Sometime ago I read a story of a youngster who was shooting rocks with a slingshot. He could never hit his target. As he returned to Grandma’s backyard, he spied her pet duck. On impulse he took aim and let fly. The stone hit, and the duck was dead. The boy panicked and hid the bird in the woodpile, only to look up and see his sister watching.
After lunch that day, Grandma told Sally to help with the dishes. Sally responded, “Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today. Didn’t you Johnny?” And she whispered to him, “Remember the duck!” So, Johnny did the dishes.
What choice did he have? For the next several weeks he was at the sink often. Sometimes for his duty, sometimes for his sin. “Remember the duck,” Sally’d whisper when he objected.
So weary of the chore, he decided that any punishment would be better than washing more dishes, so he confessed to killing the duck. “I know, Johnny,” his grandma said, giving him a hug. “I was standing at the window and saw the whole thing. Because I love you, I forgave you. I wondered how long you would let Sally make a slave out of you.” (Steven Cole, “Forgiveness,” Leadership Magazine, 1983, 86.)
He’d been pardoned, but he thought he was guilty. Why? He had listened to the words of his accuser.
You have been accused as well. You have been accused of dishonesty. You’ve been accused of immorality. You’ve been accused of greed, anger, and arrogance.
Every moment of your life, your accuser is filing charges against you. Even his name, Diabolos, means “slanderer.” Who is he? The devil.
As he speaks, you hang your head. You have no defense. His charges are fair. “I plead guilty, your honor,” you mumble.
“The sentence?” Satan asks.
“The wages of sin is death,” explains the judge, “but in this case the death has already occurred. For this one died with Christ.”
Satan is suddenly silent. And you are suddenly jubilant. You realize that Satan cannot accuse you. No one can accuse you! Fingers may point and voices may demand, but the charges glance off like arrows hitting a shield. No more dirty dishwater. No more penance. No more nagging sisters. You have stood before the judge and heard him declare, “Not guilty.”
From In the Grip of Grace
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Two Awesome verses from Jeremiah
Check out these two awesome verses in Jeremiah:
24:7 I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.
31:33-34 This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach is neighbor or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord', because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord.
I love the picture of God's faithfulness in these scriptures. In the midst of struggle and turmoil, God has a plan!!! We never have to doubt that.
PLD
STP, an IronMan
24:7 I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.
31:33-34 This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach is neighbor or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord', because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord.
I love the picture of God's faithfulness in these scriptures. In the midst of struggle and turmoil, God has a plan!!! We never have to doubt that.
PLD
STP, an IronMan
Monday, July 30, 2007
God Give Rest ... by Max Lucado
The teaching I ask you to accept is easy; the load I give you to carry is light. Matthew 11:30
Paul had and interesting observation about the way we treat people. He said it about marriage, but the principle applies in any relationship. "The man who loves his wife loves himself" (Eph. 5:28). There is a correlation between the way you feel about yourself and the way you feel about others. If you are at peace with yourself - if you like yourself - you will get along with others.
The converse is also true. If you don't like yourself, if you are ashamed, embarrassed, or angry, other people are going to know it...
Which takes us to the question, "How does a person get relief?"...
"Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest" (Matt 11:28)... Jesus says he is the solution for the weariness of soul.
From When God Whispers Your Name
Paul had and interesting observation about the way we treat people. He said it about marriage, but the principle applies in any relationship. "The man who loves his wife loves himself" (Eph. 5:28). There is a correlation between the way you feel about yourself and the way you feel about others. If you are at peace with yourself - if you like yourself - you will get along with others.
The converse is also true. If you don't like yourself, if you are ashamed, embarrassed, or angry, other people are going to know it...
Which takes us to the question, "How does a person get relief?"...
"Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest" (Matt 11:28)... Jesus says he is the solution for the weariness of soul.
From When God Whispers Your Name
Monday, July 23, 2007
Headed Homeward... by Max Lucado
Aging is God’s idea. It’s one of the ways he keeps us headed homeward. We can’t change the process, but we can change our attitude. Here is a thought. What if we looked at the aging body as we look at the growth of a tulip?
Do you ever see anyone mourning over the passing of the tulip bulb? Do gardeners weep as the bulb begins to weaken? Of course not. We don’t purchase tulip girdles or petal wrinkle cream or consult plastic-leaf surgeons. We don’t mourn the passing of the bulb; we celebrate it. Tulip lovers rejoice the minute the bulb weakens. “Watch that one,” they say. “It’s about to blossom.”
Could it be heaven does the same? The angels point to our bodies. The more frail we become, the more excited they become. “Watch that lady in the hospital,” they say. “She’s about to blossom.” “Keep an eye on the fellow with the bad heart. He’ll be coming home soon.”
“We are waiting for God to finish making us his own children, which means our bodies will be made free” (Rom. 8:23).
Are our bodies now free? No. Paul describes them as our “earthy bodies” (Phil. 3:21 MSG). Or as other translations state:
“our lowly body” (NKJV)
“the body of our humble state” (NASB)
“these weak mortal bodies” (NLT)
“our vile body” (KJV)
“our simple bodies” (NCV)
You could add your own adjective, couldn’t you? Which word describes your body? My cancerous body? My arthritic body? My deformed body? My crippled body? My addicted body? My ever-expanding body? The word may be different, but the message is the same: These bodies are weak. They began decaying the minute we began breathing.
And, according to God, that’s a part of the plan. Every wrinkle and every needle take us one step closer to the last step when Jesus will change our simple bodies into forever bodies. No pain. No depression. No sickness. No end.
This is not our forever house. It will serve for the time being. But there is nothing like the moment we enter his door.
From Traveling LIght
Do you ever see anyone mourning over the passing of the tulip bulb? Do gardeners weep as the bulb begins to weaken? Of course not. We don’t purchase tulip girdles or petal wrinkle cream or consult plastic-leaf surgeons. We don’t mourn the passing of the bulb; we celebrate it. Tulip lovers rejoice the minute the bulb weakens. “Watch that one,” they say. “It’s about to blossom.”
Could it be heaven does the same? The angels point to our bodies. The more frail we become, the more excited they become. “Watch that lady in the hospital,” they say. “She’s about to blossom.” “Keep an eye on the fellow with the bad heart. He’ll be coming home soon.”
“We are waiting for God to finish making us his own children, which means our bodies will be made free” (Rom. 8:23).
Are our bodies now free? No. Paul describes them as our “earthy bodies” (Phil. 3:21 MSG). Or as other translations state:
“our lowly body” (NKJV)
“the body of our humble state” (NASB)
“these weak mortal bodies” (NLT)
“our vile body” (KJV)
“our simple bodies” (NCV)
You could add your own adjective, couldn’t you? Which word describes your body? My cancerous body? My arthritic body? My deformed body? My crippled body? My addicted body? My ever-expanding body? The word may be different, but the message is the same: These bodies are weak. They began decaying the minute we began breathing.
And, according to God, that’s a part of the plan. Every wrinkle and every needle take us one step closer to the last step when Jesus will change our simple bodies into forever bodies. No pain. No depression. No sickness. No end.
This is not our forever house. It will serve for the time being. But there is nothing like the moment we enter his door.
From Traveling LIght
Friday, July 20, 2007
IM Breakfast tomorrow
Just a reminder, IM Breakfast is tomorrow at El Concho Cafe at Hicks Airfield in Ft. Worth. The address is:
171 Aviator Dr.
Ft. Worth, TX 76179
Phone number: 817-439-1041
Call me if you have any questions at 214-415-9568. Thanks men and I hope to see many of you there.
Stay Strong, PLD!
171 Aviator Dr.
Ft. Worth, TX 76179
Phone number: 817-439-1041
Call me if you have any questions at 214-415-9568. Thanks men and I hope to see many of you there.
Stay Strong, PLD!
Thursday, July 12, 2007
VBS is successful
The IronMen want to give a special shout out to the VBS crew and participants. This year's VBS at LCCOC was a great success that wrapped up last night. The Galilee village was taken down last night and all the villagers were sent home, though not without powerful memories and newfound realization of who Jesus was and is today! Thanks to all the kids that came to "Galilee by the Sea". I hope that you had a great time! Thanks also to all the workers that helped in so many ways (there were more volunteers than ever before).
Special tribute to Paige, Rhonda, Kelli and Lane! You guys are awesome and yall did a great job. Yall worked together so well and i know you were a blessing to each other. Because of your hearts and efforts, the gospel was spread a little more and the amazing message of Jesus was shared in "real" ways to the kids and their parents. Now we can get ready for next year!!!
STP, an IronMan
Special tribute to Paige, Rhonda, Kelli and Lane! You guys are awesome and yall did a great job. Yall worked together so well and i know you were a blessing to each other. Because of your hearts and efforts, the gospel was spread a little more and the amazing message of Jesus was shared in "real" ways to the kids and their parents. Now we can get ready for next year!!!
STP, an IronMan
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Diving into Life Headfirst... by Max Lucado
Steve Lyons will be remembered as the player who dropped his pants.
The White Sox were playing the Tigers in Detroit. Lyons bunted and raced down the first-base line. He knew it was going to be tight, so he dove at the bag. Safe! The Tiger’s pitcher disagreed. He and the umpire got into a shouting match, and Lyons stepped in to voice his opinion.
Absorbed in the game and the debate, Lyons felt dirt trickling down the inside of his pants. Without missing a beat he dropped his britches, wiped away the dirt, and … uh oh … twenty thousand jaws hit the bleachers’ floor.
Within twenty-four hours of the “exposure,” he received more exposure than he’d gotten his entire career: seven live television and approximately twenty radio interviews.
Fortunately, for Steve, he was wearing sliding pants under his baseball pants.
Now, I don’t know Steve Lyons. I’m not a White Sox fan. Nor am I normally appreciative of men who drop their pants in public. But I think Steve Lyons deserves a salute.
I think anybody who dives into first base deserves a salute. How many guys do you see roaring down the baseline of life more concerned about getting a job done than they are about saving their necks? How often do you see people diving headfirst into anything?
Too seldom, right? But when we do … when we see a gutsy human throwing caution to the wind and taking a few risks … ah, now that’s a person worthy of a pat on the … back.
So here’s to all the Steve Lyons of the world.
Here’s to the Miracles, a choral group out of Memphis, Tennessee, made up of the mentally retarded and the stout-hearted. Just see if you can listen to them and still feel sorry for yourself.
Here’s to the hero of the San Francisco marathon who crossed the finish line without seeing it. (He was blind.)
Here’s to the woman whose husband left her with a nest of kids to raise and bills to pay, but who somehow tells me every Sunday that God has never been closer.
Here’s to the single father of two girls who learned to braid their hair.
Here’s to the grandparents who came out of retirement to raise the children their children couldn’t raise.
Here’s to the foster parents who took in a child long enough for that child to take their hearts—then gave the child up again.
Here’s to the girl, told by everyone to abort the baby, who chose to keep the baby.
Here’s to the doctor who treats more than half of his patients for free.
Here’s to the heroin-addict-turned-missionary.
Here’s to the executive who every Tuesday hosts a 5:30 A.M. meeting for Bible study and prayer.
Here’s to all of you reckless lovers of life and God, who stand on first base because you paid a price to get there.
So what if you forget about pleasing the crowd and get caught with your pants down? At least you’re playing ball in the pros.
Most of us aren’t even in your league.
From In the Eye of the Storm
The White Sox were playing the Tigers in Detroit. Lyons bunted and raced down the first-base line. He knew it was going to be tight, so he dove at the bag. Safe! The Tiger’s pitcher disagreed. He and the umpire got into a shouting match, and Lyons stepped in to voice his opinion.
Absorbed in the game and the debate, Lyons felt dirt trickling down the inside of his pants. Without missing a beat he dropped his britches, wiped away the dirt, and … uh oh … twenty thousand jaws hit the bleachers’ floor.
Within twenty-four hours of the “exposure,” he received more exposure than he’d gotten his entire career: seven live television and approximately twenty radio interviews.
Fortunately, for Steve, he was wearing sliding pants under his baseball pants.
Now, I don’t know Steve Lyons. I’m not a White Sox fan. Nor am I normally appreciative of men who drop their pants in public. But I think Steve Lyons deserves a salute.
I think anybody who dives into first base deserves a salute. How many guys do you see roaring down the baseline of life more concerned about getting a job done than they are about saving their necks? How often do you see people diving headfirst into anything?
Too seldom, right? But when we do … when we see a gutsy human throwing caution to the wind and taking a few risks … ah, now that’s a person worthy of a pat on the … back.
So here’s to all the Steve Lyons of the world.
Here’s to the Miracles, a choral group out of Memphis, Tennessee, made up of the mentally retarded and the stout-hearted. Just see if you can listen to them and still feel sorry for yourself.
Here’s to the hero of the San Francisco marathon who crossed the finish line without seeing it. (He was blind.)
Here’s to the woman whose husband left her with a nest of kids to raise and bills to pay, but who somehow tells me every Sunday that God has never been closer.
Here’s to the single father of two girls who learned to braid their hair.
Here’s to the grandparents who came out of retirement to raise the children their children couldn’t raise.
Here’s to the foster parents who took in a child long enough for that child to take their hearts—then gave the child up again.
Here’s to the girl, told by everyone to abort the baby, who chose to keep the baby.
Here’s to the doctor who treats more than half of his patients for free.
Here’s to the heroin-addict-turned-missionary.
Here’s to the executive who every Tuesday hosts a 5:30 A.M. meeting for Bible study and prayer.
Here’s to all of you reckless lovers of life and God, who stand on first base because you paid a price to get there.
So what if you forget about pleasing the crowd and get caught with your pants down? At least you’re playing ball in the pros.
Most of us aren’t even in your league.
From In the Eye of the Storm
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Learning to Listen...by Max Lucado
Equipped with the right tools, we can learn to listen to God. What are those tools? Here are the ones I have found helpful.
A regular time and place. Select a slot on your schedule and a corner of your world, and claim it for God. For some it may be best to do this in the morning. Others prefer the evening Others prefer many encounters during the day.
Some sit under a tree, others in the kitchen. Maybe your commute to work or your lunch break would be appropriate. Find a time and place that seems right for you.
How much time should you take? As much as you need. Value quality over length. Your time with God should last long enough for you to say what you want and for God to say what he wants. Which leads us to a second tool you need—an open Bible.
God speaks to us through his Word. The first step in reading the Bible is to ask God to help you understand it.
Before reading the Bible, pray. Don’t go to Scripture looking for your own idea; go searching for God’s. Read the Bible prayerfully. Also, read the Bible carefully.
Here is a practical point. Study the Bible a little at a time. God seems to send messages as he did his manna: one day’s portion at a time. Choose depth over quantity. Read until a verse “hits” you, then stop and meditate on it. Copy the verse onto a sheet of paper, or write it in your journal, and reflect on it several times.
Will I learn what God intends? If I listen, I will.
Understanding comes a little at a time over a lifetime.
There is a third tool for having a productive time with God. Not only do we need a regular time and an open Bible, we also need a listening heart. Don’t forget the admonition from James: “The man who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and makes a habit of so doing, is not the man who hears and forgets. He puts that law into practice and he wins true happiness” (James 1:25 PHILLIPS).
We know we are listening to God when what we read in the Bible is what others see in our lives.
Paul urged his readers to put into practice what they had learned from him. “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do” (Phil. 4:9 RSV).
If you want to be just like Jesus, let God have you. Spend time listening for him until you receive your lesson for the day—then apply it.
From Just Like JesusCopyright (W Publishing Group, 1998, 2001) Max Lucado
A regular time and place. Select a slot on your schedule and a corner of your world, and claim it for God. For some it may be best to do this in the morning. Others prefer the evening Others prefer many encounters during the day.
Some sit under a tree, others in the kitchen. Maybe your commute to work or your lunch break would be appropriate. Find a time and place that seems right for you.
How much time should you take? As much as you need. Value quality over length. Your time with God should last long enough for you to say what you want and for God to say what he wants. Which leads us to a second tool you need—an open Bible.
God speaks to us through his Word. The first step in reading the Bible is to ask God to help you understand it.
Before reading the Bible, pray. Don’t go to Scripture looking for your own idea; go searching for God’s. Read the Bible prayerfully. Also, read the Bible carefully.
Here is a practical point. Study the Bible a little at a time. God seems to send messages as he did his manna: one day’s portion at a time. Choose depth over quantity. Read until a verse “hits” you, then stop and meditate on it. Copy the verse onto a sheet of paper, or write it in your journal, and reflect on it several times.
Will I learn what God intends? If I listen, I will.
Understanding comes a little at a time over a lifetime.
There is a third tool for having a productive time with God. Not only do we need a regular time and an open Bible, we also need a listening heart. Don’t forget the admonition from James: “The man who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and makes a habit of so doing, is not the man who hears and forgets. He puts that law into practice and he wins true happiness” (James 1:25 PHILLIPS).
We know we are listening to God when what we read in the Bible is what others see in our lives.
Paul urged his readers to put into practice what they had learned from him. “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do” (Phil. 4:9 RSV).
If you want to be just like Jesus, let God have you. Spend time listening for him until you receive your lesson for the day—then apply it.
From Just Like JesusCopyright (W Publishing Group, 1998, 2001) Max Lucado
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Amazing Situation
I am totally amazed a the power of water! As most of you know, there was some major flooding in the Trophy Club area this past week. There were two families in perticular that were heavily affected by the flooding and they lost almost everything.
We took a group of guys and gals over to their houses last night to try to help out in the clean up process. Here are some pics of the damage:
The water rose over 5 feet above a nearby bridge. Wow! I cannot believe what must have been going through their minds as the water was rushing closer and closer to their house. I cannot imagine what is going through their minds today as they continually have to deal with the clean up process, the paperwork that must be done with the state, and all the loss that they continually find.
My heart goes out to these families so much and i just hope that we were able to be God's hands and feet to touch their lives and make a difference. They are wonderful people and i pray that God's love is so abundant that they may not question Him at all.
Thanks to all the men and women that participated in this great time. You guys are awesome and just as Joel's said the other day, it is equally amazing that there are so many loving and caring people that are willing to help in times like this. I truly appreciate all of you and i saw God's hands doing some dirty but so rewarding work yesterday!
Stay Strong, PLD!
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Quiet Heroes... by Max Lucado
Quiet heroes dot the landscape of our society. They don’t wear ribbons or kiss trophies; they wear spit-up and kiss boo-boos. They don’t make the headlines, but they do sew the hemlines and check the outlines and stand on the sidelines. You won’t find their names on the Nobel Prize short list, but you will find their names on the homeroom, carpool, and Bible teacher lists.
They are parents, both by blood and deed, name and calendar. Heroes. News programs don’t call them. But that’s okay. Because their kids do … They call them Mom. They call them Dad. And these moms and dads, more valuable than all the executives and lawmakers west of the Mississippi, quietly hold the world together.
Be numbered among them. Read books to your kids. Play ball while you can and they want you to. Make it your aim to watch every game they play, read every story they write, hear every recital in which they perform.
Children spell love with four letters: T-I-M-E. Not just quality time, but hang time, downtime, anytime, all the time. Your children are not your hobby; they are your calling.
Your spouse is not your trophy but your treasure.
Don’t pay the price David paid. Look ahead to his final hours. To see the ultimate cost of a neglected family, look at the way our hero dies.
David is hours from the grave. A chill has set in that blankets can’t remove. Servants decide he needs a person to warm him, someone to hold him tight as he takes his final breaths.
Do they turn to one of his wives? No. Do they call on one of his children? No. They seek “for a lovely young woman throughout all the territory of Israel … and she cared for the king, and served him; but the king did not know her” (1 Kings 1:3–4).
I suspect that David would have traded all his conquered crowns for the tender arms of a wife. But it was too late. He died in the care of a stranger, because he made strangers out of his family.
But it’s not too late for you.
Make your wife the object of your highest devotion. Make your husband the recipient of your deepest passion. Love the one who wears your ring.
And cherish the children who share your name.
Succeed at home first.
From Facing Your Giants
They are parents, both by blood and deed, name and calendar. Heroes. News programs don’t call them. But that’s okay. Because their kids do … They call them Mom. They call them Dad. And these moms and dads, more valuable than all the executives and lawmakers west of the Mississippi, quietly hold the world together.
Be numbered among them. Read books to your kids. Play ball while you can and they want you to. Make it your aim to watch every game they play, read every story they write, hear every recital in which they perform.
Children spell love with four letters: T-I-M-E. Not just quality time, but hang time, downtime, anytime, all the time. Your children are not your hobby; they are your calling.
Your spouse is not your trophy but your treasure.
Don’t pay the price David paid. Look ahead to his final hours. To see the ultimate cost of a neglected family, look at the way our hero dies.
David is hours from the grave. A chill has set in that blankets can’t remove. Servants decide he needs a person to warm him, someone to hold him tight as he takes his final breaths.
Do they turn to one of his wives? No. Do they call on one of his children? No. They seek “for a lovely young woman throughout all the territory of Israel … and she cared for the king, and served him; but the king did not know her” (1 Kings 1:3–4).
I suspect that David would have traded all his conquered crowns for the tender arms of a wife. But it was too late. He died in the care of a stranger, because he made strangers out of his family.
But it’s not too late for you.
Make your wife the object of your highest devotion. Make your husband the recipient of your deepest passion. Love the one who wears your ring.
And cherish the children who share your name.
Succeed at home first.
From Facing Your Giants
Friday, June 01, 2007
Jeremiah 31:31ff
Listen to these words from Jeremiah 31:31-34:
31 "The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them, " declares the LORD.
33 "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
34 No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."
I am amazed by this prophecy. I think this is so powerful that in the midst of the prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem, God is telling them about the new covenant in Christ. God is so good.
While studying Jeremiah, the question has come to my mind many times: Why is God so harsh with the people by sending them into captivity for 70 years? That is some peoples entire life time.
As a step back and look at the situation and read more of the book, I realize that many times God has given them the opportunity to avoid this situation and also many times he has made the promise to bring them out of the captivity (29:10ff). So, I see that it is almost like the parent/child relationship that we deal with. We don't like to discipline our children, but we know it's the only way they are going to learn some lessons. The fact that the captivity is 70 years seems like and eternity to us but to God it is but a glimpse of time. My human eyes and mind may not understand, but from God's perspective, it is another situation where he is preparing his people for Christ to come.
I see the difference in the way God deals with his people in the OT vs. the NT. However, one thing comes to mind: even though He seems more "harse" in the OT, He continually gives his people chance after chance to avoid the problems. Then, just like me and you today, they still do things their way. God has to discipline them like we do our children.
His love is just as immense in the OT as it is in the NT. I love this study because it is showing me again how amazing God is and how faithful he is! Praise God!
Stay stong, PLD!
31 "The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them, " declares the LORD.
33 "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
34 No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."
I am amazed by this prophecy. I think this is so powerful that in the midst of the prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem, God is telling them about the new covenant in Christ. God is so good.
While studying Jeremiah, the question has come to my mind many times: Why is God so harsh with the people by sending them into captivity for 70 years? That is some peoples entire life time.
As a step back and look at the situation and read more of the book, I realize that many times God has given them the opportunity to avoid this situation and also many times he has made the promise to bring them out of the captivity (29:10ff). So, I see that it is almost like the parent/child relationship that we deal with. We don't like to discipline our children, but we know it's the only way they are going to learn some lessons. The fact that the captivity is 70 years seems like and eternity to us but to God it is but a glimpse of time. My human eyes and mind may not understand, but from God's perspective, it is another situation where he is preparing his people for Christ to come.
I see the difference in the way God deals with his people in the OT vs. the NT. However, one thing comes to mind: even though He seems more "harse" in the OT, He continually gives his people chance after chance to avoid the problems. Then, just like me and you today, they still do things their way. God has to discipline them like we do our children.
His love is just as immense in the OT as it is in the NT. I love this study because it is showing me again how amazing God is and how faithful he is! Praise God!
Stay stong, PLD!
Monday, May 14, 2007
Peace for Anxious Days...by Max Lucado
When my daughters were single-digit ages—two, five, and seven—I wowed them with a miracle. I told them the story of Moses and the manna and invited them to follow me on a wilderness trek through the house.
“Who knows,” I suggested, “manna may fall from the sky again.”
We dressed in sheets and sandals and did our best Bedouin hike through the bedrooms. The girls, on my instruction, complained to me, Moses, of hunger and demanded I take them back to Egypt, or at least to the kitchen. When we entered the den, I urged them to play up their parts: groan, moan, and beg for food.
“Look up,” I urged. “Manna might fall any minute.”
Two-year-old Sara obliged with no questions, but Jenna and Andrea had their doubts. How can manna fall from a ceiling?
Just like the Hebrews. “How can God feed us in the wilderness?”
Just like you? You look at tomorrow’s demands, next week’s bills, next month’s silent calendar. Your future looks as barren as the Sinai Desert. “How can I face my future?” God tells you what I told my daughters: “Look up.”
When my daughters did, manna fell! Well, not manna, but vanilla wafers dropped from the ceiling and landed on the carpet. Sara squealed with delight and started munching. Jenna and Andrea were old enough to request an explanation.
My answer was simple. I knew the itinerary. I knew we would enter this room. Vanilla wafers fit safely on the topside of the ceiling-fan blades. I had placed them there in advance. When they groaned and moaned, I turned on the switch.
God’s answer to the Hebrews was similar. Did he know their itinerary? Did he know they would grow hungry? Yes and yes. And at the right time, he tilted the manna basket toward earth.
And what about you? God knows what you need and where you’ll be. Any chance he has some vanilla wafers on tomorrow’s ceiling fans? Trust him. “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes” (Matthew 6:33-34).
From Every Day Deserves a ChanceCopyright (Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2007) Max Lucado
“Who knows,” I suggested, “manna may fall from the sky again.”
We dressed in sheets and sandals and did our best Bedouin hike through the bedrooms. The girls, on my instruction, complained to me, Moses, of hunger and demanded I take them back to Egypt, or at least to the kitchen. When we entered the den, I urged them to play up their parts: groan, moan, and beg for food.
“Look up,” I urged. “Manna might fall any minute.”
Two-year-old Sara obliged with no questions, but Jenna and Andrea had their doubts. How can manna fall from a ceiling?
Just like the Hebrews. “How can God feed us in the wilderness?”
Just like you? You look at tomorrow’s demands, next week’s bills, next month’s silent calendar. Your future looks as barren as the Sinai Desert. “How can I face my future?” God tells you what I told my daughters: “Look up.”
When my daughters did, manna fell! Well, not manna, but vanilla wafers dropped from the ceiling and landed on the carpet. Sara squealed with delight and started munching. Jenna and Andrea were old enough to request an explanation.
My answer was simple. I knew the itinerary. I knew we would enter this room. Vanilla wafers fit safely on the topside of the ceiling-fan blades. I had placed them there in advance. When they groaned and moaned, I turned on the switch.
God’s answer to the Hebrews was similar. Did he know their itinerary? Did he know they would grow hungry? Yes and yes. And at the right time, he tilted the manna basket toward earth.
And what about you? God knows what you need and where you’ll be. Any chance he has some vanilla wafers on tomorrow’s ceiling fans? Trust him. “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes” (Matthew 6:33-34).
From Every Day Deserves a ChanceCopyright (Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2007) Max Lucado
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Campout was a success!!!
Thanks to everyone that came to the campout last weekend. We had a great time and we were really uplifted! I know that all that attended enjoyed a break from their busy schedules to relax in the country and be filled with God's word. Here are some pics for you to look at:
Stay Strong, PLD!
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
More Prayers are needed...
Please keep praying for little Kanyon, RIGHT NOW! He was moved to Dallas over the weekend and had a rough transistion. He is fighting an infection now and awaiting 2 more surgeries once the infection is cleared up. He needs us IronMen. Time to "mount up"!!! See the family's blogsite for the whole story at www.thephillipsphamily.blogspot.com . Thanks for your support men
Stay Strong, PLD!
Stay Strong, PLD!
Friday, May 04, 2007
Directions for Campout
Directions To Bent Tree Ranch
Take I-20 west from Fort Worth proceed thru Weatherford approximately 20 miles, exit south on highway 281, exit # 386, proceed south approximately 15 miles to Morgan Mill, at the Baptist Church turn west on 1188, go west 1 mile to the top of the hill, turn south on county road 132, proceed 2 miles to the ranch on the right side of 132, you will see the name of the ranch over the gate, the entry has white Austin stone columns.
Take I-20 west from Fort Worth proceed thru Weatherford approximately 20 miles, exit south on highway 281, exit # 386, proceed south approximately 15 miles to Morgan Mill, at the Baptist Church turn west on 1188, go west 1 mile to the top of the hill, turn south on county road 132, proceed 2 miles to the ranch on the right side of 132, you will see the name of the ranch over the gate, the entry has white Austin stone columns.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Get Out and Grow Campout info
Some info about the Campout that you need to know:
1. Bring bug spray.
2. Bring a tent if you have one and sleeping materials (pillow, sleeping bag, etc.)
3. The only money you need is for your dinner Friday night at Hard 8 Bar-B-Que.
4. Bring your son or daughter if you want to. They will be an added delight.
5. We have a great guest speaker named Kenny Lybrand. He has some great things to share!
6. We should be done by 3pm or so on Saturday so you can get back to your house for dinner.
7. Bent Tree Ranch is about and 1.5 hour drive from Trophy Club (depending on traffic).
8. Bring drinks for your family for Friday and Saturday.
Agenda:
Friday, May 4th
5:00 pm Meet at LCCOC for carpool and directions
7:00 pm Arrive at Hard 8 Bar-B-Que for dinner
9:00-10:00 (Bent Tree Ranch) Session #1 “ How do I Make The Right Decision?”
Saturday, May 5th
6:30 am Rise and Shine breakfast, prepared by world class country chef Jim Pearson
7:30-8:30 am Session #2 “Christian or Disciple?”
8:30 am Break
10:00-11:00 am Session #3 – “Learning to Forgive”
11:00 am Break for lunch, prepared by world class country chef Jim Pearson
12:30 – 1:30 pm Session #4 and wrap up “God’s Amazing Grace!”
Please let me know if you are going to attend and if you have any more questions!
Thanks and PLD!
1. Bring bug spray.
2. Bring a tent if you have one and sleeping materials (pillow, sleeping bag, etc.)
3. The only money you need is for your dinner Friday night at Hard 8 Bar-B-Que.
4. Bring your son or daughter if you want to. They will be an added delight.
5. We have a great guest speaker named Kenny Lybrand. He has some great things to share!
6. We should be done by 3pm or so on Saturday so you can get back to your house for dinner.
7. Bent Tree Ranch is about and 1.5 hour drive from Trophy Club (depending on traffic).
8. Bring drinks for your family for Friday and Saturday.
Agenda:
Friday, May 4th
5:00 pm Meet at LCCOC for carpool and directions
7:00 pm Arrive at Hard 8 Bar-B-Que for dinner
9:00-10:00 (Bent Tree Ranch) Session #1 “ How do I Make The Right Decision?”
Saturday, May 5th
6:30 am Rise and Shine breakfast, prepared by world class country chef Jim Pearson
7:30-8:30 am Session #2 “Christian or Disciple?”
8:30 am Break
10:00-11:00 am Session #3 – “Learning to Forgive”
11:00 am Break for lunch, prepared by world class country chef Jim Pearson
12:30 – 1:30 pm Session #4 and wrap up “God’s Amazing Grace!”
Please let me know if you are going to attend and if you have any more questions!
Thanks and PLD!
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
The Cradle of Hope... Max Lucado
Christ rose first; then when Christ comes back, all his people will become alive again.
1 Corinthians 15:23 TLB
Let’s go to the tomb, for Jesus lies in the tomb.
Still. Cold. Stiff. Death has claimed its greatest trophy. He is not asleep in the tomb or resting in the tomb or comatose in the tomb; he is dead in the tomb. No air in his lungs. No thoughts in his brain. No feeling in his limbs. His body is as lifeless as the stone slab upon which he has been laid.
The executioners made sure of it. When Pilate learned that Jesus was dead, he asked the soldiers if they were certain. They were. Had they seen the Nazarene twitch, had they heard even one moan, they would have broken his legs to speed his end. But there was no need. The thrust of a spear removed all doubt. The Romans knew their job. And their job was finished. They pried loose the nails, lowered his body, and gave it to Joseph and Nicodemus.
Joseph of Arimathea. Nicodemus the Pharisee. Jesus had answered the prayer of their hearts, the prayer for the Messiah. As much as the soldiers wanted him dead, even more these men wanted him alive.
As they sponged the blood from his beard, don’t you know they listened for his breath? As they wrapped the cloth around his hands, don’t you know they hoped for a pulse? Don’t you know they searched for life?
But they didn’t find it.
So they do with him what they were expected to do with a dead man. They wrap his body in clean linen and place it in a tomb. Joseph’s tomb. Roman guards are stationed to guard the corpse. And a Roman seal is set on the rock of the tomb. For three days, no one gets close to the grave.
But then, Sunday arrives. And with Sunday comes light—a light within the tomb. A bright light? A soft light? Flashing? Hovering? We don’t know. But there was a light. For he is the light. And with the light came life. Just as the darkness was banished, now the decay is reversed. Heaven blows and Jesus breathes. His chest expands. Waxy lips open. Wooden fingers lift. Heart valves swish and hinged joints bend.
And, as we envision the moment, we stand in awe.
We stand in awe not just because of what we see, but because of what we know. We know that we, too, will die. We know that we, too, will be buried. Our lungs, like his, will empty. Our hands, like his, will stiffen. But the rising of his body and the rolling of the stone give birth to a mighty belief: “What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ’s sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us” (Rom. 6:5–9 MSG).
From When Christ ComesCopyright (W Publishing Group, 1999) Max Lucado
1 Corinthians 15:23 TLB
Let’s go to the tomb, for Jesus lies in the tomb.
Still. Cold. Stiff. Death has claimed its greatest trophy. He is not asleep in the tomb or resting in the tomb or comatose in the tomb; he is dead in the tomb. No air in his lungs. No thoughts in his brain. No feeling in his limbs. His body is as lifeless as the stone slab upon which he has been laid.
The executioners made sure of it. When Pilate learned that Jesus was dead, he asked the soldiers if they were certain. They were. Had they seen the Nazarene twitch, had they heard even one moan, they would have broken his legs to speed his end. But there was no need. The thrust of a spear removed all doubt. The Romans knew their job. And their job was finished. They pried loose the nails, lowered his body, and gave it to Joseph and Nicodemus.
Joseph of Arimathea. Nicodemus the Pharisee. Jesus had answered the prayer of their hearts, the prayer for the Messiah. As much as the soldiers wanted him dead, even more these men wanted him alive.
As they sponged the blood from his beard, don’t you know they listened for his breath? As they wrapped the cloth around his hands, don’t you know they hoped for a pulse? Don’t you know they searched for life?
But they didn’t find it.
So they do with him what they were expected to do with a dead man. They wrap his body in clean linen and place it in a tomb. Joseph’s tomb. Roman guards are stationed to guard the corpse. And a Roman seal is set on the rock of the tomb. For three days, no one gets close to the grave.
But then, Sunday arrives. And with Sunday comes light—a light within the tomb. A bright light? A soft light? Flashing? Hovering? We don’t know. But there was a light. For he is the light. And with the light came life. Just as the darkness was banished, now the decay is reversed. Heaven blows and Jesus breathes. His chest expands. Waxy lips open. Wooden fingers lift. Heart valves swish and hinged joints bend.
And, as we envision the moment, we stand in awe.
We stand in awe not just because of what we see, but because of what we know. We know that we, too, will die. We know that we, too, will be buried. Our lungs, like his, will empty. Our hands, like his, will stiffen. But the rising of his body and the rolling of the stone give birth to a mighty belief: “What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ’s sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us” (Rom. 6:5–9 MSG).
From When Christ ComesCopyright (W Publishing Group, 1999) Max Lucado
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Please Pray again...
I am asking for your fervent prayers for the Phillips family again. They are the family that had the twins extremely premature. Last night, the girl, Jade, passed way and that leave Kanyon the boy still fighting for his life. He is so small and fragile. Please pray that God will allow him to survive and for peace and understanding for the parents, Jaymie and Kory. They are incredible folks and we love them tremdously!
Please Lord hold Kanyon's hand and pull him through!!!
Please Lord hold Kanyon's hand and pull him through!!!
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
I will speak to you in your language... Max Lucado
Pilate wrote a sign and put it on the cross.
It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. John 19:19
The framer of our destiny is familiar with our denseness. God knows we sometimes miss the signs. Maybe that’s why he has given us so many. The rainbow after the flood signifies God’s covenant. Circumcision identifies God’s chosen, and the stars portray the size of his family. Even today, we see signs in the New Testament church. Communion is a sign of his death, and baptism is a sign of our spiritual birth. Each of these signs symbolizes a greater spiritual truth.The most poignant sign, however, was found on the cross. A trilingual, hand-painted, Roman-commissioned sign.
Every passerby could read the sign, for every passerby could read Hebrew, Latin, or Greek—the three great languages of the ancient world. “Hebrew was the language of Israel, the language of religion; Latin the language of the Romans, the language of law and government; and Greek the language of Greece, the language of culture. Christ was declared king in them all.” God had a message for each. “Christ is king.” The message was the same, but the languages were different. Since Jesus was a king for all people, the message would be in the tongues of all people.
There is no language God will not speak. Which leads us to a delightful question. What language is he speaking to you? I’m not referring to an idiom or dialect but to the day-to-day drama of your life. God does speak, you know. He speaks to us in whatever language we will understand.
There are times he speaks the “language of abundance.” Is your tummy full? Are your bills paid? Got a little jingle in your pocket? Don’t be so proud of what you have that you miss what you need to hear.
Are you hearing the “language of need”? Or how about the “language of affliction”? Talk about an idiom we avoid. But you and I both know how clearly God speaks in hospital hallways and sickbeds.
God speaks all languages—including yours. Has he not said, “I will ... teach you in the way you should go” (Ps. 32:8 NIV)? Are we not urged to “receive instruction from His mouth” (Job 22:22 NASB)? What language is God speaking to you?
And aren’t you glad he is speaking? Aren’t you grateful that he cares enough to talk? Isn’t it good to know that “the LORD tells his secrets to those who respect him” (Ps. 25:14)?
Think a word of thanks to him would be appropriate? And while you’re at it, ask him if you might be missing any signs he is sending your way.
From He Chose the NailsCopyright (W Publishing Group, 2001) Max Lucado
It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. John 19:19
The framer of our destiny is familiar with our denseness. God knows we sometimes miss the signs. Maybe that’s why he has given us so many. The rainbow after the flood signifies God’s covenant. Circumcision identifies God’s chosen, and the stars portray the size of his family. Even today, we see signs in the New Testament church. Communion is a sign of his death, and baptism is a sign of our spiritual birth. Each of these signs symbolizes a greater spiritual truth.The most poignant sign, however, was found on the cross. A trilingual, hand-painted, Roman-commissioned sign.
Every passerby could read the sign, for every passerby could read Hebrew, Latin, or Greek—the three great languages of the ancient world. “Hebrew was the language of Israel, the language of religion; Latin the language of the Romans, the language of law and government; and Greek the language of Greece, the language of culture. Christ was declared king in them all.” God had a message for each. “Christ is king.” The message was the same, but the languages were different. Since Jesus was a king for all people, the message would be in the tongues of all people.
There is no language God will not speak. Which leads us to a delightful question. What language is he speaking to you? I’m not referring to an idiom or dialect but to the day-to-day drama of your life. God does speak, you know. He speaks to us in whatever language we will understand.
There are times he speaks the “language of abundance.” Is your tummy full? Are your bills paid? Got a little jingle in your pocket? Don’t be so proud of what you have that you miss what you need to hear.
Are you hearing the “language of need”? Or how about the “language of affliction”? Talk about an idiom we avoid. But you and I both know how clearly God speaks in hospital hallways and sickbeds.
God speaks all languages—including yours. Has he not said, “I will ... teach you in the way you should go” (Ps. 32:8 NIV)? Are we not urged to “receive instruction from His mouth” (Job 22:22 NASB)? What language is God speaking to you?
And aren’t you glad he is speaking? Aren’t you grateful that he cares enough to talk? Isn’t it good to know that “the LORD tells his secrets to those who respect him” (Ps. 25:14)?
Think a word of thanks to him would be appropriate? And while you’re at it, ask him if you might be missing any signs he is sending your way.
From He Chose the NailsCopyright (W Publishing Group, 2001) Max Lucado
Monday, March 26, 2007
Prayer Request... Urgent!!!
I wanted to ask for your prayers for some family friends of mine Kory and Jaymie. They were supposed to have twins in July and last night Jaymie gave birth to both. They are extremely small and will be evaluated more as the day goes on. This is a very difficult situation as you can imagine. Please lift them up in your prayers! thanks so much.
STP, an IronMan
STP, an IronMan
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
IronMen Campout set
We have set a date for our second IronMen "Get Out and Grow" Campout. This will take place May 4-5. We will meet at the church Friday, the 4th, in the afternoon. We will drive to Stephenville to eat dinner at Hard 8 Bar-B-Que. After a great filling dinner, we will drive to Bent Tree Ranch where we will have some devotional time and some quiet time in the country. Then, in the morning, we will rise early to greet the sun and share in the beauty of a country sunrise. Saturday will be filled with devotional time and fun activities.
Please make plans to attend this event, it is going to be great! We have a guest speaker lined up and I know that you will love him. His name is Kenny Lybrand and he has some great things lined up to share with us.
If you have any questions, please let me know. My email address is stp@pmiair.com.
PLD
STP, an IronMan
Please make plans to attend this event, it is going to be great! We have a guest speaker lined up and I know that you will love him. His name is Kenny Lybrand and he has some great things lined up to share with us.
If you have any questions, please let me know. My email address is stp@pmiair.com.
PLD
STP, an IronMan
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Words of Wisdom
Every year Kelli's grandparents give me a desktop "Life's Little Instruction Calender." As I remember to rip off the daily message, I keep the ones that are significant and look through them time to time. I found a couple that are pretty wise and I want to share them with you.
1) You can't make good deals with bad people.
2) Don't forget that contentment is the greatest wealth.
3) Remember, the direction of your life is more important than its speed.
4) Children, marriages, and flower gardens reflect the kind of care they get.
5) Spoil your spouse, not your children.
6) If you save money even on a little income, your success is almost assured.
Number three is the thought that I need to remember as I live day to day. I wonder how different my life would be if I actually follower these six instructions?
Ironmen softball started on Monday and we started off with a bang. Well, not quite! We lost our first two games. It seems that we always have a tough first week every season. Although we lost the game we won the battle in the end. We have been playing for several years now and we do not have to ask the other team to pray with us. They know that no matter the outcome we will meet on the pitchers mound and Pray. If you read this e-mail and want to be a part of Ironmen softball you are welcome to join the team!
Hope you all have a blessed week,
Lane Ladewig
*An Ironman*
1) You can't make good deals with bad people.
2) Don't forget that contentment is the greatest wealth.
3) Remember, the direction of your life is more important than its speed.
4) Children, marriages, and flower gardens reflect the kind of care they get.
5) Spoil your spouse, not your children.
6) If you save money even on a little income, your success is almost assured.
Number three is the thought that I need to remember as I live day to day. I wonder how different my life would be if I actually follower these six instructions?
Ironmen softball started on Monday and we started off with a bang. Well, not quite! We lost our first two games. It seems that we always have a tough first week every season. Although we lost the game we won the battle in the end. We have been playing for several years now and we do not have to ask the other team to pray with us. They know that no matter the outcome we will meet on the pitchers mound and Pray. If you read this e-mail and want to be a part of Ironmen softball you are welcome to join the team!
Hope you all have a blessed week,
Lane Ladewig
*An Ironman*
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Work day at Blanca's house
Well, we had a successful workday at Blanca's house. Blanca is a great woman that was in need of some repairs and fixing up on her house. You see, Blanca is now a widow as her husband died around Thanksgiving from cancer. He was the main financial source for the family and therefore she cannot afford her house anymore. In order to sell her house, she needed to do some fixing up so that it would have a better chance of selling.
This is where the IronMen came in.
We were able to raise money for our supplies and we also had $277 left over to give Blanca as a cash gift. We painted 3 rooms, the hallway and kitchen. We repaired the vent-a-hood with some excellent carpentry work. Thanks to Green Works landscape, we leveled the area around the foundation and added some sod. Wow, it looks so much better. Check out these pics:
This is where the IronMen came in.
We were able to raise money for our supplies and we also had $277 left over to give Blanca as a cash gift. We painted 3 rooms, the hallway and kitchen. We repaired the vent-a-hood with some excellent carpentry work. Thanks to Green Works landscape, we leveled the area around the foundation and added some sod. Wow, it looks so much better. Check out these pics:
Monday, February 26, 2007
Lose my Soul...by Toby Mac
I love this song and the words are great:
Father God I am clay in your hands
Help me to stay that way through all life’s demands
Cause they chip and they nag and pull at me
And everything I make up in my mind to be
Like I’m going to be a daddy that’s in the mix
And I’m going to be a husband that stays legit
And I pray that I’m an artist that rises above
The road that is wide and filled with self love
Every thing that I see draws me
Though it’s only in you that I can truly see
That it’s a feast full eyes and a low blow to purpose
And I’m a little kid at a three ring circus
I don’t want to gain the whole world and lose my soul
The paparazzi flashes and they think that it’s you
But they don’t know that who you are is not what you do
We get it twisted when we peek at the charts
You know before we part from the start where’s your heart
You a pimp, a hustler. What’s your title?
America has normal stars, we call them idols
While we teach prosperity, the first thing that should prosper is inside of me
Never because number 22 is on the range
But Christ can arrange and we say yes and now we change
Never the same, even though I fall
Since I got that call, no more Saul, now I’m Paul
How do I sense the tide is rising?
Desensitizing me from
Living in the light of eternity
How do I sense the tide is rising?
Hypnotizing me from
Living in the light of eternity
Lord forgive us when we get consumed
By the things of this world that fight for our love and our passion
As our eyes are open wide and on you
Grant us the privilege of your love
And may your kingdom be what wakes us up and lays us down
STP, an IronMan
Father God I am clay in your hands
Help me to stay that way through all life’s demands
Cause they chip and they nag and pull at me
And everything I make up in my mind to be
Like I’m going to be a daddy that’s in the mix
And I’m going to be a husband that stays legit
And I pray that I’m an artist that rises above
The road that is wide and filled with self love
Every thing that I see draws me
Though it’s only in you that I can truly see
That it’s a feast full eyes and a low blow to purpose
And I’m a little kid at a three ring circus
I don’t want to gain the whole world and lose my soul
The paparazzi flashes and they think that it’s you
But they don’t know that who you are is not what you do
We get it twisted when we peek at the charts
You know before we part from the start where’s your heart
You a pimp, a hustler. What’s your title?
America has normal stars, we call them idols
While we teach prosperity, the first thing that should prosper is inside of me
Never because number 22 is on the range
But Christ can arrange and we say yes and now we change
Never the same, even though I fall
Since I got that call, no more Saul, now I’m Paul
How do I sense the tide is rising?
Desensitizing me from
Living in the light of eternity
How do I sense the tide is rising?
Hypnotizing me from
Living in the light of eternity
Lord forgive us when we get consumed
By the things of this world that fight for our love and our passion
As our eyes are open wide and on you
Grant us the privilege of your love
And may your kingdom be what wakes us up and lays us down
STP, an IronMan
Monday, February 19, 2007
Amazing Grace ... Frank Morris
An historical film soon to be released, Friday Feb. 23, about John Newton's Amazing Grace should be a must see by all of us. Newton was an especially bad person whose life was changed by God's word and then wrote a hymn that is know in every language in the world. I believe Amazing Grace will be a very inspirational movie.
Frank Morris, an IronMan
Frank Morris, an IronMan
Thursday, February 15, 2007
You have captured God's heart... by Max Lucado
Just look at the gifts he has given you: He has sent his angels to care for you, his Holy Spirit to dwell in you, his church to encourage you, and his word to guide you. You have privileges only a fiancée could have. Anytime you speak, he listens; make a request and he responds. He will never let you be tempted too much or stumble too far. Let a tear appear on your cheek, and he is there to wipe it. Let a love sonnet appear on your lips, and he is there to hear it. As much as you want to see him, he wants to see you more.
He is building a house for you. And with every swing of the hammer and cut of the saw, he’s dreaming of the day he carries you over the threshold. “There are many rooms in my Father’s house; I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you. After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am” (John 14:2–3).
You have been chosen by Christ. You are released from your old life in your old house, and he has claimed you as his beloved. “Then where is he?” you might ask. “Why hasn’t he come?”
There is only one answer. His bride is not ready. She is still being prepared.
Engaged people are obsessed with preparation. The right dress. The right weight. The right hair and the right tux. They want everything to be right. Why? So their fiancée will marry them? No. Just the opposite. They want to look their best because their fiancée is marrying them.
The same is true for us. We want to look our best for Christ. We want our hearts to be pure and our thoughts to be clean. We want our faces to shine with grace and our eyes to sparkle with love. We want to be prepared.
Why? In hopes that he will love us? No. Just the opposite. Because he already does.
You are spoken for. You are engaged, set apart, called out, a holy bride. Forbidden waters hold nothing for you. You have been chosen for his castle. Don’t settle for one-night stands in the arms of a stranger.
Be obsessed with your wedding date. Guard against forgetfulness. Be intolerant of memory lapses. Write yourself notes. Memorize verses. Do whatever you need to do to remember. “Aim at what is in heaven . . . Think only about the things in heaven” (Col. 3:1–2). You are engaged to royalty, and your Prince is coming to take you home.
From When Christ Comes Copyright 1999, Max Lucado
He is building a house for you. And with every swing of the hammer and cut of the saw, he’s dreaming of the day he carries you over the threshold. “There are many rooms in my Father’s house; I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you. After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am” (John 14:2–3).
You have been chosen by Christ. You are released from your old life in your old house, and he has claimed you as his beloved. “Then where is he?” you might ask. “Why hasn’t he come?”
There is only one answer. His bride is not ready. She is still being prepared.
Engaged people are obsessed with preparation. The right dress. The right weight. The right hair and the right tux. They want everything to be right. Why? So their fiancée will marry them? No. Just the opposite. They want to look their best because their fiancée is marrying them.
The same is true for us. We want to look our best for Christ. We want our hearts to be pure and our thoughts to be clean. We want our faces to shine with grace and our eyes to sparkle with love. We want to be prepared.
Why? In hopes that he will love us? No. Just the opposite. Because he already does.
You are spoken for. You are engaged, set apart, called out, a holy bride. Forbidden waters hold nothing for you. You have been chosen for his castle. Don’t settle for one-night stands in the arms of a stranger.
Be obsessed with your wedding date. Guard against forgetfulness. Be intolerant of memory lapses. Write yourself notes. Memorize verses. Do whatever you need to do to remember. “Aim at what is in heaven . . . Think only about the things in heaven” (Col. 3:1–2). You are engaged to royalty, and your Prince is coming to take you home.
From When Christ Comes Copyright 1999, Max Lucado
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Workday at Blanca's house - This Saturday the 17th
More update on the workday at Blanca’s house.
1. The workday is not just for men, women are more than welcome. We really could use some women expertise on this project.
2. We have quiet a few people donating money and that is great, we still need some more!!!
3. Most importantly, WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!!! I only have 5 people (counting myself) that have committed to helping. PLEASE, PLEASE let me know if you can come. I believe we have more folks that can come but just have not let me know yet. If we truly only have 5 people in the church that can help, I will probably have to reschedule it. The work will consist of painting, minor repairs and yard work. Again, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN COME.
4. We will meet at the church at 7am to caravan to Blanca’s house in Garland. If you cannot meet us at church but do want to help, let me know and I can give you directions.
Blanca is so excited that someone wants to help her, let’s not let her down! Thanks for your help!!!
STP, an IronMan
1. The workday is not just for men, women are more than welcome. We really could use some women expertise on this project.
2. We have quiet a few people donating money and that is great, we still need some more!!!
3. Most importantly, WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!!! I only have 5 people (counting myself) that have committed to helping. PLEASE, PLEASE let me know if you can come. I believe we have more folks that can come but just have not let me know yet. If we truly only have 5 people in the church that can help, I will probably have to reschedule it. The work will consist of painting, minor repairs and yard work. Again, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN COME.
4. We will meet at the church at 7am to caravan to Blanca’s house in Garland. If you cannot meet us at church but do want to help, let me know and I can give you directions.
Blanca is so excited that someone wants to help her, let’s not let her down! Thanks for your help!!!
STP, an IronMan
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Colossians 3:1 ff ... the Message
"So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ persides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ - that's where the action is. See things from His perspective.
Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life - even though invisible to spectators - is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too - the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.
And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attacts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feeling instead of by God."
How are you doing in your life? What things do you need to "kill off"? I know I struggle with this section of scripture because it is so easy to life for now and be pleasing to myself now. I often forget to focus on things that are from above and I spent to much time focusing on things of this earth that lead to death! Wow. That is a strong statement!
Let's focus today (one day at a time) on "killing off" the things of this world that lead to death!
Stay Strong -
STP, an IronMan
Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life - even though invisible to spectators - is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too - the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.
And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attacts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feeling instead of by God."
How are you doing in your life? What things do you need to "kill off"? I know I struggle with this section of scripture because it is so easy to life for now and be pleasing to myself now. I often forget to focus on things that are from above and I spent to much time focusing on things of this earth that lead to death! Wow. That is a strong statement!
Let's focus today (one day at a time) on "killing off" the things of this world that lead to death!
Stay Strong -
STP, an IronMan
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Psalms 1:3 ERV
This is talking about the wise:
"So they grow strong, like a tree planted by a stream-
a tree that produces fruit when it should
and has leaves that never fall.
Everthing they do is successful."
Let these words fall over you today!
P.S. Thank the Lord for men like Tony Dungy, the Colts head coach. He is a true warrior and does it "The Lord's Way!"
"So they grow strong, like a tree planted by a stream-
a tree that produces fruit when it should
and has leaves that never fall.
Everthing they do is successful."
Let these words fall over you today!
P.S. Thank the Lord for men like Tony Dungy, the Colts head coach. He is a true warrior and does it "The Lord's Way!"
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Stunned by His Grace... by Max Lucado
I was mulling over a recent conversation I had with a disenchanted Christian brother. He was upset with me. So upset that he was considering rescinding his invitation for me to speak to his group. Seems he’d heard I was pretty open about who I have fellowship with. He’d read the words I wrote: “If God calls a person his child, shouldn’t I call him my brother?” And, “If God accepts others with their errors and misinterpretations, shouldn’t we?"
He didn’t like that. “Carrying it a bit too far,” he told me. “Fences are necessary,” he explained. “Scriptures are clear on such matters.” He read me a few and then urged me to be careful to whom I give grace.
“I don’t give it,” I assured. “I only spotlight where God already has.”Later I had a great thought. A why-didn’t-I-think-to-say-that? insight.
If the subject resurfaces, I’ll say it. But in case it doesn’t, I’ll say it to you. (It’s too good to waste.) Just one sentence:
I’ve never been surprised by God’s judgment, but I’m still stunned by his grace.
Story after story. Prayer after prayer. Surprise after surprise.
Seems that God is looking more for ways to get us home than for ways to keep us out. I challenge you to find one soul who came to God seeking grace and did not find it. Search the pages. Read the stories. Envision the encounters. Find one person who came seeking a second chance and left with a stern lecture. I dare you. Search.
You won’t find it.
Seems to me God gives a lot more grace than we’d ever imagine.
We could do the same.
I’m not for watering down the truth or compromising the gospel. But if a fellow with a pure heart calls God Father, can’t I call that same man Brother? If God doesn’t make doctrinal perfection a requirement for family membership, should I?
And if we never agree, can’t we agree to disagree? If God can tolerate my mistakes, can’t I tolerate the mistakes of others? If God can overlook my errors, can’t I overlook the errors of others? If God allows me with my foibles and failures to call him Father, shouldn’t I extend the same grace to others?
One thing’s for sure. When we get to heaven, we’ll be surprised at some of the folks we see. And some of them will be surprised to see us.
Max Lucado
He didn’t like that. “Carrying it a bit too far,” he told me. “Fences are necessary,” he explained. “Scriptures are clear on such matters.” He read me a few and then urged me to be careful to whom I give grace.
“I don’t give it,” I assured. “I only spotlight where God already has.”Later I had a great thought. A why-didn’t-I-think-to-say-that? insight.
If the subject resurfaces, I’ll say it. But in case it doesn’t, I’ll say it to you. (It’s too good to waste.) Just one sentence:
I’ve never been surprised by God’s judgment, but I’m still stunned by his grace.
Story after story. Prayer after prayer. Surprise after surprise.
Seems that God is looking more for ways to get us home than for ways to keep us out. I challenge you to find one soul who came to God seeking grace and did not find it. Search the pages. Read the stories. Envision the encounters. Find one person who came seeking a second chance and left with a stern lecture. I dare you. Search.
You won’t find it.
Seems to me God gives a lot more grace than we’d ever imagine.
We could do the same.
I’m not for watering down the truth or compromising the gospel. But if a fellow with a pure heart calls God Father, can’t I call that same man Brother? If God doesn’t make doctrinal perfection a requirement for family membership, should I?
And if we never agree, can’t we agree to disagree? If God can tolerate my mistakes, can’t I tolerate the mistakes of others? If God can overlook my errors, can’t I overlook the errors of others? If God allows me with my foibles and failures to call him Father, shouldn’t I extend the same grace to others?
One thing’s for sure. When we get to heaven, we’ll be surprised at some of the folks we see. And some of them will be surprised to see us.
Max Lucado
Monday, January 29, 2007
Trimming and Prunning... John 15
John 15: 2 ERV
"He cuts off every branch of mine that does not produce fruit. He also trims every branch that produces fruit to prepeare it to produce even more."
How much yard work do you do? Did you realize that God is the master gardener! Where are you in respect to this verse?
I have a hard time understanding it, I must say. I don't know what to do with the first part and can't understand the second part. I feel the prunning process in my life at different times. I feel that the Lord allows me to go through things so that I will learn and grow. However, there are many times where I wish there was a different way to learn those lessons. I trust that God has a plan and the he know the way that I need to be prunned.
How does this verse hit you? Let me know your thoughts!!!
Stay Strong, PLD
STP, an IronMan
"He cuts off every branch of mine that does not produce fruit. He also trims every branch that produces fruit to prepeare it to produce even more."
How much yard work do you do? Did you realize that God is the master gardener! Where are you in respect to this verse?
I have a hard time understanding it, I must say. I don't know what to do with the first part and can't understand the second part. I feel the prunning process in my life at different times. I feel that the Lord allows me to go through things so that I will learn and grow. However, there are many times where I wish there was a different way to learn those lessons. I trust that God has a plan and the he know the way that I need to be prunned.
How does this verse hit you? Let me know your thoughts!!!
Stay Strong, PLD
STP, an IronMan
Friday, January 12, 2007
The Touch of God...by Max Lucado
In Scripture the leper is symbolic of the ultimate outcast: infected by a condition he did not seek, rejected by those he knew, avoided by people he did not know, condemned to a future he could not bear. And in the memory of each outcast must have been the day he was forced to face the truth: life would never be the same.
The banishing of a leper seems harsh, unnecessary. The Ancient East hasn’t been the only culture to isolate their wounded, however. We may not build colonies or cover our mouths in their presence, but we certainly build walls and duck our eyes. And a person needn’t have leprosy to feel quarantined.
The divorced know this feeling. So do the handicapped. The unemployed have felt it, as have the less educated. Some shun unmarried moms. We keep our distance from the depressed and avoid the terminally ill. We have neighborhoods for immigrants, convalescent homes for the elderly, schools for the simple, centers for the addicted, and prisons for the criminals.
The rest simply try to get away from it all. Only God knows how many individuals are living quiet, lonely lives infected by their fear of rejection and their memories of the last time they tried. They choose not to be touched at all rather than risk being hurt again.
Some of you have the master touch of the Physician himself. You use your hands to pray over the sick and minister to the weak. If you aren’t touching them personally, your hands are writing letters, dialing phones, baking pies. You have learned the power of a touch.
But others of us tend to forget. Our hearts are good; it’s just that our memories are bad. We forget how significant one touch can be. We fear saying the wrong thing or using the wrong tone or acting the wrong way. So rather than do it incorrectly, we do nothing at all.
Aren’t we glad Jesus didn’t make the same mistake? If your fear of doing the wrong thing prevents you from doing anything, keep in mind the perspective of the lepers of the world. They aren’t picky. They aren’t finicky. They’re just lonely. They are yearning for a godly touch.
Jesus touched the untouchables of the world. Will you do the same?
From Just Like Jesus Copyright 1998, Max Lucado
The banishing of a leper seems harsh, unnecessary. The Ancient East hasn’t been the only culture to isolate their wounded, however. We may not build colonies or cover our mouths in their presence, but we certainly build walls and duck our eyes. And a person needn’t have leprosy to feel quarantined.
The divorced know this feeling. So do the handicapped. The unemployed have felt it, as have the less educated. Some shun unmarried moms. We keep our distance from the depressed and avoid the terminally ill. We have neighborhoods for immigrants, convalescent homes for the elderly, schools for the simple, centers for the addicted, and prisons for the criminals.
The rest simply try to get away from it all. Only God knows how many individuals are living quiet, lonely lives infected by their fear of rejection and their memories of the last time they tried. They choose not to be touched at all rather than risk being hurt again.
Some of you have the master touch of the Physician himself. You use your hands to pray over the sick and minister to the weak. If you aren’t touching them personally, your hands are writing letters, dialing phones, baking pies. You have learned the power of a touch.
But others of us tend to forget. Our hearts are good; it’s just that our memories are bad. We forget how significant one touch can be. We fear saying the wrong thing or using the wrong tone or acting the wrong way. So rather than do it incorrectly, we do nothing at all.
Aren’t we glad Jesus didn’t make the same mistake? If your fear of doing the wrong thing prevents you from doing anything, keep in mind the perspective of the lepers of the world. They aren’t picky. They aren’t finicky. They’re just lonely. They are yearning for a godly touch.
Jesus touched the untouchables of the world. Will you do the same?
From Just Like Jesus Copyright 1998, Max Lucado
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Wow, Amazing
Isn't it amazing that the God we serve, the creator of the universe, the Infinite and Almighty, came to this earth in the form of man and in John 13 humbled himself to wash the Apostles feet! What an amazing thing. We can't really relate to this physical act of service because our culture is so different than theirs. This was the job for the lowest slave! Jesus humbled himself to the lowest position possible to engage in this activity. That blows me away!
God himself washed their feet!
And then he asks them: "Do you understand what I have done for you?"
They might have a little clearer understanding since foot washing was something that was done in that day, but not by Jesus, God himself!
In chapter 12, Jesus tells them if they are going to serve him, they must follow him. That is tough. They must be thinking, "We have to do this for others?" Yes, Jesus followed up the washing of their feet with the statement, "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet." You know that would radically change their thought process; much like many things Jesus taught them changed their thought process.
Why do you believe in Christ? Because he did things like this. "He showed them the full extent of his love!" 13:1
This story is amazing!
Stay Strong, PLD
STP, an IronMan
God himself washed their feet!
And then he asks them: "Do you understand what I have done for you?"
They might have a little clearer understanding since foot washing was something that was done in that day, but not by Jesus, God himself!
In chapter 12, Jesus tells them if they are going to serve him, they must follow him. That is tough. They must be thinking, "We have to do this for others?" Yes, Jesus followed up the washing of their feet with the statement, "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet." You know that would radically change their thought process; much like many things Jesus taught them changed their thought process.
Why do you believe in Christ? Because he did things like this. "He showed them the full extent of his love!" 13:1
This story is amazing!
Stay Strong, PLD
STP, an IronMan
Friday, December 29, 2006
Let It Fade ... a song by Jeremy Camp
Let this wash over you today and see how it hits you:
Have you been walking on a surface that's uncertain?
Have you helped yourself to everything that's empty?
You can't live this way too long.
There's more than this, more than this.
Have you been standing on your own feet too long?
Have you been looking for a place where you belong?
You can rest, you will find rest!
Let this old life crumble, let it fade.
Let this new life offered be your saving grace.
Let this old life crumble, let it fade, let it fade.
Have you been holding on to what this world had offered?
Have you been giving in to all these maqueradees?
It will be gone, It will be gone.
Are you carrying the weight too much, are you running from the call?
Have you been walking on a surface that's uncertain?
Have you helped yourself to everything that's empty?
You can't live this way too long.
There's more than this, more than this.
Have you been standing on your own feet too long?
Have you been looking for a place where you belong?
You can rest, you will find rest!
Let this old life crumble, let it fade.
Let this new life offered be your saving grace.
Let this old life crumble, let it fade, let it fade.
Have you been holding on to what this world had offered?
Have you been giving in to all these maqueradees?
It will be gone, It will be gone.
Are you carrying the weight too much, are you running from the call?
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Acts 4:13
"When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus."
Wow! I pray that as we go throughout our day, others might say the same about you and I. We may not have the opporunity that the apostles did of seeing Jesus physically and following him for 3 years, but we do have a chance at any moment to spend time with him. Let's spend some time with Jesus today!!!
Stay strong and TRUE! PLD!
STP, an IronMan
Wow! I pray that as we go throughout our day, others might say the same about you and I. We may not have the opporunity that the apostles did of seeing Jesus physically and following him for 3 years, but we do have a chance at any moment to spend time with him. Let's spend some time with Jesus today!!!
Stay strong and TRUE! PLD!
STP, an IronMan
Monday, December 18, 2006
Update on Christmas Wish opportunity
IronMen, just a reminder and some more info on Blanca Alfaro, the lady we are going to help this holiday season. We really need two things if you can help:
1. Money is good or Home Depot gift cards so that we can get supplies for the work we are going to do on the house.
2. Time if you can help. We are going to go to her house after Christmas (day and time to be determined) and work on fixing up the place.
Please think about these two things and see how you can help. The basic things we will be working on at her house are:
1. Misc painting
2. Fixing some tile
3. Pressure washing outside of house
4. Misc small projects
These are things that i know of right now that might change. She is needing to sell her house because she cannot afford it anymore. I will get you more info later, but if you can help financially, please do so asap. thanks so much.
Stay Strong, PLD
STP, an IronMan
1. Money is good or Home Depot gift cards so that we can get supplies for the work we are going to do on the house.
2. Time if you can help. We are going to go to her house after Christmas (day and time to be determined) and work on fixing up the place.
Please think about these two things and see how you can help. The basic things we will be working on at her house are:
1. Misc painting
2. Fixing some tile
3. Pressure washing outside of house
4. Misc small projects
These are things that i know of right now that might change. She is needing to sell her house because she cannot afford it anymore. I will get you more info later, but if you can help financially, please do so asap. thanks so much.
Stay Strong, PLD
STP, an IronMan
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Service idea
IronMen, here is something i want you to be thinking about. I contacted KLTY and their Christmas Wish program to see if I could find a family that we as IronMen could help this holiday season. I have found one that I think is going to work out great! Please be in prayer about this and I will give you more info very soon. I don't want to give all the info right now because i have not confirmed it yet. So, just pray about it and maybe later today or tomorrow I can give you more info. Thanks men!
STP, and IronMan
STP, and IronMan
Friday, December 08, 2006
A Thought on Prayer... from "Prayer" by Phillip Yancey
This is an excerpt from the book "Prayer" by Phillip Yancey and I thought you might enjoy this as it really put authentic prayer into focus for me:
I was teaching a class at a church in Chicago when a young woman raised her hand with a question. I knew her as a shy, conscientious student who attended faithfully but never spoke. The rest of the class seemed suprised as well and listened attentively. "I'm not always sincere when I pray," she began. "Sometimes it seems forced, more like a ritual. I'm just repeating words. Does God hear those prayers? Should I keep going even though I have no confidence that I'm doing it right?"
I let the silence hang in the room for a moment before attempting an answer. "Do you notice how quiet it is in here?" I said. "We all sense your honesty. It took courage for you to be vulnerable, and you touched a nerve with others of us in the room. You seem sincere, unlike a salesman, say, who gets paid to give a spiel. We're tuned in, listening, respectful, because you are being authintic. And I imagine it's the same with God. More than anyting else, God wants your autintic self."
And a couple of other quotes from the same chapter:
Prayer makes room for the unspeakable.
In truth, what I think and feel as I pray, rather than the words I speak, may be the real prayer, for God "hears" that too. (Reference Psalms 139:4,7-8)
Unless I level with God, our relationship will go nowhere.
"We must lay before Him what is in us, not what ought to be in us." (C.S. Lewis) In other words, we must trust God with what God already knows.
Stay Strong, PLD
STP, an IronMan
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Seeking the Savior - Max Lucado
Simeon said, “Can I stay alive until I see him?”
The Magi said, “Saddle up the camels. We aren’t stopping until we find him.”
The shepherds said, “Let’s go…. Let’s see.”
They wanted the Savior. They wanted to see Jesus.
They were earnest in their search. One translation renders Hebrews 11:6: “God … rewards those who earnestly seek him” (NIV, italics mine).
Another reads: “God rewards those who search for him” (PHILLIPS, italics mine).
And another: “God … rewards those who sincerely look for him” (TLB, italics mine).
I like the King James translation: “He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (italics mine).
Diligently—what a great word. Be diligent in your search. Be hungry in your quest, relentless in your pilgrimage. Let this book be but one of dozens you read about Jesus and this hour be but one of hundreds in which you seek him. Step away from the puny pursuits of possessions and positions, and seek your king.
Don’t be satisfied with angels. Don’t be content with stars in the sky. Seek him out as the shepherds did. Long for him as Simeon did. Worship him as the wise men did. Do as John and Andrew did: ask for his address. Do as Matthew: invite Jesus into your house. Imitate Zacchaeus. Risk whatever it takes to see Christ.
God rewards those who seek him. Not those who seek doctrine or religion or systems or creeds. Many settle for these lesser passions, but the reward goes to those who settle for nothing less than Jesus himself. And what is the reward? What awaits those who seek Jesus? Nothing short of the heart of Jesus. “And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him” (2 Cor. 3:18 TLB).
Can you think of a greater gift than to be like Jesus? Christ felt no guilt; God wants to banish yours. Jesus had no bad habits; God wants to remove yours. Jesus had no fear of death; God wants you to be fearless. Jesus had kindness for the diseased and mercy for the rebellious and courage for the challenges. God wants you to have the same.
He loves you just the way you are, but he refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus.
From Just Like JesusCopyright 1998, Max Lucado
The Magi said, “Saddle up the camels. We aren’t stopping until we find him.”
The shepherds said, “Let’s go…. Let’s see.”
They wanted the Savior. They wanted to see Jesus.
They were earnest in their search. One translation renders Hebrews 11:6: “God … rewards those who earnestly seek him” (NIV, italics mine).
Another reads: “God rewards those who search for him” (PHILLIPS, italics mine).
And another: “God … rewards those who sincerely look for him” (TLB, italics mine).
I like the King James translation: “He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (italics mine).
Diligently—what a great word. Be diligent in your search. Be hungry in your quest, relentless in your pilgrimage. Let this book be but one of dozens you read about Jesus and this hour be but one of hundreds in which you seek him. Step away from the puny pursuits of possessions and positions, and seek your king.
Don’t be satisfied with angels. Don’t be content with stars in the sky. Seek him out as the shepherds did. Long for him as Simeon did. Worship him as the wise men did. Do as John and Andrew did: ask for his address. Do as Matthew: invite Jesus into your house. Imitate Zacchaeus. Risk whatever it takes to see Christ.
God rewards those who seek him. Not those who seek doctrine or religion or systems or creeds. Many settle for these lesser passions, but the reward goes to those who settle for nothing less than Jesus himself. And what is the reward? What awaits those who seek Jesus? Nothing short of the heart of Jesus. “And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him” (2 Cor. 3:18 TLB).
Can you think of a greater gift than to be like Jesus? Christ felt no guilt; God wants to banish yours. Jesus had no bad habits; God wants to remove yours. Jesus had no fear of death; God wants you to be fearless. Jesus had kindness for the diseased and mercy for the rebellious and courage for the challenges. God wants you to have the same.
He loves you just the way you are, but he refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus.
From Just Like JesusCopyright 1998, Max Lucado
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Enjoy the moments
Question: How do you learn to appreciate the different stages of your life?
This is a questions that has been haunting me lately. I am trying to understand this concept as my life seems frazzled presently. My kids are going through some interesting stages, they are sick with seasonal illenesses, work is very busy and oftentimes difficult to understand, we have a new business that Paige and I have started and that has some normal concerns, I don't seem to have the time to spend on IronMen that I desire and the list goes on. I know there are good and difficult things to each of these circumstances and my human nature is to focus on the "difficult". I know this is the mind games the devil plays in our heads.
Lots of times, your thoughts go to extremes during stressful moments. Example: Your work gets you down and you instantly think about changing jobs, your commute is long and traffic is traffic so you think about moving asap, etc.... Why do we do this? Why can't we learn to appreciate the things we go through for what they are? We are not promised a simple, easy life. We know that the life of a Christian is going to be hard and those are the time that we grow so much. After all, once this day is gone, it's gone! And really how bad are things? Probably not as much as we make them out to be.
Being Positive! What a concept and what a difficult thing to focus on. It is so much easier to focus on the negative side of things. We must go through the valleys to get to the mountaintops. Have you heard the Third Day song "Mountain of God"? This song describes it perfectly and here are the lyrics:
Thought that i was all alone,
Broken and afraid,
But you are there with me,
Yes you are there with me,
And I didn't even know
That i has lost my way,
But you are there with me,
Yes you are there with me
Till you opened up my eyes i never knew
That i couldn't ever make it without you
(Chorus):
Even though the journeys long
And the road is hard
With the one that has gone before me
You will help me carry on
And after all that I've been through
Still I realize the truth
That I must go through the valley
To stand on the mountain of God
As I travel on the road
That you have led me down
You are here with me
Yes, you are here with me
I have need for nothing more
Now that I have found that you are here with me
Yes you are here with me
I confess from time to time
I lose my way
But you are always there to bring me back again
(Chorus again)
Here are the comments from Tai Anderson, the Bass Guitarist from Third Day about this song:
We've all had those mountaintop experiences. You feel so close to God. You can see for miles. Vision galore. Then life happens, the valley, the struggles. We often think that the valley is a consequence for the sin of our life. But, maybe it's just our life. We're all promised struggle. We all experience suffering. The hope that we have is wonderfully expressed in this song. "You were there with me." We don't have to go through the inevitable trials of life on our own.
Stay Strong, PLD!
STP, an IronMan
Friday, November 24, 2006
Dealing with difficult relatives - Max Lucado
Does Jesus have anything to say about dealing with difficult relatives? Is there an example of Jesus bringing peace to a painful family? Yes, there is.
His own.
It may surprise you to know that Jesus had a difficult family. If your family doesn’t appreciate you, take heart, neither did Jesus’.
“His family … went to get him because they thought he was out of his mind” (Mark 3:21).
Jesus’ siblings thought their brother was a lunatic. They weren’t proud—they were embarrassed!
It’s worth noting that he didn’t try to control his family’s behavior, nor did he let their behavior control his. He didn’t demand that they agree with him. He didn’t sulk when they insulted him. He didn’t make it his mission to try to please them.
Each of us has a fantasy that our family will be like the Waltons, an expectation that our dearest friends will be our next of kin. Jesus didn’t have that expectation. Look how he defined his family: “My true brother and sister and mother are those who do what God wants” (Mark 3:35).
When Jesus’ brothers didn’t share his convictions, he didn’t try to force them. He recognized that his spiritual family could provide what his physical family didn’t. If Jesus himself couldn’t force his family to share his convictions, what makes you think you can force yours?
Having your family’s approval is desirable but not necessary for happiness and not always possible. Jesus did not let the difficult dynamic of his family overshadow his call from God. And because he didn’t, this chapter has a happy ending.
What happened to Jesus’ family?
Mine with me a golden nugget hidden in a vein of the Book of Acts. “Then went back to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives.… They all continued praying together with some women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and Jesus’ brothers” (Acts 1:12, 14, emphasis added).
What a change! The ones who mocked him now worship him. The ones who pitied him now pray for him. What if Jesus had disowned them? Or worse still, what if he’d suffocated his family with his demand for change?
He didn’t. He instead gave them space, time, and grace. And because he did, they changed. How much did they change? One brother became an apostle (Gal. 1:19) and others became missionaries (1 Cor. 9:5).
So don’t lose heart. God still changes families.
His own.
It may surprise you to know that Jesus had a difficult family. If your family doesn’t appreciate you, take heart, neither did Jesus’.
“His family … went to get him because they thought he was out of his mind” (Mark 3:21).
Jesus’ siblings thought their brother was a lunatic. They weren’t proud—they were embarrassed!
It’s worth noting that he didn’t try to control his family’s behavior, nor did he let their behavior control his. He didn’t demand that they agree with him. He didn’t sulk when they insulted him. He didn’t make it his mission to try to please them.
Each of us has a fantasy that our family will be like the Waltons, an expectation that our dearest friends will be our next of kin. Jesus didn’t have that expectation. Look how he defined his family: “My true brother and sister and mother are those who do what God wants” (Mark 3:35).
When Jesus’ brothers didn’t share his convictions, he didn’t try to force them. He recognized that his spiritual family could provide what his physical family didn’t. If Jesus himself couldn’t force his family to share his convictions, what makes you think you can force yours?
Having your family’s approval is desirable but not necessary for happiness and not always possible. Jesus did not let the difficult dynamic of his family overshadow his call from God. And because he didn’t, this chapter has a happy ending.
What happened to Jesus’ family?
Mine with me a golden nugget hidden in a vein of the Book of Acts. “Then went back to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives.… They all continued praying together with some women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and Jesus’ brothers” (Acts 1:12, 14, emphasis added).
What a change! The ones who mocked him now worship him. The ones who pitied him now pray for him. What if Jesus had disowned them? Or worse still, what if he’d suffocated his family with his demand for change?
He didn’t. He instead gave them space, time, and grace. And because he did, they changed. How much did they change? One brother became an apostle (Gal. 1:19) and others became missionaries (1 Cor. 9:5).
So don’t lose heart. God still changes families.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Two Fathers, Two Feasts - Max Lucado
Two Fathers, Two Feasts by Max Lucado The following is an excerpt from In the Eye of the Storm.Download Chapter 12 of In the Eye of the Storm to read even more.
I drove the family to Grandma’s last night for Thanksgiving. Three hours into the six-hour trip, I realized that I was in a theology lab.
A day with a car full of kids will teach you a lot about God. Transporting a family from one city to another is closely akin to God transporting us from our home to his.
A journey is a journey, whether the destination be the Thanksgiving table or the heavenly one. The fact that my pilgrims were all under the age of seven only enriched my learning experience.
As minutes rolled into hours and our car rolled through the hills, I began to realize that what I was saying to my kids had a familiar ring. I had heard it before—from God. All of a sudden, the car became a classroom. I realized that I was doing for a few hours what God has done for centuries: encouraging travelers who’d rather rest than ride.
I shared the idea with Denalyn. We began to discover similarities between the two journeys. Here are a few we noted.
In order to reach the destination, we have to say no to some requests.
Children have no concept of minutes or miles.
Children can’t envision the reward.
It’s worth it.
As we sat around the table today, no one spoke of the long trip to get here. Yesterday’s challenges were lost in today’s joy.
That’s what Paul meant. God never said that the journey would be easy, but he did say that the arrival would be worthwhile.
Remember this: God may not do what you want, but he will do what is right … and best. He’s the Father of forward motion. Trust him. He will get you home. And the trials of the trip will be lost in the joys of the feast.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Random Thougths - Stacey Pearson
1. Have you seen the movie "The 5 People you meet in heaven"? this is a great movie based on the book by Mitch Albom. Paige and I have watched it twice now and we both are intrigued by it. I don't know what heaven will be like for sure (see the latest newsletter by Joel for more on this), but this movie put and interesting take on it. This is one idea of what i may be like. In the extras, Mitch is interviewed and he does not tell you exactly what his faith is and what he believes, but he definitely believes in God and heaven. You should rent this movie and see what thoughts come to you. You might be amazed!
2. Paige and I got to go on a vacation this past week. We went to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Wow! How amazing it was. Beauty like I've never seen before. You see, i have not had much experience on the beach, so i am somewhat of a rookie. This was a great experience for me and we had lots of fun. In the midst of all the fun, reality set in. Paige's stepfather died on Saturday and we got ahold of Paige's mom on Sunday morning (right before we were leaving) and found out. What a change of emotion. Though this world is so beautiful, it is not our home and we are just passing through. Paige and i went from a feeling of celebration to a keen sense of reality real quick. Please keep Paige's mother in your prayers. She is a wonderful woman and has so much on her plate!
3. Back to work. Why is it so difficult to get back in the swing of things. I was only gone for 4 days and now that i am back, i feel so lost. It was a great break and much needed.
4. Service. Let's work on opportunities to serve others this holiday season. I am working on some organized efforts for the IronMen as a group, but please think about the little things you can do every day to serve others. After all, that was Jesus' M O.
5. Next IronMen breakfast is Dec. 2 at LCCOC, 7:30 to 8:30am. Bob McKinnon will be leading us. Last time Ken Boggs led us and did a great job. Thanks Ken!
STP
Stay strong, PLD
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Bring the Rain - Mercy Me
Read the words of this song, it is amazing. This is on the newest Mercy Me CD. I highly suggest it!
I can count a million times
People asking me why
I can praise you, with all that I’ve gone through
The question just amazes me
Could circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life has changed
Long before these rainy days
It’s never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you O’ Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead, I draw closer through these times
So I pray…
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings you glory
I know there’ll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that’s what it takes to praise you
Jesus bring the rain!
I am yours regardless of
The clouds that may loom above
Because you are much greater than the pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering your destiny
Should tell me, “What’s a little rain”
So I pray…
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings you glory
I know there’ll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that’s what it takes to praise you
Jesus bring the rain!
Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy,Is the Lord God Almighty, Is the Lord God Almighty
Monday, October 23, 2006
Just a little info - Alan Phillips
Oh great world of Blog … Greetings!
Those who know me know that global missions runs rather freely in my veins. I was the child of missionary parents where I grew up in Perth, Australia. Later in high school when we moved to Oklahoma from the other side of earth, we used to have missionaries come stay in our home quite frequently. Now in my ‘advanced years’ (no need for “Amens”), I have come full circle. Following my college years and then a couple of decades of work in higher education administration and consulting, I now work with a missions ministry called, Missions Resource Network, here in the Dallas metroplex. I also serve on the missions team of the Lake Cities Church, as our church strives to make a difference in people’s lives, both locally and globally.
I grew up going to church three times a week, memorizing scripture, hearing lots of sermons, going to Bible class and VBS, attending Christian College lectureships, and “Gospel Meetings”, and eventually graduating from a Christian University. What I learned most about what Christianity has to offer, however, I observed from my parents and from other selfless ‘soldout’ followers of Christ. As a child and teenager, I watched my parents give of themselves in extraordinary ways. They served others as people had need without partiality for status and without judgment … the physically poor and the spiritually poor. They shared their joy-filled lives (and still do) with anyone and everyone, for they saw (and see) each contact with someone an opportunity to reflect the selfless love of Jesus. By the standards of the world my family didn’t have much, but in reality we had everything!
In reflection I’m reminded that you and I are called to be ‘missionaries’. Self was nailed to a cross. Our identities as Christ-followers are not tied up in our pedigree, where we went to college, where we live, our family makeup, our careers, our portfolios, nor our church affiliation. God’s calling is personal. I pray that in humility I will consider others greater than myself. I pray that His power be at work within me, because I can’t do it alone. I pray that people will not see me, but rather that they see Jesus who lives within me. I pray that as iron sharpens iron, we might sharpen each other in His service. And not because of anything that I’ve done, but rather because of my debt that Jesus paid, I proudly claim to be His missionary!
Alan Phillips - an IronMan
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Forever Young - Max Lucado
"Whoever tries to keep his life safe will lose it, and the man who is prepared to lose his life will preserve it."LUKE 17:33 (PHILLIPS)
“There are two ways to view life,” Jesus is saying, “those who protect it or those who pursue it. The wisest are not the ones with the most years in their lives, but the most life in their years.”
What Annie Dillard says about writing in The Writing Life is true about life: “One of the few things I know about writing is this: spend it all, play it, lose it all, right away, every time. Do not hoard what seems good for a later place in the book, or for another book; give it, give it all, give it now.”
There is a rawness and a wonder to life. Pursue it. Hunt for it. Sell out to get it. Don’t listen to the whines of those who have settled for a second-rate life and want you to do the same so they won’t feel guilty. Your goal is not to live long; it’s to live.
Jesus says the options are clear. On one side there is the voice of safety. You can build a fire in the hearth, stay inside, and stay warm and dry and safe. You can’t get hurt if you never get out, right? You can’t be criticized for what you don’t try, right? You can’t fall if you don’t take a stand, right? You can’t lose your balance if you never climb, right? So, don’t try it. Take the safe route.
Or you can hear the voice of adventure—God’s adventure. Instead of building a fire in your hearth, build a fire in your heart. Follow God’s impulses. Adopt the child. Move overseas. Teach the class. Change careers. Run for office. Make a difference. Sure it isn’t safe, but what is?
You think staying inside out of the cold is safe? Jesus disagrees. “Whoever tries to keep his life safe will lose it.” I like the words of General Douglas MacArthur when he was seventy-eight: “Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years. People grow old by deserting their ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up interest wrinkles the soul.”
From He Still Moves StonesCopyright 1995, Max Lucado
“There are two ways to view life,” Jesus is saying, “those who protect it or those who pursue it. The wisest are not the ones with the most years in their lives, but the most life in their years.”
What Annie Dillard says about writing in The Writing Life is true about life: “One of the few things I know about writing is this: spend it all, play it, lose it all, right away, every time. Do not hoard what seems good for a later place in the book, or for another book; give it, give it all, give it now.”
There is a rawness and a wonder to life. Pursue it. Hunt for it. Sell out to get it. Don’t listen to the whines of those who have settled for a second-rate life and want you to do the same so they won’t feel guilty. Your goal is not to live long; it’s to live.
Jesus says the options are clear. On one side there is the voice of safety. You can build a fire in the hearth, stay inside, and stay warm and dry and safe. You can’t get hurt if you never get out, right? You can’t be criticized for what you don’t try, right? You can’t fall if you don’t take a stand, right? You can’t lose your balance if you never climb, right? So, don’t try it. Take the safe route.
Or you can hear the voice of adventure—God’s adventure. Instead of building a fire in your hearth, build a fire in your heart. Follow God’s impulses. Adopt the child. Move overseas. Teach the class. Change careers. Run for office. Make a difference. Sure it isn’t safe, but what is?
You think staying inside out of the cold is safe? Jesus disagrees. “Whoever tries to keep his life safe will lose it.” I like the words of General Douglas MacArthur when he was seventy-eight: “Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years. People grow old by deserting their ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up interest wrinkles the soul.”
From He Still Moves StonesCopyright 1995, Max Lucado
Monday, October 16, 2006
Thought for the Day - Gary Williams
"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love." (1 Corinthians 16:13-14)
Paul can say a lot in a few words.
Gary Williams - an IronMan
Thursday, October 12, 2006
From Cary Chisholm
Hey IronMen. Sorry I haven’t been around much, but I’m now doing my rotations for medical school, so unfortunately my schedule is awful. Before I share my thoughts, I just want to ask for prayers for Leann and me. We are not having problems, and I would like to keep it that way while I’m spending so much time at the hospital. The only way to do that is with God’s help during this time (and even not during this time of course).
So this last Saturday I had my first patient die. Well, he wasn’t my patient, but I was on call that night so he was mine by default. About six in the morning my pager went off and woke me up in the call room. I slipped on my shoes (no socks or tying the laces…dying people don’t like to wait for those things) and ran down the hall with the other 4 people on call. We are the code team on our on-call nights, so when a code blue is called, we all get paged. As we arrived on the 13th floor, the nurses had already started CPR and the man’s family was in the hall. Ahmad and I rotated doing chest compressions while our residents ran the code. We got a heart rhythm back briefly after about 20 minutes of CPR, but we lost it again when we tried to move his bed down the hall to go to the ICU. After another 10 minutes of CPR, the man’s family wanted us to stop, because they realized that their husband/father was gone. 30 total minutes of CPR, 2 or 3 episodes of shocking him, and using 2 crash carts of medicine weren’t enough to bring this guy back. Granted, he wasn’t expected to live much longer anyway. He was already in kidney failure and just had heart bypass surgery. In spite of those things, using the best technology and latest research guidelines weren’t enough. Our best effort wasn’t enough. It was just his time to go.
Then there are those crazy stories on the news. You know, where a guy dies because he somehow manages to drive his car into a second story apartment (true story). People get struck by lightening when there are no rain clouds. Young athletes die while playing basketball during a high school or college game. People get attacked by sharks in fresh water. People who smoke, drink, and do drugs sometimes manage to live into very old age without being sick, while those of us who take care of ourselves sometimes die young or live into old age in terrible health. The fact is, sometimes, it’s just our time to go. Our entrance into the next life is not controlled by us: Nothing we can do can help us. Exercise, eating right, taking the right vitamins, going to the doctor regularly, not drinking and driving, avoiding drugs…they can’t keep you alive when God has called you home. I guess what I’m trying to say is that we have only a limited time here on earth.
What is on my heart this week is that each of us take time each day to value and love our wives, children, parents, and friends, because none of us knows when God will call us home. For me, it entails spending the first 2-3 hours of each day with Leann when I get home from the hospital before I study. Even though I am losing a lot of study time by doing so, God has blessed me in my schooling, I believe, in part because I have kept my wife as a priority over school. Even though sometimes we feel that giving up extra time each day to spend with our families may hurt us in other areas, God will bless your prioritizing, and He will bless those activities that you give up. For some it’s studying, for others it’s work that they bring home from the office, for others it’s TV or movies or sports, and for others it’s (fill in the blank). The point is, we all are busy. We all have other things to do when we get home. Sometimes we all want a break away from wives and kids. Just don’t move them down on your priority list. Make sure that each night as you go to bed, you have no doubt that you did everything you could that day to let your family know you love them. You never know when you will not have another day to do so.
Cary Chisholm - an IronMan
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Rewards - Stacey Pearson
Matt 6:1 "Be careful not to do your "acts of righteousness" before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven."
Matt 6:4 "then your Father, who sees what is done in secret. will reward you."
Where is my heart? Is my heart and motive pure?
This is a question that I must continually ask myself and we should all ask ourselves. It is very tricky for me because I know that in many situations I may have the best intentions, but Satan can sneak in an twist my motives during the situation. Before I know it, I am looking for praise from others. What a battle! This seems so simple, but in the moment I seem vulenerable because I am doing "something good". I must continually check myself and keep my guard up.
What is the reward? How does God reward us? How does God work in our lives?
I am amazed at this thought: God loves us so much that he wants to reward us! Who knows exactly what the reward is, whether it is based on ability to have a relationship with the Creator or it is specifically talking about rewards you will receive in heaven. Either way, that is amazing to me. God's love is so rich and so multifaceted! I am so encourage that he wants to reward us.
With my son, I often tell him to do something and he will ask me, "Why daddy?" I will reply with the traditional, "Because I told you too, just do it." God does not tell us that. He wants us to follow him and live accordingly because he wants to reward us. WOW!
We also know that when we fail, God does not leave us and that just makes it even more amazing!
Just some thoughts for today! IronMen, stay stong and PLD!!!
STP
Friday, October 06, 2006
Traveling Light - Max Lucado
View online
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28 NLT).
Rest from the burden of a small god. Why? Because I have found the Lord.
Rest from doing things my way. Why? Because the Lord is my Shepherd.
Rest from endless wants. Why? Because I shall not want.
Rest from weariness. Why? Because he makes me to lie down.
Rest from worry. Why? Because he leads me.
Rest from hopelessness. Why? Because he restores my soul.
Rest from guilt. Why? Because he leads me in the paths of righteousness.
Rest from arrogance. Why? Because of his name’s sake.
Rest from the valley of death. Why? Because he walks me through it.
Rest from the shadow of grief. Why? Because he guides me.
Rest from fear. Why? Because his presence comforts me.
Rest from loneliness. Why? Because he is with me.
Rest from shame. Why? Because he has prepared a place for me in the presence of my enemies.
Rest from my disappointments. Why? Because he anoints me.
Rest from envy. Why? Because my cup overflows.
Rest from doubt. Why? Because he follows me.
Rest from homesickness. Why? Because I will dwell in the house of my Lord forever.
From Traveling LightCopyright 2001, Max Lucado
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28 NLT).
Rest from the burden of a small god. Why? Because I have found the Lord.
Rest from doing things my way. Why? Because the Lord is my Shepherd.
Rest from endless wants. Why? Because I shall not want.
Rest from weariness. Why? Because he makes me to lie down.
Rest from worry. Why? Because he leads me.
Rest from hopelessness. Why? Because he restores my soul.
Rest from guilt. Why? Because he leads me in the paths of righteousness.
Rest from arrogance. Why? Because of his name’s sake.
Rest from the valley of death. Why? Because he walks me through it.
Rest from the shadow of grief. Why? Because he guides me.
Rest from fear. Why? Because his presence comforts me.
Rest from loneliness. Why? Because he is with me.
Rest from shame. Why? Because he has prepared a place for me in the presence of my enemies.
Rest from my disappointments. Why? Because he anoints me.
Rest from envy. Why? Because my cup overflows.
Rest from doubt. Why? Because he follows me.
Rest from homesickness. Why? Because I will dwell in the house of my Lord forever.
From Traveling LightCopyright 2001, Max Lucado
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Two readings for your today!
IronMen, two things for your reading. The web link is to Grant Boone's (a fellow IronMan) regular spot on PGA.com. This article is about Byron Nelson and is a definite must read. The second reading is from an email i received about Rick Warren and i think is worth of reprinting here for your reading.
http://www.pga.com/news/grantmethis/grant_me_this092706.cfm
You will appreciate the new insight Rick Warren has with his wife nowhaving cancer and him having "wealth" from the book sales.
This is an absolutely incredible short interview with Rick Warren ,"Purpose Driven Life " author and pastor of Saddleback Church in California.
In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren, Rick said: People ask me, What is the purpose of life? And I respond: In a nutshell,life is preparation for eternity. We were made to last forever, and Godwants us to be with Him in Heaven.
One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body--but not the end of me. I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal.
God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity. Wewere made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn'tgoing to make sense.
Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one. The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort. God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making yourlife happy.
We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life.The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness. This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer.
I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore. Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life. No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for. You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems. If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, "which is my problem, my issues, my pain." But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.
We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal Kay or make it easy for her. It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her atestimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people.
You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life. Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy. It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or for you to live a life of ease.
So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do! with this money, notoriety and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72. First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit. We made no major purchases.
Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church.
Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation.
Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able to serve God for free.
We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity?Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Oram I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)? When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better.
God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do. That's why we're called human beings, not human doings. Happy moments, PRAISE GOD. Difficult moments, SEEK GOD. Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD. Painful moments, TRUST GOD. Every moment, THANK GOD.
FRIENDSHIP IS THE GOLDEN THREAD THAT TIES HEARTS TOGETHER
http://www.pga.com/news/grantmethis/grant_me_this092706.cfm
You will appreciate the new insight Rick Warren has with his wife nowhaving cancer and him having "wealth" from the book sales.
This is an absolutely incredible short interview with Rick Warren ,"Purpose Driven Life " author and pastor of Saddleback Church in California.
In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren, Rick said: People ask me, What is the purpose of life? And I respond: In a nutshell,life is preparation for eternity. We were made to last forever, and Godwants us to be with Him in Heaven.
One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body--but not the end of me. I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal.
God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity. Wewere made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn'tgoing to make sense.
Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one. The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort. God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making yourlife happy.
We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life.The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness. This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer.
I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore. Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life. No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for. You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems. If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, "which is my problem, my issues, my pain." But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.
We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal Kay or make it easy for her. It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her atestimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people.
You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life. Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy. It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or for you to live a life of ease.
So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do! with this money, notoriety and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72. First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit. We made no major purchases.
Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church.
Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation.
Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able to serve God for free.
We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity?Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Oram I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)? When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better.
God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do. That's why we're called human beings, not human doings. Happy moments, PRAISE GOD. Difficult moments, SEEK GOD. Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD. Painful moments, TRUST GOD. Every moment, THANK GOD.
FRIENDSHIP IS THE GOLDEN THREAD THAT TIES HEARTS TOGETHER
Monday, October 02, 2006
Lamentations?
In the midst of the 5 chapters of Lamentations, you find some amazing verses of hope:
(The Message)
3:25ff God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits,
to the woman who diligently seeks.
It's a good thing to quietly hope,
quietly hope for help from God.
It's a good thing when you're young
to stick it out through the hard times.
When life is heavy and hard to take,
go off by yourself. Enter the silence.
Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions:
Wait for hope to appear.
Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face.
The "worst" is never the worst.
Why? Because the Master won't ever
walk out and fail to return.
If he works severely, he also works tenderly.
His stock piles of loyal love are immense.
He takes no pleasure in making life hard,
in throwing roadblocks in the way.
HOPE this means something to you today! God has had it on my heart for several days now and i wanted to share it with you!
Stay Strong, PLD!
STP
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