Tag: renewal

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A New Thing

We are now nine days into the year and almost through the first working week.  I hope that you are noticing differences in your thoughts.  I hope that you are beginning to see the start of the transformations you dreamed of last week.  And I hope that you are able to shout this!

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43:19 NIV)

Now of course, this is not really a reference to making changes in your heart.  This is really a message of the Creator making changes in Israel and bringing salvation around again.  However, I think this is a verse that you could ponder throughout the day. As you turn it over, I am sure you can discover the rich connection it has with the renewal we experience through the Christ and his new thing – complete forgiveness, mercy and grace.

 

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Strength to the Weary

One last thought on that triathlon.  I know you are sick of hearing about it, but this is what I do after these sorts of events, I analyze it over and over in my mind.  Yes, way to obsessive.

Anyway, I was thinking last night, about where I lost time, and how I lost a lot of time in the run.  Immediately after the event, I thought it was because of tired legs.  But after running those 2 miles in my head again, I realized it was actually due to a lack of focus, and a bit of fear.  I started focus on the pain, and those around me, instead of focusing of my effort, attitude and the race in front of me.  And then the fear of the all too familiar pain that comes with pushing yourself extra hard.

So, what does that mean to you?  Well, for one thing when you do a triathlon, don’t make the same mistake I made!  But more importantly, when you are doing your daily life, like today, focus on your effort, your attitude and the race in front of you.  And ignore all the rest of that stuff – God will take care of that!

28 Do you not know?

Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.   Isaiah 40:28-33 New International Version (NIV)

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Hope for Renewal

Yesterday I ended up making a trip to the Doctor’s office.  I can say with some certainty that this getting older stuff is for the birds.  I would tell you the results of my visit, but because of HIPPA regulations, I am not free to share with you :).  Anyway, after my visit I was reminded of this verse about the creation:

20Meanwhile, creation is confused, but not because it wants to be confused. God made it this way in the hope 21that creation would be set free from decay and would share in the glorious freedom of his children. 22We know that all creation is still groaning and is in pain, like a woman about to give birth.Romans 8:20-22

The creation, and its parts, that’s us, are unfortunately in this constant state of decay.  That is not to be depressing or morbid, it’s just the way it is.  Until the Christ comes back the creation and it’s members are continually heading towards disarray , decay and death.

Yuck!

But it is not so with our spirit.  There is hope for renewal

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 New American Standard Bible (©1995)

And then there is this encouragement from one of my favorite chapters, Romans 8, which happens to be immediately follow the depressing verses above.

23The Spirit makes us sure about what we will be in the future. But now we groan silently, while we wait for God to show that we are his children. This means that our bodies will also be set free. 24And this hope is what saves us. Romans 8:23-24

So, today, despite the junk that your physical body may be dealing with and the groaning ( oh I am going to be a bad old person), remember that we will be set free from those bounds one day and made new.

That’s something nice to hope for.

(Now, if I can just get this body of mine out of this chair!)

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A New Heart

I woke up this morning to my favorite Friday song – Sammy Kershaw’s Finally Friday.

It’s good to be right on top of a few days of away from the grind of work, but there’s still one more day at the ol’ mill before we can “let the good times roll”.

But what’s so great about having a day between us and the weekend is we have another day to choose to serve God.  You have another day to so the renewing gifts of the God you serve.

For example check out Ezekiel where he is telling the people of Israel that when they return to him he will restore their hearts.

26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.  Ezekiel 36:26-27 (New International Version)

What’s so cool is you can take part in that same gift.  Use today to take advantage of the promise of God.  Draw near to Him, and enjoy the renewing of you mind and spirit.

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A Chance to Renew

Last night I think I witnessed the longest soccer game in the history of the world.  That’s unofficial, but check this out.  After my team, the Bucs, were completed dominated, at least possession wise, for the first 58 minutes of the game, the traditional summer weather pattern produced its traditional afternoon thunderstorms and whamo, we were in a one hour lightning delay.   ( On a side note, I thought that maybe I had missed the supposed ‘rapture’ during this part of the game.  While the players where pulled from the field, and the rain still a few miles away, I decided to run to the restroom, while everyone just milled around waiting for something to happen.  After a rather long line in the restroom, I exited, to see the wind whipping around in circles, the rain starting to fall and to my surprise everyone and everything off of the soccer field.  For a moment I thought I was left behind.  – oh TMI I know, back to the game)

Before this break, the Bucs were beat.  Their faces said it, their body language said it. They were struggling to keep up, but at least they had kept their opponent out of the goal. After the lightning break, they were completely different.  They were renewed, focused, determined, and just barely missed several chances to get the ball into the goal. The game continued scoreless for the remaining 22 minutes and the 30 minutes of extra time- which lead to the famed shootout.  Fortunately, the Bucs put in 3 while keeping the opponent to only 2, to earn quite an impressive hard earned victory almost 5 hours after the kickoff, that really was the product of a renewing of their focus.

Whats interesting to me is how our days are like this some times, and for me yesterday was.  Yesterday, I was being mastered by my insane schedule and the pressure of the world and work.  I felt similar to the Bucs  – running around, chasing a ball, and having to take a highly defensive posture to survive.  However, this is not where we want to be.  We want to be living for our master, not being mastered by the world. It times like this that it may be best to declare a lightning break and regroup and refocus.  With a renewed mind,  you can continue to transform yourself into a champion of life.

30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.   Isaiah 40:30-31 (New International Version)