Isaiah 55:8-9
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
God has given us each talents which enable us to function effectively in our little worlds. Executives … lawyers … doctors … teachers … pastors … fathers … mothers … students. It is an unending list.
Who am I? Whoever I am, it is because God blessed me to be.
And whoever I am, I am so much less than the creator.
And whoever I am, I am no better than my friend … my neighbor … my co-worker … since we are all only what God has blessed us to be.
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Monday, October 05, 2009
NOT FINISHED
John 21:15
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples
15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
This exchange between Jesus and Simon Peter followed a miserable personal failure in Peter’s life. Peter had abandoned his friend when Jesus needed his friendship the most.
Have you ever had the experience of a personal failure? I suspect most of us can answer that question in the affirmative.
What do we learn from this scripture? Despite our failures, recovery is available. Jesus was not finished with Peter and He is not finished with you just because you fell. Jesus seeks continuation of a love relationship with you and continuation of the work He calls you to … “feed my sheep.”
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples
15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
This exchange between Jesus and Simon Peter followed a miserable personal failure in Peter’s life. Peter had abandoned his friend when Jesus needed his friendship the most.
Have you ever had the experience of a personal failure? I suspect most of us can answer that question in the affirmative.
What do we learn from this scripture? Despite our failures, recovery is available. Jesus was not finished with Peter and He is not finished with you just because you fell. Jesus seeks continuation of a love relationship with you and continuation of the work He calls you to … “feed my sheep.”
Friday, October 02, 2009
THE LORD’S WILL
Joshua 9:12-15; James 4:15
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
The Gibeonites Deceive Israel
12 “This bread was hot from the ovens when we left our homes. But now, as you can see, it is dry and moldy. 13 These wineskins were new when we filled them, but now they are old and split open. And our clothing and sandals are worn out from our very long journey.”
14 So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the Lord. 15 Then Joshua made a peace treaty with them and guaranteed their safety, and the leaders of the community ratified their agreement with a binding oath….
15 What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”
The phrase “If it’s the Lord’s will,” ought to infect our vocabulary. He has given us the freedom to make decisions but we are never free from God. We should seek Him in all the decisions of our life.
Yes, things worked out for Joshua and the Israelites. He made the best of a bad situation but missed the optimal – complete occupation of Canaan.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
The Gibeonites Deceive Israel
12 “This bread was hot from the ovens when we left our homes. But now, as you can see, it is dry and moldy. 13 These wineskins were new when we filled them, but now they are old and split open. And our clothing and sandals are worn out from our very long journey.”
14 So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the Lord. 15 Then Joshua made a peace treaty with them and guaranteed their safety, and the leaders of the community ratified their agreement with a binding oath….
15 What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”
The phrase “If it’s the Lord’s will,” ought to infect our vocabulary. He has given us the freedom to make decisions but we are never free from God. We should seek Him in all the decisions of our life.
Yes, things worked out for Joshua and the Israelites. He made the best of a bad situation but missed the optimal – complete occupation of Canaan.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
INFORMATION VS. WISDOM
Proverbs 1:1-7
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
The Purpose of Proverbs
1 These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.
2 Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline,
to help them understand the insights of the wise.
3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives,
to help them do what is right, just, and fair.
4 These proverbs will give insight to the simple,
knowledge and discernment to the young.
5 Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser.
Let those with understanding receive guidance
6 by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables,
the words of the wise and their riddles.
7 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
We live in the age of computer technology, which can provide us volumes of information at the stroke of a key on a keyboard. What we do with all that information depends on the wisdom we have gained. Solomon advises that we gain wisdom, the source of which is the Lord.
It would be a good practice to read a Proverb a day. Start this practice today, the 1st of the month and you will have completed them all by the end of the month. On the 1st, read Proverbs 1 … on the 2nd read Proverbs 2 … and so on. You already have a jump start on Proverbs 1.
Each day, you will gain godly wisdom, what you need to handle the information which bombards you from every side.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
The Purpose of Proverbs
1 These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.
2 Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline,
to help them understand the insights of the wise.
3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives,
to help them do what is right, just, and fair.
4 These proverbs will give insight to the simple,
knowledge and discernment to the young.
5 Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser.
Let those with understanding receive guidance
6 by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables,
the words of the wise and their riddles.
7 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
We live in the age of computer technology, which can provide us volumes of information at the stroke of a key on a keyboard. What we do with all that information depends on the wisdom we have gained. Solomon advises that we gain wisdom, the source of which is the Lord.
It would be a good practice to read a Proverb a day. Start this practice today, the 1st of the month and you will have completed them all by the end of the month. On the 1st, read Proverbs 1 … on the 2nd read Proverbs 2 … and so on. You already have a jump start on Proverbs 1.
Each day, you will gain godly wisdom, what you need to handle the information which bombards you from every side.
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