Ever notice people who are affluent are not impressed by other people with money. God is the most affluent person in the world; He's not impressed by Mr. Gates, Mr. Warren, or Mr King or Queen. In context, when I do my best, bring my best to the table, doesn't amount to a hill of beans. Grace is a gift, can't be earned or bought.
Ephesians 2:8 (The Message)
7-10Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.
As a Christ follower, only when I'm connected to the source, any branch sprouting off a vine doesn't have to struggle to grow, or work to produce fruit. It gains its strength from its life source: The Vine. In the same way, when we make God our life source, we don't have to measure up to a list of criteria in order to be a "good Christian." Our lives will bear good fruit when we are simply connected to Jesus.
Thankfully, there is nothing we can do to make God love us more. Our striving doesn't impress him, and merely leaves us worn out. But when we connect with Jesus daily in prayer, and feed on his Word, we receive the power to live the life we've always wanted. That ruffles the feathers of 99% of the religions out there.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Why are we here? Pt 2
Why do we go to preschool? To prepare us for school. Why do we go to school? To prepare us for a career. Why do we get a career? So we can survive life, get married, raise a family etc. Why do many of us have kids or pets? To bring us joy, fulfillment.
As a parent, I enjoy watching my kids play in the pool. The "safe" way in, is to step and glide in. The "fast" way, is to jump in. The "entertaining" way, is to go off the high dive! Is any way right or wrong? Not really, just different.
My friend James says-"Jumping off a high dive when you are 6 years old is pretty scary. But really it is just one little step. The rest is gravity. Before you know it, you are in the water laughing ready for another go.
So it is with God. Letting go and letting God is scary. But it is spiritual gravity in that when we do, He is there with us all the way—enabling, empowering, and sometimes even carrying us through. With God the 'I cant’s' turn into 'He can,' and 'I will.' God did not save us to put us on a shelf like a trophy. He made us to be part of His purpose. He made us in His image to be part of His family. He gave it all for us and He expects His kids to behave the same way. We have been given so much."
He goes on to say-"Jesus never promised His way was SAFE. He did, however, promise peace...
In C.S. Lewis’ Narnia stories, the children were worried about their first encounter with Aslan, the great lion who represents Jesus. Susan asks, 'Is he safe?' Mrs. Beaver replies, 'Who said anything about being safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe! But he’s good, and he is the King.' Aslan was far from being tamed and housebroken. But he was good, and just, and strong enough to defeat evil. And once the children met Aslan, they began the adventure of their lives."
Sometimes, there are several ways into the pool of life. Yes, some ways are safer than others, yet, God our father may get a chuckle every so often; we may belly flop, but He's there to comfort us when we get the wind knocked out of us.
As a parent, I enjoy watching my kids play in the pool. The "safe" way in, is to step and glide in. The "fast" way, is to jump in. The "entertaining" way, is to go off the high dive! Is any way right or wrong? Not really, just different.
My friend James says-"Jumping off a high dive when you are 6 years old is pretty scary. But really it is just one little step. The rest is gravity. Before you know it, you are in the water laughing ready for another go.
So it is with God. Letting go and letting God is scary. But it is spiritual gravity in that when we do, He is there with us all the way—enabling, empowering, and sometimes even carrying us through. With God the 'I cant’s' turn into 'He can,' and 'I will.' God did not save us to put us on a shelf like a trophy. He made us to be part of His purpose. He made us in His image to be part of His family. He gave it all for us and He expects His kids to behave the same way. We have been given so much."
He goes on to say-"Jesus never promised His way was SAFE. He did, however, promise peace...
In C.S. Lewis’ Narnia stories, the children were worried about their first encounter with Aslan, the great lion who represents Jesus. Susan asks, 'Is he safe?' Mrs. Beaver replies, 'Who said anything about being safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe! But he’s good, and he is the King.' Aslan was far from being tamed and housebroken. But he was good, and just, and strong enough to defeat evil. And once the children met Aslan, they began the adventure of their lives."
Sometimes, there are several ways into the pool of life. Yes, some ways are safer than others, yet, God our father may get a chuckle every so often; we may belly flop, but He's there to comfort us when we get the wind knocked out of us.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
The God Factor
When faced with a difficult circumstance we often focus on the the emotional aspect of whatever that problem might be. That fear combined with anxiety, and uncertainty, many times can handicap keeping things in perspective. Nothing causes us to lose perspective like fear of what tomorrow might bring. We tend to forget or discount the God factor. Consequently, many times those decisions are made in fear. God’s desire is to do something great in our lives and give us a proper perspective.
That being said, our greatest fear is God’s greatest opportunity. Remember:
Moses and the parting of the Red Sea
Noah and the flood
David and Goliath
Elisha and the 500 prophets of Baal
Jericho and the walls fall down.
Gideon's 300
Job
Joesph
That being said, our greatest fear is God’s greatest opportunity. Remember:
Moses and the parting of the Red Sea
Noah and the flood
David and Goliath
Elisha and the 500 prophets of Baal
Jericho and the walls fall down.
Gideon's 300
Job
Joesph
Saturday, April 17, 2010
I am not skilled to understand
" I am not skilled to understand, what God has willed what God has planned.
I only know at his right hand, stands one who is my Savior.
I take Him at His word and deed, Christ died to save me this I read.
And in my heart I find the need, for Him to be my Saviour.
That He would leave his place on high, and come for sinful man to die.
You count it strange so once did I, before I knew my Saviour.
Yes, living, dying, let me bring, my strength my solace in this spring.
That He who lives to be my king, once died to be my Saviour..."
A Shust
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt0WluTpFTg
I only know at his right hand, stands one who is my Savior.
I take Him at His word and deed, Christ died to save me this I read.
And in my heart I find the need, for Him to be my Saviour.
That He would leave his place on high, and come for sinful man to die.
You count it strange so once did I, before I knew my Saviour.
Yes, living, dying, let me bring, my strength my solace in this spring.
That He who lives to be my king, once died to be my Saviour..."
A Shust
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt0WluTpFTg
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Why are we here? pt 1
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20cor%205:%209-12;&version=51;
Ultimately, our goal is to glorify God. His part is to use us in his plans and purposes; our part is to be FAT- Faithful, Available, and Teachable, or PHAT- Persistently Honoring All That. How do we do that? As you go through the day today specifically, think about what little things you can do to honor God, to be used by Him, to keep humble and seek His face as you go about your day.
Are we going to mess up and drop the ball at times? Yep, the last time someone didn't was like what, 2010 years ago?
Ultimately, our goal is to glorify God. His part is to use us in his plans and purposes; our part is to be FAT- Faithful, Available, and Teachable, or PHAT- Persistently Honoring All That. How do we do that? As you go through the day today specifically, think about what little things you can do to honor God, to be used by Him, to keep humble and seek His face as you go about your day.
Are we going to mess up and drop the ball at times? Yep, the last time someone didn't was like what, 2010 years ago?
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Facades
"Hey, how's it going?" "Great, how 'bout you?"
"How was school today?" "Fine."
Facades. Are you really okay? How was school, really?
I recently read a story about an elderly woman back in Massachusetts. Everyone loved to help her. When a neighbor noticed her lawn getting long, she paid a grandson to mow it each week. A local church, as an expression of charity, painted her house. During winter, her exterior pipes cracked and the utility company fixed them without comment or cost. And so she lived alone in her beautiful little home quietly and disturbing no one.
But here's the deal; she had died four years earlier of natural causes. The respectable, external appearance of her house had hidden the reality of what was true on the inside. The beautiful exterior had disguised the death inside.
Something similar can happen to us. We spend all of our energy fixing up and maintaining the exterior while we are dying inside spiritually. The Bible says that surrender is the better option. Giving up, or rather giving over, the control of our life to the One who can best guide our footsteps.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%204:16&version=NIV
"How was school today?" "Fine."
Facades. Are you really okay? How was school, really?
I recently read a story about an elderly woman back in Massachusetts. Everyone loved to help her. When a neighbor noticed her lawn getting long, she paid a grandson to mow it each week. A local church, as an expression of charity, painted her house. During winter, her exterior pipes cracked and the utility company fixed them without comment or cost. And so she lived alone in her beautiful little home quietly and disturbing no one.
But here's the deal; she had died four years earlier of natural causes. The respectable, external appearance of her house had hidden the reality of what was true on the inside. The beautiful exterior had disguised the death inside.
Something similar can happen to us. We spend all of our energy fixing up and maintaining the exterior while we are dying inside spiritually. The Bible says that surrender is the better option. Giving up, or rather giving over, the control of our life to the One who can best guide our footsteps.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%204:16&version=NIV
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