Have a great and blessed weekend!
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!
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
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Happy Friday
I need a laugh today, so I turn to Tim Hawkins to do that. I hope you don,t mind that I close this week with some laughter. Hope you all have a great and blessed weekend!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Quick Gospel
Jeremiah 1-39
Thought:
Yeah, that's a lot of text reading to comprehend. However it was at that point that reading this book in the bible made sense to me. Chapter 1-38 indicates God speaking to the prophet Jeremiah about the destruction that god will do to Jerusalem for not obeying God and His commands. By the 30th chapter or so I as a reader began to say alright already, enough just unleash your vengeance and get it done with. Then each chapter after I was feeling the same thing, until I hit chapter 36. Nothing extremely different about that chapter that's just when it hit me. God is giving Jerusalem every opportunity to straighten up and get it right. Just like he does with us every time he tells us what we are not doing right... Ouch!! that hurt. All the stuff I choose to ignore, all the stuff I think or say when no one is around thinking I am alone. Yep that's the stuff he is waiting for you to change in your life. Just like He waited for Jerusalem to change. Well in chapter 39 God finally unloads all over Jerusalem as he said he would in His Prophecies to Jeremiah. Just like he will do to you too for not listening or obeying. Yep, all that reading to me seemed senseless until I hit that point of the book and it made sense to me. I do challenge any of you to read this book if you have never done it, and find out if it hits you like it hits me. Makes you want to change, that's for sure. It still does amaze me that after all these years and centuries after being written it still affects you in today's day and age. God's word truly is still living today!
Amen
Thought:
Yeah, that's a lot of text reading to comprehend. However it was at that point that reading this book in the bible made sense to me. Chapter 1-38 indicates God speaking to the prophet Jeremiah about the destruction that god will do to Jerusalem for not obeying God and His commands. By the 30th chapter or so I as a reader began to say alright already, enough just unleash your vengeance and get it done with. Then each chapter after I was feeling the same thing, until I hit chapter 36. Nothing extremely different about that chapter that's just when it hit me. God is giving Jerusalem every opportunity to straighten up and get it right. Just like he does with us every time he tells us what we are not doing right... Ouch!! that hurt. All the stuff I choose to ignore, all the stuff I think or say when no one is around thinking I am alone. Yep that's the stuff he is waiting for you to change in your life. Just like He waited for Jerusalem to change. Well in chapter 39 God finally unloads all over Jerusalem as he said he would in His Prophecies to Jeremiah. Just like he will do to you too for not listening or obeying. Yep, all that reading to me seemed senseless until I hit that point of the book and it made sense to me. I do challenge any of you to read this book if you have never done it, and find out if it hits you like it hits me. Makes you want to change, that's for sure. It still does amaze me that after all these years and centuries after being written it still affects you in today's day and age. God's word truly is still living today!
Amen
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Tuned in Tuesday
J J Heller has the stage this week with "No Fight Left". Her songs seem to hit the nail on the head everytime I hear one. So sit back and enjoy this weeks pick. I hope you have a great and blessed week.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Thoughts!!
I have to say as last week approached to the anniversary of 9-11, I read and re-read the lectionary for this past week. As I was thinking of this my Pastor even commented on this in his service yesterday. The lectionary that fell for the anniversary was Genesis 50:15-21, Psalm 103:1-13, and Matthew 18:21-35. Everyone of them containing lessons about forgiveness. On a day that most Americans find it hardest to forgive the lessons that Pastors are to preach on is about forgiveness. Quite provincial don't you think? On a day that we are attacked we are taught in our churches some lessons that are hard for us to swallow. Whether we are attacked as a country or as an individual in our thoughts, and beliefs. What do we do... WE FORGIVE! God knows where he needs us to be in our hardest moments of life. Look at how the lectionary calender fell for this specific day and event. Let us just pray that we all walk away form our services this week with this weighing heavy in our hearts.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Quick Gospel
Titus 3:1-2
1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.
Thought:
I don't know about you, but I find this one extremely hard to swallow most days. I want to share my thoughts to most or of most with people. Bad habit is though that those folks are usually not around to hear what I am sharing. In the light of reading this text it makes me realize that my thoughts may be different then that of most of the genres of people listed in this text. Yet ,I need to live according to this text because that is what makes us Christians. Being obedient, good, peace makers,considerate, gentle towards all folks. even the ones that hold authority over our lives, even the ones that make it hard to get through each day. Too many people, including myself let others destroy us by what we think they are saying and doing towards us. So we plan to retaliate, and little does it dawn on us that by thinking such things and plans that we are only destroying ourselves in the thought process. By wasting that time away from God. Do what is right, and keep your thoughts good. You will see the difference in your days if you do, I have been lately.
Prayers:
Dear Heavenly Father, extinguish any ill will in my mind today so that I ma bring honor and glory to you in all that I say and do with and to others in my life. Amen.
1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.
Thought:
I don't know about you, but I find this one extremely hard to swallow most days. I want to share my thoughts to most or of most with people. Bad habit is though that those folks are usually not around to hear what I am sharing. In the light of reading this text it makes me realize that my thoughts may be different then that of most of the genres of people listed in this text. Yet ,I need to live according to this text because that is what makes us Christians. Being obedient, good, peace makers,considerate, gentle towards all folks. even the ones that hold authority over our lives, even the ones that make it hard to get through each day. Too many people, including myself let others destroy us by what we think they are saying and doing towards us. So we plan to retaliate, and little does it dawn on us that by thinking such things and plans that we are only destroying ourselves in the thought process. By wasting that time away from God. Do what is right, and keep your thoughts good. You will see the difference in your days if you do, I have been lately.
Prayers:
Dear Heavenly Father, extinguish any ill will in my mind today so that I ma bring honor and glory to you in all that I say and do with and to others in my life. Amen.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Tuned in Tuesday
New Artist 1000 Generations with "It could be me". Great new song about how we need to start looking at ourselves as the one to make the difference. Might change the way you look at the day , or even the wek ahead. Hope you enjoy. God Bless
Friday, September 2, 2011
Shared Thoughts
Today's thoughts are inspired by a new song bya new group called 1000 Generations (will be featured in upcoming Tuned In...) The song is called "It could be me". It encompasses to me what one person is capible of living and changing. it is all about the perspective of the person living it and watching it...
It could be me sleeping on the corner
It could be me feeding that person
It could be me going through the addiction
It could be me opening my heart to help them
It could be me hurting my body to make to make them hear
It could be me lending a hand to help them up.
It could be me digging in the trash to find food
I could be me buying a hot dinner for one that needs it
It could be me adding to this apathy
It could be me giving my sympathy
It should be me up on that tree
It should be my back that is battered and bruised
It is because of Him , that I am free
Praise God for all that we have, and we can do to help the least of these!
It could be me sleeping on the corner
It could be me feeding that person
It could be me going through the addiction
It could be me opening my heart to help them
It could be me hurting my body to make to make them hear
It could be me lending a hand to help them up.
It could be me digging in the trash to find food
I could be me buying a hot dinner for one that needs it
It could be me adding to this apathy
It could be me giving my sympathy
It should be me up on that tree
It should be my back that is battered and bruised
It is because of Him , that I am free
Praise God for all that we have, and we can do to help the least of these!
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