I was reading through Proverbs 4 this morning and the verse that jumped out at me is verse 18. With daylight saving time having adjusted on Saturday night/Sunday morning some time and after a perfectly glorious and spectacular autumn the rain has arrived and the grey. I crave the sunshine. I grew up with plenty of it. My path today should spread the sunshine and it should get brighter and brighter. Hmmmm
Proverbs 4:18 (New King James Version)
18 But the path of the just is like the shining sun,[a]
That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
Now here's a different nuance. From the moment we wake up, from dawn, we should share the light. For those of us who are not mornning people that's a challenge. Poor excuse to be cross and grumpy or silent and withdrawn. It should grow all day.
Proverbs 4:18 (New International Version)
18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
Or as the Message puts it...
Proverbs 4:18 (The Message)
18-19 The ways of right-living people glow with light;
the longer they live, the brighter they shine.
That's the challenge for each day!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Friday, October 31, 2008
The book .006
I began reading chapter 6 of Margaret's book this morning. I was struck by some thoughts on page 103, 104. She says,
God will often use the church to expose that pain behind our bruises. For some, the pain may actually surface during a church service. A song lyric, a story, a Scripture verse, a phrase from the sermon, or the actual service itself reminds us of our woundedness. For others, it may be an interaction with someone else within the church. we find ourselves biting our lip to the pain of the past and of sins long hidden away.
No matter what causes the pain to surface, I believe its presence is actually a gift from the God who redeems. The pain acts as a wake-up call that it is time to begin the process of healing, repentance and forgiveness. The pain asks us to make a leap of faith that no matter what has happened nothing is beyond God's redeeming power. He can heal the deepest wound. He can restore the most messed-up lives. He can reach into the darkest corners of our past and shine his redeeming light.
We are invited to believe in a wildly infallible God.
At Sunnyside there have been a lot of people who have been bruised and even wounded. Someday we will live in a bruise-free zone, until then we need to ask God to heal and restore.
God will often use the church to expose that pain behind our bruises. For some, the pain may actually surface during a church service. A song lyric, a story, a Scripture verse, a phrase from the sermon, or the actual service itself reminds us of our woundedness. For others, it may be an interaction with someone else within the church. we find ourselves biting our lip to the pain of the past and of sins long hidden away.
No matter what causes the pain to surface, I believe its presence is actually a gift from the God who redeems. The pain acts as a wake-up call that it is time to begin the process of healing, repentance and forgiveness. The pain asks us to make a leap of faith that no matter what has happened nothing is beyond God's redeeming power. He can heal the deepest wound. He can restore the most messed-up lives. He can reach into the darkest corners of our past and shine his redeeming light.
We are invited to believe in a wildly infallible God.
At Sunnyside there have been a lot of people who have been bruised and even wounded. Someday we will live in a bruise-free zone, until then we need to ask God to heal and restore.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Wisdom for Dummies (Prov 3)
This chapter overflows with wisdom so it is difficult to choose just one thought. But this one jumps out at me again. It is one I learned by heart as a child and talking of heart it says,
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight! or as I learned it from the King James,
lean not on your own understanding.
Trust is something that is lacking. We are scared to trust because it makes us vulnerable. Too many people will take advantage of our trust but we can't live without it otherwise our lives would be miserable.
With the economy being what it is we certainly have lost a lot of trust in the stock market. Up, down, up down! It makes me dizzy just looking at the graphs. Trust has been replaced by fear for the most part. Everyone is skittish.
BUT fortunately we can say, "Yay God" because we know that we can trust God. My prayer is that today I will do that with my whole heart. I want to trust totally in God's wisdom today and rely totally on him and not jump into any decisions without relying totally on God. I challenge you to trust God today.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight! or as I learned it from the King James,
lean not on your own understanding.
Trust is something that is lacking. We are scared to trust because it makes us vulnerable. Too many people will take advantage of our trust but we can't live without it otherwise our lives would be miserable.
With the economy being what it is we certainly have lost a lot of trust in the stock market. Up, down, up down! It makes me dizzy just looking at the graphs. Trust has been replaced by fear for the most part. Everyone is skittish.
BUT fortunately we can say, "Yay God" because we know that we can trust God. My prayer is that today I will do that with my whole heart. I want to trust totally in God's wisdom today and rely totally on him and not jump into any decisions without relying totally on God. I challenge you to trust God today.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Wisdom for Dummies (Prov 2)
Proverbs 2
Make Insight Your Priority
1-5 Good friend, take to heart what I'm telling you; collect my counsels and guard them with your life.
Tune your ears to the world of Wisdom;
set your heart on a life of Understanding.
That's right—if you make Insight your priority,
and won't take no for an answer,
Searching for it like a prospector panning for gold,
like an adventurer on a treasure hunt,
Believe me, before you know it Fear-of-God will be yours;
you'll have come upon the Knowledge of God. The Message
Proverbs 2:1-5 gives us some pointers as to how to understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
We need to be attentive and to listen to what God tells us to do. Our heart needs to be part of the deal too. We need to long, to yearn, to cry out and make our voice audibly heard. There is also a passionate pursuit, a seeking and searching involved. Then we will better understand and have a more tangible grasp of what the fear of the Lord really is all about.
Make Insight Your Priority
1-5 Good friend, take to heart what I'm telling you; collect my counsels and guard them with your life.
Tune your ears to the world of Wisdom;
set your heart on a life of Understanding.
That's right—if you make Insight your priority,
and won't take no for an answer,
Searching for it like a prospector panning for gold,
like an adventurer on a treasure hunt,
Believe me, before you know it Fear-of-God will be yours;
you'll have come upon the Knowledge of God. The Message
Proverbs 2:1-5 gives us some pointers as to how to understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
We need to be attentive and to listen to what God tells us to do. Our heart needs to be part of the deal too. We need to long, to yearn, to cry out and make our voice audibly heard. There is also a passionate pursuit, a seeking and searching involved. Then we will better understand and have a more tangible grasp of what the fear of the Lord really is all about.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Wisdom for Dummies (Prov 1)
The fear if the Lord is the beginning of knowledge or wisdom.
Proverbs 1:7
I found one writer who said fear is a compound word made up of love, awe and gratitude. Those who discovered the fear of the Lord have realized their own unworthiness and have found salvation in God's gracious plan. It separates those who have found salvation in God's gracious plan.
My prayer for today is that I once again will be in awe of God for His amazing love and be deeply grateful,
Proverbs 1:7
I found one writer who said fear is a compound word made up of love, awe and gratitude. Those who discovered the fear of the Lord have realized their own unworthiness and have found salvation in God's gracious plan. It separates those who have found salvation in God's gracious plan.
My prayer for today is that I once again will be in awe of God for His amazing love and be deeply grateful,
Friday, October 24, 2008
deeper walk .003
deeper walk .003
This week we are challenged to...
Read through one chapter in Proverbs each day. Circle, mark or write down the verses that contain the richest nuggets of Godly wisdom. Select a few and write them down on cards. Place them around the house to remind me of God's wisdom.
Memorize James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Spend time going through old journals. Look for moments when God has spoken to me in the past and directed my life through the wisdom of others, wise counsel, prayer or Scripture. Is there a common thread in the ways God speaks to you?
This week we are challenged to...
Read through one chapter in Proverbs each day. Circle, mark or write down the verses that contain the richest nuggets of Godly wisdom. Select a few and write them down on cards. Place them around the house to remind me of God's wisdom.
Memorize James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Spend time going through old journals. Look for moments when God has spoken to me in the past and directed my life through the wisdom of others, wise counsel, prayer or Scripture. Is there a common thread in the ways God speaks to you?
deeper walk .002
deeper walk
I was challenged to...
Take a moment to prayerfully reflect on my relationship with my earthly father. Am I reflecting any of my experiences on to God? I asked God to replace my false beliefs with a healthy, biblically based understanding of my heavenly Father.
Memorize Psalm 27:4
One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.- Psalm 27:4
I was challenged to...
Take a moment to prayerfully reflect on my relationship with my earthly father. Am I reflecting any of my experiences on to God? I asked God to replace my false beliefs with a healthy, biblically based understanding of my heavenly Father.
Memorize Psalm 27:4
One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.- Psalm 27:4
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