Monday, October 31, 2005
Costumes
It is halloween and everyone is in costume, pretending to be something they are not. Most of it is for fun and kids seem to love it. I am just wondering how this is different from any other day. It seems to me that we spend our days pretending to be something we are not, instead of embracing the fact that we are NOT and HE IS. I don't want to live my life wearing a mask, in costume-even if it is for fun. I want to be REAL. I don't want to pretend, play dress up or play a role. What if we could all just be who God created us to be-a reflection of Him. I am tired of playing make believe-I am ready for the real thing. Wonder if we could all take off the costumes, stop pretending and start being the REAL deal 24/7...instead of pretending that it is halloween all year long-after all-halloween is not even a day that honors the Lord! ALL FOR YOU
Friday, October 28, 2005
HOT NOW
Yesterday, we were out of town for the day and stopped at a Krispy Kreme Donut place. The Hot Now sign was on...which means temptation. When they are hot, they just melt in your mouth-you don't even have to chew. Jim enjoyed SEVERAL-suggesting that because they are hot, there is not as much of them because they just melt away in your mouth. I kept telling him he was going to be sick if he kept eating them, but he couldn't say no-HOT NOW was just too good to refuse.
I have been studying lately from Matthew 5, where we are told that we are salt and light. Salt is a flavoring...something that makes something taste better. If we are to be salt, then we are God's flavor to the world of what He looks and tastes like. I have often been convicted of being a BAD taste in people's mouth and have grieved that who I am has caused people to walk away from the Kingdom. And yet, I am also challenged by the idea of being HOT NOW-a flavor that melts in your mouth, that you just can't refuse because it is soooo good. I think this might be what Jesus was referring to. That we are to be His flavoring to the world-what does that look like...?a HOT NOW sign-that just can't be refused because the flavor is so awesome. I realize that for many, I have not been much of a HOT NOW sign, but that is changing in me everyday. I want to be a HOT NOW sign 24/7 so that the world can taste and see that the Lord is good! ALL FOR YOU
I have been studying lately from Matthew 5, where we are told that we are salt and light. Salt is a flavoring...something that makes something taste better. If we are to be salt, then we are God's flavor to the world of what He looks and tastes like. I have often been convicted of being a BAD taste in people's mouth and have grieved that who I am has caused people to walk away from the Kingdom. And yet, I am also challenged by the idea of being HOT NOW-a flavor that melts in your mouth, that you just can't refuse because it is soooo good. I think this might be what Jesus was referring to. That we are to be His flavoring to the world-what does that look like...?a HOT NOW sign-that just can't be refused because the flavor is so awesome. I realize that for many, I have not been much of a HOT NOW sign, but that is changing in me everyday. I want to be a HOT NOW sign 24/7 so that the world can taste and see that the Lord is good! ALL FOR YOU
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Purity brings clarity
Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God....
As we draw closer to God, deal with our sin, die to self and seek after Him with all that we are our hearts are sanctified and made holy. As our hearts are made pure, by the washing of the Word and drawing of the Spirit, God allows us to see Him more clearly. What was once cloudy, now becomes clear.
If we are having trouble seeing God, maybe it is because of a purity issue...there is something that is clouding our vision. For with purity comes clarity.
My desire is to be pure so that I see clearly. My heart is to see God fully, face to face in all His glory-but that will never happen as long as their is impurity in my heart. Dealing with impurity-means thoughts, attitudes of heart, heartache, wounds, sin and unrighteousness. But if I don't-I won't see God. So what option is there? ALL FOR YOU
As we draw closer to God, deal with our sin, die to self and seek after Him with all that we are our hearts are sanctified and made holy. As our hearts are made pure, by the washing of the Word and drawing of the Spirit, God allows us to see Him more clearly. What was once cloudy, now becomes clear.
If we are having trouble seeing God, maybe it is because of a purity issue...there is something that is clouding our vision. For with purity comes clarity.
My desire is to be pure so that I see clearly. My heart is to see God fully, face to face in all His glory-but that will never happen as long as their is impurity in my heart. Dealing with impurity-means thoughts, attitudes of heart, heartache, wounds, sin and unrighteousness. But if I don't-I won't see God. So what option is there? ALL FOR YOU
Monday, October 24, 2005
Friction
Diligence-a really cool word that has in it's root the idea of friction. In order to sharpen something for use, it must be rubbed-friction must occur in order to sharpen. A knife can not be sharpened without friction on the stone. Neither can we be sharpened with friction. That is the picture of diligence...to be sharpened by friction. So when friction comes, know that the Lord is sharpening you. Sometimes being diligent means you cause friction-but that is by God's design too...so that you and those around you are sharpened.
Be diligent to keep His commands, even if it causes friction.
Be diligent to prove yourself a workman that needs not be ashamed, even if it causes friction.
Be diligent to make sure of His calling, even if it causes friction.
Be diligent to teach to your children the Word of the Lord, even if it causes friction.
Be diligent to be found spotless and blameless, even if it causes friction.
BE DILIGENT-the friction will sharpen you!ALL FOR YOU
Be diligent to keep His commands, even if it causes friction.
Be diligent to prove yourself a workman that needs not be ashamed, even if it causes friction.
Be diligent to make sure of His calling, even if it causes friction.
Be diligent to teach to your children the Word of the Lord, even if it causes friction.
Be diligent to be found spotless and blameless, even if it causes friction.
BE DILIGENT-the friction will sharpen you!ALL FOR YOU
Friday, October 21, 2005
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
wounds
We all have wounds...places of hurt in our lives. But wounds that don't heal, get infected and cause health problems that could effect your ability to live life normally. We don't want to live life out of our wounds. Making choices and decisions out of the hurt and pain in our lives. Inevitably that will lead to more hurt and more wounds. But, what if we could find freedom from our wounds. Yes, we may have scars-(I like to look at them as signs of healing-not scars of hurt) but we don't have to live life out of our scars, our hurts or our wounds. Jesus came that we might have life abundant. Jesus longs to heal our broken souls. By HIS STRIPES-we are Healed! Freedom from our wounds is there for the taking....we just have to want to be healed.ALL FOR YOU
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
in the sink?
A friend of mine was sharing with me how upset she was because she thought someone was pooping in the sink instead of the potty. Wow, can you imagine. I looked at her and said I think I would start spanking kids if one of mine choose to poop in the sink instead of the potty. She later discovered that the problem was not a child, but the cat. Her son had failed to change the litter box and consequently it was full. The cat didn't like the full litter box, so he found another place to dispose of his waste.
Crazy....but it got me thinking. If waste isn't dealt with, it begins to spill out in places it wasn't meant to. Dealing with our sin is a HUGE thing. When we let it pile up and don't deal with it, it begins to seep out in areas of our lives that it should not. We can either deal with our sin or it will deal with us. So maybe it is time for us to empty the litter box, so that our sin is not found in the "sink" for all to see. Maybe your litter box is full-don't use the sink! Just empty the box! ALL FOR YOU
Crazy....but it got me thinking. If waste isn't dealt with, it begins to spill out in places it wasn't meant to. Dealing with our sin is a HUGE thing. When we let it pile up and don't deal with it, it begins to seep out in areas of our lives that it should not. We can either deal with our sin or it will deal with us. So maybe it is time for us to empty the litter box, so that our sin is not found in the "sink" for all to see. Maybe your litter box is full-don't use the sink! Just empty the box! ALL FOR YOU
Monday, October 10, 2005
goats and the fence
Yesterday, we were driving down the road and saw some goats eating through the fence, nearly choking themselves trying to get at the grass on the otherside. I was a little baffled by the thought because the grass was 2 feet tall on the inside of the fence, yet they were still trying to reach outside the fence.
But then the thought occured to me that we are just like those goats, thinking that things outside the boundaries of what God has laid is better than what is inside. The saying is not necessarily true-although goats obviously think so. The grass is not always greener on the otherside. Living within God's provisions is a good thing-otherwise we get choked on the fence...straining to live in both worlds.
So don't be a goat-enjoy the provisions of the Lord and quit straining for things that are outside the fence. ALL FOR YOU
But then the thought occured to me that we are just like those goats, thinking that things outside the boundaries of what God has laid is better than what is inside. The saying is not necessarily true-although goats obviously think so. The grass is not always greener on the otherside. Living within God's provisions is a good thing-otherwise we get choked on the fence...straining to live in both worlds.
So don't be a goat-enjoy the provisions of the Lord and quit straining for things that are outside the fence. ALL FOR YOU
Friday, October 07, 2005
bulletproof
I have come to believe that in order to fully be transformed, you must become transparent. Why? Because when we are not transparent, we are hiding-from someone, something. But transparency is hard. It seems everytime you lay it out there and be honest, vulnerable and open someone takes a shot at you. Taking a hit-hurts. It doesn't take long before we start to withdraw and choose not to be transparent because we are not bulletproof. Those who are transparent seem to have targets on them and people just aim and shoot. A free for all.
And yet, I am still convinced that to be fully transformed, you must become transparent. Which means I have to be willing to take the hit. I can't hide my sin, my struggle or my shortcomings. I can't run from my mistakes, my frustrations or my emotions. I must be real....I can't wear a mask and fake it and expect God to transform me. God wants real, honest, transparent people.
So how do I get to the point that I am willing to do that-after being hurt so many times. You realize it is not about you...it is all about Him-and He is bulletproof. ALL FOR YOU
And yet, I am still convinced that to be fully transformed, you must become transparent. Which means I have to be willing to take the hit. I can't hide my sin, my struggle or my shortcomings. I can't run from my mistakes, my frustrations or my emotions. I must be real....I can't wear a mask and fake it and expect God to transform me. God wants real, honest, transparent people.
So how do I get to the point that I am willing to do that-after being hurt so many times. You realize it is not about you...it is all about Him-and He is bulletproof. ALL FOR YOU
Monday, October 03, 2005
put to death
If you are living according to the flesh-you must die. but IF BY THE SPIRIT you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you WILL LIVE. Romans 8:13
Either way...death is the inevitable. If you are living by the Spirit...then by the SPIRIT, you put the deeds of the body to death-so that you may live. The Spirit is that which empowers us to live, but only through the habitual putting to death of the body.
Slay me....ALL FOR YOU
Either way...death is the inevitable. If you are living by the Spirit...then by the SPIRIT, you put the deeds of the body to death-so that you may live. The Spirit is that which empowers us to live, but only through the habitual putting to death of the body.
Slay me....ALL FOR YOU
living DOXA
when God's glory shows up, it interrupts the normal routine of life.
Doxa....a word I have come to wrap my life around. When people begin to live out the reality of freedom found in Christ-God's glory is evident. God desires that people be able to see HIM in us and through us. God wants to be recognizable in us and all we do. Doxa-is living what you are meant to be...for the Glory of God. We were created for this purpose. Living DOXA everyday, interrupts the routine of life because there is nothing routine about God's glory. Living DOXA means He is made evident in and through us as we live out the reality of freedom in Christ-found in dying to self so that He is seen and we are not.
DOXA-God's last words to the earth....fear God and give Him glory! Doxa-For the Glory! ALL FOR YOU
Doxa....a word I have come to wrap my life around. When people begin to live out the reality of freedom found in Christ-God's glory is evident. God desires that people be able to see HIM in us and through us. God wants to be recognizable in us and all we do. Doxa-is living what you are meant to be...for the Glory of God. We were created for this purpose. Living DOXA everyday, interrupts the routine of life because there is nothing routine about God's glory. Living DOXA means He is made evident in and through us as we live out the reality of freedom in Christ-found in dying to self so that He is seen and we are not.
DOXA-God's last words to the earth....fear God and give Him glory! Doxa-For the Glory! ALL FOR YOU
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