One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 6:8 "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said Here am I. Send me.
Isaiah is becoming one of my favorite people in the Bible. Sorry Moses, I still love your studdering, & your feelings on unworthiness because I so relate BUT I'm taking a new approach. Isaiah was active, but he didn't set out to be a prophet. He was a scribe in the royal palace in Jerusalem. A good career but God had other plans. His encounter with God forever changed him. He portrayed the God he served. God didn't tell him he would have great success, as a matter of fact God told him the people wouldn't listen.
Now I don't know about you but if God told me to preach, write & minister to people who wouldn't listen to me I'm not sure I would have continued BUT isn't that where we are often times in our daily walk with the Lord? Sometimes we talk to people about God they simply don't want to listen but should that stop us?
We can use Isaiah as an example to respond to God with "Here am I Lord, send me".
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Music for the Dance
by Max Lucado
Let's imagine that you want to learn to dance. Being the rational, cerebral person you are, you go to a bookstore and buy a book on dancing.You take the book home and get to work. You do everything it says.
The book says sway; you sway. The book says shuffle; you shuffle. The book says spin; you spin.Finally, you think you’ve got it, and you invite your wife to come in and watch. You hold the book open and follow the instructions step by step.You continue to read, then dance, read, then dance, until the dance is completed. You plop exhausted on the couch, look at your wife, and proclaim, “I executed it perfectly.”“You executed it, all right,” she sighs. “You killed it.”“What?”“You forgot the most important part. Where is the music?”
Music?
We Christians are prone to follow the book while ignoring the music. We master the doctrine, outline the chapters, memorize the dispensations, debate the rules, and stiffly step down the dance floor of life with no music in our hearts. We measure each step, calibrate each turn, and flop into bed each night exhausted from another day of dancing by the book.Dancing with no music is tough stuff.Jesus knew that. For that reason, on the night before his death he introduced the disciples to the song maker of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. (John 16:7–9).Of the three persons of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit is the one we understand the least. Perhaps the most common mistake made regarding the Spirit is perceiving him as a power but not a person, a force with no identity. Such is not true.The Holy Spirit is not an “it.” He is a person. He has knowledge (1 Cor. 2:11). He has a will (1 Cor. 12:11). He has a mind (Rom. 8:27). He has affections (Rom. 15:30). You can lie to him (Acts 5:3–4). You can insult him (Heb. 10:29). You can grieve him (Eph. 4:30).The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force. He is not Popeye’s spinach or the surfer’s wave. He is God within you to help you. In fact John calls him the Helper.Envision a father helping his son learn to ride a bicycle, and you will have a partial picture of the Holy Spirit. The father stays at the son’s side. He pushes the bike and steadies it if the boy starts to tumble. The Spirit does that for us; he stays our step and strengthens our stride. Unlike the father, however, he never leaves. He is with us to the end of the age.What does the Spirit do?He comforts the saved. (John 16:7).He convicts the lost. (John 16:8).He conveys the truth. (John 16:12).Is John saying we don’t need the book in order to dance? Of course not; he helped write it. Emotion without knowledge is as dangerous as knowledge without emotion. God seeks a balance. “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).
What is essential is that you know the music is in you. “If Christ is in you, then the Spirit gives you life” (Rom. 8:10). You don’t need a formula to hear it. I don’t have a four-step plan to help you know it. What I do have is his promise that the helper would come to comfort, convict, and convey.
So think about it; have you ever been comforted? Has God ever brought you peace when the world brought you pain? Then you heard the music.Have you ever been convicted? Have you ever sensed a stab of sorrow for your actions? Then you’ve been touched by the Holy Spirit.
Or have you ever understood a new truth? Or seen an old principle in a new way? The light comes on. Your eyes pop open. “Aha, now I understand.” Ever happen to you? If so, that was the Holy Spirit conveying to you a new truth.What do you know? He’s been working in your life already.By the way, for those of us who spent years trying to do God’s job, that is great news. It’s much easier to raise the sail than row the boat. And it’s a lot easier getting people to join the dance when God is playing the music.That’s what makes God, God.
by Max Lucado
Let's imagine that you want to learn to dance. Being the rational, cerebral person you are, you go to a bookstore and buy a book on dancing.You take the book home and get to work. You do everything it says.
The book says sway; you sway. The book says shuffle; you shuffle. The book says spin; you spin.Finally, you think you’ve got it, and you invite your wife to come in and watch. You hold the book open and follow the instructions step by step.You continue to read, then dance, read, then dance, until the dance is completed. You plop exhausted on the couch, look at your wife, and proclaim, “I executed it perfectly.”“You executed it, all right,” she sighs. “You killed it.”“What?”“You forgot the most important part. Where is the music?”
Music?
We Christians are prone to follow the book while ignoring the music. We master the doctrine, outline the chapters, memorize the dispensations, debate the rules, and stiffly step down the dance floor of life with no music in our hearts. We measure each step, calibrate each turn, and flop into bed each night exhausted from another day of dancing by the book.Dancing with no music is tough stuff.Jesus knew that. For that reason, on the night before his death he introduced the disciples to the song maker of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. (John 16:7–9).Of the three persons of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit is the one we understand the least. Perhaps the most common mistake made regarding the Spirit is perceiving him as a power but not a person, a force with no identity. Such is not true.The Holy Spirit is not an “it.” He is a person. He has knowledge (1 Cor. 2:11). He has a will (1 Cor. 12:11). He has a mind (Rom. 8:27). He has affections (Rom. 15:30). You can lie to him (Acts 5:3–4). You can insult him (Heb. 10:29). You can grieve him (Eph. 4:30).The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force. He is not Popeye’s spinach or the surfer’s wave. He is God within you to help you. In fact John calls him the Helper.Envision a father helping his son learn to ride a bicycle, and you will have a partial picture of the Holy Spirit. The father stays at the son’s side. He pushes the bike and steadies it if the boy starts to tumble. The Spirit does that for us; he stays our step and strengthens our stride. Unlike the father, however, he never leaves. He is with us to the end of the age.What does the Spirit do?He comforts the saved. (John 16:7).He convicts the lost. (John 16:8).He conveys the truth. (John 16:12).Is John saying we don’t need the book in order to dance? Of course not; he helped write it. Emotion without knowledge is as dangerous as knowledge without emotion. God seeks a balance. “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).
What is essential is that you know the music is in you. “If Christ is in you, then the Spirit gives you life” (Rom. 8:10). You don’t need a formula to hear it. I don’t have a four-step plan to help you know it. What I do have is his promise that the helper would come to comfort, convict, and convey.
So think about it; have you ever been comforted? Has God ever brought you peace when the world brought you pain? Then you heard the music.Have you ever been convicted? Have you ever sensed a stab of sorrow for your actions? Then you’ve been touched by the Holy Spirit.
Or have you ever understood a new truth? Or seen an old principle in a new way? The light comes on. Your eyes pop open. “Aha, now I understand.” Ever happen to you? If so, that was the Holy Spirit conveying to you a new truth.What do you know? He’s been working in your life already.By the way, for those of us who spent years trying to do God’s job, that is great news. It’s much easier to raise the sail than row the boat. And it’s a lot easier getting people to join the dance when God is playing the music.That’s what makes God, God.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Tent City
As I pulled up to the paper dispenser this morning the short, white headed & white bearded elderly man on the front page caught my eye. If you know me at all you know that I absolutely adore elderly people, especially the adorable little old men.
The article had me curious so as I began to read it I began to be discouraged. You see, this man named Hal Taylor, of Bloomington, has taken it upon himself to provide shelter for homeless people in the way of tents in his backyard. A friend of his picks the homeless up each night at 9 & takes them to Taylor's house then at 8 the next morning they are picked up & taken back to town.
Now at this point this sounds like the story is applauding this man's effort to help out the less fortunate. Not the case at all, it is about the uproar the neighbors are causing & wanting the city to do something about it. As I continued to read I was shocked at the speculation that his neighbors were making. They basically were saying these homeless were you everyday run of the mill criminals that may or may not be targeting their houses to rob from.
The story went on & on about how uncomfortable they felt & how it was bring the value of their houses down.
Seriously??
Are we more worried about our comfort & the value of properties then the welfare of those around us who are more than likely homeless for no fault of their own. Even that being said who are we to judge their position?? Aren't we called to "go"? I don't ever remember reading in the Bible where we are commanded to be comfortable & stock pile possessions & shun others because they may not look like us or have the possessions we have.
So to you Hal Taylor, I say bravo! I applaud your efforts to help those around you who are less fortunate & to step out of the modern day society & reach out to those around you.
Matthew 25:40 I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
The article had me curious so as I began to read it I began to be discouraged. You see, this man named Hal Taylor, of Bloomington, has taken it upon himself to provide shelter for homeless people in the way of tents in his backyard. A friend of his picks the homeless up each night at 9 & takes them to Taylor's house then at 8 the next morning they are picked up & taken back to town.
Now at this point this sounds like the story is applauding this man's effort to help out the less fortunate. Not the case at all, it is about the uproar the neighbors are causing & wanting the city to do something about it. As I continued to read I was shocked at the speculation that his neighbors were making. They basically were saying these homeless were you everyday run of the mill criminals that may or may not be targeting their houses to rob from.
The story went on & on about how uncomfortable they felt & how it was bring the value of their houses down.
Seriously??
Are we more worried about our comfort & the value of properties then the welfare of those around us who are more than likely homeless for no fault of their own. Even that being said who are we to judge their position?? Aren't we called to "go"? I don't ever remember reading in the Bible where we are commanded to be comfortable & stock pile possessions & shun others because they may not look like us or have the possessions we have.
So to you Hal Taylor, I say bravo! I applaud your efforts to help those around you who are less fortunate & to step out of the modern day society & reach out to those around you.
Matthew 25:40 I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Monday, April 12, 2010
Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT
"A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."
As we know, the enemy prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. It is his goal is to steal, kill and destroy our joy and our REAL identity given to us by God. It is important for us to remember in ALL that we face and ALL that we do, God has provided us with other Christian SISters to encourage us, stand beside us and help us fight the good fight.
It is imperative that we have friends that will give Godly advice, speak truth in love, and help bring us closer to our Lord. Today I ask you, "Do you have YOUR cord of three strands?" If not: find two women and ask them to be your "Accountability SISters" as you fix you eyes, heart and mind upon the SIS WOW each week. Ask if they would join you Monday to get the "Word Of the Week." At the end of the week the three of you would come together, whether church, work, conference call or skype and say the Scripture together. Before you know it, you will be talking about how this verse spoke to you personally or how you were able to use it in a specific situation. And ultimately, life-long reliable friendships are formed
"A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."
As we know, the enemy prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. It is his goal is to steal, kill and destroy our joy and our REAL identity given to us by God. It is important for us to remember in ALL that we face and ALL that we do, God has provided us with other Christian SISters to encourage us, stand beside us and help us fight the good fight.
It is imperative that we have friends that will give Godly advice, speak truth in love, and help bring us closer to our Lord. Today I ask you, "Do you have YOUR cord of three strands?" If not: find two women and ask them to be your "Accountability SISters" as you fix you eyes, heart and mind upon the SIS WOW each week. Ask if they would join you Monday to get the "Word Of the Week." At the end of the week the three of you would come together, whether church, work, conference call or skype and say the Scripture together. Before you know it, you will be talking about how this verse spoke to you personally or how you were able to use it in a specific situation. And ultimately, life-long reliable friendships are formed
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Dashed Hopes
by Max Lucado
“I had intended …”
David had wanted to build a temple. And who better than he to do so?
Hadn’t he, literally, written the book on worship? Didn’t he rescue the ark of the covenant? The temple would have been his swan song, his signature deed. David had expected to dedicate his final years to building a shrine to God.
At least, that had been his intention. “I had intended to build a permanent home for the ark of the covenant of the LORD and for the footstool of our God. So I had made preparations to build it” (1 Chron. 28:2 NASB).
Intentions. Preparations. But no temple. Why? Did David grow discouraged? No. He stood willing. Were the people resistant? Hardly. They gave generously.
Then what happened?
A conjunction happened.Conjunctions operate as the signal lights of sentences. Some, such as and, are green. Others, such as however, are yellow. A few are red. Sledgehammer red. They stop you.
David got a red light.I had made preparations to build it. But God said to me, “You shall not build a house for My name because you are a man of war and have shed blood.… Your son Solomon is the one who shall build My house and My courts.” (1 Chron. 28:2–3, 6 NASB, emphasis mine)
David’s bloodthirsty temperament cost him the temple privilege. All he could do was say:I had intended …I had made preparations …But God …
I’m thinking of some people who have uttered similar words. God had different plans than they did. One man waited until his midthirties to marry. Resolved to select the right spouse, he prayerfully took his time. When he found her, they moved westward, bought a ranch, and began their life together. After three short years, she was killed in an accident.
I had intended …I had made preparations …But God …
A young couple turned a room into a nursery. They papered walls, refinished a baby crib, but then the wife miscarried.
I had intended … I had made preparations …But God …I had intended …I had made preparations …But God …
What do you do with the “but God” moments in life? When God interrupts your good plans, how do you respond?The man who lost his wife has not responded well. At this writing he indwells a fog bank of anger and bitterness. The young couple is coping better. They stay active in church and prayerful about a child. And what about David? When God changed David’s plans, how did he reply? (You’ll like this.)He followed the “but God” with a “yet God.”“Yet, the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me from all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever. For He has chosen Judah to be a leader; and in the house of Judah, my father’s house, and among the sons of my father He took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel.” (1 Chron. 28:4 NASB)
Reduce the paragraph to a phrase, and it reads, “Who am I to complain? David had gone from runt to royalty, from herding sheep to leading armies, from sleeping in the pasture to living in the palace. When you are given an ice cream sundae, you don’t complain over a missing cherry.David faced the behemoth of disappointment with “yet God.” David trusted.His “but God” became a “yet God.”Who’s to say yours won’t become the same?From
Facing Your Giants
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 2005) Max Lucado
by Max Lucado
“I had intended …”
David had wanted to build a temple. And who better than he to do so?
Hadn’t he, literally, written the book on worship? Didn’t he rescue the ark of the covenant? The temple would have been his swan song, his signature deed. David had expected to dedicate his final years to building a shrine to God.
At least, that had been his intention. “I had intended to build a permanent home for the ark of the covenant of the LORD and for the footstool of our God. So I had made preparations to build it” (1 Chron. 28:2 NASB).
Intentions. Preparations. But no temple. Why? Did David grow discouraged? No. He stood willing. Were the people resistant? Hardly. They gave generously.
Then what happened?
A conjunction happened.Conjunctions operate as the signal lights of sentences. Some, such as and, are green. Others, such as however, are yellow. A few are red. Sledgehammer red. They stop you.
David got a red light.I had made preparations to build it. But God said to me, “You shall not build a house for My name because you are a man of war and have shed blood.… Your son Solomon is the one who shall build My house and My courts.” (1 Chron. 28:2–3, 6 NASB, emphasis mine)
David’s bloodthirsty temperament cost him the temple privilege. All he could do was say:I had intended …I had made preparations …But God …
I’m thinking of some people who have uttered similar words. God had different plans than they did. One man waited until his midthirties to marry. Resolved to select the right spouse, he prayerfully took his time. When he found her, they moved westward, bought a ranch, and began their life together. After three short years, she was killed in an accident.
I had intended …I had made preparations …But God …
A young couple turned a room into a nursery. They papered walls, refinished a baby crib, but then the wife miscarried.
I had intended … I had made preparations …But God …I had intended …I had made preparations …But God …
What do you do with the “but God” moments in life? When God interrupts your good plans, how do you respond?The man who lost his wife has not responded well. At this writing he indwells a fog bank of anger and bitterness. The young couple is coping better. They stay active in church and prayerful about a child. And what about David? When God changed David’s plans, how did he reply? (You’ll like this.)He followed the “but God” with a “yet God.”“Yet, the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me from all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever. For He has chosen Judah to be a leader; and in the house of Judah, my father’s house, and among the sons of my father He took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel.” (1 Chron. 28:4 NASB)
Reduce the paragraph to a phrase, and it reads, “Who am I to complain? David had gone from runt to royalty, from herding sheep to leading armies, from sleeping in the pasture to living in the palace. When you are given an ice cream sundae, you don’t complain over a missing cherry.David faced the behemoth of disappointment with “yet God.” David trusted.His “but God” became a “yet God.”Who’s to say yours won’t become the same?From
Facing Your Giants
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 2005) Max Lucado
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