sin, but not showing our spouse proper love that we promised to devote to them. We all need Your help in our marriages, lives, jobs....how can a sinful heart do the right thing apart from Your prompting and protection. Restrain our sin and push us to do what is right and pleasing in Your sight. Give us the grace we need to submit to Christ and let that submission to our LORD then change us as people.
We also pray for the fevers of baby Aubrie and also Casey and Jen's little Matthew. Heal our little ones.
SO Many needs...You know them Lord and while I am being brief tonight, hear our prayers and answer our needs according to Your will for our lives. Remind us of our responsibility to hear and respond and act properly....we will surely give an account for our lives before You. Amen.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Daily Prayer 1/9/08
Father, thank You for the grace and mercy You show us each day. We will never ever know in this life how good You have been to us. I pray all things will work to cause us to forsake all this world has to offer and follow You.
Be with Adam and Mindy and Thad in these next few days as we are so close to his arrival now.
Be with friends and family members who need your help now.
Be with Your church Lord, keep it pure and expose trouble, lies and those who are leading people away from the truth of Your Word.
Finally Holy Spirit, be with us! If there is error, if we have deceived ourselves into believing all is well with our soul....please work on our conscience and give us the guts to do something about it. Help us to not look at what others will think of us, but only what You think of us. Help us to evaluate ourselves properly, according to Your Word.
Thank You LORD for our parents!!!!!
Amen!
Be with Adam and Mindy and Thad in these next few days as we are so close to his arrival now.
Be with friends and family members who need your help now.
Be with Your church Lord, keep it pure and expose trouble, lies and those who are leading people away from the truth of Your Word.
Finally Holy Spirit, be with us! If there is error, if we have deceived ourselves into believing all is well with our soul....please work on our conscience and give us the guts to do something about it. Help us to not look at what others will think of us, but only what You think of us. Help us to evaluate ourselves properly, according to Your Word.
Thank You LORD for our parents!!!!!
Amen!
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Daily Prayer 1/8/08
Tonight I didn't even get my reading done because I have been online all night taking care of business with India and Africa.
Quick updates....
Today the Church in Guntur, India celebrates 11 years! It has been hard with very little but God has kept His church going. We must remember that....It's Christ's church and it can not be destroyed. Where He plants it, it will not die. Thank God for this seed in India that will surely sprout and bloom into a beautiful flower.
In Africa in Buduburam Refugee camp in Ghana, things have become very hard. The currency in Ghana has changed and it has plunged the camp deeper into poverty. All progress and improvement to peoples lives there has stopped and been reversed. It is now a very dangerous situation for them. The Government is also doing all it can to not have to help take care of the refugees and every one is trying to dodge the cost of returning them to Liberia.
Please pray that God will bring them help! They just need food! As Americans, we can find food even if we have nothing....our definition of nothing is much different than theirs. For example I could not sent them even the smallest possible amount of money to help, because I have nothing right now.....car troubles, money troubles....as life goes for most of us.....but I ate today. I will also eat tomorrow. They do not have this basic sustenance. They HOPE they will eat today and they HOPE they will eat tomorrow. I know these children....their faces are on my webpage.....I care about their condition.
Please pray with me that God will help them.
Little Thaddeus may be joining us this week! Thank GOD for insurance and good doctors and hospitals and medicine! Thank God for providing for these needs for Adam and Mindy. I also pray God will give me the opportunity to help them in some way. Please pray for Thad's heart. After he is born doctors will have a better idea of what will happen next with the heart surgery. I am still praying for a fully healed heart that will not need any surgery. God I only pray it for Your glory and that they will know the Gospel I have shared is true.... I know that is a selfish motive so please Lord bring His healing according to Your will, not mine....as of course You will do.
There are two people I love very very much that are having some troubles. Please pray for them....don't worry the Holy Spirit knows their need and their names and He will bring it to the Lord for us....just pray for this couple. I know it will work out because I think I know the character of the two of them. They will both do what is right....I just pray they seek the Lords guidance in all of this.
I thank God for our friends who have joined us in our prayers....Jeff in Texas...I hope to meet you some day....thank so much! May God reward your gifts 100 fold in heaven! To Meja in Hawaii, our mostly silent prayer partner.... And I often think of Steve and Lucy and wonder how you are doing. I hope to see you soon.
Casey and Jen....who would have guessed our paths would meet and turn this way huh?
Life is such a roller coaster ride.....ups and downs, sometimes scary but I am having a blast riding it! God help us in our weaknesses and Father kindly meet our needs! Help us to be more faithful and Lord Jesus I pray we would read to know You and follow You closely. Amen.
Quick updates....
Today the Church in Guntur, India celebrates 11 years! It has been hard with very little but God has kept His church going. We must remember that....It's Christ's church and it can not be destroyed. Where He plants it, it will not die. Thank God for this seed in India that will surely sprout and bloom into a beautiful flower.
In Africa in Buduburam Refugee camp in Ghana, things have become very hard. The currency in Ghana has changed and it has plunged the camp deeper into poverty. All progress and improvement to peoples lives there has stopped and been reversed. It is now a very dangerous situation for them. The Government is also doing all it can to not have to help take care of the refugees and every one is trying to dodge the cost of returning them to Liberia.
Please pray that God will bring them help! They just need food! As Americans, we can find food even if we have nothing....our definition of nothing is much different than theirs. For example I could not sent them even the smallest possible amount of money to help, because I have nothing right now.....car troubles, money troubles....as life goes for most of us.....but I ate today. I will also eat tomorrow. They do not have this basic sustenance. They HOPE they will eat today and they HOPE they will eat tomorrow. I know these children....their faces are on my webpage.....I care about their condition.
Please pray with me that God will help them.
Little Thaddeus may be joining us this week! Thank GOD for insurance and good doctors and hospitals and medicine! Thank God for providing for these needs for Adam and Mindy. I also pray God will give me the opportunity to help them in some way. Please pray for Thad's heart. After he is born doctors will have a better idea of what will happen next with the heart surgery. I am still praying for a fully healed heart that will not need any surgery. God I only pray it for Your glory and that they will know the Gospel I have shared is true.... I know that is a selfish motive so please Lord bring His healing according to Your will, not mine....as of course You will do.
There are two people I love very very much that are having some troubles. Please pray for them....don't worry the Holy Spirit knows their need and their names and He will bring it to the Lord for us....just pray for this couple. I know it will work out because I think I know the character of the two of them. They will both do what is right....I just pray they seek the Lords guidance in all of this.
I thank God for our friends who have joined us in our prayers....Jeff in Texas...I hope to meet you some day....thank so much! May God reward your gifts 100 fold in heaven! To Meja in Hawaii, our mostly silent prayer partner.... And I often think of Steve and Lucy and wonder how you are doing. I hope to see you soon.
Casey and Jen....who would have guessed our paths would meet and turn this way huh?
Life is such a roller coaster ride.....ups and downs, sometimes scary but I am having a blast riding it! God help us in our weaknesses and Father kindly meet our needs! Help us to be more faithful and Lord Jesus I pray we would read to know You and follow You closely. Amen.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Repentance and Forgiveness - Daily Prayer 1/7/08
You know, it happens in every single one of our lives. At some point we all seem to do something we regret and maybe hurt someone we love. We realize that we have been selfish and sometimes that realization comes the hard way.
On the other hand I also think we will all be on the other end of the trouble at some point. We will all be the one who is hurt. We may feel like such an innocent victim who has been wounded so deep for no reason.
It seems like I have heard about it a lot lately.
We must be in submission to God and be willing to be humble enough to both admit when we are wrong and forsake our troublesome ways and on the other hand we must also be willing to forgive the wrong that has been done.
Ha....if only if it were as easy as reading these words!
We are all just a bunch of fools stupidly bumbling through this world....it's amazing we even complete a full life! How is it that God who knows the depths of our hearts, our thoughts and every action puts up with us for another day. Oh, I have no choice but to forgive you because I am also an incredible fool!
Men like to appear strong and we bury our emotions and feelings under a stone encrusted heart.....we are really just stupid boys full of fears and insecurities....we are trying to be the men we think the world wants us to be. We are like toddlers following their hearts desires.
Women long for security. They too hide their secrets deep in their hearts....their feelings and worries of being adequate....their need for security and protection for themselves and their children. They are also like little girls in their hearts....they like to be noticed....it's exciting when a boy pursues them.....
You know, let's just admit, we all have been foolish. We have been like toddlers putting ourselves before others and only seeking the desires of our own hearts.
So what do we need to do when we have failed another?
First and foremost we must face God with our failure. Be honest with Him....He already knows thoughts and motives. He is Holy and will not be mocked. If we claim to be Christians, followers of Christ, our sin is us yelling up at the cross mocking Him as He hangs there....our sin makes us a Judas, we betray our Lord.
So we must first get right with God and forsake our ways and fully submit our lives to Him..... I remember being so broken over my sin and crying so hard I couldn't even stand.... I refused to fight God anymore and I was a totally broken man who just fell at the feet of Christ. Like a pile of worthless mush, I was nothing....just a pile of not clay, but manure!
I had to admit, Lord I am not worthy of being called Yours.... I am not worthy to even be looked upon by Your holy eyes. But if You are willing, I make myself Your servant.... Or as the Catholic Mass says "Lord I am not worthy to receive You, but only say the word and I shall be healed" That is it! We must first evaluate ourselves properly before the Lord and be broken before we can be put together and healed.....Until this happens, we will only serve ourselves and our sin and we will refuse and will not even be able to take the next step of either repentance or forgiveness.
Next after making sure we are in a right relationship with God, we must then start to make things right. Sinners must fall at the feet of the one injured by the sin and beg to be forgiven for errors.... we have to admit when we are wrong, not trying to explain away or justify ourselves, but simply admit our wrong. Then understand that wounds are slowly healed. A Christian who has deeply hurt another is suddenly humbled by what they have done. In this humbled state one can now finally love as they should. Unworthy of the others love, they serve them. They serve them not to gain favor or for self serving reasons, but because they realize they have hurt the one that means so much to them.....now the true love relationship has begun.... We love for the sake of loving, not loving to receive love..... Just like Christ doesn't have to love us worthless sinners, He could get scores of people more faithful than me right this very minute....I am not worthy of His love, but I love Him deeply because He has first loved me and He has done a great thing in the forgiveness of my sins!
The one who forgives must also start with deep humility. Understanding the humanness and weakness of sinners, it is not a surprising thing that our loved one has slipped and fallen? Are we not just as vulnerable to sin if we are not careful? Oh, our dear loved one....you have fallen and sinned! Do you not love me? How could you have injured me so? I want you to know that my love for you does not depend on how well you love me. You have failed me and I am just as capable of failing you if we are not careful with our lives and wander from the Lord. Oh, I want you to know how deeply I have been hurt! But I will not walk away from you....because my love does not walk away, just as Christ will not walk away from me when I fail Him. He loves me with an enduring Love and He loves You with an enduring love and just as He will not leave me, I will not leave you! Please, return to the Lord....maybe come to the Lord in the first place....let us confess together how we have failed each other! I will love and serve You as Christ loves the Church and in the same way will you love and serve me as Christ loves the Church?
Now from that point it is between the people involved and the Lord. They will all answer to Him at the judgment.
Let me also add this..... Did you know God could have withheld sin? Just as He could have kept Adam and Eve from sinning in the Garden. God ALLOWS sin to happen according to His plan.
Do you think my marriage hasn't been strengthened by tests? We are stronger and closer and more inseparable now after having been tested than we would be if we had never been tested. We know that we must cling closer to the Lord and pray for our marriage and pray for each other and truly be open with each other and have one heart and mind working together in the direction of the Lord who died to save us from the hell our sin has earned.
Can you have steel without fire? Is anything useful forged without fire and pounding?
God allows the things of life to happen to mold us, to strengthen us....and sometimes because of our incredible pride and stubbornness He must break us and leave us a puddle of much at the feet of Jesus.....Some of us are so strong willed, even though He has determined to rope us and pull us to Himself, we fight and fight against Him until we are knocked down, tired and worn out from fighting against Him....with no strength and no will left.....then in our weakness we are perfected! That's the Christian paradox, the way up is down....to be lifted up we must be put down....the cross of Christ must be lifted higher and higher and the work of man must be constantly lowered and lowered.....
Life is not about finding ourselves, but finding God!
May all of God's peace and blessings be with you as you seek Him!
Father, You know of the various needs of the various people....there is not one of us who must first repent and submit to You, as You and each other forgiveness and we will all have to forgive one another at times.
Lord take our toddler hearts and help us to grow. The song says, "All we are is dust in the wind" well that is just chaff that will be burned in the fire. Let Christians not be dust in the wind, but trees firmly planted by streams of living water. Where our leaf will not wither and in whatever we do we prosper. (Psalm 1) Holy Spirit, be with us....we need Your help!
Also, Lord in these final days before Thad arrives, we pray deeply for his heart. I look forward to watching You bring glory to Your name in the work You do in Him.
May his life be in service to You. We also thank You from the bottom of our hearts for the overwhelming peace and joy and wonderful perfection Emma enjoys now in Your presence. She ran a sprint and finished well! Help us in our marathon Lord....I pray we will not ever stop to walk, but pace ourselves to run a strong race and finish well.....may our finish line be just over the next hill! We are watching for our Savior who will give us the cool cup of water to drink and hold us and refresh us from our long race we ran in His name.
Be with the ones who are blindly stumbling through life. They are not Yours and they do not desire to be Yours. They seek only themselves and like wild dogs they attack, injure and devour one another......they have no wisdom nor is it even available to them, only the simple principles and philosophies of the world are there to guide them....Even though they curse Your and turn their back on You and challenge You to Your face, forgive them Father....they truly do not know what incredible blasphemies have crossed their lips. What a great mercy and patience You show them every day You give them breath as they wander in the wilderness until Your chosen are called out from among them to become Your children to run the race to Your glory. You are great and GREATLY to be praised! Amen.
On the other hand I also think we will all be on the other end of the trouble at some point. We will all be the one who is hurt. We may feel like such an innocent victim who has been wounded so deep for no reason.
It seems like I have heard about it a lot lately.
We must be in submission to God and be willing to be humble enough to both admit when we are wrong and forsake our troublesome ways and on the other hand we must also be willing to forgive the wrong that has been done.
Ha....if only if it were as easy as reading these words!
We are all just a bunch of fools stupidly bumbling through this world....it's amazing we even complete a full life! How is it that God who knows the depths of our hearts, our thoughts and every action puts up with us for another day. Oh, I have no choice but to forgive you because I am also an incredible fool!
Men like to appear strong and we bury our emotions and feelings under a stone encrusted heart.....we are really just stupid boys full of fears and insecurities....we are trying to be the men we think the world wants us to be. We are like toddlers following their hearts desires.
Women long for security. They too hide their secrets deep in their hearts....their feelings and worries of being adequate....their need for security and protection for themselves and their children. They are also like little girls in their hearts....they like to be noticed....it's exciting when a boy pursues them.....
You know, let's just admit, we all have been foolish. We have been like toddlers putting ourselves before others and only seeking the desires of our own hearts.
So what do we need to do when we have failed another?
First and foremost we must face God with our failure. Be honest with Him....He already knows thoughts and motives. He is Holy and will not be mocked. If we claim to be Christians, followers of Christ, our sin is us yelling up at the cross mocking Him as He hangs there....our sin makes us a Judas, we betray our Lord.
So we must first get right with God and forsake our ways and fully submit our lives to Him..... I remember being so broken over my sin and crying so hard I couldn't even stand.... I refused to fight God anymore and I was a totally broken man who just fell at the feet of Christ. Like a pile of worthless mush, I was nothing....just a pile of not clay, but manure!
I had to admit, Lord I am not worthy of being called Yours.... I am not worthy to even be looked upon by Your holy eyes. But if You are willing, I make myself Your servant.... Or as the Catholic Mass says "Lord I am not worthy to receive You, but only say the word and I shall be healed" That is it! We must first evaluate ourselves properly before the Lord and be broken before we can be put together and healed.....Until this happens, we will only serve ourselves and our sin and we will refuse and will not even be able to take the next step of either repentance or forgiveness.
Next after making sure we are in a right relationship with God, we must then start to make things right. Sinners must fall at the feet of the one injured by the sin and beg to be forgiven for errors.... we have to admit when we are wrong, not trying to explain away or justify ourselves, but simply admit our wrong. Then understand that wounds are slowly healed. A Christian who has deeply hurt another is suddenly humbled by what they have done. In this humbled state one can now finally love as they should. Unworthy of the others love, they serve them. They serve them not to gain favor or for self serving reasons, but because they realize they have hurt the one that means so much to them.....now the true love relationship has begun.... We love for the sake of loving, not loving to receive love..... Just like Christ doesn't have to love us worthless sinners, He could get scores of people more faithful than me right this very minute....I am not worthy of His love, but I love Him deeply because He has first loved me and He has done a great thing in the forgiveness of my sins!
The one who forgives must also start with deep humility. Understanding the humanness and weakness of sinners, it is not a surprising thing that our loved one has slipped and fallen? Are we not just as vulnerable to sin if we are not careful? Oh, our dear loved one....you have fallen and sinned! Do you not love me? How could you have injured me so? I want you to know that my love for you does not depend on how well you love me. You have failed me and I am just as capable of failing you if we are not careful with our lives and wander from the Lord. Oh, I want you to know how deeply I have been hurt! But I will not walk away from you....because my love does not walk away, just as Christ will not walk away from me when I fail Him. He loves me with an enduring Love and He loves You with an enduring love and just as He will not leave me, I will not leave you! Please, return to the Lord....maybe come to the Lord in the first place....let us confess together how we have failed each other! I will love and serve You as Christ loves the Church and in the same way will you love and serve me as Christ loves the Church?
Now from that point it is between the people involved and the Lord. They will all answer to Him at the judgment.
Let me also add this..... Did you know God could have withheld sin? Just as He could have kept Adam and Eve from sinning in the Garden. God ALLOWS sin to happen according to His plan.
Do you think my marriage hasn't been strengthened by tests? We are stronger and closer and more inseparable now after having been tested than we would be if we had never been tested. We know that we must cling closer to the Lord and pray for our marriage and pray for each other and truly be open with each other and have one heart and mind working together in the direction of the Lord who died to save us from the hell our sin has earned.
Can you have steel without fire? Is anything useful forged without fire and pounding?
God allows the things of life to happen to mold us, to strengthen us....and sometimes because of our incredible pride and stubbornness He must break us and leave us a puddle of much at the feet of Jesus.....Some of us are so strong willed, even though He has determined to rope us and pull us to Himself, we fight and fight against Him until we are knocked down, tired and worn out from fighting against Him....with no strength and no will left.....then in our weakness we are perfected! That's the Christian paradox, the way up is down....to be lifted up we must be put down....the cross of Christ must be lifted higher and higher and the work of man must be constantly lowered and lowered.....
Life is not about finding ourselves, but finding God!
May all of God's peace and blessings be with you as you seek Him!
Father, You know of the various needs of the various people....there is not one of us who must first repent and submit to You, as You and each other forgiveness and we will all have to forgive one another at times.
Lord take our toddler hearts and help us to grow. The song says, "All we are is dust in the wind" well that is just chaff that will be burned in the fire. Let Christians not be dust in the wind, but trees firmly planted by streams of living water. Where our leaf will not wither and in whatever we do we prosper. (Psalm 1) Holy Spirit, be with us....we need Your help!
Also, Lord in these final days before Thad arrives, we pray deeply for his heart. I look forward to watching You bring glory to Your name in the work You do in Him.
May his life be in service to You. We also thank You from the bottom of our hearts for the overwhelming peace and joy and wonderful perfection Emma enjoys now in Your presence. She ran a sprint and finished well! Help us in our marathon Lord....I pray we will not ever stop to walk, but pace ourselves to run a strong race and finish well.....may our finish line be just over the next hill! We are watching for our Savior who will give us the cool cup of water to drink and hold us and refresh us from our long race we ran in His name.
Be with the ones who are blindly stumbling through life. They are not Yours and they do not desire to be Yours. They seek only themselves and like wild dogs they attack, injure and devour one another......they have no wisdom nor is it even available to them, only the simple principles and philosophies of the world are there to guide them....Even though they curse Your and turn their back on You and challenge You to Your face, forgive them Father....they truly do not know what incredible blasphemies have crossed their lips. What a great mercy and patience You show them every day You give them breath as they wander in the wilderness until Your chosen are called out from among them to become Your children to run the race to Your glory. You are great and GREATLY to be praised! Amen.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Daily Prayer 1/6/08
In our daily reading we have seen Job and his trouble. Even though Job is a righteous man, he knows his mouth is silent before God. Even he would be guilty, even though he was not guilty of any particular sin.
It's so important we have a proper view of our God who is SO BIG the universe could not hold Him and SO HOLY that no man could stand before Him.
YET, we have a mediator who can place His hand on God and on mankind and bring us together. He does it by paying our penalty to make peace between God and man. Now we can approach the Holy One.
Remember life and circumstances are not about us figuring out and looking for the past, present and future of mankind or even ourselves personally, but that we would know God and His glory.
Father,
We all have troubles we are going through. We are probably not like Job who is blameless. We need You in our times of trouble. We confess our sins and work to make things right. We are humbled by our position. Sometimes we are so stubborn and proud that You must crush us before we will listen and lower ourselves and again come to try to know You on Your terms.
We ask for You to work greatly in our lives. Help us Lord! We all have various needs we need help with......Hear our prayers and use our circumstances to make us Holy first.....then let us pursue happiness. Show us that personal holiness walking in the Spirit, blameless before Your eyes is what leads to true happiness, not based on our circumstances.
In Christ's Name we pray, Amen.
It's so important we have a proper view of our God who is SO BIG the universe could not hold Him and SO HOLY that no man could stand before Him.
YET, we have a mediator who can place His hand on God and on mankind and bring us together. He does it by paying our penalty to make peace between God and man. Now we can approach the Holy One.
Remember life and circumstances are not about us figuring out and looking for the past, present and future of mankind or even ourselves personally, but that we would know God and His glory.
Father,
We all have troubles we are going through. We are probably not like Job who is blameless. We need You in our times of trouble. We confess our sins and work to make things right. We are humbled by our position. Sometimes we are so stubborn and proud that You must crush us before we will listen and lower ourselves and again come to try to know You on Your terms.
We ask for You to work greatly in our lives. Help us Lord! We all have various needs we need help with......Hear our prayers and use our circumstances to make us Holy first.....then let us pursue happiness. Show us that personal holiness walking in the Spirit, blameless before Your eyes is what leads to true happiness, not based on our circumstances.
In Christ's Name we pray, Amen.
Friday, January 4, 2008
ZAP! Yeeowwwch!
This time of year with the cold, dry air and the wonderful poly/cotton blend of work shirts and pants, I seem to get a LOT of shocks on door knobs, when I open the car door, touch the house key, go to wash my hands....zap...zap...several times a day.
"Static electricity" has always amazed me. If you apply too much voltage to a computer or electrical component, it's fried, yet our electrical brain is not even phased by the buildup of High Voltage. Amazing! What an amazing design...it only glorifies God in His Divine Design of all things.
When I say High Voltage, did you know a spark from your body to a door knob for example can be anywhere from a few thousand up to over 21,000 volts!
Studies conducted on various materials (at over 50% humidity levels) reveal the possible charges to our bodies....
* Nylon clothes: 21,000 volts (Yowch!)
* Wool clothes: 9,000 volts
* Cotton clothes: 7,000 volts
Amazing! Remember the built in surge protector God placed in you next time you get a zap! How that voltage doesn't affect the brain and heart functions, I just don't know....
(source: click HERE)
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Daily Prayer 1/3/08
In Genesis 8 and 9 we see that Noah was in the ark a year and did not hear from God. Have you ever felt like God has forgotten you? I wonder if Noah who heard God's voice wondered if God remembered they were there floating on a blue planet covered in flood waters that covered even the tops of mountains. Just a little ark holding the only 8 living people on earth a dot in a sea of blue. Yes God remembered Noah and before the chapter is over from the time they exit the ark, sin has already occurred again. No wonder God speaks of our condition here...."The intent (or imagination) of a mans heart is evil from his youth" Our sin condition is SO deeply rooted in us, it can not be avoided as we are.... (in the flesh)
Next thing that I noticed (with all the talk of global warming these days and the panic that the earth will heat up and change) Notice what God says about the seasons..... While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night shall not cease." Now remember it is GOD who has promised this. Do not worry about the earth changing dramatically, it is all in His hand and only He can undo the foundation of the earth. (Not that we shouldn't be responsible with the earth)
We then see the quick repopulation of the earth.....
Father- I am SO glad all things are in Your hand. I also recognize again that You are Holy and Hate SIN and also hate the sinner....You were willing to kill every living thing on the earth because of sin and only held back a few to keep mankind alive. May we recognize this as we understand how our sin must be viewed by You. We also thank You that You kept your plan of redemption! That You kept Your promise from the Garden that You would save us from our sins.
Father be with Mindy and Adam as they prepare for Thaddeus coming soon. May Your hand be on their shoulders and may You give them peace as they wait for Thad's arrival. I pray for a healed heart and if surgery is in Your plans for him, then we trust him to You and just ask that You would keep everyone calm as we trust Your plan and will for Thad.
Be with Jill and Jena both during their pregnancies. Two more babies and also the health of both mom's we ask for Your care.
Help us to stay committed to reading through the Bible this year.... Tomorrow we jump to the book of Job as we keep things in chronological order....help us to comprehend what we are reading. In our Lord and Master's name we humbly submit to Your authority over us Lord our God. May we love You will all our hearts, all our souls and all our strength as the scripture commands. Amen.
Next thing that I noticed (with all the talk of global warming these days and the panic that the earth will heat up and change) Notice what God says about the seasons..... While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night shall not cease." Now remember it is GOD who has promised this. Do not worry about the earth changing dramatically, it is all in His hand and only He can undo the foundation of the earth. (Not that we shouldn't be responsible with the earth)
We then see the quick repopulation of the earth.....
Father- I am SO glad all things are in Your hand. I also recognize again that You are Holy and Hate SIN and also hate the sinner....You were willing to kill every living thing on the earth because of sin and only held back a few to keep mankind alive. May we recognize this as we understand how our sin must be viewed by You. We also thank You that You kept your plan of redemption! That You kept Your promise from the Garden that You would save us from our sins.
Father be with Mindy and Adam as they prepare for Thaddeus coming soon. May Your hand be on their shoulders and may You give them peace as they wait for Thad's arrival. I pray for a healed heart and if surgery is in Your plans for him, then we trust him to You and just ask that You would keep everyone calm as we trust Your plan and will for Thad.
Be with Jill and Jena both during their pregnancies. Two more babies and also the health of both mom's we ask for Your care.
Help us to stay committed to reading through the Bible this year.... Tomorrow we jump to the book of Job as we keep things in chronological order....help us to comprehend what we are reading. In our Lord and Master's name we humbly submit to Your authority over us Lord our God. May we love You will all our hearts, all our souls and all our strength as the scripture commands. Amen.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Daily Prayer 1/2/08
Gen. 4-7
We see even after the curse Adam lived 930 years, Seth 912, Enosh 905, Mahalalel 895, Methuselah 969.....The young earth did not seem to be as harmful to the human body as today. Fewer diseases, probably less exposure to radiation from the sun and space....
PLEASE don't miss Chapters 6 and 7 PLEASE! It is important for you to shatter that "Grandpa" image of God and see His Holiness and view of sin.... It's the story of Noah and the Ark....Who shut the door? Who brought the animals? Who brought the rain? God was _________ He made man. Wow! How he must view the earth today....please see in Genesis 7:23 All means All...only 8 humans and the animals in the ark and the fish in the water survived.
Father,
We see Your holiness and Your hatred of sin. May we quit sinning willfully in Your face and may we not have sarcastic attitudes towards You as Cain did when he scoffed "Am I my brothers keeper?"
Be with us as we seek to know You through Your Word the Bible. Be with Thad as he spends his final days growing and preparing to enter this life. May his heart be strong and may we give You all the glory for the work You have done before our eyes.
We submit to You in Christ's name, amen.
We see even after the curse Adam lived 930 years, Seth 912, Enosh 905, Mahalalel 895, Methuselah 969.....The young earth did not seem to be as harmful to the human body as today. Fewer diseases, probably less exposure to radiation from the sun and space....
PLEASE don't miss Chapters 6 and 7 PLEASE! It is important for you to shatter that "Grandpa" image of God and see His Holiness and view of sin.... It's the story of Noah and the Ark....Who shut the door? Who brought the animals? Who brought the rain? God was _________ He made man. Wow! How he must view the earth today....please see in Genesis 7:23 All means All...only 8 humans and the animals in the ark and the fish in the water survived.
Father,
We see Your holiness and Your hatred of sin. May we quit sinning willfully in Your face and may we not have sarcastic attitudes towards You as Cain did when he scoffed "Am I my brothers keeper?"
Be with us as we seek to know You through Your Word the Bible. Be with Thad as he spends his final days growing and preparing to enter this life. May his heart be strong and may we give You all the glory for the work You have done before our eyes.
We submit to You in Christ's name, amen.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Daily Prayer 1/1/08
In today's reading (Genesis 1-3) we see all the essential pieces of God's plan.
God created all things perfect and created man and woman and allowed them to be tempted and fall into sin. The earth was cursed and they were cast out. Pain and sorrow for women in childbirth and hard labor for men to provide food to eat. This curse would last until the day man returns to the earth he was taken form (death).
We also see mankind for the first time running from God and hiding from Him. We also see mans first effort to cover his shame and we also see the first death as God provides the death to cover their sin.....when they should have been the first to die for their disobedience, God covered spared them and covered their sin with a substitutionary death. Just as Christ would one day die a substitutionary death for us. God specifically makes this promise to satan in the garden...the great prophecy that all the rest of scripture revolves around.
Father, we thank You for this great window into the beginning. Of course You are in charge of all things, even when we sin. You have allowed Adam and Eve to sin in Your plan to bring glory to Yourself. The Holy Trinity is glorified through Your plan You have chosen to display the depths of Your mercy, grace, love and greatness.
To this very day Lord it continues as we too sin against You. As we saw in the perfect Heaven of creation in the beginning, soon one day we will again see Christ make all things new again as we see the permanent Heaven for the eternal perfection we will live in.
We MUST first understand all things are from You and for Your glory.....Yes, even is and even wicked, wicked world rulers are under Your hand as You work Your plan for Your glory.
Lord Jesus, to the One who took a hand full of clay and breathed into the nostrils and brought life to the first body of man to life, we also ask You will take Thaddeus' heart in Your hand and heal it. I have never put myself in such a position before others before. You know Lord my fears and my doubts. Give me more faith and boldness. I KNOW You can do this, I just wonder if You are willing? So I am asking, will You Lord? Will You heal Thad's heart for us?
Lord Jesus, so many things are ahead of us in 2008. Be with us Holy Spirit and guide us through Your Word and prayer. I especially want to ask this.....Help me to know when to speak up regarding error and help me to know when to keep my mouth shut. I just pray for wisdom and guidance. I pray that You will bring us together in submission to Your truth, not divide us because of our views of what we perceive to be truth. Help us to set aside pride and to humbly submit to You and the authority of Your Word. That's all I ask for.
May 2008 be the year of freedom and the year of the Lord as You grab our hearts in Your hand and heal us also as we are still struggling against You and we have not yet properly submitted to You as we should. Help me Lord and help us all! Pray for us Holy Spirit, Lord hear our prayers and Father please answer our prayers. Amen.
God created all things perfect and created man and woman and allowed them to be tempted and fall into sin. The earth was cursed and they were cast out. Pain and sorrow for women in childbirth and hard labor for men to provide food to eat. This curse would last until the day man returns to the earth he was taken form (death).
We also see mankind for the first time running from God and hiding from Him. We also see mans first effort to cover his shame and we also see the first death as God provides the death to cover their sin.....when they should have been the first to die for their disobedience, God covered spared them and covered their sin with a substitutionary death. Just as Christ would one day die a substitutionary death for us. God specifically makes this promise to satan in the garden...the great prophecy that all the rest of scripture revolves around.
Father, we thank You for this great window into the beginning. Of course You are in charge of all things, even when we sin. You have allowed Adam and Eve to sin in Your plan to bring glory to Yourself. The Holy Trinity is glorified through Your plan You have chosen to display the depths of Your mercy, grace, love and greatness.
To this very day Lord it continues as we too sin against You. As we saw in the perfect Heaven of creation in the beginning, soon one day we will again see Christ make all things new again as we see the permanent Heaven for the eternal perfection we will live in.
We MUST first understand all things are from You and for Your glory.....Yes, even is and even wicked, wicked world rulers are under Your hand as You work Your plan for Your glory.
Lord Jesus, to the One who took a hand full of clay and breathed into the nostrils and brought life to the first body of man to life, we also ask You will take Thaddeus' heart in Your hand and heal it. I have never put myself in such a position before others before. You know Lord my fears and my doubts. Give me more faith and boldness. I KNOW You can do this, I just wonder if You are willing? So I am asking, will You Lord? Will You heal Thad's heart for us?
Lord Jesus, so many things are ahead of us in 2008. Be with us Holy Spirit and guide us through Your Word and prayer. I especially want to ask this.....Help me to know when to speak up regarding error and help me to know when to keep my mouth shut. I just pray for wisdom and guidance. I pray that You will bring us together in submission to Your truth, not divide us because of our views of what we perceive to be truth. Help us to set aside pride and to humbly submit to You and the authority of Your Word. That's all I ask for.
May 2008 be the year of freedom and the year of the Lord as You grab our hearts in Your hand and heal us also as we are still struggling against You and we have not yet properly submitted to You as we should. Help me Lord and help us all! Pray for us Holy Spirit, Lord hear our prayers and Father please answer our prayers. Amen.
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