Thanks, Carol, for sending me off to retreat!
We had a wonderful time.
Some of the many lessons learned:
1. Jesus said, "Come away with me & rest."
2. (Background: He was so good at resting that he slept through a storm that threatened the ship. When they woke Him up I picture him as being "Difficult" to wake up & rather grumpy! Did He grouch out to the waves, with a gravelly, just-woke-up voice: "Be STILL!" ?) Moral of the lesson: It went completely still. Did they have to row to get to shore?
3. God promised to supply everything we need. He did that for me this weekend by splatting me in a place where I would learn things I need to know for this up-coming ministry. I didn't know I needed them. I didn't know to pray for them. But He still kept His end of the bargain anyway! WOW!
8. (yes - #8! Time's flying so I'll come back to some of the other things I learned, God willing.) It's interesting that Jesus needed so much time with His Father... Do I put the "non-negotiable" items on my calendar? Time with Him, ministry prep time (flute, as well)?
9. Jesus exercised boundaries - walked away from His ministry at times. He left the crowds to get away & be with His Father...
10. Jesus was in touch with His feelings: He wept over Jerusalem & at Lazarus' tomb. He was angry at the temple. Do you think he calmly walked around & gently tipped their tables over? He had compassion on the crowds. He was deeply distressed, overwhelmed with sorrow, in anguish... (there's more - this will be a good verse trail to follow: to find the emotions Jesus expressed.)
11. Jesus asked for support - from followers & friends: Gethsemane. Do you ask for support? I find it highly difficult.
Hope these things are as much of a blessing to you as they are to me.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Gotta Love Those Sayings...
The Lord gave you two ends –
One for sitting
& one for thinking.
Your success depends on which you use –
Heads you WIN!
Tails you LOSE!
One for sitting
& one for thinking.
Your success depends on which you use –
Heads you WIN!
Tails you LOSE!
Sunday, April 1, 2007
It May Seem Foolish, But Nevertheless...
Did you get fooled today? Send me any good ones...
I found some April Fool's day verses! (there's actually lots, I suppose, in Proverbs & prob'ly lots of other places...)
"The message of the cross seems foolish to those who are lost and dying. But it is God’s power to us who are being saved. It is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of those who are wise. I will do away with the cleverness of those who think they are so smart.' (Isaiah 29:14) Where is the wise person? Where is the educated person? Where are the great thinkers of this world? Hasn’t God made the wisdom of the world foolish? God wisely planned that the world would not know him through its own wisdom. It pleased God to use the foolish things we preach to save those who believe. Jews require miraculous signs. Greeks look for wisdom. But we preach about Christ and his death on the cross. That is very hard for Jews to accept. And everyone else thinks it’s foolish. But there are those God has chosen, both Jews and others. To them Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength. Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him." 1 Cor 1:18-29
...hmmm...Anything to do with anchors may show up frequently here. This was the April Fools day devotional I found today (from Streams in the Desert)
"An old seaman once said, "In fierce storms we must do one thing, for there is only one way to survive: we must put the ship in a certain position and keep her there." And this, dear Christian, is what you must do.
Sometimes, like Paul, you cannot see the sun or the stars to help you navigate when the storm is bearing down on you. This is when you can do only one thing, for there is only one way. Reason cannot help you, past experiences will shed no light, and even prayer will bring no consolation. Only one course remains: you must put your soul in one position and keep it there.
You must anchor yourself steadfastly upon the Lord. And then, come what may—whether wind, waves, rough seas, thunder, lightning, jagged rocks, or roaring breakers—you must lash yourself to the helm, firmly holding your confidence in God’s faithfulness, His covenant promises, and His everlasting love in Christ Jesus." Richard Fuller
I found some April Fool's day verses! (there's actually lots, I suppose, in Proverbs & prob'ly lots of other places...)
"The message of the cross seems foolish to those who are lost and dying. But it is God’s power to us who are being saved. It is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of those who are wise. I will do away with the cleverness of those who think they are so smart.' (Isaiah 29:14) Where is the wise person? Where is the educated person? Where are the great thinkers of this world? Hasn’t God made the wisdom of the world foolish? God wisely planned that the world would not know him through its own wisdom. It pleased God to use the foolish things we preach to save those who believe. Jews require miraculous signs. Greeks look for wisdom. But we preach about Christ and his death on the cross. That is very hard for Jews to accept. And everyone else thinks it’s foolish. But there are those God has chosen, both Jews and others. To them Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength. Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him." 1 Cor 1:18-29
...hmmm...Anything to do with anchors may show up frequently here. This was the April Fools day devotional I found today (from Streams in the Desert)
"An old seaman once said, "In fierce storms we must do one thing, for there is only one way to survive: we must put the ship in a certain position and keep her there." And this, dear Christian, is what you must do.
Sometimes, like Paul, you cannot see the sun or the stars to help you navigate when the storm is bearing down on you. This is when you can do only one thing, for there is only one way. Reason cannot help you, past experiences will shed no light, and even prayer will bring no consolation. Only one course remains: you must put your soul in one position and keep it there.
You must anchor yourself steadfastly upon the Lord. And then, come what may—whether wind, waves, rough seas, thunder, lightning, jagged rocks, or roaring breakers—you must lash yourself to the helm, firmly holding your confidence in God’s faithfulness, His covenant promises, and His everlasting love in Christ Jesus." Richard Fuller
Saturday, March 31, 2007
"We have this hope as an ANCHOR for the soul, firm and secure." Heb. 6:19
"...because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them." Heb 7:24 & 25
Praise God! My eternity is dependant upon HIM, not me! That's good 'cause, in spite of my best intentions, I find myself messin' up frequently.
Don't mistake me...It's NOT ok to just mess up. God calls us to holiness:
"But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." I Pet. 1:15,16
"Make every effort to...be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." Heb 12:14
Yes, WE make the effort to please God, do the work... however you want to phrase it.
1Th 4:11 "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you..."
1Th 1:3 "We continually remember before our God and Father
your work produced by faith,
your labor prompted by love, and
your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."
Col 3:17 "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it ALL in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
2Ti 3:16,17 "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
1Pe 1:17 "Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear."
Col 4:17 "Tell Archippus: 'See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.' "
1Co 15:58 "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
AND YET, there IS a sense in which any work we accomplish is totally dependent upon God doing His work in us:
2Co 9:8 "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."
1Th 2:13 "And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe."
2Th 2:13 "But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth."
Phil 2:13 "...For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose."
Eph 3:20 "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us..."
So, this is my prayer, for both you AND me!
"...since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience..." Col. 1:9,10
"May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." Heb. 13:20,21
Oh, my! I must BUST OUT in song with Fusebox, "Once Again"
Chorus:
Once again I look upon the cross where You died
I'm humbled by Your mercy and I'm broken inside
Once again I thank You
Once again I pour out my life
Jesus Christ, I think upon Your sacrifice
You became nothing, poured out to death
Many times I've wondered at Your gift of life
And I'm in that place once again
Once again I look upon the cross where You died
I'm humbled by Your mercy and I'm broken inside
Once again I thank You
Once again I pour out my life
Now You are exalted to the highest place
King of the heavens, where one day I'll bow
But for now, I marvel at Your saving grace
And I'm full of praise once again
I'm full of praise once again
Once again I look upon the cross where You died
I'm humbled by Your mercy and I'm broken inside
Once again I thank You
Once again I pour out my life
Thank You for the cross
Thank You for the cross
Thank You for the cross, my Friend
I'll close with these thoughts:
2Co 9:8 "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."
Phil 1:3-6 "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in YOU will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
1Th 5:23, 24 "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful and
HE WILL DO IT."
Praise God! My eternity is dependant upon HIM, not me! That's good 'cause, in spite of my best intentions, I find myself messin' up frequently.
Don't mistake me...It's NOT ok to just mess up. God calls us to holiness:
"But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." I Pet. 1:15,16
"Make every effort to...be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." Heb 12:14
Yes, WE make the effort to please God, do the work... however you want to phrase it.
1Th 4:11 "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you..."
1Th 1:3 "We continually remember before our God and Father
your work produced by faith,
your labor prompted by love, and
your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."
Col 3:17 "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it ALL in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
2Ti 3:16,17 "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
1Pe 1:17 "Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear."
Col 4:17 "Tell Archippus: 'See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.' "
1Co 15:58 "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
AND YET, there IS a sense in which any work we accomplish is totally dependent upon God doing His work in us:
2Co 9:8 "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."
1Th 2:13 "And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe."
2Th 2:13 "But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth."
Phil 2:13 "...For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose."
Eph 3:20 "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us..."
So, this is my prayer, for both you AND me!
"...since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience..." Col. 1:9,10
"May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." Heb. 13:20,21
Oh, my! I must BUST OUT in song with Fusebox, "Once Again"
Chorus:
Once again I look upon the cross where You died
I'm humbled by Your mercy and I'm broken inside
Once again I thank You
Once again I pour out my life
Jesus Christ, I think upon Your sacrifice
You became nothing, poured out to death
Many times I've wondered at Your gift of life
And I'm in that place once again
Once again I look upon the cross where You died
I'm humbled by Your mercy and I'm broken inside
Once again I thank You
Once again I pour out my life
Now You are exalted to the highest place
King of the heavens, where one day I'll bow
But for now, I marvel at Your saving grace
And I'm full of praise once again
I'm full of praise once again
Once again I look upon the cross where You died
I'm humbled by Your mercy and I'm broken inside
Once again I thank You
Once again I pour out my life
Thank You for the cross
Thank You for the cross
Thank You for the cross, my Friend
I'll close with these thoughts:
2Co 9:8 "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."
Phil 1:3-6 "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in YOU will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
1Th 5:23, 24 "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful and
HE WILL DO IT."
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