Tag: 1 Peter

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Driving Lessons

Last night I took my oldest son out for his first real driving lesson. So off we went to the Battlefield so that we could tackle several kinds of roads with limited traffic. Phew, I couldn’t believe how tense and nervous I was in the passenger seat. He was doing a fantastic job for his first real driving experience, but dad on the other hand….

So, I spent some time trying to figure out where my anxieties were coming from. I mean, this wasn’t the ‘send him off for the first time’ type of experience or the ‘driving on a crowded road’ type of experience. I think this had to do with control, or the lack of control. It is an interesting experience as a parent to continue to loosen the hold of control and allow your children to go on their own way. It’s really quite a painful experience – in so many ways!

But I think this goes further then the control of the parent, this was really turning over control, and I think that is a problem that we all deal with. In this case, maybe it was justified, I mean this is a case of an experienced driver turning over control to an inexperienced driver, allowing the inexperienced driver to drive the vehicle directly into a tree or something. But in our lives, we want to keep control, when we are more then likely the inexperienced driver. The experience of the Holy Spirit sits beside us ready to guide us, if we allow control to move over to it. So here is a simple lesson for a Friday.

7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

New International Version (NIV)

That’s correct give it over to Him, allow him to worry for you and there is a great deal of peace waiting for you!

That’s a pretty good bit of driving advice, and a great conclusion from the first of many driving lessons.

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Joy To The World

The presents are bought (mostly), the house is clean(mostly) and bowl season is well underway.  Amy and I are in the middle of a string of nights with great friends and family coming over to our home to help us celebrate and remember this great time of year.

It seems like an appropriate time to look past the decoration and remember the great gift we are given, with a look back at what the prophets said about him a long time before he arrived on this round sphere we call Earth.

6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.  Isaiah 9:6-7 (New International Version, ©2010)

It’s such a blessing that this child was born, and he died and God rose him from death, and with that – we are free from the worries of death, and therefore free from the worries of our mistakes. The gift that was giving was more then just a baby – it was a gift of a new birth – a gift of freedom, a gift of eternal life.  And the great thing is, the offer always stands!

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 1 Peter 1:3-4 (New International Version, ©2010)

That’s why the angels shout “Joy to the World!”

Merry Christmas!

Oh by the way, today is the 300th post, isn’t that awesome!

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Undesirable Number One

As most of you know Harry Potter 7 was released today, and in this one Harry becomes “Undesirable Number One” in his battle of good versus evil. After I made a poster with my son’s picture and name on it at the Harry Potter web site, I started to think about those words.

Undesirable.  It made me think about a real person, who was in the exact state.

Remember this guy mentioned in 1 Peter

4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—

and in Isaiah 53

4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;

Yep.  That guy, Jesus, he was labeled, and still is lots of times, as undesirable number one, yet he still took the burden on sin for you.

the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

So today, remember that he who was undesirable, gave himself that you might life.  Use your life to bring him the glory and to shine the light throughout the world!

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
22 “He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”[e]

23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:21-24

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Freedom Expressed

It is good to reflect the day after election day on how wonderful a process the elections are.  No matter who won, we have the ability to express our beliefs and vote for who we want.  This freedom is such a blessing.  So today, red or blue, be thankful for the peaceful way we express our desire for leaders and the controlled way the exchange will happen over the next few months. Following that theme here are two mini-thoughts for this post election Wednesday

I think it was interesting that the verse of the day at Bible Gateway today is this from Romans:

“[Submission to Governing Authorities] Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”- Romans 13:1

Whether your man (or women) won or lost, remember that God has established the authorities, and we should give them the respect that is espoused in their position.

The second mini-thought today is about freedom.  Like I said above it is such a blessing.  Today relish in that, and realize that is a gift, however, don’t use it for selfishness, use that freedom each and everyday to bring glory to god.

13-17Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God’s emissaries for keeping order. It is God’s will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you’re a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government. (1 Peter 2:15-17, The Message)

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All Saints Day

Well its November 1, All Saint’s Days, or All Hallows Day- the actual reason we have Halloween or All Hallows Even.  I am not much of a Saints guy – neither the New Orleans variety or the granting sainthood variety, as I think we all,  everyone of us, have fallen short of the glory of God.  However, we all have an opportunity to become saints or followers of Him.

8-9You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don’t see him, yet you trust him—with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you’ll get what you’re looking forward to: total salvation. (1 Peter 1:8, The Message)

Yep, keep on believing and your will get total salvation.  Salvation for all who believe, so that all of those who believe can become saints!  Now that’s an All Saint’s Day I can celebrate!

14-16“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16, The Message)

Enjoy All Saints Day by being a light to all those around you!