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Mercy Exists

Over the last few days I have been writing alot (and thinking alot) about humility and reducing your own self thought – and giving it over to God.  This is a harder thing to put into practice then it seems on paper, but we all know that when you do it always works out.   The rest we get, the inner peace, it is absolutely amazing.  However, you can’t stop, its an everyday thing.  Hebrews 4 talks about this a little bit.  It holds up that ultimate rest and peace that we will attain when we hold fast and be diligent and submit ourselves everyday.

So today hold fast to your confession, and live boldly knowing the victory is yours.  Be transformed by humility, and mercy and grace!

Hebrews 4:14-16 (New International Version)

14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens,[a] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

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The Annoucement

With only 18 days left until Christmas I think its time to start the rejoicing!  Today lets look at the event that happening several months before the birth – Gabriel’s visit. Here we find words like Rejoice, blessed, great, Highest.  Surely a great and wonderful thing was about to happen for all mankind.

So as you continue to shop, and decorate and make merry with friends.  Remember, the wonderful plan that was set up years before this birth to make this historical birth take place.

He will be Great!  and I stand in awe – I hope you find some time to as well.

Luke 1:26-33

26-28In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin’s name, Mary. Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her:
Good morning!
You’re beautiful with God’s beauty,
Beautiful inside and out!
God be with you.

29-33She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But the angel assured her, “Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus.

He will be great,
be called ‘Son of the Highest.’
The Lord God will give him
the throne of his father David;
He will rule Jacob’s house forever—
no end, ever, to his kingdom.”

Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

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Snow in Chattanooga!

I usually don’t post on Saturday, but its such an unusual event that  I thought I would.

Here is what I woke up to this morning:

Back Porch

Snow in the Mailbox

It appears the government bubble may be broken!

Have a great day and Go Buccaneers!

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped…

Philippians 2:5-6, New International Version

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Snow in Chattanooga?

I have said for years that the government had been using Chattanooga for some weather control experiment since it NEVER snows here.  To the north, to the east, to the south, to the west – oh yeah, they get snow, but not the Noog.   Well Paul Barys says the trend may be breaking with this tweet?

PAUL BARYS-Drier weather will move in for the next couple of days. But some snow could start falling early Saturday morning. 3:31 PM Dec 2nd from web

Snow – Maybe!!!

Yo, Ho, we love the snow.

Alright, well lets hope that’s a go, otherwise that State Championship football game is not going to be very enjoyable in the rain and cold. Go Bucs!

Enough talk about the weather.  I have always been one to hate James. As a matter of fact I pulled it out of one of my bibles.  Not because I don’t believe as some in the past, its just hard.  Its practical, it forces you to make your faith move from Sunday morning bible class to the late afternoon meeting where nothing is going your way.  I mean look at this fourth chapter, it just tears you up about thinking that:

  1. you are good,
  2. your will is good,
  3. the way you talk about other is good
  4. the way you talk about your life is good

Essentially, he says, when you are doing for yourself – FAIL! But the good news, no the Great news is  – when you are doing for God – Success.  Like yesterday – submit to Him, trust Him, focus only on HIM – and then life becomes  great.

So, I will tape this back in my bible, and I will do my best to focus on Christ in those tough relationships where I think I am more important then the others  (why I think that I can’t really even comprehend).  What will you do with these words:

James 4

Submit Yourselves to God

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

4You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?[a] 6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”[b]

7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

11Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

Have a great “snowy” grace filled weekend!

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Took 14,018 showers!

Well, I woke up this morning with a classic Veggie Tune in my head:

Laura: I can’t believe it’s Christmas!
I think I’m finally gettin’ something
Can’t believe it’s Christmas,
My favorite time of year!

Percy: I can’t believe it’s Christmas!
Been dreaming of a sugar-plum thing
Can’t believe it’s Christmas,
Oh, boy! It’s finally here!

Dinkletown children: Ho, ho! Away we go!
With rosey cheeks and hearts aglowin’
Hey, hey! Our favorite day!
It makes us want to cheer!

(listen here)

I think the best line is little Lenny saying:

Lenny: Took 14,018 showers!

Anyway, its Christmas, and its a great time of the year.  More of that later in the month.  For now, following on some previous posts, and because of some thoughts I have on relationships and managing them that I will also post later ( tomorrow I think), today enjoy one of the starting points of deep faith.  Break yourself before God. Did you read that?   Break yourself.  Cast your cares on him. He wants them.  And he will lift you up.

1 Peter 5:6-7 (New International Version)

6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

When you are not singing today, spend some quieter moments considering humility, and what being humble before God really means.  Also think about how that manifests itself in relationships with people.

Percy: Yo, ho! We love the snow!