Quick Gospel

Philippians 4:6-7
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Thought:
For most of my readers that grew up in the late 80's yep it's kind of like " Don' worry Be happy"!  Worry seems to take our lives to a different level when wwe let it run and control our lives.  However if we abide to this passage of text, we are to not let it. We are to hand it over to God and let him deal with that!!! Our typical reponse to that then would be " yeah, but what if??"  And already worry sets in.  How does one change that???

Prayer:
Dear Lord, let us not grow anxious over details of life that we have no control.  Better yet, give us the strength to hand over all details of our lives to you.  They are yours anyway.  Amen.

Quick Gospel- And so it Goes (for Grandpa Tom)

And so it goes Today this is for you Grandpa Tom:
Born in 1924 you saw a lot in your time,
quite young but you were there for the crash of ' 29

Probably never thought you would get to see the things you did in your time
You served your country with honor and pride
Then you raised two kids and taught them to love and enjoy life
And you did so with Joan as your loving wife

The kids , how they grew faster than you thought they would
but always by them you stood

Family quarrels would come and go
yet again you taught them to enjoy life as so
the kids would grow and move on, but taking so much of you with them

Grandkids had now been born
all the Christmas sweaters and birthday ties you would adorn
these were the  moments they enjoyed
but you enjoyed them best

Picnics, and fishing was your past time,
no matter where you were you were enjoying life with them
So much time to go, you had many long trips to take with your new life companion
and watching you enjoy the golden years always put a smile on my face
I am hoping I get to enjoy it too at your enthusiastic pace

Great-grand children soon would come and now you really had someone to spoil
and indeed you did
 The moments meant so much to you, but now they mean even more to us

And so it goes Grandpa Tom, a legacy is passed
And so it goes Grandpa Tom, your memory will last


Thanks for it all Grandpa, Love ya, miss ya, and look forward to meeting up with you again.
God Bless

Quick Gospel

1 Corinthians 3:10-11
10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Thought:
Seminary has done me well already with my understanding of interpreting the bible.  Each teacher has a different way to teach.  In reality it is that way with each time we read the bible or text from the bible.  With each new understanding of what we just read becomes another foundtion for why we read the bible and follow the wrods of it.  Each new text becomes a new window,or door or wall for our house.  But, as we go through it the foundation remains the same...Jesus Christ.  As you take time to do your personal reading or devotion, dig into the text and the notes that are written around that specific txt so you gain a better understanding to build on your house, but know that while you are doing so you are standing on the greatest foundation possible in your belief of Jesus.

Prayer:
Lord, we turn the pages each day we read your Word, but we do so sometimes out of routine and we forget the "why" in reading our bibles. 

Tuned in Tuesday

The great guitarist Shawn McDonald has the stage this week. I am telling you I have not heard anyone play like this since Phil Keaggy. The lyrics are awesome too, Shawn is definitley blessed with his gift. Enjoy and have a great and blessed week!

Quick Gospel

Proverbs 25:11 (HCS)
 A word spoken at the right time is like golden apples on a silver tray.

Thought:
So then let me ask how do you respond to hearing good news?
Then, how is it that you respond to getting bad news?
Will your responce determine your outcome?

Prayer:
Dear Lord, we all too often do not think about the way we respond to life circumstances that are in front of us.  So we just react how the world says we should react.  Forgive us for not being more gentle with our words and actions to these circumstances.

Quick Gospel

Matthew 5:38-39,42
38 "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'
39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Thought:
So not only are we offer up a sacrifice when one attacks us, we are to then GIVE!  Think about this, if some one attacks us, we are supposed to overlook that instance and resist the evil of retaliating.  But, that seems to go against human nature does it not?  On top of resisting the attack back, we are to again sacrifice and not turn them away when they ask us for a favor.  Tell me this is not true, the people we have the biggest issue with forgiving is family, as a youth told me once in youth group "that is because we hold family at a higher standard then we do our friends so it is harder to forgive"  So, then how often, do we hold it against a family memeber when they ask us of something, the first thing we want to do is go back to that moment that they hurt us in some way or another and not let them borrow or use something of ours!! Yet this is not how we are called to treat them according to this text.  To resist something means to fight back against or cause a friction in the movement.  So when we resist against these evil moments we are fighting against what God has intended for us to learn in those moments.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, resistance is all that we know in moments that others are attacking and hurting us.  So, in this text let us learn that we are not to resist against how you call us to deal and confront an attack like this.  Guide us in all we do that it brings honor and glory to you.

Quick Gospel

Romans 12:9 (HCSB)
9 Love must be without hypocrisy

Thought:
Arrgghhh!  You mean to tell me that I can not just pretend to love my neighbor???  Jesus calls the Pharisees and Saducees "Hypocrits"  for not living and loving from their hearts.  Ouch!  Pretty rough, yet how often do we go to church, youth groups, events with a heart full of hypocrisy.  How can we worship God with so much disdane in our hearts and minds?  So full of questions today, but think about it though.  You cannot get in our car and immediatly drive away when the windshield is covered with snow or frost ( to those on the west coast , apologies if you do not understand this analogy).  No you need to clean off the winshield first, then so is true when we approach God with worship, come with a clean heart and mind. 

Prayer:
Dear Lord, you bless us with the ability to comprehend parables.  Set our minds to focus on understanding how to come to you in worship and prayer.  Clean our hearts out of the junk that we fill them with that are useless to you. 

Tuned in Tuesday

Kenny Chesney actually takes center stage for me this week with "Don't Blink" How we wish we could always turn back and live a moment over again. Life goes by so fast, take some time today to relish in all that you have done and will do, but don't miss a moment of the life the God has blessed you with.

Quick Gospel

Song of Solomon 2:1
I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.

Thought:
As today is Valentine's day, I went to the book of romance in the bible.  In this book we learn about the love's of King Solomon, the richest man on earth.  In these many scriptures of this book, he relates to a lot of things that he compares his love to.  Many question the reason this book is even in the bible, why this book was canonized ?  In the comparisons though I can not help but think that as we look and treat our loved ones, this is calling for us to do the same with our relationship with Christ.  We tend to view and look at Christ as a friend when we need Him, our help, strength, wisdom , courage, etc!  But, really we need to examine our relationship with Christ, in there we will find our true love.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, we often turn to you to help us get out of life's turmoil, but seldom look at you with a  true relationship.  Help us to open our eyes to truley see you in all the love that you have for us.  Amen!

Happy St. Valentine's Day to all!

   

Quick Gospel

James 1:5
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. Thought:Asking questions has become a hobby of mine it seems.  Ask any of the youth that attend youth group, they will tell you straight up.  I do so because the more you keep asking the wiser you become so it seems at least.  Ultimately though whe you question things you should approach God with them, even whe you question Him.  You will get an answer, it will be provided for you.  in fact teh scripture says it will be generously provided for you.  So, why then, do we hesitate so much as worldly beings with going to God with our lack of understanding.  Maybe it is pride in the fact that we can not show our weakness to anyone else especially to God.  If you are unfamiliar with what the bible says of humility and pride, take some time to do that thread study in your bible.  I warn you though you may not like what it says...Prayer:Dear Lord, how we need to grow up sometimes in our thoughts of not coming to you with questions of life.  We tend to approach you like the unseen elephant in the room.  We know we should approach you, but feel the sting of embarrassment from the devil to open up and have that type of relationship with you.  Forgive us for that, and give us the courage to ask you, what ever it may be.  That is the type of relationship you are looking for in us.  Amen.  

Quick Gospel

Proverbs 6:6-9
6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! 7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, 8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. 9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?  

Thought:
It always amazes me as I watch ants work.  I know lame, right? Yet, I look at it as not so much, it is almost the same way with birds and flowers.  They just do what they were created to do.  Why, then do we have such a hard time doing this as well?  In Seminary I am learning the importance of context interpretations.  I love the term sluggard here in this scripture.  Implying that those that do not follow what they are made to do by God as someone who is habitually inactive or lazy.  So, then it goes on to ask how long will we be a sluggard.  When will we get up and start doing? Hhhmmm! What a way to start the day!


Prayer:
Dear Lord, give us the strength to day to get up and go do, whatever that may be.  Just let us give you the honor and glory for all that happens.  lord we just ask for wisom too, to know that what we are doing are the right things to be doing.  Amen.

Tuned In Tuesday

Mercy Me takes stage this week with my all time favorite song by them " Undone" .  explaining how we always try to complete our earthly bodies with what the world says it should be.  Yet without Christ we are undone, and that is how we are to approach Christ, to let Him finish His masterpiece!

Quick Gospel

Hebrews 11:1
1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Thought:
Hebrews 11 is like the hall of fame for faith!  Who do you recognize in that hall of fame that resembles who you are?  Where is your faith in God in your everyday life?  Ironic thing is though that we all share these same questions on our faith.  I think that is what allows us to grow continuously in our walk.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, we rely on our faith for each day, thank you for providing enough for each of us to live with everyday!  May we walk courageously in our faith to bring you honor and glory.  Amen.   

Quick Gospel

Deuteronomy 13:4 
It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.

Thought:
In my Sunday school class I am doing a phenominal curriculum "The reason for God" by Timothy Keller.  In this series Dr. Keller takes 6 individuals and discusses with them there lack of faith and belief in God.  This allows for many questions to come up during our discussion time about our individual beliefs in following God.  So my simple request to you is what are your personal reason for following God?  We all have them, put some serious thought into it and see how your relationship will grow when you put some time into knowing why it is that you follow God.  The greatest thing about this though is that you will have questions, and that is OK.  As it states in James, if you lack understanding then ask?  So when you do find yourself at a mute point, begin to ask about it.  

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, we question lots of things in life and those questions draw us closer to our belief.  Allow us to ask question about you and your Son that we may not get, so in doing so we draw closeness with you.  Amen.

 

Quick Gospel

2 Corinthians 9:7
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Thought:
Lately it seems not a day goes by that I do not hear the phrase" when it rains it pours".  This of course referring to the fact that it seems like when one bad thing happens, another comes and makes it worse and so on.  Recently my wife and I were the recipients of this award as well.  I made a comment at a recent event that I held at church, that whenever we go through these rough patches and hard times, those are the moments that we need to get the focus off of the things we are going through and put our attention on what we are doing for someone else.  Once we humble ourselves enough to give up the pride of what we are going through, and serve another that is the point that God will step in and handle your hardships.  I feel that is what this scripture is indicating here.  Give of yourself freely, not reluctantly to others.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, free us from our pride that keeps us from giving of ourselves to others.  Allow us to focus on serving during our times of trials and tribulations.  Bringing you honor and glory in our words and actions.  Amen.

Tuned In Tuesday

HillSong has this weeks tune with "Mighty to save".  Wishing you all the best and blessed week ahead.  Hope you all like the new site as well!