Jun. 8, 2008 - remember/forget
This morning at church we had an interesting message. This is just a short exerpt.
Psalm 143:5 "I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done."
Phillipians 3:12-13 "Not that I have already obratined all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,"
We often remember what we should forget, and forget what we should remember.
We should forget our failures, and remember our successes. Don't let your failures dictate your future. You can accomplish anything. For "Nothing is impossible with God." Believe your dreams and doubt your failures.
We should forget our pains, and remember our joys. Don't let your pain keep you from doing or saying the right thing. Forget with joy, for joy will ease the pain. Joy is like a big eraser in life. We can have a "joy that passes all understanding through Christ Jesus."
We should forget when people hurt us, and remember when they bless us. Christians should be overwhelmingly grateful. When was the last time you said "Thank you" to your spouse, your parents, your children? We should be people who are grateful.
We should remember what Jesus did for us. Remember His sacrifice. Remember that He loves us without condition.
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Aug. 19, 2007 - worth quoting
Something worth quoting from The Best of Barbara Johnson.
Resolutions for Avoiding Misery
Choose to love ... rather than hate
Choose to smile ... rather than frown
Choose to build ... rather than destroy
Choose to persevere ... rather than quit
Choose to praise ... rather than gossip
Choose to heal ... rather than wound
Choose to give ... rather than grasp
Choose to act ... rather than delay
Choose to forgive ... rather than curse
Choose to pray ... rather than despair.
- source unknown
Don't just think about it - act upon it.
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Jan. 24, 2007 - Psalm 150
Everynight for the last week I have been reading Psalm 150. Everynight I have been thinking that I wanted to add it here, and then forgot, or didn't have time to do it. Our plans for tonight have changed because of car troubles, so I now have time.
Psalm 150
1 Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens.
2 Praise Him for His acts of power; praise Him for His surpassing greatness.
3 Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise Him with the harp and lyre,
4 Praise Him with tambourine and dancing, praise Him with the strings and flute,
5 Praise Him with the clash of cymbals, praise Him with resounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.
The point, my friends, is to praise Him! Praise Him for who He is and what He has done. Praise Him for the good things in your life and the bad (Yes, the bad things too). It really doesn't matter how you praise Him, look at all the options above. What matters is that you praise Him.
Praise the Lord!
• 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Oct. 11, 2006 - God is good
Last night, driving home from Tae Kwon Do, God showed us His protection. It was a little foggy and drissling out, about 9pm. We were driving home, when we saw two sets of headlights coming toward us. One car in each lane, driving fast. As we got closer, and closer, the car in our lane still was not back on his own side. We had to slow down, almost to a stop to avoid hitting him.
Not even five minutes later, I hear my daughter say "OH! Deer!" I never saw the deer, until we were passing it. The deer had just run across the road, not seconds before we arrived at that spot. Coincidence? I think not. I see God's protecting arms. We were forced to stop, giving the deer and us that few seconds we needed. I couldn't see the deer on this dark, foggy, rainy night, but I wasn't going to miss a car heading straight for me.
All I can say is God is good, all the time. Thank you God!
• 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Aug. 19, 2006 - Joy Remains
Today as I was reading my bible study book (When I Don’t Desire God, by John Piper) I came across a phrase that really touched me. “When this world totally fails, the ground for joy remains. God. … the great purpose of prayer is to ask that – in and through all his gifts – God would be our joy.” The author referenced Habakkuk 3:17-18, “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.”
Well, this world has totally failed. My problems may be different than Habakkuk, but the feelings are the same. Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord, the God of my salvation. When all is gone, or seems gone, God is not gone. I need to hold tight to that truth, remind myself of it often. This world will not get easier; it is a tough place to live. My faith is in the Lord. I will rejoice in my God, my Savior.
Some verses to pray:
Psalm 90:14 – “Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days”
Psalm 90:15 – “Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us”
Psalm 51:12 – “Restore to me the joy of your salvation; and uphold me with a willing spirit”
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Aug. 17, 2006 - Alaska
Only 4 more days before we leave for
This trip already has been a walk of faith. My daughter and I signed up for this trip not knowing how the financial obligation would be met. Both of us felt that God was leading us to go on this mission trip. With a step of faith we put our names on the list of interested people shortly after the trip was announced. Some support has come in for the trip in general. This will be divided between all 21 people going. We still owe a considerable amount for our portion of the trip. With 4 days left before we leave, I am becoming nervous. My mind continues to question; What if the money does not come in? How am I going to be able to pay for the trip?
Then I remind myself, God told you to go! He will provide. He is faithful.
"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him." 1 John 5:14-15.
As many of you know, that has not been the only hurdle to cross. A few weeks ago, I was very close to telling our associate pastor to find someone to take my place. It happened shortly after Joshua died. I didn't want to go anymore. I didn't want to leave the rest of my family. What if something happened while I was gone? What if another of my kids died? What if? What if? Satan is really good at playing with our fears. My heart was hurting so much because of the death of Josh (and still is). I was wondering if this was God's way of telling me not to go. Satan is good at playing with our doubts, too
Even through this, God was telling me I was supposed to go on this trip. He showed me through many verses that this all was part of his plan. That is was my place to obey. Here are a few of the verses God has been showing me.
"I desire to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart." Psalm 40:8.
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'" Isaiah 6:8.
“You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron” Psalm 77:20.
I desire to do God’s will. I am willing to be the one to go. God led His people through the desert for many years, He can lead me also.
So, as I said above, Only 4 more days before we leave for
