AUDIENCE OF ONE
I woke up this morning with a whisper from God "read Proverbs 3." Before I read it I asked God to tell me what I personally need to understand from the word. I became the Audience of one. Whenever that happens I sort of get excited to see what God has for me to read and learn. Read Proverbs 3 for yourself and ask like I did "what do you want me to learn." Proverbs 3 has the famous verses 5-6, which is great to memorize. But right after those verses is:
Proverbs 3:7-8 Don't assume that you know it all.
Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
your very bones will vibrate with life!
I always feel as if I need to know the answers to so many things. Sometimes I wonder if I stay humble. You know answering many bible questions frequently and being deeply passionate about Christ is great. But I need to stay humble about that knowledge/wisdom. So I shot up a prayer of repentance. So many times I find myself alone about moral subjects and I speak out and many don't agree with me. I ask God "am I coming on to strong. Do I have to high of expectations for others?"
I just know I could always use wisdom when to say anything. I do want to stay humble.
I am reminded of another scripture "humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up."(James 4:12)
Maybe as you read this you are convicted about your humble state or lack of. Let's pray about it:
Lord forgive me for not always being humble. Help me to have your peace loving wisdom. In Jesus Name. amen.
I sense a deep connection with God. I love to be reminded of God's wisdom and passion to have us close by Him to learn and let things go. Why do we need to know it all? I mean do I lack faith to just trust God,really just stop my wasted thoughts on trying to guess and figure things out and let God take it all? What about you, do you need to know it all or can you let go and let God?
Be the audience of one before God and find out. So cool how that verse ends in verse 8 check it out
Your body will glow with health,
your very bones will vibrate with life!
Need I say anymore?
Monday, July 25, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
IT'S A LIFESTYLE
IT'S A LIFESTYLE
"You want forgiveness, get religion" said Peter Parker in Spider-Man Three. He was talking to a co-worker. That co-worker ends up in the next scene in church.
When I heard this in the movie and saw the young man actually show up in church I found that interesting. Do most of us associate religion with a building, a priest and a bunch of rules? Is that what the writer of Spider-Man expects most of us to relate to?
I just wonder if that is the reason for our youth being so confused and turned off? Mainly because most adults are not even going to the building to hear the priest and they definitely are not following the rules.
I visited with a friend recently that was very concerned about her son and his lifestyle choices. She has been trying for years to get off work on Sunday's so she could spend a day taking the family to church. I asked "have you prayed about this?" She responded "yes, over and over." I began to pray "Lord, why give me a word to tell her." She does faithfully go to Wednesday night bible studies and bring her younger daughter that same night to a church program. I asked "how long have you been doing this?" "Years" was her response. "Even now on Wednesday we got my husband's brother going to bible study" she shared.
The word that flowed out of mouth "it's a lifestyle not religion." The youth of today have been turned off by the building and rules. They need parents to show them a lifestyle where Jesus is relationship with them. Each day Monday through Sunday we show the relationship we have Jesus. "God is more interested in you showing this lifestyle and knows this will have more effect on your son than going to church on Sunday" I stated. Wow!
I could not wait to sit down and share this conversation with you. How is your lifestyle is it real and showing that you have a daily relationship/friendship with Jesus? If your children are blessed with that observation of lifestyle even if they are not living it right now God will NOT let those examples go when it comes time for your children to parent. It is the generational blessing! We love to talk about curses on our generation, but let's talk about God and his blessings and faithfulness to our next generation. Our youth need our examples. They need to hear our God stories and see us reading and studying the bible.
Prayer: Father in heaven let me have a relationship with you that becomes my daily lifestyle. May it set an example for the next generation. In Jesus mighty name I pray. Amen.
I pray a blessing on your lifestyle!
If you know someone who has a great lifestyle that includes a relationship with Christ. Send them a note encourage/bless them today.
"You want forgiveness, get religion" said Peter Parker in Spider-Man Three. He was talking to a co-worker. That co-worker ends up in the next scene in church.
When I heard this in the movie and saw the young man actually show up in church I found that interesting. Do most of us associate religion with a building, a priest and a bunch of rules? Is that what the writer of Spider-Man expects most of us to relate to?
I just wonder if that is the reason for our youth being so confused and turned off? Mainly because most adults are not even going to the building to hear the priest and they definitely are not following the rules.
I visited with a friend recently that was very concerned about her son and his lifestyle choices. She has been trying for years to get off work on Sunday's so she could spend a day taking the family to church. I asked "have you prayed about this?" She responded "yes, over and over." I began to pray "Lord, why give me a word to tell her." She does faithfully go to Wednesday night bible studies and bring her younger daughter that same night to a church program. I asked "how long have you been doing this?" "Years" was her response. "Even now on Wednesday we got my husband's brother going to bible study" she shared.
The word that flowed out of mouth "it's a lifestyle not religion." The youth of today have been turned off by the building and rules. They need parents to show them a lifestyle where Jesus is relationship with them. Each day Monday through Sunday we show the relationship we have Jesus. "God is more interested in you showing this lifestyle and knows this will have more effect on your son than going to church on Sunday" I stated. Wow!
I could not wait to sit down and share this conversation with you. How is your lifestyle is it real and showing that you have a daily relationship/friendship with Jesus? If your children are blessed with that observation of lifestyle even if they are not living it right now God will NOT let those examples go when it comes time for your children to parent. It is the generational blessing! We love to talk about curses on our generation, but let's talk about God and his blessings and faithfulness to our next generation. Our youth need our examples. They need to hear our God stories and see us reading and studying the bible.
Prayer: Father in heaven let me have a relationship with you that becomes my daily lifestyle. May it set an example for the next generation. In Jesus mighty name I pray. Amen.
I pray a blessing on your lifestyle!
If you know someone who has a great lifestyle that includes a relationship with Christ. Send them a note encourage/bless them today.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Adrenaline Boost
When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! Hebrews 12:3 (THE MESSAGE)
I wish I could tweet you this to your phone. I hope it encourages you the way it did for me today!
I have an image in my mind when I read this verse. I see myself thinking all sorts of thoughts about what is going on in my life. I suddenly am convicted that these thoughts are not going anywhere. Somethings in life things are out of my control. Some are filled with fear and uncertainty or a desire of me wishing things would get resolved, today! (impatience I guess) I am on one train on a track and suddenly what just happens is I pull a lever and I go off "Elaine's track" and switch to "God's track." I begin to allow my mind to review the God story. His son who he brought to earth. I review the last 3 years of Jesus life. Giving, loving, sharing, begging, caring for God's people. Ultimately all of those acts of kindness ends. Why does it end? Because Jesus gets falsely accused and murdered.
See what happens? My mind went another direction and I sense God's love all over again. I am strengthened renewed, loved by the Savior who saved me from destruction. Death separated from God. I will not be separated because Jesus was the final blood sacrifice and I am saved. All of us sinners were saved by grace.
I wish I could tweet you this to your phone. I hope it encourages you the way it did for me today!
I have an image in my mind when I read this verse. I see myself thinking all sorts of thoughts about what is going on in my life. I suddenly am convicted that these thoughts are not going anywhere. Somethings in life things are out of my control. Some are filled with fear and uncertainty or a desire of me wishing things would get resolved, today! (impatience I guess) I am on one train on a track and suddenly what just happens is I pull a lever and I go off "Elaine's track" and switch to "God's track." I begin to allow my mind to review the God story. His son who he brought to earth. I review the last 3 years of Jesus life. Giving, loving, sharing, begging, caring for God's people. Ultimately all of those acts of kindness ends. Why does it end? Because Jesus gets falsely accused and murdered.
See what happens? My mind went another direction and I sense God's love all over again. I am strengthened renewed, loved by the Savior who saved me from destruction. Death separated from God. I will not be separated because Jesus was the final blood sacrifice and I am saved. All of us sinners were saved by grace.
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