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Daily Post

Big Stuff

I was sitting my front porch watching those big storms roll in last night. It was quite impressive with the changes in the wind, and the loud rumbling thunder and the cracking of the lightning.  I usually find the front edge of a storm like that always the most impressive.  But as I was sitting there, letting my mind wander through the clouds, an even more impressive thought came to my head.  I realized that the creator of the world, could have totally made that storm stop if he wanted to.  I mean he’s done it before!

That’s Big Stuff!

And just imagine, if he can do that, just imagine what he can do with whatever storms might be in your life.

That’s Big Stuff!

12 Power that made the earth, wisdom that orders nature, foresight that spread out the heavens! 13 At the sound of his voice, what mustering of the waters overhead! He summons up the cloud-wrack from the world’s end, turns the lightning into a rain-storm, brings the winds out of his store-house; Jeremiah 10:12 (Knox)

 

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Daily Post

Ridiculous

I find it pretty humbling to read words like this in the book of Jeremiah

These are the words of the Lord, who made the earth, shaped it, and gave it order

I mean really, I can hardly get dry wall mud to go on smooth, or even drive a nail straight, yet I am able to listen to the words of the creator of the world?  Seriously, when you stop and think about that, that pretty ridiculous – ridiculously amazing! And then actually listen to his words

‘Judah, pray to me, and I will answer you.

what! The creator of the world says that if you talk with him, he will not only listen, but he will answer!  Again, that’s pretty ridiculous, ridiculously awesome!  I mean, what an awesome promise.

Do you live your days in blessing of that promise?

“These are the words of the Lord, who made the earth, shaped it, and gave it order, whose name is the Lord: ‘Judah, pray to me, and I will answer you. I will tell you important secrets you have never heard before.’  Jeremiah 33:2-3  (NCV)

 

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Daily Post

Trust

I discovered this last night. I am not sure I ever read this before.  If I have, it was not with the same lens as last night.

Thus says the Lord:

Cursed is the man who trusts in man

and makes flesh his strength,

whose heart turns away from the Lord.

He is like a shrub in the desert,

and shall not see any good come.

He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness,

in an uninhabited salt land.

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,

whose trust is the Lord.

He is like a tree planted by water,

that sends out its roots by the stream,

and does not fear when heat comes,

for its leaves remain green,

and is not anxious in the year of drought,

for it does not cease to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:5-8 ESV)

So many times we want to trust in ourselves to accomplish the goals before us. But the Lord says trust in him, and you will not have to worry.

Place your trust today in the place that lets you bear fruit!

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Daily Post

Best Laid Plans

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, Jeremiah 29:11-14 (New International Version)

I have been frustrated lately by plans.  The ineffectiveness of my plans, the impact of other people’s plans on me and the seemingly lack of control that I might have in the goings on around me.  The toll of daily life can distract you from the fact that God does have a plan for you and he will use you.

Over this past weekend, while I continued to be in a stupor about my plans,  I received an email from a good friend from work.  I had been wondering why he was not on line Friday, as we had some items were where debating and I was searching for him via instant message.  Well, turns out he had had a heart attack on Thursday afternoon, and subsequently underwent major heart surgery on Monday. And then there’s Monday.  On Monday morning, I awoke to the news about a teenager who had a diving accident over the weekend and was potentially paralyzed.  A few hours later I would discover that I knew this family.

WOW, so as this week has continued, I thought about how immediately and urgently their plans had been changed.  Then there’s a third friend in her thirties who had a heart attack last month.  (Ok, it does seem that I am getting old – so and so is sick, so and so broke a hip, etc., I promise this blog will not turn into the gore report)

But seriously, these events were not in their plans – BELIEVE ME!  So how do we rationalize the verse in Jeremiah in fewer than 400 words?  Well, this week I have been trying to realize that God’s plan for us may not be as clear as “Go here and to this for 2 days and then go here and do that for 2 weeks, and then spend a year in this city”.  I think God’s plan for us is worked out in the mundane, normal, drama filled life.  God’s plan for the dude I mentioned yesterday is not nearly what he thought it might be.  God’s plan for the three individual’s above may be a little cloudy at the moment.  The same may go for you and me.  But the cool thing is there is a promise,  if you seek me, I will be found.

Today, let God work in your life, instead of working God into your life.  Give him your heart.

(That’s just less than 500 words, what do you think?)

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New Years Best of Countdown

Brand New Day

Originally Published on 8/21/2009

It’s a brand new day!  Another chance to renew yourself.  Another chance to impact others, another change to bring glory to your Creator.    Another Day in the plan that God had for you.  Be the Light you are called to be.

New International Version (NIV)

Jeremiah 29:11

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Matthew 5:14-16

14“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (NIV)

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.  (The Message)

GO PUBLIC, It’s a Brand New Day!!!!!!