Sunday, February 28, 2010

Why are you here?

Today I came across a verse I've read many times before, but this time it struck a different chord with me. Most of us probably know the story of Jesus and the disciples praying in the garden of Gethsemane the night Jesus was betrayed and arrested. Jesus was very distraught at what he knew was to come. He knew that Judas Iscariot was going to come there and betray him with a kiss. He told the disciples it would happen at the last supper. But this is what stuck out to me. Jesus knew exactly all that was to happen, but when Judas arrived at the garden Jesus said to him, Mathew 26:50 "Friend, why have you come?" Why would Jesus ask him that?

Have you ever been somewhere mabey a bit doggy and said to yourself "what am I doing here?" or done something you know you really shouldnt be doing and said "what am I doing?" What if thats really God inside you sayin "Hey...what cha doin?", because he wants us to think about the REAL reason this question has come up. Am I doing this beacuse Im angry at something or someone? Am I here to avoid somewhere else? Am I not going somewhere to avoid something I need to confront? I dunno this is just some food for thought. So the next time you find yourself asking, "why am I here?" Stop and think if your the one asking it.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Lions may go hunrgy

Today began just like normal. I got up, took the dog out, made coffee, and put Corinne's lunch together. That's right I make my wife's lunch because I'm awesome like that. Then while making some toast with this outrageously good blackberry jam, God showed up. All of the sudden it was like a wave of joy came over me. In an instant God reminded me of how awesome and good he is to me. Its been easy lately to focus on not having a job and what are we gonna do about money and bla bla bla. I felt like God asked me "Hey..what have you wanted to do lately that you haven't done?" Uh....well....nothing! I love when God does that. Psalms 34:10 says "Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will never lack any good thing." I shouldn't be so quick to look at the negative side of things, because if I really look at it, the past 7 months (yes 7 months!) of not having a job have been awesome! We have never lacked anything in this time. God brought us here to Florida, and has given us everything we need. I know God has a plan for us here so I'm just gonna keep my trust in Him.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Look at the Lilies

I know allot of people that are struggling financially. I know allot of people unemployed...me included. I know people who work, but barely make it by. Chances are, in our country's present economy you probably are one of these people to. I know how easy it is to look at your present situation and just get totally depressed, worried, stressed, confused, or just flat out mad. I know because I have been all of thee above. It's in those moments of despair when we need to remember what Jesus said in Luke 12:27-28 "Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for? You have so little faith!"


Its easy in times of struggle to think God doesn't care, or just forget Him altogether because were so busy trying to fix things ourselves. But Jesus makes it very clear here that God does care! If God cares enough for a simple flower to give it all it needs to grow, how much more does he care for you! Be encouraged that God is on your side! Don't lose faith that He will provide!

Friday, February 19, 2010

Words & Thoughts

For the past two or so years I have tried my best to live by this scripture. Although I fail to follow it sometimes, or allot of times to be honest, I believe it to be one of the most important keys, for me, to be a positive light in this world. Psalm 19:14 "May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer."

I have found that when my thoughts and words are pleasing to God, that its not God who benefits. Its me. Im filled with more peace and joy, and less stress and fear. Im able to grab hold of more of God's blessings for me, and avoid more of this worlds curses. Before we speak a word out of our mouth our brain must first process it as thought. So when I decide that Im not gonna speak negatively about something, my mind has think accordingly. When I change my words, I change my thoughts, and when I change my thoughts I change my heart. Jesus said "out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." So it stands to reason that if I just try to watch what I say, and be mindful of what Im thinking about, then I can literally change who I am where it matters most, the heart. And thats how I will be a positive light in this world, having a heart to please God.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Romans 8:38

Romans 8:38 "And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away."

This is one of my favorite verses. Its not hard to interpret. There isn't a hidden message. It doesn't give an instruction or consequence. It covers every angle and outcome. Simply nothing can keep God's love from me. I know its not a deep realization, but that's whats so great about it. My limited human mind sometimes needs the simple reassurance that no matter what, God's love will be there, and nothing or no one can stop it. So just let yourself be loved on by God. Because he's going to anyway.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Paul's Prayer

In my journey of reading the entire bible I have kept a little "journal" of sorts. I write down scriptures that stick out to me, or speak something to me. I like to go back through it sometimes because there is some many encouraging verse's and stories in it. I did today, and came by Paul's prayer in his letter to the church in Ephesus. I thought I would share it.

Ephesians 3:14-19 "When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.
And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God."

I'm sure you've probably read or heard this scripture before, but it does something to me the more I read it, and the more I pray it over myself and my wife. I encourage you to read it over and over, and I'm telling you something happens. I want my roots to go down deep in the soil of God's marvelous love. It is a marvelous love! We really don't fully understand how all encompassing God's love is! There is fullness of life in his love. FULLNESS OF LIFE!! I can and should have fullness of life regardless of what is going on simply because there is power in God's marvelous love for us! So lets have it!

Monday, February 15, 2010

I wrote an Intro to this blog back in October...it is now February. I wrote an intro and then I stopped. I began something I felt God encouraged me to do, then I completely lost sight of it. Why? I don't really know. Why do we lose sight of anything? Maybe I was nervous to post it. Maybe I got to thinking that writing a blog is super lame and pretentious. Mabey I thought I need to start obeying what the "Word" says more often before I start writing about it. Mabey I just lost heart. Then today I came across this verse. Galations 6:9 "So don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time."
Ok great God. Why did that scripture all the sudden remind me of this blog I have completley forgoten about for 4 months? Well it does say "don't get discouarged and give up", but that would be to odvious right? I am not a pastor, or bible scholar, or even a writer. I dont have all or even some of the answers. But I do know that Gods word says "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Mathew 6:33. So thats what Im gonna do. Im gonna seek and write about it. Because I feel God wants me to, and as I do this I know some answers and direction will come.