Tuesday, May 4, 2021
What If? 02.09.21
What if someone said something so ignorant of the Bible that you rolled your eyes and scoffed at the same time?????
For the record (Biblical that is) JESUS WAS NOT A SOCIALIST! That is not only wrong but it is not close to Biblical. Socialism, Capitalism, Communism are economic systems. Jesus had nothing to do with any of those systems. Nothing Jesus taught even remotely touched on those systems. Jesus lived under the law of Moses (and He himself fulfilled the law, meaning he completed what the law could not do and that is eternal forgiveness and a reckoning with God).
Nothing in the Bible mentions government enforced sharing what a person has earned (that would be socialism). So to think of Jesus as a socialist is not only ignorant but WRONG.
Thanks Dr Jack Cottrell for helping me understand this.
WHAT IF? 04.06.21
WHAT IF?
What if you could trust everyone you came in contact with? What if you could differentiate between truth and untruth? What if you could live in a world of perfection, everyone is of one mind, all are welcome to live freely, everyone loves their "neighbor" of every color and kind? That perfect place is Heaven. No politics. No government. No liars. No pain. No hunger. No crime. No sadness... that is the place of eternal joy.
If you spent the last 4 years hating a president and anyone that agreed with him. SHAME! If everyday you spewed out hatred for a "party" or individuals you disagree with... SHAME! If you have hate in your heart still because of your political thoughts... SAD! If the last 20 + years has shown us anything is that our government is a mess because of PEOPLE that want and have POWER. And if they are not into the POWER then they are seeking MONEY, because the two seem to go hand in hand. FYI... If you don't pray for President Biden everyday... SHAME on you. We are told to pray for those in authority and to give unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar. But too many times we let "politics" and "truth" get in the way of civility and kindness.
If you think that everyone that does not think exactly like you are evil, you are simple and a fool. It has always been my belief that we have the freedom to believe and think what we want. Not what some bigwig in DC thinks or wants. Just because you agree with the "woke" and the "privileged" does not mean you are right. If you have to talk down to people and call them names like white evangelicals and deplorable, that makes you more deplorable than that. If you think that your reasonings and your thoughts are the only things that matter, you have lost already. Just because you have a following of sorts does not mean you are right. There was a plaque I bought in Bible College that says "Where all men think alike, NO ONE THINKS".
We should allow people different from us to be themselves, not everyone has to look like you or act like you for them to be viable. They are God's creation, not yours. Don't make racism, racist, etc be the only thing you use to accuse people, or insult them or try to tear them down with. That in itself is racist. I do not believe we are a racist nation. Some fools say we are and the race baiters say we are. but WE ARE NOT A RACIST NATION. Don't get me wrong, we have racists in this nation, but for the most part we are not a racist nation. If you have the power to make changes in this nation for good between all of us, you should do that. Some had that power and never used it for good.
one last thought. If you go to church, call yourself a Christian and only see things through the lens of church or Christianity, beware, satan uses light to blind people. The great liar uses "godly" things to entice people. Live your life in the way of the "SPIRIT". Live your life knowing where you stand, spiritually. Galatian 5:22-23 says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." If you have no love or joy or peace or forbearance and kindness and goodness and faithfulness nor gentleness and self-control in your life, that is not living by the Spirit of God.
If politics is all you think about and how to "lord" your beliefs over people, beware; you may drown in the hate you spew every day. You have to decide who you will serve. What if we could all just show kindness and try to understand each other without insults and hate.
WHAT IF? 04.18.21
What if??
What if you were held responsible for every word out of your mouth, every deed, every action, every single judgment.... well you are. You will answer for each hate-filled thing you have ever done.
There is one that will help you with your faults and issues. His name is Jesus. You will answer to him at the end of your life. He is Love and forgiveness .
Why do you spend time on the foolishness of this world.. The newest trend, the newest woke, the newest canceled culture, politics... these are the distractions that the fools of this world dwell on. God is walking with us each step of each day. Be strong. Do not listen to the haters and the fools.
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
WHAT IF??
I wear a mask, shield, wash my hands, stay away from people... but i do not judge people that do not wear a mask. If they know to wear one, they should. But if they don't use it all the time, they don't answer to me. I know a person that makes it their job to yell at, condemn, hate and mostly a little crazy about masks etc. Well not just masks it's everything really... she hates this, she hates that and her words are rude and poison. That being said I don't allow anyone to tell me what i should do, I already know that. I don't allow anyone to tell me how to think and what to think. I am quite good at that. But this one person takes it upon themselves to treat everyone with such contempt that she comes a cross very overwhelming. However, that is that person.
Our being told to stay home... wear your mask... to me is all politics. they call it science: I have come to hate the word science because it is used to belittle and let others know that the person using that word thinks everyone is a moron. So i HATE THE WORD SCIENCE! there is politics involved when they tell you where you can go, what you can do, who you can talk to and worst of all how you should think. Sorry you are not my god. This kind of control is a kissing cousin to socialist / communist control. If they can determine everything in the society by taking away our freedoms, then they are wrong. I have the right to go and say and do whatever I want... PERIOD.
If it seems I am a little angry or disgusted... you are correct. This constant bombardment of how to live our lives makes all of us angry. I have done quite well for the 66 years of my life so far.
> I am not a racist (never have been never will_
> I do not treat women wrong. I was raised by strong women. I never think bad of women; I would never treat a woman like trash; and I will always be "Christian" in my conduct toward women
> Abortion is murder. that is my belief. I don't care is someone thinks bad of that. I think bad of how many babies have been murdered since the 70's. There are 2 lives involved, and only 1 has a choice.
> God created 2 genders. If you can find it in the Bible I will reconsider this
> In the Bible there are only 2 groups that is mentioned... 1) Jews 2) non-Jews. that's it, that's all
that's enough for now. I will not always be on a horse that is high...
DRey (D-Ray)
David Reynolds
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
Why do people have to be so ignorant
I am a person that lets people do whatever they want. It is on their heads. However, if you attempt to bring your ignorance to me and think I will be part of it, you are WRONG! I will have nothing to do with your stupidity.
After contemplating things on this planet I have come up with my list of things I have no choice over
I am white
I am male
I am 64 years old
I am a dad, grandfather, uncle, brother, son, cousin, nephew...
I have friends and relatives of every belief and color and lifestyle
I speak where the Bible speaks and silent where the Bible is silent.
I think that's the list
I do have opinions that I will share with you, but if you think who I am is something you can use against me, think again. That would be the most ignorant thing you could do. I don't care about your politics or what you think about white people, males, 60+-year-olds... I don't care. I live my life honestly before God (you know Jehovah, the God of Abraham and Isaac in the Old Testament, the one and only true GOD). I won't apologize for that nor will I allow you to downplay my faith. If you don't believe, good for you, that's your choice and your problem. I will live my life the way I always have... honestly.
So why is this my subject today? Because I have read too much on Facebook, Newspaper, etc. I am supposed to apologize for all that. I DO NOT. find another moron to do your ignorance to. I shall just laugh at you because you are simply that stupid. Yes, I use the word stupid. it works.
An aside... I was kicked off Twitter for using a scripture reference. they will not budge or allow me back on. Morons. And I may have mentioned on Hillary Clinton's Twitter page that she is an idiot.
Later
PS. I haven't blogged lately because I forgot my sign in information.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
A New Day
Today is Thanksgiving Eve. We don't really celebrate it, but it is important... How many pumpkins and turkeys are being prepared as we speak. Yesterday, the turkey was defrosting in the fridge... TODAY it will be stuffed and readied to cook all night for its debut tomorrow.
A new day.....
A new day.....
A New Day
Just got back from Anaheim last night. I left @ 4:30 pm... the traffic was horrendous. But I love it. I am one of the few that doesn't mind LA's traffic. It's annoying, yes, but it is alive. The Hyundai that decided to push her way into my lane where there wasn't enough room...wanted to hit her car, but, whatever. The Tahoe that owned the road going over the Newhall Pass... so cool, you caused the lane next to me to stop completely because the dear little saint in the Fiesta rear ended the Taurus... tsk tsk, but the Tahoe owned the road and pulled out of my lane and in front of the Fiesta that slammed on her brakes that the Taurus couldn't stop quick enough... oopsie! So it was a slow, parking lot drive from Pasadena to Magic Mountain... and by the way, when does the 210 fwy have a million cars on it going West from Pasadena???? who said they could get on my freeway?
Oh well, the drive over the grapevine was uneventful... it was dark, and just had to make sure the semi's weren't in the way or that van of some sort with people hanging out the back window... Otherwise all the way to Bakersfield was typical... 40 minutes I will never get back in my life... then the drive from there to Clovis... 2 hours that seem to multiply every time I drive it.
I should mention there was fog last night. You could still see (most of the time) but there were a few places where braille was needed to read the highway. But that was the worst of it. Oh gas was $4.19 a gallon, too bad huh? Thank you Mr Obama for not taking care of us and helping us with our daily needs (FAILURE).
It is a new day... got up, to work, had a worship service with the Second Half and then lunch at Guiseppe Gallo's... awesome. A new day brings refreshment. A new day reminds me that God is watching every step of my journey. A new day is hope-filled and finally.
Oh well, the drive over the grapevine was uneventful... it was dark, and just had to make sure the semi's weren't in the way or that van of some sort with people hanging out the back window... Otherwise all the way to Bakersfield was typical... 40 minutes I will never get back in my life... then the drive from there to Clovis... 2 hours that seem to multiply every time I drive it.
I should mention there was fog last night. You could still see (most of the time) but there were a few places where braille was needed to read the highway. But that was the worst of it. Oh gas was $4.19 a gallon, too bad huh? Thank you Mr Obama for not taking care of us and helping us with our daily needs (FAILURE).
It is a new day... got up, to work, had a worship service with the Second Half and then lunch at Guiseppe Gallo's... awesome. A new day brings refreshment. A new day reminds me that God is watching every step of my journey. A new day is hope-filled and finally.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
The Truth About Seedland
If you have read the past 3 posts (Heaven help you), you know that the seeds ended up four different ways. One seed was eaten by the birds because it was on the path; another was thrown among rocks and died because there was no place to root,; yet another was choked by the thorns and died; and the last seed grew and grew.
There was no difference in the seeds whatsoever. There is bad seed, but for all purposes of this parable these seeds were all the same. The difference was the surroundings in which they were placed. No one can grow on a sidewalk, or on rocks, or among weeds and thorns... NO ONE! Yet we stay among the sidewalks and the rocks and weeds of our lives. There is no way that anyone will ever grow until they remove themselves from these things. Unlike a seed which cannot remove itself from those places, we can. It may be a job change; it may be a location change; it may even be a church change. If there are any obstacles that come between our "spiritual" growth and walking tall in God's kingdom, it has to be removed.
There are too many planters and not enough gardens. Plants in planters are cared for with lots of TLC and watched very closely so that they don't get too much water or sunlight or draft. But that is not the purpose of the church. we are not a bunch of specialized plants in a very controlled situation. The church is more like a garden. The seed that is to grow in God's kingdom is to be everywhere and thrown to the wind so that it can be planted wherever and nurtured by the "Master Gardener" -- Jesus. Jesus is the Gardener, man is the waterer. no more and no less. If we try to be the Gardener, we take away God's purpose for Jesus on earth. We spend too much time worrying about the weather and not about the one that is in control of the weather.
Psalm 1:1-3 says it best... "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, an on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers."
There was no difference in the seeds whatsoever. There is bad seed, but for all purposes of this parable these seeds were all the same. The difference was the surroundings in which they were placed. No one can grow on a sidewalk, or on rocks, or among weeds and thorns... NO ONE! Yet we stay among the sidewalks and the rocks and weeds of our lives. There is no way that anyone will ever grow until they remove themselves from these things. Unlike a seed which cannot remove itself from those places, we can. It may be a job change; it may be a location change; it may even be a church change. If there are any obstacles that come between our "spiritual" growth and walking tall in God's kingdom, it has to be removed.
There are too many planters and not enough gardens. Plants in planters are cared for with lots of TLC and watched very closely so that they don't get too much water or sunlight or draft. But that is not the purpose of the church. we are not a bunch of specialized plants in a very controlled situation. The church is more like a garden. The seed that is to grow in God's kingdom is to be everywhere and thrown to the wind so that it can be planted wherever and nurtured by the "Master Gardener" -- Jesus. Jesus is the Gardener, man is the waterer. no more and no less. If we try to be the Gardener, we take away God's purpose for Jesus on earth. We spend too much time worrying about the weather and not about the one that is in control of the weather.
Psalm 1:1-3 says it best... "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, an on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers."
Thursday, April 22, 2010
The Truth About Dawn Seed (#3)
What a sadness, what a dilemma! Seedland heard about the horrible deaths of Homer and Gomer. The agony -- the Sneedy Seeds have long been enemies of Seedland. There had been a great battle with Godseed and Luciseed. Luciseed took many seeds with him after the battle and have fought Godseed ever since.
Ex Seed, Homer and Gomer's mom, was outright emotional. You never saw a seed carry on so; she went into seedshock; the little seedbodies of her sons were never recovered. In the midst of this tribulation, there was a seed that knew the meaning of pain and hurt. Her name was Inter Seed. Inter prayed daily that all Seedland would love the good Lord, would grow to bring nourishment to the Flesh-people, and that she could some day bear seed, for poor Inter was seedless. Inter prayed and prayed and prayed and one day the good Lord gave her a seed. Inter named her Dawn, because she was the beginning of a new day for her.
Inter taught Dawn to be patient and to wait on God and allow God to bring about things in His own time. She also instructed her daughter that the good Lord had a great purpose for her -- to bring nourishment to the Flesh-people. Dawn went to Germinating University like her cousins Rufus, Homer and Gomer. She learned many things and amazed her Professeeds. The day came when Dawn germinated and was Valiseedtorian of her class. She was finally on her way to the Great Farmer.
It seemed like an eternity before she arrived to her final destination. Dawn prayed that the good Lord would find her worthy of the Flesh-people. As she finished her prayer, the Great Farmer lifted her with the many other seeds in his hand and tossed her into the air. Dawn squealed with glee as she flew through the air. All the way to Mother Earth, Dawn just prayed, "Lord, may I be worthy." She fell in beautiful, black, soft, and earthy soil. Her root system went into action and she became the most beautiful plant that the Farmer had ever seen.
"Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown... but the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the Word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop."
All things happen in God's timing. We may have to wait a long time for our prayers to be answered, but the harvest and the wait are worthy it because we are under God's care and protection. Grow!
to be continued...
Ex Seed, Homer and Gomer's mom, was outright emotional. You never saw a seed carry on so; she went into seedshock; the little seedbodies of her sons were never recovered. In the midst of this tribulation, there was a seed that knew the meaning of pain and hurt. Her name was Inter Seed. Inter prayed daily that all Seedland would love the good Lord, would grow to bring nourishment to the Flesh-people, and that she could some day bear seed, for poor Inter was seedless. Inter prayed and prayed and prayed and one day the good Lord gave her a seed. Inter named her Dawn, because she was the beginning of a new day for her.
Inter taught Dawn to be patient and to wait on God and allow God to bring about things in His own time. She also instructed her daughter that the good Lord had a great purpose for her -- to bring nourishment to the Flesh-people. Dawn went to Germinating University like her cousins Rufus, Homer and Gomer. She learned many things and amazed her Professeeds. The day came when Dawn germinated and was Valiseedtorian of her class. She was finally on her way to the Great Farmer.
It seemed like an eternity before she arrived to her final destination. Dawn prayed that the good Lord would find her worthy of the Flesh-people. As she finished her prayer, the Great Farmer lifted her with the many other seeds in his hand and tossed her into the air. Dawn squealed with glee as she flew through the air. All the way to Mother Earth, Dawn just prayed, "Lord, may I be worthy." She fell in beautiful, black, soft, and earthy soil. Her root system went into action and she became the most beautiful plant that the Farmer had ever seen.
"Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown... but the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the Word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop."
All things happen in God's timing. We may have to wait a long time for our prayers to be answered, but the harvest and the wait are worthy it because we are under God's care and protection. Grow!
to be continued...
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The Triuth About Homer and Gomer Seed (Part 2)
The news about Rufus Seed hit Seedland with a whirlwind of dismay. Pro and Sec went into seed-shock. Pro, Rufus' mother, had a sister named Ex Seed who, when hearing the news was lamenteous. Her own two seedlings, Homer and Gomer,were at Germinating University ready to germinate. What a pitiful tale! Poor ol' Rufus, she'd say over and over to herself and no one in particular.
The day came for the graduation of Homer and Gomer. They were packaged together and sent to an unknown destination. Ex had never explained about the flesh people and Seedland to her two seedlings. They picked up what they knew in the locker room at Seedling Elementary. The flesh people were considered the ultimate in the Creator's handiwork, yet even at Germinating University, there was an element of not sharing that bit of info with everyone. And that is another story entirely.
Homer and Gomer finally arrived at their final destination. They were a little worried, the news about the demise of Rufus traveled like the wind. They wondered what would happen next and what the Great Farmer would be like. At GU, there was a thought that maybe the Great Farmer was the ultimate of all things, and yet that is another story.
Then the Great Farmer took them into his hands and tossed them. Homer was elated, the wind screaming past his seed-ears. He landed on hard packed dirt. It was a path (he had read about them at GU). Meanwhile, Gomer was just as excited as he flew through the air. He landed on a part of the ground already occupied by Sneedy Seed, of the Thorny Family.
Within moments Homer realized that he was going to die -- one of the Creator's flying creatures had him in view and there was no place to hide. The creature picked him up as he screamed then he became the dinner of the creature that went looking for more.
As Homer died, Gomer himself was being choked by the Sneedy family and he likewise perished.
Jesus said, "... some fell along the path and the birds came and ate it up. When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.. other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. What was sown among thorns is the man who hears the Word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, and make it unfruitful."
The seed, as good as it was, still faced uncertain death. You don't have to live in fear of the evil one or the worries of this life... your seed can grow
to be continued
The day came for the graduation of Homer and Gomer. They were packaged together and sent to an unknown destination. Ex had never explained about the flesh people and Seedland to her two seedlings. They picked up what they knew in the locker room at Seedling Elementary. The flesh people were considered the ultimate in the Creator's handiwork, yet even at Germinating University, there was an element of not sharing that bit of info with everyone. And that is another story entirely.
Homer and Gomer finally arrived at their final destination. They were a little worried, the news about the demise of Rufus traveled like the wind. They wondered what would happen next and what the Great Farmer would be like. At GU, there was a thought that maybe the Great Farmer was the ultimate of all things, and yet that is another story.
Then the Great Farmer took them into his hands and tossed them. Homer was elated, the wind screaming past his seed-ears. He landed on hard packed dirt. It was a path (he had read about them at GU). Meanwhile, Gomer was just as excited as he flew through the air. He landed on a part of the ground already occupied by Sneedy Seed, of the Thorny Family.
Within moments Homer realized that he was going to die -- one of the Creator's flying creatures had him in view and there was no place to hide. The creature picked him up as he screamed then he became the dinner of the creature that went looking for more.
As Homer died, Gomer himself was being choked by the Sneedy family and he likewise perished.
Jesus said, "... some fell along the path and the birds came and ate it up. When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.. other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. What was sown among thorns is the man who hears the Word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, and make it unfruitful."
The seed, as good as it was, still faced uncertain death. You don't have to live in fear of the evil one or the worries of this life... your seed can grow
to be continued
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
The Truth About Rufus Seed
There once was a seed named Rufus. Now Rufus was a very healthy seed. When he was born, the seed-doctor said, "Pro (Pro Seed was his mama's name), you have a very nice specimen of a seed here. He's one of the best little seeds I've seen in a long time." Pro would rock little Rufus in a pod every day. She's sing to him and tell him how wonderful he was and how someday he would be a mighty plant. How the good Lord put him on this earth to bring nourishment to the Flesh-people. Rufus would just listen and dream of the day that the Great Farmer would come and put him in the Mother Earth and let him grow so he could feed and nourish the Flesh-people.
Now Rufus went to Germinating University, like all good seeds did, and germinated the "Head Sprout" of his class. His daddy, Sec Seed,* was mighty proud of his little germinator. He told Pro that "someday Rufus would be a tall, healthy plant, as all good Seeds are supposed to."
The day for packaging came. Of course Rufus was one of the first in the bag. He traveled for days and days. He had no idea where he would end up. Finally he was taken into a big warehouse with millions of other seeds and was left there for several days. He was very homesick, but he knew that someday he would be very tall and majestic and serve the one and only purpose he was made for -- to nourish the Flesh-People.
It happened, he was moved from his dark, dreary prison with several thousand friends and relatives and taken on another ride. He came to a very beautiful and quiet place. The seeds waited with anticipation and it happened. The Farmer took him in his hand and tossed him. The wind felt glorious on his little seed-body. Rufus was in second heaven. He finally landed with several other seeds not on soft Mother Earth, but rocks. The great Sun beat its hot rays upon him. Rufus tried to get into the Mother Earth and find water, but he couldn't. The rocks had him and would not allow him to go anywhere. Rufus screamed for help, no one could help him. Others cried and begged for help. He felt his life shriveling. He knew he was dying. A seed-tear fell down his emaciated seed-body. He died.
Jesus said, "The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the Word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the Word, he quickly falls away." have you wondered why you aren't growing? It's not the "seed", it's you. Seek the good soil...
to be continued
Now Rufus went to Germinating University, like all good seeds did, and germinated the "Head Sprout" of his class. His daddy, Sec Seed,* was mighty proud of his little germinator. He told Pro that "someday Rufus would be a tall, healthy plant, as all good Seeds are supposed to."
The day for packaging came. Of course Rufus was one of the first in the bag. He traveled for days and days. He had no idea where he would end up. Finally he was taken into a big warehouse with millions of other seeds and was left there for several days. He was very homesick, but he knew that someday he would be very tall and majestic and serve the one and only purpose he was made for -- to nourish the Flesh-People.
It happened, he was moved from his dark, dreary prison with several thousand friends and relatives and taken on another ride. He came to a very beautiful and quiet place. The seeds waited with anticipation and it happened. The Farmer took him in his hand and tossed him. The wind felt glorious on his little seed-body. Rufus was in second heaven. He finally landed with several other seeds not on soft Mother Earth, but rocks. The great Sun beat its hot rays upon him. Rufus tried to get into the Mother Earth and find water, but he couldn't. The rocks had him and would not allow him to go anywhere. Rufus screamed for help, no one could help him. Others cried and begged for help. He felt his life shriveling. He knew he was dying. A seed-tear fell down his emaciated seed-body. He died.
Jesus said, "The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the Word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the Word, he quickly falls away." have you wondered why you aren't growing? It's not the "seed", it's you. Seek the good soil...
to be continued
Thursday, August 27, 2009
THERE IS A PLACE
I wrote this years ago, but wanted it here so that I don't lose it (again). It was written for Makkael and Tyler and also for the baby that Cherie and I lost .
There is a place...
a place that is between dreams and waking
a place I will be
I will ask Jesus to take me there each and every day
to say... I love you! I miss you!
It is where I will wipe your tears and kiss you gently and hug you.
You are the joy of my life
and yet you are loved greater by the One who has brought me there...
the Lover of our souls
And we will stand there in that place before you wake, Jesus and I... together…
saying... we love you.
There is a place… beyond that place
a place by a river, a river with shores of diamonds and rubies.
That is where I will wait for you to enjoy eternity and to worship together... the ONE who has truly loved you.
and in the place where there will be eternal joy.
There is a place...
There is a place...
a place that is between dreams and waking
a place I will be
I will ask Jesus to take me there each and every day
to say... I love you! I miss you!
It is where I will wipe your tears and kiss you gently and hug you.
You are the joy of my life
and yet you are loved greater by the One who has brought me there...
the Lover of our souls
And we will stand there in that place before you wake, Jesus and I... together…
saying... we love you.
There is a place… beyond that place
a place by a river, a river with shores of diamonds and rubies.
That is where I will wait for you to enjoy eternity and to worship together... the ONE who has truly loved you.
and in the place where there will be eternal joy.
There is a place...
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
June 2, 2009
Just wanted to say I had a great day. Had lunch with Bob Riley @ Quizno's in Clovis. Bob is always fun to be with.
Working on worship services as usual, listened 2 hours to Christmas music from Word. Oy!
Working on worship services as usual, listened 2 hours to Christmas music from Word. Oy!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
In The Twinkling Of An Eye
I used the King James phrase for this because it is a great explanation for an event in the future that we will probably be a part of. in I Cor 15:51-52 (New King James)
"Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed"
That is just an awesome thought that in the part of a second it takes to blink your eye, the amount of time it takes to just shut your eye and open it in a blink, that is all the time it will take for Him to return. That's it.
A blink.
a "twinkling"
it is less than a second. that is all that separates us from the return of Christ. When will that be? is it this blink? the next one? how about the next blink?
It is a moment... a twinkling... and we will be changed.
The thing i love the most is that that is how quick it will take to get to the greatest worship service that will go on for eternity. unfathomable!
we complain about worship services being too long, we have to stand, it's too loud, we don't like the songs, we can't wait for church to be over... gotta eat, gotta watch a game, gotta see mom and dad.... it goes on and on... It seems that the worship part of the service (all 4 songs) is just too much to deal with. Some people time their arrival to coincide with the end of the "singing" because it isn't "their thing". Some leave the second the sermon is over (something about the offering) and some as soon as communion is over (communion saves us thank God, and as long as we get our bread and juice, we are ok till next week).
The saddest part of it all is that a lot of people never really worship! we are too busy getting there and waiting to leave to actually give any reverence to the reason we are there! I have to admit it makes me angry, but I just trust God enuf to know that He can handle it. I think we must become indignant to the things that hurt the heart of God. We need to be bold and loud to the ones that break the heart of God.
And when is it even reasonable that 4 songs and a sermon change the world. It can, and it has, but when is that the definition of worship.
And when is it acceptable that we complain because we don't like a style of music or a song or that we don't sing enuf hymns??? Who has given us the right to tell God what he needs. I always shake my head when someone tells me we need more hymns or newer songs or .... what does God want? Is it songs He is looking for? Is it a musical style? Is God looking to see what we are wearing on? or what the lady on the 4th row was doing during the sermon? What is God doing during the drama in Pew # 5??? He is looking at our hearts.
So what is the answer to all these questions? When we seek more to our own personal desires in "worship" and what we want to see and hear, we do not have the heart of God. God is looking at our hearts. He is checking our motives. He knows when we've been bad or good...
My other thought is this. If we can hardly make it to a worship service here while we are live, how do we think we will enjoy heaven with the "eternal' worship service? Why would we think that heaven would be the place to end up with when we can't even "sit thru" the rehearsals. DO NOT TELL GOD WHAT WANT IN A WORSHIP SERVICE. It is not about YOU... it has nothing to do with YOU... the questions is WHAT DOES GOD WANT???
that being said and ranted... i started this with a great thought... and I will end this post with the same thought. The greatest worship experience can happen here on earth, not in most churches, but it can happen. We have to prepare our hearts, and our minds, and our lives. It has nothing to do with the hour and ten minute event that takes place millions of times each week. It has nothing to do with what we want and like and demand. It is about the worship of the Creator of all things. Only through grace have we been made worthy to be in His presence. Only through grace will we be able to worship in spirit and truth, for EVER... eternally... in the twinkling of an eye.
"Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed"
That is just an awesome thought that in the part of a second it takes to blink your eye, the amount of time it takes to just shut your eye and open it in a blink, that is all the time it will take for Him to return. That's it.
A blink.
a "twinkling"
it is less than a second. that is all that separates us from the return of Christ. When will that be? is it this blink? the next one? how about the next blink?
It is a moment... a twinkling... and we will be changed.
The thing i love the most is that that is how quick it will take to get to the greatest worship service that will go on for eternity. unfathomable!
we complain about worship services being too long, we have to stand, it's too loud, we don't like the songs, we can't wait for church to be over... gotta eat, gotta watch a game, gotta see mom and dad.... it goes on and on... It seems that the worship part of the service (all 4 songs) is just too much to deal with. Some people time their arrival to coincide with the end of the "singing" because it isn't "their thing". Some leave the second the sermon is over (something about the offering) and some as soon as communion is over (communion saves us thank God, and as long as we get our bread and juice, we are ok till next week).
The saddest part of it all is that a lot of people never really worship! we are too busy getting there and waiting to leave to actually give any reverence to the reason we are there! I have to admit it makes me angry, but I just trust God enuf to know that He can handle it. I think we must become indignant to the things that hurt the heart of God. We need to be bold and loud to the ones that break the heart of God.
And when is it even reasonable that 4 songs and a sermon change the world. It can, and it has, but when is that the definition of worship.
And when is it acceptable that we complain because we don't like a style of music or a song or that we don't sing enuf hymns??? Who has given us the right to tell God what he needs. I always shake my head when someone tells me we need more hymns or newer songs or .... what does God want? Is it songs He is looking for? Is it a musical style? Is God looking to see what we are wearing on? or what the lady on the 4th row was doing during the sermon? What is God doing during the drama in Pew # 5??? He is looking at our hearts.
So what is the answer to all these questions? When we seek more to our own personal desires in "worship" and what we want to see and hear, we do not have the heart of God. God is looking at our hearts. He is checking our motives. He knows when we've been bad or good...
My other thought is this. If we can hardly make it to a worship service here while we are live, how do we think we will enjoy heaven with the "eternal' worship service? Why would we think that heaven would be the place to end up with when we can't even "sit thru" the rehearsals. DO NOT TELL GOD WHAT WANT IN A WORSHIP SERVICE. It is not about YOU... it has nothing to do with YOU... the questions is WHAT DOES GOD WANT???
that being said and ranted... i started this with a great thought... and I will end this post with the same thought. The greatest worship experience can happen here on earth, not in most churches, but it can happen. We have to prepare our hearts, and our minds, and our lives. It has nothing to do with the hour and ten minute event that takes place millions of times each week. It has nothing to do with what we want and like and demand. It is about the worship of the Creator of all things. Only through grace have we been made worthy to be in His presence. Only through grace will we be able to worship in spirit and truth, for EVER... eternally... in the twinkling of an eye.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Joy In The Morning
I have always loved the phrase "there will be joy in the morning". It comes from Psalm 30. It is a Song at the dedication of the house of David, which was probably written for his palace, but may have been sung at the dedication of the temple. Just a thought.
I will extol You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up
And have not let my foes rejoice over me.
O LORD my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me.
O LORD, You brought my soul up from the grave;
You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit
Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
I get this... it is like God speaking thru the Psalmist. The beginning of chapter 30 is psalm of praise... the reason we praise or extol the Lord is because 1) You lifted me up 2) and my enemies are not allowed to rejoice over me... or God has protected me from shame and harm. It is like the best insurance plan ever. satan has always wanted to destroy us, but that battle has already been won. The ultimate of not letting my foes rejoice over me.
The greatest thing is the same truth, if we call upon the Lord, he hears and listens and moves all at the same time. I think that this talks about physical and spiritual healing. How awesome is this. I believe that God still heals today. I believe that he is more than able to do whatever He wills. God's will is not just what we want God to do... it is what He wants to do. I think it is harder to make a god up and then live according to those rules. We do it all the time. We have to let God be who He is an quit trying to do His job for Him.
The perfect reaction is to "sing praise to the Lord and give thanks". hmmmmm Singing and Thanksgiving... reminds me of Psalm 100. Our response to God should be thanksgiving.
but then comes the best part of Chapter 30... For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life... God's favor is something that we all enjoy, that call upon His name. To live in God's favor, that is just too awesome for words. Mary was called God's "favored one" and the song she sang (The Magnificat in Luke 1:46-55) shows us how God moves and touches and brings about His Will.
There is a promise in all this... and it is something that I cling to. Weeping and grief and sorrow my just last for a night... but the the next day (even on the 3rd day) the sun rises. There is joy, there is hope, there is all encompassing peace that comes in the morning. When there seems to be no way out of a situation, the sun rises. There is always a new day.
The Psalm is ended with this thought... In the morning, my sorrow is turned into a dance. I no longer have to wear "black", but I can wear my party clothes. When all is said and done... we sing, we dance, we give thanks - forever.
Psalm 30: 11-12 says
"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever."
I will extol You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up
And have not let my foes rejoice over me.
O LORD my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me.
O LORD, You brought my soul up from the grave;
You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit
Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
I get this... it is like God speaking thru the Psalmist. The beginning of chapter 30 is psalm of praise... the reason we praise or extol the Lord is because 1) You lifted me up 2) and my enemies are not allowed to rejoice over me... or God has protected me from shame and harm. It is like the best insurance plan ever. satan has always wanted to destroy us, but that battle has already been won. The ultimate of not letting my foes rejoice over me.
The greatest thing is the same truth, if we call upon the Lord, he hears and listens and moves all at the same time. I think that this talks about physical and spiritual healing. How awesome is this. I believe that God still heals today. I believe that he is more than able to do whatever He wills. God's will is not just what we want God to do... it is what He wants to do. I think it is harder to make a god up and then live according to those rules. We do it all the time. We have to let God be who He is an quit trying to do His job for Him.
The perfect reaction is to "sing praise to the Lord and give thanks". hmmmmm Singing and Thanksgiving... reminds me of Psalm 100. Our response to God should be thanksgiving.
but then comes the best part of Chapter 30... For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life... God's favor is something that we all enjoy, that call upon His name. To live in God's favor, that is just too awesome for words. Mary was called God's "favored one" and the song she sang (The Magnificat in Luke 1:46-55) shows us how God moves and touches and brings about His Will.
There is a promise in all this... and it is something that I cling to. Weeping and grief and sorrow my just last for a night... but the the next day (even on the 3rd day) the sun rises. There is joy, there is hope, there is all encompassing peace that comes in the morning. When there seems to be no way out of a situation, the sun rises. There is always a new day.
The Psalm is ended with this thought... In the morning, my sorrow is turned into a dance. I no longer have to wear "black", but I can wear my party clothes. When all is said and done... we sing, we dance, we give thanks - forever.
Psalm 30: 11-12 says
"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever."
Saturday, February 7, 2009
A thought about Barbara Johnson
Every first day of the month, I remember Barbara Johnson.
I met her through a friend, Lynda Wigren. Lynda worked at Berean Bookstore in Whittier (it is no longer there), but Lynda traveled with Barbara. She'd help her sell her books, take care of details, etc. So we met... Barbara gave me her book (autographed of course) "Where Does A Mother Go To Resign?" It made me laugh.
Barbara was just funny. She had been through a lot in her life. And those things had happened years before I met her. So the Barbara I knew and loved was the "after the fact" Barbara. She had wit and wisdom. It was great to banter with her, she was well armed. But she celebrated the First of every single month. Every 1st of the month I remember her. Every single one. I just smile.
Her youngest son, Barney, came to our church for a while in West Covina (Christ's Church of the Valley's original name was West Covina Church Of Christ). And one Sunday, I ran into Barbara at the back of the old church. (dang we packed em in). We laughed about something "churchy" and she was glad that Barney was going to church.
I ran into her probably 15 times in person, and we talked many times on the phone. I moved to Colorado, then Fresno, then Kentucky...
Lynda called one day and said that Barbara had brain cancer. She was typical, Lynda... trusting in God, just as Barbara was.
My mom told me the funniest story once... and it was a true story. A friend of a friend's mom was visiting, and had never been to a gynecologist, and she was in her 70's or 80's... Her daughter set her up with her own gynecologist, and she went to work. When she got home she asked her mom how it went, and the mom was really upset. She said the doctor said something so rude and fresh and out of place... and her daughter asked well what did he say? the mom said, he said, "My don't we look festive?" Her daughter was shocked, so she just started asking questions. What did you do before you went??
well i took a shower... good
and I used some of your feminine hygiene spray... good, but i don't have any
yes you do
No i don't... show me what you are talking about
So the mom went into the bathroom, looked around and handed her a can of glitter hairspray. hence... "My don't we look festive?"
ok.. that's kinda iffish... but it's my blog, get your own.
My mom took 3 phone calls just to tell me she was laughing so hard. I of course told Lynda Wigren, who... told Barbara. Next thing I know (old Jed's a millionaire), I mean Lynda called and wanted to find out who it was, make sure it was true, etc because Barbara wanted to share it at Women Of Faith, and put it in her book.. which she did on both counts.
Barbara told it much better than I would ever have done.
ok this isn't about worship
This isn't about much more than an awesome and wonderful lady named Barbara Johnson that touched my heart and my life. I still smile the first of every month!
I met her through a friend, Lynda Wigren. Lynda worked at Berean Bookstore in Whittier (it is no longer there), but Lynda traveled with Barbara. She'd help her sell her books, take care of details, etc. So we met... Barbara gave me her book (autographed of course) "Where Does A Mother Go To Resign?" It made me laugh.
Barbara was just funny. She had been through a lot in her life. And those things had happened years before I met her. So the Barbara I knew and loved was the "after the fact" Barbara. She had wit and wisdom. It was great to banter with her, she was well armed. But she celebrated the First of every single month. Every 1st of the month I remember her. Every single one. I just smile.
Her youngest son, Barney, came to our church for a while in West Covina (Christ's Church of the Valley's original name was West Covina Church Of Christ). And one Sunday, I ran into Barbara at the back of the old church. (dang we packed em in). We laughed about something "churchy" and she was glad that Barney was going to church.
I ran into her probably 15 times in person, and we talked many times on the phone. I moved to Colorado, then Fresno, then Kentucky...
Lynda called one day and said that Barbara had brain cancer. She was typical, Lynda... trusting in God, just as Barbara was.
My mom told me the funniest story once... and it was a true story. A friend of a friend's mom was visiting, and had never been to a gynecologist, and she was in her 70's or 80's... Her daughter set her up with her own gynecologist, and she went to work. When she got home she asked her mom how it went, and the mom was really upset. She said the doctor said something so rude and fresh and out of place... and her daughter asked well what did he say? the mom said, he said, "My don't we look festive?" Her daughter was shocked, so she just started asking questions. What did you do before you went??
well i took a shower... good
and I used some of your feminine hygiene spray... good, but i don't have any
yes you do
No i don't... show me what you are talking about
So the mom went into the bathroom, looked around and handed her a can of glitter hairspray. hence... "My don't we look festive?"
ok.. that's kinda iffish... but it's my blog, get your own.
My mom took 3 phone calls just to tell me she was laughing so hard. I of course told Lynda Wigren, who... told Barbara. Next thing I know (old Jed's a millionaire), I mean Lynda called and wanted to find out who it was, make sure it was true, etc because Barbara wanted to share it at Women Of Faith, and put it in her book.. which she did on both counts.
Barbara told it much better than I would ever have done.
ok this isn't about worship
This isn't about much more than an awesome and wonderful lady named Barbara Johnson that touched my heart and my life. I still smile the first of every month!
Monday, February 2, 2009
Stand In Awe / Habakkuk
besides how funny the name sounds to us, Habakkuk, is probably my favorite book of the OT, next to Psalms.
Habakkuk called himself a prophet... because of how he wrote his book is written, the thought is that he may have been a temple prophet. I Chron 25:1 says that Temple Prophets used lyres, harps & cymbals. Habakkuk may have been a Levite and singer in the temple... OK I THINK THAT IS PRETTY COOL. A singer in the temple -- it sounds familiar. There is a Rabbinic tradition that he was the son of the Shunammite woman's son who Elisha had brought to life (II Kings 4:16). But no one really knows about him. It doesn't matter, Habakkuk, is just an awesome. It encourages me.
I love the fact that he questioned God - a lot... I do the same thing. God can handle it. God can handle any emotion we bring to Him. Habakkuk asked God "how long must I call for help, and you do not listen?" WHAT? Ok i have never done that. demanding an answer from God. God told him that he was going to send the Babylonians to bring judgment... DAAAANNNNGGGGGG! that is powerful. God uses even the most "unholy" people to teach us and to judge us.
So the stage is set, Habakkuk questions God and when God answers, He passes judgment on the evil nations. At the end of the second chapter is probably the most misused scripture in the Bible... God says... "But the Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth be silent before Him." I have seen this written on the walls outside of sanctuaries, meaning be quiet in here! I have to thank Ron Keller for this, but it is true, silence has nothing to do with "worship". Ron said that the only time there is "silence" in the Bible, it is for judgment, not worship! And it is true, no where in the Bible does silence = worship... NO WHERE. So this idea that we have to be "quiet" and "formal" is just wrong. Don't get me wrong.. if you want to be formal before God.. be formal, but if you want to dance and fall prostrate and lift your hands... then do it. He is not looking at that anyway... something about your heart!
The last chapter of Habakkuk is truly amazing. Habakkuk give glory to God.. in vs 2 he says, "I stand in awe of Your deeds" When you understand that you don't know God, but learn to trust in Him... the true response is AWE. The God of all creation gave Habakkuk answers to his questions and demands. He saw God as He was, and believed that God was in charge.
To set up the ending of this blog, I have to say, the end of Chapter 3 is powerful. it gives each of us hope. Habakkuk said that no matter what happens, we should Praise God. Even if everything we are, we have, we do, we want falls apart, the answer is to rejoice in the Lord. when you are waiting for destruction and judgment and God is being Himself, what would you say? What would you do? Where would you run to? What questions would you have for God? This is why I love this book. So to close this thought Habakkuk says in chapter 3:16-19:
"I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights."
Habakkuk called himself a prophet... because of how he wrote his book is written, the thought is that he may have been a temple prophet. I Chron 25:1 says that Temple Prophets used lyres, harps & cymbals. Habakkuk may have been a Levite and singer in the temple... OK I THINK THAT IS PRETTY COOL. A singer in the temple -- it sounds familiar. There is a Rabbinic tradition that he was the son of the Shunammite woman's son who Elisha had brought to life (II Kings 4:16). But no one really knows about him. It doesn't matter, Habakkuk, is just an awesome. It encourages me.
I love the fact that he questioned God - a lot... I do the same thing. God can handle it. God can handle any emotion we bring to Him. Habakkuk asked God "how long must I call for help, and you do not listen?" WHAT? Ok i have never done that. demanding an answer from God. God told him that he was going to send the Babylonians to bring judgment... DAAAANNNNGGGGGG! that is powerful. God uses even the most "unholy" people to teach us and to judge us.
So the stage is set, Habakkuk questions God and when God answers, He passes judgment on the evil nations. At the end of the second chapter is probably the most misused scripture in the Bible... God says... "But the Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth be silent before Him." I have seen this written on the walls outside of sanctuaries, meaning be quiet in here! I have to thank Ron Keller for this, but it is true, silence has nothing to do with "worship". Ron said that the only time there is "silence" in the Bible, it is for judgment, not worship! And it is true, no where in the Bible does silence = worship... NO WHERE. So this idea that we have to be "quiet" and "formal" is just wrong. Don't get me wrong.. if you want to be formal before God.. be formal, but if you want to dance and fall prostrate and lift your hands... then do it. He is not looking at that anyway... something about your heart!
The last chapter of Habakkuk is truly amazing. Habakkuk give glory to God.. in vs 2 he says, "I stand in awe of Your deeds" When you understand that you don't know God, but learn to trust in Him... the true response is AWE. The God of all creation gave Habakkuk answers to his questions and demands. He saw God as He was, and believed that God was in charge.
To set up the ending of this blog, I have to say, the end of Chapter 3 is powerful. it gives each of us hope. Habakkuk said that no matter what happens, we should Praise God. Even if everything we are, we have, we do, we want falls apart, the answer is to rejoice in the Lord. when you are waiting for destruction and judgment and God is being Himself, what would you say? What would you do? Where would you run to? What questions would you have for God? This is why I love this book. So to close this thought Habakkuk says in chapter 3:16-19:
"I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights."
Friday, January 30, 2009
Stand in Awe / Isaiah
I love this phrase, but most of the time, it is just a phrase. How many people have said that they Stood in Awe of something. I have stood in disbelief, and I have stood in amazement, but in total awe...
the word awe just means that you are overwhelmed with reverence or admiration.
Have I ever really been overwhelmed? Have I ever been to the place where I couldn't think about anything else, or I couldn't function because of something I have seen or heard.
I was overwhelmed when Makkael and Tyler were born.. but that was joy. I was overwhelmed when we got the adoption papers for both Makkael and Tyler, but that was pure joy. I was ecstatic when I graduated with my master's - still not awe. I was overwhelmed when I heard that my dad had died. But that isn't awe, that is overwhelming grief. Awe is being overwhelmed and transfixed on something. You can't look away. You can't think about anything except what you are looking at or hearing.
When I think of standing in awe, i think of Isaiah 6. It is an amazing scripture that shows what standing in awe is. The amazing part is that at the sound of their voices... powerful and strong voices, that the doorposts and thresholds shook. Living in California, I have been through several earthquakes. The Whittier earthquake was pretty powerful. Cherie and I lived in a condo in Azusa at the time, and i watched the entire condo sway back and forth. It was really frightening and unnerving. At the sound of their voices, the doorposts and thresholds shook. There is a lot of power there.
The sign of standing in awe, is that you do feel unworthy. Unworthy of just being in God's presence. Awe can cause many reactions... fear is probably the one that I would have. To stand in God's presence is something we do every second of every day of our lives. No matter what we are doing, we are doing it in God's presence. Every thought, every decision, every idea, every tear... all in God's presence.
But Isaiah experienced the majesty and the glory... Isaiah 6:1-4 says...
"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:
'Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.'
At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."
So we stand and sing songs on Sundays, all over the world, and we sing a second song, and then we sing another. And we can't wait to sit down. And then we go home. And we return the next week, sing a song, then another.... We stand and sing and wait for a feeling, or a blessing, or to feel good or entertained. Where is the awe? Where is the power? Awe is not determined by what we DO... it is all about Who God is and WHAT HE DOES. My singing a song does not change anything in the world, but God's showing "up" with His MAJESTY and His POWER causes the world to tremble. and....
i
stand
IN AWE.
the word awe just means that you are overwhelmed with reverence or admiration.
Have I ever really been overwhelmed? Have I ever been to the place where I couldn't think about anything else, or I couldn't function because of something I have seen or heard.
I was overwhelmed when Makkael and Tyler were born.. but that was joy. I was overwhelmed when we got the adoption papers for both Makkael and Tyler, but that was pure joy. I was ecstatic when I graduated with my master's - still not awe. I was overwhelmed when I heard that my dad had died. But that isn't awe, that is overwhelming grief. Awe is being overwhelmed and transfixed on something. You can't look away. You can't think about anything except what you are looking at or hearing.
When I think of standing in awe, i think of Isaiah 6. It is an amazing scripture that shows what standing in awe is. The amazing part is that at the sound of their voices... powerful and strong voices, that the doorposts and thresholds shook. Living in California, I have been through several earthquakes. The Whittier earthquake was pretty powerful. Cherie and I lived in a condo in Azusa at the time, and i watched the entire condo sway back and forth. It was really frightening and unnerving. At the sound of their voices, the doorposts and thresholds shook. There is a lot of power there.
The sign of standing in awe, is that you do feel unworthy. Unworthy of just being in God's presence. Awe can cause many reactions... fear is probably the one that I would have. To stand in God's presence is something we do every second of every day of our lives. No matter what we are doing, we are doing it in God's presence. Every thought, every decision, every idea, every tear... all in God's presence.
But Isaiah experienced the majesty and the glory... Isaiah 6:1-4 says...
"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:
'Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.'
At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."
So we stand and sing songs on Sundays, all over the world, and we sing a second song, and then we sing another. And we can't wait to sit down. And then we go home. And we return the next week, sing a song, then another.... We stand and sing and wait for a feeling, or a blessing, or to feel good or entertained. Where is the awe? Where is the power? Awe is not determined by what we DO... it is all about Who God is and WHAT HE DOES. My singing a song does not change anything in the world, but God's showing "up" with His MAJESTY and His POWER causes the world to tremble. and....
i
stand
IN AWE.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Someone to Worship
It is not a new idea... but it is a great one. We were made to worship. I love that song.. Chris Tomlin, such a great songwriter, says it best... You and I were made to worship...
it is what we were made to do, but we let too many things get in the way. Life can stop a lot of "God" things. The parable of the Sower, in Matthew 13, tells it the best way. The Sower sowed his seeds... "some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
Jesus explained it this way. When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
All of us have been at all of these places... It is hard to live life and not experience the hopelessness of being the path; or the rocky place where nothing seems to go right; or the thorny place where life in general just chokes us and takes our joy and give us nothing in return; or the perfect soil. The seed grows and there is a great harvest.
That being said, we have to realize that we were made to worship.. FIRST and FOREMOST. The fact that life and "things" get in the way is just reality. How can we stop this? How can we live our lives to the fullest? How can we know that we are worshiping "on earth as it is in heaven"?
Look a the life of David. He was a man after God's own heart, and yet he failed miserably. How many of us have had the husband of the person we have an affair with and get pregnant killed? How many of us have tried to cover that fact? But he was still a man after God's own heart.
David understood one thing, worship. He knew how to respond to God. He knew what to say to God. He knew how to worship. When we worship, we are giving God first place in our lives. It is more than just singing... it is breathing.
If you have let the things in your life get in the way of your honoring God, you need to turn around, go back to where you started. Realize that you need God more than anything else. It should be the first thing in the morning and last thing at night that you think about. How can you honor God more? How can you give of yourself more?
So if we were made to worship... the One that we worship is what defines us. Who we honor with our lives tells the world who we are. How we worship isn't as important to God as to why we worship. Next comes the names of God... It is also good to know the names of God in the Bible and what is said each time to and by whom. Instead of "Lord", what word is actually used.
Someone to worship is a journey. It is not just the title of this blog, it is the whole purpose of life.
it is what we were made to do, but we let too many things get in the way. Life can stop a lot of "God" things. The parable of the Sower, in Matthew 13, tells it the best way. The Sower sowed his seeds... "some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
Jesus explained it this way. When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
All of us have been at all of these places... It is hard to live life and not experience the hopelessness of being the path; or the rocky place where nothing seems to go right; or the thorny place where life in general just chokes us and takes our joy and give us nothing in return; or the perfect soil. The seed grows and there is a great harvest.
That being said, we have to realize that we were made to worship.. FIRST and FOREMOST. The fact that life and "things" get in the way is just reality. How can we stop this? How can we live our lives to the fullest? How can we know that we are worshiping "on earth as it is in heaven"?
Look a the life of David. He was a man after God's own heart, and yet he failed miserably. How many of us have had the husband of the person we have an affair with and get pregnant killed? How many of us have tried to cover that fact? But he was still a man after God's own heart.
David understood one thing, worship. He knew how to respond to God. He knew what to say to God. He knew how to worship. When we worship, we are giving God first place in our lives. It is more than just singing... it is breathing.
If you have let the things in your life get in the way of your honoring God, you need to turn around, go back to where you started. Realize that you need God more than anything else. It should be the first thing in the morning and last thing at night that you think about. How can you honor God more? How can you give of yourself more?
So if we were made to worship... the One that we worship is what defines us. Who we honor with our lives tells the world who we are. How we worship isn't as important to God as to why we worship. Next comes the names of God... It is also good to know the names of God in the Bible and what is said each time to and by whom. Instead of "Lord", what word is actually used.
Someone to worship is a journey. It is not just the title of this blog, it is the whole purpose of life.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Friends make the difference
I have to say one thing about Facebook, is that it has brought many people back into my life. Which says 2 things... 1) I'm a horrible friend and 2) you are all horrible friends. hahahaha... What it does say is that we are all in the same boat. Time goes by and life gets in the way and all of a sudden it is 10 years, 20 years, 30 years...
The true test is where you pick up... a good friend is one that you leave in the middle of a sentence and when you see each other again you finish your thought. I have really good friends. I have always told my kids that your friends do help define you. The people you call friend lets everyone know what you cherish.
When I was growing up, we moved around a bit. Ministry can do things to you and your family. Dad started churches when I was young. His last ministries were in East Tennessee. He would go to a church and preach and minister. When they got to a certain number he would find someone to go and become Senior Pastor, then he'd move on. He loved it. I have to say, he was a dynamo. He never stopped. He was either making calls in people's homes, or at the hospital, or at Walmart. I told him he should be a Walmart greeter... he already was, but he'd get paid to do it if just put his resume in. He never did it. I went with him to Walmart when I was home, and it was amazing all the people knew him. It was either the churches he preached in, or just that he was a fixture at the entrance of Walmart.
I never thought twice about moving, mainly because i wasn't given a choice. Something about going with a flow comes to mind. Sometimes it was good. Sometimes it was sad. But what you leave, are friends. Friends and memories.
In the book of Acts Paul was on his way to Jerusalem, and he met the elders of Ephesus (for the last time). Friends. Co-workers. What do you say to someone that you know you will never see again? to friends that you have worked with and had spent time with and this was the last time you would see them on this side of time and space.
Paul spoke to them of his ministry with them. How he had not taken advantage of them, but worked and ministered among them. When you work in ministry with others, they become your closest friends, you become family. I have to admit that I have not taken and seized each moment I have had with friends. I have not lived all of my moments to the fullest. But Paul had definitely lived each moment to the fullest with his friends. He says in Acts 20:32-37
"Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'
"When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him."
To those of you that are my friends... thank you. For all the times I wasn't 100% there for you, please forgive me. For the times we had together, thank you. For all the laughs and tears... I am eternally grateful. I look forward to an eternal time with you... as if heaven was just for my personal joy. But I call you friend. And that is the greatest gift each of us can give.
The true test is where you pick up... a good friend is one that you leave in the middle of a sentence and when you see each other again you finish your thought. I have really good friends. I have always told my kids that your friends do help define you. The people you call friend lets everyone know what you cherish.
When I was growing up, we moved around a bit. Ministry can do things to you and your family. Dad started churches when I was young. His last ministries were in East Tennessee. He would go to a church and preach and minister. When they got to a certain number he would find someone to go and become Senior Pastor, then he'd move on. He loved it. I have to say, he was a dynamo. He never stopped. He was either making calls in people's homes, or at the hospital, or at Walmart. I told him he should be a Walmart greeter... he already was, but he'd get paid to do it if just put his resume in. He never did it. I went with him to Walmart when I was home, and it was amazing all the people knew him. It was either the churches he preached in, or just that he was a fixture at the entrance of Walmart.
I never thought twice about moving, mainly because i wasn't given a choice. Something about going with a flow comes to mind. Sometimes it was good. Sometimes it was sad. But what you leave, are friends. Friends and memories.
In the book of Acts Paul was on his way to Jerusalem, and he met the elders of Ephesus (for the last time). Friends. Co-workers. What do you say to someone that you know you will never see again? to friends that you have worked with and had spent time with and this was the last time you would see them on this side of time and space.
Paul spoke to them of his ministry with them. How he had not taken advantage of them, but worked and ministered among them. When you work in ministry with others, they become your closest friends, you become family. I have to admit that I have not taken and seized each moment I have had with friends. I have not lived all of my moments to the fullest. But Paul had definitely lived each moment to the fullest with his friends. He says in Acts 20:32-37
"Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'
"When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him."
To those of you that are my friends... thank you. For all the times I wasn't 100% there for you, please forgive me. For the times we had together, thank you. For all the laughs and tears... I am eternally grateful. I look forward to an eternal time with you... as if heaven was just for my personal joy. But I call you friend. And that is the greatest gift each of us can give.
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