I'm pretty sure that there's no other human on this planet that hates rain/clouds/fog more than I do. It's instant depression for me. I really hate spring because that's what it is almost everyday. The only hope I find during this time,is that dumb old saying,"April showers bring may flowers".
I've been better lately at getting the whole scheme of "seasons" down. In life,in the weather and so on. The weather is the easiest to explain and everyone gets it: the more crappy our spring is,the nicer summer will be. Our lives can kinda be the same,whether it referencing later in life or in Heaven. In Ecclesiastes 3:1,it says ,"For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven." So God is saying that it's all planned out,everything has a "season" of some sort.
Well,your season is probably a rough patch for example. They don't say "rain on your parade" in a good aspect,it's meant to say something negatively. But think of your life like the transition spring to summer. Who doesn't like summer?! The next time you find yourself getting rained down upon with hardships and trails...think about what good it will bring you. Maybe God is just watering you so you'll be more vibrant in your summer and the healthier you are,the longer you'll last and the stronger you'll be in life.
"Jesus isn't our security from storms of life,he's our security during them. He never promised smooth sailing,just a soft landing."-LB Cowman
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
M610
I like the word "will",but only in certain aspects. When referring to the Lord's Will I get excited. It's so awesome to think that God actually has a good plan for me and for nothing bad. I hate that word when I think of my own.
In the bible,in Matthew,Jesus tells us how to pray. It's called the Lord's Prayer...you know,"Our Father in Heaven,hallowed be thy name" and so on. To be honest,I never thought much about it. I don't pray like that. I pray for what's going on in my life and pretty much complain to God until He changes things...it doesn't work like that.
The verse I'm focused on today is 6:10b,which simply says,"THY will be done",not mine or his or hers,Gods. I've gone down my own paths before,and ended up right on my butt. Showbread has a lyric in "The Journey" and it simply says,"My will be done, done did it,did the everything that leads to nothing." He says he did his own thing and came out with nothing,that's how life is. I always come across awesome opportunities,but I rarely pray for God's will. I assume that if something is in my life,it was God's will...not always.
I can't count how many times I've been completely pissed off at God,literally screaming at the sky at Him,only to realize that God didn't forsake me,I did. When you give your life to God,you have to give all of it. We may go to church once or twice a week,but that doesn't mean we're Christians once or twice a week,it's a constant. That includes your ambitions and dreams too. God knows what's best for us. I think I'll leave all the hard decision making parts to the Guy who made me,and stop trying to find my own means to a salvation.
In the bible,in Matthew,Jesus tells us how to pray. It's called the Lord's Prayer...you know,"Our Father in Heaven,hallowed be thy name" and so on. To be honest,I never thought much about it. I don't pray like that. I pray for what's going on in my life and pretty much complain to God until He changes things...it doesn't work like that.
The verse I'm focused on today is 6:10b,which simply says,"THY will be done",not mine or his or hers,Gods. I've gone down my own paths before,and ended up right on my butt. Showbread has a lyric in "The Journey" and it simply says,"My will be done, done did it,did the everything that leads to nothing." He says he did his own thing and came out with nothing,that's how life is. I always come across awesome opportunities,but I rarely pray for God's will. I assume that if something is in my life,it was God's will...not always.
I can't count how many times I've been completely pissed off at God,literally screaming at the sky at Him,only to realize that God didn't forsake me,I did. When you give your life to God,you have to give all of it. We may go to church once or twice a week,but that doesn't mean we're Christians once or twice a week,it's a constant. That includes your ambitions and dreams too. God knows what's best for us. I think I'll leave all the hard decision making parts to the Guy who made me,and stop trying to find my own means to a salvation.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
R715
I think we all try to live "better lives" at some point in time. I know I've been in horrible situations and chose to leave them behind to live more of the life God has planned for me,but it's not always easy.
How often do you find yourself trying to live a "Holy" life,and you seem to just end up doing the opposite? I do it daily,we all stumble,but it seems to come even more when we strive for that better life. I love what Paul says in Romans 7:15,because it's exactly how I feel. It says,"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I don't do, but what I hate I do." Knowing that one of the strongest men in history had the same problem as me,makes me feel a little better,but it doesn't solve it.
Our intentions and our actions are different from each other. Our intentions come from our mind/spirit/heart,and our actions come from our body. Now getting those two things to line up is quite a challenge. You could want to fight crime with your intentions,but you actions could end up causing more. It's tough trying to get them in sync,but it's very possible.
I think "practice makes perfect" is a great example here. What do you practice daily? I don't have any patience,and I practice that quite a bit each day so little by little my patience gets shorter. If you practice something positive,it'll become more and more. So practice peace,happiness,or even patience if you're like me. You'll find that your intentions and your actions can become the same and you won't be talking like Paul does in complete confusion over yourself.
How often do you find yourself trying to live a "Holy" life,and you seem to just end up doing the opposite? I do it daily,we all stumble,but it seems to come even more when we strive for that better life. I love what Paul says in Romans 7:15,because it's exactly how I feel. It says,"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I don't do, but what I hate I do." Knowing that one of the strongest men in history had the same problem as me,makes me feel a little better,but it doesn't solve it.
Our intentions and our actions are different from each other. Our intentions come from our mind/spirit/heart,and our actions come from our body. Now getting those two things to line up is quite a challenge. You could want to fight crime with your intentions,but you actions could end up causing more. It's tough trying to get them in sync,but it's very possible.
I think "practice makes perfect" is a great example here. What do you practice daily? I don't have any patience,and I practice that quite a bit each day so little by little my patience gets shorter. If you practice something positive,it'll become more and more. So practice peace,happiness,or even patience if you're like me. You'll find that your intentions and your actions can become the same and you won't be talking like Paul does in complete confusion over yourself.
Monday, March 28, 2011
M923
How often do you limit God? Honestly? I do it daily,several times daily. I'm so use to my minimal and "natural" thinking,that I don't remember that I belong to a "supernatural" God. He spoke,just said words,and everything came from that...do you think He wouldn't do the same thing in a situation of yours?
I look at my dreams and goals,and tend to think a lot,if not all of them,are impossible. I kept that same mentality until I read Mark 9:23,it says, "Jesus said,'Everything is possible for one who believes." Not just one thing,or a couple,He said everything.
So the next time you believe something can't change for you,or your dream may be dying,remember that God has no limits. He can speak and your world can change in an instant,all you have to do is believe He will.
I look at my dreams and goals,and tend to think a lot,if not all of them,are impossible. I kept that same mentality until I read Mark 9:23,it says, "Jesus said,'Everything is possible for one who believes." Not just one thing,or a couple,He said everything.
So the next time you believe something can't change for you,or your dream may be dying,remember that God has no limits. He can speak and your world can change in an instant,all you have to do is believe He will.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
M626
Today I was sitting outside and I saw a group of birds land in the middle of a parking lot. Now,I can't really tell facial expression because I don't know if they can smile or frown,but I can tell they were quite happy. They chirped and splashed water in a small puddle like it was their spring break. If you were in Grants Pass today,you would have noticed how dark and dreary it was,then all of the sudden a huge spot of blue sky took over the valley. It got warm and the sun was shinning bright. As I sat and watched those birds,Matthew 6 came to mind. Verse 26 says,"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Kinda makes you think that if a bird trusts God to provide for them,shouldn't we?
I'm pretty bad with this. I believe God will always provide for me,yet it's when He stretches my faith,that's when I tend to worry. That's kinda funny because the next verse(6:27) says,"Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" Nope,you can't. In fact,I'm pretty sure it'll slowly kill you. This is something I need to remind myself of daily,and I'm glad God was able to remind me in such a simple way,by watching a few birds play in a parking lot.
I don't know why God chooses to do things the way He does,but it seems that I learn the greatest lessons,or am at least reminded of something,in the most random ways. I love it. If anything,it shows that He wants to remind me constantly of His provisions and love,even when I don't actually see either of them.
I'm pretty bad with this. I believe God will always provide for me,yet it's when He stretches my faith,that's when I tend to worry. That's kinda funny because the next verse(6:27) says,"Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" Nope,you can't. In fact,I'm pretty sure it'll slowly kill you. This is something I need to remind myself of daily,and I'm glad God was able to remind me in such a simple way,by watching a few birds play in a parking lot.
I don't know why God chooses to do things the way He does,but it seems that I learn the greatest lessons,or am at least reminded of something,in the most random ways. I love it. If anything,it shows that He wants to remind me constantly of His provisions and love,even when I don't actually see either of them.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
P1186
We,as humans,can concoct some of the most illegitimate fears. I know I've had my fair share of them growing up,but the more I actually understand God's promises,the fewer they seem. I'm really starting to think that God doesn't want us to ever be afraid because He's with is...I think I just read that for the 20th time in His word.
In Psalm,David is one happy dude. He had his ups and downs,but if you've ever read even any part of it,you know He was faithful to God,and He knew God was faithful to him. In Chapter 118:6 it says,"The Lord is with me,I will not be afraid." I think that is one of the most expressed things in the Bible. God REALLY wants us to not be afraid. I said something this morning,and it applies to this as well...
"When you're worried,you aren't trusting God. When you're scared,you aren't believing God is with you. When you're nervous,you aren't accepting God's promise of peace."
In a world that's in the fast lane to Hell,don't worry about anything! No matter what the world throws at us,we're gonna be alright! God's got the best intentions for you and me,and all He asks for in return is your faith in trusting Him.
In Psalm,David is one happy dude. He had his ups and downs,but if you've ever read even any part of it,you know He was faithful to God,and He knew God was faithful to him. In Chapter 118:6 it says,"The Lord is with me,I will not be afraid." I think that is one of the most expressed things in the Bible. God REALLY wants us to not be afraid. I said something this morning,and it applies to this as well...
"When you're worried,you aren't trusting God. When you're scared,you aren't believing God is with you. When you're nervous,you aren't accepting God's promise of peace."
In a world that's in the fast lane to Hell,don't worry about anything! No matter what the world throws at us,we're gonna be alright! God's got the best intentions for you and me,and all He asks for in return is your faith in trusting Him.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
I535
I love how hard it is for us as humans to make a sacrifice. Giving up something always seems to be difficult no matter what it is. But what do our sacrifices bring us?
Now,this is something I don't always think about since I've already got it covered,but how often do you think about the sacrifices God has made for you? It's hard to understand it or even think about it without it seeming like a big deal.Like hey,God can do anything,so His sacrifices are simple...I don't think so. I honestly believe that God felt the pain when Jesus died on the Cross. If you read The Shack,in the story,God's character has the same wound marks on His hands,as did Jesus;since they're a three-in-one bundle package.
Isaiah 53:5 (even before it actually happened),says "He was pierced for our rebellion,crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole.He was whipped so we could be healed." Now,Jesus didn't have to go through that. He could have stayed in Heaven and have never came. I couldn't imagine how different the world would be though. We'd still be slaying little lambs left and right in sacrifices for forgiveness,and who knows what else.
I guess my point here,is that God makes huge sacrifices,I still think He does to this day but I can't see them. Knowing that He gave up such a huge part of His life for us makes me want to do the same. I'm far from perfect,I sin A LOT,but He still loves me just the same. That makes me want to throw up,trying to understand a perfect love makes my mind read "Tilt". How hard would it be to give up something that puts a barrier in between you and Him? I mean,look at what He did...shouldn't we be able to do something back,even if it's minimal? We can't come to Earth and die for all of humanity and sin,but we should be able to throw down something in our lives that isn't pleasing to Him.
I love that God doesn't ask for a lot,but I still find it hard to meet all of His requirements. I get so engulfed in my own life,ways,and sin,that I feel like it's too hard. I think today I just changed.
Now,this is something I don't always think about since I've already got it covered,but how often do you think about the sacrifices God has made for you? It's hard to understand it or even think about it without it seeming like a big deal.Like hey,God can do anything,so His sacrifices are simple...I don't think so. I honestly believe that God felt the pain when Jesus died on the Cross. If you read The Shack,in the story,God's character has the same wound marks on His hands,as did Jesus;since they're a three-in-one bundle package.
Isaiah 53:5 (even before it actually happened),says "He was pierced for our rebellion,crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole.He was whipped so we could be healed." Now,Jesus didn't have to go through that. He could have stayed in Heaven and have never came. I couldn't imagine how different the world would be though. We'd still be slaying little lambs left and right in sacrifices for forgiveness,and who knows what else.
I guess my point here,is that God makes huge sacrifices,I still think He does to this day but I can't see them. Knowing that He gave up such a huge part of His life for us makes me want to do the same. I'm far from perfect,I sin A LOT,but He still loves me just the same. That makes me want to throw up,trying to understand a perfect love makes my mind read "Tilt". How hard would it be to give up something that puts a barrier in between you and Him? I mean,look at what He did...shouldn't we be able to do something back,even if it's minimal? We can't come to Earth and die for all of humanity and sin,but we should be able to throw down something in our lives that isn't pleasing to Him.
I love that God doesn't ask for a lot,but I still find it hard to meet all of His requirements. I get so engulfed in my own life,ways,and sin,that I feel like it's too hard. I think today I just changed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)