Deuteronomy 28:47-48
Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and a glad heart for the abundance of all things; therefore you shall serve your enemies...
The Lord has been showing me the need for joy in life, work and ministry. Why are we so petty and why do we complain about the smallest things ? I think because we are looking for joy in circumstances. If the joy that is in us is from the Lord, then nothing can smother it. If our joy is in good food, good feelings, good weather, good pay, no problems,etc... then we will constantly be floating in and out of joy.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
the art of small talk
in response to my own post...
I do think there is a place for small talk and I don't think every single conversation has to be a deep theological discussion to meet the requirements for redeeming the time.
I do think there is a place for small talk and I don't think every single conversation has to be a deep theological discussion to meet the requirements for redeeming the time.
Stephen knew the Old Testament
I read Acts 6-7 this morning and found about 18 things about Stephen that I thought were noteworthy. In some ways, this feels like an outlet to me. I have a desire to share truth, but those outlets are different now. Here they are:
Stephen:
1. He had a good reputation. ( 6:3)
2. He was full of the Holy Spirit. ( 6:3)
3. He was full of wisdom ( 6:3)
4. He was reliable. ( 6:3)
5. He was full of faith. ( 6:5)
6. He was full of grace. ( 6:8)
7. He was full of power. ( 6:8)
8. He faced opposition/ criticism. ( 6:9,12)
9. He could not be refuted. ( 6:10)
10. He was lied about/ falsely accused. ( 6:13)
11. He was misunderstood. ( 6:13)
12. He was ready to testify. ( 7:1) see also I Peter 3:15
13. He was bold ( whole chapter)
14. He was informed of OT history and could quote OT passages at length.
15. He was willing to confront sin. ( 7:51)
16. In a crisis, he kept his eyes on Jesus. ( 7:55) ( He had eyes of faith to see Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father... did anyone else there see this ? )
17. When things turned ugly, he didn't change his mind to avoid pain /even death... he was willing to die for what he was convinced of. ( 7:58)
18. He was gracious to those who opposed him. ( 7:60)
Note: There are times when I read the word without a pen and paper and it still means something to me,however, when I write down what I read it adds so much. I can't say this enough: study with pen and paper. Write it down !
Stephen:
1. He had a good reputation. ( 6:3)
2. He was full of the Holy Spirit. ( 6:3)
3. He was full of wisdom ( 6:3)
4. He was reliable. ( 6:3)
5. He was full of faith. ( 6:5)
6. He was full of grace. ( 6:8)
7. He was full of power. ( 6:8)
8. He faced opposition/ criticism. ( 6:9,12)
9. He could not be refuted. ( 6:10)
10. He was lied about/ falsely accused. ( 6:13)
11. He was misunderstood. ( 6:13)
12. He was ready to testify. ( 7:1) see also I Peter 3:15
13. He was bold ( whole chapter)
14. He was informed of OT history and could quote OT passages at length.
15. He was willing to confront sin. ( 7:51)
16. In a crisis, he kept his eyes on Jesus. ( 7:55) ( He had eyes of faith to see Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father... did anyone else there see this ? )
17. When things turned ugly, he didn't change his mind to avoid pain /even death... he was willing to die for what he was convinced of. ( 7:58)
18. He was gracious to those who opposed him. ( 7:60)
Note: There are times when I read the word without a pen and paper and it still means something to me,however, when I write down what I read it adds so much. I can't say this enough: study with pen and paper. Write it down !
Thursday, September 17, 2009
little by little
I found Deut 7:22 to be very encouraging. The Lord told His people that He would conquer the nations before them and give them the land... however, it would be little by little and not all at once. This verse helped me to grab a perspective on how God works.
Monday, September 14, 2009
knowing the future
Sometimes I ask people : " if you could know the future, would you want to know it ? "
Usually, they don't. You have chosen wisely. I think if we knew the future we would either get discouraged or become complacent. Recently I came across some good words for comfort in uncertain times...
Psalm 4:8 In peace, I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.
Psalm 9:10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You. For You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.
2 Timothy 4:18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Usually, they don't. You have chosen wisely. I think if we knew the future we would either get discouraged or become complacent. Recently I came across some good words for comfort in uncertain times...
Psalm 4:8 In peace, I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.
Psalm 9:10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You. For You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.
2 Timothy 4:18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
slow and disinterested
It seems to me that the cure for " the blues" is to serve other people. When I am involved in caring, praying for and serving other people I feel God's pleasure and sense a real purpose that goes beyond just surviving and paying bills.
Mark 10:45 For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many.
Mark 10:45 For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
faith
Jesus said in Luke 17 that if you had faith the size of a mustard seed that you could tell a mulberry tree to move to the sea and it would obey you. Have you ever tried to move a tree before ? It's not easy. Last year I tried to move a small oleander out of our side yard and I couldn't do it. It took a large truck to move this thing after I had been digging for hours.
It seems like Jesus is saying: do you think this ____________ is impossible ? If you have faith... it can happen. I think I doubt to protect myself. I stay negative and pessimistic so I won't get my hopes up so that when it doesn't happen I can say : "well, I figured that..."
What builds your faith ? ( see Romans 10:17)
Faith comes from hearing...
and hearing by the word of Christ.
Application: how have you found ways to have Christ's word go through you ?
It seems like Jesus is saying: do you think this ____________ is impossible ? If you have faith... it can happen. I think I doubt to protect myself. I stay negative and pessimistic so I won't get my hopes up so that when it doesn't happen I can say : "well, I figured that..."
What builds your faith ? ( see Romans 10:17)
Faith comes from hearing...
and hearing by the word of Christ.
Application: how have you found ways to have Christ's word go through you ?
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