Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Our time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." -Steve Jobs
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Familiar as the voice of the mind is to each, the highest merit we ascribe to Moses, Plato, and Milton is that they set at naught books and traditions, and spoke not what men, but what they thought. A man should learn to detect and watch that gleam of light which flashes across his mind from within, more than the lustre of the firmament of bards and sages. Yet he dismisses without notice his thought, because it is his. In every work of genius we recognize our own rejected thoughts; they come back to us with a certain alienated majesty. ...Else tomorrow a stranger will say with masterly good sense precisely what we have thought and felt all the time, and we shall be forced to take with shame our own opinion from another. " Emmerson
I borrowed this quote from "Shadow's" blog page. Thanks for sharing Lana!
I borrowed this quote from "Shadow's" blog page. Thanks for sharing Lana!
Monday, August 29, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
FIVE SMOOTH STONES
There was nothing special or unique about the five smooth stones or the boy who picked them up that day. Just ordinary stones, without David's faith and God's direction would never have hit their mark. But, when David released them with his faith, they carried a message to God's enemy saying, "Don't mess with my anointed!
Faced off against any enemies lately? Here is what you need to know: David didn't waste his time with Goliath's army because he knew that they too were just small men, intimidated and motivated to serve their leader out of fear. He spoke straight to the one that they answered to! It is likely that none of them had the nerve to stand up to this giant, so David's courage and refusal to back down caught them all off guard. One small boy against their fearless champion....they watched in disbelief!
David brought down his giant in three steps. First, he invaded his space. Who had dared to come "into Goliath's face" like that before, so fearless and unafraid? David humiliated him, "defaced" him, in front of his brothers and men.
Stunned, yet still full of pride and arrogance, Goliath did not recognize the real threat before him. Foolishly, he let David make his move. Timing is everything! The giant was vulnerable and David's stone hit it's mark. This larger than life man fell hard!
Most importantly, it was what David had done earlier that decided which way this battle would go. What question did David ask Saul's men when he first came into camp? "...for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of The Living God? David knew who he was in God. He knew it when he took on the lion and the bear. That was simply practice for taking on Goliath, and taking on this giant was training for many other challenges that David would face in his life.
Jesus knew exactly who he was, the God Man. Being deity made him immortal but his man side made him vulnerable. How was he able to accomplish his mission to us? He understood a profound truth. We must begin with the end in mind! If we don't have a plan and don't know where we are going....how will we know when we get there? Life is full of random moments and events....that are not so random after all. They are training for something else! Something higher!
Jesus followed through. A man took on God's enemy and Satan fell hard. He was not afraid to live or die and when he descended down into hell, Jesus took Satan on his own turf. Amazed and defeated, Satan turned over the keys to death and hell. Jesus returned home to fill the empty seat beside His Father but before He left He said:
"Verily verily I say unto you, the works that I do he (you) shall do too and greater works than these shall he (you) do because I go to the Father....and I will pray the Father and He shall send you another comforter that He may abide with you forever...." John 14:16.
Now it is our turn to decide what we will do. We have heard the story of David and how, knowing who he was in His God, caused him to take on a giant and win. Even greater than David, is the Son of God, who beginning with the end in mind was able to carry out a terrible course here on earth for the sake of delivering us from the evil one. What was His greatest motivation? To finish His work and get home to His Father. Relationship. We must understand our need for relationship also. When we do, we will also see that:
"Our weapons are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 2 Cor. 10: 4-5
What then is the force that drives us on as believers in Christ? Is it fear? No, it is love and love's purpose! Because we love Him, we put on the spiritual armor which he has given.... because He so loved us first! Our enemies most vulnerable point is exposed when we refuse to let fear control us and take a stand in the name of Jesus.
If David knew all he did while he was yet under the old covenant, how much more should we understand and know, being under the new covenant today? It is clearly superior to the old...but have we taken the time to study and learn everything God has given us through His Son, Jesus Christ? We have what David had, and much, much more!
Is your heart submitted to God? Don't just pray for greater faith, show it by offering yourself up to God daily as a living sacrifice, totally surrendered to Him. Don't say you can't do it, because you can. Ask Him to help you and He will!
In closing, please read second Samuel 22, versus 1-16. Verses 17 and 18 finish it off:
"He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters: He delivered me from my strong enemy and from them that hated me, for they were too strong for me....the Lord was my stay."
Yes, by the time Second Samuel 22 was written,God had delivered David from enemies he didn't even know he had. Either David had a very vivid and wild imagination, or such great love and respect for Him, that God could not just sit idly by and do nothing while His servant David was in need. Maybe both, but God and David made it through many more battles together. God and you will too. Just remember:
Jesus has already invaded the enemy's space for you. The enemy's fortress has already been spoiled! Speak the name of Jesus, the Words of Jesus often. This creates instability in the enemy's camp throwing them off guard. Pray to The Father in Jesus name, you have a direct line to the throne room of God. Develop that relationship as David did and watch the giants drop one by one. It's target practice for you. It's curtains for them, because even the strong man's strong man can't stand against the name of Jesus!
David brought down his giant in three steps. First, he invaded his space. Who had dared to come "into Goliath's face" like that before, so fearless and unafraid? David humiliated him, "defaced" him, in front of his brothers and men.
Stunned, yet still full of pride and arrogance, Goliath did not recognize the real threat before him. Foolishly, he let David make his move. Timing is everything! The giant was vulnerable and David's stone hit it's mark. This larger than life man fell hard!
Most importantly, it was what David had done earlier that decided which way this battle would go. What question did David ask Saul's men when he first came into camp? "...for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of The Living God? David knew who he was in God. He knew it when he took on the lion and the bear. That was simply practice for taking on Goliath, and taking on this giant was training for many other challenges that David would face in his life.
Jesus knew exactly who he was, the God Man. Being deity made him immortal but his man side made him vulnerable. How was he able to accomplish his mission to us? He understood a profound truth. We must begin with the end in mind! If we don't have a plan and don't know where we are going....how will we know when we get there? Life is full of random moments and events....that are not so random after all. They are training for something else! Something higher!
Jesus followed through. A man took on God's enemy and Satan fell hard. He was not afraid to live or die and when he descended down into hell, Jesus took Satan on his own turf. Amazed and defeated, Satan turned over the keys to death and hell. Jesus returned home to fill the empty seat beside His Father but before He left He said:
"Verily verily I say unto you, the works that I do he (you) shall do too and greater works than these shall he (you) do because I go to the Father....and I will pray the Father and He shall send you another comforter that He may abide with you forever...." John 14:16.
Now it is our turn to decide what we will do. We have heard the story of David and how, knowing who he was in His God, caused him to take on a giant and win. Even greater than David, is the Son of God, who beginning with the end in mind was able to carry out a terrible course here on earth for the sake of delivering us from the evil one. What was His greatest motivation? To finish His work and get home to His Father. Relationship. We must understand our need for relationship also. When we do, we will also see that:
"Our weapons are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 2 Cor. 10: 4-5
What then is the force that drives us on as believers in Christ? Is it fear? No, it is love and love's purpose! Because we love Him, we put on the spiritual armor which he has given.... because He so loved us first! Our enemies most vulnerable point is exposed when we refuse to let fear control us and take a stand in the name of Jesus.
If David knew all he did while he was yet under the old covenant, how much more should we understand and know, being under the new covenant today? It is clearly superior to the old...but have we taken the time to study and learn everything God has given us through His Son, Jesus Christ? We have what David had, and much, much more!
Is your heart submitted to God? Don't just pray for greater faith, show it by offering yourself up to God daily as a living sacrifice, totally surrendered to Him. Don't say you can't do it, because you can. Ask Him to help you and He will!
In closing, please read second Samuel 22, versus 1-16. Verses 17 and 18 finish it off:
"He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters: He delivered me from my strong enemy and from them that hated me, for they were too strong for me....the Lord was my stay."
Yes, by the time Second Samuel 22 was written,God had delivered David from enemies he didn't even know he had. Either David had a very vivid and wild imagination, or such great love and respect for Him, that God could not just sit idly by and do nothing while His servant David was in need. Maybe both, but God and David made it through many more battles together. God and you will too. Just remember:
Jesus has already invaded the enemy's space for you. The enemy's fortress has already been spoiled! Speak the name of Jesus, the Words of Jesus often. This creates instability in the enemy's camp throwing them off guard. Pray to The Father in Jesus name, you have a direct line to the throne room of God. Develop that relationship as David did and watch the giants drop one by one. It's target practice for you. It's curtains for them, because even the strong man's strong man can't stand against the name of Jesus!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Sigh.
My blog page
is not cooperating!
It likes to decide for itself
what will be a paragraph and what
won't!
I think it is a little too much like me in that respect.
It wants to work independently of it's creator! I wonder
if my life looks like this to God. All clumped together when
it's not supposed to be and all spread out when it is supposed to
be clumped together.......
Sorry God. Help me to cooperate better with your format!
I think it is a little too much like me in that respect.
It wants to work independently of it's creator! I wonder
if my life looks like this to God. All clumped together when
it's not supposed to be and all spread out when it is supposed to
be clumped together.......
Sorry God. Help me to cooperate better with your format!
Ooooooh Me!
God introduces Himself to us through the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Ghost. He created us to be in His own image: Spirit, Soul and Body....like Him, triune beings!
Sadly though, we live out most of our lives through the perspective of Me, Myself and I. Ooooh.... not too spiritual huh? One of me is enough to destroy my life, let alone all three. Lord have mercy!
Sadly though, we live out most of our lives through the perspective of Me, Myself and I. Ooooh.... not too spiritual huh? One of me is enough to destroy my life, let alone all three. Lord have mercy!
When God desires our attention, first He must deal with Me! This is somewhat difficult though because, Myself and I are constantly getting in the way! How patient He is!
All kidding aside, we need to recognize this and do something about it. Me, Myself and I are not doing us any favors. This undisciplined Triune Trio has gotten me into more trouble than I care to discuss! Paul said it very well, ( I paraphrase) "What I want to do I don't and what I don't want to do, I do it anyway! Oh Lord, who can save me from my undisciplined self?"
What is the answer? Is it us, finally figuring out how to get focused and becoming independently righteous individuals? Nope, even the great apostle Paul needed some help! He then added:
"Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!"
Thanks be to God for forgiving me.... helping me to discipline myself.... and loving me in such a way that I just cannot resist Him!
Can somebody say, thank you Jesus!
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