1Peter 5:8 (NIV 1984)
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Last Friday our niece was attacked by a pit bull. She had surgery on her arm and we can praise God that she is going to be ok. Hearing the details of the attack made me think of this verse, because every one of us can be attacked at anytime. Our niece was just minding her own business taking out the trash, when all of a sudden she was attacked for no reason.
That is usually how it is in our Christian walk. We can be living life, minding our own business, and then suddenly out of nowhere we are attacked. Fortunately for our niece the family dog came to her rescue and freed her and she was able to run home to get help. The family rushed her to the hospital. When we are attacked, it doesn't matter who helps us to get free. We just thank God that we can run back home for help. So if you are under attack, free yourself and run back home to God.
The day after surgery, our niece wanted to see everyone. We all wanted to see her too. Our family rallied around our niece to make sure she was okay and that the rest of the family was taken care of. There was food made, gifts, lots of hugs, and reassurances that everyone was there for her and that things would be okay. It made me think that when family members in the Body of Christ are attacked that we should rally around them and make sure they have everything they need.
The other thing about this, is the attack will leave a scar. Just as attacks from pit bulls will leave scars, so will spiritual attacks. We can use our scars as reminders, that even though I was attacked, I made it through and everything was ok. It is okay to have scars. It means that we have lived and suffered attack, yet have overcome.
Just as our natural family was there for our niece, we need to be there for our brothers and sisters in the family of God. Do you know someone who is under attack or just came through an attack recently? If they are under attack, help free them and be there for them, because it could be you that comes under attack in the future.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Lay it down
John 15:13-14 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.
Oswald Chambers said “Salvation is easy for us, because it costs God so much.”
All we had to do was say yes to what Jesus did for us on the cross. He laid down His life for us so we might have life.
But we now have to ask ourselves two questions. Am I a friend of Jesus? If not we need to make Him our friend. And if Jesus is your friend. What has He asked you to lay down in your life? Most of us, if not all of us are not going to have to lay our physical lives down for Jesus. But if we are going to be friends and obedient to Jesus, we are going to have to lay down our life or things that are a part of our life for Him.
We might have to lay down our careers, dreams, and desires. Maybe we have to move away from our families or make some type of sacrifice for the Kingdom of God. But it is something that is in your life and Jesus has asked you to lay it down for Him.
What has Jesus asked you to lay down in your life for Him? Be sure of this, whatever you lay down for Jesus will be worth it. Because He has a better plan for your life than you have for yourself.
Jer. 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Oswald Chambers said “Salvation is easy for us, because it costs God so much.”
All we had to do was say yes to what Jesus did for us on the cross. He laid down His life for us so we might have life.
But we now have to ask ourselves two questions. Am I a friend of Jesus? If not we need to make Him our friend. And if Jesus is your friend. What has He asked you to lay down in your life? Most of us, if not all of us are not going to have to lay our physical lives down for Jesus. But if we are going to be friends and obedient to Jesus, we are going to have to lay down our life or things that are a part of our life for Him.
We might have to lay down our careers, dreams, and desires. Maybe we have to move away from our families or make some type of sacrifice for the Kingdom of God. But it is something that is in your life and Jesus has asked you to lay it down for Him.
What has Jesus asked you to lay down in your life for Him? Be sure of this, whatever you lay down for Jesus will be worth it. Because He has a better plan for your life than you have for yourself.
Jer. 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
"KOOL DAD"
Luke 11:9-13
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
I saw this fancy little black sports car driving down the highway the other day. On the car tag it said “KOOL DAD” , which made me wonder what is a “KOOL DAD” and am I a KOOL DAD?
What kind of dad am I? I don’t know if I am a “KOOL DAD” or not, but I try to be a dad that provides for my family. That is why I get up and go to work everyday. Not only do I want to provide the necessities, but I also want to provide the extra desires that they want. I may not have all the resources, but it is my desire to get them what they need and want. I not only want to provide the necessities; food, clothing and shelter and the other things they might want. I also try to give them a spiritual environment in the home and at church. And most of all to just love them and spend time with them as a family.
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This is also what our Heavenly Father does for us as well. He provides for us everything we have need of. He also gives us the desires of our heart, but most of all He desires to spend time with us as members of his family. So I don’t know if I am a “KOOL DAD” or not, but I am positive that my Heavenly Father is a “KOOL DAD”! He loves us and there is nothing we can do about it.
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
I saw this fancy little black sports car driving down the highway the other day. On the car tag it said “KOOL DAD” , which made me wonder what is a “KOOL DAD” and am I a KOOL DAD?
What kind of dad am I? I don’t know if I am a “KOOL DAD” or not, but I try to be a dad that provides for my family. That is why I get up and go to work everyday. Not only do I want to provide the necessities, but I also want to provide the extra desires that they want. I may not have all the resources, but it is my desire to get them what they need and want. I not only want to provide the necessities; food, clothing and shelter and the other things they might want. I also try to give them a spiritual environment in the home and at church. And most of all to just love them and spend time with them as a family.
This is also what our Heavenly Father does for us as well. He provides for us everything we have need of. He also gives us the desires of our heart, but most of all He desires to spend time with us as members of his family. So I don’t know if I am a “KOOL DAD” or not, but I am positive that my Heavenly Father is a “KOOL DAD”! He loves us and there is nothing we can do about it.Thursday, June 16, 2011
wag more, bark less
Eccl 7:9
Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.
Driving around town the other day, I saw a bumper sticker that I had never seen before. It made me laugh. The bumper sticker said “wag more, bark less”. It made me think because it seems like there is so much anger in the world we live in. Just this week, as I am writing this, we have had four different shootings, with four people killed and two injured. Several of these incidents were reported as happening as a result of angry disputes.
There is so much anger in the world today, not to mention all the road rage that you can see everyday. Everyone is in such a hurry, so you had better get out of their way or else. I feel sorry for those who work in a customer service environment and constantly have to take abuse from unruly and irrational people. So I have to ask the question; Is it worth getting that upset? Is it worth commiting violent acts against people? Is it worth cussing, losing your temper, and making a fool of yourself? Wouldn’t it be better to just “wag more and bark less?”
Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.
Driving around town the other day, I saw a bumper sticker that I had never seen before. It made me laugh. The bumper sticker said “wag more, bark less”. It made me think because it seems like there is so much anger in the world we live in. Just this week, as I am writing this, we have had four different shootings, with four people killed and two injured. Several of these incidents were reported as happening as a result of angry disputes.
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| Photo Courtesy cproppe |
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
I would rather be worshipping!
Psalm 34:1
I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
I saw a license plate holder the other day that said, “I would rather be worshipping”. You have probably seen these types of sayings as well. Such as, “I would rather be fishing”, “I would rather be sailing”, I would rather fill in the blank”.
There are times in my day where that sentiment rings true. I would love to drop everything and WORSHIP! I love to worship. I like listening to worship in my home. I enjoy corporate worship at church, but I have learned to set aside time each day specifically to worship. Many of us take time to pray, read the bible, or study, but how often do we take the time to just worship? I have taken advantage of my driving time to and from work to worship. It has made a big difference in how I start my day in what can be a stressful environment. It has made the drive more pleasurable, and in Tulsa construction, that is saying a LOT!
I encourage each of you to incorporate worship into your day. Whether you listen to Praise and Worship CD's, encouraging Contemporary Christian music, or just sing songs from the heart in worship, take some time to worship. Turn off the TV, radio, computer, or any other distractions that might be in the way. Let go of the thoughts and circumstances that might be in the way and just worship!
Just remember that if you choose to make your drive time - Worship Time - keep your eyes open!
And just like that license plate holder said, I too would rather be worshipping.
I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
I saw a license plate holder the other day that said, “I would rather be worshipping”. You have probably seen these types of sayings as well. Such as, “I would rather be fishing”, “I would rather be sailing”, I would rather fill in the blank”.
There are times in my day where that sentiment rings true. I would love to drop everything and WORSHIP! I love to worship. I like listening to worship in my home. I enjoy corporate worship at church, but I have learned to set aside time each day specifically to worship. Many of us take time to pray, read the bible, or study, but how often do we take the time to just worship? I have taken advantage of my driving time to and from work to worship. It has made a big difference in how I start my day in what can be a stressful environment. It has made the drive more pleasurable, and in Tulsa construction, that is saying a LOT!
I encourage each of you to incorporate worship into your day. Whether you listen to Praise and Worship CD's, encouraging Contemporary Christian music, or just sing songs from the heart in worship, take some time to worship. Turn off the TV, radio, computer, or any other distractions that might be in the way. Let go of the thoughts and circumstances that might be in the way and just worship!
Just remember that if you choose to make your drive time - Worship Time - keep your eyes open!
And just like that license plate holder said, I too would rather be worshipping.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
Burning Heat
James 1:11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth:
It is springtime here in Oklahoma (even though we already have heat indexes reaching 100 degrees) and that means the grass is growing and will need to be maintained. I was thinking about this verse the other day while I was cutting the yard. It is soon going to be summer time here in Oklahoma and it will be getting hot. And if I don’t maintain my yard, all of the grass will begin to die and not grow.
The same thing applies to us as Christians. There are times in our lives when we begin to grow but if we do not maintain our growth and nourish our growth we will begin to lose our ability to grow and not produce anything. We maintain our yards with fertilizer, weed control and water. We need to maintain our spiritual lives with fertilizer and weed control. I would liken these to the Word of God and prayer and then allow the fresh water of the Holy Spirit be poured over our lives as well. If we will do these things, when the heat of the day comes, we will still be flourishing no matter how hot it gets.
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| Photo Courtesy Melinda Nagy |
The same thing applies to us as Christians. There are times in our lives when we begin to grow but if we do not maintain our growth and nourish our growth we will begin to lose our ability to grow and not produce anything. We maintain our yards with fertilizer, weed control and water. We need to maintain our spiritual lives with fertilizer and weed control. I would liken these to the Word of God and prayer and then allow the fresh water of the Holy Spirit be poured over our lives as well. If we will do these things, when the heat of the day comes, we will still be flourishing no matter how hot it gets.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Born This Way
Psalm 139:14 - I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
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| Lindsey and Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin |
If you are familiar with current music then you will know that Lady Gaga has released a new song titled “Born This Way”. Now I know it most likely is referring to someones sexual preference and that is not what this blog is about today. Because when I think about those words “born this way”, I think about my daughter who was born with cerebral palsy. First of all it is a miracle that my daughter or wife are even alive, that in itself is a whole different story.
My daughter didn’t make a conscious choice or a decision to live with cerebral palsy. She was born that way. Many times as she has gotten older she has asked my wife or myself why she was born this way. Sometimes she will say I wish I could walk. Even though this is heart breaking for us to hear and deal with, we encourage her. We tell her that God has a purpose for her and her life. God has used her greatly to minister to several different people and to meet many influential people as well.
John 9:3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
John 11:4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”
Through all of our experiences, we can say we have seen the glory of God, which we may never had seen before in my daughter had she not been “born this way”.
For more information and all the achievements that Lindsey has accomplished check out Lindsey’s Spirit on Facebook and follow her at lindseyspoon.weebly.com.
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