Month: December 2012

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Day to Day

A few weeks ago Relevant Magazine posted an article on 5 things millennials would regret as they age.  I didn’t think I was in the millennial group , but those 5 sure hit home with me.  What I loved even more was this quote.

It seems like every other singer-songwriter on the radio charges us to, “Live like you are dying,” But it might be more helpful—if less catchy—for them to sing, “Live like you were an eighty-year-old with a time machine.”

Which is even more funny to me, because I have recently been reciting a small piece of a hip hop song from DJ Drama called My Moment in my head.  Yeah, I know that’s surprising!  Anyway, his lyrics go like this

I’m tired of living day to day like everything’s alright..

It’s Friday, we are leaving work behind for a few days and heading to the weekend.  How are you going to live like an 80-year-old with a time machine?

So teach us to number our days, that we may acquire a wise heart. Psalm 90:12 Darby Bible Translation

This is your Moment.. Facebook, or…

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Growing love

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. (1 Thessalonians 3:12, 13 NIV)

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Fearless

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ . . . not frightened in anything by your opponents (Philippians 1:27-28).

I spent the day and into the evening going back to what I wrote about yesterday. Fear. One of those phantoms that we all battle in some way, and something that Christ knew we would deal with, as he spoke of it quite often. In contrast to how fear uses us, look at those words Paul penned to the church at Philipa. What an encouragement. What a simple way to encourage us to become fearless. Think about it. If we believe God is in control, then he is in control of not only us,but also our opponents, which mean we as long as we bring Glory to him we have no need to worry about our opponents. God has that covered.

What are we afraid of?

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An Honest Thought on Weakness

I have thought lately about some of Jesus’ last words on this Earth.  During that time he provided his followers a vision and a directive.

 

18-20 Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.  Matthew 28:18-20 The Message (MSG)

 

As I think about that, I realize I do a whole lot of going out, but I wonder how much training, or disciple making I do.  This is quite a paradox actually, since I think I really believe that this message is life changing, yet I find myself too reserved to mention this idea to people who have no clue about how it can free your life.  It’s even more confusing when I think I reserved or fearful when I have the God of the Universe on my side.

I am trying to figure out how to decapitate that fear and move forward. It’s a weakness that bugs me more than my inability to sing, and today is a great opportunity to work on that.

How about you – is there something holding you back?  He is with you, you know.

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ComeNear

This past Sunday morning, I was speaking with the jr high kids about how God hears us when we cry out to him and how we will send help and aid.  We talked about how the Exodus story is analogous to the larger story of redemption found in Christ – the suffering, the crying out and the redeeming through a new priest!  That was presented to show them the macro level story that is going on, and has been going on for some time.  On a micro level, however, it still holds true.  Yes, even in your daily life.  For instance

 

8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. James 4:8 New Living Translation (NLT)

Today, take a step nearer to God!