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!