I bet 7 years later most of us still remember where we were and what we were doing on that tragic day that has simply become known as 9-11. There have been a lot of tragic days since then.
Many Mom's and Dad's have given their lives in defense of their nation. (This may not be politically correct but I mean Mom's and Dad's on both sides of the conflict)
This morning, in our staff meeting, we prayed for the victims both from that tragic day to the ones that are still loosing their lives today. God help us to hear from Him and God help our leaders to recognize the hugeness of the times we are living in and make the right decisions.
As Americans, I'm afraid we can become a bit arrogant at times and simply pray for our nation and our men and women of uniform and forget the others that face the same things in other parts of the world. Please don't misunderstand me, I am very grateful for the men and women who have fought and continue to fight for our freedom. I gave 8 years of my life serving in our Armed Forces. However, we seem to have gotten a bit off track somewhere along the way.
God is not an American. (Again I know this isn't politically correct but while Jesus was a lot of things politically correct was not one of them)
As you pray today, pray for our nation and others as well. Pray for all of God's creation, that we could find fresh and innovative ways to come together as one. (Jesus prayed for this in John 17)
Don't forget to read Proverbs 11 today! There's some good stuff in there that we will come back to in the coming days! The NIV has some specific stuff to say about how we treat our neighbor. Remember as you watch the news today and all the people they flash on the screen before you... they are your neighbor too!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Having Trouble Sleeping
This doesn't happen to me very often but last night I had a little trouble sleeping. I woke up early in the AM and found myself reading and wondering why I couldn't sleep. I decided to check my e-mail, which I never do at the time of the morning, (Oh yeah because I'm never awake) and discovered that a lady in our church had e-mailed with a request to pray for her son and their entire family. I knew right away why I was awake. So I turned off my computer, hit my spot and started hanging out with my Heavenly Father in prayer.
So why am I blogging about this?
Well, we're in this series right now called "Pillars" and we are discussing some of the spiritual disciplines that should be part of the life of a follower of Christ. One of the disciplines we discussed a few weeks ago was prayer and I have been trying to stay more aware and more sensitive to the needs and happenings in my world.
In Matthew 6 Jesus teaches on the importance of prayer. In that teaching He points out to us that our Father knows what we have need of before we even ask. Today was proof of that. God woke me up to pray for somebody who has no idea when I ever get up. They would have never called on me at that time of the morning to get up and pray but God did. That's because He knew what they had need of before they even asked.
Turns out it's what I needed too! In 2 hours this morning I have gotten more done and spent more quality time with God than I usually get in half a day and this is before I am ever normally up. I think this morning will turn out to shape a new direction in my disciplines for the days ahead.
The discipline of prayer is about learning to trust like learning to walk!
Trust today that as you take your needs and issues to your Heavenly Father He knows what you have need of before you even ask. Don't be shy and wonder how to talk to Him. Just talk to Him! He's listening and He cares greatly for you, neighbor!
So why am I blogging about this?
Well, we're in this series right now called "Pillars" and we are discussing some of the spiritual disciplines that should be part of the life of a follower of Christ. One of the disciplines we discussed a few weeks ago was prayer and I have been trying to stay more aware and more sensitive to the needs and happenings in my world.
In Matthew 6 Jesus teaches on the importance of prayer. In that teaching He points out to us that our Father knows what we have need of before we even ask. Today was proof of that. God woke me up to pray for somebody who has no idea when I ever get up. They would have never called on me at that time of the morning to get up and pray but God did. That's because He knew what they had need of before they even asked.
Turns out it's what I needed too! In 2 hours this morning I have gotten more done and spent more quality time with God than I usually get in half a day and this is before I am ever normally up. I think this morning will turn out to shape a new direction in my disciplines for the days ahead.
The discipline of prayer is about learning to trust like learning to walk!
Trust today that as you take your needs and issues to your Heavenly Father He knows what you have need of before you even ask. Don't be shy and wonder how to talk to Him. Just talk to Him! He's listening and He cares greatly for you, neighbor!
Monday, September 8, 2008
Serving
What would our lives look like if we focused on others more than we focused on ourselves? That was the driving question in my heart and mind that lead me to share the message I did yesterday. You can listen to it here.
So this morning I got up and read this post from Jaime and I had to share it with you. I love the verse in Proverbs that she points out to us. Planning is a great thing and God calls us to do it but we must recognize that He has a plan for our lives and only His plans will prevail!
One of the things I am confident of is the reality that His plan for us involves serving others. We will talk more about that here this week as we continue to unpack the ideas I shared Sunday!
Remember the challenge, everyone you see this week is your neighbor! How would my life look different if I embraced that truth?
Have a great week, neighbor!
So this morning I got up and read this post from Jaime and I had to share it with you. I love the verse in Proverbs that she points out to us. Planning is a great thing and God calls us to do it but we must recognize that He has a plan for our lives and only His plans will prevail!
One of the things I am confident of is the reality that His plan for us involves serving others. We will talk more about that here this week as we continue to unpack the ideas I shared Sunday!
Remember the challenge, everyone you see this week is your neighbor! How would my life look different if I embraced that truth?
Have a great week, neighbor!
Friday, September 5, 2008
MARRIED LIFE
One of the things I love about the book of Proverbs is that if you stay with it on a daily or at least regular basis you are going to eventually cover the major areas of life. Today we look at Proverbs 5 and it is full of wise sayings.
One of the things we say around LifePoint often is that, "Great marriages don't just happen!" They take hard work and discipline. We are all bombarded with temptation everyday of our lives and how we walk through these times will determine the level of abundance we experience in this life.
Proverbs 5 is a warning against adultery and those of us who are married should heed the warning. Verse 8 says "Keep to a path far from her." Let me interpret (Don't get near it, run, you are not as strong as you think you are, if you play with fire you will get burned)
The writer of Proverbs concludes this teaching of wisdom in verse 23 by saying, "He will die for lack of discipline."
Wow! Does that connect with what we have been talking about or what? DISCIPLINE! That is what we have been called to. Not in an attempt to gain God's acceptance but because of it. We don't live a disciplined life trying to get God's grace, we live that life because we have received His grace. Check out Romans 11:33 - 12:2 for more study on this thought.
I have had two people in the last few days thank me for the challenge of reading through Proverbs. Both of them discussed how they were reading it each day with their spouse. Now there's a great idea. When you reach a passage like Proverbs 5 you can't just go on without having some discussion. Make this a part of your marriage.
Questions for reflection:
1) Where are you not guarding yourself from temptation?
2) What boundaries do you need to create for relational protection?
3) If I keep reading Proverbs each day will it make me stronger?
One of the things we say around LifePoint often is that, "Great marriages don't just happen!" They take hard work and discipline. We are all bombarded with temptation everyday of our lives and how we walk through these times will determine the level of abundance we experience in this life.
Proverbs 5 is a warning against adultery and those of us who are married should heed the warning. Verse 8 says "Keep to a path far from her." Let me interpret (Don't get near it, run, you are not as strong as you think you are, if you play with fire you will get burned)
The writer of Proverbs concludes this teaching of wisdom in verse 23 by saying, "He will die for lack of discipline."
Wow! Does that connect with what we have been talking about or what? DISCIPLINE! That is what we have been called to. Not in an attempt to gain God's acceptance but because of it. We don't live a disciplined life trying to get God's grace, we live that life because we have received His grace. Check out Romans 11:33 - 12:2 for more study on this thought.
I have had two people in the last few days thank me for the challenge of reading through Proverbs. Both of them discussed how they were reading it each day with their spouse. Now there's a great idea. When you reach a passage like Proverbs 5 you can't just go on without having some discussion. Make this a part of your marriage.
Questions for reflection:
1) Where are you not guarding yourself from temptation?
2) What boundaries do you need to create for relational protection?
3) If I keep reading Proverbs each day will it make me stronger?
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Benefits of Wisdom
Today we continue with some thoughts from the book of Proverbs. Chapter three is one of my most favorite chapters in the entire bible.
As a small kid my Grandfather taught me Proverbs 3:5-6 and I have held it close my entire life. Trusting in God leads us to a life of "straight paths". Straight doesn't mean without obstacles but without bends. God will lead us straight to the place where He intends for us to be. Are you trusting in Him today?
Verses 9-10 give us some great insight to God's promise to us when we honor Him with our stuff!
Here's a few questions for you to ponder as you go through this day:
1)Am I really trusting in God or am I trusting in me?
2) If I look at my stuff and how I am using it would others say I am honoring God with it?
If either of these questions challenges you to a place of discomfort then spend a few minutes in Proverb 3:11-12 and be reminded that God's challenge is to those He really loves!
As a small kid my Grandfather taught me Proverbs 3:5-6 and I have held it close my entire life. Trusting in God leads us to a life of "straight paths". Straight doesn't mean without obstacles but without bends. God will lead us straight to the place where He intends for us to be. Are you trusting in Him today?
Verses 9-10 give us some great insight to God's promise to us when we honor Him with our stuff!
Here's a few questions for you to ponder as you go through this day:
1)Am I really trusting in God or am I trusting in me?
2) If I look at my stuff and how I am using it would others say I am honoring God with it?
If either of these questions challenges you to a place of discomfort then spend a few minutes in Proverb 3:11-12 and be reminded that God's challenge is to those He really loves!
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Proverbs 1
This is a great book of wisdom to dive into! It is a perfect place to start based on our current series, "Pillars"
So this week we begin our jounrney of discussing different aspects of Study. I challenged you to spend each day this week reading the Proverbs of the day. So we start by pointing out Chapter 1 verses 2-3
The writer begings by giving us an overview of what the purpose of these writings are:
"for attaining wisdom and DISCIPLINE; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair.
There is that word again: DISCIPLINE
As we work through these passages this week we will begin to see the value of discipline more and more.
Make it a priority to read Proverbs 1-7 this week and ask God to help you understand it and apply it to your life.
So this week we begin our jounrney of discussing different aspects of Study. I challenged you to spend each day this week reading the Proverbs of the day. So we start by pointing out Chapter 1 verses 2-3
The writer begings by giving us an overview of what the purpose of these writings are:
"for attaining wisdom and DISCIPLINE; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair.
There is that word again: DISCIPLINE
As we work through these passages this week we will begin to see the value of discipline more and more.
Make it a priority to read Proverbs 1-7 this week and ask God to help you understand it and apply it to your life.
Monday, September 1, 2008
MAC vs. PC
So my last post was on "Learning to Let Go" and today I may really be practicing this discipline. I got home yesterday to discover that my computer had crashed, again. Not sure yet what the problem is but thinking seriously about stepping into the MAC world.
Any advice or comments? Besides, "What have you been waiting for?"
Any advice or comments? Besides, "What have you been waiting for?"
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