Categories
Daily Post

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

 

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!

 

Categories
Daily Post

Happy Halloween

It’s Halloween so it’s seems appropriate to write something about mummies, the undead and demons.   And although I am tempted to write something about The Walking Dead, which I must say I started watching this week so I could understand what it was about, I probably should leave that for another time.

So how about some mummies,

14 So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead

40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”  Luke 11 (NLT)

the undead,

50 Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, 52 and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. Matthew 27 (NLT)

 

and demons.

19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror James 2:19 New Living Translation (NLT)

 

Wow, it’s pretty amazing that we follow a God that is in complete control of all of those things that we fear and use to symbolize the darkness.  That’s actually more than amazing, it’s just plain awesome!

Enjoy the fun of Halloween, but remember the reality of the darkness, and the power that God and his Son have over that darkness – and maybe pick a side!

 

 

Categories
Daily Post

A Day of Doing!

I can’t miss a word pun, even when it falls on the weekend. So in honor of the fourth of March, it’s a Sunday morning post.

That’s right, it’s that day of activity.  The day that says go do something.  Conquer!  Move on!  More Forward!  Let’s see some action.  Just Do it!.

It’s March Forth!

Get up, and make this a day of doing!

 

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 1 NIV

 

And maybe you want to read the last few years posts on this day here!

Categories
Daily Post

Make It Count

Nike has a new promotion this year, called Make it Count. The purpose of the promotion, besides selling clothes and shoes, is to motivate a person to work out each day in a way that counts.

My favorite tweet about this so far has been.

Saying the word “fartlek” doesn’t count. Running fartleks #counts.

There’s just something about the word fartlek that makes the day better.

This whole idea seems pretty familiar, and it is actually pretty motivating.

So what are you doing to make it count spiritually? Will it be helping the broken, teaching, loving, forgiving? Talking about it doesn’t count! Doing it does!

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. (James 2:26 NIV)

Categories
Daily Post

Equal Creations

Oh wow, my morning schedule had been completely thrown to the wind this morning and that reduces the amount of time and inspiration that I have this morning. And that stinks, because Friday’s usually provide the best posts!

Even listening to the bluegrass classic “Little White Church” didn’t seem to kick up any great metaphors or thoughts this morning. 

So here is one little thought for today, one that I have been pondering.  So many times we let the environment we are in shape our thinking.  I wonder what would happen to that environment if he shape it with our thinking.  So, I am trying to ignore the ugliness of the corporate culture, and am trying to apply the great learnings about life outside of this mess to it. Or put another way, I am trying to step above the junk and politics of the workplace and just relate to people as what they are – creations of our father in heaven.

Hm.. maybe that is an interesting thought for Friday.

8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[a] you are doing right.  James 2:8

 

9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.  James 3:9-12