I saw this posted facebook today. It is beautiful. I don't know if the Lord will allow me to have so many years with my wife. But I hope that our love for Him and for the world will make such an impact. Give me Jesus.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
Time for a Rotation
It is labor day. My family and I took a drive to my wife's parents' home. We had a great time together and ate a wonderful lunch which included steaks cooked perfectly on the grill by my brother-in-law.
On the way there, we drove through some rain. I am usually a pretty confident driver in rain or snow, but as I was driving up the interstate we started to hydroplane. It got my attention and then kept my attention as we continued to hydroplane a few more times.
When we arrived at my in-laws, I decided something needed to be done. It's not worth chancing a wreck with my wife and 5 boys in the van. I knew what the problem was. The back tires were fine, however the tread on the front tires was wearing.
So, with two jacks and some effort my father-in-law and I rotated the tires so that both front wheels have good tread to pull the van, even when it's raining. The van drove great on the way home and I could actually feel the difference.
Some of us could use the same thing in our lives. We're driving on worn tread.
Ephesians 4:22-24 says:
"to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."
You may feel like you have no spiritual tread. If so, maybe you need to rotate things. Too often people claim to be in Christ, yet they neglect to put off the former manner of life and put on the new self, created in true righteousness and holiness. If you have things out of place and are still holding on the your former manner of life, you'll get no traction. When storms come you will slip.
What is this new self? Get into the bible and find out. Read, read, read and pray, pray, pray. Read and pray that the Holy Spirit will guide you and change you and teach you through His word.
On the way there, we drove through some rain. I am usually a pretty confident driver in rain or snow, but as I was driving up the interstate we started to hydroplane. It got my attention and then kept my attention as we continued to hydroplane a few more times.
When we arrived at my in-laws, I decided something needed to be done. It's not worth chancing a wreck with my wife and 5 boys in the van. I knew what the problem was. The back tires were fine, however the tread on the front tires was wearing.
So, with two jacks and some effort my father-in-law and I rotated the tires so that both front wheels have good tread to pull the van, even when it's raining. The van drove great on the way home and I could actually feel the difference.
Some of us could use the same thing in our lives. We're driving on worn tread.
Ephesians 4:22-24 says:
"to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."
You may feel like you have no spiritual tread. If so, maybe you need to rotate things. Too often people claim to be in Christ, yet they neglect to put off the former manner of life and put on the new self, created in true righteousness and holiness. If you have things out of place and are still holding on the your former manner of life, you'll get no traction. When storms come you will slip.
What is this new self? Get into the bible and find out. Read, read, read and pray, pray, pray. Read and pray that the Holy Spirit will guide you and change you and teach you through His word.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Sunday, August 23 follow-up
The past two weeks we've talked about worship in our services. Here are the passages under each category of worship that we talked about. There are also some extra passages listed, however there are certainly many more that I encourage you to research on your own.
SINGING
What do you want God to see when He sees you singing?
2 Samuel 22:50; 1 Chronicles 16:9; Psalm 5:11; Psalm 13:6; Psalm 21:13; Psalm 33:3; Psalm 47:6; Psalm 96:1-2; Zephaniah 3:17; Ephesians 5:18-19; Psalm 98:1, 4; Psalm 100; Psalm 104:33; Acts 16:25; Colossians 3:16
GIVING
What do you want God to see when He sees you giving?
1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 8:2-3; 2 Corinthians 9:3
SERVING
What do you want God to see when He sees you serve?
Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 4:10; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31
SCRIPTURE READING
What do you want God to see when He sees you reading scripture?
1 Timothy 4:13; Isaiah 66:2; 2 Timothy 3:16-17
PRAYING
What do you want God to see when He sees you praying?
Matthew 6:5-14; Matthew 21:22; Acts 1:14; Colossians 4:2-3; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Timothy 2:8; James 5:13-18; 1 Peter 3:12
FELLOWSHIP/LOVING ONE ANOTHER
What do you want God to see when He sees you loving others in the church?
John 13:34-35; John 15:12, 17; Romans 12:9-21; Romans 15:7; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 John 3:11, 23
LISTENING/RESPONDING TO PREACHING
What do you want God to see when He sees you listen/respond to preaching?
2 Timothy 4:1-2; Romans 10:9-17; Psalm 119:4, 18, 36
Does your worship say to God, "I am denying myself and following you?" Does it say to others, "I enjoy making much of God?"
SINGING
What do you want God to see when He sees you singing?
2 Samuel 22:50; 1 Chronicles 16:9; Psalm 5:11; Psalm 13:6; Psalm 21:13; Psalm 33:3; Psalm 47:6; Psalm 96:1-2; Zephaniah 3:17; Ephesians 5:18-19; Psalm 98:1, 4; Psalm 100; Psalm 104:33; Acts 16:25; Colossians 3:16
GIVING
What do you want God to see when He sees you giving?
1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 8:2-3; 2 Corinthians 9:3
SERVING
What do you want God to see when He sees you serve?
Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 4:10; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31
SCRIPTURE READING
What do you want God to see when He sees you reading scripture?
1 Timothy 4:13; Isaiah 66:2; 2 Timothy 3:16-17
PRAYING
What do you want God to see when He sees you praying?
Matthew 6:5-14; Matthew 21:22; Acts 1:14; Colossians 4:2-3; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Timothy 2:8; James 5:13-18; 1 Peter 3:12
FELLOWSHIP/LOVING ONE ANOTHER
What do you want God to see when He sees you loving others in the church?
John 13:34-35; John 15:12, 17; Romans 12:9-21; Romans 15:7; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 John 3:11, 23
LISTENING/RESPONDING TO PREACHING
What do you want God to see when He sees you listen/respond to preaching?
2 Timothy 4:1-2; Romans 10:9-17; Psalm 119:4, 18, 36
Does your worship say to God, "I am denying myself and following you?" Does it say to others, "I enjoy making much of God?"
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