After a long tough day today this song seemed to say it all that my heart cries out. May it bless you all
Music Encouragement My Savior, My God#
Amen
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Encouragement: Close Friends
Here is your daily encouragement words and thoughts. Today I bring you encouragement from Proverbs 18: 24
24 Some friends play at friendship, but a true friend sticks closer than one’s nearest kin.
I am on vacation this week so my postings will be dependent on getting to the Internet.
Vacation time can often be a time when we meet up with friends, some are old friends, some are new friends. Some friends will be only acquaintances and some will be very close.
Our psalm guides us here that many will play at being your friend, but true friends will stick closer to you then your own kin folk.
Make sure to always treasure your close friends, be there for them in their time of need, because when the chips are down they will be there for you because they are your close friend.
I praise God for the time of rest that a vacation brings.
Amen
Music Encouragement We Will Stand
24 Some friends play at friendship, but a true friend sticks closer than one’s nearest kin.
I am on vacation this week so my postings will be dependent on getting to the Internet.
Vacation time can often be a time when we meet up with friends, some are old friends, some are new friends. Some friends will be only acquaintances and some will be very close.
Our psalm guides us here that many will play at being your friend, but true friends will stick closer to you then your own kin folk.
Make sure to always treasure your close friends, be there for them in their time of need, because when the chips are down they will be there for you because they are your close friend.
I praise God for the time of rest that a vacation brings.
Amen
Music Encouragement We Will Stand
Friday, July 25, 2008
Here is your daily encouragement words and thoughts. Today I continue to bring you encouragement from Ephesians 6:10-20 see yesterdays post for bible text.
I will now continue from where we left off yesterday. To recap
Paul having faced opposition to proclaiming Jesus Christ, urges us to put on the full armor of God and having done everything, to stand.
So what makes up our armor?
1. Belt of truth. Paul is using the Roman soldier as a real world example. The first thing that a a Roman soldier did to put on his armor was to fasten a belt around his waist. This belt held everything together. The belt was a place on which his armor could be attached. Paul suggests that our belt is the belt of truth referring to a believer’s integrity and faithfulness. This is our starting point on which all else can be attached.
2. Our breastplate of righteousness is the sanctifying righteousness of Christ, not us, but Christ righteousness protects our hearts from attacks of the devil. We only need to cling tight to Christ.
3. shoes of the good news of peace. Good shoes give us a stable stance in which we can withstand pressure that might otherwise tip us over. The good news of peace comes from our knowing of the gospel. It gives us the assurance and peace and the stability and strength to stand. This strength comes to us from God out of our trust relationship with Him.
4. Shield of Faith Our faith can protect us and like a shield it can be moved to protect what ever the attack. The development of our faith comes with our repeated exposure to Gods love and care. The more time we spend with Him learning to trust Him the deep our faith becomes and the better our protection becomes. We hear many stories in the gospels where Jesus said to people "Behold your faith has made you whole"
5. The helmet of salvation is our protection of the mind. It is the hope and the confidence we receive through our salvation, through Jesus Christ's completed work.
To this point our armor has been all defensive in nature. In foot ball we often hear the phrase that sometimes the best offense is a good defense as the defense can wear down the opponent.
Now on to our offensive tools of armor.
6. The sword of the Spirit, The sword of the spirit is the word of God. We are to preach Gods word as stirred by the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Believers need this “sword” to combat the enemy’s assault, we have the example of Christ when he three times when tempted by the devil. He used God's Word to establish and maintain his steadfast position.
7. Prayer. Finally in all situations prayer allows us to tap into heavenly power. We must be alert and pray continually. By pray continually I mean that you are in constant communication with God. Louis Giglio refers to this as constant communion with God in Prayer. It does not mean we are constantly uttering petitions to God but more so that we are in constant awareness of Gods presence with us. God has promised us that he will never leave us or for sake us. We just need to trust in that promise.
With all this now defined, we need to return to where we started to the first line of our text.
"Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power". We need to come to the understanding that our strength in these situations is from God. We can not make it on our own. All our armor is of the Lord. We walk in the freedom of grace that He has provided. It all boils down to our trusting Him with our lives with everything. We must continually work on our relationship with God that we might use our armor and tools to His glory and not ours. We need God strength to make it through. For where our strength ends, Gods strength begins and through His strength I can do all things in Christ Jesus to the Glory of his holy name.
Amen
Music Encouragement You Are My Strength
Resources consulted
Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures . Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
I will now continue from where we left off yesterday. To recap
Paul having faced opposition to proclaiming Jesus Christ, urges us to put on the full armor of God and having done everything, to stand.
So what makes up our armor?
1. Belt of truth. Paul is using the Roman soldier as a real world example. The first thing that a a Roman soldier did to put on his armor was to fasten a belt around his waist. This belt held everything together. The belt was a place on which his armor could be attached. Paul suggests that our belt is the belt of truth referring to a believer’s integrity and faithfulness. This is our starting point on which all else can be attached.
2. Our breastplate of righteousness is the sanctifying righteousness of Christ, not us, but Christ righteousness protects our hearts from attacks of the devil. We only need to cling tight to Christ.
3. shoes of the good news of peace. Good shoes give us a stable stance in which we can withstand pressure that might otherwise tip us over. The good news of peace comes from our knowing of the gospel. It gives us the assurance and peace and the stability and strength to stand. This strength comes to us from God out of our trust relationship with Him.
4. Shield of Faith Our faith can protect us and like a shield it can be moved to protect what ever the attack. The development of our faith comes with our repeated exposure to Gods love and care. The more time we spend with Him learning to trust Him the deep our faith becomes and the better our protection becomes. We hear many stories in the gospels where Jesus said to people "Behold your faith has made you whole"
5. The helmet of salvation is our protection of the mind. It is the hope and the confidence we receive through our salvation, through Jesus Christ's completed work.
To this point our armor has been all defensive in nature. In foot ball we often hear the phrase that sometimes the best offense is a good defense as the defense can wear down the opponent.
Now on to our offensive tools of armor.
6. The sword of the Spirit, The sword of the spirit is the word of God. We are to preach Gods word as stirred by the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Believers need this “sword” to combat the enemy’s assault, we have the example of Christ when he three times when tempted by the devil. He used God's Word to establish and maintain his steadfast position.
7. Prayer. Finally in all situations prayer allows us to tap into heavenly power. We must be alert and pray continually. By pray continually I mean that you are in constant communication with God. Louis Giglio refers to this as constant communion with God in Prayer. It does not mean we are constantly uttering petitions to God but more so that we are in constant awareness of Gods presence with us. God has promised us that he will never leave us or for sake us. We just need to trust in that promise.
With all this now defined, we need to return to where we started to the first line of our text.
"Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power". We need to come to the understanding that our strength in these situations is from God. We can not make it on our own. All our armor is of the Lord. We walk in the freedom of grace that He has provided. It all boils down to our trusting Him with our lives with everything. We must continually work on our relationship with God that we might use our armor and tools to His glory and not ours. We need God strength to make it through. For where our strength ends, Gods strength begins and through His strength I can do all things in Christ Jesus to the Glory of his holy name.
Amen
Music Encouragement You Are My Strength
Resources consulted
Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures . Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Encouragement: Speak boldy
Here is your daily encouragement words and thoughts. Today I bring you encouragement from Ephesians 6:10-20
10 Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power.
11 Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.
13 For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand.
14 Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace,
16 and in all of this, by taking up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints.
19 Pray for me also, that I may be given the message when I begin to speak – that I may confidently make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Eph 6:10-20). Biblical Studies Press.
There is an idea within the body of Christ that once you belong to Him that everything in life will be easy. This may be true while you are new in your faith, but as you grow in the Lord and start proclaiming Christ you have to be sure that you are doing your due diligence. The more that God starts to use you for His purposes, the more you become a target for the devil. The devil does not want you working for God's glory or following God's calling.
There is perhaps no better book to read to shed light on demonic forces that are around us then C. S. Lewis's book "The Screwtape Letters". I think that the devil has been very crafty in these days at convincing society as a whole that he does not exist. What better way to dis-arm someone than to make it so people think oh it is just me that is screwed up, or I just don't have it together, when the real source of the problem is that you are under attack.
There is a certain risk in writing these things down in this blog. I do not want to have you quit seeking encouragement here because I believe that the devil exists. What I will write here now can apply to your life if you think the devil exists or not.
When you do proclaim Jesus Christ at some point you will face opposition. Regardless of the source of the opposition, be it external from the world or internal in your mind, these words from Paul's letter will see you through and allow you speak boldly.
You have to be ready at all times. I have encountered several struggles since starting to write this blog. With the help of my brothers and sisters in Christ I made it through the most recent battle. So today I bring these words from Paul's letter to the Ephesians to provide all of us guidance on the battles we all face.
This scripture starts with "Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power". This is really sound advice. We need to come to terms that we can not make it on our own and that we need the strength to make it through. Where our strength ends, Gods strength begins.
We are to "Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." It is not good enough just to wear the helmet you need to have the full armor on so that you are not vulnerable to attack.
Paul then tells us point blank that our battles are not just against flesh and blood but of really tough "dudes with power" and "against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens".
Because these are big league combatants Paul urges us to put on the full armor of God and having done everything, to stand.
So what makes up our armor?
1. belt of truth
2. breastplate of righteousness
3. shoes of the good news of peace
4. shield of Faith
5. helmet of salvation
6. the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God
7. prayer.
So for today let us all put on our whole armor of God. That we may be encouraged and have the confidence to speak boldly.
I think we need to camp out here for a while and study our armor. So I will continue God willing on this in the upcoming blog entries.
Amen
Music Encouragement His strength is perfect (steven curtis chapman)
10 Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power.
11 Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.
13 For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand.
14 Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace,
16 and in all of this, by taking up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints.
19 Pray for me also, that I may be given the message when I begin to speak – that I may confidently make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Eph 6:10-20). Biblical Studies Press.
There is an idea within the body of Christ that once you belong to Him that everything in life will be easy. This may be true while you are new in your faith, but as you grow in the Lord and start proclaiming Christ you have to be sure that you are doing your due diligence. The more that God starts to use you for His purposes, the more you become a target for the devil. The devil does not want you working for God's glory or following God's calling.
There is perhaps no better book to read to shed light on demonic forces that are around us then C. S. Lewis's book "The Screwtape Letters". I think that the devil has been very crafty in these days at convincing society as a whole that he does not exist. What better way to dis-arm someone than to make it so people think oh it is just me that is screwed up, or I just don't have it together, when the real source of the problem is that you are under attack.
There is a certain risk in writing these things down in this blog. I do not want to have you quit seeking encouragement here because I believe that the devil exists. What I will write here now can apply to your life if you think the devil exists or not.
When you do proclaim Jesus Christ at some point you will face opposition. Regardless of the source of the opposition, be it external from the world or internal in your mind, these words from Paul's letter will see you through and allow you speak boldly.
You have to be ready at all times. I have encountered several struggles since starting to write this blog. With the help of my brothers and sisters in Christ I made it through the most recent battle. So today I bring these words from Paul's letter to the Ephesians to provide all of us guidance on the battles we all face.
This scripture starts with "Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power". This is really sound advice. We need to come to terms that we can not make it on our own and that we need the strength to make it through. Where our strength ends, Gods strength begins.
We are to "Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." It is not good enough just to wear the helmet you need to have the full armor on so that you are not vulnerable to attack.
Paul then tells us point blank that our battles are not just against flesh and blood but of really tough "dudes with power" and "against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens".
Because these are big league combatants Paul urges us to put on the full armor of God and having done everything, to stand.
So what makes up our armor?
1. belt of truth
2. breastplate of righteousness
3. shoes of the good news of peace
4. shield of Faith
5. helmet of salvation
6. the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God
7. prayer.
So for today let us all put on our whole armor of God. That we may be encouraged and have the confidence to speak boldly.
I think we need to camp out here for a while and study our armor. So I will continue God willing on this in the upcoming blog entries.
Amen
Music Encouragement His strength is perfect (steven curtis chapman)
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Encouragement: Secure Footing
Here is your daily encouragement words and thoughts. Today I bring you encouragement from Psalm 40:1-5
I relied completely on the Lord,
and he turned toward me
and heard my cry for help.
2 He lifted me out of the watery pit,
out of the slimy mud.
He placed my feet on a rock
and gave me secure footing.
3 He gave me reason to sing a new song,
praising our God.
May many see what God has done,
so that they might swear allegiance to him and trust in the Lord!
4 How blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord
and does not seek help from the proud or from liars!
5 O Lord, my God, you have accomplished many things;
you have done amazing things and carried out your purposes for us.
No one can thwart you!
I want to declare them and talk about them,
but they are too numerous to recount!
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Ps 40:1-5). Biblical Studies Press.
When you make it though another day, no matter how difficult the day may have been, you made it through.
Our walk with God is an interesting relationship. It is so easy to see Him with us when we look in the rear view mirror, when we trace the steps that we have been. It is not always so easy to see God in "the now". He might be standing over us, or sitting beside us or perhaps we are sitting on His knee or maybe those everlasting arms are gripped tight around us, holding it all together. With this in mind maybe that is why it is so hard to see God in "the now" because He is so close.
Learning to trust God is so important to our relationship. Our psalm suggests that learning trust is possible by seeing what God has done in the lives of others. It also suggests that we may help others by recounting what God has done in or lives. Not bragging just humbley thanking God for what he has done in our lives
God is looking for people that trust him. It is a message that comes up over and over again in scripture. Trust develops from taking a chance on God. "I relied completely on the Lord, and he turned toward me" I am not sure that taking a chance is the right way to describe it , but taking a step and asking for Gods help allows the possiblity of a trust relationship. "He lifted me out of the watery pit, out of the slimy mud. He placed my feet on a rock and gave me secure footing." Secure footing I want that. The experience of results allows for growth. We also need to be sure that we look back, have a look in the review mirror. We may not feel that there are results in "the now". But when we look back we can see God all over the painting of our life.
As we walk on, may we be able to say "He gave me reason to sing a new song, praising our God. May many see what God has done"
Trust God. Let him write his word on your heart. Let your light shine, let others see what God has done in your life.
Amen
Music Encouragement Trust in the Lord - Don Moen
I relied completely on the Lord,
and he turned toward me
and heard my cry for help.
2 He lifted me out of the watery pit,
out of the slimy mud.
He placed my feet on a rock
and gave me secure footing.
3 He gave me reason to sing a new song,
praising our God.
May many see what God has done,
so that they might swear allegiance to him and trust in the Lord!
4 How blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord
and does not seek help from the proud or from liars!
5 O Lord, my God, you have accomplished many things;
you have done amazing things and carried out your purposes for us.
No one can thwart you!
I want to declare them and talk about them,
but they are too numerous to recount!
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Ps 40:1-5). Biblical Studies Press.
When you make it though another day, no matter how difficult the day may have been, you made it through.
Our walk with God is an interesting relationship. It is so easy to see Him with us when we look in the rear view mirror, when we trace the steps that we have been. It is not always so easy to see God in "the now". He might be standing over us, or sitting beside us or perhaps we are sitting on His knee or maybe those everlasting arms are gripped tight around us, holding it all together. With this in mind maybe that is why it is so hard to see God in "the now" because He is so close.
Learning to trust God is so important to our relationship. Our psalm suggests that learning trust is possible by seeing what God has done in the lives of others. It also suggests that we may help others by recounting what God has done in or lives. Not bragging just humbley thanking God for what he has done in our lives
God is looking for people that trust him. It is a message that comes up over and over again in scripture. Trust develops from taking a chance on God. "I relied completely on the Lord, and he turned toward me" I am not sure that taking a chance is the right way to describe it , but taking a step and asking for Gods help allows the possiblity of a trust relationship. "He lifted me out of the watery pit, out of the slimy mud. He placed my feet on a rock and gave me secure footing." Secure footing I want that. The experience of results allows for growth. We also need to be sure that we look back, have a look in the review mirror. We may not feel that there are results in "the now". But when we look back we can see God all over the painting of our life.
As we walk on, may we be able to say "He gave me reason to sing a new song, praising our God. May many see what God has done"
Trust God. Let him write his word on your heart. Let your light shine, let others see what God has done in your life.
Amen
Music Encouragement Trust in the Lord - Don Moen
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Encouragement: Heal me
Here is your daily encouragement words and thoughts. Today I bring you encouragement from Psalm 41:1-4
How blessed is the one who treats the poor properly!
When trouble comes, the Lord delivers him.
2 May the Lord protect him and save his life!
May he be blessed in the land!
Do not turn him over to his enemies!
3 The Lord supports him on his sickbed;
you completely heal him from his illness.
4 As for me, I said:
“O Lord, have mercy on me!
Heal me, for I have sinned against you!
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Ps 41:1-4). Biblical Studies Press.
My notes for today are best heard from the music I choose for today. I could not say it any better.
May God heal your wound but leave the scar!
Amen
How blessed is the one who treats the poor properly!
When trouble comes, the Lord delivers him.
2 May the Lord protect him and save his life!
May he be blessed in the land!
Do not turn him over to his enemies!
3 The Lord supports him on his sickbed;
you completely heal him from his illness.
4 As for me, I said:
“O Lord, have mercy on me!
Heal me, for I have sinned against you!
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Ps 41:1-4). Biblical Studies Press.
My notes for today are best heard from the music I choose for today. I could not say it any better.
Music Encouragement "Heal the Wound" Point of Grace
God bless you all for taking the time to read what God helps me write on these pages.May God heal your wound but leave the scar!
Amen
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Encouragement: Living Water
Here is your daily encouragement words and thoughts. Today I bring you encouragement from John 7:37-44
On the last day of the feast, the greatest day, Jesus stood up and shouted out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and
38 let the one who believes in me drink. Just as the scripture says, ‘From within him will flow rivers of living water.’”
39 (Now he said this about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were going to receive, for the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.)
40 When they heard these words, some of the crowd began to say, “This really is the Prophet!”
41 Others said, “This is the Christ!” But still others said, “No, for the Christ doesn’t come from Galilee, does he?
42 Don’t the scriptures say that the Christ is a descendant of David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”
43 So there was a division in the crowd because of Jesus.
44 Some of them were wanting to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Jn 7:37-44). Biblical Studies Press.
Living Water.
Jesus makes this invitation to us all today and just as it was when Jesus said these words we have a mixed response to day. Some believe with their hearts and some try to make sense of it all with logic.
Our logic, our common sense, our science based society all make the things of Jesus a challenge to accept. I guess the big stumbling block for our world today is that we have strived to be in control of everything and we are really believing we have it all figured out. Whether it be global warming, declining fish stocks, ozone holes, evolution, space exploration, population control, food production.
The problem is that as we set up our own rules that define how things are so that we can have a point of reference we limit what can be accepted as possible. We have our neat and tidy view of the canvas that God is painting with boundaries that say God is x cubits wide. God however is much larger that we can conceive by our mind.
God does however put a thirst in our being for His living water. When we drink and allow our minds to be open we find that we have access to a wonderful relationship with our creator.
So if this Sunday someone stood up in your church and shouted "“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. Just as the scripture says, ‘From within him will flow rivers of living water.’” Could he be accepted.
The wonderful thing is that even though you decline Jesus's offer today. He will offer it to you again tomorrow.
Receive the living water today.
Amen
Music Encouragement Let Your Living Water Flow
Peace like a River + Let your living water flow
On the last day of the feast, the greatest day, Jesus stood up and shouted out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and
38 let the one who believes in me drink. Just as the scripture says, ‘From within him will flow rivers of living water.’”
39 (Now he said this about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were going to receive, for the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.)
40 When they heard these words, some of the crowd began to say, “This really is the Prophet!”
41 Others said, “This is the Christ!” But still others said, “No, for the Christ doesn’t come from Galilee, does he?
42 Don’t the scriptures say that the Christ is a descendant of David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”
43 So there was a division in the crowd because of Jesus.
44 Some of them were wanting to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Jn 7:37-44). Biblical Studies Press.
Living Water.
Jesus makes this invitation to us all today and just as it was when Jesus said these words we have a mixed response to day. Some believe with their hearts and some try to make sense of it all with logic.
Our logic, our common sense, our science based society all make the things of Jesus a challenge to accept. I guess the big stumbling block for our world today is that we have strived to be in control of everything and we are really believing we have it all figured out. Whether it be global warming, declining fish stocks, ozone holes, evolution, space exploration, population control, food production.
The problem is that as we set up our own rules that define how things are so that we can have a point of reference we limit what can be accepted as possible. We have our neat and tidy view of the canvas that God is painting with boundaries that say God is x cubits wide. God however is much larger that we can conceive by our mind.
God does however put a thirst in our being for His living water. When we drink and allow our minds to be open we find that we have access to a wonderful relationship with our creator.
So if this Sunday someone stood up in your church and shouted "“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. Just as the scripture says, ‘From within him will flow rivers of living water.’” Could he be accepted.
The wonderful thing is that even though you decline Jesus's offer today. He will offer it to you again tomorrow.
Receive the living water today.
Amen
Music Encouragement Let Your Living Water Flow
Peace like a River + Let your living water flow
Friday, July 18, 2008
Encouragement: Confess to the Lord
Here is your daily encouragement words and thoughts. Today I bring you encouragement from Psalm 32
32:1 How blessed is the one whose rebellious acts are forgiven,
whose sin is pardoned!
2 How blessed is the one whose wrongdoing the Lord does not punish,
in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 When I refused to confess my sin,
my whole body wasted away,
while I groaned in pain all day long.
4 For day and night you tormented me;
you tried to destroy me in the intense heat of summer. (Selah)
5 Then I confessed my sin;
I no longer covered up my wrongdoing.
I said, “I will confess my rebellious acts to the Lord.”
And then you forgave my sins. (Selah)
6 For this reason every one of your faithful followers should pray to you
while there is a window of opportunity.
Certainly when the surging water rises,
it will not reach them.
7 You are my hiding place;
you protect me from distress.
You surround me with shouts of joy from those celebrating deliverance. (Selah)
8 I will instruct and teach you about how you should live.
I will advise you as I look you in the eye.
9 Do not be like an unintelligent horse or mule,
which will not obey you
unless they are controlled by a bridle and bit.
10 An evil person suffers much pain,
but the Lord’s faithfulness overwhelms the one who trusts in him.
11 Rejoice in the Lord and be happy, you who are godly!
Shout for joy, all you who are morally upright!
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Ps 32:1-11). Biblical Studies Press.
I like to visit this psalm on a regular basis. I am washed in Jesus blood, my sins forgiven. All too often though circumstances in our lives can bring us back to reflecting on our past. The past that Jesus has completed the work on.
This psalm helps you re-frame your focus. "How blessed is the one whose rebellious acts are forgiven, whose sin is pardoned!" What more direct message can we receive. We are blessed in the forgiveness.
The psalm then goes on to talk of our current needs. That we need to continue to confess our sin. “I will confess my rebellious acts to the Lord.” The thing to note here is we are instructed to confess to the Lord. We are not instructed to confess to one another. These issues are between you and the Lord.
"You are my hiding place; you protect me from distress. You surround me with shouts of joy from those celebrating deliverance"
You are my Lord and my God. May I continually trust in you Lord.
Amen
Music Encouragement Chris Tomlin - Amazing Love
32:1 How blessed is the one whose rebellious acts are forgiven,
whose sin is pardoned!
2 How blessed is the one whose wrongdoing the Lord does not punish,
in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 When I refused to confess my sin,
my whole body wasted away,
while I groaned in pain all day long.
4 For day and night you tormented me;
you tried to destroy me in the intense heat of summer. (Selah)
5 Then I confessed my sin;
I no longer covered up my wrongdoing.
I said, “I will confess my rebellious acts to the Lord.”
And then you forgave my sins. (Selah)
6 For this reason every one of your faithful followers should pray to you
while there is a window of opportunity.
Certainly when the surging water rises,
it will not reach them.
7 You are my hiding place;
you protect me from distress.
You surround me with shouts of joy from those celebrating deliverance. (Selah)
8 I will instruct and teach you about how you should live.
I will advise you as I look you in the eye.
9 Do not be like an unintelligent horse or mule,
which will not obey you
unless they are controlled by a bridle and bit.
10 An evil person suffers much pain,
but the Lord’s faithfulness overwhelms the one who trusts in him.
11 Rejoice in the Lord and be happy, you who are godly!
Shout for joy, all you who are morally upright!
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Ps 32:1-11). Biblical Studies Press.
I like to visit this psalm on a regular basis. I am washed in Jesus blood, my sins forgiven. All too often though circumstances in our lives can bring us back to reflecting on our past. The past that Jesus has completed the work on.
This psalm helps you re-frame your focus. "How blessed is the one whose rebellious acts are forgiven, whose sin is pardoned!" What more direct message can we receive. We are blessed in the forgiveness.
The psalm then goes on to talk of our current needs. That we need to continue to confess our sin. “I will confess my rebellious acts to the Lord.” The thing to note here is we are instructed to confess to the Lord. We are not instructed to confess to one another. These issues are between you and the Lord.
"You are my hiding place; you protect me from distress. You surround me with shouts of joy from those celebrating deliverance"
You are my Lord and my God. May I continually trust in you Lord.
Amen
Music Encouragement Chris Tomlin - Amazing Love
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Encouragement: Treating others to blessing
Here is your daily encouragement words and thoughts. Today I bring you encouragement from Luke 6:30-38
30 Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your possessions back from the person who takes them away.
31 Treat others in the same way that you would want them to treat you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same.
34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to be repaid, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, so that they may be repaid in full.
35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to ungrateful and evil people. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.
38 Give, and it will be given to you: A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be poured into your lap. For the measure you use will be the measure you receive.”
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Lk 6:30-38). Biblical Studies Press.
Why do you give of yourself to others?
Be it your time, your talents, your love, or your possessions or money. Jesus gives us some teaching here.
In our text today we start out with Jesus telling us to give to everyone that asks and if someone takes your stuff do not ask for it back. Wow what a hard concept to grasp today in our me me society. A society that says you had best work hard to take care of yourself because nobody else will.
On a recent trip to the big city I was walking in the downtown section and a man was sitting in the street holding out his hat. There were 3 pennies in the hat. I had no change in my pocket so I just walked past. I did not make eye contact but I did look back to see the person behind me give the man a few quarters. After coming out of the store from shopping, I did have change in my pocket. So as I walked by I gave the man the change that I had. When I put the money in there was only 3 pennies in the hat. As I walked away I thought to myself he must have a system down. "Look sir all I have is 3 cents to my name." I also questioned in my mind what is he going to do with this money.
In considering this whole thought process lets jump ahead to verse 37. "Do not judge, and you will not be judged." So if I am going to judge this man on what he was going to do with the money I gave him, how am I going to be judged on how I use the money God has entrusted to me. Wow!
Today's text also has the "Golden Rule" Verse 31. I remember being told this over and over again as a kid. It was not quoted to me as scripture but by the repetition, it was written into my heart. It is easy to take the concept into your heart but it is hard to do though when you have to take this to the level of dealing with your enemies. Jesus's teaching can be tough. Thanks be to God for grace.
So I ask again why give of yourself? Verse 38 says "Give, and it will be given to you: A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be poured into your lap. For the measure you use will be the measure you receive." Receiving a running over packed down portion sounds pretty good incentive to give.
Should you give then to get? No! But when you are giving, then you keep God's blessings flowing and everyone involved is encouraged. When you do not give the blessings stop and no one is encouraged or blessed.
Give of yourself as you are enabled by the Holy Spirit. Live in God's Blessing and be a blessing in Jesus name.
Amen
Music Encouragement "The Blessing" by John Waller
30 Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your possessions back from the person who takes them away.
31 Treat others in the same way that you would want them to treat you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same.
34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to be repaid, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, so that they may be repaid in full.
35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to ungrateful and evil people. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.
38 Give, and it will be given to you: A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be poured into your lap. For the measure you use will be the measure you receive.”
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Lk 6:30-38). Biblical Studies Press.
Why do you give of yourself to others?
Be it your time, your talents, your love, or your possessions or money. Jesus gives us some teaching here.
In our text today we start out with Jesus telling us to give to everyone that asks and if someone takes your stuff do not ask for it back. Wow what a hard concept to grasp today in our me me society. A society that says you had best work hard to take care of yourself because nobody else will.
On a recent trip to the big city I was walking in the downtown section and a man was sitting in the street holding out his hat. There were 3 pennies in the hat. I had no change in my pocket so I just walked past. I did not make eye contact but I did look back to see the person behind me give the man a few quarters. After coming out of the store from shopping, I did have change in my pocket. So as I walked by I gave the man the change that I had. When I put the money in there was only 3 pennies in the hat. As I walked away I thought to myself he must have a system down. "Look sir all I have is 3 cents to my name." I also questioned in my mind what is he going to do with this money.
In considering this whole thought process lets jump ahead to verse 37. "Do not judge, and you will not be judged." So if I am going to judge this man on what he was going to do with the money I gave him, how am I going to be judged on how I use the money God has entrusted to me. Wow!
Today's text also has the "Golden Rule" Verse 31. I remember being told this over and over again as a kid. It was not quoted to me as scripture but by the repetition, it was written into my heart. It is easy to take the concept into your heart but it is hard to do though when you have to take this to the level of dealing with your enemies. Jesus's teaching can be tough. Thanks be to God for grace.
So I ask again why give of yourself? Verse 38 says "Give, and it will be given to you: A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be poured into your lap. For the measure you use will be the measure you receive." Receiving a running over packed down portion sounds pretty good incentive to give.
Should you give then to get? No! But when you are giving, then you keep God's blessings flowing and everyone involved is encouraged. When you do not give the blessings stop and no one is encouraged or blessed.
Give of yourself as you are enabled by the Holy Spirit. Live in God's Blessing and be a blessing in Jesus name.
Amen
Music Encouragement "The Blessing" by John Waller
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Encouragement: His great love
Here is your daily encouragement words and thoughts. Today I bring you encouragement from Ephesians 2:4-10
But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, 5 even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you are saved! – 6 and he raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 to demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 it is not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Eph 2:4-10). Biblical Studies Press.
Because of his great love for us. Those are comforting words to hear. God loved us even though we were dead in our sin.
"By grace you have been saved." I used some of my fancy bible tools to have a look at the word that is translated saved here. In the Greek the word is in the perfect tense. Thus being "saved" here attends to both a completed action and a continuing result. In other words you have been saved and you are saved. I think that this is important to know because we are a work in progress. We will not be fully perfected until the lord takes us home.
Paul also really wants to drive home that grace is a gift from God and we have no part in the act of saving except to accept the gift. Paul adds that we are a result of God's workmanship. God does quality work. He made you and he has a plan for you. God did it in a way that makes sure that we can not claim or boast that we obtained the saved condition by our own account or on our own works.
So what about our works, do we not need to produce good works? Absolutely, we need to produce good works, but my good works and your good works are a result of having been saved. It is the spirit that now lives within us that brings forth the good works.
It is kind of cool that as part of God's plan, He intends to use us as his show piece, his hood ornament, to demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of his grace that he has bestowed on us.
Thank God that we have a God that is rich in mercy and full of freely given grace that we may walk in the light and rest on the completed work of Jesus Christ
Amen
Music Encouragement The grace of God by michael w smith
But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, 5 even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you are saved! – 6 and he raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 to demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 it is not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Eph 2:4-10). Biblical Studies Press.
Because of his great love for us. Those are comforting words to hear. God loved us even though we were dead in our sin.
"By grace you have been saved." I used some of my fancy bible tools to have a look at the word that is translated saved here. In the Greek the word is in the perfect tense. Thus being "saved" here attends to both a completed action and a continuing result. In other words you have been saved and you are saved. I think that this is important to know because we are a work in progress. We will not be fully perfected until the lord takes us home.
Paul also really wants to drive home that grace is a gift from God and we have no part in the act of saving except to accept the gift. Paul adds that we are a result of God's workmanship. God does quality work. He made you and he has a plan for you. God did it in a way that makes sure that we can not claim or boast that we obtained the saved condition by our own account or on our own works.
So what about our works, do we not need to produce good works? Absolutely, we need to produce good works, but my good works and your good works are a result of having been saved. It is the spirit that now lives within us that brings forth the good works.
It is kind of cool that as part of God's plan, He intends to use us as his show piece, his hood ornament, to demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of his grace that he has bestowed on us.
Thank God that we have a God that is rich in mercy and full of freely given grace that we may walk in the light and rest on the completed work of Jesus Christ
Amen
Music Encouragement The grace of God by michael w smith
Monday, July 14, 2008
Encouragement: My protector.
Here is your daily encouragement words and thoughts. Today I bring you encouragement from Psalm 28:1-9
To you, O Lord, I cry out!
My protector, do not ignore me!
If you do not respond to me,
I will join those who are descending into the grave.
2 Hear my plea for mercy when I cry out to you for help,
when I lift my hands toward your holy temple!
3 Do not drag me away with evil men,
with those who behave wickedly,
who talk so friendly to their neighbors,
while they plan to harm them!
4 Pay them back for their evil deeds!
Pay them back for what they do!
Punish them!
5 For they do not understand the Lord’s actions,
or the way he carries out justice.
The Lord will permanently demolish them.
6 The Lord deserves praise,
for he has heard my plea for mercy!
7 The Lord strengthens and protects me;
I trust in him with all my heart.
I am rescued and my heart is full of joy;
I will sing to him in gratitude.
8 The Lord strengthens his people;
he protects and delivers his chosen king.
9 Deliver your people!
Empower the nation that belongs to you!
Care for them like a shepherd and carry them in your arms at all times!
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Ps 28:1-9). Biblical Studies Press.
We are back in Psalm 28. Last time I focused on the trust relationship with God.
I recently listened to a message by Louis Giglio about prayer. Louis suggested that prayer should be a constant communication with God. All to often we go to God in prayer when we need something or are in trouble.
This psalm is in essence a prayer. David starts this psalm with some doubt in his voice, To use today's words "Hey God I have like got a problem, a big problem, and if you ain't helping me I am done for." I have prayed a few like that myself over the years. This is however the pattern of most of David's psalms he starts out in a flap and by the end his focus is off himself and onto God.
Verse 3 is a real warning to us to examine our own actions in life. It says "Do not drag me away with evil men,with those who behave wickedly, who talk so friendly to their neighbors, while they plan to harm them! I would be so bold as to say that this description of evil might even apply to those that are nice to our face but talk bad about us when we are not around. We need to reflect on our own dealing with people to make sure we do not slip into this class.
Verse 5 is the turning point in the Psalm. Here David starts to focus on the Lord.
It is unclear if David saw results or if his confidence in the Lord was restored.
The crown of this psalm comes in the last line where David prays "Care for them like a shepherd and carry them in your arms at all times!" My God carrying my country, carrying me in His arms at all times. What a picture of our God. May David's Prayer be so.
"The Lord strengthens and protects me; I trust in him with all my heart."
Amen
Music Encouragement Superchick- Crawl (Carry me through)
To you, O Lord, I cry out!
My protector, do not ignore me!
If you do not respond to me,
I will join those who are descending into the grave.
2 Hear my plea for mercy when I cry out to you for help,
when I lift my hands toward your holy temple!
3 Do not drag me away with evil men,
with those who behave wickedly,
who talk so friendly to their neighbors,
while they plan to harm them!
4 Pay them back for their evil deeds!
Pay them back for what they do!
Punish them!
5 For they do not understand the Lord’s actions,
or the way he carries out justice.
The Lord will permanently demolish them.
6 The Lord deserves praise,
for he has heard my plea for mercy!
7 The Lord strengthens and protects me;
I trust in him with all my heart.
I am rescued and my heart is full of joy;
I will sing to him in gratitude.
8 The Lord strengthens his people;
he protects and delivers his chosen king.
9 Deliver your people!
Empower the nation that belongs to you!
Care for them like a shepherd and carry them in your arms at all times!
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Ps 28:1-9). Biblical Studies Press.
We are back in Psalm 28. Last time I focused on the trust relationship with God.
I recently listened to a message by Louis Giglio about prayer. Louis suggested that prayer should be a constant communication with God. All to often we go to God in prayer when we need something or are in trouble.
This psalm is in essence a prayer. David starts this psalm with some doubt in his voice, To use today's words "Hey God I have like got a problem, a big problem, and if you ain't helping me I am done for." I have prayed a few like that myself over the years. This is however the pattern of most of David's psalms he starts out in a flap and by the end his focus is off himself and onto God.
Verse 3 is a real warning to us to examine our own actions in life. It says "Do not drag me away with evil men,with those who behave wickedly, who talk so friendly to their neighbors, while they plan to harm them! I would be so bold as to say that this description of evil might even apply to those that are nice to our face but talk bad about us when we are not around. We need to reflect on our own dealing with people to make sure we do not slip into this class.
Verse 5 is the turning point in the Psalm. Here David starts to focus on the Lord.
It is unclear if David saw results or if his confidence in the Lord was restored.
The crown of this psalm comes in the last line where David prays "Care for them like a shepherd and carry them in your arms at all times!" My God carrying my country, carrying me in His arms at all times. What a picture of our God. May David's Prayer be so.
"The Lord strengthens and protects me; I trust in him with all my heart."
Amen
Music Encouragement Superchick- Crawl (Carry me through)
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Encouragement: Our intermediary
Here is your daily encouragement words and thoughts. Today I bring you encouragement from 1 Timothy 2:1-6
First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people,
2 even for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
3 Such prayer for all is good and welcomed before God our Savior,
4 since he wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God and one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human,
6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, revealing God’s purpose at his appointed time.
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (1 Ti 2:1-6). Biblical Studies Press.
This text speaks for it's self. I seek in my life to try and lead a peaceful and quiet life, trusting in the work of our intermediary.
Amen
Music Encouragement SVD Moments-- A Peaceful Life
First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people,
2 even for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
3 Such prayer for all is good and welcomed before God our Savior,
4 since he wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God and one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human,
6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, revealing God’s purpose at his appointed time.
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (1 Ti 2:1-6). Biblical Studies Press.
This text speaks for it's self. I seek in my life to try and lead a peaceful and quiet life, trusting in the work of our intermediary.
Amen
Music Encouragement SVD Moments-- A Peaceful Life
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Encouragement: Craving more
Here is your daily encouragement words and thoughts. Today I bring you encouragement from Ecclesiastes 6:7-9
7 All of man’s labor is for nothing more than to fill his stomach –
yet his appetite is never satisfied!
8 So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool?
And what advantage does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive?
9 It is better to be content with what the eyes can see
than for one’s heart always to crave more.
This continual longing is futile – like chasing the wind.
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Ec 6:7-9). Biblical Studies Press.
I struggled at first today to call today's entry an encouragement. But it was what came to my desktop this morning.
I feel the writers proclamation. I tend to do a lot of wind chasing. It always seems like we chase after the things we want not just what we need. And the hunger for more seems to be there even stronger after we obtain our goal.
Have you ever went to your fridge after supper feeling hungry not knowing what you want. So you look through the whole fridge and the cupboards. Still not knowing you finally decide that you will eat some fruit maybe that will satisfy. Still hungry, so you look some more then you eat that piece of pie, that was very good but you are still not satisfied, so you open the freezer and get that bowl of ice cream. Now at that point you are no longer hungry you may have a belly ache but you still do not "feel satisfied" I am sure everyone can relate to this.
Some times in our lives we have this hunger for more things and when we get more things the hunger is still there. Enough is never enough. Perhaps like the trip to the fridge we are not really identifying what the hunger or craving is.
Matt 6:33 "But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." or from the KJV "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. "
When we strive and struggle to satisfy our craving with things on our own we may have the sensation okay but is that all there must be more. Maybe like our trip to the fridge, we are not identfying our need. Perhaps the craving we feel is actually a craving for the Lord.
We need seek Him first to satisfy the hunger within us. Then with our priorities in the right place, we then end up with things added unto us. We still may have to work hard for the things but we are not chasing after the things in hunger, we are not chasing the wind.
Our world likes to chase after things and money. Try not to do it on your own. Let God satisfy the hunger, then we can identify our needs verses our wants. There is nothing wrong with having things but just like our message from the other day "Do not wear yourself out" chasing the wind.
Amen
Music Encouragement Fill My Cup, Lord
7 All of man’s labor is for nothing more than to fill his stomach –
yet his appetite is never satisfied!
8 So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool?
And what advantage does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive?
9 It is better to be content with what the eyes can see
than for one’s heart always to crave more.
This continual longing is futile – like chasing the wind.
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Ec 6:7-9). Biblical Studies Press.
I struggled at first today to call today's entry an encouragement. But it was what came to my desktop this morning.
I feel the writers proclamation. I tend to do a lot of wind chasing. It always seems like we chase after the things we want not just what we need. And the hunger for more seems to be there even stronger after we obtain our goal.
Have you ever went to your fridge after supper feeling hungry not knowing what you want. So you look through the whole fridge and the cupboards. Still not knowing you finally decide that you will eat some fruit maybe that will satisfy. Still hungry, so you look some more then you eat that piece of pie, that was very good but you are still not satisfied, so you open the freezer and get that bowl of ice cream. Now at that point you are no longer hungry you may have a belly ache but you still do not "feel satisfied" I am sure everyone can relate to this.
Some times in our lives we have this hunger for more things and when we get more things the hunger is still there. Enough is never enough. Perhaps like the trip to the fridge we are not really identifying what the hunger or craving is.
Matt 6:33 "But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." or from the KJV "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. "
When we strive and struggle to satisfy our craving with things on our own we may have the sensation okay but is that all there must be more. Maybe like our trip to the fridge, we are not identfying our need. Perhaps the craving we feel is actually a craving for the Lord.
We need seek Him first to satisfy the hunger within us. Then with our priorities in the right place, we then end up with things added unto us. We still may have to work hard for the things but we are not chasing after the things in hunger, we are not chasing the wind.
Our world likes to chase after things and money. Try not to do it on your own. Let God satisfy the hunger, then we can identify our needs verses our wants. There is nothing wrong with having things but just like our message from the other day "Do not wear yourself out" chasing the wind.
Amen
Music Encouragement Fill My Cup, Lord
Friday, July 11, 2008
Encouragement: Doing your Giving
Here is your daily encouragement words and thoughts. Today I bring you encouragement from Matthew 6:1-4
6:1 “Be careful not to display your righteousness merely to be seen by people. Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in heaven.
2 Thus whenever you do charitable giving, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in synagogues and on streets so that people will praise them. I tell you the truth, they have their reward.
3 But when you do your giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 so that your gift may be in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Mt 6:1-4). Biblical Studies Press.
Giving is an important part of our worship. We receive some important instruction from Jesus in this passage. He warns us to do our giving in secret not to be seen by other people. This can be very difficult when we want to be identified as participating with God and to encourage other people to do the same.
What we fail to remember is this God we worship is huge. He created everything out of nothing. C. S. Lewis wrote "By definition: For God to be God, He has no needs because he created everything from nothing."
So with this in mind we are back to viewing our giving as something that we need to do in order to grow in our relationship to God. It has nothing to do with what God needs but it has everything to do with our need to give and give with a joy filled heart.
So we must learn to put away our trumpets and give to God in secret. Funny thing is that it is often easier to give more this way. I think it is because we have moved from giving to "God's need" to giving as a participation in worship in response for what He has done for us.
Amen
Music Encouragement Third Day - Offerings
6:1 “Be careful not to display your righteousness merely to be seen by people. Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in heaven.
2 Thus whenever you do charitable giving, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in synagogues and on streets so that people will praise them. I tell you the truth, they have their reward.
3 But when you do your giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 so that your gift may be in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Mt 6:1-4). Biblical Studies Press.
Giving is an important part of our worship. We receive some important instruction from Jesus in this passage. He warns us to do our giving in secret not to be seen by other people. This can be very difficult when we want to be identified as participating with God and to encourage other people to do the same.
What we fail to remember is this God we worship is huge. He created everything out of nothing. C. S. Lewis wrote "By definition: For God to be God, He has no needs because he created everything from nothing."
So with this in mind we are back to viewing our giving as something that we need to do in order to grow in our relationship to God. It has nothing to do with what God needs but it has everything to do with our need to give and give with a joy filled heart.
So we must learn to put away our trumpets and give to God in secret. Funny thing is that it is often easier to give more this way. I think it is because we have moved from giving to "God's need" to giving as a participation in worship in response for what He has done for us.
Amen
Music Encouragement Third Day - Offerings
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Encouragement: Wise enough
Here is your daily encouragement words and thoughts. Today I bring you encouragement from Proverbs 23:4
4 Do not wear yourself out to become rich;
be wise enough to restrain yourself.
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Pr 23:4). Biblical Studies Press.
Oh Lord when will I be wise enough to take your advice.
It is so easy to get caught up in or worlds quest for wealth. This good old world is also very good at setting traps for us to get into debt so that we have to keep running on the thread mill of working just to put food on the table and make the payments.
Our education system is very good at training specialists but we do a poor job of training our youth to know how to handle money. They need to know that you do not borrow money to buy things. When you borrow money it should only be to invest in something that is going to make you money. Even borrowing money for a house should be carefully considered to not go beyond your means.
I learned this the hard way like everyone else.
Our system also sets traps for our youth by sending them pre-approved credit card applications with the catch phrase you graduated you deserve credit.
If one could avoid these traps life could be much easier.
But even when we get our lives in order we still need to hear the words from proverbs. "Do not wear yourself out to become rich;be wise enough to restrain yourself." I think I am going to make myself a poster with these words on it and place it in my office so I can reflect on them every day.
Be wise.
Amen
Music Encouragement As the Deer ( I want you more than gold or silver)
4 Do not wear yourself out to become rich;
be wise enough to restrain yourself.
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Pr 23:4). Biblical Studies Press.
Oh Lord when will I be wise enough to take your advice.
It is so easy to get caught up in or worlds quest for wealth. This good old world is also very good at setting traps for us to get into debt so that we have to keep running on the thread mill of working just to put food on the table and make the payments.
Our education system is very good at training specialists but we do a poor job of training our youth to know how to handle money. They need to know that you do not borrow money to buy things. When you borrow money it should only be to invest in something that is going to make you money. Even borrowing money for a house should be carefully considered to not go beyond your means.
I learned this the hard way like everyone else.
Our system also sets traps for our youth by sending them pre-approved credit card applications with the catch phrase you graduated you deserve credit.
If one could avoid these traps life could be much easier.
But even when we get our lives in order we still need to hear the words from proverbs. "Do not wear yourself out to become rich;be wise enough to restrain yourself." I think I am going to make myself a poster with these words on it and place it in my office so I can reflect on them every day.
Be wise.
Amen
Music Encouragement As the Deer ( I want you more than gold or silver)
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Encouragement: Blessed giving
Here is your daily encouragement words and thoughts. Today I bring you encouragement from Proverbs 22:9
A generous person will be blessed,
for he gives some of his food to the poor.
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Pr 22:9). Biblical Studies Press.
I have been on a quest over the last couple of years trying to come to terms with how giving is a part of my relationship with God. In my first studying on giving I became very aware of regulatory giving. Tithing, first fruits etc. God can do wonderful things when people tithe. But the giving relationship with God goes far beyond obligation giving. I am not saying you have to give far more than the tithe, but it is the attitude of the giving that is so important.
God has put into our hearts the need to give. He as asked us to love one another. When we give out of thankfulness of what we have. Then the joy of giving fills our hearts.
Sometimes God surprises us with riches we did not expect. Sometimes we work hard for our money. Thing is, God gave us the talent to do what we do to make the money. So the question we should ask God when we reflect on our wealth is "God, what is this for?"
Our lives are filled with opportunities to give. We can give money, things, food, our time, or talents. When we give we are not just restricted to the Sunday offering plate. When we discern a need and we feel in our hearts that this is an opportunity to be a cheerful giver of God, then take the opportunity to Praise God with a special offering and even better if you have done it in secret. Giving not out of obligation but out of joy and in that joy that you may be blessed as our psalm suggests.
Someone once pointed out to me that anyone who has less than you is poor from your point of reference. Make sure you do not miss their need.
One way to understand the joy of giving is to look at how we feel at christmas. Think of the joy we feel when we prepare and give gifts to each other. Most instances the giver has more joy than the receiver.
When we raise this to the level of giving in our relationship to God the same joy is in the giving.
I have often felt uncomfortable when someone has given to me. Where I am on the receiving end. My pride stands in the way of me freely receiving. I have tried to learn to graciously accept God's gifts and ask Him "What is that for, God"
Some times as a receiver you are the end point of the gift, sometimes the gift enables you to do other things that keep the grace of Gods giving spirit moving. The receiver plays a huge part in God's plan, in that they have been chosen as an outlet for the blessing of God to flow. Both the blessing of the giver and the blessing of the receiver.
Be generous, give some of your own food to the poor, be blessed.
Amen
Music Encouragement Thank You For Giving To The Lord ~ Ray Boltz
A generous person will be blessed,
for he gives some of his food to the poor.
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Pr 22:9). Biblical Studies Press.
I have been on a quest over the last couple of years trying to come to terms with how giving is a part of my relationship with God. In my first studying on giving I became very aware of regulatory giving. Tithing, first fruits etc. God can do wonderful things when people tithe. But the giving relationship with God goes far beyond obligation giving. I am not saying you have to give far more than the tithe, but it is the attitude of the giving that is so important.
God has put into our hearts the need to give. He as asked us to love one another. When we give out of thankfulness of what we have. Then the joy of giving fills our hearts.
Sometimes God surprises us with riches we did not expect. Sometimes we work hard for our money. Thing is, God gave us the talent to do what we do to make the money. So the question we should ask God when we reflect on our wealth is "God, what is this for?"
Our lives are filled with opportunities to give. We can give money, things, food, our time, or talents. When we give we are not just restricted to the Sunday offering plate. When we discern a need and we feel in our hearts that this is an opportunity to be a cheerful giver of God, then take the opportunity to Praise God with a special offering and even better if you have done it in secret. Giving not out of obligation but out of joy and in that joy that you may be blessed as our psalm suggests.
Someone once pointed out to me that anyone who has less than you is poor from your point of reference. Make sure you do not miss their need.
One way to understand the joy of giving is to look at how we feel at christmas. Think of the joy we feel when we prepare and give gifts to each other. Most instances the giver has more joy than the receiver.
When we raise this to the level of giving in our relationship to God the same joy is in the giving.
I have often felt uncomfortable when someone has given to me. Where I am on the receiving end. My pride stands in the way of me freely receiving. I have tried to learn to graciously accept God's gifts and ask Him "What is that for, God"
Some times as a receiver you are the end point of the gift, sometimes the gift enables you to do other things that keep the grace of Gods giving spirit moving. The receiver plays a huge part in God's plan, in that they have been chosen as an outlet for the blessing of God to flow. Both the blessing of the giver and the blessing of the receiver.
Be generous, give some of your own food to the poor, be blessed.
Amen
Music Encouragement Thank You For Giving To The Lord ~ Ray Boltz
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Encouragement: Trust in Him
Here is your daily encouragement words and thoughts. Today I bring you encouragement from Psalm 28:7
The Lord strengthens and protects me;
I trust in him with all my heart.
I am rescued and my heart is full of joy;
I will sing to him in gratitude.
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Ps 28:7). Biblical Studies Press.
God is searching for people that trust Him. There is indeed joy in my heart when I am able to trust him.
Amen
Music Encouragement Trust in The Lord
The Lord strengthens and protects me;
I trust in him with all my heart.
I am rescued and my heart is full of joy;
I will sing to him in gratitude.
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Ps 28:7). Biblical Studies Press.
God is searching for people that trust Him. There is indeed joy in my heart when I am able to trust him.
Amen
Music Encouragement Trust in The Lord
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