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.
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