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Ox in a Ditch

Whoa, my ox is in the ditch today and it has been one issue to another this morning.

It’s one of those days where the pressures of daily life begin to choke and pull on the serenity and peace that we love, but it is in these moments when we can show the light even brighter.  But boy is it hard to do.  This are the moments when the anxiety and stress cause the darkness to well up inside, instead of the light.

So, this verse today is for me, to help me keep me focus and strong in the ridiculousness of the business day.  I pray it helps you as well.

11 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.  Isaiah 58:11

 

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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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Get Your Sweet On

“Lollipop lollipop Oh lolli lolli lolli Lollipop lollipop…”

It’s National Lollipop Day.  And since it is, maybe a nice sweet verse to keep you going today

24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:24New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Seems like this is a great reminder to watch the words you use.  So, grab a lollipop and sweeten up the words you use today!

 

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Laziness, or Fear?

Last night I was laying in bed recounting my day, and I thought to myself – was that it?  I mean really, what did I do?  Yes,there were some great highlights, like dinner with some good friends and time with my family.  But what did I do?  And I as I lay there, ending another day on this wonderful planet, I wondered to myself, are all the days to be like this, or is there something else that I am to be doing.

Of course, then I fell into hours of sleeping!

But as I awoke, to the same radio station, which somehow plays just about the same songs everyday at the same time, I started another day of sameness – checking email, Facebook and twitter – catching up on the events of the night time, and making sure nothing ‘important’ happened in some other person’s  life.  That’s when I saw this tweet:

Spark Good (@sparkgood)
7/19/11 3:05 AM
RT @laura_ocean: bloggity blog:
“babble”
read it.
http://laceandleaf.blogspot.com/2011/07/babble.html

There was something about this that was intriguing, so I did read it this morning and I think you should too. I do not know Laura Ocean, but I understand her babble this morning and I think her name is especially cool sounding.

I completely get her idea of being in a rut of habit – of being lazy, and watching others go and do, while I sit on the sidelines, not even adding a cheer.  It’s been driving me crazy of late.  I especially found this part of her post intriguing and personally relevant.

And then, instead of saying “you know what, you’re right Nike. Thanks!” and then trotting off to go do it, I find some little distraction, something that doesn’t really move me in the right direction, and go do that instead. Because its easier. It won’t require sacrifice. It doesn’t sting when it goes wrong.
But how many times have I heard and seen evidence of how important and just awesome it is when we do the things we were created to do, no matter the cost, despite the potential and inevitable failures, risking what we cling to most – our pride – and humble ourselves to the point of, heaven forbid,

being who we are supposed to be.

There is such a challenge in her words – and quite a clever observation of the state of our lives. One that I think many of us can relate.  This is a big challenge.  To get out of our habits of ‘laziness’ and into a habit of being and doing and impacting. So, today, start something new – don’t just agree – but begin to move. Don’t try to be someone else, but do the things that you are meant to do to reach others and really live this life.

18Jesus came to them and said: “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! 19Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.” Matthew 28:18-20 CEV

11Christ chose some of us to be apostles, prophets, missionaries, pastors, and teachers, 12so that his people would learn to serve and his body would grow strong. 13This will continue until we are united by our faith and by our understanding of the Son of God. Then we will be mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him. 14We must stop acting like children. We must not let deceitful people trick us by their false teachings, which are like winds that toss us around from place to place. 15Love should always make us tell the truth. Then we will grow in every way and be more like Christ, the head 16of the body. Christ holds it together and makes all of its parts work perfectly, as it grows and becomes strong because of love. Ephesians 4:11-16 (Contemporary English Version)

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Death Gets Pwn3d

Yesterday I had the chance to watch “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2”.  What a great fun movie!   As we were driving away from the Rave yesterday afternoon, Amy asked me what my favorite part of the movie was.  At the time I was not sure, but oddly enough like a one of those visions that Harry himself had, my favorite part resurfaced in the middle of the night.  As a matter of fact, even though I didn’t wake up, I remember the thought very vividly and I think that even a smile came to my face while I slept.

++++SPOILER ALERT - If you don't want to read about things that happen in the move skip the next few paragraphs++++

So what is my favorite part?  Well, it happened on the front steps of Hogwarts as Voldemort and his band of ‘followers’ stand facing those who were willing to fight against the darkness and evil that he pronounced.  When it seemed that all was lost with Harry dead, and the Dark Lord about to claim his ultimate place of power, Neville Longbottom stands up and gives the reason for his resistance against Voldemorte, and right as good ol’ Neville tells the face of darkness and death himself  “You are wrong”, Harry, who was off to the side, rises up.  Oh man – the look of happiness and glee on the faces of his friends, the look of terror on Voldemort’s face!  and the quickness with which his followers high tailed it out of dodge!  Man, it was so obvious then that the victory was won.

+++END SPOILER ALERT++++ 

So, why was it my favorite scene and why did it bring me so much joy that it would make me smile even in my sleep?  Well it reminds me of another event – one that really happened – that was so much like that event that you can watch on the silver screen. 

 36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

 37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and he took it and ate it in their presence. Luke 24:36-43 New International Version (NIV)

It’s amazing to think about the impact and the rallying effect that Potter’s revival had on his friends and supporters.  But it’s even more impressive to consider what an outstanding impact the actual revival of the Christ had on his supporters and can still have on us.

Death is defeated, destroyed, pwn3d!

I hope that brings a smile to your face!