a change from the ordinary again with my blog, today is my bucket list (what I would like to do before i kick the bucket), and they are in no particular order. I have never actually sat down and made a list, so they will come randomly.
1) See Duke play at Cameron Indoor Stadium
2) Go on African Safari
3) See New York City during Christmas
4) Boston in the fall
5) Get my master's degree
6) See Packers play at Lambeau Field
7) Go to Hawaii
8) Skydive
9) Hot Air balloon
10) Mt. Rushmore
11) Meet Mike Huckabee
12) Have my ninja back for a day to ride around Road Atlanta
13) Retire and do nothing but disaster relief work
14) see ALL my kids graduate College
15) see and tour Washington & White House
16) Have a book published
17) Drive an Indy Car
18) Cancun
19) Trip to the Holy Land
20) See a race at the Brickyard
There could be more, but I got to feeling like my "wants" where too selfish :)
have great day< Chris
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
got stones?
20 And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. 21 He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. 24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.” (Jos 4:20-24, NIV)
The Jordan River was at flood stage (vs. 18), Joshua and the Israelites needed to cross. Big problem, or so it seemed. God told Joshua that the moment the priests feet touched the banks of the Jordan He would dry it up. Joshua gathered them together, and they departed. God did as promised (3:16), and God told Joshua that when they where halfway across the twelve leaders from the twelve tribes where to grab stone, then when they where across they where to build a monument out of those stones to commemorate and remember what God had done.
So my question to you is, do you have stones? Do you or have you picked up something along the way each time God has done something to remember the amazing things He has done in your life. You should, if you haven't start now. It is easy to forget, it is easy to reflect on the negative. The purpose is so that one day when someone asks, what is the stone (or whatever you choose to remember with) for, you can quickly remember and tell what He has done.
How will they know unless we tell them....stones, get some :)
have a great weekend, Chris
The Jordan River was at flood stage (vs. 18), Joshua and the Israelites needed to cross. Big problem, or so it seemed. God told Joshua that the moment the priests feet touched the banks of the Jordan He would dry it up. Joshua gathered them together, and they departed. God did as promised (3:16), and God told Joshua that when they where halfway across the twelve leaders from the twelve tribes where to grab stone, then when they where across they where to build a monument out of those stones to commemorate and remember what God had done.
So my question to you is, do you have stones? Do you or have you picked up something along the way each time God has done something to remember the amazing things He has done in your life. You should, if you haven't start now. It is easy to forget, it is easy to reflect on the negative. The purpose is so that one day when someone asks, what is the stone (or whatever you choose to remember with) for, you can quickly remember and tell what He has done.
How will they know unless we tell them....stones, get some :)
have a great weekend, Chris
Thursday, August 25, 2011
10 facts about me
ok today's blog is a little different than my norm (but change is good right?). If you normally read my blog for my daily devotions today i read Joshua 2:8-3:17, and it has nothing to do with my blog, today's blog is just 10 facts (don't know if there interesting to you or not) about me (and are in no particular order)
1. I love being a youth pastor, most ppl cant deal with youth, that's ok cause most youth don't like to deal with ppl... haha, has been the absolute greatest experience of my life!
2. I love being a husband and a dad, have been married to brandy for 13 years on September 4, and i have 4 daughters, there is no greater feeling in the world than to see their smiles and feel their hugs when they run to see me every afternoon when i get home
3. I am a hardcore Duke fan. Grant Hill is my fav Duke player of all time. I have only seen Duke play in person twice, both where against Clemson at Little John.
4. My favorite Quarterback of all time is Brett FAvre, i think he is the greatest QB ever. You may disagree, but it's my blog :) I have gotten to see brett three times. Once I saw him a spring training at the Green Bay practicing facility, the other two times i saw Green Bay play Carolina in Charlotte, once on a cold, cold monday night game, and once on a sunny sunday afternoon.
5. I love sports. Though i am not good at any. I love watching football (high school, college, and nfl), like basketball (but only high school and college), like NASCAR (tony stewart) but don't hardly get to see any cause always busy on Sundays, like to play (but not watch) golf.
6. I love to ride (motorcycles), although I sold my Ninja this past spring, and am without a bike currently, I still love the feeling of being on the open road, tis so awesome. I will have a bike again oneday.
7. I am a Mike Huckabee fan. Have never met him, got close to him and snapped a pic one time at the Southern Baptist Convention in Florida. I think he would have made an excellent President, if He could have gotten in there. I like his books, have read most, and he is an excellent speaker, and preacher.
8. I am nearly 40 and trying to get back into shape. In the mid 1990's, when i was in mid 20's i was in pretty good shape, went to the gym and worked out 3 times a week, lost a lot of weight and actually started building some muscle mass (i know right), then ruptured two disks in my back and that was the end of my weight lifting years. realized about a year ago that i am really out of shape and overweight, so decided i needed to do something about it. Have modified my eating habits, and have picked up jogging. Have lost 10 lbs so far and am very proud of myself.
9. My favorite movies are the Star Wars series, and the Pirates of Caribbean movies, anytime they on i am watching.
10. I am writing a book based upon a series i did last year with my youth called, "Finding Balance in Life" and hope to have it published one day.
There could be many more, but I am stopping at 10
Have a great day, Chris
1. I love being a youth pastor, most ppl cant deal with youth, that's ok cause most youth don't like to deal with ppl... haha, has been the absolute greatest experience of my life!
2. I love being a husband and a dad, have been married to brandy for 13 years on September 4, and i have 4 daughters, there is no greater feeling in the world than to see their smiles and feel their hugs when they run to see me every afternoon when i get home
3. I am a hardcore Duke fan. Grant Hill is my fav Duke player of all time. I have only seen Duke play in person twice, both where against Clemson at Little John.
4. My favorite Quarterback of all time is Brett FAvre, i think he is the greatest QB ever. You may disagree, but it's my blog :) I have gotten to see brett three times. Once I saw him a spring training at the Green Bay practicing facility, the other two times i saw Green Bay play Carolina in Charlotte, once on a cold, cold monday night game, and once on a sunny sunday afternoon.
5. I love sports. Though i am not good at any. I love watching football (high school, college, and nfl), like basketball (but only high school and college), like NASCAR (tony stewart) but don't hardly get to see any cause always busy on Sundays, like to play (but not watch) golf.
6. I love to ride (motorcycles), although I sold my Ninja this past spring, and am without a bike currently, I still love the feeling of being on the open road, tis so awesome. I will have a bike again oneday.
7. I am a Mike Huckabee fan. Have never met him, got close to him and snapped a pic one time at the Southern Baptist Convention in Florida. I think he would have made an excellent President, if He could have gotten in there. I like his books, have read most, and he is an excellent speaker, and preacher.
8. I am nearly 40 and trying to get back into shape. In the mid 1990's, when i was in mid 20's i was in pretty good shape, went to the gym and worked out 3 times a week, lost a lot of weight and actually started building some muscle mass (i know right), then ruptured two disks in my back and that was the end of my weight lifting years. realized about a year ago that i am really out of shape and overweight, so decided i needed to do something about it. Have modified my eating habits, and have picked up jogging. Have lost 10 lbs so far and am very proud of myself.
9. My favorite movies are the Star Wars series, and the Pirates of Caribbean movies, anytime they on i am watching.
10. I am writing a book based upon a series i did last year with my youth called, "Finding Balance in Life" and hope to have it published one day.
There could be many more, but I am stopping at 10
Have a great day, Chris
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
When was the last time.....
When was the last time you sat and watched a sunrise?
When was the last time you sat and watched a sunset?
When was the last time you sat and watched the clouds?
When was the last time you played in the rain?
When was the last time you played hide and seek?
When was the last time you played with your kids/grand kids for hours uninterrupted?
When was the last time you went for a walk in the woods alone?
or:
When was the last time you really went out on a limb for someone?
How about someone you didn't know?
4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, the men left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) 7 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut. (Jos 2:4-7, NIV)
The woman was a lady named Rahab, she had a bad name in the land; the beginning of chapter 2 tells us she was a prostitute. Joshua had sent 2 men to scout out the land of Jericho (the land God had promised them they would have). While they where there the king of Jericho caught wind there where spies (scouts) there, hence he sent soldiers to capture and more than likely kill. The scouts while fleeing came across the home of Rahab, she took them in and hid them. Not only did she hide them, she sent the soldiers chasing after them in the dark. Rahab really went out on a limb to help these two scouts, whom she didn't even know, so my question and challenge to you is: when was the last time you really went out on a limb to help someone, and did it without any personal agenda? I hope you do soon, God brings people into our lives everyday and one of them might be someone God wants you to help, so will you?
food for thought, have a great midweek day!
chris
When was the last time you sat and watched a sunset?
When was the last time you sat and watched the clouds?
When was the last time you played in the rain?
When was the last time you played hide and seek?
When was the last time you played with your kids/grand kids for hours uninterrupted?
When was the last time you went for a walk in the woods alone?
or:
When was the last time you really went out on a limb for someone?
How about someone you didn't know?
4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, the men left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) 7 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut. (Jos 2:4-7, NIV)
The woman was a lady named Rahab, she had a bad name in the land; the beginning of chapter 2 tells us she was a prostitute. Joshua had sent 2 men to scout out the land of Jericho (the land God had promised them they would have). While they where there the king of Jericho caught wind there where spies (scouts) there, hence he sent soldiers to capture and more than likely kill. The scouts while fleeing came across the home of Rahab, she took them in and hid them. Not only did she hide them, she sent the soldiers chasing after them in the dark. Rahab really went out on a limb to help these two scouts, whom she didn't even know, so my question and challenge to you is: when was the last time you really went out on a limb to help someone, and did it without any personal agenda? I hope you do soon, God brings people into our lives everyday and one of them might be someone God wants you to help, so will you?
food for thought, have a great midweek day!
chris
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
The Secret of my Success
3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. (Jos 1:3-5, NIV)
Joshua had just gotten the worst news ever, His mentor, leader, father figure Moses was dead, and now it was time for him to take the helm. Can you even begin to imagine how he must have felt. Sorrow for his loss, pressure because of the weight he must have felt now, and confusion on what to do next. Then God, I love that, Then God .... spoke to him.
We measure success by $$$$ or prominence. But really what is success, and how do you gain it? If you gain all the education you ever wanted is that success? or maybe if you never had to want for $$$ is that success? maybe its that dream job you landed, is that success?
if that is success how do you get there?
what do I have to do?
what if i never have the Italian sports car, the big house, fat check book, awards on my wall, trophies on my shelf, does that mean I am not successful?
there is alot of confusion about success and what it means...
so here it is:
7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. (Jos 1:7, NIV)
you see all the other things i mentioned impress man, but doesn't even come close to impressing God, who by the way controls your eternal destiny.
success has to do with obedience, which has to do with following. God said if you follow me and don't get sidetracked, that is success.
soooo, this means that the grocery store clerk, waitress, flight attendant, lawyer, doctor, nurse, custodian, teacher, bus driver, police, firefighter, mayor, president, congressman, convenience store clerk, CEO of company, pastor, beautician, barber, military personnel, governor, auto mechanic, secretary, teacher's assistant, librarian, air traffic controller, computer programmer, telemarketer, banker, auto salesman, pediatrician, taxi driver, news anchor, journalist, engineer, sales associate, drive thru worker, professional athlete, college professor, coach, preschool teacher, physical therapist, special education teacher, construction worker, security guard, EMT, stay at home mom or dad, full time student, and whatever else you can think of; if they are following God, that is success.
have a grand and glorious day, Chris
Joshua had just gotten the worst news ever, His mentor, leader, father figure Moses was dead, and now it was time for him to take the helm. Can you even begin to imagine how he must have felt. Sorrow for his loss, pressure because of the weight he must have felt now, and confusion on what to do next. Then God, I love that, Then God .... spoke to him.
We measure success by $$$$ or prominence. But really what is success, and how do you gain it? If you gain all the education you ever wanted is that success? or maybe if you never had to want for $$$ is that success? maybe its that dream job you landed, is that success?
if that is success how do you get there?
what do I have to do?
what if i never have the Italian sports car, the big house, fat check book, awards on my wall, trophies on my shelf, does that mean I am not successful?
there is alot of confusion about success and what it means...
so here it is:
7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. (Jos 1:7, NIV)
you see all the other things i mentioned impress man, but doesn't even come close to impressing God, who by the way controls your eternal destiny.
success has to do with obedience, which has to do with following. God said if you follow me and don't get sidetracked, that is success.
soooo, this means that the grocery store clerk, waitress, flight attendant, lawyer, doctor, nurse, custodian, teacher, bus driver, police, firefighter, mayor, president, congressman, convenience store clerk, CEO of company, pastor, beautician, barber, military personnel, governor, auto mechanic, secretary, teacher's assistant, librarian, air traffic controller, computer programmer, telemarketer, banker, auto salesman, pediatrician, taxi driver, news anchor, journalist, engineer, sales associate, drive thru worker, professional athlete, college professor, coach, preschool teacher, physical therapist, special education teacher, construction worker, security guard, EMT, stay at home mom or dad, full time student, and whatever else you can think of; if they are following God, that is success.
have a grand and glorious day, Chris
Friday, August 19, 2011
this is what hurts the worst
54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”
57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.
58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”
“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.
59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”
60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly. (Lk 22:54-62, NIV)
Jesus was about to endure to unbelievable pain and suffering; however I think what just happened to Him in these verses probably hurt worse and any physical pain one could encounter. For three and a half years Jesus poured all that He had into the lives of the disciples, EVERYTHING. Here it is, hours after they where all together, one betrayed Him, ten completely bailed on Him, and Peter openly denies he ever knew Him.
I have discovered this feeling as of recent days, and am working through it. Nothing hurts worse than pouring all that you have into lives, and they turn in a hurry and act like they never knew you. Imagine that for a minute. Maybe you have had it happen. So what do you do? What do i do? Better question is What did Jesus do?
Well with Judas, he hung himself (not good) so there was really no chance for reconciliation there, with the ten Jesus appeared to them after His resurrection and assured them it was Him and they where all good again, and of course the end of the Gospel of John Jesus reinstates Peter. Eventually it all works out, but still hurts in the meantime. The thing was Peter figured out that He was wrong in what he did (vs. 62) because He wept over what he had done, and He wanted to make things back right.
blessings on your day, have a great weekend, and go worship on Sunday...
chris
Thursday, August 18, 2011
I'm better than you are.....
If you read me regularly, you will notice this blog is similar to one last week (I'm glad I'm not like...); however this is some differences. In my reading through Luke the subject rose up again about this type of attitude.
24 Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. (Lk 22:24-28, NIV)
If you have read my blog before you well know, as i have shared, that i cannot stand this attitude. There is a reason behind why. I went to TC Roberson High school (granite it was 21 years ago); there are some things i remember well. As it is today I went to school with alot of students from Biltmore Forest who where, let's just say well off. Now let me make a footnote here that I am making a blanket statement, but I think you will receive the point. I am from a modest family, middle class, and quiet neighborhood. I did not dress in the latest fashions or latest trends. Because of this, always felt like i was looked down at, made fun of, and was never part of the "in" crowd, or popular. I always felt like I was never "good enough" to hang around the popular crowd.
Now working with students on a full time basis, i cannot stand when i see other students outcasting someone. I cannot stand when they get this attitude of "I am better than you". There is simply no place for it in the Kingdom of God. It also breaks my heart, cause i know how the student feels, but most importantly it breaks the Heart of God.
My other pet peeve is how we treat a waiter/waitress at a restaurant. The question is that Jesus poses is this: who is better the one who serves or the one who is served? Before you answer that question, let me answer it for you, Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. So next time you in a restaurant remember you are no better than the person waiting on you. The next time you in school, work, or neighborhood and your thinking your better than someone else because of the way you dress, where you live, what you drive, where you go to school, or how old you are remember this: vs. 26 Jesus says you are not to be like that.
love to my readers, Chris
24 Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. (Lk 22:24-28, NIV)
If you have read my blog before you well know, as i have shared, that i cannot stand this attitude. There is a reason behind why. I went to TC Roberson High school (granite it was 21 years ago); there are some things i remember well. As it is today I went to school with alot of students from Biltmore Forest who where, let's just say well off. Now let me make a footnote here that I am making a blanket statement, but I think you will receive the point. I am from a modest family, middle class, and quiet neighborhood. I did not dress in the latest fashions or latest trends. Because of this, always felt like i was looked down at, made fun of, and was never part of the "in" crowd, or popular. I always felt like I was never "good enough" to hang around the popular crowd.
Now working with students on a full time basis, i cannot stand when i see other students outcasting someone. I cannot stand when they get this attitude of "I am better than you". There is simply no place for it in the Kingdom of God. It also breaks my heart, cause i know how the student feels, but most importantly it breaks the Heart of God.
My other pet peeve is how we treat a waiter/waitress at a restaurant. The question is that Jesus poses is this: who is better the one who serves or the one who is served? Before you answer that question, let me answer it for you, Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. So next time you in a restaurant remember you are no better than the person waiting on you. The next time you in school, work, or neighborhood and your thinking your better than someone else because of the way you dress, where you live, what you drive, where you go to school, or how old you are remember this: vs. 26 Jesus says you are not to be like that.
love to my readers, Chris
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
you see there's this one thing.....
18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’”
21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.
22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. (Lk 18:18-23, NIV)
There is always that one thing, you know what i mean. We are like, "God i give you all this, everything i have"; Then God tell's us "that is great, I'm so proud of you; however there is just this one thing you havn't given to me". The rich ruler was a good man, treated others well, followed commandments, but there was just this one thing. He was holding onto his wealth, He wasn't willing to sacrafice it and guess what, God knew that the wealth was what He was trusting and Not God. So Jesus gave him a little test, told him to sell it all. It wasn't that He really had to do it, the problem was, he wouldn't even consider it.
So what is your one thing that your holding onto? We are like, "God don't worry i can handle it" Jesus tells us to give it up and follow him. Yesterday I did this, was the last thing I was holding onto, and I let it go; wasn't easy, but God kept telling me i needed to over and over. I kept telling God, don't worry i got this, i can handle it. Now don't get me wrong, got up today and started to go back after that "one thing", but as of writing this i havn't.
So again, what is your one thing? let it go..... and watch God do something amazing in your life.
Chris let it go and you can to, stop holding onto that one thing.
Blessings on your Wednesday, and go somewhere to get that mid week encouragement.
love to my readers, chris
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
I'm glad i'm not like........
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Lk 18:9-14, NIV)
There are several things in this world that frustrate me, this is one. It frustrates me when a Christian (supposedly "one of our own), looks down their nose at another believer. It sends a cold chill down my back when somebody says "I sure am glad I'm not (insert name here)" and then tries to justify themselves by talking about how great they are because of the things they have done. UGH! That is a Pharisee, and Jesus battled Pharisees His whole ministry. Just because you have been dealt a "better hand" than someone else does not make you a better person.
You and I need to realize it is by the Grace of God we are where we are and nothing else. God has a way of making vs. 14 happen, "everyone who exalts (thinks too highly of themselves) will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted".
Remember when it comes to the children of God, there is none "better" than the other, we all get to God by way of the cross.
have blessed day, Chris
Friday, August 12, 2011
Don't give up
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’”
6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? (Lk 18:1-7, NIV)
I really needed these verses today. I have a prayer need, that i have been praying for, well honestly for quite a while, it's a huge load, a very stressful load, and one quite honestly that i am so tired of dealing with. You know what I mean? I have prayed over and over and over and over and over and over, and over. Yet, it has not been answered yet. I get frustrated, upset, and depressed. Then God reminds me of who He is, like these verses today.
God is looking for persistence in our prayer, it's like He is asking, "How serious are you about this?" or maybe a "You really need to think this prayer through" or how about is He asking, "what is your motive for this prayer". It could also be that God is telling us "not yet", and we don't want to hear that (or at least I don't). Maybe we are looking for a way out, when God i wanting to help us go through? there are so many things going on that our eyes cannot see. God sees the whole perspective, where as you and I only see what is right in front of us, there here and now.
So what I am saying my friends, and what i am reminding myself is this: Don't give up, keep praying, God is listening. He cares so much about what is going on in our lives, He loves us more than we will ever understand, and whatever is going on; He knows and He is right there, right in the middle of our lives.
Hope you found today encouraging, you pray for me and I will pray for you.
Chris
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
1 out of 10 isn't bad (it's horrible)
11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? (Lk 17:11-17, NIV)
Today is going to hit you and i pretty hard (just being honest); but i pray you continue reading....
Ten lepers yelling at Jesus to heal them, He does, and yet only one praised Him for it. That's it; that is the synopsis of these verses. Here is how it lays out, I sit in a half empty church every week. Where are the people to thank Him? Now admittedly I know you can thank God at Home, absolutely sure you can. However, there is just something about being in Church (that's a whole different discussion).
Here is what it boils down to, the people that tell me over and over that you don't have to be in church to Praise God are simply using that as an excuse to NOT praise God. You can argue if you want to, but in the end you know in your heart and mind that i am correct.
You and I have so much to be thankful for, seriously, take inventory of your life. Times are tough, Times are really tough for me right now, really tough, unbelievably tough, stressful high blood pressure not sure what I'm going to do tough.....but does that mean God doesn't deserve my praise??
So here is what i think happened to the Ten Lepers: (meant to be serious, yet funny)
Leper 1- Decided after being healed He needed to go home and praise by Himself, cause it's personal
Leper 2- Decided to go to the brand new Jerusalem 2D theatre to see the new movie coming out
Leper 3- Decided that since he was healed now would be a good time to see his girlfriend
Leper 4- Decided that since he was healed now would be a good time to see his family
Leper 5- Decided he needed to be at home to watch "Dancing with the Pharisees"
Leper 6- Decided to go with some friends to Disneyland in Jerusalem
Leper 7- Had tickets to the Olympics, so you know he had to go
Leper 8- Had been up all night, so he needed to sleep in
Leper 9- Had to work
Leper 10 - Decided no matter what, He was going to Celebrate with Jesus, in Jesus' presence.
So which leper you gonna be?
Have blessed day, Chris
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
you got that (half) right
“If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4 If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” (Lk 17:3-4, NIV)
Don't you just love it when people point out your wrongs. Just makes my day. We love to do that, It's like being an umpire and getting to call someone "out". We get the first part of this, we love to "rebuke". However we are only getting it half right.
I know people that hold grudges, do you? Of course you do. Jesus tells us that if they repent we are to forgive. Grudge or forgiveness? It's our choice.
You don't know what they did...
doesn't matter, Jesus took it a step farther, He says if they did it seven times in one day (extreme?) and they keep coming back to you and repenting (saying they are sorry) each time forgive, forgive, forgive, forgive, forgive, forgive, forgive, forgive, and forgive. Yes, i know that was more than seven, but hope that makes a point.
You don't know what they did....seriously, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DID!!!!
God saw it, your job is to forgive.....
I know it's hard, God knows its hard...
Chris
Don't you just love it when people point out your wrongs. Just makes my day. We love to do that, It's like being an umpire and getting to call someone "out". We get the first part of this, we love to "rebuke". However we are only getting it half right.
I know people that hold grudges, do you? Of course you do. Jesus tells us that if they repent we are to forgive. Grudge or forgiveness? It's our choice.
You don't know what they did...
doesn't matter, Jesus took it a step farther, He says if they did it seven times in one day (extreme?) and they keep coming back to you and repenting (saying they are sorry) each time forgive, forgive, forgive, forgive, forgive, forgive, forgive, forgive, and forgive. Yes, i know that was more than seven, but hope that makes a point.
You don't know what they did....seriously, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DID!!!!
God saw it, your job is to forgive.....
I know it's hard, God knows its hard...
Chris
Monday, August 8, 2011
honestly dishonest
If you and I will be completely honest for a minute, we can agree that we have all been dishonest. Maybe not all the time, but a points in time. Jesus addressed that in a parable to His disciples:
“There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 2 So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’
3 “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— 4 I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’ (Lk 16:1-4, NIV)
This parable addresses one of the most dishonest issues we deal with in life, that being money. If you have ever been "taken advantage" of over money, you know what i mean, or better yet maybe you and I have "taken advantage" of someone else when it comes to money.
In the parable this manager had gotten "busted" for pocketing money that was supposed to be put into the rich guys account, today we call that theft. He brilliantly thought he pulled the scheme off. Here is how it worked, if someone owed $100, he would take the $100, rewrite the invoice for $80, and pocket the $20. Worked for awhile, but just like all things eventually it catches up to you, which it did him as well. He was getting fired, so he ran out and tried to find as many people as he could that owed money and tried to cut deals with them, so he could appear to be the good guy.
The problem is this, God knows what he was doing. Many wonder why God won't give them more, why God wont entrust them with more money. The answer and the lesson to learn is this:
10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. (Lk 16:10, NIV)
If God cannot trust you and I with a little bit, how can He trust us with more. So what do we do? It's always a matter of the heart, it's a trust thing, God want's us to trust Him more. Whether you and I have alot or a little. Where is your motive?
13 “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” (Lk 16:13, NIV)
Lord, forgive me for not using the little like i should, help me so that i may be wiser in using what you have given me.
Chris
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