Psalm 145:10-12 (Amplified Bible)
10All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, and Your loving ones shall bless You [affectionately and gratefully shall Your saints confess and praise You]!
11They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom and talk of Your power,
12To make known to the sons of men God's mighty deeds and the glorious majesty of His kingdom.
I came across this passage yesterday. In verse eleven, "They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom and talk of Your power." God's power was evident this morning. A thunderstorm in all it's power and majesty came rumbling in. God's power is awesome. The lightning looked like a sharp chalk line lighting the sky. The rain fell and the wind blew, the clouds moved on. But God's power is also in the oriole that comes to eat our grape jelly. The contrast of the orange bird and the deep green grass is power. The laugh and smile of a child is power. An earth created to orbit the sun in amongst billions of stars is power. Blessed be my God who is Almighty Power!
I don't think that I talk about His power enough. I will point out things to my kids, but do I do it enough. Will the rocks cry out because I am not praising Him? Everything that I do should bring Him glory (I Cor. 10:31). He is showing us His glory in a bird, thunderstorm, in a child. Sometimes I am to caught up in what I need to do. At times I wonder, is there more? Then the passage that I read, "Because whatever you do, eating or drinking or anything else, everything should be done to bring glory to God. I Cor 10:31" Today, I am bringing Him glory, and tomorrow and forward, I am going to be more observant.
Humbly adoring Him!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Gold, Silver and Precious Stones
Summer brings a lot of things but in my life it also brings Bible Study. For the past few years, I have been leading a Bible Study in the summer. This summer we are studying Beth Moore's A Women's Heart. There is so much that I am learning and that I can apply in my life, I have been amazed, humbled and convicted.
This morning I was directed to read I Cor. 3:9-15.
9For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
10By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
A question was then asked, "What six materials can we choose to build on this foundation(Jesus Christ)?" - gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay or straw. There's a difference as one group can easily be consumed by fire. The next question and activity was the one that convicted me:
List the main ways you expend your energy during a typical week.
Now go back and circle your activities that will stand the test of the fire. Cross out activities you think will burn up.
I made my list. Started crossing out the things that would perish. Are all my activities wood, hay or straw? I had more things that looked as if they would perish than were made of gold, silver and jewels. Wow, what an eye-opener for me. God showed me in this simple exercise, this is a way to examine and make choices in my life. This is the measuring stick for me to use, when I am asked to do something. This tool measures what I am already doing and how it relates to the kingdom calendar. Cleaning/laundry may not last but what I do while completing those tasks might. I can pray for each person as I fold his shirt and the situation that they will be in when they where that shirt the next time. I can vacuum the dirt away and ask God to do the same in my life.
The study goes on to explain:
Works of gold acknowledge that He alone is worthy, that He alone is God.
Works of silver proceed from a heart that responds with inexpressible gratitude for our redemption and the inestimable price paid for our atonement.
Works of precious stones result when children of the royal priesthood, serve and minister as we are fully equipped with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes we are busy "doing" that we forget about what really matters. I needed this reminder. What about you? Make a list - are the activities on the list gold, silver or precious stones or are they wood, hay and straw.
This morning I was directed to read I Cor. 3:9-15.
9For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
10By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
A question was then asked, "What six materials can we choose to build on this foundation(Jesus Christ)?" - gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay or straw. There's a difference as one group can easily be consumed by fire. The next question and activity was the one that convicted me:
List the main ways you expend your energy during a typical week.
Now go back and circle your activities that will stand the test of the fire. Cross out activities you think will burn up.
I made my list. Started crossing out the things that would perish. Are all my activities wood, hay or straw? I had more things that looked as if they would perish than were made of gold, silver and jewels. Wow, what an eye-opener for me. God showed me in this simple exercise, this is a way to examine and make choices in my life. This is the measuring stick for me to use, when I am asked to do something. This tool measures what I am already doing and how it relates to the kingdom calendar. Cleaning/laundry may not last but what I do while completing those tasks might. I can pray for each person as I fold his shirt and the situation that they will be in when they where that shirt the next time. I can vacuum the dirt away and ask God to do the same in my life.
The study goes on to explain:
Works of gold acknowledge that He alone is worthy, that He alone is God.
Works of silver proceed from a heart that responds with inexpressible gratitude for our redemption and the inestimable price paid for our atonement.
Works of precious stones result when children of the royal priesthood, serve and minister as we are fully equipped with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes we are busy "doing" that we forget about what really matters. I needed this reminder. What about you? Make a list - are the activities on the list gold, silver or precious stones or are they wood, hay and straw.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Summer Vacation
It's summer. Oh, maybe not officially yet but it's summer vacation. We have been busy camping, fishing, swimming, football camp, summer rec and VBS. Maybe this coming week we can take a break but not before a family reunion, a meeting and trip for Glenn, and a Church retreat, oh... and summer rec!
Vacation Bible School program is tonight. Our VBS is put on for the community by a partnership of three churches. The theme for the week is Studio GO. Each night the kids learn about a different Bible story that goes with the theme of the night: Go Lead, Go Risk, Go Tell, Go Obey and Go Serve. I had to come up with service projects for the 250 kids that attended VBS on two of the nights. We broke the four teams down by grades for age appropriate projects and 250 kids served! Pretty cool!
Last night something really cool happened. I needed help to pull off the service projects, so I implored on Chris and his wife, Kathy for help, and a number of my other friends to. They were to take the 3rd and 4th graders around the town and hang door hangers with a message that Christ died for you. While they were back at the church, a man came up to one of the drivers. He had been driving all over town to try to find the red suburban and the green-shirted kids that hung the door hanger on his door. He shook the driver's hand and said, "Thanks". 
Now we may never know what seeds God planted last night, but God does. We may never know how these simple door hangers will reach out to someone who needs to know that God loves them and died just for them, but God does. The 3rd and 4th graders spread the Good News. They took up the challenge of Go Tell and Go Obey.
Now we may never know what seeds God planted last night, but God does. We may never know how these simple door hangers will reach out to someone who needs to know that God loves them and died just for them, but God does. The 3rd and 4th graders spread the Good News. They took up the challenge of Go Tell and Go Obey. Will you do the same?
Message on door hangers.
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