Tag: Matthew

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

Making it Count

A few weeks ago, I grabbed my bow saw and went to town on my back yard crêpe myrtles which had not been cut for several years.  These things where well over 20 feet tall.  So yesterday I enjoyed the fall weather by cutting up the trimmings into manageable bundles and moving them from the back yard to the street where the city will hopefully pick them up and turn them into mulch!

It was a nice quiet day outside and I was really enjoy the feeling of sort of being a woodsman, when in the distance I could hear Amazing Grace being placed on bag pipes.  That may seem really odd, however, I have to tell you that just a few hundred yards away, through the great wood, lies a cemetery and some of the quietest neighbors in the world!

But as I said on this day, they were not silent and there was something about the combination of the stillness and the bag pipes that reminded me, again, in a very poignant way to make sure I am taking advantage of each and every day I have in this blue ball.

So, today, in repeating a message that bears repeating, Make It Count.

 

33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:33-34 New Living Translation (NLT)

Categories
Daily Post

Possible?

Do you ever feel like you are looking at impossible tasks laid out in front of you? Mountains you can’t move? Maybe this little bit of speaking from the Son of God will help. He said this after being questioned about a camel going through the eye of a needle, and rich men needed a illite bit of help. Which is even more remarkable because rich man can do anything, right?

Jesus looked at them and said, “For people this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26 NCV)

Don’t tackle it by yourself, turn it over and watch Him work in you!

Categories
Daily Post

Why do we doubt?

Yesterday was a dark, gloomy, rainy day in Chattanooga.  However, I loved this text message exchange I had with my friend Randy.  I just had to share:

 

20121001-100214.jpg

 

His response was so good and the more I thought about it during the day, the more I thought about how we use walking on water to symbolize perfection, when really both Jesus and Peter, who also walked on water, did it because of their faith not because of their perfection.  It’s very obvious that Peter was far from perfect, yet he trusted enough, for long enough, to walk on water.

 

29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  Matthew 14:29 New International Version (NIV)

Yet we doubt so much.

Categories
Daily Post

Live to let them praise

Last night at the weekly men’s study I attend we discussed parts of the Sermon on the Mount, where the Christ changes the story of his listeners. Instead of following the law and being legalistic he says to guard your heart and to deal with people in the right way. This particular verse stood out to me last night.

In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and will praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 NCV)

Make others praise your Father by the way you live today!!!!