To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
Macbeth Act 5, scene 5, 19–28
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
When I'm Seeking God's Will...
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf. Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. (1 Corinthians 10:12-24)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
So...you've got it all figured out, eh! BAM. God throws something new into the picture and suddenly what apeared to be so simple and easy before suddenly changes into something complicated, raises questions, and seems almost unbearable. It's not the first time I've noticed in my life that as soon as I reach a point of contentment it seems my world is turned upside down...but no wonder, the world is always spinning I just don't always notice it.
Paul writes to the Corinthians warning them not to be content just standing where they are..."if you think you are standing firm be careful -lest ye fall". It is when we get overly confident that we let our guard down and fall into sin and temptation; it is when we get distracted by something other than God that we fall down and find ourselves crying out to God to save us yet again.
" Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:25-31)
SO... what's the point? Well now it all seems so simple: don't be distracted by the things of this world. Love God above all else. Don't let idols get in the way of your walk with God...don't look down...just TRUST in the LORD with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding...and God will direct your path. (Proverbs 3:5 paraphrase)
“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. (1 Corinthians 10:12-24)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
So...you've got it all figured out, eh! BAM. God throws something new into the picture and suddenly what apeared to be so simple and easy before suddenly changes into something complicated, raises questions, and seems almost unbearable. It's not the first time I've noticed in my life that as soon as I reach a point of contentment it seems my world is turned upside down...but no wonder, the world is always spinning I just don't always notice it.
Paul writes to the Corinthians warning them not to be content just standing where they are..."if you think you are standing firm be careful -lest ye fall". It is when we get overly confident that we let our guard down and fall into sin and temptation; it is when we get distracted by something other than God that we fall down and find ourselves crying out to God to save us yet again.
" Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:25-31)
SO... what's the point? Well now it all seems so simple: don't be distracted by the things of this world. Love God above all else. Don't let idols get in the way of your walk with God...don't look down...just TRUST in the LORD with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding...and God will direct your path. (Proverbs 3:5 paraphrase)
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Blessings
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." Matthew 5:3-5
Eric and Leslie Ludy have this to say about these verses: "You're blessed when you are out of options and all you can do is lean on God. Because when you realize you need God, it is only then that you tap into His immeasureable greatness and goodness. You are blessed when you've been stripped of what is most precious to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One who is most precious to you." (When God Writes Your Love Story, page 43)
*These verses mean a lot but often get skipped over as cliche and overused. Often times growth comes through struggles but when people go through struggles their response is not thankfulness for the struggle...they want to be rid of their struggles. Instead realize that problems we go through are given by God and planned by Him in such a way as to inspire spiritual growth and bring us close to Him. We get sidetracked thinking that surely problems cannot be blessings ---but they can be. When I personally go through struggles I love to praise God aloud especially remembering the verses of Psalm 34:
for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." Matthew 5:3-5
Eric and Leslie Ludy have this to say about these verses: "You're blessed when you are out of options and all you can do is lean on God. Because when you realize you need God, it is only then that you tap into His immeasureable greatness and goodness. You are blessed when you've been stripped of what is most precious to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One who is most precious to you." (When God Writes Your Love Story, page 43)
*These verses mean a lot but often get skipped over as cliche and overused. Often times growth comes through struggles but when people go through struggles their response is not thankfulness for the struggle...they want to be rid of their struggles. Instead realize that problems we go through are given by God and planned by Him in such a way as to inspire spiritual growth and bring us close to Him. We get sidetracked thinking that surely problems cannot be blessings ---but they can be. When I personally go through struggles I love to praise God aloud especially remembering the verses of Psalm 34:
" I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the LORD, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the LORD, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth.
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.
but the LORD delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The LORD will rescue his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The LORD will rescue his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
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