Have you ever called anyone a "Nimrod"?
I'm not sure if I have but I've heard the term used enough to know it's not a positive thing to be called a nimrod!
But, did you know there actually was a man named Nimrod in the bible? Yep, I was reading in Genesis chapter 10 & came across him. He was acrually a mighty hunter but as it said in the commentary peopke with great gifts can become proud, & that is probably what happened to him. Some consider him to be the founder of the great, godless Babylonian empire.
Funny how when we let ourselves get caught up in what WE can do how easily we can forget to give God the credit.
Don't be a "Nimrod", remember the One who is almighty & mighty to save!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
Love on the move
I heard a statement from the lead singer of Leeland that said "Love isn't love unless it is on the move". It hit deep for me, the Ya Ya's have been talking a lot about love lately while doing the "Crazy Love" study by Francis Chan.
Love isn't supposed to just sit idle, it would be easy if we as Christians were only called to stay in our own little groups or families and practice love. Ok, well maybe not so easy ALL THE TIME with your family, but you know what I mean. We are call to "Go". Jesus said in Matthew 28:19 "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit."
Love isn't supposed to just sit idle, it would be easy if we as Christians were only called to stay in our own little groups or families and practice love. Ok, well maybe not so easy ALL THE TIME with your family, but you know what I mean. We are call to "Go". Jesus said in Matthew 28:19 "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit."
He didn't say sit at home and stay all warm and cozy and think about reaching others for me. He said to "GO". The hard part is it gets us out of our comfort zones BUT Jesus didn't call us to be comfortable either. Think about all the uncomfortable situations he was faced with. He took the ultimate uncomfortable position and dies on the cross for all of us. That is what we need to be thinking about when we are feeling called to do something that might make us a little uneasy.
What would happen if we all viewed others as Christ views them??
Try it this week and see how your attitude changes.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Looking for the Messiah,
Part 2
by Max Lucado
Some missed him.
Some miss him still.
We expect God to speak through peace, but sometimes he speaks through pain.
We think God talks through the church, but he also talks through the lost.
We look for the answer among the Protestants, but he’s been known to speak through the Catholics.
We listen for him among the Catholics but find him among the Quakers.
We think we hear him in the sunrise, but he is also heard in the darkness.
We listen for him in triumph, but he speaks even more distinctly through tragedy.
We must let God define himself.
When we do, when we let God define himself, a whole new world opens before us. How, you ask? Let me explain with a story.
Once there was a man whose life was one of misery. The days were cloudy, and the nights were long. Henry didn’t want to be unhappy, but he was. With the passing of the years, his life had changed. His children were grown. The neighborhood was different. The city seemed harsher.
He was unhappy. He decided to ask his minister what was wrong.
“Am I unhappy for some sin I have committed?”
“Yes,” the wise pastor replied. “You have sinned.”
“And what might that sin be?”
“Ignorance,” came the reply. “The sin of ignorance. One of your neighbors is the Messiah in disguise, and you have not seen him.”
The old man left the office stunned. “The Messiah is one of my neighbors?” He began to think who it might be.
Tom the butcher? No, he’s too lazy. Mary, my cousin down the street? No, too much pride. Aaron the paperboy? No, too indulgent. The man was confounded. Every person he knew had defects. But one was the Messiah. He began to look for Him.
He began to notice things he hadn’t seen. The grocer often carried sacks to the cars of older ladies. Maybe he is the Messiah. The officer at the corner always had a smile for the kids. Could it be? And the young couple who’d moved next door. How kind they are to their cat. Maybe one of them …
With time he saw things in people he’d never seen. And with time his outlook began to change. The bounce returned to his step. His eyes took on a friendly sparkle. When others spoke he listened. After all, he might be listening to the Messiah. When anyone asked for help, he responded; after all this might be the Messiah needing assistance.
The change of attitude was so significant that someone asked him why he was so happy. “I don’t know,” he answered. “All I know is that things changed when I started looking for God.”
Now, that’s curious. The old man saw Jesus because he didn’t know what he looked like. The people in Jesus’ day missed him because they thought they did.
How are things looking in your neighborhood?
From A Gentle Thunder
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 1987) Max Lucado
Part 2
by Max Lucado
Some missed him.
Some miss him still.
We expect God to speak through peace, but sometimes he speaks through pain.
We think God talks through the church, but he also talks through the lost.
We look for the answer among the Protestants, but he’s been known to speak through the Catholics.
We listen for him among the Catholics but find him among the Quakers.
We think we hear him in the sunrise, but he is also heard in the darkness.
We listen for him in triumph, but he speaks even more distinctly through tragedy.
We must let God define himself.
When we do, when we let God define himself, a whole new world opens before us. How, you ask? Let me explain with a story.
Once there was a man whose life was one of misery. The days were cloudy, and the nights were long. Henry didn’t want to be unhappy, but he was. With the passing of the years, his life had changed. His children were grown. The neighborhood was different. The city seemed harsher.
He was unhappy. He decided to ask his minister what was wrong.
“Am I unhappy for some sin I have committed?”
“Yes,” the wise pastor replied. “You have sinned.”
“And what might that sin be?”
“Ignorance,” came the reply. “The sin of ignorance. One of your neighbors is the Messiah in disguise, and you have not seen him.”
The old man left the office stunned. “The Messiah is one of my neighbors?” He began to think who it might be.
Tom the butcher? No, he’s too lazy. Mary, my cousin down the street? No, too much pride. Aaron the paperboy? No, too indulgent. The man was confounded. Every person he knew had defects. But one was the Messiah. He began to look for Him.
He began to notice things he hadn’t seen. The grocer often carried sacks to the cars of older ladies. Maybe he is the Messiah. The officer at the corner always had a smile for the kids. Could it be? And the young couple who’d moved next door. How kind they are to their cat. Maybe one of them …
With time he saw things in people he’d never seen. And with time his outlook began to change. The bounce returned to his step. His eyes took on a friendly sparkle. When others spoke he listened. After all, he might be listening to the Messiah. When anyone asked for help, he responded; after all this might be the Messiah needing assistance.
The change of attitude was so significant that someone asked him why he was so happy. “I don’t know,” he answered. “All I know is that things changed when I started looking for God.”
Now, that’s curious. The old man saw Jesus because he didn’t know what he looked like. The people in Jesus’ day missed him because they thought they did.
How are things looking in your neighborhood?
From A Gentle Thunder
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 1987) Max Lucado
Sunday, January 3, 2010
2009
As I looked back on 2009 I basically thought it sucked. Then, I realized that I was letting December overshawdow my whole year.
December was probably the worst month I can remember having in many years. It threatned to get me down. So, I was ready for it to be over.
Today as I sat in church I got to thinking about some things Pastor Jeanne was talking about & I realized that this year was a pretty good year for my family. Yes, we had some rough times but for the most part it was a good year. We, as a family, made some decisions for Christ & I believe the ole scum dog really went to work to try to destroy the work in us. To be honest with you, we almost let him.
So, as we start this new year. 2010 will be another great year & my hope & prayer is that we continue to lean on God's promises & His plan for our futures.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you & not to harm, plans for a hope & a future.
December was probably the worst month I can remember having in many years. It threatned to get me down. So, I was ready for it to be over.
Today as I sat in church I got to thinking about some things Pastor Jeanne was talking about & I realized that this year was a pretty good year for my family. Yes, we had some rough times but for the most part it was a good year. We, as a family, made some decisions for Christ & I believe the ole scum dog really went to work to try to destroy the work in us. To be honest with you, we almost let him.
So, as we start this new year. 2010 will be another great year & my hope & prayer is that we continue to lean on God's promises & His plan for our futures.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you & not to harm, plans for a hope & a future.
2009
As I looked back on 2009 I basically thought it sucked. Then, I realized that I was letting December overshawdow my whole year.
December was probably the worst month I can remember having in many years. It threatned to get me down. So, I was ready for it to be over.
Today as I sat in church I got to thinking about some things Pastor Jeanne was talking about & I realized that this year was a pretty good year for my family. Yes, we had some rough times but for the most part it was a good year. We, as a family, made some decisions for Christ & I believe the ole scum dog really went to work to try to destroy the work in us. To be honest with you, we almost let him.
So, as we start this new year. 2010 will be another great year & my hope & prayer is that we continue to lean on God's promises & His plan for our futures.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you & not to harm, plans for a hope & a future.
December was probably the worst month I can remember having in many years. It threatned to get me down. So, I was ready for it to be over.
Today as I sat in church I got to thinking about some things Pastor Jeanne was talking about & I realized that this year was a pretty good year for my family. Yes, we had some rough times but for the most part it was a good year. We, as a family, made some decisions for Christ & I believe the ole scum dog really went to work to try to destroy the work in us. To be honest with you, we almost let him.
So, as we start this new year. 2010 will be another great year & my hope & prayer is that we continue to lean on God's promises & His plan for our futures.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you & not to harm, plans for a hope & a future.
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