Category: Daily Post

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The Joy of Freedom

Last night  I brought my oldest home from school and he realized that between now and next Wednesday night, the only thing he had to do was to take one test and go to church on Sunday morning.

What freedom!  I anticipate the that the joy he will feel as he finishes his last exam today and understand that he is free (for a while) from the confines of school and homework.  Oh, the joy of being able to do whatever he wants with no projects or major commitments hanging over his head.

There is so much joy in freedom.  I treasure the days when I am not handcuffed with a day full of schedule meetings.  We yearn for the simple days of vacations when we have no one telling us where to be and what to do. ( let me pause and reflect… oh only 18 more work days!!)  And our spirits compel us to look for something that set us free from the curse of the daily toils, and when we find it- oh what joy.

 16-18Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him. (2 Corinthians 3:16-18, The Message)

As we enter the Memorial day weekend, be so thankful for those who have come before us to fight for the freedom that we enjoy in this country.  And with that also remember how that freedom facilitates access to the the spiritual freedom that comes from the Christ.

Share it!  You are free to!  Woot Woot!!

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Hyper Sensitive to Blessings?

Last night I woke with a start when I heard the sound of high winds blowing around the house at 3 in the morning.  Immediately I jumped up and check out the weather radar.  This spring has definitely made me a little hyper sensitive to severe weather.

As I laid back in bed I and listened to the sounds of the storm, I realized what a blessing it is to have a house that provides so much shelter and allows for rest.  This “mansion on the hill”, as one of my friends calls it, is such an incredible blessing that I take for granted so many times.  Especially when you consider what the Christ said about his home”

20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20, New International Version)

It made me wonder as I laid there what the day would be like if I were to be as hypersensitive to the blessing of the Lord as I have become to this extreme weather.  If I could truly detect and appreciate all the fantastic blessings that are around me everyday how would my attitude and approach be different.  Things like, a house, a car, clothes, an Internet connection, clean running water, family, street signs, and eyes.  This list could go on and on.

Today, as the old hymn suggests “count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done!”

19 My God will use his wonderful riches in Christ Jesus to give you everything you need. (Philippians 4:19, New Century Version)

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Beast

For the past few months a friend of mine has been sharing an email update about one of his friend’s bout with cancer.  The emails are forwarded with a constant request for prayer and have always been full of encouragement and praise to God.  My friend’s friend – Kirk ,  is only 29 and has been battling cancer for some time, but yet as you can see in this video here this guy is beast!

He is taking chemo, he has just recently under gone 3 surgeries and yet there he is, out training, out doing clean and jerks, out fighting cancer and out sporting an attitude that comes from only one place.

I hope you find the 9 minutes to view the video some time today and that you take encouragement from Kirk.

At the end of the video he says ” in combat you have close calls and you walk away and your good, but this with, with certain disease like cancer, you wake up,you look in the mirror,  you have this nasty scar of your neck…its a reminder everyday of what your fighting, its always with you.”

That’s what it’s about – it’s about fighting, everyday, each and every day.  So today, when you are fighting the physical or spiritual battles laid before you, think of Kirk, and remember what you are fighting and don’t give up!

10-12And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.

13-18Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. (Ephesians 6:10-18, The Message)

Be Beast!

 

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Working for Money

 I often tell people that I work for money.  As a matter of fact, during some of this tornado recovery, when I have been swamped at work, I was continually debating with myself over my obligation to my employer to trade my time for money , and my obligation to those in need to trade my time for assistance.

This thing has been bugging me for a few weeks and then earlier this week I ran across this little section of John 6.

 27“Don’t waste your energy striving for perishable food like that. Work for the food that sticks with you, food that nourishes your lasting life, food the Son of Man provides. He and what he does are guaranteed by God the Father to last.” (John 6:27, The Message)

Here the Christ says to us to not wast our energy for things that don’t last ( money) but to strive for food that lasts ( Him).

What a difficult statement, as we have to have money to eat and live, don’t we?  Our success in life is based on our stuff and our employment, isn’t it?

Well, in some ways yes.  Work is good, ( did I acutally type that) and should be very rewarded and part of that reward is money.  I think the big thing the Christ says to us here is what are we striving for.

So I guess today, go ahead, work for money, but make sure you know what you are striving for.  Is it perishable or will it last forever?

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Shining Brighter

Ok Ok, sorry for the delay today.  I am afriad you may have thought I was caught up in the excitement of Saturday, but alas we are all still here!  I am not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing!  But since we are, the show must go on and we need to continue the “daily buffeting” and renewing that we do each day.  I was delayed today because of some end of the school year stuff at the boy’s school.

So, this is a bit of mid day encouragement instead of a morning starter. 

18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day. Proverbs 4:18

I hope that you are shining bright to those around you today and as the Andrew’s principal said at his program this morning, I hope you are making the world a more beautiful place to be today!