Heb. 12:1-3
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls
What are we to do?
Verse 2, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, we will keep our eyes on Jesus and we will be confident in our Savior and know without a doubt that He is and will be faithful to us. Look at Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
Continuing with verse 2… who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Not long ago I was having my quiet time and meditating on these verses and God whispered over me that I was His joy. You and I are the Joy that was set before Jesus. In essence Jesus is saying, “You are worth what I endured on the cross, you are worth the shame I endured.” Girls, that thought should set our hearts on fire for Jesus, to realize how much we are wanted and loved by our Lord. Don’t believe me? Look at Eph. 1:3-6 from the Message translation; “How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.
Let’s continue with verse 2… and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jesus is now seated at the right hand of God and according to Hebrews 7:25 He is praying for us. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Know that right now no matter what you are going through, be it pain, joy, anticipation, expectancy, heartbreak, unsureness, no matter what, Jesus sees, He knows, and He is interceding for you.
Imagine Jesus turning to the Father and saying, “My joy is hurting today. My joy needs direction today…”
Never forget that you are the joy that was set before Jesus, when He went to the cross your face and your name were there in His thoughts because He loves you dearly.
No matter how you get tripped up with the weight or sin that comes up to make you fail – look to Jesus – He’s praying for you, He is rooting for you because He wants you to succeed.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
The Beginning for us!!!!
Heb. 12:1-3
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls
Verse 1:
Remember when you see the word “therefore” ask yourself, “what is that ‘therefore’ there for?” It prompts you to go back and review what was said before (Hebrews 10:15-11:40).
Take these verses to heart and let yourself be immersed by them, surrounded, so that at every turn you say and will realize by experience: that I am constantly and presently in the presence of the living God and that I will walk by faith just as Moses did, trusting God, believing He knows what is best and will supply. I will keep right on going because God IS right here with me. And it was because he trusted God that he left the land of Egypt and wasn’t afraid of the king’s anger. Moses kept right on going it seems as tho’ he could see God right there with him. Heb. 11:27 the Living Bible.
Continuing with Heb. 12:1 since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses. This refers to those in chapter 11, each one of these people give witness to the value and blessing of living by faith. These who are considered the “great cloud of witnesses” should encourage us to live the same life of faith.
…let us lay aside every weight… Let’s have fun girls! What is the every weight that you need to lay aside? Think about it and pray about it. Ask God to lead you to resources that will help you accomplish His goals for you. Just for example: what if God says change your way of doing things, like; no more pop tarts in the car on your way to work instead you’ll have a glass of juice, an apple and yogurt. (This is just a suggestion for the too busy to sit down to eat breakfast) Maybe we need to be planning our meals, snacks, and exercising so that we are prepared.
“It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret”
Jackie Joyner-Kersee
… And the sin which so easily ensnares us… We must pray about anything that hinders our relationship with the Lord. Why? Well for one, I want my prayers answered; I want to know that God hears me. Psalm 66:18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. (NIV) Stay in the Word and stay in prayer, God will make evident anything that needs to be confessed and repented of so that we live in freedom.
What if God calls you to healthy choices and healthy living and in the process you lose weight. I believe God always goes for the better for you – 1st and as we are obedient to get alone with Him and listen and obey the benefit very well may be the desire of your heart.
For example He leads you to start toning with weights 3 times a week for 12 minutes each time and walking or some type of aerobic exercise for 30 minutes 3 times a week. And He emphasizes a healthy diet; 5 fruits and vegetables etc., for me the Lord has told me to increase my fiber and watch saturated fats and cut out sugar – make that 90% of sugar:)
This is just an example. I am not going to tell you what to do, every one is different and what works for one may not work for the other. There is so much info out there, look up what interests you then share so that we can build one another up. Also think of things we could do together – we could meet one or two nights during the month and walk around the church, praying for the church, our pastor, the spread of the Gospel. It’s just a thought. Whatever you think of share it either in class or on this blog.
Pray about the weight that you need to lay aside and the sin that so easily ensnares you. Things should be popping into your head. Lay them aside; they are only slowing you down, tripping you up. Maybe it’s your thought life, unforgiveness, too much to do, too much worrying, lack of commitment, planning, motivation, I could on and on. Make a commitment to exercise and making right food choices.
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls
Verse 1:
Remember when you see the word “therefore” ask yourself, “what is that ‘therefore’ there for?” It prompts you to go back and review what was said before (Hebrews 10:15-11:40).
Take these verses to heart and let yourself be immersed by them, surrounded, so that at every turn you say and will realize by experience: that I am constantly and presently in the presence of the living God and that I will walk by faith just as Moses did, trusting God, believing He knows what is best and will supply. I will keep right on going because God IS right here with me. And it was because he trusted God that he left the land of Egypt and wasn’t afraid of the king’s anger. Moses kept right on going it seems as tho’ he could see God right there with him. Heb. 11:27 the Living Bible.
Continuing with Heb. 12:1 since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses. This refers to those in chapter 11, each one of these people give witness to the value and blessing of living by faith. These who are considered the “great cloud of witnesses” should encourage us to live the same life of faith.
…let us lay aside every weight… Let’s have fun girls! What is the every weight that you need to lay aside? Think about it and pray about it. Ask God to lead you to resources that will help you accomplish His goals for you. Just for example: what if God says change your way of doing things, like; no more pop tarts in the car on your way to work instead you’ll have a glass of juice, an apple and yogurt. (This is just a suggestion for the too busy to sit down to eat breakfast) Maybe we need to be planning our meals, snacks, and exercising so that we are prepared.
“It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret”
Jackie Joyner-Kersee
… And the sin which so easily ensnares us… We must pray about anything that hinders our relationship with the Lord. Why? Well for one, I want my prayers answered; I want to know that God hears me. Psalm 66:18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. (NIV) Stay in the Word and stay in prayer, God will make evident anything that needs to be confessed and repented of so that we live in freedom.
What if God calls you to healthy choices and healthy living and in the process you lose weight. I believe God always goes for the better for you – 1st and as we are obedient to get alone with Him and listen and obey the benefit very well may be the desire of your heart.
For example He leads you to start toning with weights 3 times a week for 12 minutes each time and walking or some type of aerobic exercise for 30 minutes 3 times a week. And He emphasizes a healthy diet; 5 fruits and vegetables etc., for me the Lord has told me to increase my fiber and watch saturated fats and cut out sugar – make that 90% of sugar:)
This is just an example. I am not going to tell you what to do, every one is different and what works for one may not work for the other. There is so much info out there, look up what interests you then share so that we can build one another up. Also think of things we could do together – we could meet one or two nights during the month and walk around the church, praying for the church, our pastor, the spread of the Gospel. It’s just a thought. Whatever you think of share it either in class or on this blog.
Pray about the weight that you need to lay aside and the sin that so easily ensnares you. Things should be popping into your head. Lay them aside; they are only slowing you down, tripping you up. Maybe it’s your thought life, unforgiveness, too much to do, too much worrying, lack of commitment, planning, motivation, I could on and on. Make a commitment to exercise and making right food choices.
The first of the beginning...
The following devotions are taken from the Sunday School lessons I am doing with my class. They are designed to help us think before we eat, we are calling them "weight devotions" but they are more than that...as always the goal is to grow closer to Jesus through the study of His word and in the process the physical will line up with the Spiritual.
These devotions and what goes along with it is not necessarily about losing weight but about being healthy first. What I pray for us is this: Lord, fill us with a love for You and Your word, thrill us with Your presence, Oh Holy God, to want you more than anything or anyone else.”
That said we will focus on God’s word first and foremost. Why?
You feed on the Word of God, seeking His presence, wanting His wisdom, and then you will know His voice and clearly know His direction.
Feed on magazines, TV, the internet, face book etc, and you’ll know the world’s way which in turn keeps you focused on you, your problems and not your source of life – Jesus!
Feed on the Word of God and you’ll be spiritually healthy – feed on healthy food and you’ll be physically healthy.
Feed on the world’s stuff and junk food you will not be healthy long.
These devotions and what goes along with it is not necessarily about losing weight but about being healthy first. What I pray for us is this: Lord, fill us with a love for You and Your word, thrill us with Your presence, Oh Holy God, to want you more than anything or anyone else.”
That said we will focus on God’s word first and foremost. Why?
You feed on the Word of God, seeking His presence, wanting His wisdom, and then you will know His voice and clearly know His direction.
Feed on magazines, TV, the internet, face book etc, and you’ll know the world’s way which in turn keeps you focused on you, your problems and not your source of life – Jesus!
Feed on the Word of God and you’ll be spiritually healthy – feed on healthy food and you’ll be physically healthy.
Feed on the world’s stuff and junk food you will not be healthy long.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Trials Will Come - Part 2
Let’s go a step further:
Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
God will not keep us, His children immune from adversity and trouble. Look at the whole of verse 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Yet He goes on to say in verse 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. He calls us “more than conquerors”; we are super-victors in the midst of our troubles. NOT because of our own ingenuity, or because of our courage but because not one of them effects our essential relationship with God in Jesus Christ.
Read verses 38-39 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So far:
WE WILL WAIT – and get God’s best
WE WILL STAY FOCUSED – and grow spiritually
WE WILL BE VICTORIOUS – because nothing can separate us from Jesus
How will we be victorious? Look at Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Being Christ’s disciple we must make our relationship with God the dominating focus of our life. Oswald Chambers said: be cautiously carefree about everything else in comparison with that.
How do we wait? How do we stay focused? How do we remain victorious? By making the greatest concern of our life Jesus Christ. We place our relationship with God first and everything else second. That is why the Word of God will be first with these devotions. And living a devoted life to and for God means that His Word is first. Nothing can be done in our own power (well, it can but is it best?) our own self-reliance must be put to death by the power of God. We have to get over things like, “well this is the way I’ve always done it”; or what’s wrong with it type thinking. Look at Phil. 1:10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ. When engaging in any activity ask yourself, “what is excellent about it?” rather than, “what’s wrong with it?”
The moment we recognize our own complete weakness and our total dependence on Him that will be the very moment that the Spirit of God exhibits His power.
WE WILL
WAIT
FOCUS
WIN
VIA SEEING AND TOTAL DEPENDENCE
Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
God will not keep us, His children immune from adversity and trouble. Look at the whole of verse 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Yet He goes on to say in verse 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. He calls us “more than conquerors”; we are super-victors in the midst of our troubles. NOT because of our own ingenuity, or because of our courage but because not one of them effects our essential relationship with God in Jesus Christ.
Read verses 38-39 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So far:
WE WILL WAIT – and get God’s best
WE WILL STAY FOCUSED – and grow spiritually
WE WILL BE VICTORIOUS – because nothing can separate us from Jesus
How will we be victorious? Look at Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Being Christ’s disciple we must make our relationship with God the dominating focus of our life. Oswald Chambers said: be cautiously carefree about everything else in comparison with that.
How do we wait? How do we stay focused? How do we remain victorious? By making the greatest concern of our life Jesus Christ. We place our relationship with God first and everything else second. That is why the Word of God will be first with these devotions. And living a devoted life to and for God means that His Word is first. Nothing can be done in our own power (well, it can but is it best?) our own self-reliance must be put to death by the power of God. We have to get over things like, “well this is the way I’ve always done it”; or what’s wrong with it type thinking. Look at Phil. 1:10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ. When engaging in any activity ask yourself, “what is excellent about it?” rather than, “what’s wrong with it?”
The moment we recognize our own complete weakness and our total dependence on Him that will be the very moment that the Spirit of God exhibits His power.
WE WILL
WAIT
FOCUS
WIN
VIA SEEING AND TOTAL DEPENDENCE
Monday, July 26, 2010
Trials Will Come - Part 1
Trials will come but how we respond to them – that is paramount.
Are we going to trust God even though it looks as if He is unconcerned? Or are we going to move ahead with what we think is best even though we have little peace. We can muster up some peace so that we can justify our decision to go ahead of God.
Matt 6:26-28
Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin
Look at the birds of the air…
Consider the lilies of the field…
God knows your circumstances. I know what you are thinking; really? Really? He knows? Yes, He does. You are verse 26 of more value than they. Here is our problem; we “see” nothing. It feels like God is doing nothing. Either way, we must stay focused on Him and not our circumstances. How aware are you of the Lord’s presence? Are you worrying less because you are thinking more about His sovereignty? Are your fears receding as you consciously believe in His protection and all-sufficiency?
Here’s the thing – you will grow spiritually, just as the lily of the fields grow. We can look at different scenarios of the lily from our point of view: we pick up our green leaves, we pull and pull till the roots come up from the ground and we go on our own. What happens as a result? We will turn brown and wither; we must stay grounded in the Word and presence of God so that we are clothed with His splendor. Sometimes we feel like we are constantly being crushed by huge feet.
So what are we going to do?
WE WILL WAIT – and get God’s best
WE WILL STAY FOCUSED – and grow spiritually
Are we going to trust God even though it looks as if He is unconcerned? Or are we going to move ahead with what we think is best even though we have little peace. We can muster up some peace so that we can justify our decision to go ahead of God.
Matt 6:26-28
Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin
Look at the birds of the air…
Consider the lilies of the field…
God knows your circumstances. I know what you are thinking; really? Really? He knows? Yes, He does. You are verse 26 of more value than they. Here is our problem; we “see” nothing. It feels like God is doing nothing. Either way, we must stay focused on Him and not our circumstances. How aware are you of the Lord’s presence? Are you worrying less because you are thinking more about His sovereignty? Are your fears receding as you consciously believe in His protection and all-sufficiency?
Here’s the thing – you will grow spiritually, just as the lily of the fields grow. We can look at different scenarios of the lily from our point of view: we pick up our green leaves, we pull and pull till the roots come up from the ground and we go on our own. What happens as a result? We will turn brown and wither; we must stay grounded in the Word and presence of God so that we are clothed with His splendor. Sometimes we feel like we are constantly being crushed by huge feet.
So what are we going to do?
WE WILL WAIT – and get God’s best
WE WILL STAY FOCUSED – and grow spiritually
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Take Goliath Down by Max Lucado
Goliaths still roam our world. Debt. Disaster. Dialysis. Danger. Deceit. Disease. Depression. Super-size challenges still swagger and strut, still pilfer sleep and embezzle peace and liposuction joy. But they can’t dominate you. You know how to deal with them. You face giants by facing God first.
Focus on giants—you stumble.
Focus on God—your giants tumble.
You know what David knew, and you do what David did. You pick up five stones, and you make five decisions. Ever wonder why David took five stones into battle? Why not two or twenty? Rereading his story reveals five answers. Use your five fingers to remind you of the five stones you need to face down your Goliath. Let your thumb remind you of …
1. THE STONE OF THE PASTGoliath jogged David’s memory. Elah was a déjà vu. While everyone else quivered, David remembered. God had given him strength to wrestle a lion and strong-arm a bear. Wouldn’t he do the same with the giant? A good memory makes heroes.
“Remember His marvelous works which He has done” (1 Chron. 16:12). Catalog God’s successes. Keep a list of his world records. Has he not walked you through high waters? Proven to be faithful? Have you not known his provision? How many nights have you gone to bed hungry? Mornings awakened in the cold? He has made roadkill out of your enemies. Write today’s worries in sand. Chisel yesterday’s victories in stone. Pick up the stone of the past. Then select …
2. THE STONE OF PRAYERNote the valley between your thumb and finger. To pass from one to the next you must go through it. Let it remind you of David’s descent. Before going high, David went low; before ascending to fight, David descended to prepare. Don’t face your giant without first doing the same. Dedicate time to prayer. Paul, the apostle, wrote, “Prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long” (Eph. 6:18 MSG).
Prayer spawned David’s successes. His Brook Besor wisdom grew out of the moment he “strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (1 Sam. 30:6). When Saul’s soldiers tried to capture him, David turned toward God: “You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble” (Ps. 59:16).
Invite God’s help. Pick up the stone of prayer. And don’t neglect …
3. THE STONE OF PRIORITYLet your tallest finger remind you of your highest priority: God’s reputation. David jealously guarded it. No one was going to defame his Lord. David fought so that “all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s” (1 Sam. 17:46–47).
David saw Goliath as a chance for God to show off! Did David know he would exit the battle alive? No. But he was willing to give his life for the reputation of God.
What if you saw your giant in the same manner? Rather than begrudge him, welcome him. Your cancer is God’s chance to flex his healing muscles. Your sin is God’s opportunity to showcase grace. Your struggling marriage can billboard God’s power. See your struggle as God’s canvas. On it he will paint his multicolored supremacy. Announce God’s name and then reach for …
4. THE STONE OF PASSION David ran, not away from, but toward his giant. On one side of the battlefield, Saul and his cowardly army gulped. On the other, Goliath and his skull-splitters scoffed. In the middle, the shepherd boy ran on his spindly legs. Who bet on David? Who put money on the kid from Bethlehem? Not the Philistines. Not the Hebrews. Not David’s siblings or David’s king. But God did.
And since God did, and since David knew God did, the skinny runt became a blur of pumping knees and a swirling sling. He ran toward his giant.
Do the same!
Let your ring finger remind you to take up the stone of passion.
One more stone, and finger, remains:
5. THE STONE OF PERSISTENCEDavid didn’t think one rock would do. He knew Goliath had four behemoth relatives. For all David knew, they’d come running over the hill to defend their kin. David was ready to empty the chamber if that’s what it took.
Imitate him. Never give up. One prayer might not be enough. One apology might not do it. One day or month of resolve might not suffice. You may get knocked down a time or two … but don’t quit. Keep loading the rocks. Keep swinging the sling.
David took five stones. He made five decisions. Do likewise. Past. Prayer. Priority. Passion. And persistence.
Next time Goliath wakes you up, reach for a stone. Odds are, he’ll be out of the room before you can load your sling.
From Facing Your GiantsCopyright (Thomas Nelson, 2005) Max Lucado
Focus on giants—you stumble.
Focus on God—your giants tumble.
You know what David knew, and you do what David did. You pick up five stones, and you make five decisions. Ever wonder why David took five stones into battle? Why not two or twenty? Rereading his story reveals five answers. Use your five fingers to remind you of the five stones you need to face down your Goliath. Let your thumb remind you of …
1. THE STONE OF THE PASTGoliath jogged David’s memory. Elah was a déjà vu. While everyone else quivered, David remembered. God had given him strength to wrestle a lion and strong-arm a bear. Wouldn’t he do the same with the giant? A good memory makes heroes.
“Remember His marvelous works which He has done” (1 Chron. 16:12). Catalog God’s successes. Keep a list of his world records. Has he not walked you through high waters? Proven to be faithful? Have you not known his provision? How many nights have you gone to bed hungry? Mornings awakened in the cold? He has made roadkill out of your enemies. Write today’s worries in sand. Chisel yesterday’s victories in stone. Pick up the stone of the past. Then select …
2. THE STONE OF PRAYERNote the valley between your thumb and finger. To pass from one to the next you must go through it. Let it remind you of David’s descent. Before going high, David went low; before ascending to fight, David descended to prepare. Don’t face your giant without first doing the same. Dedicate time to prayer. Paul, the apostle, wrote, “Prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long” (Eph. 6:18 MSG).
Prayer spawned David’s successes. His Brook Besor wisdom grew out of the moment he “strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (1 Sam. 30:6). When Saul’s soldiers tried to capture him, David turned toward God: “You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble” (Ps. 59:16).
Invite God’s help. Pick up the stone of prayer. And don’t neglect …
3. THE STONE OF PRIORITYLet your tallest finger remind you of your highest priority: God’s reputation. David jealously guarded it. No one was going to defame his Lord. David fought so that “all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s” (1 Sam. 17:46–47).
David saw Goliath as a chance for God to show off! Did David know he would exit the battle alive? No. But he was willing to give his life for the reputation of God.
What if you saw your giant in the same manner? Rather than begrudge him, welcome him. Your cancer is God’s chance to flex his healing muscles. Your sin is God’s opportunity to showcase grace. Your struggling marriage can billboard God’s power. See your struggle as God’s canvas. On it he will paint his multicolored supremacy. Announce God’s name and then reach for …
4. THE STONE OF PASSION David ran, not away from, but toward his giant. On one side of the battlefield, Saul and his cowardly army gulped. On the other, Goliath and his skull-splitters scoffed. In the middle, the shepherd boy ran on his spindly legs. Who bet on David? Who put money on the kid from Bethlehem? Not the Philistines. Not the Hebrews. Not David’s siblings or David’s king. But God did.
And since God did, and since David knew God did, the skinny runt became a blur of pumping knees and a swirling sling. He ran toward his giant.
Do the same!
Let your ring finger remind you to take up the stone of passion.
One more stone, and finger, remains:
5. THE STONE OF PERSISTENCEDavid didn’t think one rock would do. He knew Goliath had four behemoth relatives. For all David knew, they’d come running over the hill to defend their kin. David was ready to empty the chamber if that’s what it took.
Imitate him. Never give up. One prayer might not be enough. One apology might not do it. One day or month of resolve might not suffice. You may get knocked down a time or two … but don’t quit. Keep loading the rocks. Keep swinging the sling.
David took five stones. He made five decisions. Do likewise. Past. Prayer. Priority. Passion. And persistence.
Next time Goliath wakes you up, reach for a stone. Odds are, he’ll be out of the room before you can load your sling.
From Facing Your GiantsCopyright (Thomas Nelson, 2005) Max Lucado
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Vanilla Lies
You didn't think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard? Or did you think that because he's such a nice God, he'd let you off the hook? Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but he's not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change. Romans 2:3-4 (the Message)
I challenge you to go back and read Romans 1 to get a view of chapter 2. The people in the church that Paul is writing to think that they are better off than the people Paul refers to in chapter one. But Paul makes it clear God sees all sin and no sin has a degree of worstness - sin is sin - period.
I was with a friend working out and she was telling me about a conversation she had with her mom and then she said, "I didn't want my mom to know the whole truth so I told her a vanilla lie." I said, "what is a vanilla lie?" She said a vanilla lie is the truth told in a different way. Like how I wanted to know, I mean I might need this information for future vanillas I might need to tell, I mean to tell someone the truth but a little different could work for my benefit. So I told my friend to explain it to me. She just looked at me (if I can presume to know what she was thinking it would be; really Jackie, you really need me to explain vanilla and lie to you) so I began to prompt her with questions:
So a vanilla lie is really the truth? She answered, "not really."
So it's a lie? She said "well, no."
If it is not the truth then it has to be a lie. My friend got mad at me because somewhere along the way she had started to believe that a little lie was ok as long as you justified it as vanilla. I guess vanilla means not murder, not getting drunk or doing drugs, not....
Sin is sin, Jesus' blood covers it all. If you are desiring to know God and wanting a closer walk with Him, and you feel like He is dealing with something that does not seem all that important to you, yet He keeps bringing it up, deal with it; He has a purpose and He will not let you live in sin or any lifestyle that will harm you. He sees the future, you do not, that is just another reason to trust Him. Let God lead you into a radical life-change.
My brother-in-law had a heart attack about a week ago and he's been told if it tastes good, spit it out. Hear God say to you, "Child, if it has the word vanilla attached to lie, it is not a sweet tasting lie, it's a lie, spit it out, don't' continue in sin, walk in purity."
God loves us too much to let us live lives that hinder us from walking in the freedom that He so richly purchased for us through the blood of His Son.
I challenge you to go back and read Romans 1 to get a view of chapter 2. The people in the church that Paul is writing to think that they are better off than the people Paul refers to in chapter one. But Paul makes it clear God sees all sin and no sin has a degree of worstness - sin is sin - period.
I was with a friend working out and she was telling me about a conversation she had with her mom and then she said, "I didn't want my mom to know the whole truth so I told her a vanilla lie." I said, "what is a vanilla lie?" She said a vanilla lie is the truth told in a different way. Like how I wanted to know, I mean I might need this information for future vanillas I might need to tell, I mean to tell someone the truth but a little different could work for my benefit. So I told my friend to explain it to me. She just looked at me (if I can presume to know what she was thinking it would be; really Jackie, you really need me to explain vanilla and lie to you) so I began to prompt her with questions:
So a vanilla lie is really the truth? She answered, "not really."
So it's a lie? She said "well, no."
If it is not the truth then it has to be a lie. My friend got mad at me because somewhere along the way she had started to believe that a little lie was ok as long as you justified it as vanilla. I guess vanilla means not murder, not getting drunk or doing drugs, not....
Sin is sin, Jesus' blood covers it all. If you are desiring to know God and wanting a closer walk with Him, and you feel like He is dealing with something that does not seem all that important to you, yet He keeps bringing it up, deal with it; He has a purpose and He will not let you live in sin or any lifestyle that will harm you. He sees the future, you do not, that is just another reason to trust Him. Let God lead you into a radical life-change.
My brother-in-law had a heart attack about a week ago and he's been told if it tastes good, spit it out. Hear God say to you, "Child, if it has the word vanilla attached to lie, it is not a sweet tasting lie, it's a lie, spit it out, don't' continue in sin, walk in purity."
God loves us too much to let us live lives that hinder us from walking in the freedom that He so richly purchased for us through the blood of His Son.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
New Name
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”’ Rev. 2:17
Years ago we were living in Alabama and I knew that God had told me that He would sell our business and move us back to South Carolina. I remember the day God confirmed the "yes, I will do this" and that just filled me with great anticipation. A year and a half goes by and nothing happens, and I began to really talk to the Lord about it and sometimes I would whine and complain.
One particular day I just couldn't sit down to have my quiet time early, there were just too many interruptions and things that had to be done; like taking customers home because we had their car, picking up parts for the business, doing what my husband wanted because he thinks he is the boss of me :) As I go about the day I am talking to the Lord about how I "see" Him doing nothing and even questioning Him about the thing He has promised to do. I would remind God that it was He who had planted the idea in my heart about the business selling and that He would have to do it or it wouldn't be done. I'm telling you on this day that was my main conversation with the Lord, so much so that I began to say after each part of the conversation, "Lord, I know I'm bugging You about this but I just really need to be reaffirmed in this." Over and over I'd state my case and then say, "I'm sorry for bugging You about this Father."
Finally about two o'clock I sat down in the recliner, with my Bible, my journal, and a listening heart and told the Lord I really wanted to hear from Him and I reminded Him that we only had about 30 minutes before I had to pick up Claudia from school. I opened my Bible and began to read Revelation 2 and when I got to verse 17 I stopped so intrigued. I began to talk to the Lord about my new name, "What is my new name going to be, I know I can't know now but could you just give me a hint?" I got quiet, listening, and then I heard the Holy Spirit say, "Pest." My eyes got huge and I said "what!" And I knew God was laughing, having fun with me, because of the way my day had gone and my constant talking to Him about the same thing - bugging Him.
God is so huge and you can trust Him with every aspect of your life. Be determined to know Him through consistent times alone with Him, in the Word, pouring out your heart to Him. You will begin to have a camaraderie with Him and live in anticipation of being with Him and that is the best part of your life.
Years ago we were living in Alabama and I knew that God had told me that He would sell our business and move us back to South Carolina. I remember the day God confirmed the "yes, I will do this" and that just filled me with great anticipation. A year and a half goes by and nothing happens, and I began to really talk to the Lord about it and sometimes I would whine and complain.
One particular day I just couldn't sit down to have my quiet time early, there were just too many interruptions and things that had to be done; like taking customers home because we had their car, picking up parts for the business, doing what my husband wanted because he thinks he is the boss of me :) As I go about the day I am talking to the Lord about how I "see" Him doing nothing and even questioning Him about the thing He has promised to do. I would remind God that it was He who had planted the idea in my heart about the business selling and that He would have to do it or it wouldn't be done. I'm telling you on this day that was my main conversation with the Lord, so much so that I began to say after each part of the conversation, "Lord, I know I'm bugging You about this but I just really need to be reaffirmed in this." Over and over I'd state my case and then say, "I'm sorry for bugging You about this Father."
Finally about two o'clock I sat down in the recliner, with my Bible, my journal, and a listening heart and told the Lord I really wanted to hear from Him and I reminded Him that we only had about 30 minutes before I had to pick up Claudia from school. I opened my Bible and began to read Revelation 2 and when I got to verse 17 I stopped so intrigued. I began to talk to the Lord about my new name, "What is my new name going to be, I know I can't know now but could you just give me a hint?" I got quiet, listening, and then I heard the Holy Spirit say, "Pest." My eyes got huge and I said "what!" And I knew God was laughing, having fun with me, because of the way my day had gone and my constant talking to Him about the same thing - bugging Him.
God is so huge and you can trust Him with every aspect of your life. Be determined to know Him through consistent times alone with Him, in the Word, pouring out your heart to Him. You will begin to have a camaraderie with Him and live in anticipation of being with Him and that is the best part of your life.
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