With great sadness, I am ending my blogging tonight. 12thirty was a great experience for me as it helped me get back to where I needed to be. However, in the past couple of weeks, it didn't seem like it was time well committed. I found myself posting 2 or 3 posts a night to catch up.
As school begins, I know I won't have as much time to commit to logging on and blogging something every day. I am however making efforts to make a commitment to steer this devotional aspect in a different direction.
I am continuing my exercise plan, but I am mostly running with my XC kids now (which is meeting my time and mileage). I find myself doubling up on distance and time quite often.
No one will probably ever read this...if they don't, I am completely fine with it. There was growth in this project for me. I hope you find growth as well!
-12Thirty Out
8.15.2011
8.06.2011
August 05 - Checkpoint
I took today off since I doubled up yesterday with my XC kids. I am going to attempt to track my progress up to this point in the year:
Miles Estimated: 366
Minutes: 2,933 Minutes
Days Missed: 2
Honestly, that made my head hurt. I don't miss school...as a student or as a teacher!
Miles Estimated: 366
Minutes: 2,933 Minutes
Days Missed: 2
Honestly, that made my head hurt. I don't miss school...as a student or as a teacher!
August 3 - Lips
Proverbs 13:3
3 He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.
Check your words at the gate before they get out and cause damage. You might not be able to get those dogs back!
3 He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.
Check your words at the gate before they get out and cause damage. You might not be able to get those dogs back!
8.03.2011
August 2 - Halvsies
"Belief in Jesus Christ is total identity with Him. There is no such thing as partial belief or partial salvation. A person who does not totally commit himself to Christ disbelieves in Him, no matter how many positive things he may have to say about Him".
- John MacArthur
- John MacArthur
August 1 - Endings
Take a look at Malachi 4. These are the last words of the Old Testament. I believe there is a saying that fits nicely here:
Last, but not least...
July 31 - Precipitation
Jeremiah 14:22
22 Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies themselves send down showers? No, it is you, O Lord our God. Therefore our hope is in you, for you are the one who does all this.
Jeremiah was right on with this verse (as well as others of course). We, just as the people in Judah in 600 B.C., are busy working our fingers or staring at our idols. TV, media, video games, coffee shops, ATM's, high end sports cars, multi-million dollar homes...they all have one thing in common: they are worthless. In the end, those idols will not be there for us. Our homes won't save us. Our money won't heal us. There is one and only one God that is reliable, dependable and everything you need in life.
Our hope should be in God...not the empty things of this world.
22 Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies themselves send down showers? No, it is you, O Lord our God. Therefore our hope is in you, for you are the one who does all this.
Jeremiah was right on with this verse (as well as others of course). We, just as the people in Judah in 600 B.C., are busy working our fingers or staring at our idols. TV, media, video games, coffee shops, ATM's, high end sports cars, multi-million dollar homes...they all have one thing in common: they are worthless. In the end, those idols will not be there for us. Our homes won't save us. Our money won't heal us. There is one and only one God that is reliable, dependable and everything you need in life.
Our hope should be in God...not the empty things of this world.
8.01.2011
July 30 - Experience
"Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn".
- C.S. Lewis
- C.S. Lewis
July 29 - Labor
Colossians 3:23-24
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
It's easy to lose focus when working our jobs. Our minds tend to sway to thinking about the paycheck we will be bringing in every 2 weeks or once a month. As followers of Christ and servants for him, we should be working to glorify him in all that we do. Whether it's our jobs or volunteer/service opportunities, our main goal should be one thing: bringing glory and honor to his name.
The paycheck we clear is NOT what we work for...it is just a blessing that we have been graciously given.
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
It's easy to lose focus when working our jobs. Our minds tend to sway to thinking about the paycheck we will be bringing in every 2 weeks or once a month. As followers of Christ and servants for him, we should be working to glorify him in all that we do. Whether it's our jobs or volunteer/service opportunities, our main goal should be one thing: bringing glory and honor to his name.
The paycheck we clear is NOT what we work for...it is just a blessing that we have been graciously given.
7.29.2011
July 28 - Paupers
Because we never lay hold of our nothingness before God, and consequently, we never enter into the deepest reality of our relationship with Him. But when we accept ownership of our powerlessness and helplessness, we acknowledge that we are paupers at the door of God's mercy, then God can make something beautiful out of us.
- The Ragamuffin Gospel
- The Ragamuffin Gospel
July 27 - Rally
I've been with my beautiful and caring wife for 2 years and 1 month. That's what's up!
July 26 - Affection
Noticed tonight while reading through Titus and 1 John...love is a valuable and important role in the Christian life. Love goes a long way with our friends, family, strangers, and co-workers. Most importantly, love is crucial in a healthy and strong relationship with God!
7.27.2011
July 25 - Treason
"Even the slightest sin does violence to God's holiness, to His glory, and to His righteousness. Every sin, no matter how seemingly insignificant, is truly an act of treason against the cosmic King.
7.24.2011
July 23 - Belief
If a random sampling of one thousand Christians were taken today, the majority would define faith as belief in the existence of God. In earlier times it did not take faith to believe that God existed - almost everybody took that for granted. Rather, faith had to do with one's relationship to God - whether one trusted in God. The difference between faith as "belief in something that may or may not exist" and faith as "trusting in God" is enormous. The first is a matter of the head, the second a matter of the heart. The first can leave us unchanged; the second intrinsically brings change.
- Brennan Manning
- Brennan Manning
July 22 - He
Psalm 91:14-16
14 "Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.
God is strong, loving, dependable, constant, and so much more. His promises for our lives will be fulfilled as long as we live by faith and not by our own understanding. When we start to explore and live on our own accord, we fall further and further away from God. The good life is not drinking beer, partying in the late night hours, and driving the most expensive cars in your community. The good life is living faithfully for the Lord, because then he will always provide, care, protect, and give love.
14 "Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.
God is strong, loving, dependable, constant, and so much more. His promises for our lives will be fulfilled as long as we live by faith and not by our own understanding. When we start to explore and live on our own accord, we fall further and further away from God. The good life is not drinking beer, partying in the late night hours, and driving the most expensive cars in your community. The good life is living faithfully for the Lord, because then he will always provide, care, protect, and give love.
7.22.2011
July 21 - Answers
When we try to avoid suffering by sinning, we end up sinning ourselves into suffering.
7.21.2011
July 19 - Heartache
John 14:1
1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
We all have problems and burdens to bear. When disaster strikes and we lose possessions, loved ones, jobs, friends, or anything else, it is difficult not to let our emotions take over. We then experience anger, depression, anxiety, rage, apathy, sadness, and other feelings that tend to come out through our lives. Christ instructs us on how to handle these situations.
First of all, he understands that we will experience hardships. He knows that the natural reaction for us as humans is to become weary and troublesome. We feel heartache when our girlfriend breaks up with us. We feel pain when a loved one passes away. We even feel weary when we lose money when our investments go down. God understands this.
Secondly, since he knows that we will experience situations like this, he has devised a way for us to deal with them. He recognizes our burdens, our heartaches, our pains, our struggles, and our turmoil and he offers to take them away and give us relief.
Lastly, the offer is on the table and God wants to know what we want to do with our pain. We can hang on to it, mull over it and continue to be depressed...or we can hand it over to him and place ALL of our trust in his power to make life better. Through trust in the Lord, we can truly experience life the way that God had planned from the beginning.
If you have heartache...hand it over to God.
1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
We all have problems and burdens to bear. When disaster strikes and we lose possessions, loved ones, jobs, friends, or anything else, it is difficult not to let our emotions take over. We then experience anger, depression, anxiety, rage, apathy, sadness, and other feelings that tend to come out through our lives. Christ instructs us on how to handle these situations.
First of all, he understands that we will experience hardships. He knows that the natural reaction for us as humans is to become weary and troublesome. We feel heartache when our girlfriend breaks up with us. We feel pain when a loved one passes away. We even feel weary when we lose money when our investments go down. God understands this.
Secondly, since he knows that we will experience situations like this, he has devised a way for us to deal with them. He recognizes our burdens, our heartaches, our pains, our struggles, and our turmoil and he offers to take them away and give us relief.
Lastly, the offer is on the table and God wants to know what we want to do with our pain. We can hang on to it, mull over it and continue to be depressed...or we can hand it over to him and place ALL of our trust in his power to make life better. Through trust in the Lord, we can truly experience life the way that God had planned from the beginning.
If you have heartache...hand it over to God.
7.19.2011
July 18 - Diligence
2 Timothy 2:15
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.
Being a Christian is the pinnacle of life. God may be invisible and unseen in the physical, but through faith we can reveal Him to those who see Him in us. It is our responsibility to strive to be more and more like Him, through our mistakes and our successes.
We mess up. He forgives.
We turn away. He calls us back.
We give minimal time to Him. He is always giving time and attention.
We become careless. He continues to protect.
We spend our money unwisely. He provides our necessities.
We must live for Him, because there is no other life to live.
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.
Being a Christian is the pinnacle of life. God may be invisible and unseen in the physical, but through faith we can reveal Him to those who see Him in us. It is our responsibility to strive to be more and more like Him, through our mistakes and our successes.
We mess up. He forgives.
We turn away. He calls us back.
We give minimal time to Him. He is always giving time and attention.
We become careless. He continues to protect.
We spend our money unwisely. He provides our necessities.
We must live for Him, because there is no other life to live.
7.16.2011
July 16 - Low
Putting your face on the floor in prayer is definitely a quick way to get back with God.
July 15 - Handles
"Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith."
- Henry Ward Beecher
- Henry Ward Beecher
7.15.2011
July 14 - Jewels
Ran 5 miles today in place of running the Crazy 8's tonight in Kingsport. It feels so good to be home with my wife at 10:00 at night and $50 in our pocket. I did improve by about 4 minutes on my 5 mile time from last year on an even harder route.
Proverbs 20:15
15 Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.
Saving up money and possessions are good, especially with the economy the way it is. However, having and nurturing a knowledge AND understanding of God's Word is far more important. Life is more meaningful and worthwhile when abiding in the purpose of God's will. Everything we need to know is within the 66 books of the Bible and from there, we are to share it with others. God's love and word is a fine jewel...we can either store it away and never let it shine...or we can reveal to others that His love and word are bigger and better than anything we could ever put in our wallet or deposit box.
Bling.
7.13.2011
July 12 - Opposites
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
-Martin Luther King Jr.
-Martin Luther King Jr.
7.11.2011
July 11 - Facts
Within the first 48 hours of being on the street, one in three children are lured into prostitution.
The average age of entry into U.S. sex trafficking for girls and boys ranges from 11-14.
The sale of child pornography has become a $3 billion industry.
8 million women undergo abortions every year in China.
Every day, 190 children are abducted in China.
Pray for missions.
Pray for our country.
Pray for children in single-parent and foster homes.
Pray for other countries.
The average age of entry into U.S. sex trafficking for girls and boys ranges from 11-14.
The sale of child pornography has become a $3 billion industry.
8 million women undergo abortions every year in China.
Every day, 190 children are abducted in China.
Pray for missions.
Pray for our country.
Pray for children in single-parent and foster homes.
Pray for other countries.
July 10 - Suffering
Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.
- Helen Keller
Daniel 12: 1-3,13
1 "At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people - everyone whose name is found written in the book - will be delivered. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the starts for ever and ever.
13 "As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance."
- Helen Keller
Daniel 12: 1-3,13
1 "At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people - everyone whose name is found written in the book - will be delivered. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the starts for ever and ever.
13 "As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance."
7.10.2011
July 9 - Trust
Isaiah 2:22
Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?
Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?
7.09.2011
July 8 - Management
"Lack of prayer says you've bought into the lie that life is manageable and you've got everything under control."
7.08.2011
July 7 - Discovery
In the past 2 days I have had two opportunities to take someone else's money blindly and/or gain merchandise that was left unattended. If I have not been tested in the last couple of days, I'm not sure what this is.
At a major home improvement store, I noticed on my way out to the parking lot when returning my shopping cart, that someone had left a value pack of about 24 AA batteries in a shopping cart. There was no receipt, no one nearby to claim them or spot me taking them, or any cameras watching me. I had two basic options: 1) I could take the batteries home with me and use them over the course of the next 2 years or 2) I could leave them/return them to the store.
Without hesitation, I took the batteries inside and told one of the cashiers that someone had left them in a shopping cart outside. He replied with a shocked and confused look on his face, "Thank you".
At a fast food restaurant today on my way home from a great trip with a friend to catch a Braves game, I had to break a large bill in order to pay for my lunch. The cashier gave me $20 too much and didn't even think twice. Again, no cameras watching me, nobody to see this mistake, and no other evidence. It would be an easy $20 made. I had two options: 1) I could stick the change in my wallet like everything is normal and become $20 richer or 2) I could bring it to the cashier's attention and return it.
Without hesitation again, I brought it to the young cashier's attention. I said, "Mam, I believe you gave me one too many twenties". She replied, "oh, okay".
Here I am saving this girl's job by being honest and she replies with "oh, okay". I was more blown away by the fact she didn't say thank you than the fact she couldn't come up with correct change from $100.
Nonetheless, in both situations, I was given two options:
1) Do the right thing.
2) Do the wrong thing.
Some people might say, how is it wrong if it is the mistake of another person? The answer: because we all make mistakes. As Christians, we are to help those who stumble and mess up by being honest, caring, truthful, and examples of Christ.
If I had kept that $20, that cashier would have either lost her job at the end of the day or she would have been chewed out. Sure, she didn't do her job well, but maybe this was a learning experience that she will use to become a better cashier.
Stealing is a sin. If it's not yours and you know it belongs to someone else, don't take it. Too many people easily talk themselves into doing things they shouldn't. There are no excuses for sinning. We all fall...but we don't possess the right to make it seem okay.
DO WHAT IS RIGHT...
At a major home improvement store, I noticed on my way out to the parking lot when returning my shopping cart, that someone had left a value pack of about 24 AA batteries in a shopping cart. There was no receipt, no one nearby to claim them or spot me taking them, or any cameras watching me. I had two basic options: 1) I could take the batteries home with me and use them over the course of the next 2 years or 2) I could leave them/return them to the store.
Without hesitation, I took the batteries inside and told one of the cashiers that someone had left them in a shopping cart outside. He replied with a shocked and confused look on his face, "Thank you".
At a fast food restaurant today on my way home from a great trip with a friend to catch a Braves game, I had to break a large bill in order to pay for my lunch. The cashier gave me $20 too much and didn't even think twice. Again, no cameras watching me, nobody to see this mistake, and no other evidence. It would be an easy $20 made. I had two options: 1) I could stick the change in my wallet like everything is normal and become $20 richer or 2) I could bring it to the cashier's attention and return it.
Without hesitation again, I brought it to the young cashier's attention. I said, "Mam, I believe you gave me one too many twenties". She replied, "oh, okay".
Here I am saving this girl's job by being honest and she replies with "oh, okay". I was more blown away by the fact she didn't say thank you than the fact she couldn't come up with correct change from $100.
Nonetheless, in both situations, I was given two options:
1) Do the right thing.
2) Do the wrong thing.
Some people might say, how is it wrong if it is the mistake of another person? The answer: because we all make mistakes. As Christians, we are to help those who stumble and mess up by being honest, caring, truthful, and examples of Christ.
If I had kept that $20, that cashier would have either lost her job at the end of the day or she would have been chewed out. Sure, she didn't do her job well, but maybe this was a learning experience that she will use to become a better cashier.
Stealing is a sin. If it's not yours and you know it belongs to someone else, don't take it. Too many people easily talk themselves into doing things they shouldn't. There are no excuses for sinning. We all fall...but we don't possess the right to make it seem okay.
DO WHAT IS RIGHT...
7.07.2011
July 6 - Words
Proverbs 12: 16-18
16 A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.
17 A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies.
18 Reckless word pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
16 A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.
17 A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies.
18 Reckless word pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
7.05.2011
July 5 - Grudges
If forgiveness has truly set us free, why do we hold onto so many grudges?
Ephesians 4:31-32
31 Get rid of all bitterness rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:31-32
31 Get rid of all bitterness rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
July 4 - Freedom
July 4th is always a reminder of the freedom that we have and have had in America. Our history goes back and tells tale after tale about young men who gave their lives at the forefront of battle to secure freedom for the families in this country. Even today, men and women are fighting on foreign soil as well as working here at home to continue to secure this freedom...
Unfortunately, there is a problem that is growing in our country. That problem is called politics...dirty politics.
The politics that we see now in the United States are not what was envisioned by the founding father or even the people in the United States 50 years ago. Everything is becoming more and more corrupt and moral values are diminishing daily.
2 Corinthians 3:14-18
14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
The only thing that is going to reconstruct America is faith in the word of God and turning back to him. Life looks a lot different today than it did on July 4th, 1776. We have come a long way in many positive strides, such as in the medical field, with technology, and so much more. Global government and currency is on the verge of becoming the norm. We must realize the negative steps we are taking though and modify how we are living and how this country is being directed.
The United States of America needs prayer...
Enjoy your freedom, but fight for it and keep it pure and clean, as it is from God above.
Finally, "If you don't love America, get out."
:)
Unfortunately, there is a problem that is growing in our country. That problem is called politics...dirty politics.
The politics that we see now in the United States are not what was envisioned by the founding father or even the people in the United States 50 years ago. Everything is becoming more and more corrupt and moral values are diminishing daily.
2 Corinthians 3:14-18
14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
The only thing that is going to reconstruct America is faith in the word of God and turning back to him. Life looks a lot different today than it did on July 4th, 1776. We have come a long way in many positive strides, such as in the medical field, with technology, and so much more. Global government and currency is on the verge of becoming the norm. We must realize the negative steps we are taking though and modify how we are living and how this country is being directed.
The United States of America needs prayer...
Enjoy your freedom, but fight for it and keep it pure and clean, as it is from God above.
Finally, "If you don't love America, get out."
:)
7.03.2011
July 3 - Glory
A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, "darkness" on the walls of his cell.
- C.S. Lewis
- C.S. Lewis
7.02.2011
July 2 - Satan
The devil drives a tan Ford Expedition.
As my wife and I made our way back from our great vacation in South Carolina, we hit a major traffic jam in the hills leading into Asheville. To make matters worse, we were low on gas. The gauge was flashing and we were a few miles away from the nearest gas station. So, in desperation I pulled over into the emergency lane and began to pass other drivers stuck in traffic...UNTIL...
the devil decided to pull in front of us. Yes, this upstanding citizen decided to take it upon himself the role of blocking people from driving in the emergency lane. Here I am trying to communicate to this man in every way positive I know how that my fuel tank is almost dry and I need to get to the nearest exit, but it didn't matter. His objective was to keep anyone from passing him, no matter what. Through his hand gestures, his driving behavior, and his presence on the road with other drivers, this guy was bad news.
Here's the question:
How do you deal with someone like this person when you are in a stressful situation?
The answer:
The same way you deal with the devil when he throws temptations and traps in your path.
There are people in the world that seek out negativity on others. By this I mean, these people thrive on the failure or suffering of other people.
2 Timothy 2:23-26 says:
23 Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
So, when faced with resistance and fighting back seems like the best and easiest option, apply these verses to the situation. Should I have called this man an idiot, even with the windows up? No. Should I have honked my horn that one time? No. Instead I should have simply entrusted that God would take care of the situation and get us to the gas station without harm...
...just as he did today.
As my wife and I made our way back from our great vacation in South Carolina, we hit a major traffic jam in the hills leading into Asheville. To make matters worse, we were low on gas. The gauge was flashing and we were a few miles away from the nearest gas station. So, in desperation I pulled over into the emergency lane and began to pass other drivers stuck in traffic...UNTIL...
the devil decided to pull in front of us. Yes, this upstanding citizen decided to take it upon himself the role of blocking people from driving in the emergency lane. Here I am trying to communicate to this man in every way positive I know how that my fuel tank is almost dry and I need to get to the nearest exit, but it didn't matter. His objective was to keep anyone from passing him, no matter what. Through his hand gestures, his driving behavior, and his presence on the road with other drivers, this guy was bad news.
Here's the question:
How do you deal with someone like this person when you are in a stressful situation?
The answer:
The same way you deal with the devil when he throws temptations and traps in your path.
There are people in the world that seek out negativity on others. By this I mean, these people thrive on the failure or suffering of other people.
2 Timothy 2:23-26 says:
23 Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
So, when faced with resistance and fighting back seems like the best and easiest option, apply these verses to the situation. Should I have called this man an idiot, even with the windows up? No. Should I have honked my horn that one time? No. Instead I should have simply entrusted that God would take care of the situation and get us to the gas station without harm...
...just as he did today.
7.01.2011
July 1 - Five
5 Great Things:
1) Family
2) Salvation
3) Health
4) Forgiveness
5) Love
Make your list now. Include these things in your prayer life.
1) Family
2) Salvation
3) Health
4) Forgiveness
5) Love
Make your list now. Include these things in your prayer life.
6.30.2011
6.28.2011
June 28 - Steadfast
Psalm 136:26
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.
1) God is the God of heaven AND of earth. We should respect this.
2) His love is steadfast. Steadfast is defined as being firm in purpose, resolution, and attachment. His love reveals to us that our lives have purpose...and that purpose when discovered in his love will astonish and bewilder you, but will also leave you breathless in its beauty and perfection in how it is crafted with his hands. His love for us shows us that there is a resolution for our pitiful decision making and actions (and that resolution is through His Son). His love shows that he is attached to us and wants to be apart of every little aspect of our life...because He is bigger than it all.
3) All of this, both creation of heaven and his steadfast love, lasts forever. Think about it...forever.
Only if you accept it for what it is...
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.
1) God is the God of heaven AND of earth. We should respect this.
2) His love is steadfast. Steadfast is defined as being firm in purpose, resolution, and attachment. His love reveals to us that our lives have purpose...and that purpose when discovered in his love will astonish and bewilder you, but will also leave you breathless in its beauty and perfection in how it is crafted with his hands. His love for us shows us that there is a resolution for our pitiful decision making and actions (and that resolution is through His Son). His love shows that he is attached to us and wants to be apart of every little aspect of our life...because He is bigger than it all.
3) All of this, both creation of heaven and his steadfast love, lasts forever. Think about it...forever.
Only if you accept it for what it is...
6.27.2011
June 27 - Temples
I used to know what day it was in the year when I posted my videos, but now I am guess it is around 177. Someone check that and get back to me. This morning I had a fantastic run on the treadmill on just the other side of my hotel room. This week is 26 minute run: 26 push-ups: 26 sit-ups.
Now to what truly matters...
16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person; for God's temple is sacred, and you together are that temple...
There is a reason I do what I do. I know my heart is physically strengthened when I run/exercise. I realize my muscle groups need to be stronger, therefore I use resistance exercises that target those muscle groups. I know that my heart needs to be spiritually strengthened as well.
We are given a beautiful gift at conception. We have a body. It is forming from those early stages up to where we are now. Even if you are 90 years old, which I highly doubt anybody who checks this blog is 90 (or if anyone checks this blog period), the heart is always forming spiritually. As we grow older, our body begins to break down and muscles take longer to repair. This doesn't mean we should stop caring for the gift that God has given us.
There are 3 major gifts that God gives us in the human body:
- Physical gifts (ability to walk, breathe, see, smell, touch, eat, drink, play a guitar, etc)
- Mental gifts (ability to read, converse, listen, speak, write, compose, create, etc)
- Spiritual gifts (ability to have a relationship with Christ, pray, believe, share, etc)
Obviously, with any of these gifts we can refuse them or accept them. We can neglect them or nurture them. We perceive it as our gifts, our life, and our rights to do what we want. I do understand and I am aware that some are born without the ability to walk, or talk, or see, etc. The very special and important thing to note in this case is that said people are extremely important and beautiful in the eyes of God. We work with, nurture, and appreciate what we have.
Go into a city and people watch. You will see hundreds of people smoking pack after pack. You will see people in bars drinking shot after shot. You will see people walking out of a tattoo parlor with their arm wrapped in a special dressing to prevent infection in the new "body art they have received". Walk down the right street and you will see people searching to find joy and excitement with lustful eyes. Step into a gas station and someone is sliding $20 across the counter to buy a stack of lottery tickets, but yet can't feed their family.
Before, I go on...I haven't said anything offensive or rude to anyone who falls into these categories...just simply observations.
Now, whether the things mentioned above are "right" or "wrong" depends on your view of your life. Bear with me:
If you appreciate your body physically, you will protect it and care for it in order to keep it clean and strong.
If you recognize your ability to think and make decisions based on your knowledge, you will choose to do what it best for your body mentally and physically.
Finally, if you believe that your body and life is a gift from God and only from God, you will present it in ways that glorify him and reflect who he is.
I know smoking leads to lung cancer. Therefore I don't do it.
I know alcohol is addictive and costs money. Therefore I don't drink it.
I know that overeating leads to being overweight/obesity/heart disease. Therefore I do my best to not do it.
I know that jumping in front of a train could kill me. Therefore I don't do it.
I don't want cancer. I don't want to be broke or addicted. I like being in a healthy weight category. I don't want to die on the tracks.
God gives us life. It is not ours to waste and ruin with destructive decisions. It is ours to reflect his love through how we present it. If our body is a temple and we graffiti the walls, leave crumbs on the floor, fire a shotgun at the ceilings, and then fill it with smoke...what message are we presenting those who are looking in on it.
If you don't have spiritual eyes that match the message found in God's word...please just overlook this, but don't build walls between you and the Giver of life.
Last note: I am not perfect. I have my flaws. We must all learn and practice self-control.
Now to what truly matters...
16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person; for God's temple is sacred, and you together are that temple...
There is a reason I do what I do. I know my heart is physically strengthened when I run/exercise. I realize my muscle groups need to be stronger, therefore I use resistance exercises that target those muscle groups. I know that my heart needs to be spiritually strengthened as well.
We are given a beautiful gift at conception. We have a body. It is forming from those early stages up to where we are now. Even if you are 90 years old, which I highly doubt anybody who checks this blog is 90 (or if anyone checks this blog period), the heart is always forming spiritually. As we grow older, our body begins to break down and muscles take longer to repair. This doesn't mean we should stop caring for the gift that God has given us.
There are 3 major gifts that God gives us in the human body:
- Physical gifts (ability to walk, breathe, see, smell, touch, eat, drink, play a guitar, etc)
- Mental gifts (ability to read, converse, listen, speak, write, compose, create, etc)
- Spiritual gifts (ability to have a relationship with Christ, pray, believe, share, etc)
Obviously, with any of these gifts we can refuse them or accept them. We can neglect them or nurture them. We perceive it as our gifts, our life, and our rights to do what we want. I do understand and I am aware that some are born without the ability to walk, or talk, or see, etc. The very special and important thing to note in this case is that said people are extremely important and beautiful in the eyes of God. We work with, nurture, and appreciate what we have.
Go into a city and people watch. You will see hundreds of people smoking pack after pack. You will see people in bars drinking shot after shot. You will see people walking out of a tattoo parlor with their arm wrapped in a special dressing to prevent infection in the new "body art they have received". Walk down the right street and you will see people searching to find joy and excitement with lustful eyes. Step into a gas station and someone is sliding $20 across the counter to buy a stack of lottery tickets, but yet can't feed their family.
Before, I go on...I haven't said anything offensive or rude to anyone who falls into these categories...just simply observations.
Now, whether the things mentioned above are "right" or "wrong" depends on your view of your life. Bear with me:
If you appreciate your body physically, you will protect it and care for it in order to keep it clean and strong.
If you recognize your ability to think and make decisions based on your knowledge, you will choose to do what it best for your body mentally and physically.
Finally, if you believe that your body and life is a gift from God and only from God, you will present it in ways that glorify him and reflect who he is.
I know smoking leads to lung cancer. Therefore I don't do it.
I know alcohol is addictive and costs money. Therefore I don't drink it.
I know that overeating leads to being overweight/obesity/heart disease. Therefore I do my best to not do it.
I know that jumping in front of a train could kill me. Therefore I don't do it.
I don't want cancer. I don't want to be broke or addicted. I like being in a healthy weight category. I don't want to die on the tracks.
God gives us life. It is not ours to waste and ruin with destructive decisions. It is ours to reflect his love through how we present it. If our body is a temple and we graffiti the walls, leave crumbs on the floor, fire a shotgun at the ceilings, and then fill it with smoke...what message are we presenting those who are looking in on it.
If you don't have spiritual eyes that match the message found in God's word...please just overlook this, but don't build walls between you and the Giver of life.
Last note: I am not perfect. I have my flaws. We must all learn and practice self-control.
6.26.2011
6.25.2011
June 25 - Delight
Jeremiah 9:23-24
23 This is what the Lord says: "Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, 24 but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the Lord.
Now that's something to boast about!
23 This is what the Lord says: "Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, 24 but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the Lord.
Now that's something to boast about!
6.24.2011
June 24 - Creativity
So, I was standing on the beach at sunset I was taking in the view and then I turned around and saw my wife and realized that beauty was all around me...
Genesis 22:17
17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies...
I'm not all into the promise of taking over cities from my enemies, because I honestly can't afford the taxes on that kind of inheritance...but I am into knowing that God keeps his promise to his children who follow his will. God has created a beautiful world and every single person has the capability of leaving a beautiful mark or an ugly mark on its existence...
Genesis 22:17
17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies...
I'm not all into the promise of taking over cities from my enemies, because I honestly can't afford the taxes on that kind of inheritance...but I am into knowing that God keeps his promise to his children who follow his will. God has created a beautiful world and every single person has the capability of leaving a beautiful mark or an ugly mark on its existence...
June 23 - Play
I say, if your knees aren't green by the end of the day, you ought to seriously re-examine your life.
- Bill Watterson (Calvin & Hobbes)
- Bill Watterson (Calvin & Hobbes)
6.22.2011
June 22 - Notes
Having more than someone else means you have more to give.
Yesterday is dead. The future is open to revision.
It takes a better man to take the back seat.
You are not better than anyone else. Nor are you worse.
Purpose is found in forgiveness. So forgive and believe that you are forgiven.
Yesterday is dead. The future is open to revision.
It takes a better man to take the back seat.
You are not better than anyone else. Nor are you worse.
Purpose is found in forgiveness. So forgive and believe that you are forgiven.
June 21 - Trampolines
Tonight, some severe winds lifted our neighbor's trampoline up in the area and over our 6 foot privacy fence. Turns out, it wasn't staked into the ground...leaving it vulnerable to flying around the neighborhood.
I say this for a reason.
1 Corinthians 16:13
13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.
I know trampolines don't have souls. They don't have hearts or feelings, therefore they lack faith. Humans, however are faced with a dilemma. If we choose to believe and trust in faith that Christ is Lord, then we setting ourselves up for hard times without reinforcement. If that trampoline had been staked into the ground, the wind may have pushed and pulled on it, but at least it would have stayed grounded. As Christians, if we pray and communicate with God, as well as spend time in the word...we are stronger and can resist what the world throws at us.
When darkness seems to hide his face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
all other ground is sinking sand.
All other ground is sinking sand.
I say this for a reason.
1 Corinthians 16:13
13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.
I know trampolines don't have souls. They don't have hearts or feelings, therefore they lack faith. Humans, however are faced with a dilemma. If we choose to believe and trust in faith that Christ is Lord, then we setting ourselves up for hard times without reinforcement. If that trampoline had been staked into the ground, the wind may have pushed and pulled on it, but at least it would have stayed grounded. As Christians, if we pray and communicate with God, as well as spend time in the word...we are stronger and can resist what the world throws at us.
When darkness seems to hide his face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
all other ground is sinking sand.
All other ground is sinking sand.
6.21.2011
June 20 - Race
Your work is a marathon not a sprint. Don't focus on a quick rise, focus on longevity and enjoying your service...
6.19.2011
June 19 - Hearts
Romans 10: 9-10
9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Believing is a matter of the heart. The heart is a muscular organ that is responsible for receiving and sending blood throughout the body. It is also recognized as the center of a human being's emotions, feelings, and beliefs. Paul was aware of the importance of the heart as it appears throughout the letters of the New Testament.
Confession is a matter of the mouth. However, in order for someone to confess with their mouth, there must be interaction with the heart. This interaction is not just in the sense that the blood supplied to the mouth from the heart helps in its function, but the feelings and emotions involved are directly from the heart.
As Christians, our faith and belief in Christ as our Savior is a matter of heart. Sometimes we allow our brains to receive more attention than our heart. When this happens, we find ourselves in a struggle because our brain tends to give in to the matters of this world...the very things that we are warned against in the word of God. When we fall, we discover a need to confess with our mouths of our wrong doings to God and sometimes even to others as the Bible instructs.
We are to also confess to the world that Christ is Lord and that our lives are centered around one goal...glorifying Him. The human body is an interesting creation and it was created by a Creator who deserves to be glorified through each and every person in a pure manner.
God promises to save us if we confess and believe. The love that is offered is simple, pure, and powerful.
Why is taking this message to unbelievers so difficult?
9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Believing is a matter of the heart. The heart is a muscular organ that is responsible for receiving and sending blood throughout the body. It is also recognized as the center of a human being's emotions, feelings, and beliefs. Paul was aware of the importance of the heart as it appears throughout the letters of the New Testament.
Confession is a matter of the mouth. However, in order for someone to confess with their mouth, there must be interaction with the heart. This interaction is not just in the sense that the blood supplied to the mouth from the heart helps in its function, but the feelings and emotions involved are directly from the heart.
As Christians, our faith and belief in Christ as our Savior is a matter of heart. Sometimes we allow our brains to receive more attention than our heart. When this happens, we find ourselves in a struggle because our brain tends to give in to the matters of this world...the very things that we are warned against in the word of God. When we fall, we discover a need to confess with our mouths of our wrong doings to God and sometimes even to others as the Bible instructs.
We are to also confess to the world that Christ is Lord and that our lives are centered around one goal...glorifying Him. The human body is an interesting creation and it was created by a Creator who deserves to be glorified through each and every person in a pure manner.
God promises to save us if we confess and believe. The love that is offered is simple, pure, and powerful.
Why is taking this message to unbelievers so difficult?
6.18.2011
June 17 - Headlights
Imagine driving late at night. You have two choices. One road which is much like the interstate and one which is like a country backroad. However, on the interstate, no one is allowed to turn on their headlights, but on the backroad, you can use your headlights as you please. Which road do you choose to drive on?
If you are like most people, you chose to drive with your lights on.
This is a simple illustration of Christian living. As Christians, we are called to walk the more narrow path (because broad is the path that leads to destruction). If we live by the world we choose to do things in worldly fashion.
At the same time, we are called to live a life in light, not darkness. The smart choice would be to embed Christ into our lives and follow the path that he has made for us. Christ is the Light. Christianity is the narrow path that leads to life.
The path may be more difficult to maneuver, but at least you've got the best Light in the world.
If you are like most people, you chose to drive with your lights on.
This is a simple illustration of Christian living. As Christians, we are called to walk the more narrow path (because broad is the path that leads to destruction). If we live by the world we choose to do things in worldly fashion.
At the same time, we are called to live a life in light, not darkness. The smart choice would be to embed Christ into our lives and follow the path that he has made for us. Christ is the Light. Christianity is the narrow path that leads to life.
The path may be more difficult to maneuver, but at least you've got the best Light in the world.
6.16.2011
June 16 - Attitude
Philippians 2:5-11
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ....
Read 6 - 11 for yourself.
Dig in.
6.15.2011
June 15 - Lost
Forgiveness is the remission of sins. For it is by this what what has been lost, and was found, is saved from being lost again.
- Augustine
- Augustine
June 14 - Deeds
James 2:26
26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
We do not receive eternal life by doing good works or deeds for others. We receive eternal life through the blood of Christ who died for our ugly sins. If we believe in him and accept the relationship and responsibilities that come with it, then we are given that beautiful gift of eternal life in heaven.
Some religions, believe that by doing good works, we are granted a free pass into heaven. This is completely wrong. However, through our faith in Christ, the world and even other believers should be able to see our faith in action through good deeds. We present Christ to everyone who sees us. We can present him in an unrealistic, worldly way in which observers can easily call Christians hypocrites, or we can present him in a perfect manner (or at least try to), so the world can see that there is a better life to be lived.
If we are alive in Christ, we should be putting our faith into action...
26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
We do not receive eternal life by doing good works or deeds for others. We receive eternal life through the blood of Christ who died for our ugly sins. If we believe in him and accept the relationship and responsibilities that come with it, then we are given that beautiful gift of eternal life in heaven.
Some religions, believe that by doing good works, we are granted a free pass into heaven. This is completely wrong. However, through our faith in Christ, the world and even other believers should be able to see our faith in action through good deeds. We present Christ to everyone who sees us. We can present him in an unrealistic, worldly way in which observers can easily call Christians hypocrites, or we can present him in a perfect manner (or at least try to), so the world can see that there is a better life to be lived.
If we are alive in Christ, we should be putting our faith into action...
6.14.2011
June 13 - Commission
Matthew 28:19-20
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age"
Pray for those in the mission fields carrying out the Great Commission. While missionaries are spreading the gospel in remote areas and hostile areas, we should be presenting the gospel in our own backyard and within our cities. It's difficult to do so, when all we have to do is ignore the problem and continue to be comfortable. I am guilty of this...
Pray for missionaries.
Pray for brothers and sisters in Christ.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age"
Pray for those in the mission fields carrying out the Great Commission. While missionaries are spreading the gospel in remote areas and hostile areas, we should be presenting the gospel in our own backyard and within our cities. It's difficult to do so, when all we have to do is ignore the problem and continue to be comfortable. I am guilty of this...
Pray for missionaries.
Pray for brothers and sisters in Christ.
6.13.2011
June 12 - Christianity (pt. 2)
Psalm 121:7
7 The Lord will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life...
Yet another beautiful aspect of the life of a Christian. In order to be protected and cared for by God, we must stay close to him though.
In what ways can we become closer to the Lord? Discover those ways and exercise your faith to make it happen...
7 The Lord will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life...
Yet another beautiful aspect of the life of a Christian. In order to be protected and cared for by God, we must stay close to him though.
In what ways can we become closer to the Lord? Discover those ways and exercise your faith to make it happen...
6.11.2011
June 11 - Christianity
Romans 5:1-5
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us...
This is the beautiful picture of Christianity. Life is good...in Christ.
6.10.2011
June 10 - Worry
Nice 20 mile bike ride today...below are a couple of photos I stopped to take. I can't upload videos anymore, so maybe I can do pictures.
Matthew 6:25-27
25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important that food, and the body more important that clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life..."
Worrying is carrying tomorrow's load with today's strength - carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worrying doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.
Matthew 6:25-27
25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important that food, and the body more important that clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life..."
Worrying is carrying tomorrow's load with today's strength - carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worrying doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.
June 09 - Revelation
No more videos I suppose...I am continuing everyday nonetheless...
I'm longing for that day when the trumpet sounds
I imagine in an instant I'll be off the ground
Face to face with my maker, with the glorious Savior
Embraced by forever, no pain, free from labor
And from my sinful nature, and we see hope revealed
Free from every tribulation, see He broke the seals
Every saint, around the throne in worship of the perfect
Because He purged us and He purchased us because Hell is real
Receiving what we all deserve
That way we see the first shall be last and the last will be first
Either way, He's such a generous God
It doesn't matter if you've been here forever or just started your job
He rewards us for our work so life's not in vain
And every saint, hold on, He's coming again
Revelation's only scary if you're not in Christ
So I don't shine, I reveal; call it blacklight
- Tedashii
I'm longing for that day when the trumpet sounds
I imagine in an instant I'll be off the ground
Face to face with my maker, with the glorious Savior
Embraced by forever, no pain, free from labor
And from my sinful nature, and we see hope revealed
Free from every tribulation, see He broke the seals
Every saint, around the throne in worship of the perfect
Because He purged us and He purchased us because Hell is real
Receiving what we all deserve
That way we see the first shall be last and the last will be first
Either way, He's such a generous God
It doesn't matter if you've been here forever or just started your job
He rewards us for our work so life's not in vain
And every saint, hold on, He's coming again
Revelation's only scary if you're not in Christ
So I don't shine, I reveal; call it blacklight
- Tedashii
6.08.2011
June 08 - Constance
Still not able to upload videos due to internet speed...
Isaiah 40: 6-8
6 A voice says, "Cry out." And I said, "What shall I cry?" "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. 7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."
There is a lot of variation in our everyday lives. Red lights slow us down. Phone calls distract us from work. Internet distracts us from family. Gas prices sky rocket then slowly come back down. There's only time to get 7 of the 20 things to do completed in the 24 hours we have to work with...we are constantly changing and modifying our lives.
One thing is true though:
God and his word is constant and unfailing.
People fail. Grass withers. Flowers fall. Humans are inconsistent.
If you're looking for constance and stability look to God.
Isaiah 40: 6-8
6 A voice says, "Cry out." And I said, "What shall I cry?" "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. 7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."
There is a lot of variation in our everyday lives. Red lights slow us down. Phone calls distract us from work. Internet distracts us from family. Gas prices sky rocket then slowly come back down. There's only time to get 7 of the 20 things to do completed in the 24 hours we have to work with...we are constantly changing and modifying our lives.
One thing is true though:
God and his word is constant and unfailing.
People fail. Grass withers. Flowers fall. Humans are inconsistent.
If you're looking for constance and stability look to God.
6.07.2011
June 07 - Stagnation
** IMPORTANT NOTE: I have not been able to upload videos to the 12thirty blog because I recently dropped our internet plan to a less expensive plan. The drawback of going from high-speed internet to "economical" internet, is that you cannot download and upload as much or as fast at you once could. I am trying to figure out a way to make this work...bear with me...
God is not a genie. Only when prayers are made in faith, will he respond to our lives...and even then, it may not be the answer we want or we are expecting.
God is not a genie. Only when prayers are made in faith, will he respond to our lives...and even then, it may not be the answer we want or we are expecting.
Prayer is mentioned 512 times in the Bible according to a user on Yahoo answers. I believe when something is addressed and given attention to that many times, it is important. Prayer is something that can become monotonous and repetitive. Think about the prayer given at dinner, if you pray at dinner. In my own experience, it can and does get repetitive. The same things being said over and over again, day after day. While that's not always a horrible thing, the aspect of the personal touch and "from the heart" characteristic can often times go missing.
I think, as for myself, my prayers become stagnant and repetitive from my relationship not growing. Think about a friend of yours that you were once close with, but as time moved on and careers change, etc, the personal touch and conversation just doesn't flow like it used to.
The same is true with God.
If we only speak to him in that 10 second slot before we eat, we have no time invested in the growth of our relationship. If our prayers are concentrated on me, myself, and I...our selfishness drives us away from what is truly important.
As Christians we should only be concerned with God's will. When we lose sight of this and begin to view ourselves as more important, then our relationship suffers. Whatever we are in prayer about, we should pay extra close attention to whether or not it points back to God.
Everything about you is of God. Don't graffiti your life. Don't claim success for your own. Reveal God to the world...
June 06 - Change
Don't fool people to think you are better than who you are. Instead of trying to act changed, pray that you will be changed...
6.06.2011
June 05 - Quotes
"God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing."
- C.S. Lewis
"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."
- C.S. Lewis
"A woman is the only thing I am afraid of that I know will not hurt me."
- Abraham Lincoln
June 04 - Books
No Video. This is my first miss. This weekend was just a little too busy to squeeze this one in.
John 21:25
25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
Wow.
Verse 25 is power at its finest in the gospel. Just when we thought we had all accounts of the life of Jesus and the miracles he performed, we find that he did more. Not just a few more things, but multitudes upon multitudes of actions of love and sacrifice.
John testifies that while the accounts given in the book of John were of one disciple, he makes it very clear that Jesus did not waste time or energy. He constantly was seeking out God's will and without hesitation, he lived flawlessly and gave us a beautiful example of life.
Imagine a world full of books...everywhere you walk, drive, swim, or sit there are books everywhere. Now within every single one of those books there are accounts of Christ that have not been revealed to our knowledge. That is a lot of books and that is a lot of life. There's really no way to measure the love of Christ, but there is one book that can get us as close as we can to understanding it...the Bible.
Dig in.
John 21:25
25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
Wow.
Verse 25 is power at its finest in the gospel. Just when we thought we had all accounts of the life of Jesus and the miracles he performed, we find that he did more. Not just a few more things, but multitudes upon multitudes of actions of love and sacrifice.
John testifies that while the accounts given in the book of John were of one disciple, he makes it very clear that Jesus did not waste time or energy. He constantly was seeking out God's will and without hesitation, he lived flawlessly and gave us a beautiful example of life.
Imagine a world full of books...everywhere you walk, drive, swim, or sit there are books everywhere. Now within every single one of those books there are accounts of Christ that have not been revealed to our knowledge. That is a lot of books and that is a lot of life. There's really no way to measure the love of Christ, but there is one book that can get us as close as we can to understanding it...the Bible.
Dig in.
6.05.2011
June 03 - Normal
Observation of the Day: I do not see eye to eye with the world in most cases...
there must be something wrong with me, right?
Romans 12:2
2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.
June 02 - GPS
Video is of a 15 mile bike ride, stopped after about 7 or 8 miles due to a dead battery.
Mark 16:19
19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.
People ask, "where is your God?". They doubt his existence because there isn't a physical person to touch or an actual face on a billboard or TV screen. My God is sitting, exhaled on high, in his kingdom. The evidence of my God are in my life and within the world's existence.
Christ will be back to bring his people home...it would be best if you and I are on his good side.
Mark 16:19
19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.
People ask, "where is your God?". They doubt his existence because there isn't a physical person to touch or an actual face on a billboard or TV screen. My God is sitting, exhaled on high, in his kingdom. The evidence of my God are in my life and within the world's existence.
Christ will be back to bring his people home...it would be best if you and I are on his good side.
6.01.2011
June 01 - Necessity
Philippians 4:7
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
It's so easy to seek peace and escape in things of this world. We want instant satisfaction and gratification. When things don't go well at work, in our families, or in everyday life, we turn to alcohol, TV, drugs, food, lustful ventures, spending money, breaking the law...ANYTHING - just to get away from it.
The only thing any of us need is the peace of God. We have everything we need in Jesus Christ. If you need peace, you won't find it in the world. Don't be fooled by the temporary relief that comes from trusting the world...in the end it's deadly.
May 31 - Giving
2 Corinthians 9:7
7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Whether in tithes, sacrifices of time or energy, or in any other manner, we should give completely. The confusion in this "completeness" is that we perceive it as giving everything we have away. To clarify God's intentions for our giving as his children, we should give what we have decided through prayer and consideration. When we have discovered what we are being called to give, we should give our energy, time, dedication, financially...whatever it be, in completion. If God has called me to give $20 a week, then I should give that $20 completely, BUT also give my complete faith that God will provide for my family and that the $20 being given will be used to further his kingdom.
Did Christ give reluctantly or compulsively? No.
If we are to live and model our lives in a Christlike manner, we should give whatever God has laid upon our hearts. In the case of Jesus' life, he was called to give his life up as a sacrifice for all. He entrusted his Father with his life and the result is that he saved those who believe from eternity in hell, but most importantly he has given us the power over sin and death.
Give.
5.30.2011
May 30 - Commands
1 John 5:3
3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.
If we do not love, we do not know God. We may know who God is, but we do not KNOW him. In order to love, we must love him by keeping his commandments. Christian living is not dull and mundane. It is actually quite the opposite. Sure, there may be trials and temptations that drag us down, but what else can you live for that gives eternal rewards? Living by God's commands is not a chore or punishment. It is a choice that each one of us has to make. We can either live for ourselves and seek satisfaction in earthly ways, or we can seek out God's face in everything we do and strive for holy living. If others cannot see the love of God in you, don't blame it on their perspective. Do a self-check daily and see where your love meter is sitting...
and I will do the same.
If I truly love God, the evidence is simple. Keep his commands.
5.29.2011
May 29 - Husbands
Ephesians 5:25
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her...
Proverbs 18:22
22 He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.
As husbands, we are giving something beautiful through the Lord. To have a wife is a blessing and even more so, to have a wife that loves God is greater. If having a wife is a great gift, why do so many husbands, including myself, neglect to show our wives that we care and appreciate them. If someone were to give me a check for $100, I wouldn't put my chewing gum in it or try to make origami shapes with it. I would invest it and take care of it.
The same is true with our wives. We should consider it a gift to wake up to her the next day, to share a conversation with her, to help in cleaning the house, to share a dinner with her, and so much more. Marriage is a beautiful pedestal or platform...our priorities as husbands should be to first of all glorify God and make sure he is sitting high on our platform of marriage. Secondly, our wives should follow to be given respect and honor...just as God designed it.
Christ gave himself up for everyone. He has given us an example to follow with our everyday lives.
We must humble ourselves, not daily, but down to every single second in order to be more like Christ.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her...
Proverbs 18:22
22 He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.
As husbands, we are giving something beautiful through the Lord. To have a wife is a blessing and even more so, to have a wife that loves God is greater. If having a wife is a great gift, why do so many husbands, including myself, neglect to show our wives that we care and appreciate them. If someone were to give me a check for $100, I wouldn't put my chewing gum in it or try to make origami shapes with it. I would invest it and take care of it.
The same is true with our wives. We should consider it a gift to wake up to her the next day, to share a conversation with her, to help in cleaning the house, to share a dinner with her, and so much more. Marriage is a beautiful pedestal or platform...our priorities as husbands should be to first of all glorify God and make sure he is sitting high on our platform of marriage. Secondly, our wives should follow to be given respect and honor...just as God designed it.
Christ gave himself up for everyone. He has given us an example to follow with our everyday lives.
We must humble ourselves, not daily, but down to every single second in order to be more like Christ.
May 28 - Living
WEEK 22 (22 Minute Run: 22 Push-Ups: 22 Sit-Ups)
We are called to a life of:
HOLINESS (1 Peter 1:15-16)
15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
* Holiness is nothing less than the conformity of the character of God.
God is constantly calling his people to be like him. We are not naturally holy...we are naturally sinful. He wants me to look like him in everyday life in everything that I do. Holiness is not acting like a perfect person or talking like a preacher. Holiness is carrying ourselves with the behavior and with the mind of Christ.
God did not send his Son to die on the cross just for us to have a free pass to escape hell. God saved us so that we could do something with our lives to bring glory to him and through that life and relationship, we are rewarded with the eternal life in heaven.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15
14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
As Christians, we are not characterized as sinners. Yes, we sin and fall to the temptations of the world, but we are characterized as followers and imitators of Christ. The gospel tells us that sin has no power over us as believers, because God is bigger and stronger than sin. Christ's death on the cross gives us power to turn away from sin...
A LIFE LIVED FOR GOD'S GLORY
Life is a gift that has been given to me from God. This life was given to us to use for God's glory...not to be wasted on the things of this world and for selfish desires. EVERYTHING is about God...not about me.
Colossians 1:16
16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things we created by him and for him.
God created me to accurately reflect who Jesus is through my everyday life.
Acts 20:22-24
22 "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."
Paul recognized that his life was not his to live. He understood that it's not about him...it's about Jesus. This is a beautiful example of fully committing his life to Christ. Whether murder, imprisonment, beatings, or any other persecution...his life was dedicated to glorifying God.
We should step out of our comfort zones and to glorify God...every little thing in our everyday life should reflect God's glory.
REPENTANCE AND GROWTH
Everyone falls short (Romans 3:23) of God's glory. God has saved us by his grace and he has sustained us by his grace...GOD IS FORGIVING!
God's standard is for us to live a life of holiness...and we will fall short. As Christians, we cannot just take on apathy in our sin, live to a lower standard set by ourselves, hide or pretend that we are doing enough, or not care enough to avoid repentance. Those are sinful responses...
The Lord is patient in our growth. Repentance is changing our mind and heart in accordance to living for God. It's a turn from sin. Confessing our sins is a must every single day. We all fall...every single day. We not only need to confess to God, but we need to confess to other people in our wrongs that we do. This allows for prayer between believers and God to aid in healing and growth.
5.27.2011
May 27 - Glory
Psalm 115:1
1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory because of your love and faithfulness...
If I do not focus on bringing glory to God, I will never measure up to the standard at which I NEED to be. Man's standard is no where close to God's standard. If my motivation for life is Christ, that is all I need...
May 26 - Hunger
Got a good run in tonight on the streets of Murfreesboro with some friends...check out the city lights at 800%. Just hit play.
I did not do push-ups or sit-ups today because I don't like to lay in the floor of a Ramada Inn bedroom.
John 6:48
48 I am the bread of life...
Are you hungry for him?
I did not do push-ups or sit-ups today because I don't like to lay in the floor of a Ramada Inn bedroom.
John 6:48
48 I am the bread of life...
Are you hungry for him?
5.25.2011
May 25 - Ownership
"In the total expanse of human life there is not a single square inch of which the Christ, who alone is sovereign, does not declare, 'That is mine!"
- Abraham Kuyper
5.24.2011
May 24 - Aliens
1 Peter 2:11
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
Peter is addressing us as Christians in the passage. It may seem weird at first to be titled as "aliens" or "strangers". It's hard not to connect movies like E.T., Signs, Alien, Independence Day and so forth, when you hear the word aliens. This is not the type of aliens we are being referred to however. We are like aliens in the sense that, the major population of people on this planet live according to the world's standards. This standard is not set high and is preached against throughout the gospel. We are a minority and non-believers look at us without understanding or knowledge of why we live the way we do.
It is our calling to live according to the scriptures and to abstain from the worldly desires that lurk around every corner. The last part of the verse is the most important. The world is at war with your soul...
You have one soul. Only one. Christ has blessed us with one life to live and when we accept him as the way, the truth, and the life, our soul is committed to him. You have two options: roll over and die while giving up your soul to the world -or- fight and battle daily to keep your soul clean and pure from all the impurities that the world reveals.
If you are ready for battle, go check out Ephesians 6:10-18...
5.23.2011
May 23 - Redemption
Isaiah 44:22
22 I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you...
Enough said.
5.22.2011
May 22 - Everything
1 Corinthians 16:14
14 Do everything in love.
This is a difficult task. Paul is talking about doing everything in love...everything. The only way to do everything in love is to have the attitude and mind of Christ. The only way to have the attitude and mind of Christ is to be drenched in the gospel and discovering his face, voice, and ways through prayer.
Love.
14 Do everything in love.
This is a difficult task. Paul is talking about doing everything in love...everything. The only way to do everything in love is to have the attitude and mind of Christ. The only way to have the attitude and mind of Christ is to be drenched in the gospel and discovering his face, voice, and ways through prayer.
Love.
5.21.2011
May 21 - Association
The race went well today. I finished 4th overall. Today began week 21...
Proverbs 13:20
20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
There are a couple of famous quotes that are attached to this verse. The first is, "guilty by association". The second is, "you are who you hang around with". So many times, people fall into trouble and sin because they chose to hang with the people that danced with temptation. If you hang with people who drink, you will most likely drink as well. If you ride in a car with someone who drives dangerously, you run the risk of being in a horrible, life changing accident. If you associate yourself with liars, thieves, and addicts, you too will walk the edge with those same people.
As Christians, we should associate ourselves with brothers and sisters in Christ. We can build each other up and support each other if we fall. This doesn't however, mean we should avoid non-believers or those who sin against God willingly. Surround yourself with pure hearted Christians with the same objective...glorifying God. Likewise, approach others with the love of God, making it apparent that there is so much value in that love and mercy.
Your existence is not a mistake.
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