Dear God,
Even though people here may oppose you and follow other ways and deceive others and flourish, I will remain faithful -- not on my own strength, but on yours. Lord, I have been complaining. I've been clueless sometimes to what you want me to do. I have left things unsaid. I have been discouraged. Help me now to trust you with everything. Thank you for h2o and everything they have been doing. I pray peoples lives will be changed as a result. I pray my life would change. Help me to remain faithful like Timothy. Help me to be prepared, whether the time is awkward or not. (II Tim 4:1)
You've been amazing. Thank you for everything you have done.
Love ya!
Me
Monday, August 30, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Thoughts on Love and truth, hospitality, and actions speaking beliefs: II & III John, Jude.
Even though it's been a long time since I've been on here, it's NOT been a long time since I've been with God. :-) Just to clarify to the millions of readers reading this :-P
Dear God,
Thanks for the SCL today. It was definitely a good thing to read and remember for Kent.
Alrighty, let's see what II John, II John and Jude have to say today...
II John:
Love and Truth. Jesus embodied both. We need to love one another. Not just with words, but with actions. Lord, I know I can be unloving in my thoughts and in my actions -- not in what I do, but in what I don't do. Help me become more like your Son. Help me realize this is a command, not a recommendation. Help me realize that I don't have to feel love for someone, I just have to show love -- just the action of listening to them, or helping them, even if I don't feel like it is love.
III John:
Side note: verse 2 if everyone was as healthy in the body as they are in spirit, what would the world suddenly look like? Who would suddenly fall ill? Who would be healthy and stronger than most? Interesting thought...
Follow only what is good. How can I better do that?
Even though Gaius seemed to be doing a little thing-- housing travelling pastors -- he was actually doing a great service to God. Even though he was not preaching traveling the world for God, he was making it possible for others to do it. It's almost more difficult to follow God when you're not on the front lines seeing people get saved. Help me remember that everything I do for You is great. Not just if I'm talking to people about you, though that's important, but also just when I am doing anything you ask me to do.
I want to hang out with Gaius.
Jude:
(Hey Jude, don't make it bad... take a sad song and make it betterer....)
verses 12-13 There are many similes here, like raindrops in a thunderstorm.
How we act show what we believe. I pray my actions display that I believe my God is invincible, that He can help me through anything and he is FAITHFUL, LOVING, and POWERFUL.
Thanks for this time to talk to you a bit, I pray that I would do everything with the attitude of doing it for you. Help me now as I talk to Katie, that our talk about ECC would be productive and that we could really iron out some details. I pray you would be in it and working through us to bring these internationals to you.
I love you,
Me
P.S. This iced coffee is delish!!!!
.
Dear God,
Thanks for the SCL today. It was definitely a good thing to read and remember for Kent.
Alrighty, let's see what II John, II John and Jude have to say today...
II John:
Love and Truth. Jesus embodied both. We need to love one another. Not just with words, but with actions. Lord, I know I can be unloving in my thoughts and in my actions -- not in what I do, but in what I don't do. Help me become more like your Son. Help me realize this is a command, not a recommendation. Help me realize that I don't have to feel love for someone, I just have to show love -- just the action of listening to them, or helping them, even if I don't feel like it is love.
III John:
Side note: verse 2 if everyone was as healthy in the body as they are in spirit, what would the world suddenly look like? Who would suddenly fall ill? Who would be healthy and stronger than most? Interesting thought...
Follow only what is good. How can I better do that?
Even though Gaius seemed to be doing a little thing-- housing travelling pastors -- he was actually doing a great service to God. Even though he was not preaching traveling the world for God, he was making it possible for others to do it. It's almost more difficult to follow God when you're not on the front lines seeing people get saved. Help me remember that everything I do for You is great. Not just if I'm talking to people about you, though that's important, but also just when I am doing anything you ask me to do.
I want to hang out with Gaius.
Jude:
(Hey Jude, don't make it bad... take a sad song and make it betterer....)
verses 12-13 There are many similes here, like raindrops in a thunderstorm.
How we act show what we believe. I pray my actions display that I believe my God is invincible, that He can help me through anything and he is FAITHFUL, LOVING, and POWERFUL.
Thanks for this time to talk to you a bit, I pray that I would do everything with the attitude of doing it for you. Help me now as I talk to Katie, that our talk about ECC would be productive and that we could really iron out some details. I pray you would be in it and working through us to bring these internationals to you.
I love you,
Me
P.S. This iced coffee is delish!!!!
.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Thoughts on Philippians, humility, pressing on, etc. Phil 2-4
Dear God,
Thanks for your humility, love, power... Thank you that you will help us have the desire and the power. I lack both, sometimes. Lord, help me realize how amazing (what a trite word!) you are compared to all else. (Glorious, perhaps?) Help me press on.
Love,
Me
Philippians 2-4
I love Philippians. It's so... awesome. I should memorize the whole book. You know what, I think I will. Starting tonight, after this.
Paul says to stay united, humble, loving each other, working together, not selfish, all those amazing things.
"Don't look out only for your won interests but take an interest in others, too"
And then one of my favorite pieces of Scripture :-)
Verses five through eleven. Really Jesus?? Really!! That right there is AWE some.
And Verse thirteen is a new favorite. "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him." How encouraging!!!
Clean, innocent lives. Shrewd as snakes, innocent as doves. Sometimes/ most of the time, the world looks down on innocence, except as like, "ah, the innocence of children!" But it's supposedly naive when you're an adult. Not so.
Paul is so hardcore.
Epaphroditus is an awesome name. And I'm sure the guy is pretty sweet too.
We rely on Christ, not on any human effort.
Lord, Help me realize how true this statement is: everything is worthless when put next to the greatest thing: knowing YOU. Thank you.
Have I treated everything else as garbage compared to knowing God? No. I spent most of my day here, on the computer... no God till LATE at night. Wonderful.
Press on towards perfection. Don't beat up about the past, nothing can change that. Press on. If you think about it, "press on" isn't sprinting. It's running through water like you do in your dreams... hahaha. But you do it anyway, pressing on till you're running so fast you're on top of the water.... or you just keep pressing on. Either way. :-)
Interesting how that famous verse, " I can do all things through Him who gives me strength" is in teh context of being content with a little or a lot. Something to keep in mind...
Have I mentioned I love Philippians??
.
Thanks for your humility, love, power... Thank you that you will help us have the desire and the power. I lack both, sometimes. Lord, help me realize how amazing (what a trite word!) you are compared to all else. (Glorious, perhaps?) Help me press on.
Love,
Me
Philippians 2-4
I love Philippians. It's so... awesome. I should memorize the whole book. You know what, I think I will. Starting tonight, after this.
Paul says to stay united, humble, loving each other, working together, not selfish, all those amazing things.
"Don't look out only for your won interests but take an interest in others, too"
And then one of my favorite pieces of Scripture :-)
Verses five through eleven. Really Jesus?? Really!! That right there is AWE some.
And Verse thirteen is a new favorite. "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him." How encouraging!!!
Clean, innocent lives. Shrewd as snakes, innocent as doves. Sometimes/ most of the time, the world looks down on innocence, except as like, "ah, the innocence of children!" But it's supposedly naive when you're an adult. Not so.
Paul is so hardcore.
Epaphroditus is an awesome name. And I'm sure the guy is pretty sweet too.
We rely on Christ, not on any human effort.
Lord, Help me realize how true this statement is: everything is worthless when put next to the greatest thing: knowing YOU. Thank you.
Have I treated everything else as garbage compared to knowing God? No. I spent most of my day here, on the computer... no God till LATE at night. Wonderful.
Press on towards perfection. Don't beat up about the past, nothing can change that. Press on. If you think about it, "press on" isn't sprinting. It's running through water like you do in your dreams... hahaha. But you do it anyway, pressing on till you're running so fast you're on top of the water.... or you just keep pressing on. Either way. :-)
Interesting how that famous verse, " I can do all things through Him who gives me strength" is in teh context of being content with a little or a lot. Something to keep in mind...
Have I mentioned I love Philippians??
.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Thoughts on freedom from guiltrips, Reality checks, and suffering citizens: Gal 5-6, Phil1
Dear God,
Lord, help me find joy and contentment in You, no matter my circumstances. I am free to live a selfless life. I am free from guilt trips. I am free from the law! Live by the Spirit, crucify your sinful nature every day. Help me love more and more. Help me see what's really going on on the Real level. To live is Christ, to die is gain. I am a citizen of heaven. Help me act like it.
Help me learn how to suffer for you.
Love,
Me
Galatians 5-Philippians 1
Christ has set us FREEE. Free from the law, not free to do what we want, but we don't have to do all these rules and stuff. Don't get tied up again in the law. Good plan!
You were running so awesomely, but now you're not because you feel you need to follow the law. Wow that sums up a lot of my life lately! It's okay to mess up. You have freedom to mess up and not feel like you're eternally condemned because you broke the law. That is thinking like you're dead! That's not the way to go.
Verse 12 BURN!
I have been CALLED to live in freedom. yessss
I need to use my freedom to serve others in love. Yesssss
Live by the Spirit. It's way awesomer than living by the sinful nature.... Oh ye-ah
What passions and desires from the sinful nature have I nailed to Jesus' cross?
God's people live in community. We share burdens we cannot lift on our own, but if we can lift them ourselves, we do so, without trying to foist it off on someone else.
I need to focus on what I'm doing, and how I'm doing. I don't need to compare myself to others or judge where other people are. I do what I can do for God, and that's all I really need to worry about. That doesn't mean I'm independent, that I never correct and never get corrected. It means when God brings something, I do it then and not before.
Skipping Eph, I just did that...
Philippians 1
Note to self: Philippians is Paul's joy letter.
Philippians 1:6 -- My classic favorite verse. It's my promise from God.
"I pray that your love will overflow more and more" Yes lord please, for me and for everybody who believes in you!
Paul doesn't see his circumstances even though he's in prison and all of that. He sees what is going on underneath: The gospel is spreading, people are believing Christ! That completely trumps every hardship Paul was enduring at that time. Lord, let me see what is going on under the surface! Let me see Your work! .
Paul has it right. He knows that to live is Christ, to die is gain. He had a real chance of dying for Christ -- and later he did-- but he knew he had things to do first.
I don't have to deal with life/death situations. But still, to live is Christ, to die is gain. How can I live that out?
Live as citizens of heaven. Same question.
We are not worthy of the Good news of Christ. We have this privilege of trusting Christ. And just as we have this privilege of trusting Christ, we have the privilege of suffering for Him too.
Am I willing to suffer for Christ?
Lord, help me find joy and contentment in You, no matter my circumstances. I am free to live a selfless life. I am free from guilt trips. I am free from the law! Live by the Spirit, crucify your sinful nature every day. Help me love more and more. Help me see what's really going on on the Real level. To live is Christ, to die is gain. I am a citizen of heaven. Help me act like it.
Help me learn how to suffer for you.
Love,
Me
Galatians 5-Philippians 1
Christ has set us FREEE. Free from the law, not free to do what we want, but we don't have to do all these rules and stuff. Don't get tied up again in the law. Good plan!
You were running so awesomely, but now you're not because you feel you need to follow the law. Wow that sums up a lot of my life lately! It's okay to mess up. You have freedom to mess up and not feel like you're eternally condemned because you broke the law. That is thinking like you're dead! That's not the way to go.
Verse 12 BURN!
I have been CALLED to live in freedom. yessss
I need to use my freedom to serve others in love. Yesssss
Live by the Spirit. It's way awesomer than living by the sinful nature.... Oh ye-ah
What passions and desires from the sinful nature have I nailed to Jesus' cross?
God's people live in community. We share burdens we cannot lift on our own, but if we can lift them ourselves, we do so, without trying to foist it off on someone else.
I need to focus on what I'm doing, and how I'm doing. I don't need to compare myself to others or judge where other people are. I do what I can do for God, and that's all I really need to worry about. That doesn't mean I'm independent, that I never correct and never get corrected. It means when God brings something, I do it then and not before.
Skipping Eph, I just did that...
Philippians 1
Note to self: Philippians is Paul's joy letter.
Philippians 1:6 -- My classic favorite verse. It's my promise from God.
"I pray that your love will overflow more and more" Yes lord please, for me and for everybody who believes in you!
Paul doesn't see his circumstances even though he's in prison and all of that. He sees what is going on underneath: The gospel is spreading, people are believing Christ! That completely trumps every hardship Paul was enduring at that time. Lord, let me see what is going on under the surface! Let me see Your work! .
Paul has it right. He knows that to live is Christ, to die is gain. He had a real chance of dying for Christ -- and later he did-- but he knew he had things to do first.
I don't have to deal with life/death situations. But still, to live is Christ, to die is gain. How can I live that out?
Live as citizens of heaven. Same question.
We are not worthy of the Good news of Christ. We have this privilege of trusting Christ. And just as we have this privilege of trusting Christ, we have the privilege of suffering for Him too.
Am I willing to suffer for Christ?
Thoughts on human efforts, living by the Spirit, and freedom: Galatians 2-4
Dear God,
It is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me. How fabulous is that? Help me learn to live like Christ. Lord, I don't want to try to be like you in my own weak human effort. Help me live by the Spirit, who will help me in all things. Thank you!
FREEEEEDDDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love,
Me
Galatians 2-4
So Paul had this huge thing he had to deal with with figuring out if it was okay with everybody to preach to the Gentiles, and if the Gentiles had to be circumcised. But they worked it all out and now Paul is explaining that to the Galatians.
And he's pointing out that it's not good to be inconsistent in how you treat people or do things just because certain people are around or not.
And he makes a point about Jesus saving us, not the law. IT IS NO LONGER I WHO LIVE, BUT CHRIST LIVES IN ME.
Talking about which is better: The law or faith? Faith wins. Yep. That's Paul debating right there.
And BAM. Something that pretty much speaks of LT and what I need to learn.
"How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, WHY are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?"
Bam. Thanks K. Now I have that in every other sentence.
But it's so true! I spend my days saying, "Oh yeah, I'm a Christian, I live by the Spirit!" and then I turn around and try to figure things out on my own. Help me to trust you. Help me live by the Spirit, and live with Christ.
And then Paul spends some time talking about how the Gentiles get in on this awesomeness that is You too.
The law is there to show sin for what it really is. "To reveal sin as its sinfulness."
Every time I read, "Absolutely not!" I can hear my Sunday school teacher, MC, saying it. Hehehehe...
Freedom. We can live in freedom with God. We don't have to try to please God through ceremonies, festivals, or rituals. We can please God with our daily free living!
And Paul berates the Galatians. Poor peeps. Except they need the truth spoken to them, so Paul gave it to them. Aaand talks about slaves and free some more with Hagar and Sarah.
So yeah.
It is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me. How fabulous is that? Help me learn to live like Christ. Lord, I don't want to try to be like you in my own weak human effort. Help me live by the Spirit, who will help me in all things. Thank you!
FREEEEEDDDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love,
Me
Galatians 2-4
So Paul had this huge thing he had to deal with with figuring out if it was okay with everybody to preach to the Gentiles, and if the Gentiles had to be circumcised. But they worked it all out and now Paul is explaining that to the Galatians.
And he's pointing out that it's not good to be inconsistent in how you treat people or do things just because certain people are around or not.
And he makes a point about Jesus saving us, not the law. IT IS NO LONGER I WHO LIVE, BUT CHRIST LIVES IN ME.
Talking about which is better: The law or faith? Faith wins. Yep. That's Paul debating right there.
And BAM. Something that pretty much speaks of LT and what I need to learn.
"How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, WHY are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?"
Bam. Thanks K. Now I have that in every other sentence.
But it's so true! I spend my days saying, "Oh yeah, I'm a Christian, I live by the Spirit!" and then I turn around and try to figure things out on my own. Help me to trust you. Help me live by the Spirit, and live with Christ.
And then Paul spends some time talking about how the Gentiles get in on this awesomeness that is You too.
The law is there to show sin for what it really is. "To reveal sin as its sinfulness."
Every time I read, "Absolutely not!" I can hear my Sunday school teacher, MC, saying it. Hehehehe...
Freedom. We can live in freedom with God. We don't have to try to please God through ceremonies, festivals, or rituals. We can please God with our daily free living!
And Paul berates the Galatians. Poor peeps. Except they need the truth spoken to them, so Paul gave it to them. Aaand talks about slaves and free some more with Hagar and Sarah.
So yeah.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Thoughts on weakness, faith, and the awesomeness that is God: II Cor 9-Gal 1
Dear God,
Thanks for the new Bible!! :-D
II Corinthians 9-13
Generosity is IMPORTANT! Even to the point of depending on God for your NEEDS! How crazy is that?!!
God is a cheerful giver. He NEVER grumbles about giving us the strength, grace, forgiveness, mercy, love, patience, kindness, righteousness, and power that we need. He didn't gripe when he became a man. He didn't complain when he went to the cross. He was silent before his accusers. Surely we can give him what little we have...
We use God's weapons. Not ours. Ours are useless and vulnerable.
Paul has to defend himself against accusers. You ain't doing somethin' right if you ain't got some one accusin' you about sumpin'.
Don't compare to man's standards. Compare yourself to GOD's standards. Then we realize we are nothing.
So Paul lists his credentials and shows how these false teachers are servants of Satan. If they are not for God, they are against God, and these are definitely against God.
Paul endured so much. He grew so much. And I complain about such little things! I'd like to say that plodding through life with mundane things for God is harder to endure than being a missionary, knowing you are Called by God to do these amazing awesome things, and obviously things will be hard... but I can't really say for sure...
Whoa. Paul says he went to "The third heaven." Wow. Pretty crazy.
But he boasts in WEAKNESS. He has a thorn. Verse 9 is awesome. My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness. So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. Weakness does not hinder, it allows things to Happen. With a capital Aitch.
12:15 is good too. Obscure, but awesome.
Weakness seems to be a theme. Faith is making an appearacne as well... Examine to find genuine Jonathan faith. Joy Maturity. Encouragement. Harmony and peace. Yessss....
Galatians 1
Hi-story
v 3-5 AMEN
Now: Come back!! Bam. You guys are on the wrong track. BAM.
v 10 is AWESOME!! Like TS says. Am I trying to win the approval of people or of God?
God CHOSE me. Yessssss that's a theme too
Paul had to defend his apostleship and authority a LOT!
But yeah. V 19 is amazing. One I need ot remember!
So that was for the past 2 days. Now on to 8-3 even though it is now 11 minutes into 8-4. hmm
Anywhos God. Thanks for all the awesomeness that is you. Chosen. Redeemed. Cheerfully (??!!!) Weakness makes things happen the God way a lot quicker than when one has one's own strength. Help me accept my weakness so that I can find your strength. Love you! I pray that you would prepare me for whatever lies ahead.
Love,
Me
Thanks for the new Bible!! :-D
II Corinthians 9-13
Generosity is IMPORTANT! Even to the point of depending on God for your NEEDS! How crazy is that?!!
God is a cheerful giver. He NEVER grumbles about giving us the strength, grace, forgiveness, mercy, love, patience, kindness, righteousness, and power that we need. He didn't gripe when he became a man. He didn't complain when he went to the cross. He was silent before his accusers. Surely we can give him what little we have...
We use God's weapons. Not ours. Ours are useless and vulnerable.
Paul has to defend himself against accusers. You ain't doing somethin' right if you ain't got some one accusin' you about sumpin'.
Don't compare to man's standards. Compare yourself to GOD's standards. Then we realize we are nothing.
So Paul lists his credentials and shows how these false teachers are servants of Satan. If they are not for God, they are against God, and these are definitely against God.
Paul endured so much. He grew so much. And I complain about such little things! I'd like to say that plodding through life with mundane things for God is harder to endure than being a missionary, knowing you are Called by God to do these amazing awesome things, and obviously things will be hard... but I can't really say for sure...
Whoa. Paul says he went to "The third heaven." Wow. Pretty crazy.
But he boasts in WEAKNESS. He has a thorn. Verse 9 is awesome. My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness. So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. Weakness does not hinder, it allows things to Happen. With a capital Aitch.
12:15 is good too. Obscure, but awesome.
Weakness seems to be a theme. Faith is making an appearacne as well... Examine to find genuine Jonathan faith. Joy Maturity. Encouragement. Harmony and peace. Yessss....
Galatians 1
Hi-story
v 3-5 AMEN
Now: Come back!! Bam. You guys are on the wrong track. BAM.
v 10 is AWESOME!! Like TS says. Am I trying to win the approval of people or of God?
God CHOSE me. Yessssss that's a theme too
Paul had to defend his apostleship and authority a LOT!
But yeah. V 19 is amazing. One I need ot remember!
So that was for the past 2 days. Now on to 8-3 even though it is now 11 minutes into 8-4. hmm
Anywhos God. Thanks for all the awesomeness that is you. Chosen. Redeemed. Cheerfully (??!!!) Weakness makes things happen the God way a lot quicker than when one has one's own strength. Help me accept my weakness so that I can find your strength. Love you! I pray that you would prepare me for whatever lies ahead.
Love,
Me
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