A person living a life of integrity is not shifty, but has solid convictions rather than preferences that vary with circumstances
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Monday, July 27, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Isaiah 43:2-3
VERSE:
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you
walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of
Israel, your Savior ..."
-- Isaiah 43:2-3
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Isaiah+43:2-3
THOUGHT:
In the context of this passage, God reminds his people that they are precious to him. He formed them and redeemed them. He is not
about to abandon them. No matter what challenges or difficulties they face, he will be with them to deliver them and bring them to
safety and victory. We can accept this same promise; we also have the benefit of history to show God's faithfulness. We can see how
God did preserve his people and redeemed them time and time again from their bondage to their enemies. God will not forget his children! We know it by promise. We know it by history. We know it by faith!
PRAYER:
Thank you, Almighty God, for always being near. I know that there are many times when I am not aware of your nearness or of
your providence at work or of your miraculous moving in history.
Nevertheless, I do believe, dear Father, that you are near even when I feel alone and your presence seems so far away. In those times, dear God, please give me confidence and perseverance to stand through the times of trial so that I can also share in your times of triumph. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you
walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of
Israel, your Savior ..."
-- Isaiah 43:2-3
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Isaiah+43:2-3
THOUGHT:
In the context of this passage, God reminds his people that they are precious to him. He formed them and redeemed them. He is not
about to abandon them. No matter what challenges or difficulties they face, he will be with them to deliver them and bring them to
safety and victory. We can accept this same promise; we also have the benefit of history to show God's faithfulness. We can see how
God did preserve his people and redeemed them time and time again from their bondage to their enemies. God will not forget his children! We know it by promise. We know it by history. We know it by faith!
PRAYER:
Thank you, Almighty God, for always being near. I know that there are many times when I am not aware of your nearness or of
your providence at work or of your miraculous moving in history.
Nevertheless, I do believe, dear Father, that you are near even when I feel alone and your presence seems so far away. In those times, dear God, please give me confidence and perseverance to stand through the times of trial so that I can also share in your times of triumph. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Rejection
God has used rejection in my life to guide me in the direction of what was best for me opposed to what I wanted for myself.
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Saturday, July 18, 2009
Vengeance and Vindictiveness
Vengeance is an awful and painful way to respond to those who we feel have wronged us. The LORD is our assurance of just rewards. Leave it to him. Escalating vindictiveness only leads to broken people and to broken lives. Worse yet, it leads to broken character.
-Heartlight
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Thursday, July 9, 2009
Growing a Healthy Testimony by ridding of weeds
Scripture: Matthew 13:18-23
18 "Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When any one hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in his heart; this is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the delight in riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit, and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."
"A testimony is something you grow," and strong ones "can endure persecution, they can endure being offended. They can endure the imperfections of others, because they are rooted." - John Bytheway
John Bytheway states that weed seeds are similarly transmitted and "omnipresent" and don't need to be intentionally planted in order for them to sprout. Doubts and gospel challenges are everywhere -- people don't need to seek them out for them to present themselves. The trouble with doubts is that when confronted with them, people oftentimes "stop doing the very thing we ought to be doing more," Bytheway said, namely praying and studying the scriptures.
"If you have a dying plant do you stop watering it?" he asked, then explained that the weak plants in our gardens require even more attention and care.
The most important part of growing a healthy testimony is its growing environment, he said. The parable of the sower identifies four kinds of ground that are figurative descriptions of the varying states of the heart, Bytheway said. They are:
1. Hard soil has been trodden down, compacted and hardened and requires "harrowing" to overcome.
2. Shallow soil keeps plants from rooting deeply, and they consequently can be easily uprooted. A person with shallow roots is easily offended.
3. Overgrown soil has too many things growing in it. Weeds include the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, doubts and fears.
4. Good soil brings forth good fruit.
Shockingly many of us that are nurturing and consumed by life are dealing with Overgrown Soil. Though we aren't barren, shallow, or hard heartened; we virtually have to many things growing out of us. Growth requires pruning and nutrition. Therefore if one is constantly nurturing those things that are growing from his/her soil, there is no nutrition left for the person. We must be sure to re-stock ourselves with the necessary foundations that promote growth. This includes prayer, the Word, down-time, the pruning of weeds, and meditation.
Meditation: How good are you at listening especially for the word of God? God is ever ready to speak to each of us and to give us understanding of his word. This parable of Jesus is a warning to those who hear and who preach the word of God. What makes us ineffective and unresponsive to God's word? Preoccupation with other things can distract us from what is truly important and worthwhile. And letting our hearts and minds be consumed with material things can easily weigh us down and draw us away from the treasure that lasts for eternity. God's word can only take root in a receptive heart which is docile and ready to hear what God has to say. One lesson is clear: the harvest is sure. While some seed will fall by the wayside and some fall on shallow ground and never come to maturity, and some be choked to death by the thorns; nonetheless a harvest will come. The seed that falls on good soil, on the heart that is receptive, will reap abundant fruit. Are you teachable and eager to learn God's truth? And do you allow anything to keep you from submitting to God's word with joy and trusting obedience?
"Lord, help me to guard the word you have planted in my heart that no doubt or temptation may keep me from believing and obeying you. May I be fruitful in your service and may I never fear to speak of you to others and to share with them the good news of the gospel."
18 "Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When any one hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in his heart; this is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the delight in riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit, and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."
"A testimony is something you grow," and strong ones "can endure persecution, they can endure being offended. They can endure the imperfections of others, because they are rooted." - John Bytheway
John Bytheway states that weed seeds are similarly transmitted and "omnipresent" and don't need to be intentionally planted in order for them to sprout. Doubts and gospel challenges are everywhere -- people don't need to seek them out for them to present themselves. The trouble with doubts is that when confronted with them, people oftentimes "stop doing the very thing we ought to be doing more," Bytheway said, namely praying and studying the scriptures.
"If you have a dying plant do you stop watering it?" he asked, then explained that the weak plants in our gardens require even more attention and care.
The most important part of growing a healthy testimony is its growing environment, he said. The parable of the sower identifies four kinds of ground that are figurative descriptions of the varying states of the heart, Bytheway said. They are:
1. Hard soil has been trodden down, compacted and hardened and requires "harrowing" to overcome.
2. Shallow soil keeps plants from rooting deeply, and they consequently can be easily uprooted. A person with shallow roots is easily offended.
3. Overgrown soil has too many things growing in it. Weeds include the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, doubts and fears.
4. Good soil brings forth good fruit.
Shockingly many of us that are nurturing and consumed by life are dealing with Overgrown Soil. Though we aren't barren, shallow, or hard heartened; we virtually have to many things growing out of us. Growth requires pruning and nutrition. Therefore if one is constantly nurturing those things that are growing from his/her soil, there is no nutrition left for the person. We must be sure to re-stock ourselves with the necessary foundations that promote growth. This includes prayer, the Word, down-time, the pruning of weeds, and meditation.
Meditation: How good are you at listening especially for the word of God? God is ever ready to speak to each of us and to give us understanding of his word. This parable of Jesus is a warning to those who hear and who preach the word of God. What makes us ineffective and unresponsive to God's word? Preoccupation with other things can distract us from what is truly important and worthwhile. And letting our hearts and minds be consumed with material things can easily weigh us down and draw us away from the treasure that lasts for eternity. God's word can only take root in a receptive heart which is docile and ready to hear what God has to say. One lesson is clear: the harvest is sure. While some seed will fall by the wayside and some fall on shallow ground and never come to maturity, and some be choked to death by the thorns; nonetheless a harvest will come. The seed that falls on good soil, on the heart that is receptive, will reap abundant fruit. Are you teachable and eager to learn God's truth? And do you allow anything to keep you from submitting to God's word with joy and trusting obedience?
"Lord, help me to guard the word you have planted in my heart that no doubt or temptation may keep me from believing and obeying you. May I be fruitful in your service and may I never fear to speak of you to others and to share with them the good news of the gospel."
Monday, July 6, 2009
[Don't Fear] Intimate Friendships
by Rick Warren
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline" (2 Timothy 1:7 NIV).
When we're full of fear and anxiety, we don't get close to each other. We back off from each other. We're afraid of being rejected, manipulated, vulnerable, hurt, or used. All of these fears cause us to disconnect in life.
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline" (2 Timothy 1:7 NIV).
When we're full of fear and anxiety, we don't get close to each other. We back off from each other. We're afraid of being rejected, manipulated, vulnerable, hurt, or used. All of these fears cause us to disconnect in life.
This fear is as old as humanity. When Adam and Eve sinned, and God came looking for them, Adam said, "I was afraid . . . so I hid" (Genesis 3:10 NIV). People have been doing that ever since. We're afraid, so we hide. We hide our true selves.
We don't let people know what we're really like. We don't let them see the inside of us. Why? Because if we let people know what we're like and they don't like it, we're up a creek without a paddle. Tough luck. Why am I afraid to tell you who I am? Because if I tell you who I am, and you don't like me, I'm in for it. I have no alternative. So we wear masks and we pretend.
Fear does three terrible things to relationships:
1. Fear makes us defensive. We're afraid to reveal ourselves. We defend ourselves. When people point out our weaknesses, we retaliate and defend ourselves.
2. Fear keeps us distant. We don't let people get close to us. We want to withdraw, pull back. We want to hide our emotions. We don't want to be open and honest. We become defensive and distant.
3. Fear makes us demanding. Whenever we're insecure, and the more insecure we are, the more we try to control. So we try to have the last word in a relationship. We try to dominate, control. It's always a symptom of fear and insecurity.
Where do you get the confidence, the courage, to take the first step in connecting with someone, to go into a deeper intimacy? Where do you get that courage?
You get it from God's Spirit in your life. Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 1:7, "For the Holy Spirit, God's gift, does not want you to be afraid of people but to be wise and strong (courageous), and to love them and enjoy being with them" (LB).
How do you know when you're filled with God's Spirit? You're more courageous in your relationships. You love people. You enjoy being with them. You're not afraid of them because God's Spirit is in your life. The Bible says "God is love," and "Love casts out all fear." The more of God you have in your life, the less of fear you're going to have in your life.
So the starting point in connecting with anybody is to pause, pray, and say, "God, give me the courage to take the first step." You need to do that now with a person you want to connect with.
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Sunday, July 5, 2009
The Breakers and the Broken
Some people are bulls in a china store while others are the fine china. One is obliviously breaking and the other is needlessly being broken.
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