The Bible presents salvation in the form of a story that describes the outworking of God's eternal plan to deal with the problem of human sin. The story is set against the background of the history of God's people and reaches its climax in the person and work of Christ. The Old Testament part of the story shows that people are sinners by nature, and describes a series of covenants by which God sets people free and makes promises to them. His plan includes the promise of blessing for all nations through Abraham and the redemption of Israel from every form of bondage. God showed his saving power throughout Israel's history, but he also spoke about a Messianic figure who would save all people from the power, guilt, and penalty of sin. This role was fulfilled by Jesus, who will ultimately destroy all the devil's work, including suffering, pain, and death.
- Macmillan Dictionary of the Bible.
Redemption is an amazing process that only happens when you finally take down your guard and let Jesus save you and do a work in you that you yourself cannot do on your own.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
Patience, help, strength, and honor
Psalm 40:1-3
The Message (MSG)
Psalm 40
A David Psalm
1-3 I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened.
He lifted me out of the ditch,
pulled me from deep mud.
He stood me up on a solid rock
to make sure I wouldn't slip.
He taught me how to sing the latest God-song,
a praise-song to our God.
More and more people are seeing this:
they enter the mystery,
abandoning themselves to God.
The Message (MSG)
Psalm 40
A David Psalm
1-3 I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened.
He lifted me out of the ditch,
pulled me from deep mud.
He stood me up on a solid rock
to make sure I wouldn't slip.
He taught me how to sing the latest God-song,
a praise-song to our God.
More and more people are seeing this:
they enter the mystery,
abandoning themselves to God.
Friday, August 26, 2011
poetry..
A single bomb devastates a city, and the world is ushered into the nuclear age. A split atom - power and force such as we had never seen.
At a launch site, rockets roar and a payload is thrust into space. Discoveries dreamed of for centuries are ours as we begin to explore the edge of the universe.
Volcanoes, earthquakes, tidal waves, hurricanes, and tornadoes unleash uncontrollable and unstoppable force. And we can only avoid them and then pick up the pieces.
Power, Strength, might - we stand in awe at the natural and human-made display. But these forces cannot touch the power of omnipotent God. Creator of galaxies, atoms, and natural laws. the Sovereign Lord rules all there is and ever will be. How silly to live without him; how foolish to run and hide from him; how ridiculous to disobey him. But we do. Since Eden, we have sought independence from his control, as though we were gods and could plot our destiny. And he has allowed our rebellion.
But soon the day of the Lord will come.
- unknown
At a launch site, rockets roar and a payload is thrust into space. Discoveries dreamed of for centuries are ours as we begin to explore the edge of the universe.
Volcanoes, earthquakes, tidal waves, hurricanes, and tornadoes unleash uncontrollable and unstoppable force. And we can only avoid them and then pick up the pieces.
Power, Strength, might - we stand in awe at the natural and human-made display. But these forces cannot touch the power of omnipotent God. Creator of galaxies, atoms, and natural laws. the Sovereign Lord rules all there is and ever will be. How silly to live without him; how foolish to run and hide from him; how ridiculous to disobey him. But we do. Since Eden, we have sought independence from his control, as though we were gods and could plot our destiny. And he has allowed our rebellion.
But soon the day of the Lord will come.
- unknown
Friday, March 18, 2011
thoughts...
I had some down time, and I wanted to write. It has been way too long.
Right now, in my life, I am standing on God's word. It seems like everyone around me is trying to figure out what they want to do, or become, or where to go to school, or how they can keep themselves busy with this project or that internship.
I feel at times that I am placed right in the middle of everyone's plans. I'm not upset, or angry, its just sometimes it feels as if everyone around me is in a rush to get somewhere or be something or someone. We feel like, we always have to upgrade. The old is never good enough, the now is not cool anymore. So we move on to the next thing. We stay busy with plans and goals to reach some point that ultimately becomes another building block so we can make more plans and goals, to reach this platform I guess that will in turn satisfy us in the end?
I don't agree with not having plans, or goals. If that were the case, we would never get anything done. I am simply saying that in my life, I work a career full-time, and I serve the kingdom of God (it feels like I'm part time at the church.) I am content with where I'm at. I stay busy with work, and church. I love my down time. I'm not worried about my future, or stressing about what I'm going to do. The college terms aren't in my vocabulary, degree's, scholarships, grad school. Most of the people I am around day to day are. So, sometimes I feel out of place because I'm not in a rush too, or that I'm not in this school or that school. I think some of us almost make it a competition among us. School is great, if you can afford it and work hard at it. But who gives all their time to making A's? Very few.
This culture is dangerous. America makes it all about you and I. It sets us up to be selfish, self willed, self minded about everything. "Do it yourself" "Fix it your self" "Have it your way" "Build your future."
What happened to trusting in God? To waiting on Him?
Its not supposed to be about us, or what we can build our self. The last time we tried building something for our self, God took away our ability to communicate, causing us to stop the process of our project, our life.
We cannot be God. We can't have it all.
"Don't be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few."
We need to Trust in God. In order to find out what to do, we have to know WHO we are, then we can know what to do.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Fathers house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you."
He goes and prepares a place for us. The job isn't ours.
Right now, in my life, I am standing on God's word. It seems like everyone around me is trying to figure out what they want to do, or become, or where to go to school, or how they can keep themselves busy with this project or that internship.
I feel at times that I am placed right in the middle of everyone's plans. I'm not upset, or angry, its just sometimes it feels as if everyone around me is in a rush to get somewhere or be something or someone. We feel like, we always have to upgrade. The old is never good enough, the now is not cool anymore. So we move on to the next thing. We stay busy with plans and goals to reach some point that ultimately becomes another building block so we can make more plans and goals, to reach this platform I guess that will in turn satisfy us in the end?
I don't agree with not having plans, or goals. If that were the case, we would never get anything done. I am simply saying that in my life, I work a career full-time, and I serve the kingdom of God (it feels like I'm part time at the church.) I am content with where I'm at. I stay busy with work, and church. I love my down time. I'm not worried about my future, or stressing about what I'm going to do. The college terms aren't in my vocabulary, degree's, scholarships, grad school. Most of the people I am around day to day are. So, sometimes I feel out of place because I'm not in a rush too, or that I'm not in this school or that school. I think some of us almost make it a competition among us. School is great, if you can afford it and work hard at it. But who gives all their time to making A's? Very few.
This culture is dangerous. America makes it all about you and I. It sets us up to be selfish, self willed, self minded about everything. "Do it yourself" "Fix it your self" "Have it your way" "Build your future."
What happened to trusting in God? To waiting on Him?
Its not supposed to be about us, or what we can build our self. The last time we tried building something for our self, God took away our ability to communicate, causing us to stop the process of our project, our life.
We cannot be God. We can't have it all.
"Don't be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few."
We need to Trust in God. In order to find out what to do, we have to know WHO we are, then we can know what to do.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Fathers house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you."
He goes and prepares a place for us. The job isn't ours.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
rough draft for short read (worship)
Worship in all it’s entirety, is the best evidence to which the God we serve is both living and active. I believe that to worship God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength, you first have to have an awareness and understanding of who He is. Upon receiving my salvation, I worshipped God because He saved my life from death. He brought me out of confusion, and loneliness and in to a place of peace and comfort I cannot describe with words. My reverence and prostration came from experiencing the presence and love of God, and it was evident that he was, and is alive. Knowing that you are a sinner, and believing God sent his One and Only Son to save you, opens the door to worship.
Thomas Kimber explains worship and writes, “Worship is, in the first place, a complete prostration of the soul before its object; whether the heart of the worshipper be directed toward the vain and imaginations of the heathen, or to the one true and living God.” I agree with this definition, I would even go to say, worship is a whole life focus and alignment to God. It is the act of giving all of your attention, desire, gratitude, adoration, reverence, and importance of who God is in your life towards him.
I think the twenty-first century would define “worship” mostly with music, and hymns. I’m not saying that creating and playing music to God isn’t worship, just another way to worship. Getting in the presence of God is wonderful, and I believe that singing and making music builds a pathway to His presence. However, man’s worship should be more than making music, it should be a whole life focus towards the One and Only God.
Romans 12:1 says, “Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.”
I believe that worship starts in the heart of the individual, and is a choice that person has to make everyday. There are two choices to be made. Serve God, or serve yourself. Upon choosing to serve God, in that instance, in that moment where you yield your life to His, grace abounds. I think He is looking for people with an attitude of surrender, and humility. After all, He tells us to follow Him. In Luke 14:27 “And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” Following Him involves a death experience, it involves laying our lives down and letting Him rule and reign.
We are definitely created to worship the Lord. I believe in a church setting, or in a worship service, we should give our praise and adoration by singing, lifting our hands, bowing down, and giving all of our attention to Him. In a private setting, I think we should set away time for prayer and just sit and listen to worship, or play an instrument to give praise to God.
In the scope of things, God is due of our worship. He is worthy and faithful, and that speaks enough. For years, a certain high priest sacrificed the blood of bulls and goats to atone for our sin once a year. But the atonement that was made could never take away the sins of the people permanently. The high priest kept making this sacrifice so that the law would be in effect until Christ came. So God sent his Son born of a virgin, and He lived a life on this earth for thirty-three years without sin. He submitted himself to God and was obedient to death. He was sent, not to condemn the world, but to save the world through himself. God made the ultimate sacrifice, and because of it, because of the blood that came from Christ, we are atoned for forever, we are washed, and we do have a way to the Father. That is enough to revere the Lord, that is enough to give him all our praise. That is enough to worship Him.
John 4:23 “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.”
Thomas Kimber explains worship and writes, “Worship is, in the first place, a complete prostration of the soul before its object; whether the heart of the worshipper be directed toward the vain and imaginations of the heathen, or to the one true and living God.” I agree with this definition, I would even go to say, worship is a whole life focus and alignment to God. It is the act of giving all of your attention, desire, gratitude, adoration, reverence, and importance of who God is in your life towards him.
I think the twenty-first century would define “worship” mostly with music, and hymns. I’m not saying that creating and playing music to God isn’t worship, just another way to worship. Getting in the presence of God is wonderful, and I believe that singing and making music builds a pathway to His presence. However, man’s worship should be more than making music, it should be a whole life focus towards the One and Only God.
Romans 12:1 says, “Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.”
I believe that worship starts in the heart of the individual, and is a choice that person has to make everyday. There are two choices to be made. Serve God, or serve yourself. Upon choosing to serve God, in that instance, in that moment where you yield your life to His, grace abounds. I think He is looking for people with an attitude of surrender, and humility. After all, He tells us to follow Him. In Luke 14:27 “And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” Following Him involves a death experience, it involves laying our lives down and letting Him rule and reign.
We are definitely created to worship the Lord. I believe in a church setting, or in a worship service, we should give our praise and adoration by singing, lifting our hands, bowing down, and giving all of our attention to Him. In a private setting, I think we should set away time for prayer and just sit and listen to worship, or play an instrument to give praise to God.
In the scope of things, God is due of our worship. He is worthy and faithful, and that speaks enough. For years, a certain high priest sacrificed the blood of bulls and goats to atone for our sin once a year. But the atonement that was made could never take away the sins of the people permanently. The high priest kept making this sacrifice so that the law would be in effect until Christ came. So God sent his Son born of a virgin, and He lived a life on this earth for thirty-three years without sin. He submitted himself to God and was obedient to death. He was sent, not to condemn the world, but to save the world through himself. God made the ultimate sacrifice, and because of it, because of the blood that came from Christ, we are atoned for forever, we are washed, and we do have a way to the Father. That is enough to revere the Lord, that is enough to give him all our praise. That is enough to worship Him.
John 4:23 “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.”
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Love from my Father
If you know me on any personal level, I would consider myself a good guy. A guy who respects others, and looks out for the best interest of those around me than myself, a guy who loves people, a guy who is committed and disciplined to the church of God, and the vision of the Pastors and Leaders around me. A guy who will do anything for you if you ask me, and who works well with his hands.
I was raised by my father. My parents split up before I turned 2 years of age, so my childhood memories and experiences are of my father. I hear stories all the time of how he held me close, and was so gentle with me, and carried me in his arms so tightly. Those stories however, are not in my memories. The memories I have are working to please him, and gain his love through performance, and good works I did. The more I did, the less rejection I felt. The less I acted out in deeds, the more worthless He made me feel. I grew up for 17 years under his authority, and learning that love didn't come easy, but only with a price. I'm almost 25 years of age, and I am just learning that love has nothing to do with our performance, or works of service we do. People love because God loved us first. I'm just now learning that love is shown to who we are, not what we do. I'm gentle in a lot of areas, and I stick close to humility. Knowing and understanding my work, my good deeds, or my performance for other people can never measure love. Love should be directed and is given based on who you are, not what you do. We for example, hate the sin of people, but love them because they are children of God, and created to worship the King. Yet, we can only love people for who they are, when we know that God loves us for who we are, that His love for us is based not on any condition we might provide, but just that He loves us, and through that amazing love, He gave His Son for us so that we might have eternal life with Him. How amazing is it to rest in that love, a love that doesn't need explanation, or reasoning for its actions, or to be bought with works of service. But, a love that just is. In John 3:16 Jesus says, "He so loved the world that He gave." Love certainly gives.
What does love look like to you? Are there rules and regulations behind the love you give, is there are contract stating what you should get from love, or is your love based on a condition that it makes you feel?
Love is unconditional in every way, there are no lists of mess-ups, it only gives. And He is faithful if you let Him Love you, with this amazing Love. He will show you what Love is because He is love.
This is the Love of my Father.
I was raised by my father. My parents split up before I turned 2 years of age, so my childhood memories and experiences are of my father. I hear stories all the time of how he held me close, and was so gentle with me, and carried me in his arms so tightly. Those stories however, are not in my memories. The memories I have are working to please him, and gain his love through performance, and good works I did. The more I did, the less rejection I felt. The less I acted out in deeds, the more worthless He made me feel. I grew up for 17 years under his authority, and learning that love didn't come easy, but only with a price. I'm almost 25 years of age, and I am just learning that love has nothing to do with our performance, or works of service we do. People love because God loved us first. I'm just now learning that love is shown to who we are, not what we do. I'm gentle in a lot of areas, and I stick close to humility. Knowing and understanding my work, my good deeds, or my performance for other people can never measure love. Love should be directed and is given based on who you are, not what you do. We for example, hate the sin of people, but love them because they are children of God, and created to worship the King. Yet, we can only love people for who they are, when we know that God loves us for who we are, that His love for us is based not on any condition we might provide, but just that He loves us, and through that amazing love, He gave His Son for us so that we might have eternal life with Him. How amazing is it to rest in that love, a love that doesn't need explanation, or reasoning for its actions, or to be bought with works of service. But, a love that just is. In John 3:16 Jesus says, "He so loved the world that He gave." Love certainly gives.
What does love look like to you? Are there rules and regulations behind the love you give, is there are contract stating what you should get from love, or is your love based on a condition that it makes you feel?
Love is unconditional in every way, there are no lists of mess-ups, it only gives. And He is faithful if you let Him Love you, with this amazing Love. He will show you what Love is because He is love.
This is the Love of my Father.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
thoughts...
Don't be quick to rush in to something you desire, if your expectations are higher than the reality, it will only leave you bitterness.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and don't let your eyes stray from your present path.
Our hearts are deceitful, and no man can possibly know the heart. Pray daily for the Lord to cleanse and purify your hearts.
Wait on love. If love means anything at all...it means patience.
And finally this evening a scripture from Proverbs 4:23,25-26.
"Above all else guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.
Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm."
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and don't let your eyes stray from your present path.
Our hearts are deceitful, and no man can possibly know the heart. Pray daily for the Lord to cleanse and purify your hearts.
Wait on love. If love means anything at all...it means patience.
And finally this evening a scripture from Proverbs 4:23,25-26.
"Above all else guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.
Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm."
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