Sorry if it posted twice.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Pray without ceasing
1 Thessalonians 5:17 NKJ 17. pray without ceasing, That's it. Whole verse. Pray without ceasing.
This directive is actually just one in a list given to the Thessalonians by Paul at the close of his letter. By my count there are fourteen requests given in this flurry by Paul. It almost seem like something you my hear a caring mother say to her son as he leave the nest for college. "Be safe, study hard, make sure you don't forget to call, get plenty of sleep and so on. Remember, Paul is writing a letter, not chapter and verse of the cannon of Scripture. While we no longer (at least in most western societies) "greet each other with a holy kiss" we do accept the principle and also take the rest of Paul's instructions as good advice today.
I have wondered though sometimes verse 17. pray without ceasing is what most people quote on a regular basis. My belief is that while all the requests make perfect sense praying on a regular basis requires us to form a habit. The other requests seem to start out from being somewhat passive in nature (more based in principle). Then, move to very active in nature but not habitual. 12. recognize those who labor among you. 19. Do not quench the Spirit. 20. Do not despise prophecies. 21. Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22. Abstain from every form of evil.
Once principles are ingrained in us they do not fade away easily. That is why we are told to Proverbs 22:6 NKJ Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. Even modern research states that while a child may rebel from his parents in the adolescent years. They tend to return to the values they were taught as children later in life. (I intend to write about this later and provide some references)
The more active requests made by Paul like 25. Brethren, pray for us. 26. Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. 27. I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren. are meant for the readers of Paul's letter. Not for the reader of Scripture.
Habits on the other hand can be formed and lost in a matter of days. My youth pastor used to teach us that a habit can be formed or lost in 21 days. We need to continually encourage each other to "pray without ceasing". Otherwise we can easily fall out of habit.
Part two coming soon to a computer screen near you.
This directive is actually just one in a list given to the Thessalonians by Paul at the close of his letter. By my count there are fourteen requests given in this flurry by Paul. It almost seem like something you my hear a caring mother say to her son as he leave the nest for college. "Be safe, study hard, make sure you don't forget to call, get plenty of sleep and so on. Remember, Paul is writing a letter, not chapter and verse of the cannon of Scripture. While we no longer (at least in most western societies) "greet each other with a holy kiss" we do accept the principle and also take the rest of Paul's instructions as good advice today.
I have wondered though sometimes verse 17. pray without ceasing is what most people quote on a regular basis. My belief is that while all the requests make perfect sense praying on a regular basis requires us to form a habit. The other requests seem to start out from being somewhat passive in nature (more based in principle). Then, move to very active in nature but not habitual. 12. recognize those who labor among you. 19. Do not quench the Spirit. 20. Do not despise prophecies. 21. Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22. Abstain from every form of evil.
Once principles are ingrained in us they do not fade away easily. That is why we are told to Proverbs 22:6 NKJ Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. Even modern research states that while a child may rebel from his parents in the adolescent years. They tend to return to the values they were taught as children later in life. (I intend to write about this later and provide some references)
The more active requests made by Paul like 25. Brethren, pray for us. 26. Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. 27. I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren. are meant for the readers of Paul's letter. Not for the reader of Scripture.
Habits on the other hand can be formed and lost in a matter of days. My youth pastor used to teach us that a habit can be formed or lost in 21 days. We need to continually encourage each other to "pray without ceasing". Otherwise we can easily fall out of habit.
Part two coming soon to a computer screen near you.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
National Day of Prayer
Today is the National Day of Prayer. Have you prayed yet?
I have been aware of the controversy surrounding this day since I was in Jr. Hi. Not much has changed. I do not want to delve to deeply into the political sphere. I keep up to date on politics but I have decided not to blog for the purpose of sharing those ideas at this time. On occasions where politics and religion intersect though I will reserve the right to blog when it strikes my fancy. As it does now.
Most in the religious community know that many of the colonists came to this country seeking freedom to express their religious views without reprisal from Government or Church. They came seeking tolerance. Today it seems that tolerance is under attack. When the National Day of Prayer was passed all who voted were in favor.
Here is a little history about The National Day of Prayer
The National Day of Prayer was created by congressional resolution in 1952 and signed into law by President Harry Truman. It has no government funding, and organizing is left to private groups.
What drives people whose way of displaying tolerance is to attempt to erase religion from society. The latest group to attack the National Day of Prayer is the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF). Here is what they stand for. "The nonprofit Freedom From Religion Foundation works to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism, and to promote the constitutional principle of separation between church and state"
As I looked more at the site I found that they believe they are on the cutting edge of societal evolution. I have taken this directly from their website's about page:
The history of Western civilization shows us that most social and moral progress has been brought about by persons free from religion. In modern times the first to speak out for prison reform, for humane treatment of the mentally ill, for abolition of capital punishment, for women's right to vote, for death with dignity for the terminally ill, and for the right to choose contraception, sterilization and abortion have been freethinkers, just as they were the first to call for an end to slavery. The Foundation works as an umbrella for those who are free from religion and are committed to the cherished principle of separation of state and church.
WOW... This is what drives them. It's about fear of religious minded individuals being apart of the government in any way. They see people free of religion as freethinkers. And, it will take a society of "freethinkers" to fulfill their agenda. I won't to go into all of their so called achievements, but it was the church and not them to take the lead on prison reform, voting rights for women i.e. the Wesleyan Church, and slavery (William Wilberforce another Wesleyan/Methodist) . I'll concede abortion to them. The church loves kids.
While I said I do not dedicate this blog to writing about politics I strongly believe that Christians must be politically active. Or, we will watch our freedoms erode away. Unfortunately, there are many people in our society who believe like The Freedom From Religion Foundation. While the first groups who crossed the pond came over for freedom of religion, people like the Freedom From Religion want exactly what their name says. They seek a world absent of religion and they are praying each day for just that. They just pray to judges and politicians instead of God.
If Christians will not be active in government the prayers of groups like The Freedom From Religion will come true.
I have been aware of the controversy surrounding this day since I was in Jr. Hi. Not much has changed. I do not want to delve to deeply into the political sphere. I keep up to date on politics but I have decided not to blog for the purpose of sharing those ideas at this time. On occasions where politics and religion intersect though I will reserve the right to blog when it strikes my fancy. As it does now.
Most in the religious community know that many of the colonists came to this country seeking freedom to express their religious views without reprisal from Government or Church. They came seeking tolerance. Today it seems that tolerance is under attack. When the National Day of Prayer was passed all who voted were in favor.
Here is a little history about The National Day of Prayer
The National Day of Prayer was created by congressional resolution in 1952 and signed into law by President Harry Truman. It has no government funding, and organizing is left to private groups.
36 U.S.C. § 119 : US Code - Section 119: National Day of Prayer
"The President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals."
What drives people whose way of displaying tolerance is to attempt to erase religion from society. The latest group to attack the National Day of Prayer is the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF). Here is what they stand for. "The nonprofit Freedom From Religion Foundation works to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism, and to promote the constitutional principle of separation between church and state"
As I looked more at the site I found that they believe they are on the cutting edge of societal evolution. I have taken this directly from their website's about page:
The history of Western civilization shows us that most social and moral progress has been brought about by persons free from religion. In modern times the first to speak out for prison reform, for humane treatment of the mentally ill, for abolition of capital punishment, for women's right to vote, for death with dignity for the terminally ill, and for the right to choose contraception, sterilization and abortion have been freethinkers, just as they were the first to call for an end to slavery. The Foundation works as an umbrella for those who are free from religion and are committed to the cherished principle of separation of state and church.
WOW... This is what drives them. It's about fear of religious minded individuals being apart of the government in any way. They see people free of religion as freethinkers. And, it will take a society of "freethinkers" to fulfill their agenda. I won't to go into all of their so called achievements, but it was the church and not them to take the lead on prison reform, voting rights for women i.e. the Wesleyan Church, and slavery (William Wilberforce another Wesleyan/Methodist) . I'll concede abortion to them. The church loves kids.
While I said I do not dedicate this blog to writing about politics I strongly believe that Christians must be politically active. Or, we will watch our freedoms erode away. Unfortunately, there are many people in our society who believe like The Freedom From Religion Foundation. While the first groups who crossed the pond came over for freedom of religion, people like the Freedom From Religion want exactly what their name says. They seek a world absent of religion and they are praying each day for just that. They just pray to judges and politicians instead of God.
If Christians will not be active in government the prayers of groups like The Freedom From Religion will come true.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
I am a Christian because...
1 Peter 3:15 CJB but treat the Messiah as holy, as Lord in your hearts;s while remaining always ready to give a reasoned answer to anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you - yet with humility and fear,
Part of being a Christian is being able to intelligently and respectfully communicate the gospel message. Can you do it? As a Christian who has been to bible college I still feel a little queasy about discussing the need for others to "be saved."
I don't have any problem sharing why I have faith in Christ. I remember what Christ has done in my life to make me put my faith in Him. I don't have any issues with knowing the bible. Even before bible college
I read the word, and I felt empowered if someone were to ask me questions concerning it. You don't need to have an advanced degree in biblical studies to understand God's message to us. God did it that way on purpose so we could all pick it up and learn. In ancient times God's words were passed down orally because most did not read, or have access to writings of any kind. Through life's trials I am continually learning to rely on the Holy Spirit's promptings in my life. I do everything
I can to make my answers relevant to the audience. A great example of this in the bible can be found in
Acts 17:23 NIV For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. I pasted the better part of the story at the bottom of the blog if you are interested in reading.
Last of all, don't worry if everyone you come accross does not accecpt the prompting of the Spirit. Many will not, but for those who do it will be due to the fact that you have allowed the very same God who created the universe and His ressurection power flow through you.
I hope my homeletics professor would be proud.
18. A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 19. Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20. You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean." 21. (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) 22. Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 24. "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us 28. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' 29. "Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone--an image made by man's design and skill. 30. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." 32. When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject." 33. At that, Paul left the Council. 34. A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.
Part of being a Christian is being able to intelligently and respectfully communicate the gospel message. Can you do it? As a Christian who has been to bible college I still feel a little queasy about discussing the need for others to "be saved."
I don't have any problem sharing why I have faith in Christ. I remember what Christ has done in my life to make me put my faith in Him. I don't have any issues with knowing the bible. Even before bible college
I read the word, and I felt empowered if someone were to ask me questions concerning it. You don't need to have an advanced degree in biblical studies to understand God's message to us. God did it that way on purpose so we could all pick it up and learn. In ancient times God's words were passed down orally because most did not read, or have access to writings of any kind. Through life's trials I am continually learning to rely on the Holy Spirit's promptings in my life. I do everything
I can to make my answers relevant to the audience. A great example of this in the bible can be found in
Acts 17:23 NIV For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. I pasted the better part of the story at the bottom of the blog if you are interested in reading.
You might be interested to know that not all were willing to accept their message as relevant as it was. There are no guarantees. You must simply be ready to share. I am sure you have figured out the points outlined above that can help you.
In order for you to be ready you must:
- Remember what God has done in your life that keeps you believing. One of the things counselors do to help in marriage counseling is to have the couple remember why they were attracted to each other in the first place.
- Read the bible. Even a basic understanding will help you be prepared when the time comes.
- Rely on the Holy Spirit to give you the courage and words to speak that will make the difference.
- Make your message revelent to the audience. Again, Paul's message in Acts 17 is a great example of this.
Last of all, don't worry if everyone you come accross does not accecpt the prompting of the Spirit. Many will not, but for those who do it will be due to the fact that you have allowed the very same God who created the universe and His ressurection power flow through you.
I hope my homeletics professor would be proud.
18. A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 19. Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20. You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean." 21. (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) 22. Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 24. "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us 28. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' 29. "Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone--an image made by man's design and skill. 30. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." 32. When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject." 33. At that, Paul left the Council. 34. A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
The Purpose of You
I believe God works in mysterious ways, at least to us. I have recently been thinking of my purpose in life. Two of the bloggers I follow and a couple of sermons I have watched while at my night job have been dealing with the purpose of our lives. One wrote that he wanted "to be free of the kingdom of me".
The statement really struck me. I don't want to follow a Jesus I have created in my own image. I am sure Jesus feels the same way. I have to say though for the past two years while I have been working two to three jobs at a time to provide for my family. I struggle to keep a clear perspective of Christ's true image and His purpose for me.
If you feel as I do you want to follow Christ as He is and not as you would have Him to be. This is true even in times of great struggle. We must remember that Christ put on the humility of humanity and suffered the greatest hardships of all. We should also accept that those hardships were part of the purpose the Father had for Him.
So it is with us. Each hardship is designed to not only fulfill the purpose He has for us. Each hardship is actually part of the very purpose God has for us. It is up to us to allow God to let these trials shape us.
What will you make of your trials? Will you put up walls around your "kingdom of me". Or, will you "carry your cross" and follow in the path of Jesus.
Sounds romantic doesn't it. Fulfill your purpose through great suffering. Sign me up... Can I have another Sir... Part of the purpose of you is to suffer hardships. I had a neighbor ask my wife "why are you still Christians?" This concerning the struggles we have faced over the past years. My wife's answer was "faith". to our neighbor, we seemed too peaceful to her. Even though it's a difficult time we have faith that Christ is helping us. Imagine how difficult the struggle would be without the peace that Christ was giving us? Even though I am ready for trial to end at any time, it is wonderful to know that this time has been a witness to our neighbor.
The purpose of you, among other things, is to be pleasing to Him in times of distress as well as in times of triumph. A daunting task indeed. Your purpose is more that a profession. It is more than a single triumph or defeat. It is a culmination your whole existence. Don't try to see it as an arrival to some mystic mountain top. Your purpose is the mystic journeys you take between the mountain tops. I pray that you are filled with a sense of Christ's peace as you continue to discover the purpose of you.
The statement really struck me. I don't want to follow a Jesus I have created in my own image. I am sure Jesus feels the same way. I have to say though for the past two years while I have been working two to three jobs at a time to provide for my family. I struggle to keep a clear perspective of Christ's true image and His purpose for me.
If you feel as I do you want to follow Christ as He is and not as you would have Him to be. This is true even in times of great struggle. We must remember that Christ put on the humility of humanity and suffered the greatest hardships of all. We should also accept that those hardships were part of the purpose the Father had for Him.
So it is with us. Each hardship is designed to not only fulfill the purpose He has for us. Each hardship is actually part of the very purpose God has for us. It is up to us to allow God to let these trials shape us.
What will you make of your trials? Will you put up walls around your "kingdom of me". Or, will you "carry your cross" and follow in the path of Jesus.
Sounds romantic doesn't it. Fulfill your purpose through great suffering. Sign me up... Can I have another Sir... Part of the purpose of you is to suffer hardships. I had a neighbor ask my wife "why are you still Christians?" This concerning the struggles we have faced over the past years. My wife's answer was "faith". to our neighbor, we seemed too peaceful to her. Even though it's a difficult time we have faith that Christ is helping us. Imagine how difficult the struggle would be without the peace that Christ was giving us? Even though I am ready for trial to end at any time, it is wonderful to know that this time has been a witness to our neighbor.
The purpose of you, among other things, is to be pleasing to Him in times of distress as well as in times of triumph. A daunting task indeed. Your purpose is more that a profession. It is more than a single triumph or defeat. It is a culmination your whole existence. Don't try to see it as an arrival to some mystic mountain top. Your purpose is the mystic journeys you take between the mountain tops. I pray that you are filled with a sense of Christ's peace as you continue to discover the purpose of you.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Keepin it Real
I am moving my blog to Wordpress.com. Please check it out.
http://iammiraclemike.wordpress.com/2010/05/12/keeping-it-real/My Bible Study Tools - Personalized Online Bible Study and Bible Reading: Proverbs 13:3 "3.He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction."
Have you ever heard the saying "keepin it real"? I have heard it several times and even saw a Saturday Night Live skit that portrayed a woman always getting into trouble because she felt she had to "keep it real" all the time. Her need to Keep things real ultimately lands her in prison. Sometimes "keepin it real" can be wrong. http://wp.me/pqimZ-Q
Realization of Faith
He made you for a purpose, and He knows you will be most at peace when you are fulfilling it.
Hebrews 11:1-2 BBE Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the sign that the things not seen are true. 2. For by it our fathers had God's approval.
The greatest Realization of Faith has been the Resurrection of Christ. Now it didn't happen anything like Christ's disciples thought it would. Jesus told them of the resurrection to come, but they could not wrap their minds around it. Their hearts were sick as saw their hopes crushed by the crucifixion. Good thing the story didn't end there.
So it is with our lives. Many times the promises, dreams and visions given us by God do not come to pass in the manner or time frame (instantly) we expect.
The disciples did not think Jesus was going to His coronation by the way of Crucifixion. The weren't waiting with bated breath at the tomb for the resurrection either. After Jesus ascended though they did as they were told, and waited for the Holy Spirit in the upper room.
It's hard to wait for our hopes and dreams to be fulfilled. Abraham's promise from God was fulfilled long after his death. That's living by faith. Practically every generation believes they will be the one to see the promise of Christ's return. They are all still waiting.
Hebrews 11:1-2 BBE Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the sign that the things not seen are true. 2. For by it our fathers had God's approval.
The greatest Realization of Faith has been the Resurrection of Christ. Now it didn't happen anything like Christ's disciples thought it would. Jesus told them of the resurrection to come, but they could not wrap their minds around it. Their hearts were sick as saw their hopes crushed by the crucifixion. Good thing the story didn't end there.
So it is with our lives. Many times the promises, dreams and visions given us by God do not come to pass in the manner or time frame (instantly) we expect.
The disciples did not think Jesus was going to His coronation by the way of Crucifixion. The weren't waiting with bated breath at the tomb for the resurrection either. After Jesus ascended though they did as they were told, and waited for the Holy Spirit in the upper room.
It's hard to wait for our hopes and dreams to be fulfilled. Abraham's promise from God was fulfilled long after his death. That's living by faith. Practically every generation believes they will be the one to see the promise of Christ's return. They are all still waiting.
What promise are you waiting for? A baby, a new job, financial problems to end, healing, someone you love coming to Christ. Everyone of us has put our hope and faith in God at some point to bring to fruition a passion, promise or dream he has given us.
The difficult part it to let God have control of the situation and deliver in his own timing. Every time I have attempted to "help God" it has turned into a regret instead of a dream fulfilled. I urge you to take comfort in these two things. First, when we read the scripture we find that God has delivered on every single promise he made. Second, we all are waiting and hoping, in faith, for God to fulfill the dreams and promises He has placed inside of us.
He made you for a purpose, and He knows you will be most at peace when you are fulfilling it.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Who's in charge of your house (part four)
Psalms 127:4-5
4. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. 5. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.
You've heard it said that children are a blessing from the lord. These verses take it a little farther than that and give us a practical reason why.
Having kids means more than having to spend more money on tuition. It means they will defend the honor and reputation of the family. These days, unless your a Klingon, this idea may not mean much to many people. In biblical times though families tended to live close to each other and be in business together. Solomon, being king, probably understood this better than most. Just imagine all of the politics that must have been going on in the gates of the city where most business was conducted. Solomon's children had to deal with this "when they contend with their enemies in the gate."
Although, I would not want to be the man speaking ill of Solomon while one of the princes were walking by. Even young children can become very agitated if they feel that someone is insulting their mother or father. You might remember being a kid arguing with on of your classmates when all of a sudden the LINE was crossed. Your foe utters the words "YO MAMA...". Many a war of words led to blows by reciting these almost magical words.
Today you don't see all the family businesses you would have back then. People don't have very large families today. And, when someone does, they tend to be ridiculed for it. Kids grow up and move far away from home. I believe we have lost some of what we were meant to have as families. We have become more concerned with a myriad of other things life throws at us. We have traded away families for material things, friends, and careers. We can still train our kids to put family first. The scripture speaks very unfavorably to those who ignore this. Proverbs 11:29 NIV, Proverbs 14:1 NCV, Matthew 12:25 NIRV
To whom will you call on when you contend with the enemies at your gate? Maybe a friend or two will lend a hand, but they have burdens of their own. Will your co-workers offer you shelter from the storm? I don't think a big house or a gold watch will save you either. I hope you have placed your family first in your life and they are there for you when you need them.
Just walk through any long term care facility. Most are lonely places filled with seniors who have very little family to care for them. It's not just nursing homes. I work with seniors everyday who have no family to come to their home or apartment to see them. One 93 year old lady comes to mind. Her only visitor is a nurse that sees her two hours every Wednesday. While I can not speak to the decisions that resulted in their current circumstances I can make sure I do everything I can to put my family first. I have no guarantee when I need my kids they will be there for me. All I can do is place them first in my life, teach them to do the same, and hope that my teachings sink in.
4. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. 5. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.
You've heard it said that children are a blessing from the lord. These verses take it a little farther than that and give us a practical reason why.
Having kids means more than having to spend more money on tuition. It means they will defend the honor and reputation of the family. These days, unless your a Klingon, this idea may not mean much to many people. In biblical times though families tended to live close to each other and be in business together. Solomon, being king, probably understood this better than most. Just imagine all of the politics that must have been going on in the gates of the city where most business was conducted. Solomon's children had to deal with this "when they contend with their enemies in the gate."
Although, I would not want to be the man speaking ill of Solomon while one of the princes were walking by. Even young children can become very agitated if they feel that someone is insulting their mother or father. You might remember being a kid arguing with on of your classmates when all of a sudden the LINE was crossed. Your foe utters the words "YO MAMA...". Many a war of words led to blows by reciting these almost magical words.
Today you don't see all the family businesses you would have back then. People don't have very large families today. And, when someone does, they tend to be ridiculed for it. Kids grow up and move far away from home. I believe we have lost some of what we were meant to have as families. We have become more concerned with a myriad of other things life throws at us. We have traded away families for material things, friends, and careers. We can still train our kids to put family first. The scripture speaks very unfavorably to those who ignore this. Proverbs 11:29 NIV, Proverbs 14:1 NCV, Matthew 12:25 NIRV
To whom will you call on when you contend with the enemies at your gate? Maybe a friend or two will lend a hand, but they have burdens of their own. Will your co-workers offer you shelter from the storm? I don't think a big house or a gold watch will save you either. I hope you have placed your family first in your life and they are there for you when you need them.
Just walk through any long term care facility. Most are lonely places filled with seniors who have very little family to care for them. It's not just nursing homes. I work with seniors everyday who have no family to come to their home or apartment to see them. One 93 year old lady comes to mind. Her only visitor is a nurse that sees her two hours every Wednesday. While I can not speak to the decisions that resulted in their current circumstances I can make sure I do everything I can to put my family first. I have no guarantee when I need my kids they will be there for me. All I can do is place them first in my life, teach them to do the same, and hope that my teachings sink in.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Who's in charge of your house (part three)
Psalms 127:2-5 3. Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. 4. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth. 5. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.
At first glance it seems somewhat strange for this psalm to end with these three verses. It is almost as if the writer just changes subjects midstream. He starts out saying If you try building your world without involving God its going to fall apart. Then, without skipping a beat, he says kids are great and you should have lots of them.
He is actually just adding to the same message. The Complete Jewish Bible translates v.3 this way "Children too are a gift from ADONAI; the fruit of the womb is a reward." The added "too" in the verse shows that the writer is continuing his train of thought. Sometimes we struggle with the idea that raising a family means that we have to sacrifice our dreams and ambitions. But, if God "builds the house". If He "watches over the city". He has your dreams well in hand.
Usually, it means that we will just not have the same freedoms we had before. You might not be able to go on a surprise weekend getaway. Maybe you purchase the mini-van instead of the truck you have had your eye on. You might even choose a church to attend based on what's best for your children instead of the worship or the pastor you might prefer to hear on Sunday.
Children are in fact a wonderful gift from the Lord! I really like mine. Maybe I can convince my wife to splurge a little on features in the mini-van. What do you think April. Can I have the GPS and the AWD?
Verses four and five coming up soon.
I carry this in my car for encouragement. Allow it to lift your spirits.
"May the Lord bless you and keep you:
The Lord make His face to shine upon you,
And be gracious unto you: The Lord lift up
His countenance upon you, And give you peace.
Revere His name and the Sun of righteousness
Will rise with healing in His wings."
At first glance it seems somewhat strange for this psalm to end with these three verses. It is almost as if the writer just changes subjects midstream. He starts out saying If you try building your world without involving God its going to fall apart. Then, without skipping a beat, he says kids are great and you should have lots of them.
He is actually just adding to the same message. The Complete Jewish Bible translates v.3 this way "Children too are a gift from ADONAI; the fruit of the womb is a reward." The added "too" in the verse shows that the writer is continuing his train of thought. Sometimes we struggle with the idea that raising a family means that we have to sacrifice our dreams and ambitions. But, if God "builds the house". If He "watches over the city". He has your dreams well in hand.
Usually, it means that we will just not have the same freedoms we had before. You might not be able to go on a surprise weekend getaway. Maybe you purchase the mini-van instead of the truck you have had your eye on. You might even choose a church to attend based on what's best for your children instead of the worship or the pastor you might prefer to hear on Sunday.
Children are in fact a wonderful gift from the Lord! I really like mine. Maybe I can convince my wife to splurge a little on features in the mini-van. What do you think April. Can I have the GPS and the AWD?
Verses four and five coming up soon.
I carry this in my car for encouragement. Allow it to lift your spirits.
"May the Lord bless you and keep you:
The Lord make His face to shine upon you,
And be gracious unto you: The Lord lift up
His countenance upon you, And give you peace.
Revere His name and the Sun of righteousness
Will rise with healing in His wings."
Hillsong - You Are Here (The Same Power) - With Subtitles
Here is a simple but great song to start your Sunday.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Who's in charge of building your house (part two)
Psalms 127:2-5 "2.In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat-- for he grants sleep to those he loves. 3.Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him. 4.Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. 5.Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate."
I am going to sum these next few verses up in a more concise manner than I did with verse one. It's not because they are less important. My focus though from the start was to go into greater detail on the first verse. I believe it important to at least mention the rest of the chapter since it was written as one message. I am going to blog one verse at a time though since this requires some time to grasp each message contained in this short psalm.
"2.In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat-- for he grants sleep to those he loves. I am the first to admit I have spent too many nights breaking the principle behind the message of this verse. Jesus speaks to this in Matthew 6:26-32. The greater detail that Jesus uses provides a easier to digest message. God is aware you have legitimate needs and is more than willing to meet them. He will even do so without you asking. I am a work in progress on this one. Although I can certainly identify with v.32. Each day has enough trouble of its own. We don't have to spent time being concerned about things we can not control, or imagine problems that do not yet exist and worry about those.
I enourage you to spend some time in Matthew chapter 6 for yourself. Jesus' message is not wrapped in a riddle and will allow you to apply the truth of what He is preaching to the current storms of your life.
I am going to sum these next few verses up in a more concise manner than I did with verse one. It's not because they are less important. My focus though from the start was to go into greater detail on the first verse. I believe it important to at least mention the rest of the chapter since it was written as one message. I am going to blog one verse at a time though since this requires some time to grasp each message contained in this short psalm.
"2.In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat-- for he grants sleep to those he loves. I am the first to admit I have spent too many nights breaking the principle behind the message of this verse. Jesus speaks to this in Matthew 6:26-32. The greater detail that Jesus uses provides a easier to digest message. God is aware you have legitimate needs and is more than willing to meet them. He will even do so without you asking. I am a work in progress on this one. Although I can certainly identify with v.32. Each day has enough trouble of its own. We don't have to spent time being concerned about things we can not control, or imagine problems that do not yet exist and worry about those.
I enourage you to spend some time in Matthew chapter 6 for yourself. Jesus' message is not wrapped in a riddle and will allow you to apply the truth of what He is preaching to the current storms of your life.
Who's in charge of building your house?
Psalm 127:1-2 1.A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. 2.It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep."
Who is in charge of building your house? Who do you have looking after your affairs? I admit that while writing this I am still trying to figure it out for myself. Am I working too hard? Am I worrying too much about things I can't control. When I think about scripture I like to see if there is any historical significance that might lend some insight. It may seem as if I am about to get a little off track here, but I promise to bring it all together in the end.
Many scholars believe that Solomon was in the midst of building the temple when he wrote this psalm. It is possible to have no exposure to the church and still have, heard about the "wisdom of Solomon". Well, outside of his legendary wisdom, his greatest claim to fame was the building of the temple. After all this was the place that God's very presence was going to dwell. You might say the Solomon was God's general contractor.
Solomon went on to have many great achievements. As a matter of fact. If you study his life you will find that he had many great achievements. Every great achievement that can be attributed to Solomon though brings you back to wisdom. It is only when he strays from that Godly wisdom that he invites trouble in his own life and the kingdom of Israel.
Since the bible shows men, warts and all, we can reflect on their lives in a way that better helps us to come to grips with our own misgivings. You see, we don't have to be perfect to have Godly wisdom. We can correct our course when we realize we are headed in the wrong direction.
So here it is. Unless you hand your dreams over to God they are going to die. "They labor in vain" I know that sounds harsh, but think about it a moment. If you are not at peace with your self it is very likely you are trying to force your dreams to come true. Dreams are big. Too big to accomplish without God. Solomon's building of the temple helped him to understand this in a very practical way. He wasn't just building a church. He was building the very house of God. God made it very clear He wanted it to be perfect. When God is your customer "the customer is always right".
You can never see as much as God can. "Unless the Lord guards the city" "The watchman stays awake in vain".
I am going to tackle the rest in the next blog. I think we can all let this sink in until then.
Who is in charge of building your house? Who do you have looking after your affairs? I admit that while writing this I am still trying to figure it out for myself. Am I working too hard? Am I worrying too much about things I can't control. When I think about scripture I like to see if there is any historical significance that might lend some insight. It may seem as if I am about to get a little off track here, but I promise to bring it all together in the end.
Many scholars believe that Solomon was in the midst of building the temple when he wrote this psalm. It is possible to have no exposure to the church and still have, heard about the "wisdom of Solomon". Well, outside of his legendary wisdom, his greatest claim to fame was the building of the temple. After all this was the place that God's very presence was going to dwell. You might say the Solomon was God's general contractor.
Solomon went on to have many great achievements. As a matter of fact. If you study his life you will find that he had many great achievements. Every great achievement that can be attributed to Solomon though brings you back to wisdom. It is only when he strays from that Godly wisdom that he invites trouble in his own life and the kingdom of Israel.
Since the bible shows men, warts and all, we can reflect on their lives in a way that better helps us to come to grips with our own misgivings. You see, we don't have to be perfect to have Godly wisdom. We can correct our course when we realize we are headed in the wrong direction.
So here it is. Unless you hand your dreams over to God they are going to die. "They labor in vain" I know that sounds harsh, but think about it a moment. If you are not at peace with your self it is very likely you are trying to force your dreams to come true. Dreams are big. Too big to accomplish without God. Solomon's building of the temple helped him to understand this in a very practical way. He wasn't just building a church. He was building the very house of God. God made it very clear He wanted it to be perfect. When God is your customer "the customer is always right".
You can never see as much as God can. "Unless the Lord guards the city" "The watchman stays awake in vain".
I am going to tackle the rest in the next blog. I think we can all let this sink in until then.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
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