Posted in Faith

On the road of life we do the best we can.

We make mistakes. We move on. We do what we have to do.

We all have a past. God willing, we all will have a future. Most importantly, we all need to live in the present. The past and future, if we allow them, will distract us from living our lives the way God wants us to here in the present. I have a tendency to re-think over things I've done or worry about what will come tomorrow. What good does that do? It drains us of precious time given to us by God, right here and now. I am not saying "live for the moment." Just to be "present" where you are. Appreciate what you've been given by God. Thank Him. 

Posted in Faith

I received this devotional today and it really struck me as one that needed to be read here, especailly with all I have been going through in the past three years.

Not a tame lion
by John Fischer

In a fundraiser this week for the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer
Research, ESPN radio featured some audio clips from Jimmy Valvano’s decorated
basketball coaching and speaking career. In one of them, he revealed
that his personal secret to living a full life was to make sure to find
something every day that will make you laugh, cry, and think.

I immediately recognized these as goals I have had for these
devotionals without really being able to name them: to bring you something every
day that will make you laugh, something that might quite possibly move
you to tears now and then, and most of all, something to make you
think.

That last one is a bit of a newcomer for devotions. Devotions are not
known for rattling your cage. Usually they are more on the comforting
side of things. You go to a typical devotion for some assurance and
confirmation for what you already believe.

And there is much to give one comfort in believing. Probably the most
important things are forgiveness, God’s grace to us, his mercy, the
knowledge of his presence, and the Holy Spirit who is the Comforter.

But following God is not only about feeling good. There are also
challenges by Paul to grow and be ruthless with the sin in our lives, John’s
indictments in Revelation about mediocre faith, and James’
admonishments to have a faith backed up by good deeds. But of all the New Testament
voices, no one forces us to think differently than we normally would
think more than Jesus himself.

There are simply no warm fuzzies with Jesus, or as C.S. Lewis put it in
The Chronicles of Narnia, he is not a tame lion. He would heal people
and then tell them not to tell anyone who did it. He forgave a woman
caught in the act of adultery and then told her to go on and stop sinning.
He gave Peter his greatest compliment and followed it up with the
harshest putdown. And when his disciples enthusiastically stated their
willingness to follow him wherever he went, he challenged them with whether
or not they could drink the cup he was going to drink – meaning the cup
of suffering and death.

One of the greatest temptations in the ministry is to take the edge off
these difficult aspects of following Christ. We want to make it easy
for people to join our churches. We want to equate being a Christian with
the American dream. We want to get forgiven and keep on sinning. We
want to have it both ways, but Jesus was never compromising.

Jesus makes you think. So if you prefer spiritual truth and insight
that will not stretch you, upset you, or make you think, then consider the
source. Jesus Christ is not a tame lion.

Posted in Faith

The Lord is our salvation

And our strength in every fight

Our redeemer and protector

Our eternal guiding light

He has promised to sustain us

He's our refuge from all harms

And underneath this refuge

Are His everlasting arms

So cast your burdens on Him

Seek His counsel when depressed

And go to Him for comfort

When you're lonely and oppressed.

--Helen Steiner Rice

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

--Psalm 27:1

Posted in Faith

Word: ELECTROCATED

The emperor "electrocated" Luke when they were fighting.

Word: GARBAGED

Mommy, let's stop and pick up that blue car those people "garbaged."

I love my son, but especially love the way he expands MY vocabulary. He has had a bad cold for the past few days. Poor baby. I just want to coddle him when he's sick. He looks so pathetic.

Any other LOST fans here? I think I'm about to lose interest since it seems the writers are just making things up as they go along. Don't get me wrong, I find it interesting but sometimes I just have to sigh and wonder if they sit back the week before it airs and just throw a bit of story together.

This Sunday is my sister's Who Done It Party. It's set in the age of the Titanic. (or Tyranic) as the invitations say. My part is Father Morose O'Dreary, an Irish Catholic Priest in charge of a church of incessent suffering. I'm supposed to talk with an Irish accent but I stumble over words as it is so how beneficial will THAT be? Maybe I'll just watch some Lucky Charms commercial reruns.

I've really been getting into the Word lately and I came across a passage in Proverbs I'd like to share. I don't know why, but I've read this lots of times and it never really stood out to me like it did yesterday:

Proverbs 2:10-15

10) For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;

11) Discrection will guard you, understanding will watch over you,

12) To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things;

13) From those who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

14) Who delight in doing evil, and rejoice in the perversity of evil;

15) Whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways 

I've been striving to keep God's Word in my thoughts because my mind is where all my problems stem from. I need to keep a clean mind and dwell on proper thoughts to escape the negativity Satan puts in my mind. The mind is where all sin is born. You can't sin if the thought isn't first in your mind before you do it. I know there is some controversy about Joyce Meyer but I've been reading her book, The Battlefield of the Mind and it's been quite enlightening. I love her no-nonsense approach to teaching.

I'm going to try to keep myself in God's Word as much as I can so that my thoughts will constantly be there. I need to meditate on His Word.

Posted in Faith

The Angel Stadium Declaration

April 17, 2005

By Rick Warren

Today, I am stepping across the line.  I’m tired of waffling and I’m finished with wavering.  I’ve made my choice; the verdict is in; and my decision is irrevocable.  I’m going God’s way.  There’s no turning back now!

I will live the rest of my life serving God’s purposes with God’s people on God’s planet for God’s glory.  I will use my life to celebrate His presence, cultivate His character, participate in His family, demonstrate His love, and communicate His Word.

Since my past has been forgiven, and I have a purpose for living and a home awaiting in heaven, I refuse to waste any more time or energy on shallow living, petty thinking, trivial talking, thoughtless doing, useless regretting, hurtful resenting, or faithless worrying.  Instead, I will magnify God, grow to maturity, serve in ministry, and fulfill my mission in the membership of His family. 

Because this life is preparation for the next, I will value worship over wealth, “we” over “me,” character over comfort, service over status, and people over possessions, position, and pleasure.  I know what matters most, and I’ll give it all I’ve got.  I’ll do the best I can with what I have for Jesus Christ today.

I won’t be captivated by culture, manipulated by critics, motivated by praise, frustrated by problems, debilitated by temptation, or intimidated by the devil.  I’ll keep running my race with my eyes on the goal, not the sidelines or those running by me.  When times get tough and I get tired, I won’t back up, back off, back down, back out, or backslide.  I’ll just keep moving forward by God’s grace.  I’m Spirit-led, purpose driven, and mission-focused, so I cannot be bought, I will not be compromised, and I shall not quit until I finish the race.

I’m a trophy of God’s amazing grace, so I will be gracious to everyone, grateful for every day, and generous with everything that God entrusts to me. 

To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ I say: However, whenever, wherever, and whatever you ask me to do, my answer in advance is yes!  Wherever you lead and whatever the cost, I’m ready.  Anytime.  Anywhere.  Any way.  Whatever it takes Lord; whatever it takes!  I want to be used by you in such a way that on that final day I’ll hear you say, “Well done, thou good and faithful one.  Come on in, and let the eternal party begin!