Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Tuned in Tuesday



You don't get any more country than Loretta Lynn. Love her music, I know, I know to the young ones that will get this it will be a shock that this is what I grew up on. But, as you get older you too will have moments like this to pass on to others. I hope you enjoy it whether you are a fan of classic country or not. It is those memories of Christmas as a kid that make moments when you are parents or adults seem great.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Merry Christmas

Merry and Blessed Christmas to all!


Lord, Bless all the dear children in your tender care, and fit us for Heaven to live with you there. Amen.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Gospel

Philippians 2:3-4

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Thought:
For ,many of us we face Christmas surrounded by folks that are not believers it is hard!  However, we also can not be forceful towards those folks as well.  We can not continue to shove the Word into them expecting them to change by it.  Stop speaking and start doing.  I encourage all to watch the movie " Christmas with a capital C".  You will get what I am trying to say with this.  Actions will always speak louder than words.  Don't worry about how you can change someone, just let God work on them through your actions.  That will lead them to God faster than you putting in front of them with everything you say!  This Christmas lets make it about Jesus, and not your views of the season. 

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, bring Christmas to us by your will, not ours.  Amen.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Tuned in Tuesday

As Christmas is just days away, let's gather around and enjoy Emmylou Harris with this great Christmas song. I had actually forgotten about this song until I went to see the Christmas show at American Music Theater in Lancaster. Hope you enjoy, and wishing you a great week, as well as a wonderful Christmas.



MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Friday, December 16, 2011

Gospel

Luke 1:38

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
Thought:
So here is the Christmas thought that I just can not seem to get off my mind.  In order for Christmas to happen on that magical night.  Someone had to have said "yes", and it was Mary that did.  What if Mary would have just scoffed it off and not cared?  Obviously she did, and so do many of you readers.  You care enough about what is going on to say "yes" when someone is in need.  You said "yes" to helping at the local charity or soup kitchen.  Thanks so much for all of you that do say "yes" to making a difference.  we say "yes" to celebrating this season for it's true reason.  What we can not do though is after this season is over, turn our backs on what we started and leave them in the past.  we need to keep working at making the difference everyday.  Say "yes" to is to come as well.  Just like Mary did with the unknown, we are asked to do the same.
Prayer:
Yes, Dear God, Yes we will follow you and the star all year long, not just at Christmas time.  Through the pain and suffering of the cross, and the glorious resurrection.  We will follow you, with the same tenderness of Mary on the night she conceived your Son Jesus Christ and loved him from that moment on.  Amen. 

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Glee(ked)

So word is (g)leeking out that I have become a huge Glee(k) (one who follows Glee(TV show on fox network).  I was concerned as the episode started last evening that the show was going to go in a bad direction.  Never the less, as the midpoint cam and Rory read from Luke 2 in the episode I knew I would once again not be disappointed.  In the true spirit of the Christmas spirit the gang realized what the season is truly about.  Giving, caring, and loving one another.  as busy as we will be, and as hard as it might get.  The real reason why we celebrate this season has NOTHING to do with getting.  It is all about giving!  Look at what we were given as a gift from God on Christmas.  The gift of eternal grace, and salvation for all that believe in the miracle of Christ.  "Do they know it's Christmas", thanks to Glee, I have been reminded of this.

Awesome, the power of entertainment when it is used for good!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Tuned in Tuesday

Steven Curtis Chapman, O come O come Emmanuel has the stage this week. Emmanuel meaning God with Us. He certainly is during this season. Let Him come to you and invade your life all year long.



Have a great and blessed week!

Monday, December 12, 2011

Quick Gospel

Matthew 25:35-36

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

Thought:
Keep this scripture in your mind as you give this season.  The cans of soup to the monetary donations.  Whichever it is you are helping someone that needs it this season.  Not for one second do not think that yours is too small to give, it all matters.  The more it means to you the more it means to God, and we would not let Him go hungry, or cold, or be lost in the world.  Treat each of your giving moments in this manner and they will mean more to you for your closeness that it brings you to God.

Prayer:
Gracious God, keep it about you this season, not about how big we can make ourselves!  Amen.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Happy Friday

Can we just laugh today??

Have a great, blessed weekend, and find something to laugh about this weekend. This past week was hard here on Earth!!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Prayer

God, its hard down here!
Things are so bad all the time it seems.
Hunger, Poverty, weakness, materialism, self-conceit,
Things have taken control of our lives.
Bad things!
Our youth keep getting attacked,
We keep losing them to accidents.
Parents and adults are being lost too,
to addictions, and striving for the best.
Being friends and not parents!
God, it's not fun!
Why have you left us to clean all of this up.
Ooh, the sacrifices we have to make and take to do so too!

What's that you say?
You know all about sacrifices.
The Son you sent to sacrifice His life for ours.
The cruel punishment and death He undertook for me to have the thoughts of just how bad I feel I have it. 
Whats that you say God?
...And that's the GOOD NEWS!!!
Amen.

*thank you to Prof. Barrett for the new style of conversing with God.  Never go to seminary thinking of the God you know before going will be the same God you know when leaving.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Tuned in Tuesday

As december rolls along I think this month for Tuned in Tuesday we are going to go alittle (or a lot) country.  for some good old fashioned Christmas carols and songs.  So  to get this shindig started we have to open it up with some David Crowder Band.   "Go tell it on the mountain" is just how we will start this month of.  Hope you enjoy, and have a great and blessed rest of the week!!



Please pray for Conewago valley School District as they deal with the lose of 5 students in a horrible accident yesterday afternoon.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Quick Gospel

Mark 1:1-4

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Mark 1

John the Baptist Prepares the Way
 1 The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.[a]  2 It is written in Isaiah the prophet:
   “I will send my messenger ahead of you,
   who will prepare your way”[b]
3 “a voice of one calling in the desert,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
   make straight paths for him.’”[c]
 4 And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Thought:
Well Isaiah prophesied about it...
John talked about it...
Mary Delivered it...
God provided it...
The blessed babe, born in a lowly manger, our King and Saviour has come to save us all...
Are you ready for it this year???

Prayer:
Dear gracious God, prepare our hearts.  Amen

Friday, December 2, 2011

Friday Thoughts!

Yesterday, December 1st., was World AIDS Day.  Why is this important to me.  It has alot to do with my early manhood years of coming to age.  I am who I am today by the grace of God and compassion that he has filled my heart with.  I love caring for people of all walks of life.  As a young 18 year old, instead of being out doing normal teenage things at that age I was volunteering at a local AIDS resource program for the next 3 years of my life.  In that time of caring for folks and being surrounded by folks, I can look back at that point in my life and say that my pasion for reaching people started at that point of my life.  It saddens me to this very day the stigma that comes with people with AIDS.  We can no longer stand by as idle hands not doing anything.  I am not saying that you need to specifically work with AIDS patients, just something with people that ned your compassion. need to know that they are not alone in this world.  That God's love is for them as much as it is for you.  we have this tendancy to ignore the fact that God created the World and all that is in it to love them NO MATTER WHAT!  Maybe you might be the one to reach someone that feels they are not worth it or good enough to receive what God gives.  Care, Care a lot for people, it is a great time of year to learn this lesson as the stage sets for the birth of our Lord and Savior.  He came for the homeless, the impoverished, the weak, the needy, the strong, the survivors, and for you too!  That is what I see when I see the nativity manger being filled on Christmas eve service with baby Jesus.
Have a great and blessed weekend!

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Quick Gospel

Matthew 20:28

New International Version (NIV)
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Thought:
The key to the Kingdom for Jesus, God, and for us is sacrificial love. It's the tiny finger of God that has the power to overthrow evil and reveal the Kingdom here.  The works of Jesus that healed the blind and fed the hungry revealed the power of love that broke into our world on Christmas.  Every good deed has a cost requiring sacrifice of time, money , or effort.  The power of the Kingdom is the love that will take the time, make the effort, and pay the money to do what needs to be done.*  Hoping this will begin your journey for the season of advent as we prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ in our worlds and hearts.  The truth of the text above to me is the epitome of the season, and I hope you find your own reason this year to put Christ first, and keep him there all year long.
Prayer:
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Amen.

* adapted from advent devotional " Thy Kingdom come" by Robert Hereth.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Tuned In

As November closes and we prepare for December to start and the season of Advetn upon us. We prepare for the birth of Jesus in the lowly manger in Bethlehem. I ask for the strength from God to "Lead Me" in all that I do to bring all those that follow me to understand and love Jesus the same that I do. Sanctus Real has the stage this week with "Lead Me" as an example of how we are to live and love. Enjoy and hae a great and blessed week!

Monday, November 28, 2011

Quick Gospel

2 Corinthians 12:9a

New International Version (NIV)
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Thought:
In all of our suffering that we endure, God is going to handle it for us.  In that moment, His grace will cover us to make us beautiful.  I use the image of a caterpillar escaping from the chrysalis.  The caterpillar has to go through the struggle as painful as it is to be able to use its wings to fly as a butterfly.  What ever it is you are going through or dealing with, God has given you the ability to fly away from it as something new and beautiful. We just have to get through the first initial struggle.  His grace is indeed sufficient enough.

Prayer:
My all-knowing King, help me get beyond my questions so I can trust even when things happen that I don't understand. Amen.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving

I know it is early to be well wishing this Holiday.  However, I have chosen to take next week off to engage my time with family, friends and most importantly God!  My decree is that you all make time to do the same.  We tend to let the Holiday's get overtaken by our busyness.  I feel that God is asking me to take some time off and enjoy what He is doing, blessing and talking with me.  Find His voice over these next couple of days and relish in those moments.  Relish in those moments with family, and the memories that get shared.  I will see you all back at this blog the following week with more gospels and tunes to share as we welcome in the advent season.  God Bless to all, and have a blessed and safe Thanksgiving holiday.  Over this time off, pray for each other as well.  Especially keep my good buddy Trevor Kirby in those thoughts, he got rushed to the ER last evening with appendicitis.  God Speed good buddy!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Turn up the heat!!

So last night I shared a great conversation with a teacher at my sons school and am intrigued enough to share with you that I am in the beginning processes of reading the book and making the difference that it calls for each of us to do.  The book and concept is called "The extra degree" by Sam Parker & Mac Anderson.  This is the prologue written inside the book;  At 211 degrees water is hot.  At 212 degrees, it boils.  And with boiling water, comes steam.  And steam can power a locomotive.  So will you be the one that makes the extra degree in someones life today and power them to their greatest ability?  i am so excited to read this book and live it out!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Tuned in Tuesday

Thank you God for all the blessings that you give to me and all of us.  However, satan is fighting madly to take them away form us in these days that we face.  We need to "Rise Up" and take back what God has given to us.  Be thankful for what we have, but do not be afraid to fight for them either!!  Matt Maher has been my breakthrough artist of 2011 for me.  I hope you enjoy this!  Have a great and blessed week ahead.



Monday, November 14, 2011

Gospel

Mark 4:24-26

New International Version (NIV)

   24 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. 25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”
The Parable of the Growing Seed
 26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground.
Thought:
So be careful with what you have and what you do with it.  God has blessed you indeed, what you do with those blessings may detrmine your lot in the Kingdom of God.  So before you throw it away maybe find someone to give it away to.  Or before you spend 3 months salaries on the gift this year, maybe you can use that to give to those that might need food or shelter.  What you get blessed with by God may just be to give to soemone else and not intended for you!  These are the seeds that you plant.  What will your harvest look like?
Prayer:
Giver of all things, let me be used this season to be a giver and not a taker. A true defintion of the word love that you tell us to live by.
Amen.

Friday, November 11, 2011

11-11-11

John 17:21

New International Version (NIV)
21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
Thought:
What a great date today is!! Check it out...11-11-11, so it is only fitting to me to go to the Gospel of John for today.  As we are called to be one with each other, we are called to be one with God as well.  In order to become one with each other we have to know each other, and love each other together as a unit.  The same concept applies with God too.  We need to love God as if He is the only ONE, and no one else.  Jesus is even referring to himself as one with God like he calls His disciples to be.  A great lesson to be learned in this date and this text.  Loving those we know, and don't know.  Loving those that we may not agree with or even get along with.  For one second, do not think that the disciples got along ALL of the time.  This is what Jesus is referencing in this text, that they need to, in order to bring glory to their works in Christ.  Let us live as one, like we are called to do!
Prayer:
One God, One love, we've got to carry each other.  Brothers, and sisters we get to carry each other.  One Love.  Amen!*

*adapted by "One" arranged by U2

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Gospel

Revelation 16:13

New International Version (NIV)
13 Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

Thought:
So I have heard many teachers make references to false prophets of those that do not teach the following of Jesus Christ.  I have also heard teachers say that there are many Christian false prophets as well.  So here is my question, if someone brings a non believer to know and follow Christ through their teachings, how can that prophet or denomination be considered false?  This is my struggle, any thoughts...?

Prayer:
Dear Heavnly Father, those that worship you are considered followers.  Those that do not know you are considered lost.   Those that teach on your Word to bring the lost to you are considered prophets, help me to understand the difference and enlighten others why some can be false.  Amen.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Tuned in Tuesday

Thankful tuesday continue this week with a rare golden oldie from Classic Gospel sister Marie Knight from 1949!! Classic I tell you!
"I thank you Jesus" Enjoy this on this great wonderful tuesday that God has blessed each of us with .


Monday, November 7, 2011

Gospel

Matthew 25:40

New International Version (NIV)

   40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Thought:
Tis the season for giving!!  So when a school student or charity ask you for help to collect money or goods this season to help those in need.  maybe we should go beyond or normal box of mac and cheese or case of Ramen noodles.  Because they are cheap.  Is that how we see ourselves giving to God, because it is cheap?  What we do for them we do for God as well.  Give willingly this year, give abundantly this year, give cheerfully this year.  Watch what it does to you when you do! what a difference it makes to them and to you.

Prayer:
Gracious giving God, you over flow my pantry with blessings.  Yet, many of them can be given to those with less.  Open my clenched hands this season to bless others with what God has blessed me with.  Amen!

Friday, November 4, 2011

Friday!

Like the Denver Broncos or not, or even like football or not.  Right now I think Tim Tebow is the guy!  he seems to be starting something and I am not sure he even knows what he is starting.  Check out what I mean, a few months ago all the rage was something called planking ( yeah, seriously check it out on google "planking"  no worries it is safe for any one to view).  Well that craze has taken a back seat to the new craze called "tebowing" ( yep I want you to google this as well)  Crazy what this man is doing to get folks to turn to God instead of themselves.  here is what I mean by that.  The critics are calling him the worst quarterback in NFL history, why because they do not know what to respond with when he gets attacked he walks away from them.  He does not respond , hmmm just like Jesus when he says give them the other chek when they persecute you.  How else does the world tell you to respond when someone does this to you.  Thats right the world says you attack more harshly, so the critics do.  There will alwasy be low points of any career, but when you stop and do something (pray) even though no one else around is doing it (-Tebowing) that's when you 'll be blessed by God.  The time will come when you see careers of Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, Drew Brees, and these are just a few, will flourish with great prosperity.  I love the fact that my son looks up to these stand up role models.  Because they stand up for the only one that counts...God.  So where do you stand, or maybe I should say So where do you tebow?

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Gospel

Psalm 98:4a

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
4 Shout to the LORD

Thought:

We typically view shouting to the lord as a rejoicing noise.  Although I have to say that sometimes shouting to the lord might not be that way.  Sometimes shouting to the lord might be because you are mad at him!!  but becasue you are mad at him, he needs to hear your cries and your shouts...sometimes thats the only time he hears fom you at all.  It is in those moments that he knows He is all you are thinking about even being mad at Him, He knows he has your undivided attention.  Life throws a lot at each of us to not get mad about things now and then.  God needs to hear form you in the good times and the bad times.  So in your moments of anger or joy shout to the lord! 

Prayer:
Gracious God, all the angry moments of life you know about, I fear yelling at you about them casue it might hurt you.  Yet, you need me to do so because sometimes that is the only time I am truly honest with you about what I am going through in life.  Thank you for taking it, Thank you for teaching me how to be strong enough to come to you in all strong and weak moments of life.  Amen.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Tuned in Tuesday

For the month of November I am going to try to stay with the theme of Thanks or thankfullness.

This week is 8 year old Rhema Marvanne simply singing "I thank God". Enjoy it, and be thankful with all your heart what God has and is blessing you with. What might seem like a trial to you will give God the glory in the testimony later!


Monday, October 31, 2011

All Hallow's Eve

A quote by Warren Wiersbe; The words "thank" and "think" come from the same root word. If we would think more we would thank more.

The meaning of the word hallow means to make holy,consecrate,sanctify, which is what we are to do today with all the souls that have gone before us. Remember (think of) in ways that bring good feelings to us for all that they left behind, their legacy. In the quote stated above, how much more thankful would we find ourselves being if we just thought of those folks more often. Not just the immediate ones that physically affected out lives, but those that we read about in history or the Bible. Learning how they lived there lives and living ours in that same kind of manner would make us better people. Even better Christians. So today as you think about your life and the decisions you have to make, be thankful for those that made decisions to lead you in the direction that you are living, or make some changes form the folks that you choose to follow!

Friday, October 28, 2011

Winter Already!

I am a nut for loving the snow and winter months, this I know!! I am told this every time I tell people I can't wait for the snow season.  I can never remember though being excited about a snow fall at the end of October.  This is great!  I am hearing 2-6 and 4-8, and 6-10 inches by the nights end tomorrow (Saturday) night.  Watching football games in the cold is one thing, even the parade while it is 35 degrees.  Yet tomorrow night as the snow falls, the marching bands may or may not be performing, and trick or treating may not take place.  One thing that will be certain though is that the winter season is upon us.  All the leaves have not even changed and fallen yet!!  One awesome thing though that this season reminds me of.  The gathering of friends and families to celebrate the holidays.  Yet more important than that is the season of celebrating the birth of the Son of God.  As we sit nestled in our warm houses and maybe even in the arms of our loved ones, remember too the season of Jesus coming to earth to love each of us in that same manner.  He will wrap His arms around you in the coldest of days and nights to shelter you.  It is hard to believe the season is already here, but it is a great feeling to yearn for this kind of love all the time.  And for some reason this time of year you seem to get it more frequent than the rest of the year.  Give lots, and take some as it is offered to you.  That is the arms of Jesus wrapping you in His graceful loving embrace saying that it is going to be alright!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Quick Gospel

Luke 2:52

New International Version (NIV)
52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Thought:
So a new perspective was brought to my attention when I was reading a devotional about this text.  It pin pointed the fact that as Jesus was left in the temple as a young boy for three days, he studied the word and wisdoms of many temple and synagogue leaders.  So, it is not like Jesus was instantly blessed with his understanding of His father's Words.  No, no he had to study them too and learn to understand them.  In doing so Jesus grew into the person we read about in the New Testament.  So, just as Jesus was made in Man/God's image as we were too that makes him as human as we are in our lack of understanding. 

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this word and teaching us that we too can learn to understand your Word, as you very own Son had to do the same.  Amen.


Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Tuned in Tuesday

Leeland has the stage this week with their song " Pure bride". Enjoy it, as well as the week that you are blessed with ahead of you!


Friday, October 21, 2011

Friday thoughts!

Esther 4:14b

New International Version (NIV)
And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

So I have been in a lot of conversations with many of my great mentors over the last couple of days and weeks.  The conversations have been over what to do when God ask us to do something that we might not be comfortable with.  What if God puts it on your heart to reach a generation, or a group that you feel you are totally disconnected with?  What would you do, how would you handle it?  It's not like you can hide it from God.  Do you really think that God did not know where Adam was when He called for Adam in the Garden?  Of course he did, He needed to make sure Adam knew that God knew about it.  What was the first thing Adam chose to do too?  He cowarded from God, stuttering and stammering I am right here God!!!  So what gives us the thought that when God tells us to act, WE feel more comfortable by not acting?  In a time when her entire ethnic group is about to be annihilated Mordecai tells Esther, that maybe, just maybe she was put into that particular situation for a time to help, save and release them.  So no matter what we are comfortable doing, when God speaks to us and puts it on our hearts.  Maybe we too were put there for just such a moment as that...

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Quick Gospel

Psalm 90:12

New International Version (NIV)

12 Teach us to number our days,
   that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Thought:
One thing that I am studying and discussing in seminary right now is Life predestined or not by God.  points of the bible indicate that all of our days are numbered so we should live each one as if it might be the last.  How do you feel about it?  Do you think that all we say, do, go, live is all preplanned for each of us? Do you think that the thought you just had...was something that God put into your mind or do you think that you just thought it up yourself?  Interesting thing is that if we believe that life is predestined that what about the bad stuff that happens in our lives.  Do we think that our ever loving, grace giving God is behind the premature deaths or negatives that occur in our lives too?  If God is the giver of good blessings when life is good, who is the giver of the dark times during the bad times in life?  Or are they the results of our free will? Tough on to handle and discuss, any thoughts?

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, you give us life in the image of yourself.  You bless us in times of need.  You teach us in times of need.  In your image may we learn to be your mirror of understanding all about life in this world.  Amen.
  

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Tuned in Tuesday

Third Day states the truth in this weeks song "You are beautiful, my sweet,sweet song" Each day is a new song that we get to sing about. How will your sound?


Monday, October 17, 2011

Quick Gospel

Revelation 3:20

New International Version (NIV)
20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Thought:
He is standing at the door knocking with food in his hands to share with you.  Are you going to let Him in so you can enjoy the meal?  The food He is sharing are the words for us to get nurishment from.  Can we even hear Him knocking in this world?  He gives us the choice as to whether or not we let Him in, but again can we be quite enough to even hear the knock?  Opportunity is presenting itself, will you open the door?

Prayer:
Father, keep our mouths shut and our ears open to hear your knock, so that we can let you in.  Amen.
 

Friday, October 14, 2011

Friday Thought

For some reason we just seem to not be able to get along with each other.  Not just the believers vs. the un-believers.. No, no I am talking about the believers vs. the believers.  My church feels this way, as opposed to how your church feels towards a certain topic.  It becomes my question to the readers.  Are we not told to be as one in John.  Would that not mean that all denominations, all congregations, all clergy and layperson be in that same class?  Why is it that we allow oourselves to get so caught up in the rights and wrongs of what others are doing and we pull ourselves away from where God wants us to be.  One change at a time can make big changes in the end.  We can never feel like the one thing that we do is never enough.  It will always be enough.  It will set the course on a different path, it will cause a domino effect to make a differene to just one someone else and that will cause it to effect another and so on.  So from the many Christian denominations that work at ripping each other apart, let us stand in unity and welcome those that we are called to reach.  Let us not stand and negotiate which one is right and wrong.  If we want the world of the unreached to really see what Jesus' life represents then this is how we are going to need to work.  So others do not see us as bickering battle grounds with in ourselves.  Surely we can change...because something has to.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Quick Gospel

Deuteronomy 8:3

New International Version (NIV)
3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD

Thought:
Studying Process Theology in seminary right now.  Process Theology is a contemporary style of reading, learning, and teaching the Word of God.  It surprises me though about how many people do their own form of Process Theology without even knowing it.  We consume lots of food in our lives on a daily basis and most of it as unhealthy as it is is probably processed food.  Made for us to have easy consumption to fill our bellies up and say we are full.  It makes life easy!  However, most of us also consume God in that exact manner too.  We tend to take what is easy for us to get or understand and that is what we build our relationship on with God, the easy stuff!  Why, because that is the generation we live in, make it easy for me to consume and get, because I do not have a lot of time to spend on this!!  Listen folks, we NEED to spend time in the organic world of Jesus Christ.  The real deal so to speak when we go and come to Him.  If we just consume the easy stuff when the hard stuff comes our way we won't know how to eat.  Make sure you are not approaching life with the processed food spirit.  Yes, it may be easier and fun...at first.  Remember in the Gospel Jesus tells the disciples that they are not ready for the meat of the Word, so therefore he keeps feeding them the milk as a mother to an infant.  We need to grow up in this world, so we can grow up in the Word.  Stop making life easy for yourself in your understanding, because when you go to teach others about it, it is nothing more then recycled processed theology.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, in the spiritual realm let me be the one that consumes all the organic food.  Getting the good stuff for my body and mind, not just consuming what is easy to get and pass on.  I am hungry for this, let me not fall short of what you are teaching me.  Amen!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Tuned in Tuesday

Robbie Seay Band "Shine Your Light on Us" takes center stage this week. Playing this one for Ben Nynaker who will be greatly missed by all.
God Bless, and have a great week.


Monday, October 10, 2011

Lesson learned

Weekend lesson learned:

Start being more proactive instead of reactive!!

Do something to prevent it instead of reacting to something that already happened.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Quick Gospel

Jeremiah 50:6

New International Version (NIV)

 6 “My people have been lost sheep;
   their shepherds have led them astray
Thought:
Exactly who is it that you are following?  Are they leading you in the right direction?

Prayer:
Creator God, give us eyes to see, and ears to hear those that are leading, and those that are following.  Amen.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Tuned in Tuesday

Mercy Me has center stage this week with "No more No less".  Take heed in the fact that we are humans walking in this world with nothing more or nothing less then what God blesses us with. It is only in that realization that we can acknowledge the gifts that we have in the Kingdom of God.

"We all just long to go home..."

Hope you enjoy this and have a great and blessed week.


Monday, October 3, 2011

Quick Gospel

Matthew 15:10-11

New International Version (NIV)

 10 Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. 11 What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”

Thought:
So be careful what and who you listen to.  It may very well turn around and come out of your own mouth eventually!!  That hurts to think about how it will affect those around you when you speak doesn't it? So when you are out and about, pay attention to what you are saying and realize all those ears that are around you to hear those words.  Also pay attention to the words that you are letting into your ears too.  The words from friends, music, television..., they too will corrupt you and fill your heart, then that is all you will know to speak.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, guard my ears from the worlds words, guide my tongue to protect what I say to others as they listen to me.  Amen.

Friday, September 30, 2011

Friday Thoughts

I was planning on taking a break form writing this week.  Funny, how God changes that for us.  My purpose for taking the break was to slow down and get back in touch with God and really search with God for answers about my life.  It seems that when you plan to disconnect from the world to get closer God might just say to you " I need you to connect with people right now..."  In conversations and dialogue this week, along with my class reading assignments I found myself connect more with other people than I had planned.  But that is where God needed me to be, willing to put myself at total command to Him and His will.  In this week of living I became a lot more closer to God by doing this, then I would have by doing it my way.  Life will throw surprises at you all the time.  You do not need to be strong enough to handle them, just be weak enough to hand them over to God so that HE can be strong enough for you.  That's how I learned to fight my battles this week.  I hope that God finds you in those places in your life all the time too.  It will always amaze me (you) where God will meet you at.  Ponder on this thought for the weekend.  See where it leads you in your walk with God.

Have a great and blessed weekend!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

SYATP

Pray! for the youth today as they gather around there local High School flag poles to pray for themselves, their schools, friends, families, and leadership as today is See You At The Pole.  For some this will be the first they've heard about Jesus, so if might be the beginning of a changed and different life for many across our nation.
Thanks and God Bless

Never knew!

A whole different perspective to 9/11/01.

It may change yours. Instead of fear and panic, thses crews just went into action without questioning.


Monday, September 26, 2011

Gospel for the week!

Well the new week starts today!  Lord I am not sure if I am ready for it again.  Life is hard enough when its the weekend and life is busy.  But when you through in all that needs to get done for work, house, family, friends, school, church.  Lord, there just seems to be no time for you in it.  Yet no matter how busy and tired I get, my strength will prevail from you and you will see to it that life will be greatly blessed.  Thanks Lord in my time of weakness away from you, you will be my stength.  In times when I am not strong enough you will be...for me!

Hoping all have a great and blessed week!

Friday, September 23, 2011

Friday Thoughts!

Thanks for sharing Frank and Sandy,

Who's Your Daddy??
                            A seminary professor was vacationing with his wife in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
                            One morning, they were eating breakfast at a little restaurant, hoping to enjoy a quiet, family meal.. While they were waiting for their food, they noticed a distinguished looking, white-haired man moving from table to table, visiting with the guests. The professor leaned over and whispered to his wife, 'I hope he doesn't come over here.' But sure enough, the man did come over to their table.

                            'Where are you folks from?' he asked in a friendly voice.

                            'Oklahoma,' they answered.

                            'Great to have you here in Tennessee,' the stranger said... 'What do you do for a living?'

                            'I teach at a seminary,' he replied.

                            'Oh, so you teach preachers how to preach, do you? Well, I've got a really great story for you.' And with that, the gentleman pulled up a chair and sat down at the table with the couple.

                            The professor groaned and thought to himself, 'Great.. Just what I
                            need.... another preacher story!'

                            The man started, 'See that mountain over there? (Pointing out the restaurant window). Not far from the base of that mountain, there was a boy born to an unwed mother. He had a hard time growing up, because every place he went, he was always asked the same question, 'Hey boy, who's your daddy?' Whether he was at school, in the grocery store or drug store, people would ask the same question, 'Who's your daddy?'
                            He would hide at recess and lunch time from other students.. He would avoid going in to stores because that question hurt him so bad. 'When he was about 12 years old, a new preacher came to his church. He would always go in late and slip out early to avoid hearing the question, 'Who's your daddy?'
                            But one day, the new preacher said the benediction so fast that he got caught and had to walk out with the crowd.

                            Just about the time he got to the back door, the new preacher, not knowing anything about him, put his hand on his shoulder and asked him, 'Son, who's your daddy?'

                            The whole church got deathly quiet. He could feel every eye in the church looking at him. Now everyone would finally know the answer to the question, 'Who's your daddy?'

                            This new preacher, though, sensed the situation around him and using discernment that only the Holy Spirit could give, said the following to that scared little boy.. 'Wait a minute! I know who you are! I see the family resemblance now, You are a child of God.'

                            With that he patted the boy on his shoulder and said, 'Boy, you've got a great inheritance.. Go and claim it.'

                            'With that, the boy smiled for the first time in a long time and walked out the door a changed person. He was never the same again. Whenever anybody asked him, 'Who's your Daddy?' he'd just tell them, 'I'm a Child of God..''

                            The distinguished gentleman got up from the table and said, 'Isn't that a great story?'

                            The professor responded that it really was a great story!

                            As the man turned to leave, he said, 'You know, if that new preacher hadn't told me that I was one of God's children, I probably never would have amounted to anything!' And he walked away..

                            The seminary professor and his wife were stunned. He called the waitress over and asked her, 'Do you know who that man was -- the one who just left that was sitting at our table?'

                            The waitress grinned and said, 'Of course. Everybody here knows him.

                            That's Ben Hooper. He's governor of Tennessee !'

                            Someone in your life today needs a reminder that they're one of God's children!

                            'The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of God stands
                            forever.' ~~Isaiah

                            YOU'RE ONE OF GOD'S CHILDREN!!!

                            HAVE A GREAT DAY!



                       

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Quick Gospel

Isaiah 58:9-11
9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
   you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
   “If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
   with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
   and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
   and your night will become like the noonday.
11 The LORD will guide you always;
   he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
   and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
   like a spring whose waters never fail.

Thought:
God will Provide all of your wants, needs, and desires.  Ask him for them!

Prayer:
Creator of all things, all things are created in your likeness and image.  Just the way you need them to be.  All of creation is full of your glory,  and majesty.  Just the way you filled them to be.  Including Me!  Amen.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Tuned in Tuesday

Today is going to be a hard day! Why? That's how the world has it set up to be. Yet, with Christ "in me" all things will be possible no matter how dark the day will be. Phillippians 4:13 backs that up too! Enjoy this video by Casting Crowns this week and make your day a good one for God and make it count!


Monday, September 19, 2011

Quick Gospel

Exodus 31:1-3
 1 Then the LORD said to Moses, 2 “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills.

Thoughts:
Good reminder to us that God sets us aside and uses us when and where He best needs us.  He gives us a trade and skill that only we can do to help and bless others with.  Some it is a physical trade, others it is a trade by words, and emotions.  No matter what God has blessed you with as a trade, he is using you where he needs you to be.  Are we listening to him though and doing what he calls us to be.  Or are we being worldly and disobeying him?  In the book of Exodus God speaks of Bezalel as a craftsman for his trade of milling, and stone smith to build the temple of God to create the original stone church to worship in.  maybe he has similar plans for you and creating that small group ministry, or the homeless outreach program.  Or maybe he needs you to be more physical and get on your churches property committee and help fix up your current church.  What ever you have been blessed with your trade should always be to honor and glorify God in all that you do.  he is after all the one the blessed you with that trade to begin with. 

Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for the hands and feet to go and do what you call me to.  Thank you for the eyes and ears to look and listen for those that need to be reach by you.  Thank you for the wisdom, courage and strength to guide myself and others to knowing who you are in our lives.  Amen.