I will be offline for a few weeks while I take care of some leadership business and take a family vacation. I may try to post something if I get a chance, but probably not until July 6th.
Have a great few weeks and may God grow your faith.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Luke 14-15
14:11 - "For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." Pride is a funny thing. It reaches for higher places only to be brought lower. I have struggled with pride for years. Not the pride of "I am better than people" but the pride of independence and self-determination. The best parts of my life have been lived in a realistic sense that I am nothing without God, but that doesn't make me nothing, but everything.
14:13 - "...invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind..." - Who are these people today?
14:18 - "But they all alike began to make excuses." when God calls you do you run to Him or to a list of excuses to buy yourself time?
14:27 - To be a disciple you must carry your cross every day.
14:33 - "In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciple." Is Jesus being mean or self-centered? NO! Jesus knows that you can't get to the safe place in life and carry stuff. The journey is too hard. You have to let go of everything you are carrying (bad and good) so you can have the strength to make it to the place God wants for you.
15:1 - Tax collectors and sinners will gather around to hear what Jesus has to say and when they do we need to give our attention to telling them that God wants them to come home.
15:7 - God rejoices over lost people turning back to Him.
15:8 - How do you search for the lost - purposefully or accidentally? Do you search carefully and thoughtfully or do you just hope to stumble upon someone? Jesus explains that people who feel a deep sense of compassion and value for people carefully, purposefully go looking for others.
There is a process to be learned from the prodigal son. you can see a basic outline for how a person comes back to god:
1) verse 17 - You come to your senses
2) verse 19 - You realize you are not owed anything or not worthy
3) verses 20 - You get up and head towards God no matter the consequences
4) verse 20 - The Father is waiting for you
5) verse 21 - You speak words of repentance to the Father
6) verse 22-24 - God rejoices and celebrates over and because of you
Love, Michael
14:13 - "...invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind..." - Who are these people today?
14:18 - "But they all alike began to make excuses." when God calls you do you run to Him or to a list of excuses to buy yourself time?
14:27 - To be a disciple you must carry your cross every day.
14:33 - "In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciple." Is Jesus being mean or self-centered? NO! Jesus knows that you can't get to the safe place in life and carry stuff. The journey is too hard. You have to let go of everything you are carrying (bad and good) so you can have the strength to make it to the place God wants for you.
15:1 - Tax collectors and sinners will gather around to hear what Jesus has to say and when they do we need to give our attention to telling them that God wants them to come home.
15:7 - God rejoices over lost people turning back to Him.
15:8 - How do you search for the lost - purposefully or accidentally? Do you search carefully and thoughtfully or do you just hope to stumble upon someone? Jesus explains that people who feel a deep sense of compassion and value for people carefully, purposefully go looking for others.
There is a process to be learned from the prodigal son. you can see a basic outline for how a person comes back to god:
1) verse 17 - You come to your senses
2) verse 19 - You realize you are not owed anything or not worthy
3) verses 20 - You get up and head towards God no matter the consequences
4) verse 20 - The Father is waiting for you
5) verse 21 - You speak words of repentance to the Father
6) verse 22-24 - God rejoices and celebrates over and because of you
Love, Michael
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Luke 12-13
12:3 - What does it say about us that this verse makes us so nervous?
12:4-5 - There is something worse than death to fear.
12:8 - When was the last time you publicly acknowledged Jesus? Isn't it funny how we can come up with a million reasons why we haven't instead of admitting that it is because we are afraid of someone looking at us weird. You can publicly acknowledge God anywhere and at any time, but we say we can't because we work in a school or for the government or some other excuse. If we would honor God the right way, even if we lost our jobs, He would be honored and we would be provided for.
12:11-12 - This verse is often quoted by people about not be concerned with what to say when it is time. It is important to realize that Jesus was talking to His disciples, men who had studied the teachings of Jesus in depth. The Holy Spirit would draw from their preparation. many of us would have nothing in us for the Holy Spirit to draw from if we were questioned. I'm not saying He couldn't still do something, but why not make it easier by being full of the Word of God to start with?
12:15 - What are the different kinds of greed? Straight out greed, discontentment, the one more kind of greed, the this isn't quite good enough kind of greed, the get all you can kind of greed, the I have to live up to this world kind of greed. I have seen in my own life that greed sneaks in and many ways. I hate money and yet I have to fend off greed constantly.
12:16-19 - Look at all of the "I's" and "me's".
12:21 - Be rich towards God.
12:24 - You are MORE valuable than you may feel.
12:30 - God is not only aware of your needs, He has promised to provide for every one of them.
12:31 - What does it look like to seek?
12:35-36 - Are you ready right now for Jesus to return or would there be a lot of loose ends to tie up at work, at home, in your finances, with a person you haven't forgiven, with something God has called you to do, but you haven't done...? Would you be ready to go in a matter of minutes or would it take you a few days or weeks? We need to live ready. - Verse 46 says that not being ready = unbelief.
13:3/5 - Part of readiness is repentance.
13:6-9 - A couple of things drawn from this verse. Jesus expects fruit from our faith. Three years may or may not be significant. If a tree is not naturally producing fruit try to help by digging around it (getting involved???) and fertilizing it (teaching extra???). Trees that do not produce fruit are cut down.
13:23-24 - The people ask "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" Maybe they were thinking of Noah's ark where only 8 were saved. A couple times Jesus refers to Noah's time, so maybe they were wondering of only a few were going to make it so they would know whether to even try or not. Jesus answers that the road is narrow ans many won;t get through, but to work hard so you can get through. Jesus is teaching that while it is not easy, you can get through if you apply your heart and soul to it.
Love, Michael
12:4-5 - There is something worse than death to fear.
12:8 - When was the last time you publicly acknowledged Jesus? Isn't it funny how we can come up with a million reasons why we haven't instead of admitting that it is because we are afraid of someone looking at us weird. You can publicly acknowledge God anywhere and at any time, but we say we can't because we work in a school or for the government or some other excuse. If we would honor God the right way, even if we lost our jobs, He would be honored and we would be provided for.
12:11-12 - This verse is often quoted by people about not be concerned with what to say when it is time. It is important to realize that Jesus was talking to His disciples, men who had studied the teachings of Jesus in depth. The Holy Spirit would draw from their preparation. many of us would have nothing in us for the Holy Spirit to draw from if we were questioned. I'm not saying He couldn't still do something, but why not make it easier by being full of the Word of God to start with?
12:15 - What are the different kinds of greed? Straight out greed, discontentment, the one more kind of greed, the this isn't quite good enough kind of greed, the get all you can kind of greed, the I have to live up to this world kind of greed. I have seen in my own life that greed sneaks in and many ways. I hate money and yet I have to fend off greed constantly.
12:16-19 - Look at all of the "I's" and "me's".
12:21 - Be rich towards God.
12:24 - You are MORE valuable than you may feel.
12:30 - God is not only aware of your needs, He has promised to provide for every one of them.
12:31 - What does it look like to seek?
12:35-36 - Are you ready right now for Jesus to return or would there be a lot of loose ends to tie up at work, at home, in your finances, with a person you haven't forgiven, with something God has called you to do, but you haven't done...? Would you be ready to go in a matter of minutes or would it take you a few days or weeks? We need to live ready. - Verse 46 says that not being ready = unbelief.
13:3/5 - Part of readiness is repentance.
13:6-9 - A couple of things drawn from this verse. Jesus expects fruit from our faith. Three years may or may not be significant. If a tree is not naturally producing fruit try to help by digging around it (getting involved???) and fertilizing it (teaching extra???). Trees that do not produce fruit are cut down.
13:23-24 - The people ask "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" Maybe they were thinking of Noah's ark where only 8 were saved. A couple times Jesus refers to Noah's time, so maybe they were wondering of only a few were going to make it so they would know whether to even try or not. Jesus answers that the road is narrow ans many won;t get through, but to work hard so you can get through. Jesus is teaching that while it is not easy, you can get through if you apply your heart and soul to it.
Love, Michael
Friday, June 19, 2009
Luke 11
11:8 - I have always been perplexed by this verse. It seems like Jesus is saying that God doesn't want to be bothered by us, but He will if we keep pushing. In reality, as you study the verse, you find out that what it really means is that God will grant us not because we ask and keep on asking, but because of His good character. God gives to us because He is good and not because He has to. Every gift God gives is like a father giving his kids Christmas presents. It is so much fun He is just as excited as we are.
11:10 - For everyone to receive when they ask this passage must be seen in light of vs 13. The asking is for salvation or for the Holy Spirit and God always says yes to that prayer. I think sometimes we have taken this verse to mean we can get whatever we want from God. In reality, God is promising to give us as much of the BEST thing if we will ask Him. god doesn't promise we can have all we want (that spoils people), but He is promising He will always give us more of Himself. For those of us that walk with Him this should be even more encouraging than thinking we can have anything we want.
11:11-12 - God ONLY gives good gifts. I remember being raised and when I prayed I would give God all kinds of caveats as if He would give me exactly what I asked instead of what I meant. I actually would pray like an attorney on a car commercial with all kinds of tiny writing to make sure God didn't have any loopholes. I would pray that I could see my mom, but not if it meant someone getting in a tragic accident or dying. As if God would kill someone off to teach you to pray more specifically. God always gives good gifts and He knows what we are praying for. We can trust Him with every prayer that He will only say yes to what is good and do it with no strings attached.
11:17 - A house divided against itself will fall! That includes God's house. We need to protect against division and fighting. We have to stand together for the same things.
11:23 - "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters."
11:24-26 - It isn't enough to clean up your life and to put things in order. Jesus says that if you only do that the bad things that were in your life will eventually get hungry again and you will end up giving in and being worse off than the beginning. Jesus is teaching that we need to invite God in so our hearts (cleaned and put in order) are occupied by someone strong enough to fight off our old life when it comes back. This is why self-help Christianity is a waste of time. Being a better person doesn't fix anything. Being a person more surrendered to Christ is what makes the difference. If we spent more time getting to know Him and inviting Him in to live with us we would have a lot less repenting to do.
11:29 - "As the crowds increased, Jesus said, 'This is a wicked generation.'" WOW! When we see the crowds increase we pull back, but Jesus let loose. He wanted to make sure that people didn't just follow and miss the point. When the crowds increase we need to make sure to help them see the truth. Crowds feel good when you are the one leading, but it is more important that they know the truth than you and I feeling good about ourselves.
11:41 - "But know as for what is inside you - be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you."
11:42 - We should all be committed to justice and the love of God.
Love, Michael
11:10 - For everyone to receive when they ask this passage must be seen in light of vs 13. The asking is for salvation or for the Holy Spirit and God always says yes to that prayer. I think sometimes we have taken this verse to mean we can get whatever we want from God. In reality, God is promising to give us as much of the BEST thing if we will ask Him. god doesn't promise we can have all we want (that spoils people), but He is promising He will always give us more of Himself. For those of us that walk with Him this should be even more encouraging than thinking we can have anything we want.
11:11-12 - God ONLY gives good gifts. I remember being raised and when I prayed I would give God all kinds of caveats as if He would give me exactly what I asked instead of what I meant. I actually would pray like an attorney on a car commercial with all kinds of tiny writing to make sure God didn't have any loopholes. I would pray that I could see my mom, but not if it meant someone getting in a tragic accident or dying. As if God would kill someone off to teach you to pray more specifically. God always gives good gifts and He knows what we are praying for. We can trust Him with every prayer that He will only say yes to what is good and do it with no strings attached.
11:17 - A house divided against itself will fall! That includes God's house. We need to protect against division and fighting. We have to stand together for the same things.
11:23 - "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters."
11:24-26 - It isn't enough to clean up your life and to put things in order. Jesus says that if you only do that the bad things that were in your life will eventually get hungry again and you will end up giving in and being worse off than the beginning. Jesus is teaching that we need to invite God in so our hearts (cleaned and put in order) are occupied by someone strong enough to fight off our old life when it comes back. This is why self-help Christianity is a waste of time. Being a better person doesn't fix anything. Being a person more surrendered to Christ is what makes the difference. If we spent more time getting to know Him and inviting Him in to live with us we would have a lot less repenting to do.
11:29 - "As the crowds increased, Jesus said, 'This is a wicked generation.'" WOW! When we see the crowds increase we pull back, but Jesus let loose. He wanted to make sure that people didn't just follow and miss the point. When the crowds increase we need to make sure to help them see the truth. Crowds feel good when you are the one leading, but it is more important that they know the truth than you and I feeling good about ourselves.
11:41 - "But know as for what is inside you - be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you."
11:42 - We should all be committed to justice and the love of God.
Love, Michael
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Luke 10
10:2 - "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into the field." Since I work with churches and have for the last 15 years I know that there are a lot of times when the work seems overwhelming. There is so much to do and so little help most of the time. And if you are anything like me, when you need help you work harder, get more frustrated and try to get way too creative. Jesus says that when there is a ton of work just ask and He will provide more help. Wow! You think we'd take Him up on that. Would you pray with me for the next 2 weeks, each day, that God would raise up more workers for the kingdom work at The Oasis? Hit the COMMENT button and let me know if you will be joining me.
A caveat - The very next verse after Jesus tells us we can pray that God will send workers He says, "Oh, by the way, I am sending you..." We are the first answer to that request, so if you aren't serving yet or not at the level God desires get ready to be invited into the game.
10:6 - If someone were to come to your house would they believe you "love peace" by the way you are living? Would they see it in your kids faces? Would they hear it if your window was open? Would they feel it if they spent an afternoon with you? Would they see it in the way you are living? Paul repeatedly opens his letters with the phrase "Grace and peace..." so isn't it reasonable to assume as Christians that we are not living in God's will if we do not exercise His peace, especially in our homes?
10:20 - Take some time today and for those of you who know Jesus and walk with Him, rejoice over the fact that one day you will see Him in heaven.
10:27 - Love God and others with everything in you. Hold nothing back. Love way out over the edge. So what if you get hurt a little. Life is lived to love and be loved and when you do that life is full. Without pain you might not fully enjoy peace or hope or laughter. Love with everything in you and your life will be better. We wait to love and therefore we wait to live.
10:40 - What are you distracted by? What must really be done? See, we get distracted by a lot of things. We have a lot of different choices for worry and some of us take a little of each. It's like we are at a buffet and so we decide we need to take some of each dish - worry about bills, weather, kids, marriage, schedule, relationships, the yard...... But Jesus says while there are a ton of things to pick from when it comes to things to worry about, there is really only ONE THING worth spending our time on. And haven't you noticed that when we load our plate down with all the offerings of worry one of the first things we begin to wonder is Does God even care? Here I am all loaded down with a million things to get done and I wonder if God even cares? God does care, but it is our priorities that are messed up, not God. God cares enough to tell you to stop eating everything and just sit at His feet and let Him set your priorities. How many times have we blamed God for our own poor way of living. If we would trust Him enough to simply go to Him with no other agenda and ask Him what He wants done, everything that needs doing would get done and get done with a great heart. We lose our days and live in stress because we won't listen to God.
Love, Michael
A caveat - The very next verse after Jesus tells us we can pray that God will send workers He says, "Oh, by the way, I am sending you..." We are the first answer to that request, so if you aren't serving yet or not at the level God desires get ready to be invited into the game.
10:6 - If someone were to come to your house would they believe you "love peace" by the way you are living? Would they see it in your kids faces? Would they hear it if your window was open? Would they feel it if they spent an afternoon with you? Would they see it in the way you are living? Paul repeatedly opens his letters with the phrase "Grace and peace..." so isn't it reasonable to assume as Christians that we are not living in God's will if we do not exercise His peace, especially in our homes?
10:20 - Take some time today and for those of you who know Jesus and walk with Him, rejoice over the fact that one day you will see Him in heaven.
10:27 - Love God and others with everything in you. Hold nothing back. Love way out over the edge. So what if you get hurt a little. Life is lived to love and be loved and when you do that life is full. Without pain you might not fully enjoy peace or hope or laughter. Love with everything in you and your life will be better. We wait to love and therefore we wait to live.
10:40 - What are you distracted by? What must really be done? See, we get distracted by a lot of things. We have a lot of different choices for worry and some of us take a little of each. It's like we are at a buffet and so we decide we need to take some of each dish - worry about bills, weather, kids, marriage, schedule, relationships, the yard...... But Jesus says while there are a ton of things to pick from when it comes to things to worry about, there is really only ONE THING worth spending our time on. And haven't you noticed that when we load our plate down with all the offerings of worry one of the first things we begin to wonder is Does God even care? Here I am all loaded down with a million things to get done and I wonder if God even cares? God does care, but it is our priorities that are messed up, not God. God cares enough to tell you to stop eating everything and just sit at His feet and let Him set your priorities. How many times have we blamed God for our own poor way of living. If we would trust Him enough to simply go to Him with no other agenda and ask Him what He wants done, everything that needs doing would get done and get done with a great heart. We lose our days and live in stress because we won't listen to God.
Love, Michael
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Luke 8-9
8:3 - These ladies provided for Jesus and the disciples out of their own means. I think our view of money really messes us up and makes us miss out on a lot. Money was important back in Jesus' day too, although it doesn't seem like it had quite the intoxicating aroma it holds for us today. These women got to be a part of changing eternity because they thought more of the Gospel and Jesus than they did their comfort or ownership. I wonder what it would like like for us to give out of our own means for someone else. These women would be thought of as saps or unwise today, but the Bible records them as heroes. Here's to finding a few more "unwise" heroes of the faith.
Parable of the Sower
8:12 - How do we help people retain the word of God so they can make it?
8:13 - How do we help people develop roots so they can endure hard times? (vs 6 - water them???)
8:14 - How do we help people weed their lives?
8:15 - Noble and good hearts = we need to 1) hear, 2) retain, 3) persevere. Where do you struggle the most? Are you listening everyday? Are you doing something to retain what you hear? Are you developing faith muscles to survive and thrive?
8:25 - Fear enters in when there is a lack of faith. If you experience fear ask yourself where your faith is suffering.
8:29 - The enemy tries to drive us to solitary places. The next time you feel like hiding all by yourself run to God and ask for protection, run to a friend and ask for prayer and run to community. The devil wants us to be alone because he can talk us into a lot more that way. But, when we stand together, we can help each other resist him.
8:39 - "Return home and tell how much God has done for you." When was the last time you did this?
8:48 - "your faith has healed you"
8:50 - "Don't be afraid; just believe..."
8:51 - Jesus often took His three apprentices with Him to train them. (vs 9:28 too)
8:53 - What we "know" doesn't stand up to what He knows and can do.
9:13 - We often count only what we have as potential resources, but through thanksgiving we should plan as those with more.
9:20 - "But what about you? Who do you say I am?"
9:24 - You will lose your life in pursuit of God. We all do. It is a necessity for finding Him.
9:31 - When Jesus is talking with Elijah and Moses the Bible says they were talking about Jesus' exodus. What a cool word picture. Just like Moses led people out of slavery through and exodus, Jesus was coming to lead a people out of bondage and addiction to freedom.
9:39 - Satan destroys life.
9:43 - You know a miracle is from God and of God when it brings praise to God.
9:48 - "For whoever is least among you all is the greatest."
Love ya, Michael
Parable of the Sower
8:12 - How do we help people retain the word of God so they can make it?
8:13 - How do we help people develop roots so they can endure hard times? (vs 6 - water them???)
8:14 - How do we help people weed their lives?
8:15 - Noble and good hearts = we need to 1) hear, 2) retain, 3) persevere. Where do you struggle the most? Are you listening everyday? Are you doing something to retain what you hear? Are you developing faith muscles to survive and thrive?
8:25 - Fear enters in when there is a lack of faith. If you experience fear ask yourself where your faith is suffering.
8:29 - The enemy tries to drive us to solitary places. The next time you feel like hiding all by yourself run to God and ask for protection, run to a friend and ask for prayer and run to community. The devil wants us to be alone because he can talk us into a lot more that way. But, when we stand together, we can help each other resist him.
8:39 - "Return home and tell how much God has done for you." When was the last time you did this?
8:48 - "your faith has healed you"
8:50 - "Don't be afraid; just believe..."
8:51 - Jesus often took His three apprentices with Him to train them. (vs 9:28 too)
8:53 - What we "know" doesn't stand up to what He knows and can do.
9:13 - We often count only what we have as potential resources, but through thanksgiving we should plan as those with more.
9:20 - "But what about you? Who do you say I am?"
9:24 - You will lose your life in pursuit of God. We all do. It is a necessity for finding Him.
9:31 - When Jesus is talking with Elijah and Moses the Bible says they were talking about Jesus' exodus. What a cool word picture. Just like Moses led people out of slavery through and exodus, Jesus was coming to lead a people out of bondage and addiction to freedom.
9:39 - Satan destroys life.
9:43 - You know a miracle is from God and of God when it brings praise to God.
9:48 - "For whoever is least among you all is the greatest."
Love ya, Michael
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Luke 6-7
6:11 - Sometimes we miss the point. Jesus isn't calling us to blindly follow Him, but to think about it, consider it, understand it as we follow Him. It is always easier to just do something without consideration, but true love does something after consideration.
6:12 - Before Jesus selected the 12 who would be His key leaders He spent the night praying. The whole night!!! What in your life should you stay up a night to pray for? Is God leading you to a major job change and you need to stay up a night praying? Do you have a major relationship issue to consider and you need to stay up a night praying? Are you considering buying a house and need God's wisdom about where you will live and who your neighbors will be?
We have all kinds of reasons for not staying up the night to pray, but Jesus set an example. He got it right too. He picked the exact men necessary. We need to follow the example of Christ.
6:26 - "Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets." I have always taken this to mean that we have to be careful that the world isn't always okay with us, but what about each other? If everyone at church likes us we may not be walking in line with god's word. Some people at church shouldn't like us too much because we are calling them to a higher standard or because we are loving them by confronting their sin and complacency. When was the last time you ruffled some feathers the right way? If everyone loves you you aren't loving everyone.
6:31 - I really like where the root word for "want others to do to you" comes from. It is a word that means "wish". Do to others what you wish they would do for you. Make a wish and then make that wish come true for someone else by the way you treat them.
6:35 - God is "kind to the ungrateful and wicked."
6:38 - "...For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
6:40 - Do you ever get frustrated with the people under you? Do you ever think their habits stink or their attitudes are rough? Looking at this verse I wonder if the student has just become like the teacher and so the real problem may start with us and not with them. Maybe what we are seeing in our people is a reflection of things we choose not to see in our own lives. What makes us most angry and frustrate din others is normally in us.
6:43, 6:46 - Both great verses.
6:48 - How deep have you dug down to let god change you? Deep enough? The bigger the role you have the bigger the storms, so make sure you dig down deep enough to withstand and overcome.
7:30 - "But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves because they had not been baptized by John."
7:35 - One of my very favorite verses. "But wisdom is proved right by all her children."
7:37 - Sinners ought to hear about our love, grace, mercy and truth and come running to us.
Love ya.
6:12 - Before Jesus selected the 12 who would be His key leaders He spent the night praying. The whole night!!! What in your life should you stay up a night to pray for? Is God leading you to a major job change and you need to stay up a night praying? Do you have a major relationship issue to consider and you need to stay up a night praying? Are you considering buying a house and need God's wisdom about where you will live and who your neighbors will be?
We have all kinds of reasons for not staying up the night to pray, but Jesus set an example. He got it right too. He picked the exact men necessary. We need to follow the example of Christ.
6:26 - "Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets." I have always taken this to mean that we have to be careful that the world isn't always okay with us, but what about each other? If everyone at church likes us we may not be walking in line with god's word. Some people at church shouldn't like us too much because we are calling them to a higher standard or because we are loving them by confronting their sin and complacency. When was the last time you ruffled some feathers the right way? If everyone loves you you aren't loving everyone.
6:31 - I really like where the root word for "want others to do to you" comes from. It is a word that means "wish". Do to others what you wish they would do for you. Make a wish and then make that wish come true for someone else by the way you treat them.
6:35 - God is "kind to the ungrateful and wicked."
6:38 - "...For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
6:40 - Do you ever get frustrated with the people under you? Do you ever think their habits stink or their attitudes are rough? Looking at this verse I wonder if the student has just become like the teacher and so the real problem may start with us and not with them. Maybe what we are seeing in our people is a reflection of things we choose not to see in our own lives. What makes us most angry and frustrate din others is normally in us.
6:43, 6:46 - Both great verses.
6:48 - How deep have you dug down to let god change you? Deep enough? The bigger the role you have the bigger the storms, so make sure you dig down deep enough to withstand and overcome.
7:30 - "But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves because they had not been baptized by John."
7:35 - One of my very favorite verses. "But wisdom is proved right by all her children."
7:37 - Sinners ought to hear about our love, grace, mercy and truth and come running to us.
Love ya.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Luke 3-5
3:3 - John preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. I have met a lot of people that have a huge issue with baptism, but I wonder what they do with that verse. I realize it is John's baptism, but is it reasonable to assume that Jesus disregarded John's baptism instead of adding to it (3:16 - Holy Spirit)? After all, Jesus was baptized too. While I would never say that Jesus had sin and needed baptism He did say He did it to fulfill all righteousness which would indicate to me that He did it so we would have an example that even He submit to it.
3:8-9 - "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance..." "...every tree that does not produce fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." God is serious about fruitfulness. In America we have redefined faith to be what we think or feel, but to John and Jesus and many others in the New Testament, faith was something that always produced fruit. No fruit = No faith.
4:1 - God led Jesus into the wilderness for the express purpose of being tempted. Now, you could look at that and wonder why God did that, but if you understand that the word for tempt in the original language means to refine or to build character it makes perfect sense. God did not send Jesus there to see if He would sin, but to refine and prepare Him for the ministry that lie ahead. I believe there are times that God allows a rough patch in life, but only because He is refining us and preparing us for something better. Your character needs to be refined so you can endure a loss or an illness or a failure or a Cross.
4:6-7 - Andy Stanley points out how unsettling these verses are in the Twisting the Truth series we are going through. I don't get why or how, but it is in there.
4:18-19 - When Jesus reads the prophecy about why He is there look at what 3 of the 4 "to" or reasons are for His coming - to proclaim. It is amazing that the primary task of Jesus was to proclaim God's truth, but in following Him proclaiming is the one we want to leave out the most. We will serve and give and read and maybe even forgive, but to proclaim....we set our heels in and pull the other way. What about this - To follow Christ is to proclaim God's truth 3 out of 4 times you are doing anything?
4:28 - Often times our nationalistic pride gets in front of our faith.
4:36 - Satan offered Jesus authority, but Jesus was given greater authority by God as you can see here. Isn't that how it works? The devil offers us something smaller than what God has planned, but he tries to convince us it is the best we will get? Think about freedom. Satan offers us little pieces of freedom that actually lead to captivity in an effort to convince us it is the best we will get. But God offers us TOTAL freedom in Christ. Hang on for God's best because it is always bigger and better than the best deal you can get from the devil.
4:39 - The right response to being healed by Jesus is to immediately get up and serve.
5:1 - People generally will crowd around when someone is teaching or explaining the word of God. Our problem in American churches has been we have taught everything else (self help, modern ideas, relationship improvements, how to succeed in life) when people really want to know what God has said and what it means. Father, forgive us for teaching people things that don't lead to eternal life now and forever.
5:5 - Because Jesus says so....We should trust Jesus over our past experiences. Where do you tell Jesus, "I have already been there done that and it didn't work?" Forgiveness? Turning the other cheek? Giving money? Serving? Obeying? Because Jesus said so should be enough to help us do it again.
5:10 - How do you fish for people? Probably the first one is you have to understand what a fish is looking for and use that. The second one is you have to be patient. I fish for people like I fish in real life. Cast, reel in. Cats, reel in. No wonder so few people come to know Jesus. I need to develop a fisherman's patience. That doesn't mean you sit with your line in the water forever, but it does mean you give the fish a chance to see what you are offering them.
5:11 - What have you really left for Jesus? So many of us have left so little to follow Jesus. We have left things we didn't want or didn't need. What about leaving our jobs, our friends, our homes, our safety? It is really hard to follow Jesus when your arms are full of junk and your back is loaded down with a backpack full of past memories and current needs. The way to follow Jesus is with nothing on your back (makes room for a cross) and nothing in your hands (makes room for helping others) and nothing in your heart (makes room for loving like He loves.
5:16 - How often do you withdraw to lonely places to pray? Jesus did it often and we want to follow Jesus, but how often do we get away to lonely places and pray. Would more prayer in lonely places increase our effectiveness? It was a necessary part of Jesus' effectiveness.
5:20 - Your faith can help heal a friend of his sin and his sickness. You just have to love him enough to be embarrassed in his behalf.
5:31-32 - Great verses. If you have a Bible look them up. If not, go to Biblegateway.com and punch in Luke 5:31-32 and read what it says. Hope for all of us.
Love ya,
Michael
3:8-9 - "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance..." "...every tree that does not produce fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." God is serious about fruitfulness. In America we have redefined faith to be what we think or feel, but to John and Jesus and many others in the New Testament, faith was something that always produced fruit. No fruit = No faith.
4:1 - God led Jesus into the wilderness for the express purpose of being tempted. Now, you could look at that and wonder why God did that, but if you understand that the word for tempt in the original language means to refine or to build character it makes perfect sense. God did not send Jesus there to see if He would sin, but to refine and prepare Him for the ministry that lie ahead. I believe there are times that God allows a rough patch in life, but only because He is refining us and preparing us for something better. Your character needs to be refined so you can endure a loss or an illness or a failure or a Cross.
4:6-7 - Andy Stanley points out how unsettling these verses are in the Twisting the Truth series we are going through. I don't get why or how, but it is in there.
4:18-19 - When Jesus reads the prophecy about why He is there look at what 3 of the 4 "to" or reasons are for His coming - to proclaim. It is amazing that the primary task of Jesus was to proclaim God's truth, but in following Him proclaiming is the one we want to leave out the most. We will serve and give and read and maybe even forgive, but to proclaim....we set our heels in and pull the other way. What about this - To follow Christ is to proclaim God's truth 3 out of 4 times you are doing anything?
4:28 - Often times our nationalistic pride gets in front of our faith.
4:36 - Satan offered Jesus authority, but Jesus was given greater authority by God as you can see here. Isn't that how it works? The devil offers us something smaller than what God has planned, but he tries to convince us it is the best we will get? Think about freedom. Satan offers us little pieces of freedom that actually lead to captivity in an effort to convince us it is the best we will get. But God offers us TOTAL freedom in Christ. Hang on for God's best because it is always bigger and better than the best deal you can get from the devil.
4:39 - The right response to being healed by Jesus is to immediately get up and serve.
5:1 - People generally will crowd around when someone is teaching or explaining the word of God. Our problem in American churches has been we have taught everything else (self help, modern ideas, relationship improvements, how to succeed in life) when people really want to know what God has said and what it means. Father, forgive us for teaching people things that don't lead to eternal life now and forever.
5:5 - Because Jesus says so....We should trust Jesus over our past experiences. Where do you tell Jesus, "I have already been there done that and it didn't work?" Forgiveness? Turning the other cheek? Giving money? Serving? Obeying? Because Jesus said so should be enough to help us do it again.
5:10 - How do you fish for people? Probably the first one is you have to understand what a fish is looking for and use that. The second one is you have to be patient. I fish for people like I fish in real life. Cast, reel in. Cats, reel in. No wonder so few people come to know Jesus. I need to develop a fisherman's patience. That doesn't mean you sit with your line in the water forever, but it does mean you give the fish a chance to see what you are offering them.
5:11 - What have you really left for Jesus? So many of us have left so little to follow Jesus. We have left things we didn't want or didn't need. What about leaving our jobs, our friends, our homes, our safety? It is really hard to follow Jesus when your arms are full of junk and your back is loaded down with a backpack full of past memories and current needs. The way to follow Jesus is with nothing on your back (makes room for a cross) and nothing in your hands (makes room for helping others) and nothing in your heart (makes room for loving like He loves.
5:16 - How often do you withdraw to lonely places to pray? Jesus did it often and we want to follow Jesus, but how often do we get away to lonely places and pray. Would more prayer in lonely places increase our effectiveness? It was a necessary part of Jesus' effectiveness.
5:20 - Your faith can help heal a friend of his sin and his sickness. You just have to love him enough to be embarrassed in his behalf.
5:31-32 - Great verses. If you have a Bible look them up. If not, go to Biblegateway.com and punch in Luke 5:31-32 and read what it says. Hope for all of us.
Love ya,
Michael
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Luke 1-2
Decided to read some from Luke today.
1:2 - Luke talks about those who handed down the word of God as "servants of the word." What kind of a servant of the Word are you? Seriously. If someone were to come and examine your life would they say you have been a reliable witness to pass on what you know from the Bible or have you taken plays off, kept things to yourself and shown up overweight and out of shape? I have a desire to honor God by always showing up in top shape. I want to make sure to not only share, but share the truth from God in the way He wants it shared. I want my kids to know more about the Bible than the rest of the world. I want them to see it, hear it, understand it and I need to be a reliable part of that.
1:4 - "so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught." God cares about whether you kind of get it or you really KNOW! Luke wrote his Gospel because he wanted to make sure you weren't just hoping, but could know for certain who Jesus is and how much He loves you.
1:10 - The priests that didn't go inside with Zechariah were outside praying and worshipping. What do you do when someone else is worshipping and you are waiting? Do you exhale? Get distracted with other things? Get mad because it isn't your turn? These guys prayed and worshipped while they waited. We recently sang a great song at church called While I'm Waiting that says faithfulness is shown in what you do while you wait and not just when you are moving. I met our faith would move us and others more if we were more faithful in our waiting.
1:37 - "For no word from God will ever fail."******* WOW! What a great reminder. Everything God has ever spoken will come about in it's proper time. There is nothing beyond God in your life.
Love, Michael
1:2 - Luke talks about those who handed down the word of God as "servants of the word." What kind of a servant of the Word are you? Seriously. If someone were to come and examine your life would they say you have been a reliable witness to pass on what you know from the Bible or have you taken plays off, kept things to yourself and shown up overweight and out of shape? I have a desire to honor God by always showing up in top shape. I want to make sure to not only share, but share the truth from God in the way He wants it shared. I want my kids to know more about the Bible than the rest of the world. I want them to see it, hear it, understand it and I need to be a reliable part of that.
1:4 - "so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught." God cares about whether you kind of get it or you really KNOW! Luke wrote his Gospel because he wanted to make sure you weren't just hoping, but could know for certain who Jesus is and how much He loves you.
1:10 - The priests that didn't go inside with Zechariah were outside praying and worshipping. What do you do when someone else is worshipping and you are waiting? Do you exhale? Get distracted with other things? Get mad because it isn't your turn? These guys prayed and worshipped while they waited. We recently sang a great song at church called While I'm Waiting that says faithfulness is shown in what you do while you wait and not just when you are moving. I met our faith would move us and others more if we were more faithful in our waiting.
1:37 - "For no word from God will ever fail."******* WOW! What a great reminder. Everything God has ever spoken will come about in it's proper time. There is nothing beyond God in your life.
Love, Michael
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Rhinoceros Faith
Okay, so I am a word picture guy. I learn best when someone can relate something spiritual to me in normal, everyday terms. I remember in college when I was taking a music theory class (HA! God's joke on me). The teacher would play music and then explain which period it was from and all of that. I just didn't get it. When she would describe the music I had no idea what she was talking about. I am not much a formal guy and classical music seemed like slow, mellow death to me. So, one of my buddies (Chad or Terry) leaned over and said, "Hey, you know that Looney Tunes cartoon where Bugs Bunny is the viking rabbit in the opera? That is baroche." I aced the class after that.
So anyway, I was talking with a friend I deeply respect from a church plant in Boise, ID this last week and he was telling me about rhinoceroses. Apparently, rhinoceroses can run 30 mph (my Neon barely does that), but they can only see 3o feet in front of themselves. So, it can run faster than it can see. And that is the essence of faith. To run with God full steam while trusting God for the 31st feet and beyond. Is there risk involved? You better bet. If you run ahead of God you smash into things and mess up your life and others and if you run to slow you may end up too far behind God to see Him. The trick is to run full steam right next to God. You let Him see the 31st through 1,000,000th feet ahead of you and you just focus on pushing ahead with perseverance and faith.
Here's to those who want to honor God like a rhinoceros does.
So anyway, I was talking with a friend I deeply respect from a church plant in Boise, ID this last week and he was telling me about rhinoceroses. Apparently, rhinoceroses can run 30 mph (my Neon barely does that), but they can only see 3o feet in front of themselves. So, it can run faster than it can see. And that is the essence of faith. To run with God full steam while trusting God for the 31st feet and beyond. Is there risk involved? You better bet. If you run ahead of God you smash into things and mess up your life and others and if you run to slow you may end up too far behind God to see Him. The trick is to run full steam right next to God. You let Him see the 31st through 1,000,000th feet ahead of you and you just focus on pushing ahead with perseverance and faith.
Here's to those who want to honor God like a rhinoceros does.
Today
I read Matthew 5-8 and Colossians today. Good stuff. I have really liked reading through specific passages over and over for a time. It seems like it is a lot like water and the ground. When I flood my head and heart with Scripture it waters it, but a lot of it runs off and a lot of it evaporates. When I do a long, slow, continuous soak over several days or weeks it is like the Word of God is soaking deep into my soul. It takes longer, but it gets deeper. If you have never tried it pick a short letter from the Bible or 3-4 chapters from a specific spot and just read over them every day for 2 weeks and see what you see and hear and feel. You might be amazed. I imagine this is what meditating on the Scriptures means.
I had an absolute blast today coaching flag football for the 7-8 year old team.....and we got beat by 32 points. I love it when the kids get to score and win, but it was so neat today because I was able to talk to the kids about failing in life and still learning, about staying in the game when you are down and showed them how to encourage each other in defeat. Those are lessons that they will need for a lifetime. I sure hope they are encouraged.
Had a great talk on Thursday with a friend named Jason who is part of a church plant in Boise, ID. Check out the next post for what he taught me.
Love ya, Michael
I had an absolute blast today coaching flag football for the 7-8 year old team.....and we got beat by 32 points. I love it when the kids get to score and win, but it was so neat today because I was able to talk to the kids about failing in life and still learning, about staying in the game when you are down and showed them how to encourage each other in defeat. Those are lessons that they will need for a lifetime. I sure hope they are encouraged.
Had a great talk on Thursday with a friend named Jason who is part of a church plant in Boise, ID. Check out the next post for what he taught me.
Love ya, Michael
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Exodus 18-22
This morning I read Exodus 18-22
18:17-23 - The way to lead as a godly leader is to (1) seek God on behalf of others, (2) teach people what you find and see, (3) show people how to follow God, (4) mediate the difficult things in their lives for/with them and (5) raise up others at many levels to do the same for them.
18:21 - The kind of people who should be leading in other people's lives are men who (1) fear God, (2) are trustworthy and (3) who hate dishonest gain. So many times we go after the flashiest leader or the most gifted business man or most popular, but men who fear God, be trustworthy and hate dishonesty will make the best leaders.
21:5-6 - Check out this verse.
I have always loved this verse. It talks about someone who so loves their master that they freely choose to stay with him when they could have been free. Throughout the New Testament the term bondservant (which is the actual term used here) is used many places for what a Christian's life should be. We should joyfully and willingly give up all of our freedoms for the sake of our Master.
It amazes me how many times those of us who follow Jesus get this wrong. We come to God through Jesus and then we demand our rights at every turn. We want our rights at work, at home, on the basketball court, in public. We choose our freedom over the opportunity to be bondservants of our God. When you come to Jesus you die to your freedom and you choose to be a servant/slave/bondservant of God. You care more about His will than your freedom. Isn't that they whole point of praying "Your will be done" when Jesus was teaching us how to pray.
Can you imagine the power in our lives and our testimony about God to others if we embraced the doorpost more than our rights? Imagine how many people would believe the Gospel (Good News about Jesus) if we were more concerned with God than ourselves. People are waiting to see what you really believe.
18:17-23 - The way to lead as a godly leader is to (1) seek God on behalf of others, (2) teach people what you find and see, (3) show people how to follow God, (4) mediate the difficult things in their lives for/with them and (5) raise up others at many levels to do the same for them.
18:21 - The kind of people who should be leading in other people's lives are men who (1) fear God, (2) are trustworthy and (3) who hate dishonest gain. So many times we go after the flashiest leader or the most gifted business man or most popular, but men who fear God, be trustworthy and hate dishonesty will make the best leaders.
21:5-6 - Check out this verse.
5 "But if the servant declares, 'I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,' 6 then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life."
I have always loved this verse. It talks about someone who so loves their master that they freely choose to stay with him when they could have been free. Throughout the New Testament the term bondservant (which is the actual term used here) is used many places for what a Christian's life should be. We should joyfully and willingly give up all of our freedoms for the sake of our Master.
It amazes me how many times those of us who follow Jesus get this wrong. We come to God through Jesus and then we demand our rights at every turn. We want our rights at work, at home, on the basketball court, in public. We choose our freedom over the opportunity to be bondservants of our God. When you come to Jesus you die to your freedom and you choose to be a servant/slave/bondservant of God. You care more about His will than your freedom. Isn't that they whole point of praying "Your will be done" when Jesus was teaching us how to pray.
Can you imagine the power in our lives and our testimony about God to others if we embraced the doorpost more than our rights? Imagine how many people would believe the Gospel (Good News about Jesus) if we were more concerned with God than ourselves. People are waiting to see what you really believe.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Untwisted Prayer
God has been doing some really neat things in my heart lately. Recently I was previewing the Andy Stanley DVD TWISTED to get things ready for our LIFE Groups. For those of you who aren’t in a LIFE Group or missed that night, Stanley talks about praying a prayer to ask God to keep lies far from him and help him keep his life untwisted. I decided that I was going to commit to praying a prayer like that every day for several weeks to see what would happen.
My prayer goes something like this: God, keep falsehood and lies far from me and my family (I mention them by name). Help me focus on your eternal truth. Unveil my eyes so I see, feel and think as You do.
It has been incredible to see how that simple, daily prayer has changed my life. I have been able to see areas I have been sinning in, areas I have been struggling in, areas that other people are being twisted in and even subtle areas where we have been distracted or off target as a body.
One area that has been pretty profound for me came when I was reading a book on business coaching. As I went through the five types of leaders the first one was the self-made leader. As I read the description I thought What a jerk. Not it. and then I went back to reading, but God wasn’t done there yet. He slowly brought me back to see that although I have had a ton of help from Him, from coaches, ministry mentors, leaders and friends, I was living as though I had gotten to this place in life on my own. And worse yet, because I was living like I got here on my own, I was treating others like they needed to get where God wants them to be on their own too. I was pointing out where people needed to be, but I wasn’t doing anything to help them get there. I was pushing instead of leading. I was completely convicted that I had believed a lie about myself and it had negatively impacted many other people (family, staff, elders, ....) What God helped me see with unveiled eyes (2 Corinthians 3:14-18) was that we all need help to get to where we are going and a real leader points the way and then walks with you as you head there. I have done some confessing and repenting before God and others this week because of it.
I want to personally challenge you to start praying that prayer every day. Commit to praying it every day for 30 days and see what happens in your life. What can it hurt? And maybe, just maybe, there is some stuff in your life that is twisted too and God will help you see it for what it is. There is a great life in Christ and God is waiting to help you get untwisted enough to see it.
Love,
Michael
My prayer goes something like this: God, keep falsehood and lies far from me and my family (I mention them by name). Help me focus on your eternal truth. Unveil my eyes so I see, feel and think as You do.
It has been incredible to see how that simple, daily prayer has changed my life. I have been able to see areas I have been sinning in, areas I have been struggling in, areas that other people are being twisted in and even subtle areas where we have been distracted or off target as a body.
One area that has been pretty profound for me came when I was reading a book on business coaching. As I went through the five types of leaders the first one was the self-made leader. As I read the description I thought What a jerk. Not it. and then I went back to reading, but God wasn’t done there yet. He slowly brought me back to see that although I have had a ton of help from Him, from coaches, ministry mentors, leaders and friends, I was living as though I had gotten to this place in life on my own. And worse yet, because I was living like I got here on my own, I was treating others like they needed to get where God wants them to be on their own too. I was pointing out where people needed to be, but I wasn’t doing anything to help them get there. I was pushing instead of leading. I was completely convicted that I had believed a lie about myself and it had negatively impacted many other people (family, staff, elders, ....) What God helped me see with unveiled eyes (2 Corinthians 3:14-18) was that we all need help to get to where we are going and a real leader points the way and then walks with you as you head there. I have done some confessing and repenting before God and others this week because of it.
I want to personally challenge you to start praying that prayer every day. Commit to praying it every day for 30 days and see what happens in your life. What can it hurt? And maybe, just maybe, there is some stuff in your life that is twisted too and God will help you see it for what it is. There is a great life in Christ and God is waiting to help you get untwisted enough to see it.
Love,
Michael
Exodus 13-17
13:14 - What are you doing in faith that is getting your kids to ask you questions? Our faith should be different enough from the world that our curious kids see a difference in us and ask about it. Do they ask you about how or why you give? Titus asked me the other day what a tithe was (19% of income). It was a great chance to teach him and I just kind of tosses out an answer quickly. Pay attention to the questions your kids ask because they are trying to understand your values so they know how to live.
14:1-4 - Sometimes God puts us between a rock and the Red Sea and we need to trust that if He put us there there is a good reason for it. Actually, the worse the circumstances look when God has put us there (not when we have) the greater the opportunity to see God work. How many times in life does God lead us to something tough and we get mad at God when in reality He is just getting ready to show us something really incredible. There are no partings of the Red Sea unless you are in a position that needs one. Maybe it isn't that God doesn't move miraculously anymore, but that we don't allow Him to put us in positions where He could do it.
14:14 - I love this verse. "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." I won't lie, I am like an ADD kid who has had 20 Red Bulls sometimes in the midst of difficulty. I am running everywhere trying to "help" God and trying to figure things out and control things. God says that if we would just stand still, faithfully trusting God, He would fight for us and win. I try to secure buildings, shake up the church, grow the body, change the community when in reality I ought to faithfully do what God has called me to do and wait on God to do the changing. I can;t tell you how many times I have seen something I genuinely believe God wants to do and then I go and try to help Him. The best thing for me to do is to do whatever He asks, but not get in His way by trying to do more than He asks.
14:31 - Red Sea episodes develop reverence and faith in us.
15:17 - Interesting prophecy about the temple.
15:24 - We quickly forget or walk away from God when our physical needs (any needs?) aren't met. WOW! Sometimes I am a pretty faithless person. If God can lead me this far away from all my messes up and fears and habits, shouldn't I have enough faith the believe He will provide for me once I get here? Man, I am such an Israelite sometimes.
15:26 - "I am the Lord who heals you." Love the verse. I think it is really interesting that God expresses what the conditions are for our healing as well. So many people want to take everything God says out of context and hold Him to it. God is always true to His word in context.
16:3 - People will often choose meat over freedom. We do. We choose buying more stuff over being financially free. We choose to watch things that will inflame our lusts or our fears or our discontent. We choose relationships that hold us back rather than relationships being free from what hurts us unnecessarily.
16:4 - Often times, after God makes a promise He gives us the chance to exercise our part in it. Check out 15:26 and then come back to 16:4.
16:24 - When you put faith and obedience to God 1st He can and will change the natural laws.
16:29 - The sabbath was a gift to the Jews. God gives us rest.
17:15 - "The Lord is my banner."
Love, Michael
14:1-4 - Sometimes God puts us between a rock and the Red Sea and we need to trust that if He put us there there is a good reason for it. Actually, the worse the circumstances look when God has put us there (not when we have) the greater the opportunity to see God work. How many times in life does God lead us to something tough and we get mad at God when in reality He is just getting ready to show us something really incredible. There are no partings of the Red Sea unless you are in a position that needs one. Maybe it isn't that God doesn't move miraculously anymore, but that we don't allow Him to put us in positions where He could do it.
14:14 - I love this verse. "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." I won't lie, I am like an ADD kid who has had 20 Red Bulls sometimes in the midst of difficulty. I am running everywhere trying to "help" God and trying to figure things out and control things. God says that if we would just stand still, faithfully trusting God, He would fight for us and win. I try to secure buildings, shake up the church, grow the body, change the community when in reality I ought to faithfully do what God has called me to do and wait on God to do the changing. I can;t tell you how many times I have seen something I genuinely believe God wants to do and then I go and try to help Him. The best thing for me to do is to do whatever He asks, but not get in His way by trying to do more than He asks.
14:31 - Red Sea episodes develop reverence and faith in us.
15:17 - Interesting prophecy about the temple.
15:24 - We quickly forget or walk away from God when our physical needs (any needs?) aren't met. WOW! Sometimes I am a pretty faithless person. If God can lead me this far away from all my messes up and fears and habits, shouldn't I have enough faith the believe He will provide for me once I get here? Man, I am such an Israelite sometimes.
15:26 - "I am the Lord who heals you." Love the verse. I think it is really interesting that God expresses what the conditions are for our healing as well. So many people want to take everything God says out of context and hold Him to it. God is always true to His word in context.
16:3 - People will often choose meat over freedom. We do. We choose buying more stuff over being financially free. We choose to watch things that will inflame our lusts or our fears or our discontent. We choose relationships that hold us back rather than relationships being free from what hurts us unnecessarily.
16:4 - Often times, after God makes a promise He gives us the chance to exercise our part in it. Check out 15:26 and then come back to 16:4.
16:24 - When you put faith and obedience to God 1st He can and will change the natural laws.
16:29 - The sabbath was a gift to the Jews. God gives us rest.
17:15 - "The Lord is my banner."
Love, Michael
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Exodus 5-12
Loving Exodus as I go through it again.
5:9 - "Make the work harder for them so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies." In this case what Pharaoh calls a lie where the truths of God. How many times has that happened in your life, where you thought God might be speaking to you and the enemy just started piling it on so you were overwhelmed and distracted? The next time you feel like you are close to a God truth watch out for the extra work and stress and fight through it. The picture I get is a guy fighting through a pick or a screen in basketball. It hurts, but to fight through it you get to where you need to be.
5:20-21 - Pharaoh intentionally turned the people against their leaders. Be careful that our enemy doesn't do the same to us. Our leaders pay a high price for leading us and we have to guard our hearts against turning against them. While we should not blindly follow, we should lovingly trust and pray for them.
6:9 - "they did not listen because of their discouragement and harsh labor." Sometimes people just can't hear. Be patient. There are times we couldn't hear either.
Lots of plagues. Interesting if you don't know it, every plague that God performed was in direct confrontation to an Egyptian god.
12:36 - When God works slaves can plunder the mighty. Where do you need to hear that in your life?
12:41 - "to the very day" God delivered them 430 years later to the very day. God's timing is perfect. One man said God is sometimes early, but never late. Although it is hard to acknowledge sometimes, the timing of God is always exactly what we need. I can attest to that in my life as I have followed Jesus. It isn't always when I want it, but it has never been late.
5:9 - "Make the work harder for them so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies." In this case what Pharaoh calls a lie where the truths of God. How many times has that happened in your life, where you thought God might be speaking to you and the enemy just started piling it on so you were overwhelmed and distracted? The next time you feel like you are close to a God truth watch out for the extra work and stress and fight through it. The picture I get is a guy fighting through a pick or a screen in basketball. It hurts, but to fight through it you get to where you need to be.
5:20-21 - Pharaoh intentionally turned the people against their leaders. Be careful that our enemy doesn't do the same to us. Our leaders pay a high price for leading us and we have to guard our hearts against turning against them. While we should not blindly follow, we should lovingly trust and pray for them.
6:9 - "they did not listen because of their discouragement and harsh labor." Sometimes people just can't hear. Be patient. There are times we couldn't hear either.
Lots of plagues. Interesting if you don't know it, every plague that God performed was in direct confrontation to an Egyptian god.
12:36 - When God works slaves can plunder the mighty. Where do you need to hear that in your life?
12:41 - "to the very day" God delivered them 430 years later to the very day. God's timing is perfect. One man said God is sometimes early, but never late. Although it is hard to acknowledge sometimes, the timing of God is always exactly what we need. I can attest to that in my life as I have followed Jesus. It isn't always when I want it, but it has never been late.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Exodus 1-4
I have the great privilege of discipling a good friend of mine. He just finished Genesis and is now starting Exodus so I thought I would do some reading in Exodus to help as he walks through it. Here are some things I saw in the first four chapters.
1:10-11 - The way their enemy dealt with his fear of them being free was to enslave them and oppress them. Isn't that the same way the enemy of our souls deals with the prospect of us being free? If he even sense for a second that someone is about to find the freedom that Jesus promises he jumps on you with both feet to enslave you in a bad relationship, a destructive habit or a ton of good things that distract you from pursuing Jesus. He adds one thing after another after another to try to so overwhelm and oppress you that you feel like you can't even breathe. The beauty of God is that if we will commit to walking even while we are hit in the face with wave after wave God has promised to see us through. He made a promise to be the One who will complete any good work He begins in us. If you see the light of freedom know that it will not get easier because the enemy will attack, but walk with great determination in the faith that God will indeed see you through no matter what. Expect the waves and never let them stop you.
3:21 - God can make even our enemies favorably disposed towards us.
4:2 - God and Moses are having this back and forth discussion. God wants Moses to go help free people and Moses doesn't want to have anything to do with it. One of the excuses that Moses uses is that people won't believe him or follow him and God asks Moses, "What is that in your hand?" God then uses what was already in Moses hand (a shepherd's staff) to help Moses understand that God is in control and also as a tool to help Moses succeed. I think one of the big lessons here is that God is not limited by our resources. God can and will use whatever we have for His purposes. I wonder what is in your hand right now? Instead of looking for something more you think you need to do whatever God has asked you to do, what do you have in your hand that is enough for you to begin to follow God right now? Do you have a job? A marriage? A friendship? An office? 5 minutes? What do you already have that you should be using for God instead of waiting for God to give you more? There is a powerful teaching all throughout the New Testament that says we are responsible for what we do with what we currently have.
4:14 - Even while God and Moses are talking, God has already sent for Aaron to come and help Moses. God is working before He speaks to you and you and I should always remember that. God doesn't come up with the plan as we meet with Him. He already has other parts moving and working to accomplish His plan. I forget that so often. God is working in more than just me and I need to take great encouragement in that. Just because I don't know what is next, doesn't mean God doesn't.
4:20 - The staff from earlier is now called "the staff of God." What is in your hand right now that should be called the "of God?"
4:24-26 - Moses failed to bring the covenant (faith) to his own sons. That is really what this is about. Moses had not circumcised his sons according to the covenant handed to Abraham and all of his descendants and God almost kills Moses because of it. Have you handed your kids the covenant that Jesus has made with you?
4:31 - "And when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshipped." People need to know that God cares AND that He sees their circumstances. We need to know that God sees what is really happening and that He cares enough to do something about it.
Love,
Michael
1:10-11 - The way their enemy dealt with his fear of them being free was to enslave them and oppress them. Isn't that the same way the enemy of our souls deals with the prospect of us being free? If he even sense for a second that someone is about to find the freedom that Jesus promises he jumps on you with both feet to enslave you in a bad relationship, a destructive habit or a ton of good things that distract you from pursuing Jesus. He adds one thing after another after another to try to so overwhelm and oppress you that you feel like you can't even breathe. The beauty of God is that if we will commit to walking even while we are hit in the face with wave after wave God has promised to see us through. He made a promise to be the One who will complete any good work He begins in us. If you see the light of freedom know that it will not get easier because the enemy will attack, but walk with great determination in the faith that God will indeed see you through no matter what. Expect the waves and never let them stop you.
3:21 - God can make even our enemies favorably disposed towards us.
4:2 - God and Moses are having this back and forth discussion. God wants Moses to go help free people and Moses doesn't want to have anything to do with it. One of the excuses that Moses uses is that people won't believe him or follow him and God asks Moses, "What is that in your hand?" God then uses what was already in Moses hand (a shepherd's staff) to help Moses understand that God is in control and also as a tool to help Moses succeed. I think one of the big lessons here is that God is not limited by our resources. God can and will use whatever we have for His purposes. I wonder what is in your hand right now? Instead of looking for something more you think you need to do whatever God has asked you to do, what do you have in your hand that is enough for you to begin to follow God right now? Do you have a job? A marriage? A friendship? An office? 5 minutes? What do you already have that you should be using for God instead of waiting for God to give you more? There is a powerful teaching all throughout the New Testament that says we are responsible for what we do with what we currently have.
4:14 - Even while God and Moses are talking, God has already sent for Aaron to come and help Moses. God is working before He speaks to you and you and I should always remember that. God doesn't come up with the plan as we meet with Him. He already has other parts moving and working to accomplish His plan. I forget that so often. God is working in more than just me and I need to take great encouragement in that. Just because I don't know what is next, doesn't mean God doesn't.
4:20 - The staff from earlier is now called "the staff of God." What is in your hand right now that should be called the "of God?"
4:24-26 - Moses failed to bring the covenant (faith) to his own sons. That is really what this is about. Moses had not circumcised his sons according to the covenant handed to Abraham and all of his descendants and God almost kills Moses because of it. Have you handed your kids the covenant that Jesus has made with you?
4:31 - "And when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshipped." People need to know that God cares AND that He sees their circumstances. We need to know that God sees what is really happening and that He cares enough to do something about it.
Love,
Michael
Saturday, June 6, 2009
IF or WITH
Recently the community of Christians I work with was looking at moving from a school where we set up and tear down each weekend to a permanent facility. We were pretty excited at the prospect after 3 1/2 years of setting up and tearing down each weekend, of being somewhere where we had access 24/7. We came up with all kinds of ideas for different ways to minister, how we needed to be ready to minister to new people who came in and what we would do to reach out to the community. My prayer to God was for Him to grant us His favor either by allowing us to get the property or to let us not get it if it wasn't the best thing for us. Truthfully, I was hoping hard for the first one and kind of praying the second because I know it to be true in my head and heart, but still struggle to be okay with it.
Yesterday I got a series of phone calls that lead me to believe that short of an incredible miracle from God we will not be getting the new property. At first I was really disappointed. What about all the things we were planning to do for God? Why wouldn't He say YES! when we had so many great things planned? And then it hit me. Faithfulness is not what you would do IF but what you will do WITH. Faithfulness is not about how far you would go or how many ministries you would sacrifice and strive for if God gave you more money, a better building, a better job or a better whatever. Faithfulness to God is to dream BIG now and then do whatever you can to bring that dream into reality. We should be following the big dreams we have of following God now as an act of faith and then let God provide what He wants along the way.
As I have looked back over the last few weeks and months I see now that God gave us a greater gift than a building. God awakened our dreams again. God called us out of the routine and has awakened in us a desire to trust God, reach into the heart of our community and get our church as healthy as possible. God has reminded me that if your palms aren't sweating and your heart isn't beating fast you probably aren't walking very closely to Jesus. If people aren't looking at you like you are insane for the depth and passion of your belief and your desire to go big with God then you are probably living a life and ministry that are what you can handle. God has called us to work by faith and He has promised to grow that kind of faith.
The ability to dream big because of your faith in God will bring a lot more people back to a right relationship with God than a building ever could. Here's to hoping I can help our body receive the gift of dreaming again that God has offered us instead of being bummed at the size of the box the gift comes in.
Love, Michael
Yesterday I got a series of phone calls that lead me to believe that short of an incredible miracle from God we will not be getting the new property. At first I was really disappointed. What about all the things we were planning to do for God? Why wouldn't He say YES! when we had so many great things planned? And then it hit me. Faithfulness is not what you would do IF but what you will do WITH. Faithfulness is not about how far you would go or how many ministries you would sacrifice and strive for if God gave you more money, a better building, a better job or a better whatever. Faithfulness to God is to dream BIG now and then do whatever you can to bring that dream into reality. We should be following the big dreams we have of following God now as an act of faith and then let God provide what He wants along the way.
As I have looked back over the last few weeks and months I see now that God gave us a greater gift than a building. God awakened our dreams again. God called us out of the routine and has awakened in us a desire to trust God, reach into the heart of our community and get our church as healthy as possible. God has reminded me that if your palms aren't sweating and your heart isn't beating fast you probably aren't walking very closely to Jesus. If people aren't looking at you like you are insane for the depth and passion of your belief and your desire to go big with God then you are probably living a life and ministry that are what you can handle. God has called us to work by faith and He has promised to grow that kind of faith.
The ability to dream big because of your faith in God will bring a lot more people back to a right relationship with God than a building ever could. Here's to hoping I can help our body receive the gift of dreaming again that God has offered us instead of being bummed at the size of the box the gift comes in.
Love, Michael
Friday, June 5, 2009
Colossians 6 5 09
I have always struggled to understand 1:15/1:18 and any other passage that talks about Jesus being the first-born of all creation, because it gives the impression that He was created. If Jesus was created than He is not fully God. In the Greek Word Study Bible it explained that the word for firstborn is prototokos which means to be the cause of creation. Jesus is not the first one created or the first one born, but the cause of the creation and birth in the first place. Really powerful for me. Jesus is the cause of life which makes Him bigger than this life.
1:23 - "not moved away from the hope of the gospel" - Neat to me because I wonder how often I let myself get moved away from the heart of the gospel and start thinking about and focusing on other things. Sometimes I am moved away to the heart of the NBA Finals or the heart of the Broncos or the heart of a different car or trip or activity. My heart as a follower of Jesus ought to be completely centered on the gospel which says God sent His Son Jesus to save me from my sin so that I could live for His good purposes from now on.
1:24 - "I do my share on behalf of the body" - WOW! What a powerful question to ask yourself. Am I only doing what others are doing or am I doing my share? My share is not dictated at all by others. I can do it whether they do theirs or not. So many times we do our fair share instead of our share. God calls us to do our share whether it is fair or not.
2:5 - "the stability of your faith in Christ." My kids and I watched Wipeout the other night for the first time and they have a challenge where the people are put on a table that spins and spins and then when it stops they have to run through a door and over some other obstacles. When people come of f the turntable they are so dizzy and disoriented that they go all over the place. God is calling us to a faith that can walk a straight line and isn't all over the place. How stable is your faith? I see many people nowadays whose faith looks a lot like a wave of the see tossed back and forth (James 1).
2:17 - "things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ." - I can confess that I have spent years trying to fill my life and ministry up with a feast of shadows when the real substance is and always has been Jesus. I need to daily review whether I am receiving substance or just things that have the faded shape and aroma of Jesus, but which do not bring Jesus. Why do we settle for the shadow when God is offering us the real thing? Maybe it is easier, but definitely not better.
2:19 - "grows with a growth which is from God." Those of us who work to help others meet and grow in Jesus need to remember that God is the orginator of growth and we are called to faithful sacrifice and service.
3:2 - "set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on earth." There is just something about the wording that really stands out to me. How much of my thinking is about things that are on the earth? Cars are on earth and so are motorcycles and sports and food and TV and movies. My thinking should be centered on the things that are not found here. That isn't to say we can;t enjoy life, because god gives us everything for our enjoyment, but we need to fix our thoughts on what is in Heaven and let God bring about the joy instead of trying to find our joy ourselves.
3:12 - I love how the NASB says to put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. It is something I have to actively do. I don’t get up in the morning and wait for my clothes to jump on me. I have to actively and willfully get dressed and the same is true here.
Love, Michael
1:23 - "not moved away from the hope of the gospel" - Neat to me because I wonder how often I let myself get moved away from the heart of the gospel and start thinking about and focusing on other things. Sometimes I am moved away to the heart of the NBA Finals or the heart of the Broncos or the heart of a different car or trip or activity. My heart as a follower of Jesus ought to be completely centered on the gospel which says God sent His Son Jesus to save me from my sin so that I could live for His good purposes from now on.
1:24 - "I do my share on behalf of the body" - WOW! What a powerful question to ask yourself. Am I only doing what others are doing or am I doing my share? My share is not dictated at all by others. I can do it whether they do theirs or not. So many times we do our fair share instead of our share. God calls us to do our share whether it is fair or not.
2:5 - "the stability of your faith in Christ." My kids and I watched Wipeout the other night for the first time and they have a challenge where the people are put on a table that spins and spins and then when it stops they have to run through a door and over some other obstacles. When people come of f the turntable they are so dizzy and disoriented that they go all over the place. God is calling us to a faith that can walk a straight line and isn't all over the place. How stable is your faith? I see many people nowadays whose faith looks a lot like a wave of the see tossed back and forth (James 1).
2:17 - "things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ." - I can confess that I have spent years trying to fill my life and ministry up with a feast of shadows when the real substance is and always has been Jesus. I need to daily review whether I am receiving substance or just things that have the faded shape and aroma of Jesus, but which do not bring Jesus. Why do we settle for the shadow when God is offering us the real thing? Maybe it is easier, but definitely not better.
2:19 - "grows with a growth which is from God." Those of us who work to help others meet and grow in Jesus need to remember that God is the orginator of growth and we are called to faithful sacrifice and service.
3:2 - "set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on earth." There is just something about the wording that really stands out to me. How much of my thinking is about things that are on the earth? Cars are on earth and so are motorcycles and sports and food and TV and movies. My thinking should be centered on the things that are not found here. That isn't to say we can;t enjoy life, because god gives us everything for our enjoyment, but we need to fix our thoughts on what is in Heaven and let God bring about the joy instead of trying to find our joy ourselves.
3:12 - I love how the NASB says to put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. It is something I have to actively do. I don’t get up in the morning and wait for my clothes to jump on me. I have to actively and willfully get dressed and the same is true here.
Love, Michael
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Philippians & Colossians
Here is what I got this time through Philippians and Colossians.
Philippians
1:6 - It is God who begins a good work in you. Sometimes we think that all the good in our lives is started or originates with us, but in reality it is God who begins this work. Some might balk at this and wonder, Well what if God hasn't started a good work in me? Here's the beauty, ask Him and He will. God has made promises that say everyone who seeks Him sincerely with all of their heart will find Him. So, if you want God to do a good work in your life sincerely approach Him and ask Him and watch His promises come alive.
1:8 - How do you see your fellow brother or sister in Christ - with affection or with something else?
1:20 - Do you have "sufficient courage" to live or die for Christ? I would word it do you have sufficient courage to die OR live because some of us would die, it is the living that seems so hard. I know some of us have courage, but do we have sufficient courage to follow all that Jesus teaches? That is the difference between a follower of Jesus and just someone interested - the courage to follow Him anywhere, anytime completely and wholeheartedly.
2:4-8 - If you want healthy relationships, whether you walk with Jesus or not, do what Jesus did. Put others first by thinking less about yourself and serve other people no matter the cost. That kind of living changed even how we calculate time.
3:8 - When Paul talks about considering everything a loss some of us might hesitate on that. You mean I should consider my job garbage? My house garbage? My family garbage? Well, yes and no. You shouldn't treat them poorly, but in view of the worth of God to you they should have so little value. Paul is saying that God should be worth more to you than all of that combined and multiplied a thousand times. He is saying God should be worth you giving every good thing up and more. The funny thing is if we would live that way God would make our jobs, marriages, .... so much better. It isn't about hating things, but loving God so much that things never have much value outside of Him.
Colossians
1:21 - You are not an enemy of God's if you are willing to come to Him in faith through Jesus. A lot of people have done things that make them think they are God's enemy, but the truth is God is willing to reconcile with any of us if we will come to Him through His Son. The only enemies of God are those who choose to reject His Son and do it on their own.
Love, Michael
Philippians
1:6 - It is God who begins a good work in you. Sometimes we think that all the good in our lives is started or originates with us, but in reality it is God who begins this work. Some might balk at this and wonder, Well what if God hasn't started a good work in me? Here's the beauty, ask Him and He will. God has made promises that say everyone who seeks Him sincerely with all of their heart will find Him. So, if you want God to do a good work in your life sincerely approach Him and ask Him and watch His promises come alive.
1:8 - How do you see your fellow brother or sister in Christ - with affection or with something else?
1:20 - Do you have "sufficient courage" to live or die for Christ? I would word it do you have sufficient courage to die OR live because some of us would die, it is the living that seems so hard. I know some of us have courage, but do we have sufficient courage to follow all that Jesus teaches? That is the difference between a follower of Jesus and just someone interested - the courage to follow Him anywhere, anytime completely and wholeheartedly.
2:4-8 - If you want healthy relationships, whether you walk with Jesus or not, do what Jesus did. Put others first by thinking less about yourself and serve other people no matter the cost. That kind of living changed even how we calculate time.
3:8 - When Paul talks about considering everything a loss some of us might hesitate on that. You mean I should consider my job garbage? My house garbage? My family garbage? Well, yes and no. You shouldn't treat them poorly, but in view of the worth of God to you they should have so little value. Paul is saying that God should be worth more to you than all of that combined and multiplied a thousand times. He is saying God should be worth you giving every good thing up and more. The funny thing is if we would live that way God would make our jobs, marriages, .... so much better. It isn't about hating things, but loving God so much that things never have much value outside of Him.
Colossians
1:21 - You are not an enemy of God's if you are willing to come to Him in faith through Jesus. A lot of people have done things that make them think they are God's enemy, but the truth is God is willing to reconcile with any of us if we will come to Him through His Son. The only enemies of God are those who choose to reject His Son and do it on their own.
Love, Michael
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Philippians
I read Philippians this morning. It is one of my favorite books of the Bible because it talks about wanting to know Jesus more than anything else. It also talks about humility, gentleness (both things I am not good at) along with contentment and peace. Here are a few of the things that stood out to me.
1:6 - God always completes what He sets out to do His love is not stopped because of our circumstances. If God begins a good work in your marriage He will bring it to completion. If He sets out to do something great through you for ministry or parenting or in your career, God will bring it to completion. I think what happens is we give up to soon. We don't get how God works and since it takes longer than we think or takes a different path than we expect we give up on God and we walk away from something He was still doing. Don;t ever give up on your marriage, your calling, your kids or your faith. Just because you don't see God moving doesn't mean He isn't. He has made a promise and God always keeps His promises.
1:20 - I am a firm believer that you get what you expect and long for. I don't mean in some karma kind of way. I just think that if you long for healing you are motivated to work and sacrifice for it. If you long for financial security you live wiser. So, here Paul says he eagerly expects and hopes for Jesus. I bet if I eagerly expected and hoped for Jesus I would see Him more.....because I would be looking. The God of the Bible longs to reveal Himself to us, but so many of us aren't looking and then we wonder if He is really there.
2:14-16 - Grumblers and complainers DO NOT shine. You can't be the light of the world and complain or grumble. Complaining and grumbling are clouds that block the full effect of the sun and the Son.
3:1 -Paul says that rejoicing is a safeguard for your heart. When you rejoice you protect your heart against decay and despair. Surely there is something in your life to celebrate - your wife, your kids, your friend, a God who loves you even when you would rather not think about Him.
3:13 - To move forward in Christ you have to forget what is in your past and use that energy to strive towards Christ. How many of our marriages are suffering because the energy we should be using to love each other is instead being wasted mulling over hurts from the past? How far forward could you get today with God if you left the past and used that mental and emotional energy to seek Him. God longs for us to find Him, but so many of us are drained from remembering the hurts and failures of the past. Let Go! God has already.
3:16 - CHRISTIANS - "Only let us live up to what we have already attained." Let's live the life that Christ called us to and live up to who we are supposed to be and many who are outside of Christ would begin to believe. We so often live down to what is happening around us and it isn't right. The friends that you have that do not know Jesus need you to live up to the life you are called to so they can begin to see what it looks like.
4:10-13 - The secret to contentment according to the Bible is to trust God for everything you need. We are discontent because we don't believe God will or has given us enough. If we would find satisfaction in what we already had been given we would have a lot more time and energy to love those who are hurting, lost and in need of grace.
Just a few of the many thoughts that popped up this morning. Hope they bless someone.
Michael
1:6 - God always completes what He sets out to do His love is not stopped because of our circumstances. If God begins a good work in your marriage He will bring it to completion. If He sets out to do something great through you for ministry or parenting or in your career, God will bring it to completion. I think what happens is we give up to soon. We don't get how God works and since it takes longer than we think or takes a different path than we expect we give up on God and we walk away from something He was still doing. Don;t ever give up on your marriage, your calling, your kids or your faith. Just because you don't see God moving doesn't mean He isn't. He has made a promise and God always keeps His promises.
1:20 - I am a firm believer that you get what you expect and long for. I don't mean in some karma kind of way. I just think that if you long for healing you are motivated to work and sacrifice for it. If you long for financial security you live wiser. So, here Paul says he eagerly expects and hopes for Jesus. I bet if I eagerly expected and hoped for Jesus I would see Him more.....because I would be looking. The God of the Bible longs to reveal Himself to us, but so many of us aren't looking and then we wonder if He is really there.
2:14-16 - Grumblers and complainers DO NOT shine. You can't be the light of the world and complain or grumble. Complaining and grumbling are clouds that block the full effect of the sun and the Son.
3:1 -Paul says that rejoicing is a safeguard for your heart. When you rejoice you protect your heart against decay and despair. Surely there is something in your life to celebrate - your wife, your kids, your friend, a God who loves you even when you would rather not think about Him.
3:13 - To move forward in Christ you have to forget what is in your past and use that energy to strive towards Christ. How many of our marriages are suffering because the energy we should be using to love each other is instead being wasted mulling over hurts from the past? How far forward could you get today with God if you left the past and used that mental and emotional energy to seek Him. God longs for us to find Him, but so many of us are drained from remembering the hurts and failures of the past. Let Go! God has already.
3:16 - CHRISTIANS - "Only let us live up to what we have already attained." Let's live the life that Christ called us to and live up to who we are supposed to be and many who are outside of Christ would begin to believe. We so often live down to what is happening around us and it isn't right. The friends that you have that do not know Jesus need you to live up to the life you are called to so they can begin to see what it looks like.
4:10-13 - The secret to contentment according to the Bible is to trust God for everything you need. We are discontent because we don't believe God will or has given us enough. If we would find satisfaction in what we already had been given we would have a lot more time and energy to love those who are hurting, lost and in need of grace.
Just a few of the many thoughts that popped up this morning. Hope they bless someone.
Michael
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
1 Timothy & 2 Timothy
These are each from 1 Timothy
1:5 - I need to focus on a life and a ministry that has three things:
1) a pure heart
2) a good conscience
3) a sincere faith
2:4 - God's desire is for all people to be saved AND come to a knowledge of the truth. At least from where I sit we have done a decent job of communicating that God wants to save all people, but we haven't spent much effort helping those people come to a knowledge of the truth. As The Oasis, we see people make decisions for Christ and then flounder because we haven't done a good job of raising them up in a knowledge of the truth.
3:15 - The Church is the pillar and foundation of the truth. WOW!!! I have never seen it that way. the Church is where truth begins and to live apart from the church is to live apart from the foundation of truth. How many people do you know who try to be Christian apart from the Church because they don't like what they see in the Church? Their faith suffers when they are apart from the Church. They need to become a positive force to change things, but you have to be with people to realy be heard. The guy that rails against your family from outside is not heard the same way as the person who cries out from inside.
4:12 - Timothy was called to set an example in:
- speech
- conduct
- love
- faith
-purity
Isn't it funny how we choose one or two from the list instead of excelling at all of them.
5:25 - Good deeds are obvious!!
1:5 - I need to focus on a life and a ministry that has three things:
1) a pure heart
2) a good conscience
3) a sincere faith
2:4 - God's desire is for all people to be saved AND come to a knowledge of the truth. At least from where I sit we have done a decent job of communicating that God wants to save all people, but we haven't spent much effort helping those people come to a knowledge of the truth. As The Oasis, we see people make decisions for Christ and then flounder because we haven't done a good job of raising them up in a knowledge of the truth.
3:15 - The Church is the pillar and foundation of the truth. WOW!!! I have never seen it that way. the Church is where truth begins and to live apart from the church is to live apart from the foundation of truth. How many people do you know who try to be Christian apart from the Church because they don't like what they see in the Church? Their faith suffers when they are apart from the Church. They need to become a positive force to change things, but you have to be with people to realy be heard. The guy that rails against your family from outside is not heard the same way as the person who cries out from inside.
4:12 - Timothy was called to set an example in:
- speech
- conduct
- love
- faith
-purity
Isn't it funny how we choose one or two from the list instead of excelling at all of them.
5:25 - Good deeds are obvious!!
Something That Works
Recently I began reading and studying the Bible very differently than I ever have before. For years I have read the Bible regularly and for the past several years I have recorded thoughts and questions from what I am reading. Recently I have begun to do something a little different. Instead of plowing through a book of the Bible or several chapters I started reading and rereading a passage or book over and over again for several days at a time. It has amazed me how much more depth there is to what I am reading. The thrid and fourth time through I am seeing things I never saw before or phrases and thoughts that seem stronger that I kind of glazed over the first few times through. This has led me to some good growth in my faith and so I want to share it with you.
I will be posting what I get from what I am reading in the Bible as often as I can. I will also be posting any thoughts or themes that God brings up in my heart and mind. So, for those of you who are interested here we go. Feel free to comment. I am still trying to figure out how this blogging thing works, so if I don't respond back it might be because I am more like a gorilla than a tech when it comes to computers.
Hope someting here will help your faith in Jesus and His word grow.
I will be posting what I get from what I am reading in the Bible as often as I can. I will also be posting any thoughts or themes that God brings up in my heart and mind. So, for those of you who are interested here we go. Feel free to comment. I am still trying to figure out how this blogging thing works, so if I don't respond back it might be because I am more like a gorilla than a tech when it comes to computers.
Hope someting here will help your faith in Jesus and His word grow.
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