Month: March 2011

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Traffic Jam

Well, I took the day off work yesterday and it appears my brain is still in vacation mode this morning.  My ideas are rolling in as fast as the afternoon traffic in Atlanta – which obviously means it’s going nowhere.

So here is an interesting verse to ponder today

6 Lord, the LORD Almighty,
may those who hope in you
not be disgraced because of me;
God of Israel,
may those who seek you
not be put to shame because of me. (Psalm 69:6, New International Version, ©2011)

It’s just a reminder of the fact that what you do and how you act impact those around you.  This is a pretty good prayer to pray today as  you interact with those around.  May your actions impact others for good!

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Overtaken With Joy

March Madness continues tonight is full force, even though my bracket is kaput. Speaking of basketball, have you seen this video from this Spanish basketball game that has been circulating the Internet?

Although the end of this game is quit speculator, its the audio commentary that makes this clip – so make sure you have your speakers on. Even though you probably can’t understand a thing he is saying, unless like American Idol star Laura “you speak one language and that language is Spanish”. Anyway, despite the fact that you can’t probably are not sure exactly what he is saying, the emotion, raw and uncut at the end of this game comes through loud and clear. He is clearly overwhelmed, awe struck and full of joy.

I have to wonder when was the last time that I was presented with anything that produced so much joy that I was overwhelmed like this guy?

This was just at a basketball game, consider how others reacted when then encountered the Savior of the world

26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.” (Luke 5:26, New International Version, ©2011)

8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man. (Matthew 9:8, New International Version, ©2011)

Maybe today is a day to stop and consider the awe inspiring gifts you have received.

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29, New International Version, ©2011)

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Small Moments of Encourgament

Last week, I was finally able to catch up with a good friend at lunchtime. While we were walking down the street to the cafe, coming the other direction was one of my teammates from last year’s Ragnar Tennessee Relay, just getting started on his noontime workout. As I watched him speed past, I thought about my own running schedule. Oddly enough as we returned to work and approached the doors to the office, there speeding past us just finishing his noon workout was the man we call Grape Nuts – who also was on my Ragnar Relay team!

It seemed that maybe I was being sent a message? I took these two chance encounters as encouragement to keep on my own training program, and last night I banged out a nice eight miler.

24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25 (New International Version, ©2011)

Sometimes it’s just a simple thing can bring huge amounts of motivation and encouragement. As you approach the day today, look for ways that you can encourage those around you. It may be just by doing what you need to be doing as my two running partners where, or it may mean going out of you way just a little to keep others uplifted!

13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:13 (New International Version, ©2011)

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Winter’s Over

Well, Spring is just a little over 12 hours old and I feel like a new man!  There’s just something about the first sunburn of the year that gets your heart going!  No more winter!  As much as I love snow, I love the transformation of Spring even more.  Reminds of a poem

No more snow, no more gobbledygook, No more teachers dirty looks.

oh wait, that’s about the end of school, not the end of winter! How about just the last stanza of “Spring in the South” by Henry Van Dyke

Hark, in his song no tremor of misgiving!
All of his heart he pours into his lay,–
“Love, love, love, and pure delight of living:
Winter is forgotten: here’s a happy day!”
Fair in your face I read the flowery presage,
Snowy on your brow and rosy on your mouth:
Sweet in your voice I hear the season’s message,–
Love, love, love, and Spring in the South!

Yes, its spring and after a weekend of soccer, grass mowing, planting, beautiful sunshine, warm weather and canoeing and on the lake and a great campfire with friends it seems that it is off to a great start! Oh, and lets not forget the Super Moon! WOW!

11 See! The winter is past;
the rains are over and gone.
12 Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves
is heard in our land.
Song of Solomon 2:11-12 (New International Version, ©2011)

Get out there and watch the transformation of Spring. Ponder the transformation of the Earth, and the rising up of hope within you. If the Lord makes this happen each Spring, just imagine what sort of transformation he can do with you!

26 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? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. Matthew 6:26-29 (New International Version, ©2011)

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Friday FunDay, Awkward

It’s Friday, so I thought I would start of your Friday with this very strange viral video that has been circulating around the internet the last few weeks.

Wow talk about awkward moments! I guess that is a pretty good way to start Awkward Moments Day – which of course is today.

Awkward – sort of like a donkey talking to you.

28 Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?”

29 Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.”

30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?”

“No,” he said. Numbers 22:28-30

Any way moving on…

It is Friday, and March Madness is off in full force. Hopefully you have your bracket complete and are following along and are not so broken hearted by the early upsets!

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13